{ Andrea's POV }

As Nicolás and I arrive back at the house it was nightfall. Ander and Roslyn are in the kitchen with Luis, Isla, and Bart.

"Oh thank the mafia heavens." Isla says as she walks fast and wraps her arms around both of us as best she can to give us a tight hug. We kind of hug her back but it's hard when are arms are to are sides.

"Both of you missed dinner but Bart here put some to the side for both of you." Roslyn tells us

I give her a smile. "Thank you." I reply

Bart and Roslyn give a smile.

"It was all Mrs. Roslyn's idea." Bart says

I give a nod.

"Well thank you both." I say kindly

Nicolás and I got to sit at the smaller table in the kitchen while everyone in the room stands around us.

"Where have you two been?" Ander questions

"A private place." I tell him

"You two..." Ander starts looking at us accusingly

"You're dirty minded." I mumble under my breath and I'm sure Nicolás heard because he slightly smirks.

"No. It's a private place that only a select few know about. One of the select few told Nicolás where to find me. What happened while I was at peace?" I ask just getting tired of everything

"Jason has been stirring trouble. Saying Annalise and Alastair are working together to try and find Samuele and Chelsea." Roslyn explains

"He wants there to be a plan of protection for you." Luis says looking straight at me

"For me?" I question

He nods

"I can take care of myself." I say

Luis nods and says "He doesn't seem willing to take that risk."

"Good thing he's in a cell then." I reply

"I'm not sure I'm willing to take the risk of leaving you without a protection plan either." Ander says

"It would make things safer for you, Andrea." Bart chimes in

"Bart.." I say warningly

"I know.." Bart says

"We both do...and we won't push." Isla says

I give them a grateful nod.

"What's going on?" Ander questions

"I've been through more than most people go through in their whole lifetime, and I've barley even started living mine. I'm not scared or frightened by them. I'm angry, frustrated, annoyed, and clearly upset about how long all of this mess, and how much pain and drama all of it has caused. They obviously don't want me dead. No matter what you think... I wouldn't be any good to them dead. So I'm not worried about my life, I'm worried about all of you who they don't care about killing on the spot." I say

Then I finish my plate of dinner and stand up.

"Thank you Roslyn for thinking about us, and thank you Bart for sitting this aside it was delicious. Thank you Isla for being concerned and always giving me my space... but now if you'll all excuse me I'm going to my room to rest. Everything else can be dealt with tomorrow." I say and then walk away

I go upstairs to my room and start a warm relaxing bath. Everything else will wait for tomorrow.

————

-•{ Third Person POV }•-

Ander, Roslyn, Nicolás, Luis, Isla, and Bart all stand in the kitchen wondering how they can keep Andrea safe. Most of them also wondering why she is so against protection.

"Why is she so against anyone protecting her?!" Ander says slamming his hands onto the wall making a loud sound.

"It doesn't make sense. If she could've gotten out of that mansion, and took Samuele on then why didn't she? Why did she put herself through that sham of a marriage?" Luis questions out loud

Isla looks straight at Nicolás and says "Mr. Nicolás, you know that she wouldn't have stayed if she felt another option would've worked."

"I know." Nicolás says with a nod

"What does that mean?" Ander asks

"Something I will never speak of." Isla says

Ander looks to Nicolás and Nicolás just shakes his head no. Letting Ander know he won't speak on the matter of which they are speaking.

"Can someone at least explain why she is so set on us not protecting her?!" Ander says annoyedly

"Would you?" Bart suddenly questions

"Excuse me." Ander says

"Would you? Would you let someone who you cared about protect you, when everyone else that loved you and tried to protect you died?" Bart asks him

Everyone is stunned into silence.

"It isn't that she doesn't want to be loved. It isn't that she doesn't want help, or to feel as if she isn't alone in this anymore." Isla adds

"It's the fact that she realizes that she isn't all alone anymore. That scares her. It always has. She knows that she's opened herself up again, even if just enough for more people than Isla and myself to get in." Bart says

"Do you understand now?" Isla asks Ander

Everyone in the room outside of Isla and Bart nods.

"Then realize the fact that Jason is back and downstairs. All of that history and new potential dangerous information doesn't help her in anyway." Bart adds

"And last time everyone was so set on protecting her and never leaving her alone. Everyone died and the one that came out alive left her anyway. No matter the reason, he still left." Isla adds in also

A moment of silence passed before Roslyn speaks breaking it.

"And on top of it all she's facing a psycho husband from a completely forced arranged marriage, and a lunatic sperm donor who ruined her life. Who knows what else she's been through.." Roslyn says voicing her own thoughts

"So you two are suggesting that we don't protect her?" Ander questions as if it's crazy

Which Nicolás agrees is crazy along with Luis.

"Not exactly." Isla says

"Then what are you suggesting?" Luis questions

"We're suggesting you fight with her. Make sure she's aware that you are not only fighting just for her but for the mafia as well. God forbid one of you dies protecting her, she'd never forgive herself again." Bart says

"And don't box her in. She won't go back in the safe box, because it was never safe to start with. She knows that, and now she just needs freedom. No matter the danger it may bring." Isla says

"Do you have a plan for that?" Ander asks them

"Don't make her more tense." Bart says

Everyone looks at Bart weirdly

"When she's tense she doesn't fight back. She just stops altogether." Isla adds

Isla takes a deep breath.

"Don't track her every moment, and follow her around.. if you do that and she doesn't have time alone. She tenses up, shuts up, and on the inside she loses her mind. I've seen it. It's how she's been for the past year." Isla warns strongly

"Anything else?" Ander questions stressed out

"Yes." Isla says

"What is it?" Ander asks her

"She isn't weak. She isn't unable to fight through her fear. She doesn't fear for herself. She stuck it out because she was strong and loyal to the family, because Artemis taught her to be. She stayed in that horrible lifeless sham of a marriage as you called it because she was stronger than most of you, and didn't have a thing to lose other than her life. She stayed because she saw the bigger picture even when no one else did." Isla says rougher

Then she adds "Don't any of you ever think she couldn't get out or that she needs your pity or protection now. Andrea stayed in that marriage for all of us, and none of you even realized what it took out of her. All just because she didn't want the mafia to go up in flames, that's how loyal she is."