Alex

I am having an awful night.

That's why I didn't think twice before agreeing on going out, tonight. Just like the other nights.

Sasha tugs at my arm, smiling brightly at me.

"Come on, you won't regret it! You'll forget all your problems once you get drunk!"

She's right. I know this and that's why I let her lead me towards the bar, the two other girls, her friends, already drunk behind us.

I wonder who will drive us back home tonight. That's the last sober thought I have before I suddenly find myself with a drink in my hands.

Too late for turning back, I think before I drink the whole thing without second thoughts.

I already feel better.

"Yeah!" Sasha exclaims, laughing and running a hand through her short brown hair.

I smile back, shaking my head.

Have fun, Alex. You deserve it, for once.

Yes. Yes, I do.

I deserve it. After everything that happened in the past two years, I need a break. I just need, for a night, to become someone else. To forget who Alex Pierce is, and act like my life is not a freaking mess.

Like I'm not a mess.

I know I can do that, here. Nobody knows me in this crowd of drunk people. They just want to have fun, dance, drink, and enjoy the night. I wonder if it's just natural, for them. Something they all do because they want to. Not because they need to forget.

Sasha's friends, Anne and Kim, are already gone somewhere. Although I know their names, I can barely say who is Anne and who is Kim.

I don't really care.

I accept the other drink Sasha hands me with a smile, not really caring what I'm drinking. It's strong enough.

After I'm done with it, my smile transforms into a grin and I wink at her.

"Let's dance!" I scream over the music, taking her hand in mine.

I feel good and nothing can change my mood, now.

You're Alex Pierce, but not tonight. Not completely, at least. You deserve to enjoy your night.

And that's what I do, for a while. I have no idea how long has passed. A minute? An hour? Two hours? Three?

Whatever. I just remember that I ended up with another drink in my hands, not so long ago. I'm definitely not sober but I know that the drink didn't come from Sasha. A guy in his late twenties, probably.

Don't accept any drinks coming from strangers, Alex.

The voice in my head wasn't mine, but I could tell exactly who it was. I shook my head to forget it, forget her, and I blinked the tears away, kept dancing, the drink still in my hand. But I didn't drink from it, and I still don't.

Even in my state, I'm glad not to be so damn stupid.

I keep dancing, my eyes closed, running a hand through my hair, the other still clutching the glass. Maybe when you look at me right now, you see someone completely different from who I really am.

That's what I want. And I smile at the thought of fooling everyone around me. The happy, carefree girl you see, dancing in a dress she used to like a long time ago like she's free to do whatever she wants because she's that powerful and that happy.

I used to be that exact description.

With the thought of the old me, I open my eyes, the world around me spinning. It keeps spinning when I lock eyes with the only man I ever loved.

It keeps spinning. It spins, spins, spins. Then it stops because I realize it's really him.

Him.

His long brown, dark hair. His dark eyes that held more warmth than the sun when he would glance in my direction. You looked into those eyes and everything felt better.

Now, everything is not better.

My drink falls from my hand, but I don't care. I don't care about anything else than the man who's currently staring at him like I'm some sort of specimen. Someone he thought he would never see again.

I believed that, too. So what is he doing here? How is that possible?

No. He can't be here. Not after everything.

The pain in my heart never left. It stopped to hurt for a while, but it all comes back now that we look in each other's eyes.

I can't decide what to do. I can't, because just when I think I'm about to pass out, a sound I thought I would never hear again, breaks the thin air.

Gunshot.

Memories hit me. I'm so shocked I can't move. I'm still holding gaze with Enzo, but everyone running around make everything dizzy and I lose sight of him.

Sasha is gone. Everyone runs.

I look over my shoulder in panic, a lump in my throat. My heart beating rapidly.

This is just a coincidence, right? Him here, and now...

Someone runs past me and I lose balance, my heels and state not helping. I turn my head back towards Enzo, my shock to see him, the anger, the confusion, the pain, all of that set aside for now.

This is like an instinct. I just turn towards him because I need him.

And before I realize it, I open my mouth and say the word I never thought I would say again.

"Enzo," I murmur, my voice trembling, knowing he can't even hear me.

Save me.

Slowly, the confusion and the shock he was in disappear. He blinks and suddenly, he's on his two feet, reacting. Taking out his own gun, saying something to a man behind the bar, trying to keep looking in my direction.

