91.
Amelia's POV
I was lost in my own world that I didn't realise when Alessandro got into this strange room.
I was still in his arms and I had begun to get scared. The room was dark with no hint of illumination.
"S...Sandro?" I called, my voice barely above a whisper. "Where's this place?" My words were mixed with curiosity and fear. Was this another torture room?
Did he bring me here to punish me for invading his privacy two days ago?
He refused to say a word but I could feel his eyes on me. I was almost cringing to death when he tapped on a switch and the light came back on.
I gasped at the sight before me. The paintings on the wall, the mind-blowing sketches. I frowned at Alessandro.
He never told me he knew how to draw or paint. No, I wanted to argue. This couldn't be true. This fearful man could actually create beautiful things like this?
I had melted like butter. I loved everything I saw.
Alessandro grinned when he saw the stunned look on my face.
He put me down and I looked around, my lips parted.
"D...did you draw all of these things?" I asked and a proud smile rested on his lips. He nodded, tucking his hands in his pockets.
"I told you, didn't I? Now tell me where is more beautiful? My art room or the garden?"
I widened my brow in surprise when I beheld another painting. Jesus!
"Is that even a question? This place is wow…."
"Take a look at this." He pulled off the piece of cloth covering the painting and I almost fainted when I set my eyes on it.
I moved closer, my fingertips grazing every part. Marvelous!
I turned to him, my eyes glistening with appreciation. "You…. drew me? I...I.. don't know what to say." My eyes were teary. When did he draw this?
"I never thought you'd like it so I didn't show it to you. Or let's just say I've been waiting for the perfect moment to show you this and…" he shrugged, turning to look at me with a smile. "This is the time."
"Thank you! I…. really love it." I grinned, admiring the painting for the umpteenth time.
"A...and who's this?" There was another one some steps away. A…..young girl, she looked so much like Adelaide but had the same dazzling eyeballs just like Alessandro.
"This should be...your sister, right?" I asked him and he smiled but it didn't last. It vanished before I could tell.
What had gone wrong? Did I say something inappropriate?
"Y..yeah." he rasped, his words dripping with huskiness. "That's….my sister but not Adelaide."
"Oh…." I nodded slowly. "She's pretty and looks so much like you. B...but I've never met her. Is she away from here?"
"Yes." He replied and a grave nod followed, "far away from here."
"Uh?"
"She's late."
"I'm... I'm sorry."
"She was a lovely little girl." He smiled faintly but beneath it dwelt pains. He wanted to…. cry….
"Alessandro…" I reached for his hand and didn't know when a tear slipped down my eye. "I... I'm sorry about that. I know that no amount of words can bring her back b..but.."
"Exactly!" He remarked, grabbing my arm as he yanked me close. I gasped as my hands fell on his shoulders.
"W….what?"
"This is the exact reason I've been trying to keep you safe because I don't want to lose you. I... don't want you dead, Amelia cause when... you die, I can never get you back. Can I?"
"Aless…"
He cut in, interrupting my words. "Some certain things are better left hidden. Stop searching for what's not lost. I'm the real target, not you and whatever you'd heard anywhere or think is false. So it's better you let me protect you or you might take a drastic step that'd change everything."
****
Alessandro's POV
What could I have possibly done? I just had to twist up things or Amelia might end up losing her life finding that fucked up truth.
She was smart. That I knew but whatsoever, I knew she had a bit of trust in me and of I could build that up, she'll believe me forever.
"I...I don't understand." She shook her head, stepping back. I grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer to me.
"If you're going to judge by Russo's words then you're believing the wrong person." I tried to convince her, "he's a rogue and he'd always do everything it takes to get to me and to be successful with that, he wants to use you 'cause he knows I love you."
"Y….you do?" She stammered and I cupped her cheeks, staring intently at her.
"Believe me and you'd be safe." I assured her, "I do have a lot of enemies and they all need a bait. If you keep proving to be one then you might not last. I... don't want to lose you just like I lost my mom and Vanessa."
She buried her head in my bossom, her tears wetting my shirt. "I'm sorry for not trusting you, Sandro? I...I was just confused. Though I feel there's something amiss at times, maybe it's just my own hallucination."
"Everything I do is to keep you safe, amoretto." I said, caressing her hair. "I would never do anything to hurt you and as long as you keep yourself unavailable to the enemies, you'd be fine." I hugged her tightly and kissed her hair.
This should do for a while. Until I put everything back in place and didn't let anything slack off.
I should keep Russo's mouth sealed and make sure Ms. Manhattan doesn't get to see Amelia or communicate with her.
Her family would never find out she was with me, I would make sure of that.
We left the drawing room and went to my room. Amelia's head was rested on my chest and I ran my fingertips through her hair slowly.
She now looked at me differently. There seemed to be a new trust built up already.
"Alessandro?"
"Yes, Mel."
She looked into my eyes, cupping my face. Her gaze lingered on me for a while before she asked.
"Are you going to be fine? I'm so worried about your condition. Don't you think you should see a doctor and run some checkup?" Her words held a hint of worry and her eyes, sadness. She really cared about me but I didn't want her talking about the malignant brain tumor every time.
It sucked.
"I'll….be fine." I assured her even though deep down I doubted it. I knew I wasn't going to be here forever but whatever happened, I wanted Amelia to be happy.