It wasn't a dream.

Months had flown by since that day. The air was colder, the leaves were gone and snow flurries fell from the sky. But Alianna was in Jax's office, curled up under a blanket near the radiator to keep warm.

Alianna would have never thought that her life would be in debt to one of her victims. She looked up as she closed the cover of her book. Her eyes focused on the other occupant in the room. Since her release from hospital, Jax kept her under lock and key. Her injuries and surgery recovery meant that she could not work but she was Libertà everyday bouncing around from the locker rooms whenever her friends were there or to a VIP room for lunch before retreating upstairs to the office under Jax's watchful eyes.

Alianna first hated the fact that she had nothing to do and that Jax would not let her earn her keep but all that changed when her stitches came loose when she pulled on her corset. Despite his annoyance at her continuous defiance Jax remained true to his word. He entrusted her to Doc's care, personally driving her to and from the warehouse whenever she needed to go. Between the reluctant rest and Doc's care she was healing nicely. The most of her bruises were gone now though her head remained tender and her ribs were taking longer than usual to heal but she was progressing well.

She watched as the furrow between Jax's eyebrows deepened and she felt the sudden urge to smoothen it out. Alianna shifted uncomfortably. She could not forget the gentle caress of Jax's lips months ago when she moved in. It stirred feelings deep inside her, making her crave more of his touch. Her cheeks flushed as she crossed her legs, ignoring the deep pangs in her belly.

The rustle of the blanket caught Jax's attention and he looked up from the computer screen, half amused to see Alianna already staring. His need to protect her was on overdrive. He had increased security at her apartment, making sure that her driver was armed at all times. He couldn't bear to have her out of his sight and whenever she was around; it took all his self-control to stop himself from pulling her into his arms where he knew she'd definitely be safe.

He sighed rolling his neck and leaned back into his chair his eyes meeting hers. "Need to make another trip to the bookstore already?" he chuckled lowly.

Alianna smiled at his laugh. "Maybe," she replied. She always loved reading but only got the chance to whenever she was undercover and even then her reading material pertained to the victim at hand.

Jax chuckled before returning to work but Alianna's eyes did not leave him. She admired how he worked, smooth, efficient. Occasionally she would hear his knuckles crack to relieve the tension. His powerful, commanding aura radiated through the room, something that may have frightened others but it calmed her. It was reassuring and familiar but she did not feel fear. With Jax around, she did not feel the need to look over her shoulder but the lack of contact from her boss unnerved her.

"Bored Ms Rose?" Jax asked as he glanced up briefly. "Would you like me to call Naveen so you can get another book?"

Alianna's cheeks flushed as she was caught. "No, it's fine, it can wait." But Jax was right, she was bored. Liberta was closed as clientele were focused on the holidays, giving the staff time to enjoy the season as well. It was also quiet, too quiet and she would give anything to feel the booming bass through the floor or her friends' laughter from the locker room.

"I have something for you to do," Jax held up a file. Alianna padded barefoot across the carpeted floor for it. He shook his head; he'd given up on breaking her habit weeks ago.

"What's this?" Alianna asked as she thumbed through the papers with long lists of numbers printed on them.

"That is all the transactions that the Boveri family have made in the last 6 months," Jax said. "I would like you to see if there are any discrepancies before I enter them into my records." He knew she could do it from her reading choices. Early edition Shakespeare was hard even for him to digest.

"Alright," Alianna mumbled before going back to the couch. Though she was not bad at mathematics, she hated working with numbers; she much preferred literature and the arts. But she lied down on the couch slowly scanning each page. "Can you toss me a pencil?"

Jax looked up at her request but obliged her, unsurprised that she caught the pencil without looking his way. The pair worked in silence, the keyboard clacking and soft pencil against the pages breaking it occasionally. Alianna's furrow soon mirrored Jax's as she underlined rows of figures. She padded up to his desk again, triple checking her findings before she presented them.

She waited in front of the desk scanning the papers. Jax looked up, briefly marvelling at the difference between the woman he first met and the one standing in front him now. This year had taken its toll on her, Alianna wasn't as easy going and happy but refined, slowly coming out of her shell but despite that, Jax's feelings for her never wavered.

"Yes Ms Rose?" Alianna looked up, slightly flustered by his business like tone but she understood it; business was business.

"Someone has been stealing from you," she said simply. Only the quirk of his eyebrow revealed his surprise. Alianna placed the papers side by side. "You see here," she pointed to a line, "your cargo worth twenty thousand dollars was shipped off but here," she pointed to another line, "only seventeen was received. I didn't think anything of it until I noticed that three thousand dollars' worth of merchandise went missing again, two months later and again two months after but that's not the most interesting part; the cargo goes missing on the same date but not the same buyers."

