THE MAFIA KING AND HIS LITTLE MAID

Chapter 2

ALLY

I slowly opened my eyes, letting them adjust to the soft light in the room. My head throbbed, and I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog in my mind. It took me a good thirty seconds to gather myself. I glanced around, recognizing the familiar white walls of my room.

But something was off. I could feel the sharp, cold tug of the IV needle in my arm, its uncomfortable presence reminding me of how fragile I really felt. My throat was dry, and a dull ache lingered in my chest.

The door creaked, and Gabriella entered with a tray of food. She smiled when she saw me awake, walking quickly to my side.

"You're awake!" she exclaimed, placing the tray on the bedside table. "We were all worried, you know." She pulled the sheets up to my chest, her eyes scanning me in concern.

I wanted to tell her I was fine, but the dryness in my throat made it impossible to speak properly.

"Water, please," I croaked, my voice barely a whisper.

Without hesitation, she helped me sit up, making sure the needle in my arm stayed intact, and poured me a glass of water. I gulped it down greedily, sighing afterward as the cool liquid soothed my throat.

"Thank you," I whispered, staring at the now-empty glass. "What happened?"

Gabriella hesitated for a moment, her expression softening. "Well... you collapsed. And guess what? The boss, he... he carried you. Like, bridal style, Ally. No one else did it. He carried you himself, right to the car. And Marco drove you straight to the hospital."

I blinked, trying to process her words. Dante, the boss... carrying me? I couldn't imagine it.

I sat up straighter, my mind swirling. "I really don't know what the test results are, but they brought you back here afterward. A doctor stayed for a while, but you were out for 60 hours, Ally," she finished quietly.

I cursed under my breath. "s**t. Sixty hours? That's so embarrassing. Everyone watching me so... vulnerable." I buried my face in my hands, mortified.

Gabriella smirked, though there was warmth in her voice. "It was more cute than embarrassing, actually. The boss ordered everyone to move the damn cars so he could carry you without anyone in the way. Jasmine's face was so red, I thought she was gonna burst into flames. Maybe I should fall sick too, huh?"

I couldn't help but chuckle, despite the situation. Gabriella always knew how to lighten the mood.

Just as I was about to respond, we both heard the door open. Dante walked in, Marco trailing behind him. As usual, Dante had that commanding presence that made him impossible to ignore.

"Gabriella, you didn't inform me that she was awake?" Dante's deep, raspy voice broke the silence.

Gabriella jumped to her feet. "She just woke up, sir. I was about to bring you the news," she said quickly, glancing between me and him. Her gaze lingered on Marco, who was still standing by the door, observing everything.

"That's fine," Dante said with a slight nod. "You can leave us now."

Gabriella gave me a concerned look before leaving, but I noticed Marco's eyes never left her until the door closed behind her.

Now, it was just me and Dante.

"Thank you for... the assistance, sir," I managed to say, suddenly feeling awkward under his intense gaze.

He nodded but didn't smile. "The doctor says you were severely fatigued. Your vitals are stable, but your body has been under too much physical strain for too long—lack of rest, irregular meals, and overexertion." His piercing eyes bore into mine, unwavering. "He says if you keep this up, your immune system will crash. You need a lighter workload."

I nodded, unable to form a proper response. It was all too much. His words echoed in my head, but I couldn't focus. My body felt drained, still weak from whatever had knocked me out for two days.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" Dante's voice was sharp, making me snap back to the conversation.

I glanced down, suddenly self-conscious. "Yes, sir."

He gave me a frustrated look, his jaw tightening. "My staff have the easiest jobs in this mansion, Ally. What the hell is going on with you? Aren't you taking care of yourself? Are you intentionally disregarding your health?"

I flinched at the sudden outburst. He wasn't wrong, but I was too tired to explain myself properly. His tone was harsh, but there was something almost protective underneath it.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you," he demanded, his voice even lower.

I lifted my eyes to meet his, and for a moment, it was hard to breathe. His gaze was intense—piercing. His eyes were beautiful, but they held an unreadable darkness.

"How long have you been here?" he asked, his voice softening slightly but still commanding.

"Two years and two months, sir," I answered, irritated by the reminder. It had been two years of this. Two years of barely surviving, barely living.

He nodded and continued. "When you're done with your treatment, I want you to take a break. Go see your family. Stay there for a week. When you come back, I'll assign you to cleaning only my room. And after six months, your debt will be cleared."

Six months. My debt would be cleared?

I blinked, my heart racing. "You're serious?" I asked, disbelief creeping into my voice.

Dante's face was stoic, as always. He didn't even flinch.

My mind was reeling, but I couldn't help it. I grinned, wide and uncontrollably. "Thank you!" I blurted out before I could stop myself. I nearly forgot I was still hooked up to an IV as I tried to sit up a little straighter.

He stared at me for a moment, his face unreadable. Then he cleared his throat, his hand dipping into his suit pocket. "It's fine," he said, his voice a little softer than before. "Just make sure you take your medication and eat properly. Understood?"

"I will, sir. Thank you," I said, my voice full of gratitude.

Dante gave a small nod, turning toward the door. Marco followed, but not before he shot me a curious look, almost as if he were inspecting me. The door clicked shut behind them, and I sank back into the bed, exhausted but strangely relieved.

Six months. Just six more months, and this nightmare would finally be over.

I closed my eyes, the weight of it all finally sinking in.

.....