~Madelyn ~

I wake up in a sweat. I frantically look around the room trying to calm my breathing. Another nightmare. I can never get that night out of my brain , at first it was scary but after all these years it's just annoying.

I look at my side table and my water is empty . I sigh before getting up and heading down the stairs towards the kitchen that Alia had shown me earlier . The house is quiet until I hear a voice ,I recognise it to be Lorenzo coming from one of the bathrooms downstairs.

"Why are you awake?" He asks from behind me and I turn around. My eyes widened when I saw him , his shirt was soaked in blood and he had a cut along his cheek .

"Are you ok? " I say pointing to the blood on his shirt .

"Don't worry it's not mine" he says tiredly.

"Oh"

He tries to clean the cut on his cheek and I see him squeeze his eyes shut from the sting of the rubbing alcohol. I examine the cut slowly moving towards him. When I'm close enough I'm able to see just how how deep the cut is .

"You know that needs stitches right?" I say grabbing the cotton pad he was using to clean the cut out of his hand.

"I don't know how to" he mutters examining his cheek in the mirror .

"I can do it" I mumble while looking down at the floor. "I took first aid in highschool."

He stares at me for a minute before nodding.

I check the cupboard below the sink finding a pair of gloves. I then get some rubbing alcohol and sterilise the needle and the wound. He flinches when the alcohol touches his skin and I grab his cheek to keep him in place. He's too tall for me to reach the wound on his cheek and he notices my struggling. I gasp when he picks me up placing me on the bathroom counter. He stands between my legs so that I can tend to his wound.

I stitch his cheek as quickly as I can still trying to be gentle .When I'm done I trace my fingers over the stitches checking my work. My hands linger on his face a little longer than they should but he doesn't say anything, instead he just stares at my eyes then my lips.

"Does it hurt?" I whisper still staring at his eyes.

"No" he says matching my volume.

"Why are you awake darling?"

"I had a nightmare" I say clearing my throat. "Anyways it's stupid ."

"Are you ok?" He asks sounding actually concerned and I don't believe it . I ignore the question inching my face closer to his . He does the same until our lips are almost touching.

"Don I wanted t-" Kai interrupts before stopping when he sees the two of us staring awkwardly. We both immediately snap out of whatever trance we were in and moved away from eachother.

"Oh uhm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt." Kai mumbles awkwardly .

"You didn't interrupt anything. I was just going to bed anyway." I say hopping off the counter giving Lorenzo one more look out of the corner of my eye.

"Madelyn before you go I wanted to let you know we're having a team meeting tomorrow. 10am don't be late" Lorenzo says and I chuckle but he stays absolutely serious.

"Oh you're not joking? Listen I'm sure a meeting would be great or whatever but I'm not part of your team."

"You are now. I know you're not really involved in this but I still want to see if you have any skills or maybe be of use to our team. Remember 10am." He says and him and Kai exit before I can say anything. I quickly get my water before going back to bed and falling asleep. ______________________________________________________

I wake up checking the time and seeing that it's 8:30am. I'm about to go back to sleep when I remember Lorenzo telling me about this meeting. I quickly got up running into the bathroom I have a regular shower because I washed my hair yesterday. I mentally thank Alia when I look around the shower seeing a lily scented body wash. I take in the amazing scent and quickly use it. I do my skincare before exiting the bathroom to find something to wear.

I decide to wear a pair of black shorts and a white top. I pair them with a pair of white converse I found in my closet. I moisturise my entire body and do very natural makeup . I think for a minute about what I can do with my hair before deciding to curl it .

It takes about 30 minutes since my hair is very thick. When I'm done I put on the perfume that Alia had left for me and I can't help but smile at the amazing and expensive scent.

I check the time seeing that it's 9:45am . Huh for once I'm not late .

I go downstairs and see everyone already waiting for while having a conversation . They all quiet down when they see me and I can't help but feel awkward . I recognise everyone standing there , Leo , Kai , Alia and Lorenzo but then my eyes land on another girl that I don't recognise. She is standing next to Alia and she shoots me a dirty look when she notices me. She has blonde hair that stops at her shoulders, red lips and light brown eyes . She's beautiful but I can already tell that she doesn't like me.

She gives me a funny look and I can't help but snap. " Do you have a problem?" I ask and she gets surprised that I asked her. My mouth has always gotten me in trouble.

"No" she says giving me a fake smile.

"Then fix your face" I say walking past her to go outside to the car that is waiting for us hearing Alia chuckle behind me.

Lorenzo is dressed in a black suit as usual and the stitches on his cheek are still in place. I know I shouldn't but I can't stop thinking about last night . Damn I have really bad Stockholm syndrome or something .

We stop at the car and Kai waits for me to get in before following behind me while Lorenzo goes around the other side trapping me between the two of them. I look into the back windscreen seeing Alia and the blonde girl getting into the car behind us along with Leo.

"Wait how come I'm stuck with you two?" I ask and they both look up from their phones.

"Because you're a liability sweetheart" Kai says smirking and I toss him a glare.

"Call me that again and I will rip your fucking tongue out and shove it up your ass." I say and he widens his eyes slightly before clearing his throat.

I look over to Lorenzo and he is pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Can you both stop acting like children." Lorenzo says.

"She started it." Kai whines out quickly and I roll my eyes.

"Uhm so quick question who's the blonde bitch?" I say turning to Lorenzo.

"The 'blonde bitch' is one of our seductresses and assassins so watch your mouth ." Enzo says and I keep quiet.

"How's your stitches?" I ask tracing my fingers over the part where I stitched. Sometimes I do things without thinking.

"What is this 20 questions?" He says grabbing my hand and I look down feeling embarrassed.

He notices and clears his throat letting go of my hand.

"My cheek is fine." He mumbles before going back to his phone. ______________________________________________________ Heyyy guyyysss

I know I've said this 100 times but I'm done with examsss!! So I'll be able to write more. I really hope you guys are enjoying this book and remember it is my first book so please be nice. 🥹

Anywaysss byeee love y'all MWAH 💋