James.

James almost blew my cover up and for what? Because he was mad at me or something?

God, why would he do something like that? He could have gotten me killed.

Letting out a deep breath, I look up at the moon to try calm myself down. I'm sure he didn't mean it.

Well, that's what I'd like to think. But what he was saying to me makes me think otherwise.

"You risked your life to save his," he says through his gritted teeth. His jaw is clenched and the grip he has on me tightens.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I mutter under my breath so only he could hear. "You know I had to, I'm undercover for fuck's sake."

His shoulders relax once he hears my words, realising I'm right. "He's your target," he replies. "Don't get too close to him, Azaría. Remember that."

What is that supposed to mean? I scoff in his face. I open my mouth to reply but before I can, Niccolo grabs onto James shoulder and turns him around. With one swift move, he throws a punch which causes James to fall onto the ground.

I can't even process what's happening before Niccolo grabs onto my hand and runs, pulling me with him.

Whatever. I just need to forget about it. At least for now because that's why I'm out here.

I slowly kick my feet around in the pool, staring at how the moonlight reflects off the water. It's pretty.

The moon is just so interesting. It controls the ocean waves for one but there are so many theories on what else it does, especially spiritually.

I don't know it's just interesting to me. I guess it makes me wonder how something can be so beautiful.

I get off the ledge of the pool, sliding into the deep blue water. Tonight is definitely one of those midnight swim nights.

I put my arms out in front of me as I swim underwater, trying to get to the other side and forcing myself not to go up for air.

I like that pressure and adrenaline. It helps get my mind off stuff.

Once I finally reach the end of the pool, as soon as my head goes on top of the water. I take in a huge breath that was much needed.

As my mind wanders back to James, I go back underwater and start to swim to the other side.

I know he thought this mission was dangerous but he also told me multiple times he knew I could do it.

He believed in me.

Or that's what I thought.

I shouldn't jump to conclusions. I need to talk to him about this as soon as possible. I need to know what was going on in that mind of his.

I need to talk to Mr. Arthur too. You know what, just everyone in general because why the fuck was I never given a heads up about this?

I don't think Niccolo noticed anything though and that's all that matters, I guess. My cover wasn't blown.

He saved me. He didn't have to but he did. Maybe he felt like he owed me one, because to be fair he definitely did.

I raise my head on top of the water, pushing my hair back out of my face. As I let out a breath, I look up and something catches my eye.

Not something. Someone.

Just the guy I was thinking of. Great.

"Stuff on your mind?" Niccolò asks as he sits down on the chair in front of the pool.

He's in grey sweats and a black compression shirt. Due to the wetness of his hair and the sweat rolling down his face, I'm guessing he just finished training.

Something was on his mind too.

He lays back on the chair, spreading his legs out as he waits for my answer. I clear my throat before uttering out a simple, "Yeah."

"You too?" I question to break the silence, even though I already know the answer

He shrugs his shoulders. "Nah," he lies as if I don't see straight through it. "Nothing, princess."

Oh, he's not slick at all.

I watch as he takes a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. After pulling one out, he covers it will his hand the light it.

"You know smoking is bad for you right?" I make known as he puts the cigarette to his lips. In response, he lets out a chuckle as he blows out the smoke towards his right.

"You don't strike me as a girl who doesn't smoke," he replies. Is that supposed to be good or bad?

"I guess you don't know me very well, Niccolo, since I quit years ago," I shrug and he tilts his head slightly at my words. "Because it's bad," I repeat.

"Careful now," he warns. "You're almost making it seem like you care, Azaria"

"It lessens your life span," I inform him.

"So you do care?" he furrows his brows as he asks me the question.

He's off by a mile. "I don't, don't get it twisted, Col," I scoff. "I'm sure Elena will care though."

As soon as the words slip my mouth, I regret it. It's none of my business. He knows what smoking can do so it's his choice, his consequence.

"Why does what she thinks matter to you?" he asks, this time his face is serious and his tone was blunt.

"They don't matter to me but they should matter to you. She loves you. Told me herself, dummy," I mutter and his brows furrow in curiosity.

"The details don't matter but, she's lucky she has an older brother like you, so just be careful with this stuff, you know?" I mumble.

His eyes slightly widen but the surprised look on his face is gone within a second. "I don't know if having a mafia leader for a brother is considered lucky."

"You're not that to her though," I tell him, recalling the words she told me the other day.

"In her eyes, she looks up to you. You were the one person she could always go to when she needed something or just needed someone to count on."

"You're pulling this shit out of your ass, Azaria," he scoffs, putting the cigarette back to his lips.

