Song~ I love you - Billie Eilish Song~ Watch - Billie Eilish Song~ Nightcrawler-Travis Scott



I missed her.

The decision I made two years ago broke me. I know why I did it, and for good reason. Yet knowing how much I hurt her- how much I probably hurt Lucien, that hurts.

It hurts much more than myself selfish needs to say that I missed them when it was my decision in the first place.

She may never understand why I did what I did, and that's okay. I knew the full story- the reason for the actions I chose to take- and I'd leave it up to her if she wanted to hear it.

She doesn't need my comfort. She has a family. A loving family. A loving best friend- Lucien. A loving boyfriend. I'm not needed.

So why should I come into her life and fuck it all up?

She deserves to be happy.

Once all this is over I'll go. To where? I'm not sure. Far away from her life, from Lucien's life. I just want them to be happy.

And if me leaving their lives for good is what they want- need to be happy, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

They are my little siblings. My bestfriend's. And the two people I've sacrificed everything for.

She's angry. I know it.

Lucien will be angry. I know it.

I mean, your best friend supposedly died two years ago and now shows up from the dead.

If anything Dove probably thinks I'm a brainwashed traitor who is working against. Working from the inside to take her down.

The only thing keeping me from crumbling is the hope that maybe she remembers the person I am. That I'd never do that, that I'd never let them do those things to me.

She was- is my little sister. I'd die before betraying her.

I just hope she knows that.



How the hell is she even here?

She died.

I watched her die.

I watched her take her last breath.

I listened to that bastard laugh as he kicked her dead body.

I saw it all. Yet she was here, walking next to me while my brother carried a sack of potatoes over his shoulder.

Her being so close to me, walking next to me as we make our way through the halls all nonchalant even though a bomb is bound to go off at any moment; this was unreal.

The atmosphere was tense- for me at least. Rylees face was impassive but I could feel her glance at me from time to time. I did my best to ignore it, this overwhelming feeling eating away at my insides.

Making our ways through the halls, My head felt as if it was spinning and I couldn't tell if it was from blood loss or if it was from all my thoughts.

Was she working with them? Maybe she is acting as a friend to get information on the inside. Maybe she really did just survive? They shot her in the chest, maybe they "got rid of her" but didn't check if she was really dead.

She wouldn't betray me. She couldn't.

For some reason, the thought of her betraying brought an all new pain- one far worse than her 'death' could bring.

Thought after thought consumed me as we all made our way out the building quickly- my pace slightly lagged.

A car is parked and already waiting for us, as I assume Sebastian or one of my other brothers already called in one for us.

One of our personal drivers was already in the front seat- ready to drive off once we got in. Seb got in and took his seat on the passenger side while Rylee and I sat in the back. Lucia was by our feet, my foot resting near her neck just incase she woke up and tried to move.

My head was spinning and I closed my eyes- resting my head on the window- to try to get it to stop.

Ball.

Arabella.

Sasha.

Captive.

Igor.

Dead.

Aleksei.

Stab.

Away.

Rylee.

Alive.

Everything was replaying in my mind and It wouldn't stop. Im pretty sure my stab wound was still bleeding but there is so much blood on me I'm not sure if it's mine.

A tap on my shoulder makes me open one eye to see who was tapping me. My side eye scans the persons face, only to conclude that it is Rylee looking at me with concern written all over her face.

She needs to work on not portraying her emotions, especially to people you don't truly know.

"Your hurt." She states, her voice calm. "Where?" She prods probably not being able to see if the blood is mine or the blood of everyone else I've killed tonight.

I shrug, closing my eyes and resting my head back on the window,"I'm fine. Now fuck off." I mumble as silence finally takes over the car.

"You're not fine." Her cold voice met my ears, effectively ending the peaceful silence that engulfed us. "Where are you hurt?" She repeated her question, this time firmer than the last- leaving no room for discussion.

I clenched my jaw in anger and dug my nails into the palm of my hands to keep from snapping at her- and maybe to make me feel something other than the spinning of my head.

She has no right to ask questions about me. I haven't seen her in two years. I'm not the same girl she knew and I'm sure she isn't the same girl I knew.

Calm. Collected. Rational.

"Stop that." Rylee mutters taking my hand in her own and unclenching my hands. "You're only hurting yourself. I know you're angry, i know you're upset with me, you're probably wondering if you can even trust me." She exclaimed looking so dejected- so regretful when her eyes scanned my face.

The emotions on her face made my stomach churn into a knot- a knot that made me feel as though I was being unfair, to harsh, irrational.

My brain can't quite comprehend how she still knew me so well. It had been so long, and here she was remembering exactly how my brain worked. It wasn't fair how she could understand me so well but I couldn't understand hers- my emotions couldn't handle it.

Everything I was holding inside me- all the sadness, all the anger, all the despair- was slowly crumbling and it would consume me. Eventually my emotions would catch up and I would end up drowning in them.

I swallowed thickly and gathered myself- doing what I do best. I push back everything I'm feeling, piling it to the back of my mind. I wouldn't fall apart right now. I wouldn't.

"H-how did you s-survive?" Why was I stuttering? Why was I so dizzy? Whats wrong with me?

Rylees brows furrowed together and she looked at me with disquiet. I saw Sebastian turn his head towards us for the first time- seeing as he was probably ease dropping but giving us space to talk at the same time. He to frowns at me, looking at me with concern as well.

Was their blood on my face?

However before anyone could utter a word through the tense silence- something collided.

More like something collided with us.

We flipped once, twice, three times before the car settled on its side.

Everything was dark. My ears rang while all I could do was feel. I was hanging, my seatbelt was digging into my neck- drawing blood and gripping onto me, telling me to hang on.

I could feel it.

My vision is so blurry, I can't see anything clearly. My head is spinning and my entire body aches in pain while my stomach feels as if it's on fire.

