AVELINA'S POV

The rain falls harder as it’s drops splashes against the windows. I walk lazily to my room to gather my stuff. With tears in my eyes and shaky hands i pull open the drawers.

Why does Allessandro speak in proverbs? Why do we run from ghosts? Who are they? Why does he find it hard to explain anything to me in the name of protection?

I grab anything and everything i can lay my hands on. The room is quiet as every sound i make becomes louder than it should be.

I grabbed my sweater from the wardrobe and almost shoved it into my bag but stopped halfway when my fingers brushed through something. My father’s ring. I wore it the night of this funeral but took it off when Allessandro’s men came for me that night. I had completely forgotten i still had it. I thought i lost it as it is the only reminder i have of my father.

“Oh father,” I whisper under my breath. “Why do they hunt us.? What did you do.?”

The door creaks open behind me. I turn around gauging the ring like a weapon.

It was Allessandro, His hair wet is the rain. He is wearing a worry expression mixed with fury.

“We have five minutes before Emilio gets here with a new car. Make the most of it.” He says walking towards the window. “You should be careful. There are men in the hills who can take you down with a single bullet. Close the curtains next time and dim the light.”

I turn to him with my grip tightened on the ring. “Then close the curtains instead of ordering me around.”

He stretches his hands upwards, yanking the curtains shut, He smell of rain water, mixed with gunpowder and smoke.

“What if we don’t make it out of all this alive?” I ask walking towards him.

His gaze flickers as he stares at me. “We need to be ready to fight.”

He grabs my bag from where i left it, brought my sweater out and slips a small gun in it’s pocket.

“In case you need it.” He says locking eyes with me.

“But i do not know how to use a gun.”

“When the time comes for it’s use you will figure it out.

His fingers brushes mine as he hands the sweater back to me. I felt chills down my spine, the one that always burns just before he steps away.

But this time Allessandro remains still.

For a moment, My heartbeat becomes irregular. His hands caresses my lips. I felt a spark. The one that shouldn’t exist. What is he doing to my body to make me feel this way.?

Before we could move further we head the car roar. “Emilio is here.” He mutters.

I walk towards the door with my bag in hand. Before i could go out he pulls me my wrist, not hard but gentle enough to stop me.

“Promise me Avelina. No matter what happens never look back.” He says. Run until you find Emilio.

“I can’t leave you behind Allessandro.”

“You will do as i say.”

I search his eyes, trying to look for the monster but there isn’t any. The Allessandro i have come to know is different from what he portrays himself to be.

The horn blares again but this time it is closer and louder.

“You should go.” He says letting go of my hand.

The horn blares again, closer this time.

He releases me. “Go.”

I step out walking towards the car when i suddenly hear a noise coming from the bushes—too heavy, too deliberate to be the wind.

“Allessandro!” I shout.

He turns just in time as the bullet misses him by inches, slamming into the wall.

He shoots back twice, voices could be heard coming from the angle he shot at. The echo rolls through the hills like thunder.

“Get in!” he orders.

I jump into the back seat as he dives in after me closing the door in a hurry. The tire screeches against the wet concrete before driving off.

The safe house disappears behind us as the car speeds down the road.

I put my hand over my chest trying to calm myself down. My father’s ring in hand as though it was my protection.

Allessandro sits beside me reloading his gun as if preparing for the worst.

“How long do we have to run.?” I ask finally finding my voice.

“Until either of us dies.” He answers without looking at me.

His words sends shivers through my body.

As the car goes down the curved narrow parts. My shoulder touches him. This cold hands grabs me quickly before i could hit my head.

I look down at my hand staring at my father’s ring. I wish he was here to comfort me or at least give me an explanation.

I am tired of running.

And as the lightning flashes across Allessandro’s face, I see it clearly for the first time.

He is not the monster my father had warned me about neither does he potray to be one.

He’s the storm itself — and I’m trapped in the middle of him.

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ALLESSANDRO'S POV

The car comes to a stop when we finally get to the next safe house. The drive down the hill felt endless. Avelina sits beside me fast asleep with her head on my shoulder. Emilio sits in front with one hand on the steering and another holding a gun.

I wake her up. She doesn’t say anything to me. Her hand holding tight to something i think she doesn’t want to loose.

A few men come out to welcome us. I recognize some but not others. This sends shivers down my spine as the enemy could be one of them.

“Clear the perimeter,” I order walking into the house holding Avelina’s hand. My voice sounds calmer than I feel.

Immediately we get inside, Emilio locks the door behind him. I can see Avelina hands tremble. I do not blame her because after everything that transpired last night she should be scared.

“I noticed two cars following us on our way to you.” Emilio says giving me a breakdown of the past twenty four hours. “They disappeared before we got here.

“You lost them or they disappeared.? How could you be so careless?” I say boiling with anger. “Find out who the rat is and who they work for.” I say walking out of the hall.