7: The Death Card

Bella

"It means change in your circumstances which include your work, love live and finances. A good but a very drastic change. One which could be difficult to accept."

I remember Ms. Mallory's word from yesterday as I watch ciro's car leave.

The sun was starting to rise, and the alley was starting to light up slowly. There was a soft glow of orange and yellow light peeking through the sky. I look up at the sky and send a silent pray. Hoping that the death card meant something good as Ms.Mallory said and not bad.

I know this is crazy. I just meet him. But for some reason he felt someone special. Someone I have been waiting for.

I rushed back in the diner and meet Ethan in the front. I apologize to him for been late but he assures me it was all okay. And thankfully we had no emergency call. But we needed to rush out because we were way past your break time.

Ethan got my burger to go and was sweet enough to volunteer to drive while I ate. He enjoys driving more than I do and I think it was for better. Because with my luck and thoughts running all over the place. I was more likely to cause accident than save one.

Back at the van. We updated the other teams as we headed back to our designated area assigned to us. While Ethan started making night rounds. Which mainly consisted of circling around the area assigned to us. I got busy looking over her shift notes and ticking off areas we covered.

Once I was done going through the notes and sorted them out. I file them back in the folder and pull my phone out to check if Lucca called. But there was nothing. No text. No call.

I feel a tinge of sadness that I haven't heard back from him. But then I tell myself it's been just an hour since we parted ways. He must be getting treated. I was thinking about his injuries and how bad they were when Ethan yells out my name.

I turn my face to the side and look at him. A bit surprised as to why he is yelling. But he just glances at me and lift his chin up, as if he is waiting for a reply. A reply for what. Wait did he ask me something.

" ..ah sorry Ethan what did you say???"I quickly turn in the seat and look straight at Ethan.

He keeps looking straight at the road,"I asked, if everything is okay?? You seemed a bit off, since we left the diner. Everything is fine, right??" he then glances at me and then points at the take-out-bag sitting on my lap "And you still haven't even touched your favourite burger???"

"Oh, yeah I am fine, just a bit exhausted." I reply while faking a yawn.

I know I should tell Ethan about what just happened back there. But I know Ethan and know exactly how he will react to Lucca's news. He will drag me straight to the nearest police station. And help me file an official complaint. And then lecture me to stay away from him or anyone from Lucca's circle. You see Ethan Always wanted to be a cop but somehow he ended up becoming a paramedic. But that didn't stop him from playing the good cop role. He always follows rules and makes sure that people around him too.Which is something I admire about him. But in this case my heart tells me to trust Lucca. To wait for his call and respect his request of telling no one about our meet.

The cheese burger smell was killing me. So eagerly open the take-out-bag. Pull out the burger, leaving the fires in. Then I offer the fries to Ethan " Want some??"

"Nah, I am good" he shakes his head keeping his eyes on the road. "If you want, you can rest for a bit. We got nothing going on now." he adds while looking at me with a soft smile. Such a gentlemen.

I nod in agreement and continue munching on my cheeseburger. With my other free hand, I check my phone once again. Still nothing. I put the phone in my uniform pants pocket and go back to eating.

Once I am done eating. I finish off the remaining milkshake and sigh in contentment.

It's been almost two and half-hours since we left the diner. Ethan turn left in the direction of our assigned parking spot and turn the engine off. "It looks like we got no life action coming our way. You should rest for sometime."

"I hope it remains this way." I say with a real yawn this time and tilt my seat a bit back making myself comfortable. Once I am done adjusting it. I rest my head and close my eyes. But only to open them back and check my phone again. The screen lights up and there is no miss call or text message.

Lucca why aren't you calling me?? I hope keep your promise and let a doctor check you. I silently pray as I close my eyes. The moment I do that, I am greeted with his beautiful face right in front of me. His perfect lips, smiling up at me causing my heart to melt. I feel my cheeks getting warmer, and I was pretty sure I was blushing like a teenage girl.

Oh boy.. I am in trouble. Like so much trouble. And I was not sure if I was warning myself or accepting the fact. But either way, I was a goner.

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Just an hour before our shift ended we received an emergency call. It was about an old resident building that collapsed and as it was in our area. Luckily no one was seriously injured. But as per protocol we had to do a full check-up of all the people who were involved. So Ethan and I had to stay back and help until the other team arrived.

It took us a total of three hours to sort out everything and hand over all the necessary paperwork to the shift captain.

I entered my apartment extremely exhausted and covered in dust. My hair was a complete mess. And I somehow had managed to cut myself, while lift a collapsed door. The old wooden door had a rusty iron nail sticking out at the bottom of it, which I didn't notice. And it pierced through my right palm. Thankfully it was a small puncture wound and didn't require stitches. But I needed a tetanus shot and some wound dressing.

I went straight to my room and dropped my overnight bag next to the night stand. I grabbed my PJ's from the dresser and headed straight for the shower. My muscles were so tensed and sore from all the lifting we did today that I need a good warm shower.

Once done with the shower. I check my phone for any miscalls, still nothing.

I quickly towel, dry my hair and go to bed with my phone resting next to me. It didn't even take a second before I was asleep.

I groan with annoyance when my sell phone start ringing. I stretch my hand out and pat the bedside table in search of my phone. The moment my hand lands on it, I pull it in front of my face, squint one eye, open and slide my finger across the screen to answer the call.