Whats happening?

Pulling myself together in this dreadful situation, I decided if I couldn't see, I would rely on my other senses. I closed my eyes shut completely, the feeling of uncertainty creeping into my bones as I relied on every other sense in my body.

Touch.

Smell.

Taste.

Hearing.

My hand trembles as I move it along the cool leather, shards of glass cut my hands as I move my hand but I relish in the pain it brings.

The smell of smoke, gas, and trees invades my nose. We must be somewhere in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere while the smoke comes from the engine.

The familiar metallic tastes rests in my mouth. Blood that can only be mine.

And as I strained my ears, I heard nothing. Nothing but the low ringing in my ears and the engine producing smoke into the air. That was until the sound of low footsteps caught my attention.

They were low, indicating they were far away. However that didn't last long as the sound of their footsteps got louder with each step- effectively notifying me of close they were getting even if I couldn't see them since my eyes were still closed.

The clicking of heels against the road tell me there is at least two woman here. The third pair of footsteps told me there was one male with them. His footsteps were much heavier on the ground, as if they aren't trying to hide the fact they are here.

I tried to move my right arm that is closest to Rylee, trying to feel her and wake her up. Something restrains my right arm from moving though. I bring my left arm over to touch it, only to feel the familiar fabric of the seatbelt wrapped around my arm.

Blood trickled from each spot the seatbelt was tangled around my arm- the material cutting of the circulation in my arm- while I tried to remove it with my left hand.

When it proved to be useless, I try to reach for the front seat- squinting to see through my blurry haze- but I can't reach.

I halt my movements when the sound of the footsteps come impossibly closer.

Get up, you can't just stay here.

The voice in my head was shouting at me to move, I tried and tried to free my arm but it was of no use. I couldn't feel my knifes anywhere and I wasn't getting my arm free without help or something to cut through the stupid fucking seatbelt.

So I did the only option I had left to take when I felt the car shake with a knew added weight.

I played dead.

Someone must have pried the door above me off as I felt a few glass pieces add some new cuts to my face- adding to the ones I already have.

I didn't react to the glass, I didn't move when I felt the car shake even more, I didn't breathe when I felt another presence in the car, and I didn't make a sound when someone's hand brushed my leg.

Calm. Collected. Rational.

The person- who I assume is the male from the group of three judging by the force his body provided when he jumped into the car- had jumped down ignoring Rylee and I strapped to the seats.

I felt him pick something up from somewhere in the car and out of curiosity I peeked an eye open to see what it was.

Through the blurry haze, It looked like a human body in the man's arms. It wasn't Seb- he would have been way bigger in size than the body resting in this man's arms. It wasn't Rylee because I could feel that she hadn't moved, her presence still close- nor was she cut from her seat next to me now on the new floor of the car. And it sure as hell wasn't the personal driver.

So it left only Lucia who had yet to be strapped into a seatbelt when the car was hit.

Is she even alive? She didn't have a seatbelt on and she was on the floor of the car when we crashed. High chance she is dead.

The real question is, who was taking her? It couldn't have been the Russians, they would have took me- maybe even Rylee and Seb just for leverage or fun. Even if it was the Russians, who would the two woman who are here be?

Besides Lucia and Sasha- who were not even close to high in power as Vladimir was- there were no woman that high in power. At least no woman that high in the ranks to be here right now. The Russians valued men because they were stronger, smarter, faster- yet I had proved them wrong every time when I constantly overpowered their men.

So who is this? Who were these people? And what did they want?

I snap my eyes shut when the man takes one last glance around the car before going out the window he came from.

I listened closely as their footsteps became softer and softer- fading away as they got farther away from this car once they picked up Lucia.

When I was sure they weren't close- that they weren't still here- I pull both of my eyes open, my vision was still slightly blurry- not fully-but I could definitely make out the crimson read liquid.

Blood, Lots of blood.

I move my gaze over towards Seb's body. He was knocked out cold- he didn't look dead, cold or pale, just sleeping. And although he was on the new floor of the car, I could see his shoulders contract and un-contract with each heavy breath he took.

I looked over at Rylee who looked to be in the same state as Sebastian- not dead but peacefully knocked out. Relief flooded through my body when I realized they weren't dead- maybe a little injured but not dead.

Alive.

Were alive.

The last thing I knew was the smell of gasoline filling my nose before my vision went black.



A Little later...

Sebastian kicked the window- knocking the already shattered glass to the ground at his feet. He pulled himself up out the window glancing around to see where they were or if the person who hit them was here.

But he saw nothing. Not a living soul was out here. Just trees and endless forests.

He muttered some profanities under his breath before getting back into the car to get his sister. His phone was shattered so there was no way of calling any of his brothers or any of his soldiers.

With urgency, Seb moved towards the back and grabbed a shard of glass. He cut the seatbelt around his sister off- effortlessly catching her before her body could fall. He untapped the last of the seatbelt from her arm- rubbing the bruised and purple area try to sooth the ache the seatbelt caused.

Diovanna let out a pained groan but never once opened her eyes- like the exhaustion was fully setting in. That worried Sebastian more than he would like to admit.

Since the car had flipped onto its side, it would be a struggle to get her out through the window. He resorted to trying the sun roof.

If he could get it open then he could crawl out and pull her with him.

He kicked and kicked the sun roof until the glass shattered but never fell. The strong smell of gasoline was getting worse and he knew they had to get out somehow.

He got down on the floor of the car- disregarding the glass cutting his skin- and began throwing his elbow into the window.

After a couple hits the glass fell and his elbow was dripping with blood. Ignoring the stinging pain in his arm, he crawled out before pulling his sister out after him. He picked up a discarded piece of glass and clutched it in his hand.

