Landing at the restaurant's destination was smooth. Alessi had reserved special parking earlier in the morning, making things a whole lot easier. Earlier on the road Less had caught onto Natalia’s worries, but she had pushed them aside so the man had as well. The car was parked closer to the doors of the restaurant and once the engine stopped the dapper young man’s focus turned to Natalia once more, his right arm resting against the armrest located in the middle of the two front seats, his eyes looking over her form once before catching her eyes. A small, reassuring smile blossomed on his lips and his tone came out both smooth and leveled.

“We’ll be fine, princess… I dont want you worrying about things like that- you have me after all.”

Less’s lips pulled up further into an almost cocky smile and he turned, unlocking his door and pushing it out as he slid out, adjusting the cuffs of his suit before slamming the driver's door shut. He walked around the back of the lavish black vehicle, his gaze falling on the delicate frame of Natalia, whose car door was being opened by a young man in a grey and white suit- a valet. Alessi nodded his thanks to the boy before holding his arm out for Natalia to take again. When she did the two started for the entrance of the extravagant-looking restaurant. On their way up the steps Less found himself glancing down at the dazzling young woman, whose eyes had gone wide at the appearance of the restaurant exterior. This made Alessi’s eyes turn ahead, a ghost of a smile fanning his lips. The pair was led into the diner, the warm air of the restaurant engulfing their forms as they moved their way to a table- the white linen that covered it glowing to some degree under the candlelight. Alessi pulled out one of the chairs swiftly and gestured for the young lady to take a seat, once she had taken her place, the man adjusted the chair back to its original place before taking his seat across from the table.

The waiter had set their menus down in front of the two, placing a crystal glass in front of both of them and filling it with water. Alessi had taken his menu and was in the process of looking at the different dishes when Natalia spoke softly, causing him to glance up briefly before looking back down. A faint smile was on his lips as he continued to read through the menu. After a couple of moments of silence, Less placed the tariff down and ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. Finally, he replied.

“I suppose I could’ve taken you to a fast food restaurant… but that’s not exactly my forte.

He shrugged and downed the water in the glass in front of him,

“I dont know- consider it a peace offering, I suppose? I mean- yeah…yeah.”

His brows furrowed as he tried to find words, but he couldn't seem to get them out so he just left it like that. Truthfully, and if this wasn't obvious before, Alessi didn’t think Natalia was terrible… unlike her father. It had been unfortunate that she had to have been the one taken away from everything she knew…or didn't know. And to be quite honest, Less had…no, has been enjoying her company. She wasn't what the man had expected. And he wasn't sure how to feel about it all yet.

The waiter had come to take their orders and it wasn't long before he arrived back with the platters of food. This restaurant was known for its impeccable service, and they- once more- were living up to it. Alessi’s plater of Fettuccine Alfredo was placed in front of him, Natalia’s order in front of her and the waiter filled up their glasses with the wine that Less had placed a reservation for tonight. The waiter left the bottle of wine in the middle of the table and informed the two that if they should need anything else at all just to call him over. Alessi thanked the middle-aged man and turned to face Natalia once more, who spoke in a teasing tone. Browse rising briefly, Alessi chuckled softly, shaking his head softly as he reached for the glass. Yes…princess treatment. She deserved it all… Alessi blinked, his eyes narrowing at his own hands ever so slightly before he undid the wrapping of his utensils and twisted his fork slowly into the steaming hot noodles, lifting it to his mouth and taking a bite with a sigh. The rest of the time at the restaurant was quite enjoyable. The two ate plenty, drank…probably two or three refills each of the wine provided, and spoke about a variety of topics. Natalia and Less finished up their dinner, the man paid, and sometimes as the pair were making their way out of the restaurant- Alessi suggested that they take a small detour to one of the higher-end pubs for a drink or two (In reality it would have been quite a bit more that one or two beverages).

The two arrived at the bar in a little bit less than twenty minutes, and both discussed and laughed on the way there, Natalia's arm intertwined with Less’s. When they arrived at the pub there was a decent amount of people waiting for entry in the front, however, upon giving his name Alessi and Natalia were let in and the man swiftly led the young woman to the quieter VIP area. Natalia’s choice of beverage had been old-fashioned- something Alessi wasn't personally expecting. The young man ordered himself an Angelo Azzurro- he’d had maybe one of these before, but it had been a while and he needed something to wake him up… A couple of drinks in the pair were chatting, their sudden bursts of cachinnation earning them a couple looks as others walked in. It didn't matter nearly as much to Alessi as it would have if he were a bit more sober.

The both of them, however, couldn't seem to simply have a good time together out in public… and this wasn't any different. A sharp and disturbingly familiar voice rang out behind the two whose backs were faced towards the voice as they sat at a small round table. Alessi froze, his shoulders tensing, his hand gripped firmly around the glass he was holding as he turned slowly to who he knew was indeed Harper Coralie. Accompanied by who Alessi could only assume was her new boyfriend, the slender woman wore a tight-fitting, strapless bloodred dress, and a small diamond necklace around her pale neck. Her lips were bright red and pulled into a tight, malicious smirk as she finished her sentence. Less leaned back against his chair, his expression matching the woman's quickly except for his cat-like smile. He watched as the black-haired woman looked him up and down quickly before her attention turned to Natalia, who was now facing her as well, a rather nasty-looking smile forming on her lips as well. The man was about to speak when surprisingly enough, Natalia spoke first.

Alessi did have to ask himself if what he was hearing was coming from the precious young woman who was now beside him. It shocked him even more when that was confirmed, Natalia spoke again. Then Harper. The Natalia. This went on for a couple of minutes, their conversation well-mannered as they practically spit insults at each other. It was quite amusing actually and Alessi found himself trying to conceal a smile that threatened to grow each time he saw Harper take in the disparaging remarks being shot right back at her. Less was also surprised that Natalia had this in her… I mean- he hadn't expected her to have it in her. But he found himself growing to like this kind of Natalia more with every insult. Somewhere in the woman's “conversation”, Natalia’s energy shifted. Alessi only now noticed how close she had gotten in proximity to himself, his head turned to look down at her. The woman was smiling up at him, her eyes sparkling up at him as her delicate hand reached up to cup his cheek. Alessi’s brow furrowed ever so slightly but he really didn't have time to think before her lips were pressed against his. The kiss had been deep. And passionate. And too goddamn short. The man found himself leaning in to carry on as she pulled away. Alessi’s eyes shot open suddenly and his gaze darted from Natalia, whose eyes were still on his, and the absolutely stunned woman behind her. Harper's mouth was slightly agape before she blinked and seemingly remembered that there were other people around, fixing her face quickly. Her eyes seemed to try to burn a hole in the back of Natalia’s head as the girl under him spoke.

Alessi actually hadn't completely processed what Natalia had said, his eyes focussing on her lips for a good long moment before he blinked and nodded, his voice coming out slightly husky but also quite calm. Almost like he was forcing it as the man's deep pools of blue bore into her glossy gaze.

“Yes, of course, darling.”

