Chapter 68

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Arle's POV

My bare skin against the silken sheets was the first thing I felt in the morning. Beside me, the mattress shifted and slender fingers ran through my mussed hair, separating black and white strands. I sighed and relented to the insistent touches, leaning my head towards the other form that reclined across the bed.

With my eyes closed, I couldn't see Rosalyne, but I could practically feel the way her lips tugged upward at my movement. I opened my eyes, staring into the dimness of the room as I adjusted.

"Your hands are cold"

There was something heavy between us and I knew that something was dangerous. The way Rosalyne looked at me, touched me... Intimacy is a deadly concept and I do a good job of restraining myself but... this time was different. With her, everything is different.

Rosa laughed, her hands went still in my hair but she didn't remove them.

"You weren't complaining about that some minutes ago"

I sighed and disconnected myself from her to turn over onto my stomach and fold my arms under my chin.

Rosa's eyes were fixed on me and her lips pulled up at the edges in the way that I hate, the way that makes me want to kiss her until her mouth goes slack and she gasps for air.

Her body was bare, smooth and unmarred under the soft light of the rising sun that streamed in through the window and shadows gathered at the hollow of her throat and in the dips of her collarbones, painting her in slashes and whirls of dark. Her hair spilled over her shoulders, pale as snow and it reminded me of the thin blanket of snow that would cover the city in winter.

I forced myself to look away, finally coming to my senses. I messed up... I messed up big time... Rosalye raised a brow but didn't press the matter, instead turning back over and laying down on her back. I eyed her stately profile from my peripheral vision and wondered how a woman could look so much like a porcelain statue.

Even though she was obviously still drunk and oblivious, I was aware of what had happened and it wasn't good. If Alisa found out... Argh, why am I being the other woman? I shouldn't be doing this...

I picked up my phone to look at the time. 9AM... hm... so we didn't sleep that much after... the best night of my life. I couldn't help the way my cheeks reddened at the memory of not that long ago. Rosalyne would probably forget but I would never forget how she made me feel that night...

"We should... get dressed and check up on the others" I said "I'll get you something to sober up"

"Hmm... fine" she plopped back onto the bed, turning her head to the window.

I slowly started getting dressed. This had been a big mistake, I should leave, I felt terrible being in the same house as both of them after doing that with Rosalyne...

I went to the kitchen and threw away the leftovers of the tartare before making her a small ham and cheese sandwich. I filled a glass or water and brought it all to the bedroom on a tray.

"Rosa, breakfast is ready"

"Thanks, Per" she took the tray and started eating the sandwich.

I stopped in my tracks. Per?

She gave me a nickname for my real name...

"You should focus on sobering up, I'll go check on the wounded" I left her alone in the bedroom and went to the medical room, opening a window for fresh air to come into the room. I checked on Alisa first. She was deep asleep, the morphine still tranquilizing her.

"I'm so sorry, Alisa..."

I didn't dare change her bandage myself, I couldn't look her in the eye if she woke up...

I checked on Childe next. His wounds seemed to be getting better. I changed his bandages and checked his temperature, his skin was at a normal temperature so I moved on to Sandy. I didn't dare do a lot since Rosa was the expert at medical stuff so since her now missing leg wasn't bleeding, I just left her as she was.

I went back to the bedroom and found Rosa asleep. At least the tray of food and glass of water were empty. I closed the door and got out to the balcony to light a much needed cigarette.

I took a drag and blew the smoke away with a long sigh.

"Why did I get in this mess? I knew it was wrong and I let her..."

I leaned on the metal rail of the balcony, taking drags of my cigarette from time to time and watching the people walk by the street in their busy lives.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Alisa's POV

The first thing I felt was disorientation. It was dark and I couldn't move. I remembered that rat Mr Lapis shooting me, I was quick enough to move and dodge what could have been a bullet to the heart but I lost consciousness. Now, I could slowly feel my senses coming back.