Sebastian picked Diovanna up and walked a little ways down the road and placed her in the grass. He wanted her far away from the car just in case it blew up.

Shaking her lightly, he tried to get her up. He wanted her to be alert in case someone was out here.

He was going back for Rylee and the driver.

The driver was one of his men.

Rylee was Dio's best friend.

He wouldn't just leave them.

Diovanna groaned a blinked her eyes open. She felt like a weight was dragging her eyes down, her vision was blurred and her eyes were foggy. Everything was spinning and her body was numb.

She blinked repeatedly, trying to get rid of the weight on her eyes. She could see someone in front of her- shaking her lightly. Yet she couldn't feel it, she couldn't feel anything.

Sebastian snapped his fingers in front of her, "Diovanna, it's me. Seb." His tone was light, but there was an edge to it. He had to go back for the others and he was running out of time.

Diovanna focused on the person in front of her. Clearly a man- broad shoulders, tall, and his familiar brown hair. Her brother.

She backed up slightly, glancing around her surroundings. They were still in the middle of nowhere and no other signs of life were around them.

Sebastian watched as his sister backed herself up- seeing this, he immediately took a step back wanting to give her space if that's what she needed.

Diovanna looked back to her brother, the numbness in her body intensifying by the minute.

"I need to go back for Rylee and Mitch. Hold this incase someone is out here." He explains gently to her before placing the shard of glass he had in front of her, not touching her at all.

She nodded wordlessly at his statement and watched as he went back to the car flipped on its side.

Once Sebastian was satisfied with her nod he ran back to the car getting back down on his knees to crawl through. He was surprised to see Rylee cutting her seatbelt off with a knife she must have had hidden somewhere on her. Her seat was on the side closest to the ground so she didn't have to worry about falling.

When she noticed Sebastian they nodded in greeting to each other before Sebastian grabbed her hand- helping her out of the car and onto her feet.

"Dio is over there in the grass. She doesn't look too good-can you go stay over there with her?" He asks, his composure slipping and the worry seeping through his emotions. "I came back for you and Mitch. She'd kill me if I left y'all." Seb explained to Rylee who nodded immediately making her way to Dove.

Rylee had slight pain in her leg, cuts littered her body from the amount of glass that smashed when the car flipped. She didn't mind though, pain was nothing new- besides, right now she needed to get to Dove.

Dove was standing on shaky legs, blood coated every inch of her body- some hers, some not. Her hand held the shard of glass Sebastian had given to her before he left.

Rylee approached slowly- doing everything she could to keep from startling her. Dove was clearly in a state of delirium, whether that was from blood loss or the car crash- Rylee didn't know. However she could tell her best friend did not look good.

Dove heard Rylee's footsteps immediately. She tried narrowing her gaze on the figure but once again nothing was clear, she could only tell that the figure was human and most likely a woman based on her body build.

Out of pure instinct, she clutched the glass in her hand tighter- the glass digging into her palm. She was ready to use it incase this person posed a threat.

"Dove," Rylee glanced around the dark road surrounded by nothing but darkness. "It's me, Rylee. Can you hear me?"

Dove slightly relaxed knowing this person wasn't completely random. She nodded once allowing Rylee an answer to her question.

Before anything more could be said, Doves bracelet beeped. A signal only activated when Arabella clicked the button her necklace.

Even in Doves dazed state, she understood what it meant.

And it didn't mean anything good.



~An Hour Earlier~

Lucien and I had ditched our earpieces when leaving the ball room- tossing them on the floor and stepping on them to ensure they were crushed.

When Diovanna had said there was a bomb and that we needed to get out- we complied. But she stopped answering her earpiece.

Just to be safe we disposed of ours to ensure no one could track us or in case someone else had gotten a hold of our communication line.

Lucien and I had been keeping in touch once we left. I texted Dio and none of my text had a response. I knew she was okay, she was always okay. However I knew something was off.

So off.

I made my way to the coordinates of the safe house Dio sent to me. I knew her family would be... upset? Maybe a little mad but I couldn't care less. Dio had strictly went over the plans with Lucien, Atlas, Cas, and I at my mansion. Roxy joined too, only because Diovanna kept giving her treats. The four of us were to meet her at the safe house.

So that's where I was headed.

Atlas and Cas were way ahead of me, and Lucien was close.

It was only a matter of minutes before we arrived and I knew her family would throw a fit. I could feel a headache forming at the thought.

Yet the thought of her made the pain in my head lessen. She's like a drug, one I'm so badly addicted to that i feel like I'd die without.

I'm a mafia boss, supposed to be cold and emotionless yet she brought out the complete opposite of everything I was taught.

My father always taught me love was a weakness. He taught me that emotions got you killed. He taught me that showing any ounce of weakness was a death wish.

But being with her showed me that my father was wrong. She wasn't my weakness, she was my strength. She simply proved that the old fuck was a dumbass.

The closer to the supposed safe house, my muscles seem to begin to relax.

What are you doing to me όμορφο κορίτσι? [Pretty Girl]

I park my Matt black Mercedes behind the car I know to be Atlas's. We are parked further down the road- the safe house only a couple feet ahead on this abandoned road surrounded by woods.

I wait for the text Lucien sends to me saying he was there. Her family knew him. He could walk in without being posed as a threat.

I on the other hand could not.

I was a threat.

To them... maybe.

To her?

ποτέ. [Never]

Atlas and Casandra follow my lead, exiting their car and making our way down the empty road.

It only took about five minutes before we were walking up the pavement and opening the front door Lucien had purposefully left open.

People were arguing- shouting at each other. But the creak of the front door being opened must have caught everyone's attention because now at least ten different guns are pointed at me.

Seems like everyone in here is a little... peachy.

I ignore all the gun pointed in my direction when my eyes narrow on the little girl whose cheeks are stained with tears.