The two had walked passed the pair in front of them with ease, Harper hadn't attempted to stop them and when Alessi took a glance in her direction she was only just then turning to face her new significant other, a dazed look on her face. Less was the one ahead and leading them both down the different halls of the pub, he really hadn't noticed how many halls there had been when they walked in. There was hardly anyone around as well… Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it had been the burning itch to spite his ex, or maybe he had even wished the last to have been longer- but he hadn't really thought too deeply when he made the sharp turn into one of the dark hallways. He hadn't really been thinking when he had turned to the woman behind him and leaned her against the wall, one arm placed on the space above her and the other on the nape of her neck. He hadn’t been thinking about anything other than how much he needed to taste her kiss once more when his lips crashed against hers. His lips moved fiercely against hers and her sharp and surprised gasp only drove him on. It should be illegal how sweet she tasted, how addicting kissing Natalia was. He shouldn't like it. He shouldn't like how his hand moved down from her neck and to her waist, pulling her against him. He shouldn't like how this feels…to hear her gasping for air every few seconds into the kiss, to be running his hands down her structure, to be feeling her…. But he does.

There was a sharp, surprised gasp that sounded from down the hall and everything seemed to freeze. Alessi’s lips lifted slowly off of Natalia’s, his hands stayed at her neck and waist, his eyes staring down at her as he breathed raggedly. He slowly looked up, his gaze meeting the silhouette of none other than… you guessed it, Harper Coralie herself.

Natalia felt proud, proud of the look she received from Harper. Natalia had won, for now at least. She couldn’t stand that stupid little smirk her bright lips held, it burned a fire in her chest but she got what she deserved. Natalia gave Harper a smirk as she soon followed behind Alessi just a step, his arm back, fingers intertwined with hers as he led the way. Her heart pounded within her chest, still trying to settle from what her mind had forced her to do. She couldn’t complain too much, that kiss was…addicting. Just as it had been at the lake, her mind screaming for more.

Alessi led them down the corridors, left, right, left, right. The building was a maze for their intoxicated minds. Natalia just followed like a lost puppy, her smile never leaving those bright red lips. Her mind was in a haze, not there in the moment as the two slipped down the brick halls. But there was something that instantly pulled her back into the moment.

Less pulled her down a darker lit hallway, clearly just one that led to storage and not the main path. Her eyes looked to his as he turned, his form backing her to the wall behind her. Those golden orbs of hers burned into his eyes as his arm reached above her, his shadow towering over her. A shiver rushed through her skin as his free hand slipped to the nape of her neck, her breath seeming to flutter. Natalia didn’t even have a chance to breathe or blink before his lips crashed against hers deeply. It was as if his lips craved hers. A small gasp escaped her lips, her breath upon his skin. This only brought on the craving more, for both. A smile crept on her lips, her hands slipping over his shoulders, holding his body close to her own. Another soft breath escaped her smiling lips as his strong hands slid down her sides and to her waist, his grasp possessive. The two fought for a breath in between each crash but it didn’t stop them. This wasn’t just some side fling make out season, this was one of lust. One of passion. Maybe some would say one of…love. It was no surprise when a woman’s shocked gasp echoed down the hall. Anyone would be quite caught off guard, but of course the witness was the perfect one, Harper.

Alessi and Natalia paused, their lips pulling away as their eyes looked deep into one another’s, a fire burning on both of their eyes. They were quiet for a moment, just taking in each other's gaze before Alessi slowly looked to see who had caught them. Natalia’s eyes followed his gaze, a smile instantly pulling onto the corners of her lips as she saw his ex. She held back a chuckle at the expression she could faintly see, and she knew how to make it better. Natalia looked back to Alessi, her hand slipping from behind his shoulders to his cheek once again. She gently pulled his gaze back to her, meeting his eyes once again. “Don’t look at her, just me” she whispered, her tone one of lust. She pulled his face to her, meeting his lips once again, her free hand slipping up his neck and to his hair. Her smile only grew as she heard the huff of Harper and the sharp click of her heels skittering away. Now she had truly won.

Who knows how long the two had been in that ball, time was not important at that moment. Luckily no one else had caught them. Once the two had finally parted lips and decided it was best to head home, Natalia took his arm once again as he led them out, a smile on both of their faces. Once outside, Natalia’s hand had gravitated from his arm to his own, their fingers intertwining as they walked.

The two slipped down a side road as a shortcut, one that wasn't a sketchy alleyway, it was just empty at that time of day. Alessi had reassured her earlier nothing would ever happen to her again like their first outing, and she believed him. This night had gone so well. The two made it just a little past halfway down the side road, laughing and joking about the look on Harper’s face that night. It must have been a signal. Their laughs echoed through the alley before a deafening, sharp tone replaced it. Natalia fell silent, her hand slipping from Alessi’s. He had made it just a step or two ahead of Natalia when he stopped to look back at her.

Natalia stood frozen in the middle of the alley, her eyes as wide as ever as she looked at him. Her mouth was agape just a bit, her tanned skin growing pale. A shadow shifted a few feet back from her, the figure hiding in the shadows. Nothing had registered to Natalia in the moment at first, her body just stood there. After she realized the sound that rang in her ears, the pain began to radiate through her chest. “Le….Less?” She questioned faintly, her eyes leaving his as she slowly looked down to her chest. Her black dress concealed it at first, showing nothing. That was until Natalia’s shaky hands touched her chest, pulling them away to see blood. She had been shot.

“You are the fucking whore” a sharp voice echoed from the other end of the alley, Harper’s form coming into view in the dim light. “Think you can make a fool out of me? Think you can take control of him from me?” She added as she slowly stepped a bit more into the light, a pistol in her hand. Natalia didn’t move, her eyes stayed looking at her chest as she touched the wound again, blood pooling on her skin. She looked back up to Alessi, her eyes growing watery. “I….” Words couldn’t seem to form. Blood slowly began to trickle from the corner of her lips and from her nose, the deep red color staining her tanned skin. “I…I…” she began to stutter, her voice shaky as she got light headed, her breath hitching. Natalia fell to her knees, her hands holding the wound in her chest as blood trickled over her skin.

Alessi was more than a little bit surprised when Natalia brought his attention back to her. Or really, what surprised him was how she did it. Harper- after seeing this- let out an exasperated huff before turning on her heel and storming down the hallway, away from the two. Natalia’s words were both breathless and lustful, her touch gentle but indigent as she turned his head down to meet her lips once more. Her hand left his jaw and moved up into his hair, pulling him further into the kiss. Alessi’s own hands were on the crook on her waist, his hand wrapped gently around her neck as the kiss deepened. Less found himself loosing track of time as this went on… who knows how long they were in that hallway, but when the two finally did stop and decide it might be best to head home before Alessi’s parents started worrying about them, they walked out of the pub- the cool air whipping onto their grinning faces. It had gotten late enough that the stars were out, the moon shining down onto the two figures that took a presumed short cut down a side road. There wasnt anyone around in this time of night so it was easy to hear their laughter. It was almost too quiet… but the both of them wouldnt take noticed of this fact until a while later, when the need for company would be unbearably necessary.

