Alex

"Are you fucking serious?!" Elena explodes, walking back and forth in the room, her fists clenched tightly.

Enzo stays silent. I watch anxiously as Elena turns towards him again.

"You've got to be kidding me. Valdez? Goddammit!" she says, running her hands angrily through her hair.

"Sunshine, take a deep breath," Jake murmurs carefully, walking towards her.

She looks at him, narrowing her eyes.

"I killed this asshole four years ago. I thought we were over with all of this, that we were never going to hear that name again!"

Elena shakes her head, taking a deep breath this time. Jake says something in her ear, kissing her temple softly. She relaxes a little bit, then turns to look at Enzo again.

"You're telling me that Dan Valdez had relatives?" she says more calmly, frowning. "And that you killed Cole Valdez's brother?"

Enzo nods.

"Why did you?" Jake asks, turning towards him.

"Because he was about to kill Alex."

I look down, curling a strand of hair around my finger nervously. I hate how he just answered automatically, how it sounds like an evidence, that if I was in danger, he would do the most normal thing in the world. Protecting me, by killing if he needs to.

Elena walks towards me and sits on the armrest, looking at me with concern.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asks softly, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm fine," I reply, meeting her eyes so she believes me.

I nearly died and never thought I would see the man sitting across from me after he broke my heart, but I'm fine.

She doesn't believe me. I know it. But she nods because she's just like that and she knows exactly what I'm feeling right now.

I missed her.

"You guys must be tired," she says, looking at Enzo. "We have a room left so if you guys want—"

I'm already walking away, towards that room where I'll finally be able to sleep and forget about everything.

*

Enzo

We all watch as Alex just walks away, eager to leave the room.

I let out a tired sigh, rubbing my eyes. This is a damn mess. With the name Valdez reappearing, we all know this is not going to be easy.

Now that I killed Cole Valdez's brother, Alex's in danger. Because I know exactly what that man was thinking when he looked at Alex.

Revenge.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Not only he lost his uncle years ago, he now lost his brother. That I killed. He saw Alex with me and I'm not stupid enough to think he won't try to get revenge by going after her.

He knew my damn name. He must know even more since he's related to Dan Valdez.

Now, the hardest part is going to convince Alex that she needs protection. My protection. Because there's no fucking way I let her go like that.

You did, though.

I close my eyes, ignoring the damn pain. Holding her again, holding her hand, being with her, just touching her, made me remember everything.

I don't want anyone to hurt her. I can't let that happen.

But you did.

I stand up, looking at Elena and Jake.

"Let's talk about this tomorrow or..." I pause and sigh, waving a hand in the air. "I don't know. Yeah."

Elena narrows her eyes at me and I blink. She glances towards the room where Alex went and brings her eyes back towards me, a serious expression on her face.

"We'll be fine. It's not the first time we share a room," I mumble under my breath, turning to leave.

"When will you tell her?" Jake asks and I freeze, my fists clenched.

"Seriously? I don't—"

"Enzo," Elena cuts me off softly and I look at her reluctantly. "You need to tell her. I kept secrets from my best friend, goddammit! She already went through a lot since last year—"

"Like what?" I say urgently, frowning.

She grits her teeth, looking away. After a while, she just shakes her head.

"I can't tell you myself."

"Elena. Please."

She sighs and looks at Jake. He just wraps his arm around her waist, nodding.

"Alex... lost someone last year. That's all I'm telling you," she adds quickly when she sees me opening my mouth, glaring at me. "Like I said, that's not my place to tell. Only her will decide if she wants to talk to you."

I nod, clenching my jaw so hard it starts to hurt. I can't relax and I can't stop replaying Elena's words over and over again in my head.

Wondering what happened to her, after I left.

After I broke her heart.

"You hurt her a lot and I know that you already know that," Elena says, her arms crossed. "But if you keep hurting her, I won't have any other choice than killing you."

A hint of amusement is in her words, but I know that somehow, she's dead serious.

I glance at Jake. "Control your wife, please. I don't want her to kill me in my sleep."

Jake smirks, glancing down at her.

It's been four years since they're together and two years since they're married. I've never doubted they would last, but after everything they went through, I'm still surprised.

And now, the enemy that made both their life a hell, is somehow back.

I leave them after saying goodnight and head towards the bedroom. I wonder if Alex is already asleep.

I enter the room. I find her sitting on the bed, looking down. She has removed her makeup, her face clean and natural, her hair brushed over her shoulder.

She's so goddamned beautiful.

Something is different with her, though. I only see it now, especially after what Elena told me. I don't know what happened to her, but I want to figure out.

The thought that I'm a part of that change in her kills me.

I step in and she automatically looks up, her eyebrows furrowed.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, standing up.

I raise an eyebrow, looking around me.

"We're sharing this room, Alex," I state softly, watching her expression hardening.

"Great," she mutters under her breath, crossing her arms.

I close the door behind me and take a few cautious steps towards her.

"You're okay?" I question, looking at every feature of her face.

She doesn't even need makeup.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" she replies in an annoyed tone, sitting back on the edge of the bed, bending down to take off her heels.

"I don't know, because we're worrying about you?"

"We? I'm surprised you include yourself," she says, looking up with a blank expression.

I try not to let her words affect me more than it should.

She's angry.

She doesn't trust me.

I can't even blame her.

It would be easier for what I have to announce her next.

Clearing my throat, I watch her as she struggles with the strap of her heel.

"You know what will happen now."

Silence. Alex glances up at me in confusion.

"You need my protection. Cole Valdez will probably try to get to me or you, because of what happened tonight."

Silence.

Then, she reacts.

"You're joking, right?" she says, standing up again and watching me in disbelief.

