THE FIRST CHAPTER OF SPIN OFF IS OUT! If you guys want some spoilers, go check it out. It's called Only a Surrogate. If not, then wait until Isabella is finished. :))

Anyways, we're coming close to the end now. :(( This chapter actually made me cry. Once again, it's almost 3:00 and I'm up writing just for you guys. So if there are any mistakes, please point them out and I'll fix them when I'm sober. 

Chapter 31

Alessio groaned as he opened his eyes and looked into Ashley's frightened ones. He rolled over to his back and groaned as a searing pain coursed through his leg. He looked down and cursed seeing blood dripping down from the bullet that pierced through his skin.

He looked around the room that began to burn in flames. His eyes widened. Screams echoed throughout the hallway. Frantic shouts and cursing gave him the realization of what just happened. The hospital is under attack.

He stood up, biting his lip to prevent the yell that threaten to come out. He held his hand out for Ashley to take. "We have to get out of here."

Ashley looked at him with fear in her eyes. She grabbed his hand and looked down. Gasping she reached down. "Alessio, you're hurt."

Alessio put his hand out in front of hers. "Don't bother. I've had worse. Come. We need to get you to safety."

Ashley looked at him, worry swimming in her eyes. Nonetheless, she nodded and stood up straighter. She held onto Alessio's hand.

"Cover your mouth and nose." Alessio instructed her.

She did as he told her. Her eyes darted around the room, tears coming to her eyes as the smoke entered them. She blinked. Her eyes down cast to the ground where two bodies laid. She gasped, seeing the mangled body of the nurse tossed on the other side of the room. She turned her head to the end of the bed. A strangled cry left her lips, seeing the bullet that lodged itself in Alessandra's body.

She dropped down to the ground and shook her. "Alessandra." she sobbed. "Wake up, please. Alessandra."

Although Alessandra had been the worst step-mother to gaze the earth, Ashley had forgiven her. She knew that Alessandra was so blinded by hatred but yet still loved her son endlessly. Samuel would not be able to live with himself.

In addition, she risked her life to warn her. Even though she was too late.

"Ashley we have to go."

"No, no, no." she sobbed, holding onto Alessandra's head. "Wake up please. You can't leave like this. Samuel needs you."

"Ashley we don't have time. We must go." Alessio said, bringing her up despite the pain. He knew any added pressure would cause the blood to flow out faster but he didn't care. All he cared about was getting Ashley to safety.

Ashley continued to sob but she allowed Alessio to drag her with him. Her heart continued to break for the woman who sacrificed her life to warn the person who she hated most in the entire world. It had been her way of apologizing to Ashley.

"Ashley!"

Ashley snapped her head and sobbed harder as Samuel ran towards her.

Alessio handed her over to Samuel. "Take her. I need to access the damage."

"You're injured."

Alessio shook his head. "It doesn't matter." he muttered before running off.

Ashley sobbed into Samuel's chest. "A-Alessandra."

Samuel picked her up and carried her bridal style. Ashley wrapped her arms around his neck and continued to cry. He ran down the stairs as the elevators were closed off. "What about her?" he asked, already not liking the answer.

"She's dead." Ashley whispered.

Samuel stopped. His grip on her loosened but he still held her. Ashley removed her head from his chest and saw a tear slip down his cheek. She choke back a sob. "I'm so sorry, Samuel. She risked her life to warn me."

Samuel gulped. He looked down at her, pain swimming in his eyes. "It's not your fault. She accepted her fate." he whispered before continuing to walk down the stairs.

"Samuel, I'm—"

"Don't apologize, Ashley. She might have been my mother but she deserved what came for her. After everything she did." Samuel said angrily.

"Samuel—"

"Drop it." he placed her down on the ground as the stairs ended. He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her through the team of security guards. "Come on. We're taking you home."

Ashley looked at him and nodded her head. She waddled behind him towards their car.

Samuel opened the door for her.

She climbed in and smiled at the driver. Samuel got in after and they took off. "Antonio is waiting for us. Alessio will be moving equipments from the hospital to the house. You'll be giving birth there instead."