Natalia’s hand had been intertwined with Alessi’s ever since they had made their way out of the pub, her smooth skin and long, elegant fingers interlaced with his own large, calloused left hand. They were about halfway down the side roads walkway when the sudden absence of Natalia’s hand disappeared from Less’s grasp. His brows furrowed and he stopped, speaking softly as he turned around slowly,

“Is something wrong-”

Yes. Something was tremendously wrong. Alessi found himself looking upon the startled young woman. She had seemed to be frozen in motion and her pretty doe eyes had seemed to suddenly widen. Alessi was about to whip around to see what had given the woman such a shock but the sharp sound of a gunshot rang through the empty side road. He hadn't had time to react. It was so dark outside that Alessi couldn't even tell if anyone had been shot… Natalia didn't seem to be moving, still frozen in place. That's when he saw it. The blood. The young woman's dark-fitting dress had concealed the dark red fluid at first but when Natalia had removed her hands from her chest, the look of horror that dawned upon her face was unmistakable… that and the clear appearance of the blood that she had pulled away onto her hands. She had looked up at him, her eyes wide as saucers as she spoke faintly- her voice shaky and in the tone of a question. Alessi was frozen to the spot he stood, his lips parted slightly in shock as his eyes raked upon her form. Natalia had been shot.

He couldn't move. He was frozen. He was stuck watching the horrific scene unravel in front of him. Alessi hadn't moved an inch to even turn around as the sharp voice of Harper sounded behind him, he only paled- his skin going stock white as not only did the revelation that his exe of now a year had shot the girl he was now kind of obsessing over but also because of the fact that blood was now trickling out of both the brunettes lips and nose. He had seen scenes like this before at work… but it was a whole different experience to be the person caring for the victim. Alessi needed to do something. Something… The young man slowly turned, his expression the same. Shocked. Harper neared the two, her pistol still raised as she moved closer to Alessi- her lips twisting into a cruel smile at the dull thump of what Alessi could only imagine was Natalia’s body crippling over. There were soft footsteps behind the woman as well- a dapper-looking young man Alessi recognized as the woman's new boyfriend, stepped from the shadows, hands in his pockets as he looked over the scene with a placid expression plastered on his face. The pistol in the woman's hand had been slowly raised to the Less’s chest. The man didn't move. Didn't speak… Nothing. And he could tell this was getting on the woman's nerves because of the grotesque sneer that moved onto her lips as she spoke.

“I really do feel bad… for not doing this earlier. But your brother's party didn't seem like a proper setting and I wanted to have a few nice drinks tonight, so I didn't bother firing in the pub.”

She let out a long, high-pitched sigh and he could feel her eyes raking up and down his body- a small sputtering noise that Alessi really didn't want to believe was Natalia coking on her own blood- and the woman's eyes flitted to the ground a few paces behind him. Something… Then, a small design blossomed into his head. He didn't have time to think it through. This could go horribly wrong, ending in both Natalia and Less gasping their last breaths in the backroad, or it could go wonderfully. The man didn't really have a choice. Natalia was injured, and from the looks before, the bullet had hit right under her clavicle, her breathing was rugged and coming out in sharp, wheezing breaths as she attempted to breathe through the liquid that was filling her esophagus. No. Alessi didn't have to think about if he actually wanted to do this or not. Hell, he’d wanted to do this for a long time.

As Harper’s attention darted from the man she had at gunpoint to the young woman on the ground behind him, Alessi had only a moment to react. Before he could think about his actions more thoroughly, Less found his knee ramming into the ribcage of the woman in front of him, the response being a sort of whine/wheeze as Harper hissed a curse, her head snapping up to him- her expression absolutely livid,

“You son of a b-”

The black-haired girl’s face changed from a flurry of emotions; anger, confusion, shock, realization, and finally panic-striken. Alessi stood in front of his ex, posture straight and tense as his arm extended to reveal the shiny black pistol that Harper had dropped in the process of clutching her middle. Her eyes frantically darted to the concrete where Alessi thought she was thought she was going to find the item she dropped. When she didn't, Harper slowly looked up- a pathetic smile on her lips, one that teetered on the edge of being petrified. She took a small step backward, tripping on the curb slightly as she let out a nervous chuckle. Alessi’s brow rose, a slow smirk crawling onto his own lips.

“You know what? There are a number of reasons why…I should kill you right now. However…”

He clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, twirling the pistol between his fingers as he watched her. She saw Harper swallow, and she froze. Probably deciding whether to attempt to run or to talk him out of doing what he was planning. There was a small spark of hope in her eyes at the last word, soon to be quickly diminished with his next statement.

“I dont think you deserve that, do you?”

His head cocked to the side before shaking his head with a sigh, firming his grip on the side arm he had in his right hand. He noted the small shake of her head. Damn, she thought…

“No. You don’t deserve something so quick.”

The realization must of hit her like a bullet train when the click of the pistol sounded, Alessi moved the firearm from the paling woman to the young man to her side. Hesitation didn't seem to exist at that very moment. Bam. Bam. Bam. A scream. Not from the blonde man whose eyes were currently focused on Alessi, his expression stunned before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed. Three clean shots- one to the chest, two to the head... No, the piercing scream came from the throat of Harper, who had taken a step forward in an attempt to reach for the man's corpse. Alessi’s expression changed to one of disgust at the sight of the young man’s form- bent back with an expression that could haunt anyone else’s nightmares. Blood streamed quickly and evenly onto the pavement and Less couldn't help his scoff. The bloke couldn't have fallen onto the barrels on the side, could he? Now the sidewalk would be stained. Alessi’s attention slowly moved back to Harper, whose face had changed from horror and anguish to something very unladylike. Her head turned to Alessi, a snarl exiting her mouth as she charged him. He was a good couple of feet from the girl, rolling his eyes and firing another bullet, this one landing straight into her upper thigh. Another agonizing scream left Harper's mouth, she stumbled, leaning against the brick wall of one of the side buildings in the sideroad. She struggled and it actually surprised Less that she had attempted to rush at him again, earning another bullet to her right calf. A sharp wheeze, a harrowed, muffled scream that was sounded through her teeth as she let out a hiss- finally stopping her pursuit.

Alessi bit at the inside of his cheek as he walked towards the gasping woman, his brows furrowing as he looked down upon her form. His lips pursed, his eyes emotionless. She might have been pleading for something, for help. For him to help her. He didn't hear her. He couldn't hear anything over the words that Harper had spat throughout… everything. Their regular arguments, their final disagreement, the ugly comments she would make while passing, the insults she had spat at Natalia earlier tonight and a few moments ago. Whore. Bitch. Slu…. Alessi’s neck cracked as he rolled in back and around, his jaw clenching as the words replayed in his mind. No- this bitch wasn't going to be allowed the mercy of being let go. She was going to die. And it would be Alessi who got the honor of hearing her last breath. The young man moved closer to the woman who was now shaking with the attempt to steady herself. Alessi stood in front of her now, his eyes searching hers for something he didn't quite know what he’d thought he find. Something apologetic? No… there was nothing but hate in these eyes. His fingers brushed against her smooth, pearly white skin with a sigh.

