The air in the car was loaded, the silence abrasive and uncomfortable as we pulled away from the church.

I was in the back of the large black SUV with Dmitri next to me, two of his men that I didn't remember their names up front and nobody was saying anything.

I was keeping quiet because it was the day of my parents funeral and one of the worst days in my life, also meeting Ariana again and learning what she'd overheard about the Villanueva cartel possibly being involved, all of this and I had more than enough to think about.

When Ana had told me about the possible involvement of the Villanuevas, my first thought hadn't been that my father had somehow gotten mixed up in something with the infamous drugcartel, but that this was for whatever reason, about me. Years ago, so long ago I couldn't even remember how old I was at the time, I had known Carlo Villanuevas youngest son, Romero. We were approximately the same age, and given our fathers positions in the same world, our paths had crossed on more than one occasion. 

I couldn't remember how old I was, but I could remember I was young, hopeful and naive and I'd fallen in love with the wrong boy. He had been handsome, charming, sweet and he made me feel like I was special. At the time, that had meant everything to me, not to mention, he was raised in the same world as I was and he understood me in a way that no other boy in my school or outside the life, ever could. It lasted only for a short time, and in reality the whole relationship had been doomed even before it began, so logically I knew it was an insane thought to think that my parents murder might be about what happened way back when. Still... I had this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that just wouldn't let go. 

"Elena," I came out of my thoughts and turned my head to find Dmitri watching me with those intense, searching eyes. It had been obvious at the funeral that he was not a pleased to discover I had a previous friendship with Luca Valente's fiance, and I knew with the way Ana had explained it, like the situation was creeping closer to becoming a full-scale war, that this friendship put him in a bit of a perdicament, but today when putting my parents in the ground, I had needed that reminder of better times and old friends. 

"Sorry," I murmured and offered him a tired smile, "my mind just drifted away there for a second." He studied me, something working in his eyes that I couldn't decipher, and I didn't even try to, Dmitri was not the kind of man who would ever let his guard down enough for anyone to read him. 

"You've had a trying day," he pointed out, and I turned my head away from him to gaze out my window. 

"I'm just glad it's over, that they can finally have peace." 

Except, said a tiny voice in the back of my mind, they won't have any peace until the person responsible is caught, will they?

I tried to ignore the ugly little whisper, but it was difficult, because in a way it wasn't wrong. My parents bodies may have been laid to rest, but what about their souls? I knew my father, and I knew that even in death, he would not allow himself rest or peace until the people responsible for murdering him and my mother, responsible for taking away the only family I had, was brought to justice in one way or another. 

"Elena, what were you and Ariana talking about today?" 

Tensing up at Dmitris subtly veiled probing, I didn't immediately answer and took a second to consider how much to share. If I told him what Ana told me, he might tell Luca and get Ana in trouble, but at the same time I also wanted to know if she'd heard was true, if the Villanuevas truly was involved in my parents murders. Eventually I came to a decision and shrugged as I once more turned to face the man who had positioned himself as my protector in this surreal reality that was my new life. 

"Nothing in particular, it's been some years since we last saw each other, so we did a lot of catching up and such. She filled me in on her relationship with Luca, we talked a little bit about my parents and I told her some of what happened that night, other than that, we didn't really say much. I invited her to come over to your house this weekend by the way, to help break in the horses when they arrive." 

I could tell he didn't quite believe me, and I wasn't surprised, I'd never been much of a liar, but I wasn't really lying per-say. I was emitting parts of the truth, but at that very moment, I chose to put my friend before the truth and I wanted to talk to her before I shared with him. I thought it might be best Luca learned from her what she'd divulged, not from his frenemy the head of the Volkov-syndicate who had heard it from the woman he'd taken it upon himself to protect and avenge her parents deaths. 

"I'll need to discuss that with Luca, but it shouldn't be much of a problem." He said after a few minutes and I relaxed instantly as I realized that he wasn't going to push the subject. 

