Lesson 3: Goodbyes

I was on my way to Luca's office, the magnolia walls of the corridor encasing me almost as if preventing an escape. I entered the room without knocking this time because Luca had told me to go straight inside when I bumped into him downstairs, saying that he'd join me shortly.

I sat down in the plush seat opposite his desk, impatiently awaiting his arrival. This was going to be about that mission me mentioned to me a week ago, I just knew it.

A lifetime seemed to pass before he crossed the threshold into the carpeted room when in reality it had only been a few minutes. Luca walked tall and proud, his strides large and calculated and his posture perfect, always sharp and alert, ready for action.

"Cara mia, how are you?" he asked warmly, sitting down behind his desk.

"Pretty good, thank you. And you?"

He smiled, waving me off. "As good as can be expected. But Giovanni and Emilio have been driving me crazy. Even Maria is getting agitated."

"What have they done this time?" I asked, covering my smirk with my hand.

"They were supposed to be babysitting their cousin, Adriana, but you know what they're like. Let's just say it didn't go to plan," he trailed off with a shake of his head. "It's a wonder those boys are related to me."

Gio was Luca's and Maria's son and Emilio was their nephew. They loved them both unconditionally but the boys did love to rile them up from time to time.

I let a small laugh past my lips and Luca rolled his eyes, clearing his throat. "Anyway, there's a reason I called you here, cara mia." I nodded, waiting for him to continue, dying to know about this 'mission' he had planned.

"You're seventeen now Blair and so I think you're ready. As I'm sure you'll have heard, we've been having a few run-ins with MI5 lately," he told me, clearly irritated by that fact.

Again, I nodded, remembering that Gio and Emilio had mentioned this a while back. "Well, I've had enough and it's time we put a stop to their meddling," he took in a sharp breath, preparing himself for what he was about to say. "I need you to infiltrate MI5 as an agent."

My mouth dropped open in shock. Snapping it shut, I sat up straighter, realising how serious this mission was. And dangerous. Perfect.

Luca watched me closely, gauging my reaction. When he saw I was calm he carried on. "I know you're only young but you're the perfect fit, cara mia, especially seeing as we adopted you. You're not of Italian blood and it's well known that our mafia never branches out from family. You are the only exception. They'd never suspect a thing."

I listened to each of his words intently, noting every sound.

"There's quite a lot of logistics to this mission but I've got everything planned out," he paused, gulping. For the first time in my entire life, Luca looked vulnerable and worried. About me?

"Blair, you know you're like a daughter to me, the child I never had." Take that Gio. "So if this is too much for you I understand. I couldn't live with myself if I forced you into a mission this dangerous."

A soft smile graced my lips as I shook my head at him. "You know that I've wanted to go on an insanely dangerous mission with huge risks. This is what I've been waiting for," I told him, barely able to contain my excitement.

He seemed hesitant but when he saw the determination in my eyes it quickly vanished, replaced by a look of immense pride. "I knew there was a reason you were my favourite," he grinned. In your fucking face, Gio.

Clasping his hands together, he sat up straighter in his leather office chair. "Alright, since you're sure we can get this show on the road but I must warn you to prepare yourself more than usual. This will not be easy, even for you," he told me firmly, the warmth from a few moments ago no longer on his face. In its place was the stern mafia boss, always ready for action.

~*~*~

The weeks went by as normal and it was almost time for my mission. After agreeing, Luca had to finalise everything with me as well as iron out the last few kinks in the plan but now everything was ready and I couldn't be more excited.

I knew that this mission meant I'd have to leave everyone behind for at least a few years but this would all be worth it. What were a few years in the grand scheme of things? Besides, how many people could say that they'd infiltrated MI5 without ever arousing suspicion? I doubted it was many but I was definitely going to make it onto that last regardless of the cost. Failure was not an option.

It was never easy to leave your family behind, especially when they were the ones who saved you after your own parents threw you away. My parents. I seldom thought of them and didn't remember much about them. I wasn't even sure if they were still alive. My life before Luca was very hazy but that didn't matter because my family was here in Italy and it always would be.