When she senses the tension in the room shift, she lifts her to take a better look at who's entered. Only when her eyes come across me do they shine with recognition. Before I know it she's jumping off the couch and running over to me in a haste.

A guard goes to grab her arm and stop her but I draw my gun for the first time since I've been here and point it at the man.

"Touch her and I'll put a bullet through your skull." I threaten not taking my eyes off the man. I knew they outnumbered me, but that didn't stop me from threatening a man who dared to put his hands on Arabella.

My interruption gives Bella enough time to slip past the man and jump into my open arm that's not holding the gun.

I situate her on my hip, her head resting on my shoulder while one of my arms is wrapped around her back- supporting her. My gun remains raised at the man who now has a look of surprise on his face.

Lucien is the first one to step into the tension, "Let's all think rationally." His voice is steady and compromising. My stare is hard and threatening as my eyes stay trained on every Italian in this room.

I'm trusting Diovanna.

If it weren't for her I believe I would have done something illogical.

"Diovanna and I know them. Nikolaos, Atlas, and Cassandra are all trustworthy." Lucien explains slowly, making sure they comprehend his words. "They're on our side."

One man I recognize as Ares steps forward. "Arabella knows you?" His voice was rough and deep while his words take on a protective edge.

I knew everyone in this room. Diovanna had showed me pictures and drilled it into my head who was who. We were prepared. So he came as no shock to me.

I don't offer a reply to his question but instead offer a singular nod. His gaze moved over to the little girl in my arms. When she finally notices his gaze she offers him a smile, "It's okay. He's my friend. Me, him, and Dio."

Ares scans her face once more before nodding to himself and stepping back one step seeming to deem me trustworthy if Arabella deemed me trustworthy.

Most of the men seem to drop their guns from their pointed positions at me. Well a couple people still have their guns up in defense- yet I don't think it's for me.

Their guns are pointed at Casandra- that is before Atlas steps in front of her. Cas just grumbles in protest but he pays her no mind.

"Who's the girl?" This man doesn't have his gun up, in fact he hadn't drawn his gun the entire time he'd been here. "I know her name, but how does she fit with the Greek mafia?" He was the one and only Alejandro Baninchi. He was calm, collected, and most of all looked like he trusted his cousin- Diovanna's- words far more than the others.

Before I can respond to his question, Lucien speaks from his spot in the room. "Dio and I had first met Cas when we went on missions. She is actually how we ran into Nikolaos."

When the tension begins to slowly die down, I decide to speak for the first time. "I'm here for one purpose and one purpose only. Diovanna and I discussed this plan weeks ago, the best safety option was to work together. I help you, you help me."

Most of the older men I recognized as Diovanna's uncle's glanced at each other- seemingly to communicate with their eyes.

I glance at them unimpressed but overall they decided to trust me.

"Yeah, okay." Samuel speaks.

Okay.

~\~~\~

I watched as Arabella played and conversed with the two little girls. Their tiny fingers moving quickly.

The others had occupied themselves with the card games Diovanna had stalked in the closet.

She specifically told me that when we went over this plan.

While the older men diverted their attention to poker, the other young-ish cousins played Uno. However Alejandro, Emiliano, Elena, Amara, Apollo, Alessia, Lucien, Dom, Luca, Ares, and Aria were alert- on guard.

Good.

The older men and women should know better than to sit back and relax, yet here they were while their children were ready as if they knew what was to come.

Diovanna has a big family, a very large one in fact. It is quite an advantage if you asked me.

Atlas plopped down beside me, looking towards me as i kept my gaze trained on the three little girls playing without a care in the world.

They were my priority.

Atlas, Cas, and I would help the others but Diovanna made me promise to get them to the safe room- out of harm's way incase anything happened.

And intend to keep that promise.

"She will be here, soon." Atlas spoke lowly, only enough for me to hear.

I grumbled in response.

I wanted her here now. It's shouldn't be taking this long.

I kept my gaze in the girls but when my eyes caught sight of a shadow lurking somewhere outside, I tensed.

I snapped my fingers twice catching the attention of Lucien behind me who quickly quieted Dio's family.

I motioned with the smallest nod of my head to the window. Cassandra and Amara were already on the floor- coaxing the three girls to stay calm and follow them to the safest part of the house. Yet on little girl- stubborn as ever- turned her big doe eyes to me.

I nodded my head for her to follow but she shook hers in response.

Something was wrong and I needed her out of here.

I promised.

I stood up to my full height and made my way to her, my body faking nonchalant when in reality every bit of me was tensed.

"Arabella." My voice came out rougher than I intended. "I need you to follow them with Ruth and Luna." I said softening my voice while slightly bending my knees to be somewhat her height.

She shook her head again. "Diovanna." She breathed out. "Where is she?"

She couldn't hide the slight shake to her voice. I understood her, Diovanna was the first person to show her an ounce of safety, affection, and compassion. Without her here Bella felt as if she was unsafe and vulnerable- even if she was surrounded by people who she lives with now.

That knowledge is precisely why I get on my knees in front of her - so we are the same height - and pull her towards me.

Her arms wrap around my neck while mine wrap around her tiny torso.

"As long as I am here, no matter what is happening, you will be safe. Do you hear me? Nothing will happen to you- I swear on my life and on Diovanna's." My voice was soft and low, only for her to hear.

My words seem to have brought ease to her. Her body relaxes much more and her arms tighten around me.

It wasn't till the sound of a bullet striking the window that I pull her away from me and shove her towards Cassandra who had stayed back while Amara, Giavanna, and some of the others brought Ruth and Luna back to the safest part of the house.

It held guns, knifes, tasers, bulletproof vests, probably more while the entire room was bullet proof and made of steel.

It was made of everything they would need to keep safe if someone did get back there.

