Chapter 6

Melanie p.o.v

"I hate you." I whispered.

“And I’m sure I can always make you change your mind,” he replied.

I doubt that was ever going to happen.

There was nothing else I could feel for a person who shot a man in my presence without so much as batting an eyelid except hate.

I didn't dare ask him what would happen if I failed to come back to the intimidating mansion he called home because something told me he wasn't one to make empty threats.

My parents and brother were already involved in this and I was going to keep them safe. No matter what.

“I’ll do anything you want if you promise me that you won’t get my family involved in any of this,” I said.

He stood up and rounded the desk so that he could stand right in front of me.

Adriano was tall. I wasn’t sure how tall but I’ll put him at well over six feet. And since I was still seated, it meant he was towering over me. Not that he wouldn’t even if I was standing.

“You’re not in any position to make deals with me, little nurse,” he said. “I hold all the bargaining chips here which means you have to do what I say, period.”

Then he did something very weird.

He grazed his hand ever so lightly over my cheeks. It was such a fast motion that I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t feel it.

“I’ll see you later, little nurse. Don’t try anything funny,” he said.

And with that, he walked out of the office leaving me no less confused than when I walked into his home yesterday.

I sat alone in the office until Dr. Thompson walked back in a few minutes later.

I waited until he was seated before I decided to speak as it seemed he was still thinking about what to say to me.

“What the hell, sir? What mess have you gotten me into?” I asked.

"I'm sorry, Melanie. I didn't expect that things would get so serious. I thought you might end up doing some routine patchwork and he would send you on your way," Dr. Thompson said.

“If that is your attempt at making me feel better then you need to try harder. My question is why you didn’t tell me you wanted to send me into the home of a crime lord,” I retorted.

“Mr. Alfonso values his privacy a lot so I’m not at liberty to reveal his identity unless he gives me express permission.”

“You know I’m now his prisoner, right?” I asked.

He nodded. “Yes, Mr. Alfonso informed me about the recent change in events.”

I scoffed at his answer, wanting nothing more than to put my hands around his throat and strangle him.

The sudden violent thought shocked me. I’ve never been one to love violence so I decided to blame my thoughts on the fact that I was unknowingly thrust into the view of one of the most violent men in the country.

“You should have just done what he asked without question,” Dr. Thompson said, forcing me to move my attention back to him.

"You might have just ruined my life so you have no right to chastise me about the choices I made. I don't know why you do his bidding and honestly, I don't care, but I hope you're happy with yourself," I said.

Having nothing else to say, I stood up and walked out of the office.

I met Hayley at the nurses’ station and she greeted me with her usual smile and I breathed a sigh of relief.

The news of how I arrived at work today clearly hasn't circulated as much as I thought if she was smiling at me that way so I did what Melanie of yesterday would have done, I smile back at her.

“Good morning, Hayley,” I greeted.

"Good morning to you too," she replied. "How was yesterday?"

I paused, “Huh?”

“The assignment you and Dr. Danny went on yesterday,” she clarified. “How was it?”

“Uhmm… it was fine,” I replied while busying myself with patient files so I wouldn’t have to look her in the eyes.

I wasn’t a very good liar and I was worried she might see through my bullshit. I also felt kinda guilty because I considered Hayley a friend and hated the fact that I was lying to her.

“I need to go on my patient rounds,” I said. “Are there any changes in my patients I need to be aware of?”

Hayley shook her head. “No. Everything went as well as it should have,” she answered since she helped cover the rest of my shift yesterday.

“Thank you,” I said.

Then, files in my hands, I tried my best to get all thoughts of the mess I was in out of my head while I got started on my patient rounds.