His Bambina

Chapter 32

The next morning my eyes burn and are nearly swollen shut due to all the tears I had cried. I cried for my friends, my family, and my freedom. I cried for the emptiness in my bed, in my heart. I slept to the image of Vincenzo's look of hurt and betrayal from last night.
No. He doesn't have the right to feel hurt. I was the one who was betrayed. 
The closet is opened and inside hangs some of my belongings. My favorite sweatshirt sits neatly on a hanger. I  curiously make my way to the wooden dresser. Inside the drawers there's an assortment of bras, underwear, t-shirts and pants.
There's not much, but there's a little bit of everything. My heart warms at the idea of Vincenzo putting in enough thought and care into bringing me my clothes. I quickly snuff out the feeling before grabbing underwear, a sports bra, some spandex shorts and head to the shower.
Scalding water trickles down my back as I bask in the way my muscles relax under the heat. I take my time lathering my hair in my shampoo, and my body in soap. Why I take longer in the shower is beyond me. It's almost as if I'm waiting for the water to run cold. But I know in the paradise Vincenzo calls home, that's an unlikely possibility. Even so, I sit there till my skin goes raw, trying to gather my thoughts. 
I sigh, drying my hair then throwing the towel on the towel rack. Upon instinct I go to check my phone. But it's not here. It's in my handbag, which is somewhere in the chaos from last night. I am officially alone. I look over at the door of my room. Is it locked? Are there men at every exit ready for me to make a run for it again? To what extent will he keep me here?
Silence. My breath caught in my throat, my fingers clasping the cold metal. Click. The door creaks open, and I don't know why I'm so surprised. Maybe because he threatened my family to keep me here. He made it clear he'd take me kicking and screaming over losing me.
The hall is empty, only one stiff figure facing their back towards me. He's wearing a suit, one almost too finely tailored  to play bodyguard in. His shorter stature is professional and unwavering.
"Fabian?" The tension in his shoulders grows, the only indication that he heard me. Silent treatment? Really? Vincenzo has truly hit a new low.
"Fabian, hey," the distance between us feels like miles as I creep towards him, "look I know running wasn't my best decision but... ami, you have to believe I had no other choice-"
His head snaps to me the second my hand touches his shoulder. The coldness in his stare is enough to make me retreat. The frustration, hurt, and anger he wears on his sleeve isn't something I'm used to seeing from someone as kind and carefree as Fabian.
I fight back the tears I thought I had run dry, as he scowls and looks away. I turn away quickly to hide in my room once again. It's clear now. Vincenzo didn't order Fabian to ignore me, that was his own choice. How could I be so foolish?
In the time I have been here, Vincenzo's family has taken me in as one of their own. They weren't just close friends, they were family; even without the blood. I hadn't just run from Vincenzo. I had run from them as well. That thought is enough to send me to my bed and never want to leave.

The days go by in a blur. I refuse to leave my room so everyday either Fabian or Toni bring me some of my favorite meals. although, neither of them bother trying to speak to me. They only look at m with that torn look I hate so much.
I've grown close to Vincenzo's family and I wish I could explain to them why I tried running, not even bothering to say goodbye, but it'd be futile.
I haven't seen Emily yet, which I guess is probably for the best. It's smart for her to save her own reputation with her family and stay away rom the traitor for a bit.
A soft knock raptures from my door.  I freeze, confused as to who would try to visit me. They already brought me my dinner hours ago, so I know it's not the boys trying to feed me.
"C-come in." My voice is barely a whisper, but whoever is behind the door must've heard me.
Green eyes peek past the door. There is a slight shadow cast under his eyes and the stubble on his face has grown unruly. Other than that, he's dressed to impress. His white dress shirt is still tucked nicely in his slacks, but his tie is loose around his neck.
He glances at the dinner Fabian dropped off earlier. However it's been untouched and has grown cold on my nightstand. He frowns, as if the plate has offended him somehow.
"You're not eating."
I sigh at the greeting, or lack thereof, "Go tell on me then."
Sergio raises an eyebrow at me and scoffs, "Who do you think sent me?"
That makes me roll my eyes. Sergio is his Trojan horse? Coward.
He steps closer but looks awkward. I watch a man, who is usually so full of confidence, stand in this room as if he doesn't know how to act- how to feel.
"You need to eat." His words have no effect on me. Instead I shuffle on my bed trying to get more comfortable. The T.V. in front of me is playing some type of game show in Italian. I'm not in the mood to try and figure out what they are all saying, but it's clear the contestant is winning.
"I'm not hungry."
Sergio laughs and crosses his arms, "Oh please, you forget I know you girls. You're always hungry."
I can't help the small laugh from escaping. Sergio was our main dinner date, and Amelia and I always out ate him.
"How are you feeling?"
"Bored." I give him a lazy, sarcastic smile, but he looks at me straight faced ready for a real answer.
"Lonely?" I feel myself shrinking under his gaze. Then I sigh, "Guilty."
That sparks his interest, "About?"
For hurting my friends. Betraying the ones I loved. For leaving my family behind. "For failing my family."
I look into Sergio's eyes hoping he can see my unspoken words. As always, his poker face stays strong.
"Have you spoken to them?"
I look down at my clasped hands, "No... I lost my phone."
Sergio looks hesitant, silence blanketing over us. "Porca miseria....Here."
He hands me his phone. I look at it as if it's going to bite me. "Just take it. At least let them know you're alive."
And so I do.
Nico... make sure everyone knows I'm safe. Convince my father I'm happy. Keep. Them. Safe.
"Were... were you all truly that unhappy here?"
I hit send then snap my attention to Sergio. The tall man in front of me looks unkempt and full of doubt. I cringe knowing exactly what he's asking me.  
"Oh gods no, Sergio! I know for a fact Amelia cared for you deeply. More than she has cared for anyone-" I sigh, feeling responsible for getting in between these two, "It's just...  my family needed me home and Sergio wouldn't listen to reason."
Sergio's green eyes scan my face as if reading each thought in my head. His eyebrows crease as he tried to see past my vagueness, but I continued.
"I tried to convince her to stay but..."
His shoulders slump, "No I know. Family... it's everything."
I glance down at the thumbs up Nico replied with and give Sergio back his phone, "Yeah... I'm sorry."
Sergio gives me a half smile, "I don't know what's going on between you and the boss but if you say he's not listening to reason, then you need to make him see it."
He leaves it at that, then plops onto my bed next to me, "Tomorrow I'm making you breakfast, and you're going to eat it. Amelia would kill me if I let you starve."
I laugh and agree, then he grabs the remote, bringing it to his lips like a microphone, "And you mam, have the chance to win the newest model yacht, it your own personal driver, or give all your winning away to see what's behind curtain number three."
I laugh at his terrible show host impression, and I pitch my voice to pretend to be the contestant, "Hmmmm, well... I've always wanted a big fancy boat. Buuuuut could I be dumb enough to throw it away for a mystery?"
Sergio's white pearly teeth flash at me, "Oh, she's definitely dumb enough."
My cheeks hurt from smiling, "But why? It's probably just a roll of toilet paper."
"Oh it's definitely going to be something shitty."