Page 42 of She Found Me

The midwife places my baby on my chest. Our eyes lock, and she gives me the last bit of myself. “Marco.”

I cry with happiness into my daughter. She is the image of him. His eyes, his nose. She’s beautiful. I can’t believe we created this amazing human. My heart aches for Marco. He must think I am dead or I am sure he would have come for me. As I stare into the eyes of my daughter, I’m filled with gratitude. After all the months of not knowing who I am, she found me. Marco is going to have the shock of his life. This whole situation is mind blowing. I know there are going to be hard times ahead. But with my daughter in my world, I can face anything. My name is Mia Alboni, and I am a woman of the Guerra Mafia.

“She is beautiful, just like her mummy,” the midwife coos at my side.

“Oh, that’s all her father. She is just like him.” I smile.

“Have you thought of any name yet?” she asks.

“I haven’t decided. I’d like to speak to her father before I make that decision.”

“Oh, good—I thought that when you said Marco when she was born, you were naming her that. Marco’s a nice name for a boy, but not a pretty girl like her,” the midwife admits.

“Don’t worry, that’s not her name. It’s’ her father’s name. Her father is Marco Guerra.”

As the words leave my mouth, the door to the room opens with a creak. My heart floods with emotion when I see who stands in the doorway.

Chapter 24

Marco

The force of my knocking has opened the door to the house. It mustn’t have been closed properly. Pushing it open with my crutch, I enter. Although I know I have never been in this house before, it somehow feels familiar. The first door I get to is the bathroom. A bathroom I have seen before. It is almost an exact replica for Mia’s bathroom. The tiles on the walls are the same, the flooring exactly the same. The bath and shower are so similar, I swear I’m at her house in Italy. Continuing through the house, I enter the living room. Again this room has a very Mia feel to it. The colours and soft furnishings are just as Mia has at home.

When I make my way into the kitchen, I see a man restrained to a chair, duct tape around each leg, fastening them to the chair’s. The tape around his hands and body holds him tight, preventing any movement. A small piece covers his mouth. I smile to myself; If the house furnishings weren’t a positive confirmation that this is where Mia has been living, the situation of the man in front of me certainly proves she was here. I taught her well.

Taking in the pathetic man in front of me, I can’t help but feel immense anger for him keeping my Mia away from me. I have no idea how he has treated her since she has known him, but it’s obvious from the way he is restrained today that he hasn’t been the perfect gentleman.

I rip the tape from his mouth, hoping it stings like hell.

“Eric Wake, I presume.” I stand in front of him as he takes in my size.

His eyes are wide, and his body shakes in fear. “Who are you?” he asks.

“I am your worst fucking nightmare,” I reply, meaning every word. “Where is Mia?”

“I don’t know who you mean,” he lies.

I thrust my crutch into his chest with so much force, his chair falls backwards and his head hits the floor. He cries out in pain at the impact. Then I return him to a sitting position by pulling the chair leg towards me.

“I will ask you again. The woman who has been living here with you—where is she?” I demand, hoping he answers, otherwise I don’t think I can restrain myself from torturing him for the information I need. I don’t think that would go down too well with the police who are waiting outside.

“She’s gone to the hospital. General Hospital, I would think,” Eric says, seeming genuine.

Although I want to inflict pain on this man who has had a hand in keeping me away from my Mia, I don’t have time. I need to get to the hospital. We leave Eric with the police and head straight there.

“Did he say why she had gone to the hospital?” Van enquires when he pulls the car into the hospital car park.

“No. I’ll just go to the main entrance and give her name. You both wait here. Once I’ve found her, I will call you to come in.”

At the desk I give her name. “Mia…. Actually, try Arianna Wake.”

“Ahh, yes. Straight down to the bottom of the corridor, turn left through the double doors, and then she will be in the first door on the left.”

“Thanks,” I say, hoping I can remember all those directions.

The closer I get to her room, the slower my pace gets. What do I say to her? What if she doesn’t recognise me? Do I tell her who I am? I should have discussed this with Leo and Van. But I push my worries aside, knowing that the most important thing is that she is safe and well. Everything else, we can sort out in time. Placing my hand on the doorhandle, I take a deep breath. As I lean against the door to open it, I hear my Mia’s voice. A sound that fills me with life. It’s like my heart begins to beat fully again.

Her next words have my head spinning.

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