“It's hard to believe I actually thought I loved you, Harper….”

Alessi leaned in, his breath fanning her lips as she let out a small whimper- the thought disgusted him. She still wanted him after everything she did to him. She broke his heart many times. Cheated many times before Alessi found out. She loved him still, and the thought made him want to hurl. She breathed quickly, her eyes on his lips- which were now a small frown.

“I’ll see you in hell, darling.”

The nickname came out bitter. Mocking. His hand had risen from his side, the point of the gun pressed to the underside of Harper's jaw and for a moment her mouth opened as if to say something. The bullet was fired before anything could escape her mouth. Dark red blood had splattered onto his face and he sneered, wiping the fluid from his mouth with the back of his suit's cuff. Disgusting. Alessi let the woman crumple to the ground, taking a step back and standing there for a moment. His breath came out slow and controlled. Then his eyes widened, Natalia.

Alessi was over to the woman in only a few long strides. His eyes quickly scanned her form. Her eyes were shut and her breathing labored as her hand covered her chest where only more blood flowed from the bullet wound hidden by her dress.

“Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit….”

Alessi pulled off his top suit, fumbling with it until he was able to tear off one of its long sleeves. The young man dropped the suit to the ground and placed the extra cloth to his lap, quickly- his fingers found the point at the side of Natalia’s next where her heartbeat beat slowly. She wasn't dead. She had passed out, probably from the shock of it all. An overwhelming feeling of relief flooded Alessi’s senses. She wasn't dead…yet. And with that thought, Less quickly got to work. Starting with the wound, Alessi narrowed his eyes- this was a beautiful dress. It was a pity that he needed to ruin it. He bent over the young woman's form, his hands moving to the v-part of the dress- a sudden ripping sound came from the now torn piece of fabric. The bullet didn't appear to leave the other side of Natalia’s body… it was buried deep though and Alessi wasn't nearly trained enough to be able to perform anything on her, especially here. The manor nurses would need to deal with that. His brows furrowed, all he could do was try and stop the bleeding- so he did so. He grabbed for the black sleeve he had ripped off and pressed it securely against the bleeding wound. He pressed into it with the back of his hand and though tedious, the process did end up slowing the bleeding a good amount. He had ripped the other side of his suit off, changing it to the cloth placed against her. He wrapped it around her chest, a difficult process but when he had finally finished Alessi carefully picked her up from the ground.

He made it swiftly to his car, placing Natalia on the back seats lying down, thankfully nobody was around to see the sight and Alessi was able to leave for the manor soon after. On the way, the young man had made a phone call.

“Yes- yes… meet me in the back of the manor. I need you to take care of someone for me… It bad.”

As the shock rolled through her body, so did the pain, one she had never felt before. Her chest burned as if fire was in her skin, it felt as if someone had punched her with all their might. Natalia stayed on her knees for a moment, her breathing rapid and shaky. It was as if she had blacked out but was still conscious, she couldn't hear anything but the high pitched ringing in her head. Her eyes stayed locked onto her hands coated in blood, the liquid thick and warm as it began to puddle below her. Slowly she looked up after hearing another gunshot, watching as Harper’s boyfriend crumbled to the ground. Her vision was starting to blur, her lungs unable to get air as she choked on her own blood, the taste metallic on her tongue. Tears started to drip down her cheeks, mixing with the blood that streamed on her nostrils and mouth. She was drowning, her panicking only making it worse. It was becoming harder and harder to keep her eyes open, to breathe, to do anything. To stay alive. But something held her on, something forced her to keep taking each breath. It was for Alessi.

Natalia’s body finally crumbled the rest of the way to the ground, her legs buckling farther, her back hitting the cold, hard ground below. Her eyes slipped closed, her body exhausted, tired of fighting. But there it was in the back of her mind, screaming from a dark void. Her flickering mind just kept telling her, over and over and over, “Just one more breath”. It was so hard, so hard to keep fighting but it would be so easy to just give up, to fall into the dark void. It was an awful sound, the gurgle of blood in her throat as she coughed through each breath. The blood ran down her cheeks and onto the ground beside her, the puddles merging with the blood running from her chest. She could hear something faint, talking? She couldn’t make it out but she could understand the sound of another gunshot. Was it Alessi? Or Harper? She wouldn't know. Was this really how she was about to die?

Everything went cold, it went dark, it went silent. The adrenaline had fizzled out and the shock set in. The blood loss taking its toll. The bullet had missed any organs but it must have hit a main artery with the amount of blood that pooled around her body. A faint shock ran through her veins as she could barely feel Alessi begin to tend to the wound, pressing hard to stop the bleeding, wrapping something tight around her. As she was placed in the back seat she was slowly coming to again, but barely. The pain radiated again in her chest, her eyes blurred with tears. She tried to cry, she tried to speak but it was just a horrible sound as she began to choke again. She wanted to call out for Less but no words came out, just a struggled breath.

True shock began to set in, her heart rate rising quickly, her body shivering from the chills, her breath rugged. How long could her body withstand this? They knew how her health was, how her heart had failed in the past. Would she last much longer? It didn’t seem so.
As they flew up the manor driveway, her heart rate was rapid, her breath held struggling cries within them as she tried to breath through the blood, only to fail. She could faintly feel the change in pavement below as they reached the manor, her body barely hanging on. “Come on, you're almost there, just stay alive” her mind kept screaming, the voice fading quickly. She couldn't do it, it hurt too much, it was too hard. The car halted quickly as the woman took her final struggled breath, her heart giving into the darkness. Her fists slowly fell open, her long slender fingers uncurling and falling flat. Her chest ceased to rise as the door flung open, Alessi swiftly lifting her limp form in his arms. Her head fell back, her long curls draping over his arm, her long lashes no longer moving. The skin around her lips and eyes slowly lost their color, paling as her skin lost its warmth. The voices became muffled, life dripping from her with each drop of blood.

There was nothing.

Natalia was rushed inside, Alessi frantic as he held her lifeless form in his arms. Natalia had no recollection of anything that had happened. For her it felt like hours of darkness and silence. Then there was a shock, one of lightning as her body gasped for air. Her heart was beating once again, someone had saved her. She was still out of it as the bullet was removed from her body and she was stitched up, but she could hear all around her, mumbled talking, the sound of metal instruments hitting the pans, everything seemed so loud now. She could recognize the feeling of an IV being placed in her arms and little things, her mind yelling at her to wake up but it just couldn't. The pain had faded away thanks to the help of medications, her breathing no longer labored as she didn't choke on blood, though the metallic taste still lingered. Was this heaven? Had she died? Time would only tell.

The manor’s nurses had worked on her for a while, Alessi had been kicked out of the room at the sight of the woman who was limp in his arms. He would be no help there, his panic would just get in the way. He had no clue if she was alive or dead but there was nothing he could do. A maid led him to his room, telling him to wash up and just stay calm. Natalia was brought to her room after, a maid changing her from the bloodied evening gown, cleaning up her face and arms, settling her into bed before she went to alert Alessi. There was a faint knock on his door before she peeked through. She was silent at the sight of the man, her brows furrowed. Confused. Alessi who presented himself so strong and put together looked as if he had crumbled, as if his world had been shattered. “She… She is okay, she is resting now, sir” The maid said quietly. Her eyes moved away from him before she closed the door and was off. Natalia was alive.

