AVELINA’S POV

The morning air does not feel right.

The house was too quiet. Not like the usual busy mansion with footsteps at every turn.

I sit upright in my bed. I can hear voices just outside my door. It was frightening and i can barely hear anything. “Prepare the cars...we leave soon and she comes with us.”

Before i could react my door was open and Allessandro comes in, he was dressed in his usual black suit. His hair is slick back. He did not look happy and his presence shifted the atmosphere of the room.

“Get up and get dressed. We leave in 30 minutes.” He says with no explanations or greeting.

“What seems to be the problem this time around?” I ask with a blank expression.

“We need to leave Florence.” His tone final without even letting me decide. “Pack a few things.”

“Please tell me you are joking.” I say getting up from the bed. “You can’t just get up and decide for me where i can and cannot be.”

“I do not need you to decide. As your husband i make the decisions.” He says, his eyes staring daggers at me. “Besides, they know you are here. The bullet i took yesterday was meant for you.”

I felt my stomach make a knot. “Who does? What do you mean?”

“After i was shot, your father’s mansion was attacked again killing more people. You are not safe in Florence at the moment so i need to get you out.”

“So you think me leaving will fix anything? I snap. “Or are you trying to turn me to a puppet you can manipulate and command as you wish.”

He doesn’t say a word but instead walks towards my wardrobe and starts packing my clothes in a bag.

“Put my things back in place.” I say pulling my bag from his grip.

He turns to look at me as our hands touch. This time his expression is calm but comes with a dark side.

“You have 10 minutes, Avelina. To pack light, shower and dress up.” He says softly. “If you are not out of this door by then i will drag you out myself.”

He turns and leaves before I can find the words to curse him.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Immediately i step outside of my room and into the hall, I felt chills down my spine, Everywhere feels different. The guards were not at their usual place as they move arounf the mansion. I hold my bag to myself as i walk towards Allessandro. The sun was out at this time and the floor glisten with water from last night’s rain.

A Black Lincoln Navigator awaits as we walk towards it. A guard opens the door for me, I looked over my shoulder to Allessandro but his looks tell me i do not have a choice.

“Gosh.” I sigh under my breath as i get in.

The car come to life as the engine roars. The city fades as the car speeds away. For a while the drive was silent as the raindrops race down the car windows.

“Where are you taking me? I ask finally speak breaking the silence.

“To a safe house. It is safer for now, Nobody will know you are there.” He says.

“Safer. That word doesn’t exist when you are around me.” I say.

I can see his hands tighten around the steering wheel. “I am trying to keep you safe, Avelina.”

“You took everything from me. You might as well kill me.”

“I saved you from joining your father. You are just too stubborn to see that.”

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We were not even halfway across the city when bullets came crashing against the side of Allessandro’s.

“Get down, Avelina.” Allessandro shouts. Taking his gun from the car’s compartment.

The car screeches and skids off the lane. Immediately i raised my head i saw myself in a ditch. I turn to the driver seat and notice Allessandro’s was no longer there. Before i could call out to him i notice he was trying to pull my door open to save me.

Once out the rain starts again. Washing away the blood from my lips and hand.

“Are you okay?” He says immediately he pulled me out.

“I—I’m fine,” I stammer, though my were shaking as my lips bleed.

“You’re bleeding,” he says.

“It’s nothing. I will live”

He lifts my hand to examine it. There was a small cut on my elbow and another on my wrist. He grabs some wipes from the car and presses it on my skin.

For a moment, we just stare at each other.

Rain dripping from his hair. My heart racing. The world too still.

Then he steps back, clearing his throat. “We need to move.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The safe house sits on top of a hill. It is surrounded by trees. Smaller than what i am used to. Inside smells of dust and old memories.

Allessandro usheres me in. Looking the doors and windows behind us to make sure we were not followed. “This is where you will stay until it is safe to return back to the mansion.”

I fold my arms on top of my breast. “So how long will that be?”

“Until i find out who is trying to kill you.”

“You say this as if you are not the reason i am on death’s radar,” I say laughing bitterly.

I could tell his jaw has tighten, but he does not raise his voice. H walks past me, grabbing a cigar and sitting by the fireplace.

“Sit,” he says without looking at me.

“I am not your pet, neither am i your servant you can order around.”

“”You are much more than that, more dangerous than a dog.” he says quietly

“What are you implying.? I ask as my heart beats faster than usual.

He turns, meeting my eyes. “You make me question things I’ve spent my life believing in.”

The air in the room tightens. My mind tells me to move but my body says otherwise.

He moves closer towards me. “I hid that letter and i had forgotten. It was not yours to find”

“You knew i would search your mansion. You shouldn’t have kept it.”

“I had to keep it because it is the last thing my brother wrote before he was killed. And the letter was addressed to your father but was never delivered. It was about you.” He says.

“Me? I ask as my world came crashing.

“Yes.” He says nodding is head. “My brother wanted you safe. His promise to your father cost him his life.”

My knees weaken. “That’s not possible. I didn’t even know him.”

“You did,” he says softly. “You just don’t remember.”

“You are lying.” I say as i turn away from him with tears streaming down my face

“I wish I was.”

__________________________________________________________________________

Night sky covers the safe house. It rained but the storm has settled yet i was raging inside. I sit on the wooden chair by the fire staring down at the ring on my finger. I do not know if it makes me a prisoner or it actually gave me freedom.

Allessandro paces around with the phone glued to his eyes. Although his voice was low, i could hear all conversations. His voice was tense which means it was not a good news.

“Find out who the rat is. Give me names and if anyone tries to bother her again – Handle it.”

“Who was that?” I ask.

“Emilio. Giving me updates. There is a rat in the mansion.” He says with unreadable expression.

“So you do not trust your people? How am i supposed to trust you.” I say, y voice barely above a whisper.

He doesn’t say a word but rather walks past me smelling of cologne and smoke.

I went after him. “You promise to keep me safe, but how can you do that when you are not even safe from your own people?”

He stops in his track.

And for the first time i could see fear in his eyes.

“I can’t keep you safe if you do not stop searching for the truth.” He says quietly.

He walks away leaving me in the dark, with only my thoughts and firelights.