Chapter Twenty-Four

Alessandro was tossing and turning in bed. It was almost impossible for him to sleep without his angel. He finally gave up and went to his office to get some work done. Hours passed without him even noticing. It was just like it had been before he met Evangeline. He sighed heavily as he leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. He sat there for a few minutes before his phone rang, bringing him out of his thoughts.

He smiled when he saw that it was Evangeline. "Hey, angel," he said softly.

He frowned when she answered. "Alessandro." her voice was throaty and low, almost nonexistent. "Help." She said in the same voice.

He heard a loud noise that had him rushing to his feet. "Angel!" He exclaimed through the phone.

He quickly grabbed his favorite knife, gun, and keys before rushing out of his office and to the garage. "Alessandro?" Dimitri asked in confusion as he ran past them. "Is everything alright?"

"No time to explain," Alessandro said as he rushed past them and straight to his car.

He sped to Evangeline's house and made quick work of disarming the security and traps that she always had set at night. He rushed through the house and up to her room. He barged in and froze in his tracks. He found Evangeline leaning against her bed with her phone laying in her open palm on the floor. Her forearms were both slashed open and he could see blood soaking through her light blue camisole. "Oh, angel." He said in anguish as he rushed to her side.

He quickly checked her cuts before rushing to her bathroom. He grabbed her first aid kit and knelt in front of her with both of his legs on either side of hers. He pressed gauzes to both of her forearms and taped them down before doing the same to her side. Once he was sure all the gauzes were secure on her forearms and side he carefully picked her up and rushed to his car. He laid her down in the backseat before resetting all of her alarms and traps. He knew that she would be pissed if he left her home vulnerable.

He drove like a maniac to get back to his mansion. Once he was right in front of the main entrance he jumped out of the car. He yanked the back door open and gently pulled Evangeline into his arms. He left his car open and running as he rushed inside and straight to the infirmary. "What happened?!" He heard Ivy exclaim from behind him as three sets of footsteps rushed along with him.

He ignored all of their questions as he rushed into the infirmary and set Evangeline on a gurney. He glared at a nurse that was just staring at him. "Quit staring and go get a fucking doctor!" He growled out in anger.

The nurse jumped and quickly rushed to get the doctor. Alessandro gently pushed Evangeline's hair out of her face before gently caressing her face. "Please angel. Please be okay." He whispered into her ear as he leaned over her. "I can't lose you, my angel." He said brokenly.

"What do we have Alessandro?" Dr. Crawford asked as she rushed to his side.

He cleared his throat as he stood up straight, but his hand mindlessly caressed her face as he spoke with the doctor. "She called me a few minutes ago. I found her against her bed. She has deep cuts on both of her forearms and on her side. I don't know what happened but they look self-inflicted. There was also a bloody dagger laying on the floor next to her."

Dr. Crawford nodded as she lifted Evangeline's camisole to check the damage. "I put gauze on her forearms and side to try and slow down the bleeding." He explained quietly.

She nodded and moved to the end of the bed. "Alright. We're going to take her in and stitch her up. You're going to need to stay here. It shouldn't take long." Without waiting for a response she wheeled Evangeline into the operating room.

Alessandro ran his hands through his hair. He groaned when he realized that he now had his angel's blood in his hair. He blew out a rough breath as he slid to the floor next to the door to the operating room. He set his elbows on his knees and put his head in his hands. "You want to tell us what happened?" Alexander demanded as he squatted in front of him.

Alessandro sighed heavily as he lifted his head and looked at Alexander. "I don't know what happened. She was happy when I dropped her off at home. We even talked about her being my saving angel and about her moving in with me." He shook his head as he leaned his head against the wall. "She called me right before I brought her here. The only thing she said was help. Then she passed out from blood loss. I don't know why she did this but I'm just happy that she called me before she passed out. If she hadn't I could have found an entirely different scene."

Alexander exhaled roughly. "I'm glad that she called you then. We just found her." He whispered as he looked at the ground.

Alessandro ran a hand through his hair. "You're not going to lose her. She's a strong woman. She'll be just fine." As he said it he realized that it was just as much for him as it was for Alexander.

They all sat in silence while they waited for Dr. Crawford to come out.

It didn't take long for her to come out. It was only about an hour before Dr. Crawford came out of the operating room. She ran a hand over her face as she stopped in front of Alessandro and Evangeline's family. Alessandro jumped to his feet. "Is she okay?" He demanded.

