AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI

Seeing her reluctantly give me access to her body did something to me. I felt like an asshole, trying to take advantage of a sweet, innocent child. She was 20, turning 21 in a few months, and I was turning 30 in a couple of weeks.

I knew she was a virgin, and that was the part that excited me, drew me to her. But, strangely, it felt wrong. I couldn’t do this, she didn’t deserve this.

I spread her legs apart, parting them open so I could slide inside of her wet, dripping hole. My index finger went in first, and I saw the way she forced her eyes shut, and then her lips started quivering.

She felt tight— so fucking tight, and I felt the walls of her coochie gripping the only finger I had inside of her. She tried to hold it in, to suppress the pain she felt… until she couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Ouch!’’

It hurt, I knew, still, I kept thrusting. But, she was in pain. And watching her express how it affected her slowly made my urges disappear. I’d never force a woman against her will.

And Olivia wouldn’t be any different.

I pulled my finger out of her after a few seconds, retreating as I bent over to pick up my clothes.

I—I couldn’t do it.

She was too fragile, too weak. And I knew she wouldn’t be able to handle all of me.

“Did—did I do something wrong?”

Her voice sounded scared, like she’d committed a crime that deserved death. I threw on my pants, trying not to express the pity and concern I felt towards her.

“Go wash up,” my voice was husky and a bit raspy. “I’ll get Rosa to make something for you.”

I didn’t look at her, but I felt her gaze on me, obviously surprised by my actions. I did my zipper and threw on my shirt over my shoulders, not turning back to even take as little as a glimpse at her.

I headed straight to the door, unlocked it, and took my exit. There was only one place for me to relax my nerves—my office.

“Axel. Can— can I go in now to meet her?”

Rosa appeared just in time. She seemed to have been waiting and hovering around the entrance. I traced the hint of concern in her voice, and I knew there was a soft spot in her heart for Olivia.

I turned to look at her, my shoulders squared. “Yes. I need you to give her some of that… stuff.”

She widened her eyes, and I could tell what was running through her mind. But, I wasn’t ready to answer her questions.

My legs walked away from her, heading straight to my office. I noticed the door was slightly opened, and my forehead creased. Nobody was allowed to go in there. Absolutely nobody.

I saw his figure hovering over the shelves of books. I furrowed my eyebrows, walking closer to my table to take my seat.

“You’re not supposed to be in here, Viper,” I tried my best not to sound annoyed as I pulled out my chair. “This place is off limits.”

He gave out a chuckle, taking his time to face me. I saw the smoke that clouded his face, and the cigarette that was at the corner of his lips which he held out in his hands while walking towards me.

“I thought I was different.”

I gave out a scowl. “A rule is a rule.”

“I see…”

He had something to say. His tone gave it all away. Viper was one to talk, he could never keep anything to himself no matter what it was.

I reached for the scattered paperwork on my table, trying to arrange nothing in particular. Olivia’s thoughts clouded my mind, and I couldn’t understand why she’d occupied space there when we’d barely been together for 24 hours.

“You look so… lost.”

I raised my head to him, noticing his hands reaching for my cigarette box to take a stick. Did I forget to add that he was a chain smoker?

“Your eyes are clearly deceiving you.”

“Don’t try to hide it, Ace.” he scoffed, pulling out the seat in front of me. “I know what’s going on.”

I smirked. “Then tell me.”

He took a seat. “It’s about that damn girl, Olivia.”

I gritted my teeth at the word he used to describe her. Damn? He had no right to call her that. My fists were slowly clenching, and I was trying so hard to refrain myself.

I straightened my posture. “Olivia has nothing to do with anything.”

“Oh yeah?” he sounded mocking, and his tone was attacking when I caught sight of him reclining in his chair. “You fucking chose her over the item we’ve been searching for!”

I swallowed, twitching my eyes. He’d reminded me. And the fact that I wasn’t even thinking about the consequences of the decision I’d made.

“I’ll find a way to get the item from La Mano nera.” I tried to sound convincing, tried to push the blame from my kitty. She had no idea about anything or what was going on.

The sound of the lighter lingered for a while— Viper gave light to his cigarette and took a puff, blowing it into the air as he leaned forward with his other hand on the table.

“There’s something you’re not telling me, Ace.”

I heaved a heavy sigh, already getting tired of the conversation. “Viper, that’s enough.”

“Have you even touched her?”

I froze at his question. Why was he asking though? It was none of his business.

A vein throbbed in my forehead. “And how is that relevant?”

He grinned, taking another puff from his stick. “It’s written all over you,” I turned my gaze away, sorting through nothing in particular on my table. “Your emotions are spilling over and this is not a good thing for us— for a man in your position!”

Maybe he was right. I’d never felt this way for a woman. I’d never stalked any woman, never travelled far away just to keep an eye on them.

My eyes narrowed, obviously blazing with the fury that surged through my veins as I gritted my teeth at him. “I don’t want to talk about this.”

He didn’t say anything. And I thought he’d given up talking about it, only for me to hear him ask…

“Are you doing this because of what happened?”

My muscles tightened, especially my jaw. My hands halted for a moment, and I pushed my gaze to him.

“What?”

“The incident… the last war that happened. Is this why you’re so protective of her?”

He’d struck a nerve, and opened another deep wound I’d been fighting to conceal. I felt a knot tightening in my stomach, and suddenly, the air felt suffocating.

“Ace?”

There was no answer to that question. And even, if there was any, I couldn’t part my lips to respond. This was worse than a blade going in my chest.

“So, it’s indeed because of it.”

He’d confirmed it. I stood up abruptly from my seat, trying to throw on my shirt and walk out, when I heard a heavy knock on the door. And then another figure rushed in…

It was Rosa.

“Axel…” her eyes burned with fear, and I noticed her jerky moments alongside her shaky voice. But I didn’t take them seriously. If being dramatic was a person— it was Rosa.

I kept my focus on my table, my hands grabbing a stick from my cigarette box. “What is it?”

“It’s Olivia,” I raised my face to her immediately, my eyes already asking questions. “I— I gave her the stuff like you asked me to. And now…”

I exchanged looks with Viper briefly, and then strode towards Rosa who seemed to have a problem speaking.

“And what?!”

“She’s unconscious,” I heard her swallow, a tear running down her left cheek as she added. “She’s not breathing.”