But everything is a blur. And just like everyone around me, my next reaction now is to run.

I don't know who I am running from, exactly. From reality? From whoever entered this place and started shooting around? From him?

It doesn't really matter. All I do is turn around and run to get out of here.

It feels familiar, though. Running away, alone. Afraid.

But you're not afraid. You're Alex Pierce!

But I didn't even want to be that person for one night. One single night, I wanted to be someone else. And I can't.

Reality catches up with me. I'm Alex, a weak girl that is afraid, and I'm presently running like my life depends on it, and it does.

Goddammit, how stupid was it to go out, tonight?

Most of the people are gone, and I find myself in a dark, long corridor when I see it. The exit door at the end.

I run for it, biting my lip so hard when the pain from my stupid heels intensifies. They are way too small for me but Sasha wanted me to wear them.

It looks hot with that dress! It makes you appear taller. Every man will drool when they see you.

I trip, steadying myself just in time with the wall. I curse myself and look up. I'm so close to that door. So close.

Blinking, I start running again. But a shadow suddenly blocks my way out.

All the blood drain from my face.

I'm probably going to pass out. Please, can I just do that instead of dying?

The shadow starts to take small steps forward. I gulp, taking a step backward. I clench my fists, stopping my hands from shaking.

Finally, the shadow is close enough for me to see a man, probably in his twenties. My eyes widen when I see the gun in his hand, and I glance up at his face. Dark, short hair, a piercing on his bottom lip, and those lips turn into a dangerous smirk.

"What are you doing here, baby? You're leaving?" the man talks, his voice raspy.

The way his cold eyes run up and down my body like I'm his next meal disgust and scare the shit out of me.

"Please... just let me go," I plead lowly, trying not to let my fear show up in my voice.

Don't freak out.

The man lets out a chuckle, although there's absolutely nothing funny.

"Maybe I'll let you live if you show me what's under that tiny dress of yours."

Fucking no, asshole.

My fear transforms into anger.

Before I can question my stupidity—or my courage, I take a step towards him and smile.

"Sure, maybe," I shrug a shoulder, biting my lip.

He was definitely not expecting my answer. The surprise on his face quickly disappears and he starts walking towards me the distance left. I swallow and take a look at the door behind him. I can do it.

When he's close enough, I smile and lean towards him. Then I kick him where the sun doesn't shine and run past him, not waiting to see if he's hurt enough. I only hear his scream of agony and I move.

I should have made sure he couldn't reach me.

His hand curls around my ankle and I fall, letting out a muffled scream, wincing. The fear is back.

"You bitch!" he screams, tightening his hand around me.

I look over my shoulder to see him on his knees, a murdered and pained expression on his face. I try to get away from his grip, ignoring the tears suddenly tickling my eyes.

Then I see it, over his shoulder. The gun laying on the ground.

Maybe that's crazy. Hell, maybe I'm stupid to try and reach for that gun.

My whole body is shaking when I crawl towards the man on my hands and knees. When he realizes what I'm trying to do, he growls and tries to reach for the gun first, throwing his elbow in my face at the same time.

I let out a cry, feeling my lip bleeding but I don't stop. I just get up on unsteady feet and run past him, now that his focus is on his gun. I'm almost at the end of the corridor when someone appears right in front of me and I bump into him.

Him.

His arm encircles my waist, steadying me. I don't have time to understand what's happening. The next two seconds happen so fast. Enzo's hand covers my ears, bringing my head towards his chest at the same time. Then, the sound of a loud gunshot reverberates around us.

I startle, taking a sharp breath of fear. Time stands still. Nobody moves.

Slowly, I raise my head and take a careful look over my shoulder. I recoil in horror when I see the man's body on the ground. His hand limps, still holding the gun.

He's not moving.

I tremble against Enzo's chest.

Enzo.

I glance at him. "You... you killed him."

His eyes meet mine, his jaw clenched.

"I know," he murmurs, his eyes suddenly wandering my face in concern.

I'm almost surprised when I hear his voice. It didn't change at all. Still the same deep, husky and calm voice.

His arm is still around me, but he doesn't look like he wants to let go anytime soon. I'm still in shock, glancing back and forth between him and the man's body.

