"Amira?" I looked surprised at the woman in front of me in a short black dress with long sleeves and short hair that fit her. "What are you doing here?"

"Me? What are you doing here?" She walked up to me with a smile and hugged me. That's when I noticed what was different about her besides her hair. "Oh yeah." She didn't stop smiling when she noticed me staring. She grabbed her stomach with one hand and looked up at me. "Whatever you think, you think right."

"You're going to have a baby." I looked at her in surprise. I also noticed the ring on her hand. "Francesco?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, with him." She laughed. "And I'm not going to have a baby, but two." She said proudly.

"Two?" I feel like I'm more out of it than she is.

"Two boys to be exact. It's a dream come true, that will turn into a nightmare when they come out of me."

"Congratulations?" I said carefully, still slightly in shock. It hasn't been that long since we last saw each other. But when I think about it, it will be a little over half a year already.

"Thank you." She smiled. "But there will be a lot going on with these two on the way, Em and even little Leo, who wants to get out of the belly."

"A lot going on, is far from what you just told me." I laughed.

"We've been through worse. But what are you doing here?" She looked around the room as if searching for some target of mine.

"I'm here with...with my..." I was at a loss for words, and that sent Amira down a really bad path.

"Oh, I see." She winked at me.

"No. No. It's not what you think." I stopped her. "He is my business partner?" I didn't even know what I was saying.

She looked like she didn't believe a word I said. And to be honest, I don't believe it either.

"I really didn't expect to meet you here today. I was afraid it would be another one of Francesco's boring meetings." She rolled her eyes.

"Francesco is here?" I looked around the room, but I didn't see him anywhere.

"Somewhere, yes." She lifted her shoulder and sipped from a glass of what I hope was only water.

"Shouldn't he be here watching over you?" I looked away from her belly. It's not polite to look at her like that.

"Oh please." She snorted. "I finally have peace from him. You can't imagine how exhausted I am. Don't eat this, don't drink that, eat something healthy, you shouldn't walk so much, do you feel fine." She was mimicking him, and I couldn't stop laughing.

"It looks like you're not bored." I tried to calm my laughter.

"Sometimes I feel like gouging out his eyes or cutting out his tongue. Anything to get him to leave me alone for a while. Can you imagine he banned me from having most sweets? Because he says it's not good for kids, but what about me? I crave chocolate or some cake." She moaned.

"At least you know he cares." I tried to improve this situation, but I don't know if it works. Amira is right, nobody could forbid me chocolate. No way.

"Yeah, but if he offers me broccoli one more time, I'll shove it up his..."

"Why do I feel like you're talking about me?" Francesco appeared next to us with a smile, interrupting Amira. Although I can imagine what she wanted to say.

He wrapped his arm around her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Franci." I smiled.

"Eris. It's strange to see you here. Most of the people here are connected to the mafia. I thought you wanted nothing to do with it anymore."

"I didn't want to, but you can't imagine what's gone on in the last few months. But it certainly is not as interesting as this." I pointed to the pregnant Amira. "Congratulations. I heard you're excited."

"Of course I am. I married her and now we're expecting twins. There's no reason why I shouldn't be. But maybe one." He said the last sentence more quietly.

"If you mention names again, I'll break this glass on your head. We agreed that you name one and I name the other." Amira spoke.

"Yeah I know, but I don't plan on seeing my kid devastated when he comes home and says he's being bullied because his name is Jake."

"And Lorenzo is better? Ugh." She let out a frustrated breath. "I hate you."

"That's not what you told me when we got married." He kissed her cheek again and I literally saw her icy face starting to melt.

Even though I feel like a third wheel, it's good to see someone who is genuinely happy.

"Looks like you're having your own party here." I heard a rough voice behind me and felt his presence right next to me. "Francesco." He offered his hand to Francesco, who immediately accepted it with a smile.

"Nice to see you, Killian. I didn't expect to see you here. This is Amira, my wife." He looked at Amira next to him, who held out her hand to Killian and shook it.

"Congratulations." It looks like he noticed her belly.

"Thank you." They said at once.

"You chose good people for company." He gave me a knee-shattering look. Although, maybe I'm really delusional.

"Wait, are you here together?" Francesco frowned. I nodded before Killian opened his mouth. "Unbelievable." He laughed.

"What's unbelievable?" I frowned.

"This is the guy I told you about the last time we saw each other. You said that you're going to New York."

"Oh my God." Amira said next to him. "That's a big coincidence."

I looked at Killian, who was looking at me in surprise. "I didn't know you knew them."

"I was in Italy for a while. Amira is the reason I left the white snakes. She made me realize that what I was doing was wrong."

"Then I guess I have you to thank for the fact that she's standing here now." He looked at Amira. "Thank you."

And what the hell was that? I don't have the slightest idea.

I spent most of the evening talking with Amira. We found a decent table where we could sit, and she started talking about her wedding and plans for the future.

Really fun to talk about a future with me when I might not even have one.



"So by what miracle did that happen?" I nodded my head to the table where Amira was sitting with Lyssa. "We haven't seen each other in how much? Three years?" I frowned.

"We weren't together at the time. She left and I was stupid enough to let her."

"And now you're married." I laughed.

"Some things are meant to happen." His gaze wandered back to their table. "I can't imagine what would have happened if I hadn't met her." Even a blind man would see the love with which he looks at her. As if she is his whole world. And I guess maybe she is.

"You are lucky you found each other."

