ANGELO

I leaned against the balcony railing, flicking cigarette ashes and taking another long drag. I heard the balcony door slide open and Julian step through.

"Where'd you get the cigarettes?" He asked, plucking the cigarette package from my fingers and shoved them into the back pocket of his jeans. He stared at me, waiting for an explanation.

"Store across the funeral home," I mumbled, hating that I'd been caught.

"You promised you'd quit, Angel," he murmured, his stare burning into the side of my face. "You know-"

I closed my eyes. "I know, Jules."

"If you know then why are you smoking?" He snapped, and by his impatient tone I knew he meant business. "You know how bad your asthma gets, idiot."

I narrowed my eyes. "Don't call me an idiot."

"Then don't act like one."

"Can you two stop bickering like an old married couple for five seconds?" Killian stepped outside with us. He glanced at Julian and then me with an angry glare. "What the hell are you doing?"

I turned away, sucking back the last of my cigarette before twisting it out on the railing. I spun around and walked into the hotel room, annoyed. "Is Alina up yet?"

We needed to get on the road.

"No, not yet," he said.

I headed towards the adjoining room but my younger brother caught my arm. "She didn't sleep well. Leave her to sleep until the car arrives."

I paused. "What do you mean she didn't sleep well?"

"She-"

"Did she have a nightmare?"

"I don't know - " my brother snapped.

"Ugh, you're a doctor Killian, you're supposed to know everything." I smirked when his face contorted into disdain. He hated when I said that.

Julian chuckled behind us, his fingers wrapping around my forearm. He tugged me over to the bed we slept in last night. I lay down on the bed, Julian beside me, as Mattia stood with his arms crossed, his glare unwavering.

"What?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

"You need to look after yourself, Angelo."

"I know that, Killian."

"Good. I don't want to see another cigarette in your hand or I'll shove it up your ass. Got it?" I mock saluted him with my hand as he walked into the adjoining room. I waited until the door clicked shut before glancing at Julian.

"Isn't he annoying?"

"He's right though."

I huffed, not liking that my boyfriend took my brothers side. Julian patted my hand. "When do you have that meeting with Jonas?"

I checked my watch. "In half an hour."

"Are you sure you're okay to go alone? Abel will kick your ass if he finds out I didn't go -"

"Abel won't find out," I said, narrowing my eyes at Julian. "I can take care of myself. If this asshat shoots me, he signs up for a very painful death."

+++

I was becoming bored as I leaned against the brick, watching the grown man whimper and plead in front of me.

"I don't k-know anything," the man - Jonas - whimpered, cowering, using his hands to shield himself from the gun in my hand, "I don't know anything, I s-swear."

I pistol whipped him, blood spurting from his nose. I took a satisfying breath and checked my watch. I cracked my neck, focusing on Jonas again.

"If I hear that you knew about the shipment being flagged, I'll kill you," I threatened, anger raging in my veins. "I'll kill every member of your little family and make you watch before I tear your body to pieces ... am I understood?"

Jonas nodded fiercely. "Y-yes, understood sir."

I scoffed. "Don't call me sir, it makes me sound old," I muttered, lowering my gun and tucking it into my waistband. "Get the fuck out of my face, you little scumbag."

Jonas wrapped his leather jacket tighter, skittering away from me. He screwed up a shipment of goods that I needed to reach New York by next week that got flagged and caught by the authorities.

Thankfully, I found some poor man to take the fall.

I turned and strode from the alleyway, getting into the rental. I drove fifteen minutes to the private airstrip and stepped out into the rain. I jogged up to the plane, nodding to the security and up the stairs.

Killian and Alina were in the back seats, chatting. I slid into the seat next to Julian, across from my siblings. "Everything good?" He asked, sipping from a glass of whisky.

"All good," I murmured, and searched for my laptop. "Alina, did they bother you too much?"

Killian and Julian glared at me, and the sound of my sister's laugh made me smile. Before long, we settled into our own thing. Alina read one of her beloved books, and Killian scribbled on a notepad. Julian spoke to his mother, speaking in Greek.

"Can I get you anything, Angelo?" Helena, the attendant asked, stopping at my side. Julian and Killian were already drinking whiskey.

"Mm, scotch, please."

"And for you, Ms. Morena?"

Alina shrugged. "Water would be great, thank you."

Helena nodded with a smile, leaving to get our beverages. "What are you reading ... and don't say a book," I said, leveling a playful glare her way. She held up her book, The Cruel Prince.

"Weren't you reading a different one like yesterday?" Killian asked and she shrugged.

"I am a fast reader."

I chuckled and let her continue reading, going back to work. After a few hours, I ended up with a headache and closed my eyes.

"Oh God, she's drooling on me," Killian whined and I opened my eyes, seeing my younger brother looking at our sister with disgust. He went to move her but my glare stopped him. "What, am I supposed to let her slobber all over me?"

"Don't be so dramatic," I scolded.

Julian snorted. "You're the dramatic one, babe."

Alina slept like a baby for the rest of the trip. I covered her up with an ultra soft throw blanket, sitting across from her. I should have put her in the back, in one of the bunks, but I didn't want to risk waking her up. She hadn't been sleeping well, according to Killian, and I intended on letting her sleep as much as she wanted when we reached home.

I swished the glass of scotch, sipping it. If I couldn't have my cigarettes, I'd have my damn booze. "How did Soren do on the streets?" I asked Killian, finishing my glass and filling it again.

My brother sighed. "He won. Collected all the debts owed too."

"Good," I said, yawning. "I am putting an extra bodyguard with Alina. He'll be around the house more."

"What's his name?" Julian asked, pulling out his laptop from his bag.

"Christian. He'll be on her security team at school too."

"I'm sure she'll love that," Killian muttered and I glared at him. "Have you even talked to her about school yet?"

"No, her mother just died, Killian. I'm not telling her she has to go to school so soon." I ignored my brothers knowing look and focused on my sister.

I knew I had to protect her at that moment from everything in our lives. I had that panic inside of me, half excited - half terrified now that she lived with us. I was terrified that something or someone would get to her and hurt her.

+++

I carried Alina into the house, up the stairs, and into her bedroom. I lay her down gently on her bed, though she stirred and blinked rapidly. "Wha-"

"Shh, go back to sleep," I murmured, tucking her under the duvet. "We're home now."

"You should have woken me up and -" she broke into a yawn, and I smiled.

"What time is it?"

"6:30. Go back to sleep, it's okay. I'll wake you when dinner is ready." She slowly lay her head back into the pillows, closing her eyes. I leaned closer to her and kissed her forehead. "Sweet dreams, bambina."

I quietly left her room, shutting the door softly behind me. Heading to my office downstairs, I rolled up the sleeves of my dress shirt. Julian met me in the hallway, reaching for my hand. "Babe, are you okay?"

"Yeah, Jules, don't worry about me." I kissed his cheek, entering my office.

As I sat down at my desk, the events of the day played through my mind. The weight of responsibility felt heavy on my shoulders, but seeing Alina safely asleep brought a sense of peace. I took a deep breath, trying to center myself before diving into the work that awaited me. Julian's concern lingered in my thoughts.

I picked up a pen, my mind shifting gears. There was still so much to do, I had stepped back from business when Alina had come home and I'd continue to be there for her as long as I could be.

+++
Thank you for reading.
- Charlie 🧡