Bella stumbles a bit from the force of the push but Cassandra catches her before she can fall.

Arabella screams and cry's, her arms reaching out to me like I'm the closest thing to Diovanna she has. An ache forms in my chest at the thought of me not knowing where she is.

"πάω." I demand before I can think irrationally. Cassandra obliges while Atlas covers her. [Go]

I meet Lucien's eyes as bullets continue to fly through the once-safe-safe house. I silently motion for us to split in groups with a signal of my hands. He understands and speaks in low Italian to the others.

I watch as we all nod and begin to split up into groups. My group takes the living room where a door- leading to the back of the house- is. Atlas's group takes the sun room waiting in front the door. Lucien's group covers the back of the house. While some Italian men simply cover open space for anyone to enter or exit.

A couple bullets have been fired at us from the outside yet no one has entered quite yet, the enemy keeping their distance.

It isn't until the bullets momentarily stop do I strain my ears for any sound.

I listen as the footfall becomes louder as they make it closer and closer to the side door, other footsteps becoming more faint as they make their way to the other side of the house.

I look towards Elena, Marco, Dimitri, Aria, Liam, and Emilio. I hold my hand and begin counting down from five. Each time there steps fall closer I put a finger down.

5

4

3

2

1-

The door slams open but before the men can step foot into the house, Arabella clicks the safety off on the gun in her hand and points it at the man with a shaky hand.

"Don't do it Milo." Her voice is far shakier than before.

I watch as Milo intakes a breath as he know doubt feels the gun she has pointed at him.

I stand from my position in which he raises his gun towards me but doesn't fire.

"Stop it Milo." Arabella's voice carries. "Call off the rest. We can talk about this."

Milo shakes his head softly, "No, Sen gittikten sonra üzerimize kameralar koydular. şu anda izliyorlar, tereddütlerim başımı yeterince belaya sokacak."

[after you left they put cameras on us. they are watching right now, my hesitation will get me in enough trouble.]

Arabella sucks in a deep breath while have no idea what they are saying.

Dammit.

"kaçınız buradasınız?" She asks Milo. [how many of you are here?]

Milo's reply is instant, "on, ama Ruslar geliyor ve sayıca hepimizi geride bırakıyorlar..." he pauses, his face looking conflicted. "Leave Arabella. Now." His voice was hard and demanding almost as if he couldn't bare to do what he was ordered to do while she was here.

[ten, but the russians are coming and they outnumber all of us combined.]

Shouting sounds from the other end of the house- no doubt the other assassins.

"Call them off." Arabella's voice does not waver this time.

I send off a message to Atlas telling him not to harm them unless they directly become a threat to Dio's family.

Milo glances at her before clicking the piece in his ear, "Durmak." With one simple command shouting comes to a slow stop. [Stop]

I walk closer -Milo- fallowing my movements with his eyes while his gun remains aimed at me. He takes steps further into the safe house, other men follow behind him.

"Why did they send you? What were you ordered to do?" Arabella's voice cuts through the tense silence.

Milo intakes a sharp breath, his gaze remains on me when he speaks, "Arabella leave. Not here." He orders her.

She doesn't budge and it isn't until I look over at her once more do I see that her hand with the gun is trembling.

She's eight.

Eight years old.

I take slow deliberate steps towards Bella. I don't bat an eyelash at the assassins staring at me with their weapons drawn, I know that if they even thought about firing one of Diovanna's cousins would shoot in retaliation.

When I'm close enough to Arabella, I slip the gun out of her hand -turning the safety on- and slipping it into my waistband.

"Go back to the safe room. No one is going to be harmed. We just wanna talk privately." I lower my voice so only she can hear my voice.

She goes to protest but I shut her down with a look that says I wasn't asking.

She grumbles incoherent words before stomping down the hallway. Her antics humor me but I don't show it, not in front of these men. Instead, I compose myself before turning around to face them.

"Why did they send you?" My voice is demanding- a complete contrast to how I just spoke to Bella.

Milo sends daggers my way, "Dove. They want to get to Dove." that sentence makes my blood boil before it goes cold. "I'm under orders, I'm sorry."

My gaze intensifies, my voice calm- a complete contrast to what I'm feeling. "She isn't here, and if they've sent you guys and Vladimir's men here to get her..." I trail off thinking of three different ways this will carry out.

One, she could be completely fine and just abandoning the plan completely.

Two, she could be kidnapped by someone else because lord knows how many enemies she's made.

Three, she's dead and I'll never see her again.

"Do you think someone else could be involved in all of this? Or maybe she's dead? Oh no." Who the hell is this guy?

Footsteps near from one of the hallways in this safe house. Before I know it Lucien is leading some of the other imposters to where Milo and I stand.

"Lucien?" Milo's voice is low- confused.

Lucien's brows raise in surprise, "Milo, you're here too?"

I glance between the two men.

I need a drink.

"Now is not the time- Dio is missing." I tell Lucien whose face scrunch's up into worry at the news.

"Milo, Russians are coming. We're dead." This new guy explains.

Milo's eyes widen, "Shit. Lucien, get Arabella and the rest of your family here and get out. Well hold them off- we're dying anyways."

The suggestion sounds appealing to me but Lucien seems to feel otherwise when he frantically shakes his head. "You guys stand on our side. We are the same, grew up the same, taught the same. Dove wouldn't let you do that, I won't either."

Milo and the rest of the people he came with all look conflicted but ultimately nod. "We work together... once again."

Lucien nods, an emotion unrecognizable in his gaze.

I don't have time for emotions right now, not when Russian men were getting closer and I'm responsible for protecting every life under this roof.

I promised.

"Lucien go tell Atlas and the rest of the groups that Milo and his men are with us. Elena go to the safe room where Bella, Ruth, and Luna are. Tell everyone in there to be prepared." I order trying to prepare for what is to come.