Dr. Crawford nodded. "Yes. She's absolutely fine." She sighed as she shoved her hair out of her face. "While I was stitching her up I noticed a lot of old scars. Some of them look as if they were inflicted pretty cruelly. I have no idea what that woman has gone through but I do know that she needs help. Scars like that don't come without mentally messing with someone's head. She needs serious help." She said with a shake of her head.

Alessandro closed his eyes as he felt his heartache for his saving angel. He knew that she had demons and that her past always haunted her, but he didn't know that it was as bad as it was. "How can we help her?" Alessandro demanded as he folded his arms over his chest.

Dr. Crawford blew out a rough breath. "Be patient with her. Try to get her to talk but don't push too hard. It may cause her to spiral downward. Which is something that we don't want. Other than that just be there for her and don't let her be alone for too long." She ran a hand through her hair. "I highly suggest that someone is with her at all times."

"Oh, she's not going to like that," Dimitri said with a small chuckle.

Alessandro sighed heavily. "I'll talk to her about this when she's feeling up to it." He looked to Dr. Crawford. "Can we go see her?" He asked softly.

Dr. Crawford nodded. "She's asleep right now but you guys can go in and sit with her."

"Thank you, doctor," Alessandro said before they made their way to Evangeline's room.

They walked into her room and stood around her bed. Alessandro sat on the bed next to her. Without disturbing her he gently moved her hair out of her face. He leaned over her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "What do you think could have caused her to do this to herself?" Ivy asked with a frown as she leaned into Alexander.

Alessandro exhaled slowly as he ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know. I think she may have had a nightmare or something. We won't know until she wakes up." He said sadly.

"It was a nightmare," Evangeline said hoarsely as her eyes fluttered open.

Alessandro leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. "Do you want to talk about it, angel?" He asked in a whisper.

She sighed heavily as she sat up a little bit. "It was a really bad one. I just wanted it to stop. I ended up hitting my hand against my lamp and the pain slightly brought me out of it." She mumbled as she looked at her lap.

"So you grabbed a dagger and started cutting yourself to make them go away," Alessandro said softly as he gently took her hand in his.

She nodded with tears in her eyes. "I didn't even realize what was happening until I was fully awake. That's when I called you." She whispered as she squeezed her eyes shut.

He nodded and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "It'll be okay, angel. We're going to help you. You're not alone anymore Evie." He said softly.

She looked into his eyes as tears gathered in hers. "Thank you, love." She whispered as she leaned her forehead against his and closed her eyes.

He lightly ran his hands through her hair before caressing her face. "I will always be here for you. No matter what, I will not leave your side." He said for her ears only.

She gave him a small smile and pressed a light kiss to his lips. "Do we know how bad the cuts are?" She asked with a frown.

Alessandro sighed. "Dr. Crawford said that you're going to be fine. I'll call her back in though. To be honest I was more worried about actually seeing you."

She let out a small laugh before sobering up as she looked into his eyes. "I'm sorry that you had to see me like that." She said quietly.

He shook his head. "I understand, angel. You have nothing to be sorry for." He reassured her in a gentle tone.

She sighed as she leaned into him, laying her head against his chest.

Alessandro leaned over and pressed the call button for the doctor. While they waited for her Evangeline's family gave her gentle hugs and spoke with her.

Dr. Crawford walked in ten minutes later. "You guys called?" She asked as she stood at the end of the bed.

Alessandro never took his eyes off of Evangeline as he spoke. "Evangeline wants to know how bad the cuts are and whatnot."

Dr. Crawford nodded as she pulled Evangeline's chart out. "Well I can say that you're lucky Alessandro found you when he did. Just a bit longer and I'm afraid you'd either be in a coma or no longer with us. All of the cuts were very deep. We stitched you up but you have to be very careful. Nothing that could tear the stitches and I highly recommend getting plenty of rest." She sighed as she closed her file and set it down. "I am going to give you some painkillers and two different types of cream. One is for the itching. I know that stitches tend to get itchy. The other is to help with the scarring. Cause I am afraid that there is going to be scarring on your forearms and side."

Evangeline sighed. "I don't think I'm going to need that second cream. It's not like I don't already have scars all over my body anyway." She mumbled as she laid her head against Alessandro's shoulder.

Dr. Crawford sighed heavily. "I did notice the scars. I'd still like to give it to you just in case you decide to use it."

Evangeline gave a reluctant nod. "Okay."

"Now I'm not saying that you're on bed rest but you need to take it easy. If you feel like there's anything wrong or if you feel the stitches start to tear, come and see me right away."

Evangeline nodded. "Thank you."

Dr. Crawford gave her a final smile before leaving the room.

Alessandro kissed her temple. "Do you want to stay here angel?" He asked softly.

