His Collateral

Chapter 23

Alessandro's P.O.V:
I pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine, my mind still reeling from the events of the day. I took a deep breath and got out of the car, my feet moving slowly towards the front door.
As I opened the door, Marco came rushing up to me, his face alight with excitement. "We did it!" he exclaimed. "We got Aldo to confess!"

I nodded, still trying to process everything that had happened.

"I still cannot believe he killed your brother and his own in-laws, all for money.

"I'm not surprised," I said, a dark determination taking hold of me. "And I'm going to make sure he pays for what he's done. He's going to rot in jail for the rest of his life."
I scanned the room, looking for Bella. But she was nowhere to be found. I turned to Marco and asked, "Where's Bella?"

The smile on his face slowly faded. "She went upstairs after we watched Aldo confess," Marco said, his brow furrowed with worry. "She hasn't come down since."

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. I had to talk to her.
I turned to Marco and said, "I'll be right back." Then, I walked over to Damien and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "You did great, buddy," I said with a smile.
He smiled back.

I turned and headed up the stairs, making my way to my room. As I entered, I found Bella curled up at the foot of the bed, her head resting on her knees. Her shoulders were hunched, and her breathing was slow and heavy. I approached her, moving slowly so as not to startle her. I reached out and gently touched her shoulder, my voice soft and gentle. "Bella," I said

"Hmmm" she hummed softly. For a moment I though she might be sleeping but then I saw her eyelids flutter and here eyes slowly open.
They were red and swollen, the skin around them puffy and tear-stained. She had clearly been crying for a long time.
I sat down on the floor beside her. "Bella," I said again, my voice barely above a whisper.
Without thinking, she leaned over and wrapped her arms around me, her head resting on my shoulder as she began to cry again.
I held her close. "It's going to be okay," "We're going to make him pay for everything. He won't get away with this, I promise." I said stroking her hair. After a while, she finally began to calm down, her sobs turning to gentle sniffles.

I realized, as I held Bella close, that she was more fragile than I had ever imagined. She had been through so much, and she needed someone to be there for her, someone she could rely on. And in that moment, I knew that person had to be me. I hadn't always been the nicest person to her, but that was going to change. I would do everything in my power to get back everything Bella's parents had left her. She was not alone and would never be alone again.
After a few minutes, Bella pulled away from the embrace and looked me. I reached out and wiped the last of her tears away with my thumb. As I did, I noticed the way she leaned into my touch, as if she craved the comfort it provided. Our eyes met, and at that moment, I felt a surge of emotions I had never felt before. I looked down at her lips, then back into her eyes, searching for an answer to the question I couldn't bring myself to ask aloud. And then, she nodded, ever so slightly. It was the smallest of movements, but it was all I needed.

Just as I was about to kiss Bella, there was a knock at the door. We froze, startled by the sudden sound. Marco's voice came from the other side.
"Alessandro, Bella, Christys back. Hurry downstairs." He said.

We both scrambled to our feet, our faces flushed with embarrassment. I tried to compose myself, but I knew my face was still red. Bella looked away, unable to meet my gaze.
I cleared my throat. "Wash your face and come downstairs if you wish to." I said. "You also don't have to come if you don't want to. If you need to rest, that's okay. Just do what's best for you." I added. She nodded, and left for the bathroom.

Bella's P.O.V:
I walked into the bathroom standing in front of the wide mirror, lost in thoughts. My mind was racing, replaying the last few minutes over and over.

We almost kissed.

"It should have felt wrong, but for some reason, it didn't. Instead, I felt a twinge of disappointment that it hadn't happened. I couldn't shake the curiosity about what it would have been like if we had actually kissed. This mix of emotions was unfamiliar and confusing, leaving my heart racing as I tried to make sense of it all.

I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on washing my face to clear my head. The cold water and gentle pat of the towel helped calm me. As I looked in the mirror, I took a deep breath and assessed myself. My eyes were slightly red, but otherwise, I appeared composed.
With a newfound sense of resolve, I decided to head downstairs. After a quick brush and styling of my hair, I felt more at ease.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the living room, where Alessandro and the others were gathered around the table. As I approached, all eyes turned to me, and I offered a gentle smile. I settled in beside Alessandro, feeling his hand instinctively reach for mine. The warmth of his touch was comforting, and I began to unwind. My gaze was drawn to his smile, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners, and the deepening of his dimples. In that moment, my worries faded, and I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I sensed a shift in my feelings towards him, but I chose to let it go, savoring the serenity of the moment instead. For now, I just wanted to bask in the peacefulness.

Here's a rewritten version with some minor adjustments for clarity and flow:

As I turned to face the group, I caught Christy gazing at Alessandro and me with a knowing smile. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and Christy, noticing my reaction, spoke up. "You've missed out on some significant developments, Bella," she said. "We've uncovered more evidence against Aldo."

My curiosity was piqued, and I asked, "What did you find?"

Christy's expression turned serious. "Remember how I bugged Aldo's phone? Well, after he left the café, he made a call to an unknown number." She paused for emphasis. "It belonged to the same man who tampered with Vincenzo's and your parents' car brakes. Aldo instructed him to leave town, as Alessandro had already confronted him."

"We have the call recorded, and we're tracing the number." Alessandro added, his voice filled with confidence, "We'll send the evidence to the lawyer handling the case. He'll work with the police to obtain a warrant for Aldo's arrest."
Here's a rewritten version with some minor adjustments for clarity and flow:

I couldn't believe it. Aldo thought he'd outsmarted us, but we were one step ahead. He thought he could get away with murder, but now he'd face justice.

"What's next?" I asked, my mind racing with questions. Alessandro looked at Christy, then at me, his eyes soft and reassuring.

"Can you come with me?" he asked. I nodded, and we walked to the kitchen, Christy following. We sat at the table, and Alessandro began to speak. "Aldo won't be the only one facing charges. I'll also press charges against Theresa and her children for domestic violence against you."

My heart raced, my hands shook, and fear washed over me. Alessandro saw the fear in my eyes and took my hand, his grip firm. "I know this is overwhelming, but I'll be with you every step of the way." I nodded slowly, taking a deep breath.

"What do you need?"

Christy replied, "We need a photo of the scars on your back for private evidence, along with a written statement."

My heart skipped a beat as I imagined someone  laying eyes on the scars on my back, my heart racing intensified, pounding against my chest like a drum. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, but I knew I had to surrender to trust - trust Christy and Alessandro.

"Okay," I said, my voice shaking.

Alessandro reassured me, "We won't force you to do anything you don't want. But this is the only way to ensure they pay for what they've done." I knew he was right.

"We'll both be here with you," he added. I smiled, feeling a sense of determination.

"I'll do it."
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