I need to be ready.

I promised.



Russians were approaching fast. There were probably one-hundred Russians and only thirty people in that safe house. Outnumbered was an understatement.

Yet here Nikolaos stood next to the closed door- ready to shoot anyone who even stepped a foot into this house.

He made a promise.

Atlas was in a group with the old people. The only one who spoke freely with Atlas was Raffaele. That man had no filter.

Alessandro, Ciro, Gino, Leonardo, and Emiliano all gave Raffaele weird glances- ones that he completely ignored and kept talking. That was until heavy footfall sounded from the forests outside.

Each and every person straightened up ready for what is to come. Atlas checked his phone one last time- reading the message sent by Nikolaos and one from Cas.

He opened Cas's message first.

Cas: Kick some ass.

Atlas chuckled to himself replying with a "Ofc baby. Only because you said so."

He then check the message Nikolaos sent him.

Nik: Kill any Russians you see. Remember, those assassins are on our side but if they become a threat take them out. Be careful.

Atlas read the message twice just to be sure he understood everything before responding with a "Aw you care about me, be safe too love!"

Atlas didn't get a response, so he laughed and tucked his phone away.

Meanwhile Bella was pacing back and forth in the safe room. Everyone in here had bulletproof vests on- even the children. Weapons were in hands and everyone was tense. Arabella knew something was wrong. So, so, wrong. She could feel it. Aunt Olivia tried to coax her to sit down where she was with Ruth and Luna but she refused.

She didn't want to admit it, but she was afraid. She was told over, and over not to show fear yet it's like it was imbedded in her mind- in her body. The fear never seemed to stop.

The only person who understood her - understood that fear - was not here. That seemed to be more scary than any other fear she has.

Sure she had Lucien and Nik who were the closest things to Dio she would get. She even had Dio's family. But they weren't her.

And the thought that something could have happened to her or that she is gone forever shook Arabella to the core. So much that her breaths picked up and her heart rate increased to beating a million miles per hour.

Cas and Amara had been keeping a close eye on her, so when they noticed the uneven breaths she was heaving it wasn't long before they approached her.

"You're okay." Cas whispered softly. "It's okay."

Amara nodded along, seating Arabella on the floor where they knelt. "Hey Bella, I need you to tell my five things you can see."

Arabella's breaths were quick- her voice shaky once again. "Y-you, Cas, t-the f-floor, Ruth, L-Luna"

"That's good." Cas praised, "Your doing so well."

Amara gave Arabella a reassuring smile, "How about four things you can hear?"

Arabella was still heaving but her senses were coming back, "F-foots-steps, t-talking, you, wi-ind."

They repeated this process until Arabella was sat- her breaths even and her tears stopped.

"Dove." Arabella whispered. "I want, Dove."

Cas and Amara shared a glance. They didn't know where Dio was, they had no idea if she was even okay. Yet here they were, stood before a little girl who wanted nothing more than her older sister.

"I-" Amara was cut off by the sound of gunshots being fired. The loud pop caught everyone by surprise- the twins confused as to what had everyone so shaken up.

Amara turned the lights to the safe room off and whispered for everyone to be quiet.

Arabella quickly pressed the button on her necklace, alerting Dio of the danger. Hoping she would come. Needing her to be here.

The Aunts and some of the older sisters were here. They were to protect the three little ones. Lola- grandma had her Glock in hand and a knife in the other. While Adelina- grandmother carried two handguns. Both were positioned close to the door, waiting for someone to enter just so they could shoot.

Aunt Olivia and Giavanna had Ruth and Luna pushed behind them in a corner. Aunt Olivia was always the sweeter type- non violent. But that didn't mean she wouldn't take the necessary actions to ensure the safety of her and her family.

Giavanna never wanted to get into the mafia world. Not after her mistakes all those years ago. But even then she was trained the basics- specifically for occurrences like this.

Shots rang louder and louder. The adrenaline was kicking in, and in any moment that door would bang open.

There is no men in here to protect them- yet these woman didn't need a man. Not when they had themselves.

The door slams open with a bang and Lola is quick to take the man by the neck and twist it- the dark space giving her the advantage of surprise. More and more men filter in through the room.

Ruth and Luna hug each other- sitting in the corner crying- Aunt Olivia stands in front of them, body's at her feet. The two girls may not have been able to hear what was happening but the violence was clear in front of them.

Amara and Cas were busy fighting off four guys. These men were far more trained than the rest.

Arabella looked around the dark room. Bullets were flying. The sound of fist crashing and bones cracking filled her ears. She was still where she was when Cas and Amara were speaking to her.

Arabella ran her fingers along the wall as she silently made her way around the room.

You're small, use it.

Their words rang in her head, seeping into her mind and taking control. With her heart pounding, she picks up a discarded gun and makes her way around the house-passing the body's, passing the fighting men and woman, and passing the people she once trained aside.

Heart pounding, ears ringing, she continued her way around the house only stopping when she caught a glimpse of Lucien fighting against five men. He wouldn't be able to take them down alone, she knew that.

You're small, use it.

With one last contemplative thought, she raised the gun and fired a bullet into one of the mean's heads before quickly moving to the next shadowed hallway.

Hiding can be your best weapon, only when you use it right.

Arabella watched as every single man looked to where she just was- yet the only one smart enough kept his gaze on the men, taking them by surprise when he snapped one man's neck and pulled another into a head lock- effectively cutting off his airway.

Arabella breathed a sigh of relief. Only her relief was short lived when another man launched a knife into Lucien's back.

She quickly pointed the gun at the man and fired. The man dropped to the floor, Lucien going down with him. The man Lucien was strangling fell with a cough and before he could retaliate- she fired a bullet at him too.

