All Rights Reserved

Chapter 12-The Apology

Slade Kolosov's POV

And to think that I actually thought you weren't such a monster even though I've heard all the terrible stories about you.

I scowled ferociously and flung the bottle of beer against the wall. Did Mel really think that I am a monster? The smashing sound of it echoed around the room and I clenched my jaw.

Fine, if she already thinks that I'm a monster? Why not prove it to her? I could be the very devil if I wished.

"Slade. What are you doing?" Mira asked in concern as she entered my home as I stared out into the fireplace coldly.

"Thinking. What are you doing here?" I replied tonelessly.

"I was worried about you. Erik has been saying that you've gone out of control." Mira replied before sitting beside me. "Look, I get you. We're all shocked, stunned, horrified that Mel is Alexi Barone's sister."

I glared at Mira coldly, "Would you fucking leave me alone."

Mira glared back at me, "You don't scare me Slade."

"Why not? I'm a monster." I said carelessly as I downed another gulp of beer, enjoying the burn as it went down my throat.

Mira sighed, "You're not a monster. Not after how I've seen the way you treat Mel."

I ignored her comment and scowled, Miranda fucking Barone. Who would've thought?

"I know you're ignoring me. But... I've seen the way you interact with her. She brings out a side of you I've never seen before. Someone that cares for other people then themselves."

I remained silent and Mira took it as an opportunity to continue, "Speaking of Mel, I don't think she even knows that Alexi Barone is in the Mafia."

I scoffed, "What drugs are you on Mira? They're fucking siblings. Of course she would've known."

Mira shook her head with a thoughtful expression on her face. "Yes, they may be siblings but I think Barone could've kept her in the dark. Even though the Italian Mafia was always run by a Barone, I think this time, their parents and Alexi himself might not have told Miranda her true history."

I frowned before swallowing more of the liquor, "Why do you say that?"

Mira gave me a small smug smirk, "Here's where things get interesting, I've been monitoring Mel's communication system ever since you and her had a falling out. The interesting thing is that she has not even contacted anyone from the Italian Mafia. Normally, someone who went for an undercover job would inform their superiors that their cover has been blown.

But Mel? Her routine stays the same. Even my confidante in the Mafia has informed me that Alexi Barone and his righthand man Christopher Callavo, had no recent contact with her. I don't think she knows at all Slade." Mira finished before giving me a hopeful grin.

"So what? She could be waiting for a specific period of time before she informs them." I answered in a matter of fact tone.

Mira studied me before sighing, "There's another way you can tell. Her reactions. Think about those. Did she seem surprised? Especially the emotions in her eyes. After all, the eyes are the windows of the soul."

I sat back onto the seat and thought back.

"Why are you bringing my brother into this? He did nothing wrong. He's just a casino owner! And I did absolutely nothing to get this sort of reaction from you."

Mel's reaction had been hurt, shock and much more. Fuck. Was what Mira said true? Was I too blinded by my emotions?

"Thats the stupidest thing I've ever heard. My brother is not in the Italian Mafia nor is he the leader of it."

Her hazel eyes had flared up with anger, indignation and hurt.

"My brother and I have done nothing to receive this sort of verbal assault from you."

"Fuck." I breathed out and Mira watched me with relief in her eyes. "I knew it all along. She couldn't have been in it." Mira sighed and I ran my fingers through my hair. The images of Mel's expressions ranging from shock, hurt and anger raced through my head. The one expression that stood out the most was the utter disbelief and betrayal when I had attempted to kill her.

What the hell had I done?

***

Miranda Barone's POV

I picked up the paintings from my desk before stiffening , I refused to turn around. I could feel him though. He had that sort of compelling, commandeering presence. "What do you want? Didn't I tell you to get out of my life?" I asked tonelessly as I went towards a blank part of the wall and started to pin the different paintings on it. I hadn't seen him ever since last week when that incident happened.

"I came here to apologise."

My eyebrows raised in surprise. I had a feeling that Slade Kolosov hardly or well never apologised.

"About what?" I demanded as I turned around to face him. He had a blank mask on and his hands were stuffed into his pockets.

"About what happened." Came his terse reply.

I shot him a cold expression. "So you came to apologise about what exactly? About the fact that you verbally assaulted me? Or accusing my brother to being a gangster? Or was it when you tried to kill me?"

Slade turned away from my hard gaze before focusing back on me. "I'm sorry about everything. But your brother is in the Italian Mafia and he is the leader of it."

I narrowed my eyes at him before turning away, he still had the audacity to accuse my brother when he came here to 'apologise' to me?

"If you're still harping on that, leave. You're wasting your time." I dismissed him and continued to pin the paintings. A frustrated growl escaped him and before I knew it, Slade turned me around and he was staring down irritatedly at me.

"Look, I'm sorry. I really am. I tend to say things that I don't mean. Additionally I'm short tempered. What else would you expect from me?"

I met his gaze firmly before saying quietly, "Being short-tempered doesn't excuse your actions Slade."

He seemed lost for words by my response before running his fingers through his hair frustratedly, "I've already apologised and if you won't accept it, what the fuck do you want from me so that I can make it up to you?"

I could tell from his tone that he was sincere but he still didn't get it did he? "I don't want anything from you. But I do accept your apology."

Slade studied me before continuing, "Friends then?"