"Hello" I whispered softly, half - asleep.

"Angel" Lucca said in a deep raspy voice.

I sit up straight in bed with my cell phone close to my ear. I blinked a few times to clear my vision and then cleared my throat loudly before asking "Lucca??"

"Yes, Angel it's me. Did I wake you up??"

"No, it's okay Lucca. I am just glad you called. So what did the doctor say???"

"That everything is okay, and I don't need to be hospitalized."

"Are you sure?? And what about you shoulder?? How bad is it??"

"My shoulder is good angel. It is just a bit sore and a lot painful when I move it. But beside that I am really fine."

"You sure Lucca."

"100%"

"Thank god, I was just so worried about you." I sigh with relief and lie back on my bed.

"So who is taking care of you. I mean are you alone or is Ciro there with you??" What I really wanted to ask was, do you have any girlfriend and if, not. Then can I come visit you??

He chuckles "Very subtle Angel very subtle."

Oh god.. I pull the covers over my face, in an attempt to hide my face from embarrassment. I thought I was making a smart move by indirectly asking him that. But looks like he caught me. "Not very subtle I suppose then"

To that he such laughs, a rich belly laugh. Making me smile too.

"Angel, there is no one here to take care of me and I would love for you to come visit me."

"REALLY!!" I sit back up with so much excitement.

"Yes," he says with a soft chuckle. "I will send Ciro to pick you up."

"Oh you don't have to do that. Just send me your location, and I will be there." I didn't want to bother anyone.

"No I want to angel. It will give me peace of mind. Please."

I chew on my bottom lip and then agree with him on that.

We speak for few more minutes before I tell him that I needed to get ready.

I rush to the washroom and brush my teeth and wash my face. Then I head in the direction of the kitchen and get all the ingredients for a chicken porridge out. I wanted to make something warm for him and I was pretty sure he did eat anything. He needed food to recover.

Once the porridge is on stove and is simmering up. I head back to my room and get ready. I grab my light blue loose fitted jeans and pair it with a white shirt. I brush my hair, but they are still a mess. So I decide to braid loosely and put it on the side. Then I quickly apply a layer of mascara and lipgloss.

Before heading back to the kitchen I grab my black shoulder bag. And throw in my wallet, phone and apartment keys. When I am done getting ready. I grab my white converse and go back to check on the porridge.

The porridge was well cooked, and I transfer it to a thermos container carefully. But no matter how slowly or carefully I do. I still burned my index finger a bit.

I grab a pen and paper and leave Eliza a note.

I was just locking my apartment door when I received a text from Lucca that my ride was downstairs. I use the elevator and head down to the lobby.

The moment my elevator door opens. I am greeted with Ciro's smiling face. I scan me up and down and then whistles. "Looking good buttercup."

That nickname again. I don't get it why he keeps calling me that, when I clearly remember telling him my name.

I roll my eyes in annoyances and look him and down, exactly how he did a few seconds ago. He is dressed in black Armani polo t-shirt with black formal pants and black loafers. "Looking okay Cello"

If he was going to call me buttercup. I decided I should also give him a nickname. And the cello was the best I could come up with.

He throws his head back and laughs  "Cello... good one .. I mean really good one buttercup."

Even though he is annoying but his laughter is infectious and I can't stop my lips from smiling but I start walking while ignoring the crazy man who is laughing like a lunatic.

He hurries along with me and swings his arm over my shoulder " I have to say buttercup. It's been so long that I had such a good laugh." he glances my way while still smiling.

"Happy to be at your services cello"

He keeps talking non-stop all the way to his car. Which was parked right in front of the main entrances. He opens his passenger door like a gentlemen for me and then closes it back gently. Then he circles around the car and opens the driver seat door and slide in.

Our way over to Lucca's house. He tells me about a bit about his family and his elder brother francesco. He even shares Lucca's funny stories which according to him are very few.

Apparently, Lucca is all work and no play time of man. And he hates wasting time. So that's why according to Ciro he is the worse patient I could ever ask for.

The rest of the car ride goes by smoothly. I notice how Ciro talks about his brother. It shows how much he respect and love him.

"We are almost here."  Ciro says as he makes a left turn and  we enter a driveway that leads to a beautiful mansion.

The mansion have pine trees lined the driveway up to it main entrances. And in front of the mansion there is a fountain circled with different color of flowers. Behind the mansion there are two other mansions on either side of it.

All three of them were so beautiful.

"That's Lucca's house??"

"Yes and the one on the right is Francesco's and the left one is mine."

I just nod in amusement and unbuckle my car seat once the car come to a stop. Ciro exist the car and then come to my door and opens it.

"Thank you."

He offers me his elbow with a mischievous smile "Shall we buttercup"

I smile back at him and slide my hand in his elbow and exist the car. He offers to help with the thermos container but I refuse it politely.

He swings of the main door and the view inside is even better. The foyer had a big crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The floor is lined with white marble. It looked so prestige.

There is grand staircase in the center leading to the upper floor. And Ciro lead me up and then through the the corridor. At the end of the corridor there is a room with a big wooden door.  The door is slightly ajar and I can hear voices coming through it.

The voice was not clear but it looked like two men were arguing about something. As we got closer to the door. I recognized one of the voice very clearly.

"No francesco, I don't care what you say you. You are not digging in her past anymore. I am already pissed at you and Ciro for running a security check on my Angel behind my back."