Remember how they say that people in a coma can still hear what you say? Well, it's true in my experience. I could hear Rosa when she started crying because she didn't feel capable of healing Sandrone and Childe. I felt a deep sense of desperation from not being able to just open my eyes, get out of bed and hug her, tell her she could do it, that everything was going to be okay.

Instead, I heard Arlecchino being the one to do those things. I felt anger bubbling up inside me and when I heard them in the kitchen I almost wanted to cry. I wanted to be the one comforting her. What if they kissed again? What if they did more than kissing? I swallowed my jealousy and focused on hearing the sounds that came from the kitchen.

"I'm sorry about earlier... um... I didn't notice you being so close and..." Rosa's voice echoed in the hallway.

"I'm not. Sorry, I mean, I'm not sorry for it. Nothing happened. Alisa didn't see it so she won't punish me or anything for this slight brush of lips. It was good while it lasted and it will never repeat itself. It's okay"

They... kissed?!

After silence filled the room again, I wanted to cry. Rosa was betraying me just like that... maybe I was in critical condition and she was trying to move on? If I had control of my body I would have sighed. If only I could get up... I'd shoot Arlecchino square in the forehead.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

A while later, I felt a needle being pulled out of my arm and warm hands changing my bandages. I slowly regained my senses and opened my eyes.

"Rosa?"

"Yes, it's me. Stay still please or the stitches won't hold" she was cleaning my wound.

I stayed silent, meditating on what I had heard while I was unconscious.

"How long until I can get out of bed?" I asked.

"Some minutes if you promise not to use your left arm for at least two weeks" she finished changing the bandage.

"Deal"

After she was done with me, she stopped the morphine doses for the other two in the med room and offered them some food. When she finished taking care of them, I beckoned her closer.

"Where is Arlecchino?"

"She left shortly after you started showing signs of waking up. She said she had errands to run for her cover job"

Coward.

"Do you want anything to eat?" She asked.

"No, I'm fine. I have to run an errand" I got up from the bed, not without effort, and held onto the edge for support when I got dizzy from the whiplash.

"Careful, you shouldn't go out in this state, dear. You'll hurt yourself" she leaned her hand on my arm.

"I said I'm fine, Rosa" I pulled my arm away and walked towards our bedroom, changing from the hospital gown into a dark blue suit.

I winced every time I had to move my left arm but I gritted my teeth and ignored the pain. My errand was more important than my pain right now. I sneaked a small dagger in my boot and put a small revolver with silencer in the inner pocket of the suit jacket. I got out of the bedroom with long strides, tying my tie as I walked.

Rosa was waiting by the door.

"Are you really planning on going out?"

"Yes, let me through"

"Alisa, you'll hurt yourself. Tell me what you need, I'll get it"

"No. I have to do it" I furrowed my brows, remembering the conversations I heard last night.

"Alisa, I can't let you go out" she put her hands on my shoulders.

I pulled her hands away and gently pushed her aside.

"I have to do this. Wait here until I'm back, Rosa" I opened the door and before she had time to reply, I closed the door behind me.

I took our car and drove to where I was almost sure Arlecchino would be, the orphanage. She was the director of that place as her cover job. I parked the car in front of the building and walked through the front door with long strides. There were children everywhere, playing, talking, reading, sleeping. I cared for none of them. I went to the front office and slammed my hands on the counter.

"I need to talk to Director Peruere" I demanded.

The young lady at the front desk pointed to a door with a shaky hand and I gave her a small nod before walking up to it and opening it without knocking.

"Alisa, you're well" Arlecchino stood up from her chair.

"I have a mission for you" I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, crossing my arms.

"Does it have to be me?" She was obviously nervous, I should act oblivious.

"It involves Rosalyne's safety. I know you would do anything to protect her, you're her best friend after all" I schooled my expression into a softer one even though I wanted to take out my gun and shoot her right there and then.

"I'm listening" she sat back down.

"Mr Lapis has associates from China that have opened an investigation. They will send assassins to our home tonight to avenge their leader and kill both me and Rosa. I need you to intercept them"

"Okay. Do we have a plan?"

