Chapter 3 Hospital Drama

The way Massimo spoke, it was as if he would burn the world down just to protect her.

Arriving at the hospital, Massimo jumped out of the car, helping Talana out, "I've got you," he said, his voice gentler but no less resolute.

Inside, Gianna appeared, her face pale and frantic. "Talana! What happened? Are you okay?"

"We'll tell you everything, just let's get her checked over by the doctor," he reassured her friend.

After the doctor confirmed she hadn't suffered any serious injuries, Max insisted on taking her home. "I don't think that is wise. She needs rest. I would like to keep her in till tomorrow," the doctor instructed.

"Fine, then I will post a guard outside her room," he ordered.

As she lay on the bed, she asked again, "Why are you doing this, Max?" her tone barely above a whisper. "Why do you care so much? You don't even know me."

Max turned to her, his face inches from hers. "You think I don't know you, Talana?" he asked, his voice low and intense. "I've known you from the moment I saw you. I know more about you than even you know about yourself."

He continued, his words searing into her. "You're not just anyone, Talana. You're..." he paused. He dare not reveal too much to her just yet. "You need to rest, but know this: you are strong, even when you don't feel it."

Gianna listened in on the conversation. "What did Max know about Talana's past.

Outside in the waiting area, Gianna collard Max. Talana was now alseep in the hospital bed.

"Who are you? What the hell do you want with my best friend? Why are you involved?" she questioned him angrily.

"Calm down," he urged her gently. "I'm Max." he introduced himself. "I'm the one who saved Talana."

"Saved her?" Confusion in Gianna's eyes.

"Listen, I'm not about to hurt her. There's a lot I can't reveal right now, but Talana means something to me."

"I'm warning you, hurt her just once -"

Max cut her off. "I won't do that."

Later that morning, a million and one messages came through on her phone. All from her father demanding she get home immediately. Ignoring the messages, she asked Gianna, who had stayed the night with her to bring her some water.

"Who are the messages from?" Gianna asked.

"The usual," my dad, "he probably got himself int0

o debt again and needs money," she let out a disgusted chuckle.

The next buzz was an incoming call from an unknown number. Confused Talana answered the call.

Talana pressed the call button and put it on speaker. "Hello?"

A distorted voice on the other end, sending chills down her spine. "Do you think he can protect you? Do you think this is over?" The voice was low, menacing. There was again a familiarity in the voice.

"Listen to me, you piece of shit! You come near me again, and I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your miserable life."

The line went dead.

Talana's breathing was ragged, her chest heaving as she fought back tears. Gianna wrapped an arm around her, "Max needs to know Talana," Gianna insisted.

What do I need to know?" The voice echoed in the room. Max had come back bringing some soup for Talana.

Talana had just finished telling Massimo about the messages from her dad and the phone call when the sister came in to check on Talana.

As soon as the door shut, Gianna rounded on Max. "Spill it. Who are you, and why is Talana suddenly in the middle of some psycho's obsession?"

Max's eyes blazed with frustration, but before he could reply, the door opened again. Talana stood there, pale and shaken, her eyes wide with fresh fear.

"What's wrong?" Max asked, instantly at her side.

"The doctor said..." Her voice broke, and she looked at him, helpless. "They found something-something, something small behind my ear."

Max's blood ran cold. "A tracker?"

Gianna gasped. "What the hell? Who would do that?"

"I can only think it happened at the bar. The first incident when that guy pushed me. But I didn't feel anything," Talana explained.

"Wait, what? This was your second assault?" Gianna raged, her eyes bearing into Max's.

"Wait, I followed Talana at a distance after the incident, I needed to ensure she got home, but I got cut off and didn't reach her the second time in time," he explained, as his mind raced, piecing together the puzzle.

The man at the bar, the phone calls, the eerie sense that someone was always watching. This wasn't random. It was calculated.

"Doc, we need to remove it immediately," Max said, his voice firm. "And then get to the bottom of this."

Talana looked up at them both, her eyes brimming with tears. "Why is this happening to me?"

Max cupped her face gently, his voice softening. "I don't know, angel. But I promise you, I'll stop it. No matter what it takes."

In the operating room, the doctor removed the minute device. Exiting the operating room, he went to Gianna and Max. "This device is not random. This looks very sophisticated and specifically designed for Doctor Fabrizio."

"Can I have the device?" Massimo asked.

The doctor knew he should inform the authorities, but since Talana was a doctor attended hospital, and since Massimo was of the Mafia, he resigned to giving the device to Massimo to deal with.

"Don," the doctor said quietly, "get this bastard for what he has put Doctor Fabrizio through."

"You have my word doc," Massimo promised.

Back in the hospital room, Talana wanted to believe Massimo, but deep down, there was a lingering fear gnawing away at her. Whoever was behind this would not stop until they had what they wanted.

One thing was for sure Talana would not rest till they all got their day.

Gianna stepped out of the room to grab coffee for them, leaving Massimo with Talana.

"Max," she whispered, holding onto him as if he was her last breath.

"It's okay, angel, when we get out of here, you're coming to my place. Where I can protect you," his voice firm and resolute.

"You can't decide that for me," she voiced.

"Oh, Tesoro. I will protect you, not because you ask me, not because you want me to, but because I can't help myself." His hands gripping the sides of her hospital blanket possessively.

"Don't call me that," the words Tosoro did something to her.

"Why, Bella, what does it do to you? Tell me!" his smirk dark and lustful.

"Max!" she warned.

"No, bella mia, you have no idea how much I want to taste you right now!" his tone raw and desperate.

In the past, Massimo wouldn't hesitate to take any woman he wanted, but Talana, she was something else. He enjoyed the prolonged chase.

Massimo slid one hand under the blanket, tracing his fingers along her folds. He could feel her wetness and longed to satisfy the urges between them.

"Soon angel," he promised within himself.