I gave him a blank expression, "No. I'm sorry.  We can't be friends anymore. You crossed a line that shouldn't even be toed and I don't think anything can ever repair it. I would like you to leave me alone from now onwards."

Slade seemed stunned by my response before his gaze became hard. He gave me a long hard stare before his lips twisted into a sneer. "Fine. If that's what you'll like." He sneered mockingly before stalking out of the room.

I watched his retreating form before exhaling. Slade Kolosov had more mood swings than an average pregnant female who was reaching full term.

***

Three weeks later

"We are here to report that the crime rate caused by the Russian Mob has increased by almost fifty percent ever since about a month ago. There have been more gang fights, murders and the amount of drugs being brought into the city are growing in alarming rates. The police in Chicago have their hands full-"

I sighed as I tuned out the news reporter on the television screen before sipping at my cup of peppermint tea. Almost a month had passed ever since Slade apologised to me and I had turn down to being his friend. I hadn't seen him since that incident. And the truth was? Some part of me missed him which was pretty messed up considering he tried to kill me before. 

I know it was wrong to feel something for Slade Kolosov but then again, I already had some unidentified feelings for him. I know it was because of me that Slade was lashing out to the citizens of Chicago. Slade Kolosov was emotionally volatile and had a violent streak when provoked. It was also clear he didn't know how to deal with his emotions properly. And both of these character traits do not go well together. At all.

I sighed again before curling my feet under me before starting to read a book. It was around ten minutes later when a loud banging sound echoed around my house.

I froze, had Slade finally sent someone to kill me? I stood up warily before investigating. Oh, I slumped my shoulders in relief. It was just someone at the door.

I opened it cautiously and looked around before spying a slumped figure leaning against the outer walls of my home.

"Slade? What are you doing here?" I gasped as I took in his appearance warily. The first thing I noticed was the stench of alcohol. 

"Meellllll I missed youuuu." He slurred and gave me a boyish grin.

My heart skipped a beat at that smile and his words. It was pretty ironic considering that a month ago, it was bleeding from his hurtful words and now, it was feeling all warm and fuzzy.

"What are you doing here drunk? Is that blood? Are you bleeding?!" I gasped as I spotted a small puddle of dark liquid on my porch.

"Yesssss." He slurred again and pushed himself off the walls, almost falling off the porch. I quickly caught him and helped him into my home.

"Why are you bleeding?" I questioned as I spotted a cut on his lower lip and bruises marring his perfect face.

"Cage fighting." He answered simply before collapsing onto my couch.

My eyes widened when I spotted more blood seeping onto the sleeve of his white shirt, "Is that a knife wound?!" I gasped and hurriedly pressed tissues against the wound on his arm. "Yeeaaahh, it wasn't a faair fight at all." He pouted.

I hurriedly went to the kitchen where my first aid kit was stored and carried it back to the living room. And when I did, what he said registered into my brain.

I glared at him, "Were you drunk while fighting?"

Slade nodded, "Yeahh. I won though! Aren't you proud of me?" His head leaned back against the head rest as he looked up at me earnestly. I shook my head before bandaging up the knife wound. Thankfully, it wasn't deep and thus, it didn't require stitches.

"Why did you come here Slade? Why not Erik's?" I asked quietly as I cleaned the blood off his lip.

"I told you I missed you! Did you miss me?"

My heart fluttered at his admission before I ignored his question. "We aren't friends anymore Slade. You shouldn't have come here." I said quietly.

Slade frowned before looking at me earnestly, "Why can't we be friends? I know what I did was wrong. But you bring colour back into my life Mel. I need you."

My breath caught in my throat and I inhaled sharply. Curse those stupid feelings I had for him. You know even though he claimed he didn't do romance, Slade Kolosov could be pretty darn romantic.

I didn't know how to respond to his statement. What should I say? What could I even say? I opened my mouth to respond before sighing and pulled a blanket from my sofa that I kept there when watching movies. I gently placed it over him making sure he was covered properly as the weather could be rather chilly in the evening.

I turned to leave before Slade's rough calloused hand grabbed mine and prevented me from leaving. "Please stay."

I bit my lip in hesitation and Slade tugged onto my hand to pull me towards him. "Stay with me." He looked so vulnerable like a lost little boy that was asking for guidance. If I stayed here with him, it would be harder to deal with him tomorrow. Should I even be considering this?

I took a peek at his hopeful and vulnerable expression and of course, I didn't have it in me to turn him down. Most probably those feelings I had for him.

"Alright. I'll stay with you." I said softly. A brilliant smile litted up on his face as I got onto the sofa with him and slipped under the blanket. Immediately, I was enveloped into him. His arms wrapped around my smaller frame as we fit onto the sofa. The scent of him, peppermint and something that was sheer masculinity entered my nose and I slowly closed my eyes as I enjoyed it. 

Slade wrapped his arms tighter around me and his head snuggled into the crook of my neck. "I need you Mel. More than you'll ever know." He mumbled and a small smile graced my lips. I'll just deal with him tomorrow I decided and with that, we fell asleep.

***

A/N Okay, here is the next update. Firstly I would like to say that I'm blown away with all of your support from the previous chapter. Like I'm speechless. So now, I've been feeling really pressured when I wrote this chapter to meet your expectations. Sooo, I sincerely hope that you guys love this one and tell me what you think of this chapter. I really do LOVE reading your comments because they make my day :)

Chapter dedicated to MadamTiffany :)