"Mhm" I nodded and took out my phone, opening a picture of the floor plan of the first floor of our house "I know this organization, they would never try to infiltrate through the front door. We do have a back door that leads to the kitchen though so they will probably try to get in through it. They're too cautious to risk breaking windows to get in as well"

"Sounds good, just one entrance to guard"

"I'll expect you to come as soon as you're done with work. You finish at 9PM, right?"

"Um... yes. I'll be there"

"Good. I'll be waiting"

Without waiting for her response, I left as I had came, leaving the building without a glance back to the children looking up at me and got in the car.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Arle's POV

When she left I immediately got up and went behind her but when I opened the door of my office she was already nowhere to be seen.

"Director? Who was that lady?" A red haired child asked me.

"No one, Clervie, just a... an acquaintance"

"She looked important, she was wearing a suit, like you!"

"Yes, she's the boss of her organization" I chuckled, crouching down to her height and smiling softly "just like I'm the director here, she's the director of her own company"

"That sounds cool! One day I want to be like you and her! A lady in a suit so all the children look up at me in awe and say what I'm saying. 'I want to be like her!'" Clervie's eyes sparkled.

"I'm sure you'll look great in a suit once you're older, Clervie. And you'll have wonderful new parents by then" I patted her head and kissed her forehead before standing up and walking back to my office.

Eight years old and already dreaming big, huh...

I didn't like to pick favorites but even though I never told anyone, Clervie was my absolute favorite in the orphanage. I wasn't sure whether I'd be happy or sad if they ever adopted her...

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Alisa's POV

On my way back home, I stopped by the ice rink. It was my safe space. I loved ice skating and... I would have pursued it professionally were it not for my father's death. Him passing away meant the whole Russian mafia's empire and duties as leader would fall onto my shoulders. I missed the Olympics because I had to lead operations... I had qualified for figure skating in the Olympics and I had to give up my favorite sport...

I opened the trunk of my car, finding my old ice skating suit. It was wednesday morning and summer so there would probably be no one inside, just as I wanted. I went into the building and Sofiya greeted me.

"Your lucky skates?" She smiled.

"Yes please" I smiled back, handing her a wad of money "and don't let anyone else in if they come"

"Yes, ma'am"

She handed me my skates and I went to the changing room, changing from my business suit to the tight blue and white gradient skating suit I would have worn in the olympics. Little silver gemstones covered part of the top, making it gleam under the light. I looked in the mirror and arranged my hair in a bun so it wouldn't get in my face.

I went to the rink and sat at a bench before putting on my skates. Once I had them on, I sighed.

"Maybe I should go back to the olympics, they were fun"

I walked into the rink and glided, smoothly sailing through the icy surface. I did a few laps at first to warm up and then I started with tricks, easily landing everytime. Smooth and practiced, as always.

My shoulders would bother me sometimes when spinning but I pushed through the pain. Music started to play through the speakers and when I looked up to the booth, Sofiya gave me a thumbs up. I smiled, she was probably the only person I trusted after this whole ordeal with Rosalyne. I watched as she came down from the booth and sat at a random row in a random chair, propping her feet up on the seat in front of her and leaning back with her arms crossed.

She watched me while I skated and improvised a choreography for the songs playing and when I leaned against the wall to take a break, she approached me with a bottle of water.

"Your skating is still as good as always, Alya" she called me by my nickname and I couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks" I took the bottle she was offering me and took a couple sips of water.

"But I did notice you were a bit unbalanced in some spins. Anything wrong?"

"I'm okay, I just had a little accident not long ago and my shoulder's a little off"

"You can tell me, Alya. I'm your best friend, I know about your mafia business" she chuckled.

"I got shot last night" I shrugged.

"And you're skating?!"

"Yes, it's not that rare in my line of work to get shot. You get used to it with time"

"Girl, you're 28, you don't have enough experience to be used to getting shot?!"

"I do, Sonya. Don't worry about it"

"You can't just tell me not to worry after you get shot!"

"I can" I smirked.

