Keep moving. One foot in front of the other.
Two more turns, and I found a small opening and tucked myself into it and held my breath as I knew the group of them were headed in my direction. I realized the light above me might give my location away, so I pulled off a shoe and shattered it just in time. I dug in my purse and fingered the rip in the fabric at the side seam and eased my phone out. It often slid inside the fabric, and for once I was pleased I never got that purse fixed.
“Shit.” I wanted to scream. The phone was dead.
I could hear their footsteps and their drunk mutterings to each other about how fun their night had been. One kept calling out for me, and I shut my eyes and prayed for them to leave. I didn’t want violence, but it wouldn’t be the first time I’d fought for my life.
Not long later, I risked a peek and saw they were now headed back toward the main street.
Thank God.
I took off up the hill farther and farther away from anything that looked remotely familiar. I kept reminding myself that I’d survived for years on the streets, and although I was strong mentally and could be scrappy when I needed to be, I was much happier with who I’d become. I loved having a home, with a lock, fresh clothes, and food to eat.
I thought of how close I’d been to losing my life today in that bomb blast. I remembered it all clearly now. Elio was right. I was in this deep, and I knew it was because of who I was to him. I knew the life he led was scary, but the feeling of that blast as it shot toward me was a fear I could definitely live without.
Just as I reached the top of a hill and the pain in my ribs could no longer be ignored, I allowed myself to stop and rest. I was holding on to a wall for support when a set of headlights lit me up. I knew I could run no farther as the car stopped a few feet from me, so I slowly turned, wondering what I’d have to fend off now.
“Sienna, is that you?” Ugo, the new cousin my mother had introduced me to, squinted at me then pulled his phone out and made a call. “Yes, ma’am.” He hung up and made another call. I was so relieved to have found someone I knew I let myself go. I pressed my back to the wall and slid down until my bottom felt solid ground. His voice seemed a million miles away. Another car came roaring down the street in the opposite direction, and when I heardhisvoice, I broke out into a sob.
“Sienna!” Elio raced toward me and dropped to his knees. He began to pat me all over. “Are you hurt?” He turned and spoke to Vinni and Niccola. “Give us a minute.” I was a mess and could barely understand him.
“I’m okay, but I think my ribs are bruised.” He grabbed my hands and held them tightly. “Please, Elio, get me out of here,” I sobbed, and he wasted no time lifting me into his arms, then he sat in the back seat of the town car still holding me. I tucked my head under his chin before he ordered Vinni to drive.
“Where to, boss, the hospital?”
“Yes, she’ll need to be seen.”
As the car sped away, I allowed myself to totally relax and pressed my face into his neck.
I was examined by a very kind doctor who, I was sure, was worried for his own life by how intense Elio was being. The doctor began to give me the results of the x-ray and exam when Elio stepped impatiently from behind the curtain. He hesitated and licked his lips but continued, only this time he spoke directly to Elio.
“She has two bruised ribs, a good bump on her head, some bruising to her left shoulder, and a first degree burn on her arm. She will need rest and should be watched for signs of a concussion.”
Elio nodded as the doctor handed him a prescription for pain meds and began to explain how they should be taken. I drifted off a bit, grateful to have Elio handle all the information. They had already given me something for pain, and I was beginning to feel the benefit of it.
“Thank you, doctor,” was the last I heard as I drifted off.
The next thing I remembered was being back in the car. Elio’s arm was around me.
“You scared me.” He leaned in and hugged me gently.
Andrea and Francesco met us at the door, and he reached out to hug me.
“Careful, Francesco,” Andrea warned, “she has bruised ribs.”
Elio shot me a concerned look, and I closed my eyes, not wanting any further attention.
“Really, I’m fine,” I tried to reassure them, but I could see it wasn’t working.
“Come on,” Elio wrapped an arm around my back and moved me toward the stairs. “We can talk later, but you need to lie down.” I nodded and glanced at Andrea. She smiled and put a hand on Francesco’s arm to draw him back.
With Elio clucking away like a mother hen at my bruises in the shower, I finally felt half-human again. I lay down in bed, and he covered me with a soft blanket then lay beside me. He didn’t ask any questions, but I knew they would come. I knew they would need the details of what happened. At the moment, I just needed time to breathe, now that I was back within the protection of the family. He slipped his fingers through mine and squeezed my hand as if making sure I was really here. With the warmth of his body molded to mine, I let go and gave in to sleep.
When I woke, Elio was gone. I clipped up my hair, as I’d fallen asleep with it still wet, then slipped into a new dress and flat shoes. The painkillers had done their job, so I felt better as I made my way downstairs. Even though it was around ten at night, the house was wide awake and in full swing.
Andrea started to rush to my side, but Piero placed a hand on her shoulder to give me a moment. I gave him a thankful nod as I came into the kitchen where Elio was sitting at the island. As he looked up, I could see he was fit to kill. Not sure exactly what the conversation was before I arrived, I decided to speak up.
“I promise, I will share everything with you, but first, is Jimmy, the driver, all right?”