Mia

Pulling the towel tightly around my chest, I turned the music down from my phone and walked over towards the sound of someone knocking on my door. With one hard pull, I swung the door open a few inches and shoved my head into the hallway to see who it was. Killian was standing there with his usual frustrated look.

I'm beginning to think it's a permanent thing.

"Can I help you?" I added enough annoyance to the tone of my voice to help him get the picture. Talking to him really wasn't on the top of my list of things to do.

"I've called my father."

"And?"

"Dinner will be at seven forty-five. Roger and my father will be here around six thirty. We will be leaving around seven."

"Why?"

"Why what?" He asked as he paused in his attempt to leave.

"Why did you change your mind?"

"Because I have enough on my plate as is, and don't really want to deal with how you're acting right now. So I'm going to give you, your little dinner in order to give us what we both want."

"Even better idea," I smiled sarcastically, "Go take your hand and use it to fuck yourself and your belittling attitude." Slamming the door shut, I marched back into the bathroom, and cranked the volume of my music to the max as I passed the speaker. What in the world has happened to you, Killian? Have you really changed that much in our time apart.

He was never like this before. In fact, he had always been the one dragging me to dinner. It didn't even matter how stubborn I would try and be, either by dragging or talking me into it, he'd get me to dinner. Now it's like we were on opposite sides of that line. He was the one who was being stubborn, but I was that I was too much like to my dad to try and talk him into coming. My words would only get angrier and angrier as he continued to not give dinner a shot.

I walked back into the bedroom with my hair dried. I looked at my phone for the time. It was only five thirty, an hour before the other two were supposed to show up, but part of me didn't want to go. I didn't want this dinner to happen because Killian wasn't a fan of my behavior, I wanted him to do it because he wanted to be there. I don't know if I'd be able to survive a dinner with his moody ass.

What do I do?

I knew the answer, but didn't want to admit it. I needed to have this dinner. As much as Killian was killing the vibe, a part of me thrived for the feeling of a family around me. For my sanity, this dinner needed to happen.

I let out a low sigh and collapsed on my bed. I wanted to go back home. To the world that was calm and that I knew. I missed my ship, my chief, and most importantly my friends. Florida was my life; it was sad to be moving on, but at the same time, I knew Florida was no longer a safe place for me. The people were great; I got along well with most of my department, but my ship held too many dark memories. Just walking by the metal floating war machine brought the shadows from their depths and twisted my mind. In order for me to continue my career, I had to leave, it was a deal I had made with my chief.

Speaking of chief...

Holding my phone above my head, I flipped through my contacts and decided to give him and call. He picked up after a couple of rings. "I swear Renée, if you're calling to make sure I didn't forget the code, I'm going to punch you though the phone."

"For once, no," I chuckled softly, "Just wanted to talk. You are my mentor after all." He paused, sighing into the phone. He knew why I was calling.

"What's going on?"

"I miss my home." And her.

"This move had to be made, it was the only way Captain Anders was going to allow you to re-enlist, and you are too good of a sailor to quit now. Look at what you've done with yourself. Three years and already a second class. You came in as an E2 and look how far you've jumped. You're not someone who can just throw their career away."

"I'm pretty sure the navy will survive fine without me."

"But will you survive without it? All the Chiefs could see it Renée, this life, with all the hardships and struggles, is for you."

"Why should I stay in after everything it's done?"

"I know you will never forget what happened, but you need to stop letting it drag you down. If you do, in the end you will only be hurting yourself, and there will be so much pain."

"I can never forget that day. I refuse to, I owe her that much."

"I know." He whispered.

"So how is everything on your end?" I asked changing the subject. I could feel the attack coming.

"Busy. Two new third classes have showed up, but they're slow learners. We're doing a change of command soon, it will be sad to see Anders go, he's a good man."

"Do you think Mrs. Frellin will do a good job?"

"Of course she will. She's one of the best executive officers we've ever had."

"That is true, that woman can be crazy."

"Every day-" his words were cut off by a knock behind me.