"Alex."

I blink, looking up at him. His eyes fall on my bleeding lip and he carefully runs his thumb on it, his jaw clenched, but his eyes soft.

"Are you okay?" he asks me, his eyes meeting mine again.

I wonder what he thinks when he looks at me. Me, right now, with so much makeup covering my eyes and my dark circles. Me, with that dress and these heels.

I don't even want to lie to him. So I shake my head, looking down.

"No," I say.

A small silence follows until his hand gently grabs my chin, making me look up at him.

"Listen, I'm going to make a quick call and take care of this. I'll drive you... home after, okay?"

Home. I don't even know if I have a home.

But I nod nonetheless because it doesn't matter. I still can't believe he's here, right now.

But he'll disappear as soon as he drives you home. Right? And that's what you want. Right?

Slowly, he lets go of my waist and I'm already missing the warmth from his body. That's when I realize how I felt so lonely, until now.

Shaking my head, I lean against the wall behind me and take deep breaths. Enzo walks a bit further, still taking quick glances at me as he talks on the phone.

When his phone call is over, he turns towards me and starts making his way back to where I am. I stumble a little bit when I walk towards him. He raises an eyebrow, taking my hand in his.

"Are you drunk?"

"I'm not drunk," I mutter, intertwining my fingers with his. "I want to leave now."

Nodding, he turns with my hand in his and starts making his way past the man's body. I try not to glance at it, or to freak out, or to ask myself who will get... rid of it.

Enzo's body suddenly comes to a halt, his broad shoulders tensed. I frown, taking a look over his shoulder and automatically take a step back.

A man just entered from the exit door. Probably in his twenties, his hair a dark shade of brown. A murderous look on his face. Cold blue eyes. He looks at the man's body on the ground before his eyes fall on Enzo and me.

I squeeze Enzo's hand when the man starts walking towards us. His face is blank of emotions, but his eyes scream murder and something else I can't quite tell.

This man scares me even more than the one from earlier. Even more when I see the two scares on his cheeks, one on each.

"Enzo Martinez," the man suddenly voices, surprising both of us. "Do you know who I am?"

Enzo doesn't answer. The way he's clutching my hand, so tightly it almost hurts, gives me the vibe that something bad is going to happen very soon.

The man has a crooked-smile when he continues. A smile that has nothing sweet. It's empty, it's... murderous.

"My name is Cole Valdez," the man continues, his voice blank of emotions. "My uncle was Dan Valdez. And you just killed my brother, you son of a bitch."

My mouth drops open in shock. I'm not the only one who wasn't expecting this. Enzo shakes his head slowly, giving me a quick glance. He's confused, and so am I.

Valdez. That name is so familiar, now.

But then, what he just said makes me look at the man's body not so far away.

Enzo killed his brother.

I'm not an expert when it comes to reading someone's emotions, but Cole Valdez isn't very happy.

And when his eyes fall on me, my body half hidden by Enzo, he tilts his head in a way that makes me shudder.

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," he says, his hand going behind his back.

My eyes widen. I can't move.

"Run," Enzo mutters, pushing me away from him. "Alex, run!"

And somehow, I find the strength to do it.

Ignoring the pain my heels give me, I turn around and run away, my feet carrying me back in the empty bar. I don't know what's going on, I don't know who's the one who shoots.

I startle, looking back over my shoulder. Enzo told me to run, but I can't just leave him like that. Where should I go, anyway?

I hide behind a table, breathing fast. I hear a lot of noises and when I think something bad happened to Enzo, he reappears in the bar, looking around him frankly.

Standing up shakily from my hidden place, his eyes finally meet mine and relief fill them. He runs towards me and quickly takes my hand, not giving me a chance to talk.

"Come on!" he says, dragging me towards the exit.

Outside, the hot wind of July hits my face as we run towards a car at the end of the parking. We quickly climb in and in less than three seconds, Enzo is driving on the road, the bar behind us.

I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding, glancing at Enzo. His jaw is still clenched, his eyes going back and forth between the road and his mirror. I assume he's afraid we're being followed and I cross my arms, shivering.

"Did you kill him?" I ask quietly after a moment.

Enzo looks at me for the first time since we climbed in his car, his eyes softening.

"No," he simply replies, focusing on the road again.

