MARRIED ACCIDENTALLY

CHAPTER 17

Vince’s POV

The persistent ringing makes me tear my gaze away from Tessa's intense stare.

She has been watching me with curiosity and asking me if I am indeed the Vincete Ann told her about.

I have no idea who Ann described me as but I am sure she didn't describe me as that man in there who just killed someone without an iota of emotions.

I don't just kill. I do that to people who deserve it.

I don't know if I can tell her not to let Ann know anything about this.

I don't even know why I don't want Ann to know or why this is such a big deal to me.

“Boss,” Landon shouts breathlessly from the other side. “Ma’am tried to run away, but she was attacked. We are at the hospital.”
Pain encases my chest.
My fist clenches and my pulse thumps in my temple.

“Why are you just informing me, goddammit?!”

“Sorry, boss.”

“Where the hell are you?” I bark with authority, earning a disapproving look from Tessa.

“St. Gerald. She is still unconscious,” he answers, and I disconnect the call with shaky hands.

Shit!

I slam my fist on the wheels, remembering what Fernando told me yesterday about putting Ann’s life in danger.

She is an innocent woman. I shouldn't involve her in my sh*t. I shouldn't expose her to this world of darkness. This world where we know nothing other than to kill and destroy whoever gets in our way.

She can't be my weakness. Or a scapegoat.

Adrenaline zaps down my spine as I ignite the car into action and drive off immediately.

“Is everything ok?” Tessa demands to know, the fear in her eyes earlier, returning. “Is everything okay?" Where are we going?”

“We are going to Ann,” I manage to reply before increasing the car speed, glad that she has her seat belt tucked in.

Nothing can happen to her. Not when I haven't told her who I am and what I represent. Not when I haven't asked her what she really wants. At this point, it's important that I ask her to leave and distance herself from me before it's too late.

I can protect her. I can protect Ann.

But can my men protect her? Can she understand the kind of life we live and still want to stay back?

Five minutes later, I drive roughly into the parking space of the St. Gerald before rushing out, leaving Tessa behind.

I just want to be sure she is fine.

I want to know if I won't have to blame myself for yet another death.

I meet Landon halfway, and I punch his face, making him stumble backwards.

“Thank your stars. I am not drilling bullets into your skull right now! Where the hell is she?!”

He stands firmly. “Ward 2.”

With rage filling every part of my soul, I take long strides past him, my heart pounding against my ribs.

If anything happens to Ann, I am going to give whoever is responsible a slow, torturous death, for hurting her.
Although, I suspect the Silicones.
 
Trouble is lurking.

I kick the door open and enter to see a doctor examining Ann, whose eyes are closed tightly.

“Is she okay?” Without taking my eyes off Ann, I question the white-haired doctor.

“Mr. Alberto, she is fine. She should be awake in an hour or two,” he replies, making me drag my red eyes back to him.

His smile falters.

I can't figure out why he always smiles at me, even though he knows how much I hate it.

I bought this hospital and I bring any of my injured men here. He knows the kind of person I am. More reason why I should tell Ann before she learns it from someone else.

After doing that, she can leave if she wants to.

"If you will excuse me," he says to me with a courtesy nod before leaving.

When I see her chest heaving up and down, signaling she is still breathing, a sigh leaves my lips.

Thank Goodness.

As I slump to a chair beside the bed with my two hands over my head, memories begin to flash.

I thought I was going to lose her like I lost my father. Sometimes, my mother accuses me of being responsible. Father and I were never on good terms. We were always at each other's throats or arguing about business matters.

I felt truly responsible. And mother sometimes emphasized that.

“Vince?” A soft voice pulls me back to life, making me jolt upright and lift my head to meet Ann’s beautiful eyes.

She isn't smiling. She stares straight at me, her eyes boring into my existence.

“I came as soon as I heard. Are you okay?”

She shakes her head, and my heart hitches.

“Where does it hurt? Should I get to the doctor?” I grab her hand, rising up to find the damn doctor.

“No,” she mutters softly, stopping me from leaving with her hands holding onto mine firmly.

Our eyes meet again, and she suddenly looks different.

She doesn't look like the woman I rescued that night, who looked vulnerable and pitiful. She isn't looking like the woman who dragged me to the altar and kissed me with all her might.

She looks different. But I can't explain why.

When I notice the tears glistening in her eyes, I instantly feel a stab of anger and hurt.

This is all because of me.

“Are you sure you are okay?” I demand again, suddenly remembering I brought Tessa along. She doesn't respond, and the strange way she is looking at me makes me feel uneasy. Wanting to hear her speak so desperately, I voice out. “I brought Tessa.”

She doesn't acknowledge my statement either. She continues to stare straight at me, her gaze unwavering.

Is she blaming and hating me for what happened? Does she want to know why she was attacked?

Unable to maintain my composure, I extricate my hand from her hold and proceed towards the door. “I will get the doctor.”

“Vince,” she stops me again, but this time, I am already by the door, about to take the exit out. “Sesame tattoos. The crocodile tattoos. The dragon tattoos. What do they mean?”

Slowly, I turn around to see her watching with pure enthusiasm and curiosity.

Not only that.

I just figured out why she looked different earlier.

Those tattoos have meanings, but to ordinary people like Ann, they are meaningless.

Now that she already asked the question, it is obvious she knows…

“Are you a Mafia boss?" The question rolls off her lips, making me stiffen with panic.