Sunday has been a pretty uneventful day, seeing as I just ran again this morning, then spent the rest of the day shadowing April. She's actually the head maid in the house, and she does a lot of stuff. She does things like collecting letters from Alex's dad to send out, to making sure the floors have been mopped twice, and the stairs swept. 

I haven't heard anything about my dad, and it's been peaceful here. I know my father is probably fuming and ready to rip me apart, but I can't help but hope I'm safe here. 

It's almost dinner time, and I'm probably just going to end up eating with April again. I thought Alex's father would have meals at a big dinner table, like mine did, but he ended up taking his dinner in his study last night, and I think Alex was in there with him. 

At about seven, there's a knock on the door. I get up and go to open the door. Right before I do, there's another knock. "You're rather impatient." I say as I open the door, expecting April. 

Alex is looking down at me, he seems to look a bit better than he did yesterday, so that's good. "Hey." He says flatly. He sounds like he'd rather be anywhere but here. Sheesh, it's not like I'm the one who made things awkward in the first place.

"Hey." I reply, leaning against the door frame. "What's up?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. If he wants to be enemies again, I can gladly comply. I'm better at that anyway.

His eyes look at my arms as they cross, then he squints his eyes at me, testing my patience. "My dad wanted to ask you if you'd join us for dinner." Alex's arms raise up to mirror mine, and I raise a brow at him.

I push off of the door frame. "Sure. Lead the way." I lift my hand, and direct it towards the end of the hallway. He gives me a long look, then turns to walk away. I follow him, and he doesn't turn around.

We get to a dining room with a table and six chairs around it. It looks rather normal. I figured it'd be bigger. Alex's father is standing, pouring a glass of some unidentified liquor, and Gabe is sitting in a dining chair. Their dad notices us and gives me a gentle smile. "Lelia, I'm glad you decided to join us." He walks over to the table. "Let's sit, dinner will be out soon, and I'd like to talk to you." Alex follows behind me and pushes in my chair as I sit, then he walks around to sit between his dad and Gabe. He's facing me, and sitting directly across from me. His dad sits too, still smiling at me. "I was wondering if you knew of any family that may be willing to become your legal guardian. It would definitely make things easier if there were,"

I think for a moment, then shake my head. "I don't think so. I do have a grandfather in Italy, but he'd be in his late sixties by now. I don't think he'd be willing to take me in either. He hasn't come to see me since my mother passed." A woman comes and fills our glasses with water, and I nod my head at her in thanks. She curtsies, then hurries back to stand beside the line of other servers.

Alex's dad nods. "I figured it would be a difficult task to accomplish. Did your mother have any siblings? They may be willing to let you live with them. You are only a year away from becoming eighteen. They wouldn't have to take care of you for too long."

Again, I have to shake my head. "No. My grandfather married my mother off to my father in hopes that my father would be his heir, since he had no other children. My father disappointed him by not stepping up for the family and taking care of things in Italy." The silence after I say something each time is deafening. My father has only maintained power in this community because of his terrifying persona. I figured that, since Alex's dad knows my father, he's got to be the head of a mafioso family.

Alex has remained silent, he's just listening to his dad and I speak to each other. "I'll try to reach out to your grandfather. He's our best bet."

I nod, and we go into a weird silence. Alex is staring at me, Gabe is just stirring his drink to avoid becoming a part of the conversation, and their dad is sipping his alcohol and water. I'm just praying the food comes out so I can distract myself instead of trying to find every interesting detail on the tablecloth. 

When the food comes out. Alex's dad tries to start up a conversation again. "Alex will be taking you to school tomorrow, and I have ordered him to keep your brothers away from you. I've already talked to your school and told them about the situation." That's great, not. "It won't be easy going through with school, but Alex has told me that you're a bright young girl, and that you're close to graduating. I'd rather you focus on your schoolwork, but I know that won't be easy." I look over at Alex for the first time.

I chuckle. "So I'm smart, huh?" Alex obviously wasn't expecting to be a part of this conversation. 

He sits up and looks at his dad, then at me. "Yes, I do believe you're very smart."

"Hm." I take a bite of food and try not to sound like I care too much. "Interesting." I can feel Alex glaring at me.

"Haha, I can see why you've shown so much interest in Lelia, she's quite a girl." His dad is smiling brightly. "I'm glad to see that you two get along so well." He takes a happy bite of food. "You know, I had thought of taking your father's offer of arranging a marriage between you two." My head shoots up, shocked. "But that's a moot point now. Your father no longer has control over you." His face turns dark. "And now that I know his true nature, I'd never make a deal with him. Not without making sure it works in my favor one hundred percent, first." It's almost scary how quickly he goes from happy and laughing, to someone I would rather not see in the street at night. "Hm. Either way, Alex will be teaching you self defense."

It's Alex's turn to show how shocked he is, again. "Dad, there are other people better equipped to teach her things like that. I don't think we should be spending that much time together." Damn, straight for the kill, huh.

The look on his father's face is all seriousness. "You will do this. She knows you, and is obviously comfortable around you. Do this, and I may actually think about your request."

Alex looks at me, then grits his teeth. "Alright." His head snaps back to his dad. "You better actually think about it."

Well, I'm now a pawn here too. "I've finished eating. May I go back to my room? I need to get ready for school tomorrow." I look at the table.

There's silence for a moment, and I know they're visually communicating. They seem like the kind of father and son that can do that kind of thing. "I'll walk you back." Alex stands up, and comes to pull the seat out from behind me. I stand up and bow to his father. We walk out of the dining room and it's suffocating even out here. "Glad to see you two getting along so well." Alex scoffs after mocking his dad. "He could clearly tell that something's off between us."

I groan. "I don't even really want to hear you talk. You two are literally using me to get what you want each other to do."

Alex opens his mouth to say something, then shuts it again. "He's not all smiles Lelia, as you've seen. He has ulterior motives of his own for helping you. All men in power have some corrupt flaw."

"Does that mean you do too?" I ask, half joking.

He looks down at me. "I don't know. Let me know if you find out I do." His eyes seem playful, and I have to look away to keep my chest from trying to run away from me. "Just, even if you're good at fighting, don't show me that you are. Keep that bit of yourself from me." He looks to be thinking hard, and I almost want to hug him. He's struggling with something.

"Okay, although there isn't much to hide. My dad never took much care of me." I say as we get to my room.

Alex nods, understanding. "We'll leave tomorrow morning at seven. I would suggest trying to show your brothers that you're doing just fine away from your father. I really want to piss them off." He's playful again.

I can't help but laugh. "As long as you don't start anything with them, I'm sure they'll be pissed just knowing I'm still coming to school." We laugh together, and Alex looks down at me. 

"I know you probably hate me, but I'm glad you're safe." He says it quietly, and I know he feels like shit.

A sigh pushes its way out. "I don't hate you. I just wish you hadn't given me so many things to remember."

His hair falls over his eyes as he steps a bit closer. "I didn't give you as many as I wish I had." 

My heart is pounding so hard, and I can't help but look into his eyes. He's not moving any closer, but he's close enough that I can feel the air around us pulse. 

Alex takes a deep breath and backs away. "You're dangerous for my health." He says. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. Don't be late." He walks away backwards, until I open the door to the room.

I shut the door behind me and groan in frustration. "If anyone is dangerous, it's definitely not me, Alex."