Arabella ran. She knew the men had seen her now. She'd been careless when she fired- not bothering to move after each shot.

If your team cannot hold their own, leave them. They will only do you harm.

The words her mother and trainers once spoke to her ring in her ears as she runs throughout the hallways of the safe house.

Just don't get caught, she thought.

~|~|~ Meanwhile...

Nikolaos had lost count of how many Russians he had killed. His focus was keeping everyone who isn't Russian alive. And so far he had succeeded.

Milo had a stab wound but it wasn't fatal. Marco was fine- using his bare hands to beat some of the Russian men to death. Dimitri had a gash on his forehead but that was the only visible harm he had. Aria was fine, not a scratch on her. Liam had a black eye and a gunshot wound-only a graze- but that was all. Emilio had dislocated his shoulder but ultimately popped it back into place before continuing the fight.

The safe house had been swarmed with Russians. More than anticipated.

Most of the Russians were lying on the floor. Yet there were still to many standing.

"Go to the safe room." Nik ordered Aria and Dimitri. "Make sure everyone who was in there is okay."

They followed his order and Nikolaos barely turned around fast enough to catch a knife thrown at him.

The blade sliced through the skin on his hand, coating the blade in his blood. Yet the pain was nothing. Nikolaos only gave a smile to the man who threw the knife before throwing said knife back at him. The man didn't have time to blink before the blade was imbedded between his eyes.

The fights went on and on, that was until a Russian man stepped out from the shadows- a familiar child struggling in his arms.

Nikolaos stops his movements immediately. There are no Russians standing around him anymore, only ten stand at the front door- Arabella in one of the disgusting perverts hands.

"Where is Dove?" The Russian holding Arabella asks- his accent thick.

Anger begins to build in Nik's chest but he pushes it back with a calm demeanor. "Not here. Let her go." The demand rolls off his tongue effortlessly, despite his calm voice a slight edge takes it.

The Russian chuckles glancing to his friend, "глупый человек." He mutters to one of his buddies who chuckles at his joke. [Stupid Man]

A glare settles its way onto Nik's face as he look at the man, "Let her go." I repeat my words only for the man to place a knife he had hidden against her neck.

Arabella's breath hitches, the familiar blade now pressed against her neck. Light blood trickles down her neck from where the knife lays against her neck.

"Boss wouldn't be to happy if we came back empty handed. I'm sure this little one- and the others- will have to do if you refuse to give up Dove." The man's words repeat in Nikolaos's head.

This little one- and the others- will have to do.

The man smirks, "You may have killed most of us, but we will always win in the end. Now, where is Do-"

The man suddenly stumbles back- choking on his own blood; his throat slit.

Arabella runs straight to Nikolaos who immediately picks her up and moves away from the new fight- shielding her from everything.

He had a pretty good idea who was here.

And he knew his job now was to stay with this little girl.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]



The man stumbles, his blood flowing freely while I listen to the sound of him choking on his own blood.

Music to the ears of you ask me.

I launch for the next man, tackling him to the ground while Rylee takes another guy.

The man flips us so he is on top of me- his hand around my throat holding me still.

"Kinky." I mutter to him before kicking his groin and head butting him. The man rolls away from me but I stab his neck before he gets far.

Another man launches at me- catching me by surprise- he lands a punch to my face before I sweep his legs out from underneath him. He falls with a thud and I take the opportunity to step on the man throat with my heel- smashing his wind pipe.

Going for the throats today I see.

I notice two guys ganging up on Rylee and I take the opportunity to take the man by surprise.

I kick the back of his knees when I push his shoulders down so he kneels. My gun rests against his temple while the man shakes in either anger or fear.

Maybe both.

Rylee snaps the other guys neck in a swift motion giving the man an easy death.

"That's no fun." I say with a fake pout to her. She simply offers me a smile muttering something about me being crazy.

I ignore her and turn my attention to the last man. "Apologize." I whisper to him. "Go on- say you're sorry, beg for forgiveness and I might just let you walk out of here alive." My voice is sweet, manipulative, taunting. And like the stupid man he is, he takes the bait.

"Please forgive me. I'm sorry for hurting you and your family. I beg you, please let me live." The man on his knees pleads for his life. Yet nothing can save him from the fate I have decided for him.

A dark chuckle escapes my lips, so much that I throw my head back with a sweeter laugh. "That was great." I speak. "Yet nothing can save you from the death I plan to give you." My whisper is sweet- a complete contrast to the words I just spoke.

The man must be enraged by the humiliation I just caused him because he suddenly spins and try's to launch himself at me.

Key word: try's.

A bullet is lodged in his head before the man could do anything- his blood splattering all over my already stained bloody body.

I grumble in annoyance, "I was having fun." I mumble kicking the man's head away from my feet and moving towards the owner of the gun.

"You play too much." Rylee scolds. "We have bigger things to worry about."

I push past her and to the rest of my family, "Yeah, Yeah." I mumble while I check out the bruise around Liam's eye.

Yet I stumble back a step when I catch sight of the person behind Liam.

"Milo." My voice is distant- guarded.

What the fuck.

"Dove." He greets me in the same way I greeted him. I move Liam, stepping closer to Milo- analyzing him.

A handgun rests in his right hand, like he's ready to pull the trigger if threatened. "Who's with you?" My question comes out more demanding than I intended- my taunting and playful demeanor gone from minutes ago.

Clutching the gun tighter, he responds. "A few of us. Raven, Trey, Caden, and Kev came in with me. Rocky, Lina, Ayla, Ace, and Declan went through the other door." He explains. He so nonchalant, as if his words mean nothing when they mean everything.

As if this night couldn't go more wrong.

I swallow thickly, "Your all here. What did they send you for? There has to be a big reason." My voice is accusing, as if I know what they were sent for yet i don't want to admit it.