"Am I?" I challenge. I know some part of him knows I'm right but can't face it since the guilt of her getting kidnapped just weighs too heavy.

I really should be a therapist. I need one myself though so I don't know if that's a good idea.

"Alright," he chuckles lightly. "You're definitely something, Azaria." I don't even know if he meant that in a good way or a bad way.

I head to the stairs of the pool and slowly walk up the steps, pushing my hair away from my face once again. As I start to walk towards him, the water from my hair and body drips everywhere.

His green eyes are met with mine and he looks at me intensely as he crosses his arms, his eyes flickering up and down my body.

Once I'm in front of him, I watch as his eyes travel to my hips and stop, something catching his eye. I look down and immediately realise he can see my burn scar. Ugh. Not that ugly thing.

I reach for the cigarette in his hands which pulls him out of his thoughts as he quickly pulls his hand away from me. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"What? Why can't I take a quick smoke?" I ask with a slight smile. "You know why, Azaria. Don't act dumb," he huffs.

"Careful now," I repeat his words from earlier. "You're going to make it seem like you care about me."

"Do you, Col?" I tease jokingly as I take a step closer to him.

I can definitely feel the alcohol in my system now. I don't even drink. Well, I thought I didn't. But my mind was all over the place I just took a few sips, which was a bad idea considering I'm such a lightweight.

I shouldn't even be drinking on the job. What the fuck am I doing?

He presses the cigarette into the tray, putting it out before looking up at me and meeting my gaze. "You should go to sleep," he says as he stands up, quickly towering over me.

"Avoiding the question, now?" I ask with a small smile. Wait- now why would I say that? Stupid Azaría, oh my God.

"It's late," he states the obvious. "I can tell you drank, Azaría. Swimming after drinking?"

The way he said that. I can't tell if it was worry, judgment, or disappointment.

It doesn't matter. I shrug at his words and turn around to walk away to get back into the pool.

He grabs my hand, not aggressively but gently, and turns me around, pulling me close to him. "Enough, Azaría," he mumbles.

I look up at him, not saying anything and I don't even know why. He grabs my towel and wraps it around my shoulders.

"Don't be so childish," he utters. What? "Just go to sleep, yeah?"

My brows furrow as I tilt my head. "Childish?"

"I didn't mean that, I just meant-" he tries to defend himself.

"Okay, Niccolò," I cut him off. One day he acts like I don't exist and the next he's acting like my dad.

"This is just not how you act, Azaría. You're clearly somewhat drunk and something is bothering you, I just don't want you to say or do something you're gonna regret."

"Like swim?" I question. I know that's not what he meant.

"You know what I mean, Ria," he mutters, taking a step closer to me.

"Niccolò, I can take care of myself," I tell him with a slight chuckle. "You know that, right?"

I don't need his disappointment or judgment or whatever that was.

"Night," I mutter before turning around, heading inside the house. I'm just going to try to fall asleep. If my brain decides to stop thinking for once.

Suddenly, his hand holds onto mine and he turns me around. "I can tell something is wrong, Azaría," he sighs.

What am I supposed to tell him? Oh, so basically a guy from my MI6 team almost blew my cover as an undercover assassin to infiltrate your mafia?

"Is it about yesterday?" he asks. Gosh, why is he acting like this? I know he doesn't even care so he should stop pretending.

"The only thing I'm thinking about yesterday is how you saved me from that agent," I tell him, letting my shoulders drop in frustration.

If I said no to his question, somehow he still would have known that I was lying. So at least this response is something.

He lets out a scoff. "What are you talking about?"

"You were so close to leaving but you risked it to come get me," I explain even though he knows exactly what I'm talking about.

His eyes narrow, staring right into me, and there's only a few inches between us. He stays silent, his jaw clenching as he thinks of a reply.

"You know information about me," he utters, "about the mafia."

"The only way I've survived all these years is by keeping myself around loyal friends and keeping my mouth shut," I tell him. Well, the loyal friend's part is real. Kinda. Ugh, I don't even know.

"I trust you," he mumbles, "not to say anything, I mean."

"Then you have nothing to worry about, Nico," I tell him.

His eyes scan my face, looking for any hint of dishonestly. When he doesn't find any, his eyes soften. "Good," he breathes.

Somehow, we've gotten closer. The intense eye contact isn't helping either.

"Well," I speak up, taking a step back. "It's really late."

He lets out a hum, his eyes flickering from my eyes to my body. "Goodnight, Ria."

I give him a small smile before turning around and quickly heading out of the kitchen.

I have no idea what just happened. All I know is that I need sleep.



the tensionnn😜🙈🙈 did you guys like??

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