The drive back to the family manor had felt like an eternity- even with the reassurance of the nurse on the earlier call who spoke, saying everything would be prepared as soon as they arrived. Alessi’s heart was beating uncontrollably, his hands were clammy and there had been a few droplets of sweat that had cascaded down the side of his face from his temples. The young man was well over the speed limit, the black car speeding down the fairly desolate, extremely long roads that led to the place he was headed. Natalia had been coughing- no, choking on her own blood not ten minutes ago. Thankfully it did seem like the bandage had helped stop the bleeding a tad bit- but not nearly enough. Less had taken a glance at the rearview mirror and immediately regretted his decision. He had never seen someone as pale as the young woman lying back across the three middle seats at that moment. Her eyes were shut and he could make out the distinct veins that could be seen clearly through her pearl-white skin, nearly translucent skin. She had lost too much blood already… Natalia wasn't going to arrive at the manor alive if Alessi didn't speed things up.

Arriving at the manor was a flurry of different scenes that seemed to play rapidly across Less’s senses and mind. He had stopped the car with a sharp halt and practically flung himself out of the driver's car door, scrambling over to the side door and fumbling with the handle for a moment before opening the door and scooping the limp figure of the girl he had taken with him for an innocent time at dinner, out of the car- not bothering to shut the door before briskly making his way inside. She was so cold. Why was she so cold? Why had she gone limp in his arms…? Alessi looked down at her expressionless face as he quickly made his way inside. Her eyes had dulled to a dull color, there was hardly any life in them. Her lips were losing their color as well, now a very pale pink, the edges being a bit grey. Natalia was dying… and the last bit of being she still had was now in Alessi’s hands. Literally, two flights of stairs, three antagonizing long hallways, and Alessi could see the manor’s medical wing. Natalia’s head had hung limply across his left arm and he had needed to adjust her slightly to his own chest and her hair now cascaded loosely down his frame.

The doors of the medical wing were flung open by Alessi- the bright lights of the medical room burning his eyes for a moment, they quickly adjusted to notice the many nurses who were already awaiting by a stretcher, a few feet away from the young man. He was met with a complete commotion and somehow through this process of rushing around, shouting, and stress, Natalia was taken from Alessi’s arms and placed onto the stretcher. The nurses were on her in a second, assessing and testing quickly as they shouted commands at one another. Three doctors, a man, and two women had blocked Alessi from moving any further- attempting to usher him out of the room. And they got close enough to doing so, except for the fact that the young man had clung to the doorframe- a confused and anxiety-filled expression filling his eyes.

“No- wait, stop- I’m not leaving her! You- stop!”

Anger flooded his senses, his eyes blazing as he attempted to move into the wing and try to find a way he could help. But he couldn't. He couldn't do… anything. And the doctors were not subtle when it came to letting him know. They had practically shoved him out of the medical area, their words coming in short and pleading noises.

“Sir, we need you to leave- this isnt safe for you or Natalia-”

“Mr.Caballero, you are no help to us her-”

“You must leave, sir-”

Something struck Alessi, the realization that in fact- he was only making things harder for them. He was being a nuisance. He was keeping them from saving Natalia… The man paled and he retracted from the room with one of the two female doctors at his side. The last thing he saw of Natalia was…nothing. He saw nothing. The commotion of the different nurses and doctors huddled over the table in which the woman was lying was covered, blocking the view of Alessi, along with the now shutting-closed wooden doors of the medical wing. The doctor to his side was speaking, her tone gentle and calm. He didn't hear her. He didn't feel it when she placed a hand on his shoulder and led him back to his quarters down the hall. It was as if he was in some sort of a stunned trance- his gaze fixed ahead of him as he walked down the halls, his lips slightly parted and his eyes gone wide. He hadn't really noticed that he had taken a seat on the side of his bed until the door shut, and the nurse had left. Alessi blinked and his head slowly turned down to gaze into his lap where both of his hands lay shaking softly. The fingers of his left hand gradually clenched to make a weak, closed fist- his gaze now trained on a spot on the carpet in front of him.

Less brought the fist up to his lips, his back hunched over the side of the bed as he breathed in a sharp breath. He closed his eyes and was suddenly hit with a variety of flashes. Memories. Their small, private walks on the property gardens. The evenings when Alessi had gotten straight out of a meeting just to bring a couple of books to Natalia for her entertainment. The lake… The shopping trip, earlier tonight when their lips had met with something both passionate and needy. It was all coming back to him. All at once- and it was too much. Alessi found himself shaking his head- his eyes- which were now glistening with unshed tears- flying open as he let out a shaky breath. Dear god- the way she had spoken to him. Her tone was sweet and understanding. Her laugh. Her smile. All gone in a matter of seconds. BANG. The sound of the first gunshot of that night rang through his ears on replay. His breathing quickened, sweat dripping down from not only his forehead but his neck and back were slowly dampening as well. Less got to the point where he was warm enough that he needed to shed the rest of what remained of his top suit from his body. Resulting in the man only wearing khaki pants as he stood abruptly to rush to the bathroom.

Fumbling for the light switch he turned on the faucet with his other hand, the cool water running across his course hands. His gaze met his own when Alessi’s head turned up to look into the mirror- covering his cheeks was a blotchy pink color from his freak out, tearstains lined his cheeks as new ones slowly started forming. Less’s hands cupped into a bowl shape, letting the water fill it before splashing to cool liquid across his face, running his hands through his hair before leaning over the sink- letting his arms hold him up on each side of the sink.

It had felt like an eternity since the man first arrived back in his room. The panicking had come and gone, happening the more he sat down to rest for a moment. His mind would end up drifting and thinking about the fond experiences of both Natalia and he had been a part of together. When he thought about how he had left her. Alone, in the giant, bright room with a number of people she didn't know…. Maybe three and a half hours or so had passed and finally, Alessi couldn't stand it anymore. Quickly yanking on his shirt- not bothering to button it up- he left the confines of his room, pacing quickly down the halls before he reached the outside of the hospital wing. The first thing Alessi had taken note of was how quiet the room seemed to be on the inside. No more shuffling or quickly moving pacing of feet, no shouting. It was quiet. A faint beeping was the only sound he heard aside from his own heartbeat. He stood there for a solid ten minutes, preparing himself silently for terrible news… The great wooden doors creaked slowly open in front of him, a petite blonde maid walking out to face Alessi.

“Sir?”

Less’s head snapped up, his eyes wide. He merely stared at her, his lips parted. The maid looked wary, hesitant but understanding as she spoke quietly.

“She… she is okay, she is resting now, sir.”

The maid offered him a small smile, her brows furrowing slightly in concern before shaking her head to herself and walking past him, making her way down the hallway behind him. Alessi stood frozen, his shoulders stock still as he stared at the door. She was okay. She was… what? Without thinking further about everything he entered.