Somehow, I don't feel better at all.

"Where are we going, now?" I continue, glancing at the road ahead.

A few seconds pass.

"Somewhere," he finally sighs.

Damn. What a great and specific answer.

I don't say anything else and fidget with my hands, suddenly nervous about all of this. What the hell just happened back there? And what will happen, now?

My head is throbbing. My feet are aching. My heart is breaking all over again. My lip stopped bleeding, but the taste of blood is still present. I almost died.

What a great night.

"It's going to be okay," Enzo suddenly murmurs, not taking his eyes off the road.

I don't answer. I know he's lying.

Nothing will be okay, now. It's not possible.

Ten minutes later, we arrive at our destination. When I see the familiar house, I look at Enzo in confusion and surprise.

He only climbs out of the car, walks around it and opens my door for me. I take a few seconds to prepare myself for what's coming, then climb out of the car.

I follow him at the front door. My heart is beating rapidly, for some reasons. It all becomes so serious.

The front door opens a few moments later. Jake stands behind it, still putting a shirt on, his black hair messy and his eyes tired. He blinks at Enzo before he smiles, opening the door completely.

"Hey man," he greets him, and they do their bro hug thing before he steps back. "What are you—"

When he sees me behind Enzo, his eyes widen and his smile drops.

"Oh God," he simply says, looking back and forth between Enzo and I.

I raise my eyebrows.

"Wow, thanks Jake. It's nice to see you, too. I'm doing great! What about you?" I exclaim sarcastically, smiling brightly.

He ignores me and furrows his eyebrows towards Enzo.

"Something happened?" he asks with a careful expression.

Enzo sighs, walking past him, and I just follow, my arms crossed over my chest.

"Give her something to drink or to eat," he says before he pauses, glancing in my direction. "She's drunk."

I scoff, insulted. "What? I'm not drunk, okay? I'm perfectly—"

"Alex?"

I'm cut off by a voice I know very well. Turning, I see Elena standing there in her pajamas, her blonde hair tied into a messy bun. She's more tanned than the last time I saw her. My eyes fall on her left hand, the ring shining in the room. Her happiness hits me like a truck.

Her eyes widen when she sees me and she grins.

"Hey," she hugs me and I don't resist, feeling better just for a few seconds. She steps back to look at me. "It's been a while. What are you—"

Elena stops talking when she notices Enzo in the room and her smile drops.

"Oh God."

"Oh my freaking apple, seriously? What is it with God lately? Are we speaking to him or what?!" I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air.

I have nothing against that, though. The early events must really do something to my state.

Elena blinks at me before she frowns at Enzo. He sighs.

Jake comes back with a glass of water and I thank him. Or should I say, I thank God.

"What happened?" Elena asks, her voice suddenly filled with worry and anger once she notices the cut on my lip.

Enzo sits on the couch, rubbing his temples.

"Well, I don't exactly know how to tell you this..."

Elena narrows her eyes, crossing her arms.

"How about... Oh! I know. You just tell me?" she replies, narrowing her eyes at him.

Jake comes to stand beside her, an arm around her waist. I sit on the armchair across from Enzo, letting out a sigh of relief. Can't wait until I can take off these freaking heels.

Elena and Jake's house is full of life. There are framed pictures everywhere and decorations. The rooms are definitely not empty. I just envy them. It's been three years since they live here, and I feel a lump in my throat when I realize I haven't been there for a while, now. Elena is busy with her job; training future agents with different stuff, I can't really tell since I'm not the expert when it comes to secret agents spies badass weapons murders. You get me.

As for Jake, he did take a break for a while, enjoying his new normal life with Elena. They traveled a lot, they were happy and they still are after four years.

Lucky them.

Enzo takes a deep breath, avoiding Elena's narrowed eyes.

"A man came to the bar tonight, shooting. Don't worry, everyone's fine," he adds quickly at the end, glancing a second in my direction. "Well, that man is now dead and his brother appeared after that, not very happy."

Enzo pauses, preparing himself and everyone in the room to hear the next part.

"His name is Cole Valdez. I killed his brother," Enzo announces in a low, serious voice, looking up at the couple. "And his uncle was Dan Valdez."

*

Oops. "Valdez" is back, I guess. 🤷🏼‍♀️

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Audrey