She scoffed. "Not in the hospital." She mumbled. "I hate hospitals."

He chuckled and held her gently, being careful of her stitches. "That's fine. We can move you to my room."

She sighed as she looked up at him. "I'd love that." She smiled. "I love sleeping in your arms." She whispered to him so quietly that he just barely caught it.

He chuckled and kissed her lips. "I'll get the doctor to come and unhook you from all of these machines."

She nodded and finally let go of him so he could bring the doctor back.

Ivy took his place as he left the room. "I'm so glad that you're okay. You had us worried." She said softly.

Evangeline sighed. "I'm sorry mama." She whispered as she looked down at her hands.

Ivy gently pulled her into a loving hug. "It's okay. You're okay now and that's all that matters." She said in her soothing, motherly tone.

Evangeline swallowed past the lump of emotion in her throat as tears gathered in her eyes. "Thank you, mama." She whispered.

They sat like that until Alessandro came back into the room with Dr. Crawford. "I hear that someone wants to leave the hospital." She said with a smile as she moved to the machines on the other side of the bed.

Evangeline sighed. "Yeah. I'm not a fan of hospitals."

Dr. Crawford nodded in understanding. "Hospitals aren't for everyone."

Evangeline sat quietly while Dr. Crawford took out the needles and tubes that were connected to the machines. It only took a couple of minutes before Evangeline was free to go. "Alright. You're all set. I'm going to assume you'll be in Alessandro's room so I'll have one of my assistants bring up everything once they're ready."

Alessandro smirked at the blush that reddened Evangeline's cheeks. "Oh, she'll definitely be in my room. Thank you doc."

He chuckled as Evangeline's blush went down her neck and over her ears. Dr. Crawford left the room as Richard walked in. "Here's your robe Alessandro." He said as he handed it to Alessandro.

Alessandro grabbed it and gave him a nod. "Thank you." He turned to Evangeline and smiled as Ivy stood up and left the space open for him. "Let's get you to sit up angel. We'll get you wrapped up in my robe and then I'll take you to bed."

"It is pretty late," Ivy said with a small smile. "We'll let you guys get settled and get some rest. We'll see you in the morning baby girl." She said as she looked at Evangeline.

Evangeline smiled at them. "Goodnight guys."

They left the room, leaving Alessandro and Evangeline alone. Alessandro helped her slide her arms into the sleeves before wrapping them around her body. He helped her move to the edge of the bed and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Let's get you to bed, little angel."

He pulled her into his arms with one arm behind her back and the other under her knees. He carried her through the house to his room and gently kicked the door shut. He walked to his bed and gently laid her down. "Stay right here." He said in a soft, yet stern voice.

She giggled as she relaxed against the pillows. "I'm not going anywhere."

He quickly went to the bathroom and got cleaned up before going to the closet and changing his clothes. Once he was ready for bed he joined her. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight enough to make her feel safe, yet gentle enough as not to disturb her stitches. "I know that you've told me everything about your past." He whispered as he stared into the fire that was blazing in the fireplace. "I also know that there are parts that you haven't told anyone. That there are parts of your past that you may feel are too horrific to share but I'm here if you ever do want to talk about them." He said softly.

She blew out a rough breath as she squeezed her eyes shut and snuggled into his side. "You're right. There are parts of my past that I haven't shared with anyone. The parts I haven't shared with anyone are only what they did to me in that torture chamber." She mumbled into his chest. "The only parts of my past that I haven't told anyone is how I got the scars covering my body." She took a deep breath before she continued. "Those are parts of my past that I feel I'm not ready to share yet."

Alessandro lightly ran his fingers over her back and through her hair. "I can understand that angel. Aren't those the cause of your nightmares though?" He asked softly.

She bit her lip as she stared at the wall. "They are but I think there's a way to make them go away." She said softly.

His eyebrows furrowed as he looked down at her. "What would that be?" He asked quietly as he let his fingers lightly run through her hair.

She let out a small sigh. "That night that we slept together on my couch was the first night that I was able to sleep without nightmares." She whispered.

His forehead creased as he thought about what she had told him. "You think that sleeping with me takes your nightmares away?" He questioned in astonishment.

She nodded as she looked up at him with love in her eyes. "Yes." She whispered.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead as he held her close. "If that's true then I'm joyful that you said yes to moving in with me." He said with adoration in his eyes.

She gave him a loving smile. "I love you, Alessandro." She whispered.

He grinned brightly as he leaned down and pressed a featherlight, loving kiss to her lips. "I love you too." He whispered against her lips.

They snuggled together and fell asleep in each other's arms to the crackling of the fire going in the fireplace.