The smell of cleaning agents wafted into his nostrils, the bright lights above blinding his eyes for a moment as they had before. He blinked rapidly, his lashes fluttering as he looked around. The young man’s posture was taught, straight, and almost mechanical as he spotted her. Her. Natalia. The young lady was lying on a far more comfortable-looking bed to his left, an IV hooking her up to a machine that seemed to be tracking her heart rate. Alessi didn't move for a long moment, simply taking in her…well, her. Natalia was alive. Alessi had probably looked like he’d seen a ghost, his facial expression one of pure shock and confusion. Slowly and hesitantly Less made his way over, slipping his hands into his pockets as he met her gaze. Those eyes… His breath caught in his throat as he tried to speak, his mouth opening and closing like a fish for the first couple of times. Finally, he got something out- though strained and probably shaky, he spoke.

“You're alive. Your…”

He trailed off. She was perfect.

Everything had finally calmed for Natalia as the medications took effect on her body, lulling her into a soft sleep as the doctors and nurses helped to save her life. The bullet had lodged deep in her chest, nicking a large artery along its way. It was quite a shock she had pulled through with the amount of blood loss, no one knew how she did it. It was a struggle but here she was now, laying in that bed asleep. The monitor tracked her heart rate, an IV of liquids hooked up to replenish her. Natalia had rested for some time before she heard the doors across the room open, someone walking in. The way the footsteps sounded with a certain pattern, it had to be Alessi, she knew it. She had memorized it from the first week when she was distraught and scared of anyone that walked down the halls.

Her body was tired, so tired, but she fought it. Her eyes flickered open, the lights burning slightly as she looked across the room to the man who neared. As expected Alessi looked distraught. His hair was a mess, his face still holding a flushed tone, the scared look on his face as if he was face to face with a ghost. Her vision was a bit blurry and it took a few blinks to clear it up but she looked at him with those honey eyes, the lights making them seem more golden in the moment.

A smile softly drew on her lips as he neared the bed. He looked so lost, his eyes locked on hers as he tried to speak.

After a few silent moments he spoke, his voice strained, shaky…scared. “You’re alive. Your…” he said, almost as if he was shocked. She was quiet at first as he looked her over. She had no clue she had died for some time. Died right in his arms as he brought her inside. Everything had been a blur from the moment they left the alleyway.

He had reached the side of the bed, his hands placing themselves on the white sheets below. She let out a soft chuckle, wincing slightly as she did. “I say we don’t go out anymore” she said quietly, her voice somewhat hoarse. Her fingers slipped from the sheets and carefully placed themself upon his hand, her slender fingers wrapping softly around his own. She looked at him with soft eyes, she was okay. Her eyes glanced around spotting the machines, the ivs, everything medical. It made her stomach twist. She hated hospitals, even if this was not like the ones she had been in, she hated it. Carefully she sat herself up, wincing at the burning pain in her chest. Her hand left his, moving to the wires that ran on her arm. She reached over and clipped the IV fluids shut, pulling the needle from her arm, then the sticky pads from her chest. She ignored the look on Alessi’s face, one of shock and concern. “Do not try and stop me, I would like to be in my own bed, not here” she said before he could try and keep her from getting up. The hospital clothes kept her covered as she stood from the bed, her legs wobbling at first. Alessi had reached forward, catching her to balance before she stood on her own. A nurse came in after hearing the monitor detect no heartbeat, scared at first before she saw Natalia. She tried to get her to lay back down but she refused, slowly walking past her and out the doors.

Her body felt like jello, but also fire, she had felt pain like this so much in her past that she powered through it unlike most probably could. Slowly she moved down the halls towards her room, Alessi by her side the whole way. Boy could she be stubborn and a hard head. By the time she had made it she was out of breath, sitting roughly on her bed as she took a moment. The medicine that kept her asleep was slowly fading away, bringing back the vivid memories of that night. “She’s a fucking bitch” Natalia said, looking up at Alessi, trying to lighten the mood some. That’s when she fully noticed it, the concern in his eyes, the tear stains that dripped down his face. Her brows furrowed a bit, realizing what had happened. He had been terrified. She stood carefully, using the footboard to help push herself up before moving to him.

“It’s okay now” she said, her voice much softer, “We are okay…I am okay”. She said, softly putting her arms over his shoulders, her eyes looking up into his.

Reaching the medical bed that Natalia was tucked into- IVs and wires were hooked up and across her body, making sure she was steady- Alessi halted at the edge, his hands moving to the white linen sheets. His hands clenched and unclenched as he brought his gaze back up from himself to Natalia, who was now letting out a soft chuckle and Less wanted to pretend that he hadn't heard the faint wince of pain she had let out after. The woman's words brought a faint smile to the man's lips. However, the smile hadn't reached his eyes and was very brief- his forming into a downturned expression soon after as he nodded his agreement subtly. Natalia was looking better now… even if only a little. Her eyes were slowly brightening once more and her skin, though still pale, wasn't as colorless. The same went for her lips- once a light greyish-pink color- their tone slowly reappeared. It caused Alessi a small shock at the sudden touch of the pair’s hands- Natalia’s fingers gently interlacing with his as she gazed up into his solemn eyes, seemingly taking in his appearance just as he had been doing with her only a moment ago. It occurred to the man that both of them had looked better than they were at the moment and Alessi soon found himself glancing over his appearance as well. Dear god, he probably looked horrible. His hair was chaotic to say the very least, and his eyes must have been red from his earlier hysteria. Less found his cheeks warming to some degree as his eyes met Natalia’s gaze. He studied those lovely eyes until they moved away to take in the area around them- looking at them as if he didn't want to avert his own blue orbs.

Simply based on the way Natalia was slowly taking in every aspect of the room, the young man beside her knew something was off. It struck him suddenly that Natalia had been in a pretty similar situation before. Who knows how many times… She didn't like being in here in this white-washed medical room. It occurred to Alessi that this probably felt far too familiar to her- and he was only proven correct with the next point that took place. The woman had suddenly sat up, wincing sharply at the pain that Alessi couldn't imagine was blooming in her chest. The boy’s brows furrowed slowly as Natalia’s hand retracted from atop his, moving to the wires that connected her arm to the beeping machine to the side of them. Alessi’s eyes broadened suddenly and he attempted to reach for her arm as he registered what she was doing. However, before he could stop her, she had clipped the IV fluids shut and pulled the two or three needles from her arm. Less’s hand had stopped midair just as she did so, pausing for a moment to recall what the girl had just done and then slowly opening his mouth to inform her that what she had just done could very well affect her, well… life. But once again, he was stopped before he could even finish speaking her name. Natalia rose out of the hospital bed and Alessi nearly had a mini heart attack as she wobbled, his arms reaching forward to her own to stabilize her before the young lady insisted on standing on her own. What the hell was she thinking?

“I don’t think this is a good idea, princess…”

He warned her, his voice low and steady as he moved forward behind her as she walked forward. She had shot him a look that was enough to shut him up for the moment. However, when a brown-haired nurse rushed in to check what the flatline beeping was about he spoke up, raising his hands as the attendant snapped at him for letting Natalia up.