"See, that is something the Killian I met last time would never say." He looked at me. "Looks like I'm not the only one in lo..."

"Don't even start." I cut him off before he could finish. "It's destined that we can't be anything more. She almost shot my brother in the head the first time we met. That has to say something." Francesco's response was only laughter. "What's funny?"

"Did she shoot him?"

"No. Of course not." He frowned.

"Well that's good because when me and Amira first met she shot me." He reached his hand to his neck and pushed aside the white shirt, under which a long-healed scar was hidden. "Maybe that's why I didn't leave her alone. That bit of rebellion she has in her. And the fact that she stood up to me and faced the consequences. Shit, I probably fell in love with her at that moment, even when I wasn't able to admit that to myself."

"Who would have thought?" I looked at Amira. She doesn't look like someone who knows how to handle a gun, let alone have the balls to shoot one.

"Looks are sometimes deceiving. I regret many things I've done. Even what I said to her. I don't think I'll ever forgive myself. She said she forgave me a long time ago, but I'll never be able to. Every day I try to make it up to her and I hope that will be enough."

"That has to count."

"I have forever to make it up to her." He held up his hand with the ring on it. "I won't let her go that easily. Never again." I knew he meant it. He cares about her. "I swore to her best friend that I would take care of her. I would do anything for her."

And when he looked at her again with that look, I wondered if I would ever look at someone like that. Then I slid my gaze to Lyssa. She laughed at something Amira said.

I could see her hair fall off her shoulders as she tilted her head back and heard her laugh.

At that moment, nothing else mattered. No people I'm here for are more important than her. No one.

*****

We made it back to New York before the sun came up.

I suggested to Lyssa that we could stay in Nashville, at least for one night, if she was tired. I could see that she was exhausted, but still she didn't want to stay there.

Everyone was already asleep, only Odin greeted us.

"It was a nice evening, don't you think?" I closed the front door behind me and noticed that she was looking off into the distance. When she didn't answer me, I walked closer to her. There was nothing in the direction she was looking, but Lyssa looked like she saw something. "Lyssa?" I grabbed her shoulder and she jumped slightly in shock. She quickly looked at me and relaxed a little.

"Sorry. Yes. It was a nice evening. I should probably go to bed." She started walking away from me with a quick step.

My gaze dropped to Odin, searching for some answer to what had just happened.

What's going on with her?

*****

The next morning I woke up way too early. I only had about two hours of sleep, but I don't feel bad. After a while I got used to the lack of sleep and one hour is enough, two is a luxury.

When I walked into the living room, I found Luna and Theo on the couch, watching a movie and smiling.

"I thought you'd be interrogating." I drew their attention to me.

"No. It's pointless. I spent hours there yesterday and she didn't say a word. I won't break her, but Eris might. When she wakes up, she'll probably go to her if she's not already there." She turned back to the TV. "And if you happen to go to Nyx, take that to her." She pointed to the table behind her where the tray of food was. "I'm not going to feed her."

I have a feeling that Nyx didn't have dinner either.

I looked at Theo with a warning look, he knows he's not supposed to hang out here today. He has other things to do.

"Don't look at me like that. I finished it all yesterday." I snorted at his answer and turned. I picked up a tray from the table and started walking into the hall where I opened the door behind which were the stairs to the basement.

I followed them down and stopped at the cell. I unlocked it and entered.

My gaze fell on a woman tied to a chair, who immediately noticed me and smiled. "It that for me?"

"We'll see. Maybe after you answer a few questions." I threw the tray on the floor, far away from her.

"For you? Anything you want, baby." She winked at me and I puked inside. "But if it concerns Eris, I have to tell you right away that you are just wasting your time here."

"What should concern Ly...Eris?" I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest.

"You don't know." Laughter slipped from her mouth. "I bet neither does Aceso." She didn't stop laughing.

"What are you talking about?" I know I can't let her play with my head, but Lyssa has been acting strange lately. If this little psychopath has answers, I want them.

"Why don't you untie me and we can talk about it? I promise I'll be nice." She looked at me with puppy dog eyes, but that didn't stop me from grabbing her by the throat and starting to strangle her.

"Speak while you still can." My grip on her throat tightened and the chair was now only on its two back legs.

"Just so you know, this is my kink." Her words caught in her throat.

"Talk." I said between my teeth.

"Or what?" She challenged me. Either she's trying to see how far I can go or she's just stupid and wants to die.

I let go of her neck, and since I wasn't holding her, she toppled backwards with the chair and landed on the ground. Hard.

I bent down next to her and brushed her hair away from her face so she could see me. "I don't know what you're trying to prove here, but whatever it is, it's pointless. You're not getting out of here. At least not alive."

"Funny that you should talk about who survives or not. Because I'm sure of one thing. I might not get out of here alive, but neither will Eris. And she'll be gone long before I do."

Already full of that bullshit coming out of her mouth, I stood up. I let her lay there before I left her cell and headed to Lyssa's room.

I knocked and knocked, but she didn't answer, so I went inside.

The bed was made as if no one had even slept in it and Lyssa was nowhere to be found. I noticed the open door that led to the private bathroom and knocked again.

But with the force I knocked, I forced the door to open.

My gaze fell on Lyssa, who was lying on the ground.

I immediately went down to her and placed her head on my legs. "Lyssa. Come on. Wake up." I tried to feel her pulse on her neck. "Shit, Lyssa!"

*****

Good way to end a chapter.

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