Page 33 of Game of Revenge

I could hear muffled noises and felt waves as someone jumped in the pool. My eyes were closing, my body unable to keep me above water. I felt arms go around my waist and pull me up. I was gasping for air, and when I saw Alejandro holding me, I started to panic again. Was he there to drown me? I tried to get away, but he was not loosening his grip.

“Por favor, mi niña, I’m not going to hurt you,” he pleaded.

I stopped fighting when I heard his shaken voice. He grabbed my face to stabilize me so I could breathe better. I started becoming more aware of a painful, cold sensation on the right side of my head. I winced and brought my hand to my head.

“Don’t move. Please don’t move,” begged Alejandro, his voice holding a slight tremor.

I searched his eyes, and I only saw fear and concern. I could no longer focus. My body felt weak and numb, and my eyes were closing.

“Amelia, stay with me! Stay with me! Call Doctor Rodriguez! NOW!”

Those were the last words I heard before I got lost in a haze. I could somewhat hear voices but couldn’t focus on them or open my eyes. I heard a lot of commotion, felt myself being carried out of the water and moved to a drier, warmer place. When I tried to open my eyes, I saw glimpses of Alejandro’s distorted face looking at me and calling my name with desperation in his tone. I saw a man I didn’t know lean over me. I saw Dolores.

Finally, complete peace came as I lost consciousness.

Chapter 15

I was starting to wake up from what felt like the worst hangover I had ever had. I did not recognize where I was and thus was very confused. I felt exhausted, but I did not know why. What day was it? Where was I? I tried to lift myself up but barely managed to lift my head. It seemed like it was daytime, from the amount of sun pouring in the room. I saw Alejandro jump up in the distance and come next to me.

“Don’t, don’t try to get up” he said gently, “you are still very weak.”

My head started to pound lightly. I wasn’t remembering much, but I remembered fighting off Juan, and I remembered running away from Alejandro and falling. I remembered hospital lights and a lot of noise. I remembered that I wasn’t home. I remembered I had been kidnapped.

“No, no,” I said between breaths. I was trying to push him away but was barely managing to touch him.

“Shh, please, calm down,” he begged in a low voice. “You are okay. You are safe, and I won't let anything happen to you. I won’t leave your side. I promise.”

Hearing his words, seeing his distorted face and his dark stormy eyes, somehow calmed me down a bit, and I let him put my head back down on the pillow. Alejandro sat down by my side, concerned eyes looking at me, searching my face. I was starting to fall asleep again, but his presence felt reassuring. I reached for his hand, and he grabbed mine and kissed it tenderly. My body was starting to relax and find peace again. I closed my eyes and fell asleep, feeling safe and protected.

“Dolores, she’s waking up,” I heard from a faint voice in the background.

I opened my eyes as wide as I could this time. Dolores was next to me, on my right, looking at me with relieved eyes. I saw Alejandro a little farther back.

“No te apures,” said Dolores gently. “Here, let me help.”

Dolores helped me lift my back a bit and put a big pillow behind me for support. Alejandro was keeping his distance while looking at me with a concerned look on his face.

“What happened?” I asked.

“You fell,” explained Alejandro, slowly moving to the end of the bed. “You fell, and you hurt your head,” he continued, jaw clenching. He turned his head away, avoiding my gaze.

I remembered what happened.

“Where am I?”

I wasn’t in my bedroom. The room we were in was massive, with a king-size bed and dark-oak furniture. It had a small couch by the bay window as well as an L-shaped table and a chair. There was a coat rack in the corner. The room was simple yet classic and felt strong, masculine. The walls were light gray, making the room feel peaceful and reassuring. The sun was coming through, but it was more the warm, orange color of the beginning of sunset.

“In my room,” answered Alejandro, suddenly searching for my eyes.

I had more questions, but Dolores was gently asking Alejandro to leave the room so I could get a little more comfortable and eat something. Alejandro reluctantly obeyed.

Dolores sat down with a preoccupied look on her face until I was done with the soup she had made me. While I did not feel like eating, the smell of the food revived my senses and made me feel stronger.

When Dolores left, I got lost in my thoughts. I now remembered the events of the night before very well. I had attempted to escape and had once again failed. This time, I had managed to hurt myself. I was still confused, as Juan had attacked me, and I had no idea why.

I didn’t know if it was of his own volition or if Alejandro had ordered him to do so. Alejandro might have gotten tired of having me around and decided to get rid of me when he realized that I might have seen something compromising in his office.

Nevertheless, Alejandro jumping fully clothed into the pool to save me would be inconsistent with him ordering Juan to get rid of me. So would him worryingly hanging out by my bed. I remembered being carried to a room. I remembered people hovering over me.