“I swear- I told her it wasn't a good idea!”

The nurse tried desperately to get back into the white bed and when Natalia had refused the other woman looked to Alessi for guidance. That earned her a shrug and eventually Less let out a defeated sigh and shook his head slowly, rubbing his temples before gesturing for Natalia to head out the medical wing doors. The nurse, for good reasons, appeared baffled- her mouth in a perfect O as her beginnings of an objection formed… Alessi cut her off this time, raising a hand to silence her, and sighed- mumbling a small promise that he’d look after Natalia on the way back to her room and when they arrived. The nurse, however hesitant, agreed with a small nod and watched the two leave the wing- Alessi following Natalia out into the hallway, his hands resting gently to hover on the woman's shoulders as they slowly made their way to her living quarters.

After a long while of slowly walking through the halls of the manor, the pair finally arrived at the young woman's room. By the time Natalia had made it over to her bed, she was breathless- taking a moment to rest as she sat on her bed. Alessi watched the woman from a couple of feet away, leaning against the post at the end of her bed- his head slightly cocked, his brows furrowed in concern. The medicine the doctors had given her was most likely wearing off… hence the more frequent wincing Alessi kept noting. The man’s attention was grabbed once more by Natalia’s comment. This earned an exhausted grin from Less, he nodded and looked to his hands and back up at the woman. That was true. So very, very true. It was also true that the “fucking bitch” in question was now very, very much dead. And Alessi couldn't have been more relieved. Nobody deserved to die. Not usually. There were occasional exceptions, however… and those exceptions are what The Scarlet Syndicate takes care of. Harper had been one of those exceptions. The reason? Well, there were many… One; She was Alessi’s exe. By cheating nonetheless. And two; The bitch almost fatally harmed someone, however much Alessi denies it, he cares for her. And people who do such things do deserve such a slow death as Harper had experienced.

Natalia was now looking up at him. Her sweet honey-colored eyes searching his face, he found himself searching hers as well- and he did so until she was only a few inches away from him. Her voice was soft as she spoke. Comforting. Alessi found his tense shoulders easing slowly upon having her arms wrapped around them. He blinked down at her and he felt his eyes getting glassy so he blinked again, trying to dissipate whatever was happening… He nodded gently before meeting her eyes again as his hands reached up to cup her face gently. His voice was a soft whisper, longing and faint.

“You're okay…”

He didn't know when it had happened but his head was now inclined to lean down, his lips brushing against hers softly before pressing in a bit more. His left hand moved from cupping her jaw to cradling the back of her neck. He didn't want to let go. He didn't want anything to ever happen again. Alessi wanted things to stay exactly how they were in this exact moment.

Her arms sat softly around his shoulders as she looked to him, her eyes holding a soft glow, one would say was a look of adoration. Though her body was in pain, it seemed to wash away in that moment as she looked into his eyes, felt the warmth of his body next to her own. Everything seemed to melt away in that moment. He too seemed affected by their close proximity, his eyes glazing with tears as she spoke. His body relaxing at her touch.

Natalia kept her eyes on his as he placed his large hands on her jaw, cupping her face gently. He was careful, as if she was fragile and could crumble at his touch. He whispered in reply one last time, as if confirming both for her and himself that she was okay. A smile softly drew on her lips, her head nodding faintly. She too had no idea when it had happened, their faces just naturally gravitating towards each other.

There it was once again, his breath against her skin, his lips pushing against her own. Her eyes flickered closed as their lips met, his hand sliding to the back of her neck. Her arms seemed to pull him closer instinctively, that needy feeling tingling in the back of their minds. She too did not want this moment to end, she wanted to stay under his grasp for as long as she could where she was safe, wanted…needed.

When their lips finally did leave each others, not pushing further than needed, Natalia looked back up at Alessi, her lips turned up into a smile. No words were needed in that moment, as if there was a mutual understanding in their looks. Her hand slipped to his cheek, resting upon it softly as she just looked at him. Her thumb carefully wiped a lonely tear from the stains on his face before setting again. When her hands finally did leave his form she felt empty, as if she was missing a part of herself. “I think we both need some rest” she said softly, slowly stepping back and sitting down on her bed. She looked back over to Alessi before patting the spot beside her, offering him to join. They had both been through so much in the last 24 hours, who would want to be alone.

-

Some time had passed, almost 2 weeks since that awful night where Alessi carried Natalia’s lifeless body inside. 2 weeks of quiet and calm rest. Natalia had healed up well, no longer feeling the daily sting of the wound and was free to roam around again once more. Natalia and Alessi were once again inseparable, Less spending any second away from work with her, almost as if he was scared something would happen to her again. Every moment they just grew closer, a strange feeling growing in her heart.

One rainy morning, Natalia was sleeping in, enjoying the sounds of the rain against her windows when a maid was bringing in the mail. She flipped through the names to sort, her body pausing abruptly in the middle of the foyer as her eyes read one of the names and addresses. Her eyes went wide and quickly she scurried through the halls and to the office of Mr. Caballero. She knocked before peeking in, “Sir… sir I am sorry to interrupt but you must see this” she said, entering and quickly setting the letter down in front of the man. The crisp white envelope held the sigil of the Amati Mafia on the front of it, addressed from no one other than Enzo Amati himself. Moments later another maid entered, a packaged box from Amati as well. It was the ransom money for Natalia…

It was a rainy morning and the time was just a quarter past nine when Alessi took a seat in his father's work office for a one-on-one meeting. The young man sat in a dark brown leather chair with his ankles crossed, leaning back against the seat as he gazed out the clear bay window where the rain outside was pouring steadily as far as the eye could see. This particular office Mr.Caballero used for work was especially melancholic; the walls were painted an ore-colored black, and the only light sources were the intricate-looking lanterns that hung from the walls- giving the room a soft glow, there were also a couple of paintings around the office, most of which were the Caballero ancestors or just people Mr.Cabellero found powerfully inspiring as well as bookshelves that adorned the walls. There were a couple of ferns around the rooms, more particularly in the corners and around the main desk where Mr.Cabellero usually was seated. Alessi had arrived at the one-on-one a bit early so when his father finally arrived, the older man had murmured an apology about his wait before seating himself in the chair across the desk from Alessi.

The two started speaking and at first, it was casual, they spoke about what The Scarlet Syndicate could improve on- if Aurelio would need to hire anyone else…. The older man brought up ‘Ms.Coralie’ and Alessi couldn't have shifted the conversation quicker, and while he was smooth about it Alessi could tell his father was slightly unsure. Mr.Cabellero slowly stirred his tea as he watched his son for a moment, and Alessi could notice the small furrow in the middle of the older mans brows as he spoke his next words.

“Well, son- how had Ms.Amati been fairing? I have noticed you've been spending a considerable amount of time with the young woman, hows that been going?”

Less swallowed, his adams apple bobbing up and down slowly as he did so. He ran a hand through his hair once, resting his elbow on the armrest of the leather seat, and nodded slowly. Be careful with your next words…

“Yes uhm- I believe she's been doing well, far more settled in now as far as the girls have told me.”