She sighed.

"You're pretty reckless sometimes, you know?"

"Oh, yes. I know" I pushed myself away from the wall, starting to do a few spins and jumps.

She sat back on an audience chair, watching me dance on the ice while she put on skates of her own and then joined me on the ice.

"What if customers come?" I asked, skating backwards in a circle.

"I put up the closed sign" she smiled.

"Heh, nice. Are you up for some choreos? Like old times?" I offered her a hand.

"Always" she took my hand and we started some choreographies we used to practice with her when I still competed.

I kept doing tricks following the rhythm of the music and getting lost in the melody with her until I felt something warm on my shoulder. I stopped to check it out and found my competition suit stained with red at the shoulder, the red patch growing bigger with each second that went by.

"I told you, Alya" Sofiya sighed "Come on. I'll get you out of here" she put my arm around her shoulder and guided me out of the rink.

"It's not necessary, Sofiya. I'm fine"

"Stop lying, Alisa. I'm taking you home" she led me to the dressing room.

"Don't. My fiancée is there, she might get the wrong idea"

"I can't believe you haven't told anyone about me" she frowned.

"It's for your safety. I can expect a stab from the back from anyone. If they knew about you they would just use you to get info from me" I started walking along her rather than letting her drag me.

"I don't care what your fiancée might think, I'm taking you home. You're in no condition to drive"

I sighed but let myself be led to where I left my stuff.

She let go and turned around.

"Change"

I rolled my eyes amusedly and started taking off the now red stained suit. I put a handkerchief between the bloody bandage and my chemise and put on my suit again.

"I'm ready"

"Let's go" she put my arm around her shoulder again and guided me outside, locking the door behind her when we exited the building.

I led her to my car and handed her the keys, plopping down onto the passenger seat.

"Is it still the same address or did you change locations?" She asked as she started the engine.

"The same"

"Nice, I know how to get there then. Be a dear and nap until we get there, you could use some sleep"

I sighed and nodded, leaning my head against the headrest and closing my eyes. Surprisingly, falling asleep was quite easy, the soft vibrating of the car as it smoothly traveled the streets was relaxing and the background music Sofiya had turned on was slow and had low volume. In no time, I found myself succumbing to slumber.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Rosa's POV

I waited at home, pacing back and forth, waiting for Alisa to return. As soon as Sandy and Childe woke up I sent them away back to their respective homes. What was the errand Alisa needed to run? Did it involve Arlecchino? Did she find out? No, she couldn't have. She was tranquilized the whole time.

My memories of the night were a little fuzzy but I knew what we did. I could also remember Arle told me something important and personal but... I couldn't remember what... Argh, I'm such a lightweight. I facepalmed myself.

I wanted to check on Arle but how could I approach her after knowing what we did last night? I sat down on the couch and pulled out my phone. I opened Goodreads to mark the book I finished yesterday as finished and as if on cue, a couple minutes later I got a notification of Arle liking my update. I took a deep breath.

She's alive...

I paced around the house, cleaning up to distract myself while I waited for Alisa to come back. What if her wound reopened? What if she was found by another mafia member and killed in an alley?

I shook my head, trying to will those thoughts away and I went into Instagram to distract myself. I gave a like to a photo Nadine posted with Lizzie and scrolled. Most of the pictures were from designers. It helped me with my own work to see other people's work. I posted a picture from the last photoshoot with Sylvia, another one of my models and turned off my phone to avoid the notifications that would follow a post of mine.

I put it face down on the coffee table, not before muting it, and went to the bookshelf to decide what book I would read next. I was debating three options when a knock on the door interrupted my train of thought.

I opened the door and found a brown haired woman carrying an unconscious Alisa on her back.

"Sorry, I know you don't know me but I'm her friend. I think she needs your help"

"Why am I supposed to trust you? How do I know you don't mean her harm?" I crossed my arms, unsure of what to do.

"Would I have brought her here if I wanted her dead?" She scoffed.

"I guess you have a point... come in" I opened the door fully for her, inviting her in.

