Beneath the Ruthless Don: His Little Nurse.

Chapter 9

Melanie’s POV

I said goodbye to my parents and put my phone back in my locker but not before firing off a quick text to my brother informing him that I was alright.

The rest of my shift passed by pretty quickly and while I was getting close to the end of my shift, a bold thought occurred to me, and for a while, I couldn't believe that I had welcomed the idea.

But, I’d worked hard to get this far in life, and I wasn’t about to give up my freedom easily, at least not without a fight.

So I welcomed the thought and started plotting all the possible ways of execution before my shift.

As I promised, I checked in on Luke before the end of my shift and saw that he was busy with a video game. I said goodbye and then headed to the changing room to get out of my scrubs and back into regular clothes.

“I was going to grab a drink with some of the other nurses and was wondering if you would like to join us,” Hayley invited.

I had accepted a few drink invitations since I started working here but I’d always stuck to non-alcoholic drinks with my colleagues, not because I’ve never had alcohol but because I didn’t want to give them the impression that I regularly drank underage.

And now that I was finally of the legal drinking age, I could really use a drink tonight but unfortunately, that would mess with my plans.

“Not tonight, Hayley. I would have loved to but I already made plans for tonight,” I said.

“By plans do you mean a hot date?” Hayley asked eyeing me with a mischievous smile on her face.

I shook my head. “My plans are not that exciting,” I responded.

She was quiet for a while before she asked, “Are you okay, Melanie? I noticed you were kind of distracted most of the day.”

“I’m okay,” I said. “I just had a few things on my mind today that’s all.”

“Okay then, I hope you have fun on whatever plans you have tonight and I’ll see you tomorrow,” Hayley said, walking out of the changing room.

“Goodnight, Hayley. See you tomorrow,” I said knowing fully well I might have just told another lie.

If my plan worked, there was no seeing Hayley tomorrow or any other day for that matter and it was a little disappointing because I liked her but I liked myself more.

Changing into my regular clothes, I walked out like nothing was amiss and carefully wove my way between patients and hospital staff as I walked towards what might very well be my escape route.

I’d only been down this path once and that was when we were given the mandatory tour round the hospital when I just started working here.

Making sure no one was following me, I opened the stairwell and proceeded to run down the flight of stairs that led to the basement.

There was nothing in the basement except empty boxes that once contained drugs if the logo of the pharmaceutical companies were anything to go by. Seeing as the basement was not overflowing with the boxes, I suspected a truck came occasionally to dispose of them and subsequently clear space in the basement for more boxes.

I just needed to get out of the hospital and to my apartment. If I could pack a few clothes and essentials, I would disappear.

I didn’t know where I would go but it would be far enough away from Adriano that he would never be able to find me.

As I got closer to the exit door, I could almost smell the freedom and the thought filled me with so much hope.

I know life on the run wasn't the most desirable, but it was better than being Adriano's prisoner.

I pushed open the door of the exit and in my haste to get out, I collided with a hard surface and I would have fallen on the floor if a hand hadn't shot out and grabbed my arm, steadying me on my feet.

At the sight of what or rather who I collided with, all hope I felt just moments ago suddenly became a thing of the distant past.

Staring at me with an amused expression on his face, was the driver that dropped me off at work this morning and he held a phone to his ear with his other hand.

"Yes, boss. I've found her. We'll be on our way to the house," he said before he pocketed the phone.

I was still stunned at how fast I'd been caught so I finally asked, "How did you find me?"

“It’s my job,” he simply answered.

“Please let me go, just tell your boss that I escaped by some stroke of luck. I would be eternally grateful to you if you do,” I pleaded, knowing fully well how desperate I sounded but he shook his head.

"No can do, miss. I follow the boss' orders and that is to make sure I get you back to the house," he replied and began dragging towards the car he had parked.

I thought of screaming for help but a quick look at my surroundings told me what I needed to know.

There was no one close enough to hear me and who knew what he would do to me if I tried to scream so I had no choice but to follow him reluctantly as he walked me towards the car.

"You know you don't have to live this kind of life. You can do so much better than being a goon to a monster," I said.

An unreadable expression passed through his face at my words but he quickly schooled his expression.

"I like what I do, but thanks for your concern though," he replied.

He opened the back seat, and ushered me inside before he closed the door. Rounding the back of the Rolls Royce, he got in the driver's seat, started the car, and drove off.