Dangerously In Love

Chapter Three

Maria

            I hoped and prayed that he would be okay. I didn't plan on leaving his side anytime soon. He still hadn't opened his eyes. It'd been hours since the doctor had come to stitch him up and give him some pain medicine. I kept his hand in mine and said a silent prayer that he would be okay. The doctor said he had lost a whole lot of blood and that it might take weeks to recover. I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket. "Hello?" I spoke softly.

            "What happened to Marco?" My father spoke sternly.

            "He got cut up and beat up pretty bad, father." I tried not to cry, my father would see it as weakness and that's not what I needed him to see in me right now.

            "I've got Giovanni coming down to get him. You can stay there while he gets better. You need to stay away from the house for a bit. Your mother isn't doing well and now that Marco has gotten hurt, the last thing I need is you getting in the way. Am I clear?" I felt the tears silently falling down my cheek.

            "He shouldn't be moved, father. The doctor said he could tear his stitches. He's better off here with me." I tried to fight for him. I didn't want to be here worrying while he was there at the house that I was now banned from.

            "My word is final. Am I clear, Maria Anna?!" He yelled through the phone.

            "Crystal." I hung up and went into the bathroom to shower quickly. I got a text from my cousin Isabelle, we called her Belle for short. She was my best friend since we were in diapers.

Belle: Hey, heard about M. Sorry. Is he okay? Are you okay?

Maria: Father's moving him home. He banned me from the house. I have to stay here. Come with your dad and stay with me? Paolo's here! ;)

Belle: I'll beg and fake cry if I have to! Thank God my dad isn't as bad as yours! Lol

            I stood under the hot water and cried silently. There was knock on the door about fifteen minutes later as I was wrapping a towel around my body. I threw my hair up in a towel. "Yeah?" I opened the door not expecting it to be Marco. I gasped and helped him back to the bed. "You aren't supposed to be up and about. Stay here in bed like the doctor said, okay? Father called and told me that you're going home without me. He thinks that it will help you heal faster if I'm not there to distract you."

            "Is he insane? What if the Russians come after you? I won't be here to protect you. He won't be here to protect. It'd just be Louis and Paolo." He put a hand on my cheek as I laid my head on the pillow next to him.

            "He knows what's best I suppose. It'll be okay. He just wants you to be able to completely rest. I understand but I don't want to be away from you."

            "I want to tell you something, Maria. I want you to know how I feel before I have to leave." He kissed me softly. "I have never felt so protective of a female as I feel for you. I am deeply in love with you, Maria. You are my whole world. I know that you're mine because your father arranged it but I'm glad he did. I had always wanted you for myself. I would die for you, mio amore." I kissed him softly so that I didn't hurt him.

            There was a short knock on the door and my Uncle Giovanni walked in. "Give me ten minutes please!" I shouted as I ran into the bathroom. I hurried and got dressed in a royal blue silk sundress and a pair of black heeled booties.

            "You were allowing her, your fiancée, to lay next to you while only wrapped in a towel? She is not your wife...yet. You should have told her to dress, Marco. If it happens again I will make sure that the Don knows his daughter's fiancé is acting indecently like a husband before you are both even wed." He crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared angrily at Marco.

            "I'm sorry, Sir. It won't happen again." He actually seemed upset at my Uncle's opinion of him allowing me to lay next to him like that. I walked out of the bathroom and looked down at the ground as my Uncle approached me.

            "It wasn't his fault. It was mine." He grabbed my face in his hand and squeezed. I was shocked at his behavior, gasping.

            "You are not a w***e. You are the daughter of the Don. Act like it." He squeezed harder and then released me. He had done that to Belle whenever she was in trouble but he also hit her. My father was nothing like my mother's brother. He would have never hurt me like that but then again, I had never done anything that angered him severely. I didn't say anything back to my Uncle as he helped Marco from the bed and walked with him slowly out of the door.

            "Stay. Don't follow us." My uncle spat at me. I wasn't even allowed to say goodbye? Belle walked to my side quietly with Paolo in tow. She placed an arm around my shoulder.

            "The Don is really mad at Marco, Maria. He was the only one who came out of the club alive. My brother was killed." Belle hugged me as I softly cried.

            "Paolo, can we go out tonight? Please." I looked up at him.

            "If you do anything stupid and I get in trouble, the Don will kill you and I both. You'll stay in tonight and we'll get pizza and ice cream." Paolo looked sad. He loved partying with Belle and I. We always had lots of fun together. The last time we got in huge trouble. Belle had picked a fight with a Russian girl and that turned into Belle almost getting killed before Paolo stepped in and calmed everyone down and we left. My father heard about it though and I was grounded for five months. Belle had a sneaky look on her face. I knew exactly what she was thinking...we were going to sneak out.

    After I had given Anna a bath, tucked her into bed, and read her favorite bedtime story to her, she fell right to sleep. I kissed her forehead softly. She was too innocent for the life she would have to grow up in. My phone buzzed as I quietly shut the door to Anna's room. It was a blocked number.

Unknown: I was beginning to wonder why Marco ran before I got the chance to kill him. Now I see that he has you. I'd watch myself if I were you, Maria Salvatore.

    I dropped my phone and the glass of water I had been carrying. The glass shattered on the floor. I felt utter fear and I froze. Paolo and Belle came running up to me. I didn't know I was crying until Belle's hands were wiping away the tears. I stared at Paolo as he picked up the glass and my phone. He must have seen the text and was on the phone with someone shortly after. Belle grabbed my hand, her bag, and my phone. She pulled me out of the front door and to the elevator.

    "Where the hell are we going? We can't leave now. I...want to go back. NOW!" I felt the tears falling.

    "No, we're going out and you're gonna forget what just happened, Ria. You don't need the stress right now. I grabbed a dress and heels for you and we're going to meet up with a couple of my girls. They heard about a wicked party a few blocks over. This night is your one night to party and be like a normal girl." She grabbed my hand and we caught a cab. I saw Paolo running down the stairs and looking all over the sidewalks for us. Belle handed me my phone.

    "Flirt with the boys, drink, dance, and have fun tonight. Please, Ria."

    I half-smiled and pushed the thoughts of the text from whoever they were out of my mind. "You're right, Belle. I need this." We rode in the cab for about 10 minutes until we arrived at Belle's friend's apartment. We paid the cab driver and got out. The apartment building was super nice.