I guided her to the medical room and she gently set Alisa down on a bed and sat on the one next to her.

I took off Alisa's suit jacket and shirt. The bandage I had given her that very morning was already stained a deep red.

"What happened to her?" I asked the stranger.

"She came to the ice rink and skated without thinking of her injury" she shrugged, taking out Alisa's old figure skating suit from her bag, it had a big red stain on the shoulder area.

"Hm..." I took off the bloodied bandage and started cleaning the wound "and who exactly are you?"

"My name is Sofiya. I manage the ice rink nearby, she comes there often to unwind and we eventually became friends"

Okay, that sounded quite believable.

"I'm Rosalyne, I'm her-"

"-her fiancée. I know, she talks a lot about you" she smiled.

I smiled back.

"Yes, um... I'm surprised that she never talked about you if you're friends..."

"Yeah, it's for my safety or something. She doesn't want rival families using me to track her down" she shrugged.

I froze and looked up at her.

"What?"

"No need to act dumb, I know about your mafia business. She tells me everything" she laughed.

"Wow, she must really trust you"

"In figure skating you can't succeed unless you trust your partner" she shrugged "we were together in the olympics, before she met you"

"Oh" I fixed Alisa's stitches and began to bandage her shoulder once more.

"It was a long time ago, we both still lived in Russia back then"

"We should let her rest, let me make you coffee or tea. We can talk in the kitchen" I led her to the kitchen area.

"I'll have some coffee" she followed me and sat on a stool, leaning her elbows on the kitchen island.

"Coffee it is" I grinded the coffee beans and started preparing it. I loved using the coffee machine, once it was done, I heated up the milk and foamed it. I poured it slowly, making a nice shape on top with the foamed milk. I slid the coffee cup to her "your coffee"

"You've been a barista before" she chuckled "looks good"

"It was my first job" I smiled "I took a liking to making coffee"

She took a sip.

"It's very good"

"Thanks"

We engaged in small talk and only stopped when we heard the kitchen door opening.

"Alisa, thank god you're okay" Sofiya stood up and walked up to her, giving her a hug.

"Sofiya, you had to wake me up when we arrived, not invite yourself into my house" Alisa sighed.

When they pulled away, Alisa locked eyes with me.

"Um... I guess you've met my fiancée now" they both approached the kitchen island and sat each on a stool.

"When you told me she was pretty, I thought you were exaggerating but she really is quite beautiful" Sofiya winked at me and I looked away.

"Tread carefully, Sofiya" Alisa warned.

She turned to me.

"Rosa, this is my best friend, Sofiya. She manages the ice rink a few streets from us"

"Yes, she told me... why did you go skating when you're injured, Alisa?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Ooh, your fiancée is mad, Alya. Better make it up to her" Sofiya said in a playful tone "I'll leave you lovebirds to solve your little conflict, I'll get back to my job" she left Alisa's figure skating suit on the stool she was sitting on and stood up, heading for the back door in the kitchen.

"Bye, Sonya" Alisa waved her goodbye and as soon as the door closed behind her, Alisa deflated "I don't want to argue with you, Rosa..."

"Then don't put yourself in danger like that, Alisa. You could have bled out, don't tell me you're not dizzy from the blood loss? I'll have to start another transfusion"

"It's not necessary, Rosa. I'm fine. I'm strong"

"I won't deny that you're strong, I know you are. But you're also human and you've suffered severe blood loss. So want it or not, I'll start a transfusion" I crossed my arms.

Alisa sighed.

"Fine, but make it quick. I should make lunch"

"No. I'll make lunch. You just focus on resting" I took her arm and led her back to the medical room.

"You're making me feel useless, Rosa" she frowned.

"No, you're wounded. That's what's happening"

I started a quick blood transfusion and went to the kitchen to cook lunch for us. I checked on her once in a while and stopped the transfusion once her blood pressure was normal again.

"Stay here, I'll bring you lunch here, you have to rest" I pressed her unharmed shoulder down against the bed when she tried to get up.