Jax leaned forward studying the papers as Alianna talked, "Of course this is just with what you've given me. If you'd like to know how long this has been going on, you need to give me access to all your transactions before and after this period."

Jax looked up, regarding the woman in front of him. He smiled slightly as he heard the pride in her voice. He had no doubt that she had uncovered a two timing rat in his ranks and he was amazed that she was able to pick up on it even though these sheets passed through his heads of operation. "Well done Alianna," he murmured watching as she visibly blossomed under his praise. "I will look into this and deal with it appropriately."

Jax's tone made the hair on the back of Alianna's neck stand up and she forced herself to look away from him. She was so used to the kinder side of Jax, hearing and seeing him all business was a shock for her. Jax watched as Alianna walked over to the one way glass looking out at the preparations below. He did not apologise for his tone, mafia matters required him to be serious and professional.

"It really is a grand affair huh?" Alianna watched the decorators hang lights over the stage. The tables were adorned with white tablecloths with golden centrepieces. During her lunch she counted over 300 bottles of various alcohols being brought in.

Jax stood up and joined her at the window, shoving his hand into the pockets of his slacks. "For $1200 a ticket, it has to be," he said nonchantly.

Alianna had glimpsed the glossy black tickets with gold calligraphy before they were distributed. She personally thought that $1200 was an absolutely ridiculous price for a party ticket but when she looked at the names on the list, she realised that the money was a small price for the CEOs, socialites, heirs and heiresses to pay.

Evan had shown her the food and drink menus. With delicacies from all around the world with chefs being flown in to prepare them and imported wines, champagnes and scotch, it was event of the highest class.

Something irked her. Kayla had gushed about her complimentary ticket and after some subtle prodding, Alianna had found out that all her fellow bartenders had received one as well but not her. She swallowed drily even though Jax had done more than enough for her without asking anything in return, the lack of an invite stung.

She looked up at the man next to her and it sunk in how powerful Jax was but she wasn't afraid. They stood side by side and it felt so right, so easy, so natural. Alianna couldn't describe what she felt, it was an unknown emotion that bubbled in her tummy and chest.

A single knock on the door broke her train of thought. Jax walked over and opened it to reveal a dark skinned, dark haired, lanky youth. Jax nodded at Naveen before letting him in.

"Are you ready to go Ms Rose?" the young man asked politely making Alianna smile and nodded. The two men chatted in hushed tones as she gathered her stuff and folded the blanket. She slipped on her boots and waited patiently for their conversation to end.

"I look forward to seeing what you're reading next," Jax murmured. He returned to his chair behind his desk as Naveen waited at the door.

Alianna wet her lips, "Bye Jax," she murmured. It felt so right to say his name, she saw a slight smile at his lips before she and Naveen walked out.

~

Alianna walked down the corridor reading the back of her newest novel to her door. She had politely refused Naveen's escort knowing that she was being watched on the cameras. She frowned as the time of her boot came into contact with a white box. She frowned and put the book in its bag as she saw a large white box with a smaller white box on top of it.

She lifted the boxes before entering the code for her apartment. Her bag slipped off her shoulder and onto the table as she placed the boxes down. Alianna looked all over for a note from the sender. It could not have been Jax, he would give her anything directly. Alianna shrugged before opening the smaller box. A gasp left her lips as her body froze and the box fell from her hands.

Her silver knuckles, the ones she had left behind in her old apartment, the ones Marino had gifted her, lay on the floor.

Alianna trembled from head to toe, how did Marino get past Jax's defences? How long has he been watching her? How has he been watching her? Was he nearby? In the building? She did not know.

With shaky hands she lifted the top of the larger box off. Her body went numb and her brain shut down as she saw a photo album nestled on top of white tissue paper. She willed her hands to pick it up and she forced back sob at the first picture.

It was one of her. When she was 14, beaten, bloodied, bruised and bound to a pole with rope. Alianna remembered that day clearly, it was the first time she defied Marino and she paid the price dearly. She flipped through the pictures and her stomach revolted. Every time she rebelled against Marino was documented here. She flung the album away as tears blurred her vision. She had a feeling what the rest of the box contained.

She tore away the layer of tissue paper which revealed an envelope. She slowly opened it, shocked to find a familiar black glossy ticket in it. She swallowed lightly placing it to the side.

The next layer of tissue paper uncovered the most beautiful gold evening gown she ever did see. She held up in front of her. She didn't need a call to know what were Marino's orders. Her hand shook as she peeled away the last layer of paper and her blood ran cold.

Nestled at the bottom of the box was a gun. 

A link to "The Final Countdown" has been added on as External Link for your convenience