He cleared his throat once and averted his eyes to a spot on the desk as his voice lowered distinctly.

“She’s not nearly as bad as you said she would be, father. I don’t believe she much like her father at al-”

A frantic knock on the office door cut the boy off and he adjusted himself in his chair, crossing his arms stiffly over his chest as he continued to face the large window behind his father. A woman’s quiet, distressed voice spoke quickly as she hurried to the front of the desk- placing a crisp, off-white letter in front of Alessi’s father- and Less only got a glimpse of what looked like a red wax sigil before the older man lifted the letter up to inspect it. Mr.Caballero’s eyes narrowed before he took out a silver letter-opening knife from a drawer next to him to open the note. As he took out the actual letter to read, Mr.Caballero placed the exterior to the side. Alessi’s eyes trailed across the desk and landed on the envelope and he visibly paled. Written in black cursive on the front of the solid-color envelope read

“To Mr.Cabellero”

There wasn't any sign of who the letter was from…except for the red waxed seel with the Amati family sigil carved into it. Alessi’s jaw worked, his teeth grinding silently as he sat painstakingly still. Shit. After reading the letter, Less’s father handed his son the note slowly, his expression unreadable as he looked to the door behind Alessi where another maid had brought in a box assigned with the same seel. Less needed to steady his lightly shaking hands across the desk to be able to read the letter… and when he did, he desperately wished he hadn't. The letter was written in the same dark cursive handwriting and was actually quite short. But it got the point across clearly. The letter read;

-

“Dear Mr.Cabellero,

The money for my daughter's return in all in the package sent along with this letter. I expect Natalia to be handed over no later than 12 PM tomorrow afternoon. You know the consequences if this is not carried out.

-E.A”

-

Alessi didn't want to believe any of it—he didn't want to believe that the girl he had grown far more attached to than he should have would be gone in the next 48 hours—less than that, actually. Slowly, Less’s eyes lifted to his father's- which were focused on the large package to the side of Alessi, which the boy would continue to refuse to look at himself. The young man’s voice was dark and trembling as he spoke, his eyes slowly increasing until they soon reflected the dark tone in his voice.

“What consequences…?”

There was no response from his father except a faint shake of the head as he stared at nothing in particular. Alessi felt something inside him suddenly shift, pure rage engulfing his features,

“WHAT CONSEQUENCES?!”

The boy stood, his palms slamming against the wooden desk in front of his father- his voice a snarl and his eyes blazing with heat so strong it could burn a hole right through his father's nonexistent expression. No response. Alessi was seething, his lips pulled back into a sneer and he let out an aggravated scoff before leaving the letter on the desk and turning on his heel to exit the room. As he stormed down the hall his mind struck him. Natalia’s father was expecting her back to him by 12 in the evening tomorrow. He wouldn't get to see her again… ever. He wouldn’t get to talk to her ever again… he wouldn’t get the chance to touch her ever again. Absentmindedly Alessi was descending onto Natalia’s room and before he could actually comprehend what he was doing, the man had entered her room- and instead of a rage-stricken expression, his eyes were threatening to release the vetted tears that had made his eyes sparkle. His gaze landed on the the young woman, who was currently in bed and he froze. Natalia looked as though she had just risen from a deep sleep, her hair slightly wild and her expression sleepy- it was almost cute.

Alessi struggled with his words, stammering as he gazed at her from across the room.

“Y-you- you're going home.”

Natalia had just started to rouse from her slumber, her waves of brunette hair slightly jostled, her eyes still struggling to stay open in the light that trickled through her window. She had sat up, propping her back against the headboard as she glanced out the windows at the rain. It was peaceful, quiet, and relaxing, at least it was for now. She hadn't even been awake for a full ten minutes when she heard pounding footsteps approaching. The door swiftly opened, Alessi’s form entering and closing the door behind him. Natalia looked to him with confusion, noticing the watery expression glazing over his deep blue eyes, the way his jaw held itself tense just as he did when he was holding back. Natalia couldn't even get a question out before Alessi spoke, his voice shaky, stammering, “Y-you- you’re going home.”

The room went silent after he spoke, Natalia’s brows furrowing even more as she looked at him with parted lips. “What?” She questioned, her head tilting slightly. She pulled the blankets from her legs, standing up and walking around the bed towards him. “What do you mean I’m going home?” She asked. She stood before Alessi, watching his eyes stay away from her own. He was quiet. Too quiet. It took a moment before he explained what happened, how her father had finally sent the ransom money and she was to be turned over. Her body went cold as she listened, realizing she would be leaving. Why wasn’t she excited? She had wanted to leave so badly in the first place. She had a reason to stay now, a bond that had formed. For the first time in so many years she had finally found someone that cared for her truly, had gotten to truly know her. She didn’t want to leave Alessi. She had realized how much she had grown to care for him, even if their situation was not the best, and she thought he felt the same, but she would learn that maybe it wasn’t true.

“I…I don't want to leave” She said as she stood before him. Her heart pounded, her stomach twisting and making her feel sick. She went quiet, her eyes dropping to the ground as her mind began to race. Did she really want to confess how she had been feeling? What she had stayed up at night to think about? She had to, otherwise she would be leaving with it still in her mind.
“Less, I don’t want to leave you.” She began, her eyes looking back up to him, her body stepping forward. “I…I really care about you.” she admitted. A rush of cold air slipped down her back as her nerves took hold. “And I know you feel the same, the way we are around each other...” She began only to be cut off by Alessi. She went silent, her brows furrowing as she listened to his disagreement. What? He didn’t agree? He didn’t feel the same? What was he talking about?

“What about our conversations and spending time together? The lake? The pub? Even when you were worried shitless when I was in surgery? You’re telling me you reacted that way and don't feel the same? I know it’s not right, we are supposed to be enemies but are you really going to stand here and say you don’t agree?” She questioned, her heart racing, her cheeks flushing. “What then? All of this was just a lie?” She added. He was quiet, barely responding.

“Answer me!” She said, her voice raising as her eyes glazed over. His answers just caused her stomach to drop, a familiar feeling that just made her feel sick. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing, everything at once seemed to just be a blur, her hearing, sight, everything.

She shook her head, stepping away from him as she looked away.

“Perfect then, I’ll just go home, stop wasting your time” She said, fumbling for her purse that laid on her nightstand, the only thing truly hers that she had. “Ill save you the struggle and go myself.” She added, brushing her hair back with her fingers before turning to head out the door. She pushed past his form, her shoulder hitting into his as she briskly headed down the stairs. The pain in her chest returned, the wound still not fully healed. No matter what Alessi had been saying it was all drowned out in her mind as she made it down the flight of stairs and towards the front door. Anger had taken over her mind, her body shaky. Quickly she turned, speaking over Alessi as words spilled from her mouth. “Maybe Harper was right then, I’m just another one of your toys. Acting like you actually cared, leading me on.” She said, tears fighting in the corners of her eyes to fall. “Goodbye Alessi” She finally said, heading out the front, slamming the door behind herself. And just like that, Natalia was now gone from the Caballero home, heading back to the grasps of her father.