Milo clenches his jaw before looking away from me. "Tell me Milo, come on. You were seriously going to carry out their orders!" My voice turns into on of betrayal.

I seem to be feeling a lot of that tonight.

"We were fucking friends- we trained together, all of us! Before they moved me up to maximum security, you were going to fucking hand me over to them? Do you know what they want to do to me?" I can hear footsteps approaching and I remind myself to stay calm. Think rationally.

Calm, collected, rational.

"Orders are orders." Milo's words pierce so deep into my chest I think I might have a heart condition.

"And I broke those orders every time they involved one of you." I watch as everyone fills into the space in the living room.

Most of us need doctors. Like ASAP.

Yet when i catch sight of Lucien i still. His eyes aren't on me, but rather on the woman behind me.

Ah shit.

"Rylee?" His voice is barely above a whisper, a mix of disbelief and betrayal coats his features. "How? What?" He stutters out, obviously in a state of shock.

The shock is short lived when it suddenly turns into anger- directed at me. "You knew?" His accusing voice comes my way and something snaps.

I raise an eyebrow at him, my voice hard. "You think I knew? Seriously?" My voice once again has a hint of betrayal in it. "After all the drinking I've done when it came to anything remotely close to Rylee, all the disappearing, you think I knew?"

Lucien looks away from me in what I hope is shame. He is my best friend, he of all people should know that if I knew Rylee faked all this bullshit I would have told him.

I shake my head in disbelief, "We all need to leave. We've killed the last of the Russians, Sebastian has cars waiting outside for all of us. Milo, you all are coming with me."

When no one seems to pick up their damn feet, I grow annoyed. "Now, let's go people I don't have all night." Everyone seems to hear the edge in my tone because they start moving.

I rub a hand down my face in frustration when suddenly a little body attaches itself to my leg. I know who it is before I even look down.

"Hey Bella." I smile softly at her before crouching down in front of her. "You were okay without me?"

She hesitantly shakes her head no. Her eyes brim with tears and her hands tremble. Something else had to happen before the guy grabbed her and held a knife to her throat.

Without warning she throws her arms around me and sobs. Everyone else left besides Rylee who stands in the far corner- observing like a creep, Nikolaos who stands close by, and Atlas and Cas.

Seems like they finally got my hint that it was time to go.

"I did something bad." Arabella hiccups, her head pressed to my chest. "Really bad."

I glanced at her confused, "What happened Bella?" I ask softly. "I promise whatever it was it'll be okay. I'll make sure of it, I promise."

She sniffles before holding out her pinky, "Pinky promise?"

I interlock our pinky's before kissing my thumb and pressing it to her thumb. "Pinky promise."

She intakes a heavy breath as if mustering up the courage to tell me what happened. All the while I try to sooth her by rubbing her back in a comforting manner.

"I killed three men." She whispers like she's committed the biggest crime in history. "Russians."

A beat passed before my confusion clears, "Oh baby." I mutter pulling her back into my embrace. "It's okay, I know I told you not to do that anymore but it was for your safety."

"They were attacking Lucien," she murmurs. "I didn't want them to hurt him."

That warms my cold heart.

I pull her back after a minute. "That's okay, no one's mad. You saved Lucy's life." I chuckle using the nickname she appointed him. "We can talk more about this when we get home okay? What do you say?"

She mutters a small yeah and I pick her up- resting her head on my shoulder. I glance to Nikolaos, Atlas, and Cas, "Your car is outside. You're coming with me to the mansion." I don't give them time to argue before I take the keys out my pocket and throw them to Nik. "Rylee, let's go." I don't glance back before making my way out of the house and into the awaiting car.

It was a particularly large SUV, and inside waiting for me was the one and only Milo and the rest of his crew.

I slid into one of the backseats while Rylee slid into the passenger seat. Arabella was still resting her head on my shoulder while her body was placed on my lap. I took the seatbelt and strapped it over both of us.

The familiar feeling of being in a car sent a wave of panic through my body while I calmed it with the single motion of play with Arabella's hair.

Distraction.

"Konağa girmeden önce üzerinize dokunulacak ve tüm kamera, silah veya teknolojiden arındırılacaksınız." I speak loudly for everyone in the car to hear. "anlamak?"

[you will be patted down and stripped of any cameras, weapons, or technology before entering the mansion.][Understand?]

Everyone nods, not complaining about what I've just informed them of.

And for the first time in what feels like years, a peaceful silence engulfs the space I'm in. That is until Ayla speaks.

"How is she?" She asks softly referring to my sleeping sister.

I lightly shrug, "As good as one can be when escaping hell."

Ayla nods, a sad expression adoring her face. "I'm sorry, for everything." She whispers so softly I think I missed it. But I know i didn't when Raven joins in from another seat in the back.

"Yeah, we shouldn't have given up on you like that- on any of you like that." Their words pierce through my chest just like Milo's had done earlier.

With a foreign feeling in my chest, I clear my throat. "We're here." I say moving my gaze to the familiar mansion.

Tonight is no where near done.



A/N: Hey guys, I know it's been a while. A lots been going on- between school, not so good friends, and homecoming planning I'm literally drained.

1) Are we seeing a similarity between Rylee and Dio's relationship and Dio and Bella's relationship?

2) Diovanna's sudden change in attitude or I guess state will be explained next chapter.

3) There are so many characters in this book I forget a lot of her family. My next book with be much simpler character wise.

4) I absolutely love you guys and so I'm here to tell you Rylee will be getting her own book.

Her book will give an insight to her childhood and what it was like before she ended up at that school. It will eventually turn into romance as the book gets to present day timeline.

Also if you have questions about this chapter, feel free to ask them here. I know this chapter was confusing as fuck.

I hope you all enjoyed.

By hoes <3

One question though, Have I ever told you guys my name?