"Hold on chief." I put my phone down and slipped on my robe before walking over to the door. I opened it and came face to face with a bottle of red wine. The hand wrapped around the label was attached to Killian. "Yes?"

"Roger told me that red wine is your favorite."

"And?"

"Personally, I am not a fan of this brand, so I thought I'd give it to you to have in your room."

"Do you really think that a bottle of wine is going to make everything better?" I questioned.

"Look," He sighed and started to rub that back of his neck, "I wanted to apologize for earlier. I didn't change my mind because your attitude was stressing me out. I changed my mind because after I had time to cool down and think, I realized you were right about the whole thing. And who knows when we will get a chance like this again."

I didn't say anything, but did give him a look to continue.

"I wasn't to walk into my office and find you of all people sitting on my desk. It through my for a loop. Being thrown for loops tends to stress me out and I don't always handle stress the greatest. Today was a prime example of what I do wrong. So I am sorry. Will you please join us for dinner?"

"Please note, I don't trust you. I'll see you at six thirty."

"What does that-" I slammed the door shut and went back to my phone.

"Sorry about that, Chief."

"Who is he?"

"Who?"

"The person you were talking to. I could hear you."

"An old family friend I'm staying with."

"Just a friend?" He questioned.

"Just a friend."

"Whatever you say. Well, I have to go; these new guys aren't going to train themselves."

"I did..."

"Shut up."

"That's what I thought, and thank you...for letting me talk."

"Any time." The call ended leaving me in silence.

By the time I was fully ready, the sound of laughter had filled the condominium. The two voices I could hear were soothing and reminded me so much of home it made my heart heavy in my chest. The third voice I had expected to hear wasn't distinguishable, meaning either Killian was gone, or not willing to be social. The first choice had my favor. I wouldn't be surprised if closing the door in his face had pissed him off. I shouldn't have done it, but something inside of my reacted and my arms had moved on their own.

Smoothing out the bottom of my black, lacy, dress, I plugged in my phone and headed down stairs. At the last step, the laughter paused, I looked up and blushed at the three sets of eyes staring at me. Thankfully, my uncle was quick to break the ice.

"You look lovely, Mia." I smiled and took the arm he held out for me. We joined Lucian and Killian in the open foyer. Standing side by side, it shocked me seeing how much they looked alike. With the both of them in three piece, black suits, they looked like the definition of business. I'd forgotten what their world was like, but seeing them now, it all came racing back. They had always been in a league of their own.

"So where are we going?" I asked as we all piled into the elevator.

"A buddy of mine owns an Italian restaurant a few blocks away. He managed to slip us onto the reservation list."

"Another friend of yours?" I asked in reference to Marc. Hopefully he wasn't. I didn't think my uncle would appreciate hearing those kinds of comments.

"Yes, but this one is married. You'll have to try to keep your eyes to yourself. I know that can be difficult for you to do." I could feel the eyes of my uncle baring down on my back, but I ignored my head telling me to shut up. Not when I was still irritated with Killian because of earlier.

"At least I can keep my hands to myself."

"Why would I when I haven't met a single woman who wants me to keep my hands to myself."

"I mean, I'm pretty sure I didn't want your hands on me, yet that didn't stop you when I was in your office."

"That is not true." Killian immediately snapped, his eyes dropping onto the man behind me. The comment did it's job. Yet another pebble crumbling from his stone wall that had no power against me. I guess some of the old Killian was still in there.

"You are the bane of my existence." He dropped his head and hissed only for me to hear. I smiled up at him innocently, batting my eyelashes. He should know by now not to get so close.

I leaned in just a smidge, scraping my lips across his cheek as I whispered, "Good to know that I'm always on your mind." Before he could react, I took a step back towards my uncle, "My comment was not exactly untrue, but I will admit I was being a tad bit annoying."

