Eyes So Blue I Drown

42| Midnight Threat

LUCA

I stand up and scan my surroundings, struggling to process the news. It means she hasn't left her room since morning. "Arabella, are you in there?" Leah's knocks on the door go unanswered.

"Tell the guards to break down the door and check on her," I tell Leah, and she immediately follows what I said.

"Is there any problem? Why she's not replying?" Leah questions clueless. A strange, nauseating feeling churns in my chest. I sink back onto the couch, and suddenly, a throbbing headache surges through me.

"Boss, are you alright?" Fantino jumps up from his chair to check on me, worry etched on his face. "You haven't eaten since last night, and it's nearly night. You should have something."

I shake my head, my attention still on the sound of the door being forced open.

I shouldn't have left her alone at that time. I still remember the loud sounds that came out of her room of breaking things. But I motherfucker thought it'd only bother and disgust her if I stayed there anymore.

"You shouldn't put so much strain on your health," Julian chimes in and leaves before saying ---"I'll bring you something to eat."

"Ara!" Leah shouts on the phone and the sound of her rushing somewhere comes from the phone, "Guards, what the hell are you looking at? Get out and send Kehlani in here!"

"Leah, what happened?" I call out on the phone, anxiety gnawing at me. Her rushed footsteps and hushed voices in the background suggest something's wrong, "Is she okay?"

She must have set the phone aside. I disconnected the call and dialed her number again. "Tell me what's going on," I demand as she picks up.

"She's lying on the floor, unclothed, with deep scratch marks on her body. They look severe. Luca, what happened to her?" Leah's voice trembles with fear.

I feel a shiver of unease. I don't know what to say, it happened because of me. She harmed herself because of me. I made her feel the same dread with my actions which could only be caused by water before.

"Boss, there are police officers downstairs looking for you," Julian hurriedly returns to the room, his expression grave.

I watch him waiting for my command. But I need to see her.

I grit my teeth. "Leah, I'll be home as soon as I can. Please call Maria and take care of her, keep me updated" I instruct on the phone and disconnect it. "Fantino, erase everything. I'll go see the police"

"All done," he says, disconnecting the pen drive and pulling the small secret hidden vault from the roof. I take out my gun to put it inside it and they do so too.

ARABELLA

I flicked my eyes open slowly, my blurry view becoming apparent with each second that passed by. 

I sigh deeply. It wasn't a nightmare. The room's dim light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on my skin.

I turn my head to the left and see Leah sitting beside me, she notices me and helps me sit up, "How are you feeling now?" she asks.

I realize I'm not naked. I'm in new fresh clothes. "I'm fine now, don't worry" I try to offer her a reassuring smile, though it is feeble at best.