Ashley nodded. She winced when she felt a sharp kick to her stomach. Her hands instinctively moved to it while her eyes twitched.

"Are you okay?" Samuel asked, putting his hand on her shoulder.

Ashley released a breath and nodded her head. "Isabella is just a strong kicker."

Samuel nodded his head although he seemed a bit skeptical. He turned to face the window and Ashley saw another tear slip down his cheek.

"Samuel," Ashley whispered.

He turned his head to her. His hand reached up and wiped his eyes. "Yeah?"

"Do you know who was behind the attack at the hospital?" she asked.

Samuel looked at her and nodded his head.

"It was Rafael, wasn't it?" Ashley whispered, holding her stomach tighter.

Samuel sighed and nodded his head. "He came by the house earlier demanding Antonio to allow him to marry you. Of course, Antonio said no. He tried to shoot Antonio but the guards came just in time."

"If he was at the house, how did the bombing happen?" Ashley wondered.

Samuel smiled sadly at her. "You didn't think he was alone did you? His family is dangerous. They killed many people without any remorse."

"I thought papa was friends with his father."

"That was before he found out the truth." Samuel muttered, turning away from her again.

"What truth is that?"

"Rafael's father was the reason why Alessio's mother killed her husband and then committed suicide." Samuel said.

Ashley gasped. "What?" Her head tried to wrap around the new fact. "But how does that relate to papa?"

Samuel turned to her and smiled sadly. "Alessio's father had been Antonio's best friend."

Ashley gulped. "Is that why Alessio is—"

"Yes. But I can't tell you anymore. The rest is up to Alessio to tell you." Samuel smiled at her and caressed her cheek. He kissed her forehead.

"Every bad thing that happened to us, ties back to Rafael and his family, doesn't it?" Ashley whispered as the car stopped in front of their house.

Samuel nodded his head. "I guess it does."

He opened the door and got out. He stood by and waited as Ashley also made her way out of the car. Once she was, he placed his hand over her shoulder and helped her inside of the house.

Ashley felt another kick to her stomach. She groaned and doubled over. "Goddamit Isabella. Why are you doing this to your mama?" she muttered.

"Ashley are you sure it's just—"

"Positive." Ashley wheezed. She waddled over to the couch and dropped down on it. She laid down and closed her eyes. "Give me a few seconds and then I'll get up."

She groaned again. This time, the kick was a lot harder. She stood up, feeling an intense craving.

She looked up at Samuel and saw his pale face. "What?"

He pointed to the ground.

She looked down and her eyes widened at the puddle that laid beneath her.

"Dammit Ash did you pee yourself? Do we need to potty train you again or something?" Frankie asked as he came into the room.

Mayla followed after him. She took one look at the ground before slapping Frankie on the back of his head. "Her water broke!" she shouted.

Her eyes then widened as she snapped her head up to meet Ashley's eyes. "Holy crap your water broke."

Ashley gulped as she looked up at their faces. "What are we going to do now?"

Everyone stayed silent for a while. Frankie stared at Mayla and then at Samuel as if they would magically come up with the answer. "Anyone know how to deliver a baby?"

Samuel and Mayla just looked at each other with wide eyes. Fear of the unknown consumed them.

A piercing cry from Ashley snapped them out of their shock. "Don't just stand there like idiots. Call Alessio." she commanded them.

She screamed again, this time, the pain became double of what she had felt in the car. She moved back against the couch as her breathing became ragged.

Mayla, Samuel, and Frankie stood there, still like a rock.

Ashley groaned to herself and grabbed Mayla's phone that conveniently laid on the coffee table. She opened it up and called Alessio.

"Morcelli." he answered after a few rings."

"My water broke." Ashley cried out.

She heard him cursed at the other end. "Alright I'm on my way. Lay down somewhere with a lot of room. Breathe in and out. Count the time between each contractions."

Ashley nodded her head but remembered that he couldn't see her. "Alright. Please hurry."

She hung up the phone and placed it back on the coffee table. Looking up, she saw the three idiots still standing there. She scoffed and got off the couch and moved towards the guest bedroom on the first floor. She laid down on the bed.

"Someone get me f*cking water." she shouted.