I shake my head.

"No way. You're not gonna be my bodyguard like four years ago!" she exclaims, taking a step towards me. "We're not doing this again, okay? I have a life and I will continue living it."

"You won't be able to do that if someone is after you," I sigh, running a hand through my hair.

Alex scoffs, shaking her head.

"It's probably nothing. This guy, Cole Valdez. It's not the same case as years ago, okay?"

"Of course it is, Alex! Valdez had relatives and I'm pretty sure from what I've seen tonight that they took the same path as Dan Valdez."

She lets out a shaky breath and turns around, her shoulders visibly tensed. She's confused on what to do. If she should trust me or not.

I decide to change the subject and ask her something else.

"What were you doing there tonight, anyway?"

"Hmm, let me think... Oh, yeah!" she exclaims, snapping her fingers. "I was having the time of my life, dancing with my friends and drinking as an attempt to forget about everything. But no, no, I couldn't do that. Because of you!"

"Because of me?" I raise my eyebrows, trying my hardest to supress my smile.

There she is. The Alex I used to know.

She's sarcastic, direct and probably damn stubborn. But I prefer that than when she's cold and closed.

She narrows her eyes at me.

"Yes, you!"

"I've never seen you at that bar before," I continue, crossing my arms.

"That was my first time there and guess what? Not my last," she looks at me, her eyes challenging me.

I take a dangerous step towards her.

"No. You're not going back there. Certainly not after what happened tonight."

She glares at me. "You don't tell me what to do, Enzo."

I don't even have time to control myself. She's like a damn magnet.

I take the last step towards her and lean down, pushing her on the bed so my body hovers hers. She gasps out loud, her lips forming a perfect o.

Holding her wrists above her head so she can't move, I meet her eyes again.

"You'll do as I said, Princess. Or you won't like the consequences," I mutter, watching her expression going from surprise, anger, and finally, stubbornness.

She narrows her eyes at me. "You're threatening me, now? And do not call me that."

I smile, tilting my head towards her. "That's not a threat. I'm just stating a fact. I don't want you to get hurt."

Alex pouts, trying to move underneath me.

"Get off of me," she glares, going still for a moment.

"Make me," I reply, looking her in the eyes.

She takes a breath and tries to move away from me again. Not a success. She groans and I might be fucking crazy to find her attractive at that moment.

No, you're not. She's just so fucking beautiful.

Fuck.

That's only then that I realize our position. That's the closest we've been since...

Well, years.

My heartbeat quickens.

What the fuck are you doing, Enzo?

Alex stopped moving and now, she's just watching me with her blue-gray eyes. She lets out a deflated sigh.

"I can't," she mumbles softly.

Now, I smirk.

"See? That's exactly why I need to protect you."

"Asshole," Alex replies, giving me a fake big smile.

Rolling my eyes, I finally let go of her wrists and stand up, giving her space. She automatically sits up, watching me carefully before she tries to take off her heels again. I notice how her expression turns into a painful one as she struggles with them.

"Stupid heels," she shakes her head, annoyed.

Without letting her time to think, I kneel down and start taking off her shoes for her. She tenses and tries to get away but I give her a hard look.

"I don't need you to help me—"

I ignore her and take off the first heel of her foot delicately.

"Jesus," she mutters shakily under her breath.

I clench my teeth when I see the red welts the straps left. If these heels were not comfortable, why did she wear them?

I look up at her. She looks tired. Afraid. Confused. When she meets my eyes, she tries to hide these feelings, but it's too late.

After taking off the second heel, I lean my arms on her bare knees, holding her gaze.

"You're welcome," I say, raising an eyebrow.

Alex only stares at me, not saying anything.

"I'm not your armrest," she finally replies, blinking.

I grin and bite my lip to hide it, then stands up and steps back from her. She stands up as well, making her way towards one side of the bed. Glancing shyly in my direction.

"I'll take the floor," I whisper, taking off my shoes.

Alex shakes her head, rolling her eyes.

"It's fine. Just... stay on your side of the bed. All right?"

I nod, watching how she avoids my eyes. I take off my shirt, letting out a sigh. I'll take a shower tomorrow. I'm so tired I might just fall asleep in the next minute.

Weird. It never happened in the last two years. Finding sleep was hard.

I catch Alex's eyes just in time before she looks away. In the dim light, I can't see her face well now. I frown when I realize she's still in her dress.

"You'll sleep in that? I'm sure Elena—"

"I'm fine," she cuts me off, her voice gentle but clear.

"Okay," I whisper, taking off my jeans just as she looks in my direction.

Her eyes widen and she turns her head to the other side, mumbling under her breath. I smile a little and get in the bed. She pulls the sheet over her head, turning to her side. I let out a sigh when my head rests on the pillow.

A moment passes in complete silence. I turn my head towards Alex, watching her shoulders rise and fall with her breathing. Is she asleep already? Maybe.

"Alex?" I whisper softly.

"What?" she murmurs back and I let out a breath.

"Promise me you won't go back there," I say, knowing she'll understand what I'm talking about.

Her shoulders visibly tense before she relaxes again and she stays silent a while. I think she fell asleep when she speaks again.

"Goodnight, Enzo."

I hate the fact she hasn't answered me. But I'm too tired to think about it. I turn my whole body to face her even though she doesn't see me. I keep my eyes on her shape, my eyelids slowly closing.

I sleep well that night, despite everything that happened. Too well, that I don't wake up in time the next morning.

*

Do you think Alex's going to listen and be a nice girl? 🙂

*chuckles maniacally*

I'm kidding. Pfft.

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Until next chapter! 💛 lots of kisses xxx

Audrey