His Delicate Flame

Chapter 3~ the other side

His head was pounding like someone had decided to play drums with a sledgehammer. Every part of his body ached and he felt like even his hair was painful. He was so sore he wished he could just fall back into unconsciousness and wake up when the pain was gone. But he knew he had work that needed him awake.

"Alessio." A baritone voice called from him.

Alessio groaned in reply and fought to pull his eyes open. Once his eyes adjusted to the brightness and bluriness faded they focused on the surroundings. He knew from the familiar ceiling and chandelier he was in his room at his house.

Turning his head slightly he met the eyes of his right hand man. Confusion marred his face as he could not remember how he got to his room. He recalled a woman helping him to her house and patching him. Then nothing.

"Fratello?" He asked.

"I came and brought you home from her house." Lukas replied reading Alessio's question on his face. "Who?"

"Amateur thieves. Tried to rob me with a knife and took my gun. When I fought back one panicked and shot me. How bad?" Alessio asked as he moved his hand over his injured leg and then shoulder.

"Just scratches. She patched you up better than Matthews. Then kicked us out." Lukas told him with a chuckle at the end.

Alessio's head whipped to look at him."What did you do to her?"he growled at him narrowing his eyes.

Lukas lifted his hands in mock surrender." Nothing she just guessed my name and she kicked me out."

Alessio turned his head back to the ceiling."So she knows?"

"Seems so. And she wants nothing to do with you. I will send out Stephano to deal with her later." Lukas told him with a making grin.

"No ,there is no need for all that. She saved my life I could have bled out. Leave her be." Alessio said then sighed and fell into silence for a minute."How long?"

"Roughly twenty two hours. The alcohol she gave you knocked you out pretty good. We must find out what it is and buy some for us." Lukas joked lightening the mood.

Alessio hummed then moved to sit up, pain shot through his shoulder and his torso. It was intense but he could handle more pain than that.

Once he was sure his limbs were still mobile he swung his legs to the side of the bed ready to stand up.

Lukas stayed in his spot, he knew his brother would throw a hissy fit if anyone tried to help him. He must have been really out of it letting an outsider take him home and patch him up. In their world that's a idiotic move you could be walking into a lion's den.

"She said you should rest and take it easy for a day or two. You were a little more banged up than usual." Lukas told him when he saw that Alessio was determined to get up.

Alessio looked back to Lukas as he spoke about the woman who had played good samaritan to him. He felt an overwhelming urge to listen to her instructions but he shook it off as him being lazy.

"Nothing gets done sleeping." He grumbled in answer.

"You are obviously still in pain ,give yourself a few hours at least.Everything is going accordingly and without any glitches. The shipment is due tonight and i will be there to oversee everything.Just relax for a few more hours then you can go back to being an ass as usual."

Alessio glared for a second then gave in."Fine , but give me my laptop. Might as well run some numbers while I'm bed ridden."

"Stubborn ass." Lukas mumbled before he complied and left Alessio with his eyes glued to the screen, working.

After an hour of calculating numbers and reading emails Alessio left his mind to travel back to what had happened.

Against Lukas advice, once a month Alessio went around certain parts of the city alone. He wanted to inspect those in charge of his merchandise on the ground level without them knowing he was the main boss.

He swapped his suit for jeans and went around talking to ,sometimes buying from his dealers. Without the guards and suit plus because very few people knew him he blended in.

This was the first time his alone time had gone wrong and he bet Lukas won't let him go again. Stupid thieves.

He remember vaguely the woman who helped. She was blonde and spoke softly. Her hands were soft too, that is compared to their usual doctor Mathew. He didn't remember much from when she laid him on the couch and gave him a drink. Everything from then on is blank. But there was something about her that made him want to know her.

Good people in his world were rare, it was about loyalty ,respect and fear. Never good hearted people. He needed to see her. Taking out his cell phone he dialed Antonio's number.

"Boss."

" Get me all the information you can get on the woman who saved me last night. I want every detail down. Don't let Lukas or anyone in on what you find." Alessio ordered then hung up without waiting for a reply.

Antonio was there tech and track genius , he trusted he would find her by the end of the hour.