"Oh god she cursed. This is getting serious!" She heard Frankie shout.

She looked down at her stomach and groaned as another contraction hit. Her eyes blurred with tears at the remembrance of her condition. She might not be able to meet her baby but she's going to fight. She's going to fight with everything she has to meet her baby.

Her door slammed open.

She looked up. Her eyes rolled back as she screamed through another contraction. "Goddamit Dante. Now you decide to show up?"

Dante breathed heavily as he entered the room. He quickly moved to her bedside and held his hand out.

She grabbed it and gripped it as tight as she could.

Dante let out a cry of pain but muffled it when he saw the dangerous look on Ashley's face.

"You're experiencing half of my pain right now." she hissed out at him. She closed her eyes and cursed her way through another contraction.

Mayla ran into the room with a glass of water in her hands. She pushed it against Ashley's lips and helped her drink it. "How are you feeling?"

Ashley glared at her. "There is a demon inside of me wanting to get out. How do you think I feel?" she snapped.

Mayla winced.

"It's true what they say. Pregnancy brings out the bitch in someone." Frankie commented, walking into the room.

Ashley flipped him off.

Samuel entered the room next. He got onto her other side and grabbed her hand. He kissed her forehead. "Stay strong. You'll be alright." he whispered.

Ashley nodded her head knowing what he meant. She squeezed his hand. "Where's papa?"

"He's coming down." Samuel responded. "Alessio is coming in soon."

"Am I doing this the natural way?" she asked him.

Samuel looked at her and smiled sadly. "No. They'll be giving you a C-section."

Mayla's face became pale. "In this room? Is that safe?"

"They have the equipments and this is our safest bet right now. Rafael's family had done quite a damage at the hospital. And the next nearest hospital is a three hour drive. We don't have that much time on our hands." Samuel explained.

Ashley gulped and nodded her head. She turned to Dante, fighting through the pain of the contraction. "No matter what, love her." she whispered.

Dante shook his head. "Don't say that."

"You have to let her know every single day that she is loved. You have to be strong for her. Be the hero that she needs." A tear slipped down her eyes. "Let her know that I love her and that I'll be watching over her."

"Ashley," Mayla whispered. She stood next to Dante and reached down to wipe the sweat off Ashley's forehead. "You'll be okay."

Ashley smiled at her and looked around the room. "I know that you guys will do a wonderful job at raising her. I can go knowing that she will be loved by each and every one of you."

"Stop spurting such bullshit." Frankie choked out. For the first time, Ashley saw tears streaming down his face. The strongest boy she knew was crying for her. "You're not going to die. Stop acting as if you are."

Ashley laughed. Her face contorted to one filled with pain but she still kept the smile on her face.

Her father came into the room with Elena behind him and hastily went to her side. He reached down and pushed her hair out of her face. "My daughter."

"Papa." she whispered. "I love you."

Antonio shook his head. "No, you're not doing that to me. Not today."

"Piccola." Elena whispered.

"Elena," Ashley smiled, "you were the only mother figure in my life. From day one, you raised me and made me feel loved. I don't know who I would have turned out to be without you, Elena."

"Ashley, stop talking like this. You're not dying on us." Samuel whispered.

"I want you to all know that I love you, no matter what. I want my daughter to experience the love that I had." She looked at smiled and every single person. "Give her the life that she deserves. One full of happiness."

Samuel shook his head and released her hand. "I'll go wait for Alessio. Hang on Ash."

He looked at her with pain in his eyes and left.

Ashley choke back a sob. "Let my daughter know about me. Let her know how much I love her."

"Ash, come on." Frankie begged, taking Samuel's spot.

"Promise me you'll love her." She whispered, looking at them through blurred eyes.

Dante kissed her cheek and caressed her hand. His face was tear-stained. "We promise." he whispered.

Ashley smiled and closed her eyes knowing her daughter would be in good hands.   

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Remember the chapter where I asked you guys who you would kill off? Well you answered and I delivered. Bye Alessandra, my favorite character out of the whole book. I honestly hate everyone else LMAO!

Anyways hope you guys enjoy that chapter. 

Love you all of my lovely owlers! 

~Amber <3 <3 <3