"A tad bit?" The two older gentlemen said at the same time. I gave them a bratty smirk and stormed from the elevator and into the car waiting right outside. Our drive was short. When we pulled up in front of a building, my eyes ran over the line of people who were waiting to get inside the restaurant. Good thing I had gone with my black dress, because this place was clearly for the elite.

The four of us slipped from the back, Lucian and my uncle first, then me, and finally Killian. We received a few looks, but they didn't last long. I was about to say something about it when I felt a hand at the small of my back. The hand started to gently move me forward. I began reaching for it in order to remove it, but Killian's voice stopped my actions.

"Just go with it, Mia."

"If you don't remove your hand, I'm going to break it." I hissed with a fake smile as we walked passed the line towards the entrance.

"It looks more professional."

"Until a magazine comes out with an article titled 'Killian Cross's New Whore...Which Street Corner Did She Come From?'" The conversation was just for us, our words mere whispers, but from the look of Lucian and my uncle, I'm sure they knew we were arguing.

"I'll fight it."

"Yeah, but the moment my work sees it, I'll be dead."

"I'm sure they will understand. The paparazzi make up stuff all the time, not to mention, I have men for that kind of stuff."

"You just want to be a creep and touch me."

"Do you always act like this with men?"

"Just the ones I don't want touching me."

"Sounds like you're lying ." He whispered into my ear before giving his name to the waiter at the front desk. My hands twitched with the need to go across his face.

Smiling politely, the young woman grabbed four menus and directed us to follow her to the back. My uncle and Lucian went first, with Killian and myself taking up the rear; his hand still on my back. When we stopped, my uncle pulled out a chair and allowed me to sit. He took his own to my right, Lucian to my left, and Killian across from me.

"Never seen anything so beautiful?" I smirked as I caught Killian staring at me.

"Nope," he shrugged as he opened up his menu, "I just realized you really don't fit in with this world. Sitting down, you may be dressed nicely, but there's something about you that just throws it off."

"Is it the fact that I am actually down to earth unlike you?"

"Down to hell maybe..."

"Love the conversation," a man cut in from behind me, "But I think I'm going to intervene." Everyone turned towards the voice. Pulling up a chair, a man with thick black hair slid next to me and placed a glass next to my plate.

"I'm Alexander, it is an honor to meet you. What can I get you started with?"

"Umm..."

"Better introduction, I'm Alexander, owner of this fine establishment and old friend of Kilian's'."

"Wine?" I asked.

"Like you even more." He turned his head and shouted something in Italian. Moments later a skinny man wearing a black apron showed up with a bottle in hand. He poured it into my glass and placed the rest of the table before leaving. "Best bottle we have. On the house."

"Why?"

"For one you're the first girl Killian has ever brought here," I looked up in surprise, but Killian was avoiding eye contact, "Two, Lucian here told me what you do for a living, and in my book, that means you're a hero. A hero deserves the best of the best."

"Thank you." I blushed.

"My pleasure." He kissed my hand and focused his attention on the man across from us.

"So how's business brother?"

"Running quite smoothly. Next week I go to France for a couple of days to finish a deal. Some businesses are requested over in Europe, and Cross Industries was of course at the top of every single list."

"That's not surprising, your company is gold. The old man made something great."

"Old?"

"You know what I mean sir." He grinned, "By the way, Sarah sends her thanks for the gifts. You didn't have to do that."

"You two are family. How is your little guy?"

"Growing like a weed, senior. I would have brought him tonight for you to see, but her mother is in town, and you and Killian both know how she can get."

"That's all great and all," my uncle said, "But I'm hungry. Can we get a waiter?"

"You tell me what you want, sir. I'll get you anything."

"Your best pasta."

"But of course. And for you?" He asked me.

"Just a plate of your 5-cheese lasagna."

"Good choice, and for you two I already know." He smiled bright and left us alone, kissing my hand again before walking. I laughed and turned back towards Killian who looked like he was about to storm from the restaurant. I'm beginning to think this man was bipolar.

**🍷**

Chapter 6 has been updated.

Seriously question though, does this chapter feel drawn out at all? Thanks.