"But-"
"You shouldn't have gone skating. That's what you get"

I went to the kitchen and put her lunch on a tray before bringing it to the med room. I sat next to her, eating my own lunch as I watched her eat.

"I needed my alone time, okay?" She said, looking away.

"I understand that. But you're injured, Alisa. You have to rest and instead of doing that you reopened your wound. You'll have to wait some time before skating again now"

"I just... When I skate I feel like I'm in the Olympics all over again. Free from the burden of managing the Russian mafia, I feel younger, more carefree. I needed to feel that again..."

I stayed quiet. I understood how she felt but her wellbeing was more important to me...

"How about you rest today and tomorrow I'll check on the wound and if it's better I take you skating?" I smiled softly.

"I'd like that" she smiled back.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Alisa's POV

We spent the afternoon talking and cuddling. She read me part of a book and we had dinner late at night. She told me to sleep in the medical room since further movement would just interfere with the natural healing of my wound. As soon as she disappeared in the hallway, heading for our room to sleep, I stood up and closed my chemise and put on my jacket before going to the back door and opening it. Arlecchino was already standing there with her gun aimed at me.

"Oh, it's you" she lowered her gun "I was standing guard, like you told me"

"Yes, it's me. And you've made a fool of me for the last time" I took out my small revolver with silencer and aimed it at her.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Arle's POV

At 9PM, I did my last round of the night around the orphanage, making sure everyone was asleep. When I walked past Clervie's room, I heard the door creak open and the redhead peeked out the door.

"Clervie, you should be asleep" I crouched to her level and she ran into my arms.

"Why do you have to leave? Can't you stay with us? There's a lot of free beds!"

"I have my own house and errands to run, dear" I stroked her hair "but if you fall asleep now, I promise I'll be here when you wake up in the morning. Just come to my office and I'll be there, okay?"

"But... I still want you to stay..." she frowned, wrapping her arms around me.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart but I have to go. We'll play tomorrow, I promise" I stroked her back comfortingly.

"Pinky promise?"

"Pinky promise" I linked our pinkies and she smiled again.

"Okay, I'll try to sleep..."

"Good girl, goodnight, Clervie" I kissed the top of her head.

"Goodnight, Director"

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

When Alisa aimed her gun at me, I understood. There was no Chinese mafia after them. She had found out what happened between Rosa and me one way or another and... She had just set up a trap to kill me.

"Alisa, wait. We can talk it out" I raised my hands, letting go of my gun.

"Talk it out?! I've been loyal to her all three years that we've been together, I never would have thought of even getting with another person. You made a fool of me, got her wrapped around your finger and did what you wanted with her" tears peeked out the corners of her eyes as she spoke "I was going to marry her, I proposed to her, didn't you see her engagement ring? Why did that not stop you?! Goddamnit-" She wiped her tears.

"I understand Alisa, I made a mistake, I shouldn't have done that" I kept my eyes on the trigger, she was already pressing it slightly, a little more pressure and my life would be over "but... try to be reasonable, is killing me the best idea right now?"

"It sounds good to me" she gritted her teeth "I've always stayed true to Rosa and now you embarrass me once more"

"Oh, calm down"

"You've made a fool of me for the last time, Peruere"

And with that... she pulled the trigger.

_________________________________

Heyyy!! Avamax_blackstar here!

A bit of my personal news: I didn't get accepted into my first choice university but I did get accepted into a big university in Madrid so yayyyy!

New characters yayyyy Clervie will probably remain an extra and Sofiya will be secondary but oh well. By the way, for those confused, Sonya is a diminutive of Sofiya, I know it doesn't make it a lot shorter but that's how Russian works lmaoooo. Same with Alya for Alisa, it's just a diminutive form to be used as an affectionate nickname. Fun unnecessary fact: sonya without capitalized S means sleepy person lol.

This chapter has 5k words, one of the long ones hehehe

Anyways,

What do you think of this part of the story?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Votes are appreciated but comments are the best :)

Stay happy and healthy!

I love youuu <3