"Thank you," I told him, and it wasn't just for allowing Ana to come over I said it, but because of everything he'd done for me and continued to do. I knew in part, this was very personal to him as well, seeing as he'd known my father for years and considered him in part as his mentor. But mostly, I knew he was doing it for me, and I couldn't quite wrap my head around that at the moment. 

"I have to go out for some time after we return home, but I shouldn't be long and the women will be at the house if you need anything." I nodded, understanding that he was purposely withholding why he had to leave to keep me in the dark as much as possible. I understood it, but I didn't like it. 

The rest of the trip back to the grounds passed in silence, both of us locked in thought, but I didn't mind. It was a comfortable silence, and after the day I'd just had, it was a welcome one. 

***

Dmitri

He walked Ana up the stairs to the house with a hand on the small of her back. In comparison to him she seemed so small and breakable, as fragile as a porcelain doll. Farforoyava kukla, Mikhail had called her, his little porcelain doll.  

She moved with a grace that was the result of years of dancing, her every move controlled and elegant no matter the situation. He was not unaware that his attraction to Elena Lenkov was growing stronger and stronger each passing day, and it did not help that she spent most every night with her petite frame plastered to his, but he was strong enough to resist it for the time being. 

Elena still had time and opportunity to get out of the life, to live in the sun instead of the shadows that he called home. She could get out and live a beautiful life, the kind that her parents would have wanted for her. But he feared, the longer this situation drew out, the longer he was forced to keep her close, the harder it would be to fight his growing attraction to her and if he reached the point where he could no longer resist her pull, he would not be able to let her go to live that life. 

He guided her through the front doors and she turned to him once they were inside, a soft smile in her delicate face as she tipped her head back to catch his eyes. 

"Thank you for today, for being there for me and helping me with the funeral. I don't think I could have gotten through it alone, and I know it would mean a lot to my father as well." 

Her voice was as elegant as her movements, and he knew he needed to find Romero Villanueva soon, because he could feel the pull to her was getting stronger every moment he spent in her presence. 

"It was my honor," he answered shortly and he watched the sadness in her eyes mingle with a hint of amusement, and to his surprise and ever growing torture, she released a small tinkling laugh before she put one hand to his arm, pushed up on her toes and pressed her lips to his stubbled cheek. 

"Be careful out there, Dmitri," she whispered against his cheek, then she pulled away, dropped her arm and he watched as she turned her back to him and headed up the stairs to the second floor while removing her jewlery on the way. 

"You like her," Dmitri moved only his eyes to his sister who had come up on his side. Talya had returned to the mansion earlier with Katya, had changed out of her clothes from the funeral and she was now watching him with eyes that saw far too much. His sister had always been smart, she was a master strategist and he often sought her councel, but she also, in his opinion, had the bad misfortune of being too observant. 

"I would not have her live here if I did not like her, Talya," he told her blandly, and watched as she rolled her eyes. Switching to Russian, she moved in close and lowered her voice so there would be less of a chance of someone overhearing her. 

"That's not what I mean, bol'shoy brat, and you know it. You look at her like you have never looked at another woman before, and you care for her in a way you have never cared for another woman. This will be the last I'll say on the topic unless you bring it up, but I like her for you Dmitri, I wish you would at least give it a chance." 

He had no chance to reply before Talya did what Elena had done only minutes ago, and kissed his cheek before she walked away. He watched her go as well, before his eyes once more turned to the stairs and his thoughts drifted to the woman who had just walked up them. 

It didn't matter what Talya said or what he wanted, Elena deserved better, and ironic as it was, it was now his mission to make it so she got the chance to have it, whatever it was. 

***

Hey guys, sorry for another slow update, I won't promise anything, but I'll try to do better in the future. I have a couple exams coming up, but as soon as they're all done, I'm gonna write my heart out and try to finish these stories before long. 

Love you guys and all the positive feedback you give me, and I'm thinking as a christmas bonus because you've been so patient with me, I'm gonna post Vigo and Irina's story in the days before christmas. 

- L :)