Sighing, I packed my last few belongings into a suitcase, ready to go to the airport. I was flying commercially this time because from this point onwards I was just a normal girl.

My cover was simple. Luca never put his name down as the one who adopted me, he could've never risked that. Instead, a nice British couple who were indebted to us did, after which they moved us all to Italy. Upon Luca's command, they'd decided that it was finally time to migrate back to the UK after my 'dad' got a new job and, seeing as I was still seventeen, I was going back with them.

So now I was technically going back to my old life, the one before I ever knew the mafia existed.

Saying my last goodbyes to everyone was much harder than I anticipated. I had no idea how long it'd be before I'd be able to see them again. I was hoping that I could still contact them whilst I was back in the UK but I doubted it. It was an extremely risky idea but hopefully still possible.

Before stepping outside and getting into my 'parents' waiting car, I turned to the last person to say goodbye to, Giovanni.

"I guess this is goodbye, huh Blair," he smiled sadly.

I shook my head, refusing to admit to that. I'd see him again. I'd see them all again. I refused to let this be the last time I saw them because they were my family and they were all I cared about. "It's only temporary, Gio, I promise that we'll see each other again," I said firmly, a soft smile on my face.

"But—" he tried but I cut him off by placing my finger to his lips.

"Shhhhh. I could never say goodbye forever, you know that. My life would be way too boring without my family, especially you, Gio."

He grinned, leaning down to kiss me, his arms wrapping around my waist to pull me closer as if he never wanted to let me go. The kiss was rough, passionate and full of need, his way of promising that we'd meet again. That we'd be together again. We'd given each other a lot of farewells over the last few weeks but this final one was bittersweet.

I didn't want to let go. I'd much rather have gotten lost in him and his sensational touch but it was time to leave. So, with a regretful sigh, I pulled away, looking into his delightful brown eyes one last time before I walked out of the house and into the car.

Julie and Mike Prescott, my 'parents', smiled when I sat down, starting the drive to my new — or rather old — life.

By the time we reached our new home in the UK, it was already nightfall. Drained from the day's events, I dropped onto my bed exhausted. I'd deal with unpacking tomorrow. All I wanted to do was call home and tell them that I had arrived safely but I knew I couldn't. Although I lived for danger and risk-taking, I was not stupid, it'd be foolish to try and make contact with them. So, instead, I kicked the combat boots from my feet and let sleep consume me, preparing for the day ahead.

~*~*~

The next stage of the plan was simple but the bit I was dreading the most. I had to go to school. It was the easiest way to evade any suspicion so until the end of the year I just had to wait it out. The longer I appeared like a normal teenage girl the better; we couldn't have anyone getting suspicious so I had no choice in the matter.

Of course, Luca made sure that I was able to graduate from school buy the time I was twelve so it was not like I had to put much effort into it. I just needed to come out with the top grades because that was phase one in catching MI5's attention but other than that I was free to do as I pleased.

I won't bore you with all the details of my high school life because it wasn't that interesting if I was being honest. I garnered quite the reputation for myself but I made sure nothing I did was too risky or outlandish. Only a little bit of harmless fun.

I attained perfect grades across every subject, ensuring it was obvious that I excelled in physical as well as academical endeavours but that didn't mean I acted like a perfect little angel in or outside of school. Most people had steered clear of me because I came across as 'too intimidating' or something of that nature but they still had no clue about how dangerous I really was or even what I was doing.

Ignoring all of that, I couldn't even begin to tell you how excited I was when I graduated because it meant the real mission could finally start to take place.

The novelty of having a 'normal life' wore off the minute I stepped foot into that school but I had to endure the sheer boredom. I was taught to be patient, an assassin could never rush into things. We had to be cunning and sly, not rash and unprepared but even my patience was wearing thin.

So when the blessed day finally arrived for my graduation...

Chaos erupted and bitches were dying. Literally.

~*~*~

I hope you liked the chapter!

Stay safe xx