I roll my eyes, mouth pursed but a smile still tilts the corners up

"I'm sure." I say softly, "I do like a bit of fun."

Another chuckle sounds in the air, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth, his face drawing closer to mine.

"Do you?" He hums, his lips hovering over mine, eyes connected to my own hazel ones.

"Uh huh." I nod my head, my lips skimming his.

"Oh my god, just kiss already."

I reel back, eyes wide and hand flinching to where I know a gun is stashed in the emergency bag.

Alessio swears, hands flying to his wound as his back slams into the couch.

I spin, glaring daggers at Artemis as she winks back at me. "What?"

I grind my teeth. "Did I say you could come back?"

Artemis grins, "I think I heard my name."

"I didn't -" I start.

"Nope, yeah I definitely heard my name."

"She didn't say your name." Alessio grinds out, slightly glaring at her.

My own eyes glare at her but she only smiles cheekily, "You didn't? Well I'll just be going then." She spins on her heel, rushing out of the room.

I roll my eyes, glancing back at Alessio.

Lifting the vodka bottle, I tilt it his way. "Drink?"

The bottle is out of my hand before I can blink.

I quickly pack everything back into the bag. I wipe the excess blood off with Alessios forgotten shirt, yet my hands are still stained with red.

He raises a brow at me.

I shrug. "What? It's already dirty."

He hands the bottle back to me and I grab it, maintaining eye contact with him as I take a sip.

"How's it feel?" I mutter to him, nodding my head at the wound.

"I'll be fine."

"That's not what I asked." I say as I screw the cap back on the bottle, placing it on the lounge and standing up, the bag in my grip.

"Fine."

I nod my head as if I believe him, but I don't.

"You should clean it regularly, probably see a doctor-"

"I'm not seeing a doctor."

"Okay." I hum, beginning to turn.

"Where are you going?" He asks, leaning forward slightly on the lounge, tilting his head at me.

"Home." I mutter, turning.

"Why?"

"I came here to stitch you up, in case you forgot, my job is done." I gesture to his stomach.

"I didn't forget." He tells me.

My phone buzzes with a message, dads name popping up on the screen.

I quickly swipe across and read the message, tilting my head curiously.

House. ASAP.

"I have to go." I say softly, my mind elsewhere as I stuff the phone back in my pocket.

"Leaving so soon?" Artemis asks as she wonders back in, Harley and Enzo in tow.

"Yeah, dad texted." I raise a subtle brow and she nods her head, her eyes straying around the room.

"I'm just going to stay here for a bit longer."

"That's fine, I'll see you tomorrow." I say even though I know I'll see her tonight.

• • •

"How's it all going?" Dad questions as I walk through the door, an assortment of guns laid out on the table in front of him.

I grimace, hiding my blood-stained hands behind me back.

He doesn't notice.

"We've infiltrated their group; Artemis seems to be getting along well with Harley."

"That's good. How was school?"

I swallow, "Good."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it was a bit boring but that is school."

"Hmm." He hums and I hurry to change the subject.

"Where is everyone?"

"Everyone is training." A new voice interrupts the conversation. My mum walking through the door with her white blonde hair in a similar ponytail to myself. "Why are you hiding your bloody hands from your father?" She questions.

"And why weren't you at school today?" Dad stands up, walking over to mum and folding her into his arms.

I roll my eyes, of course they knew.

"I was following Alessio, keeping an eye on things, that is what our mission pertains, is it not?"

"Attitude much." Mum chuckles, walking into the kitchen and coming out with a wet rag.

She throws it at me.

"Why did you want me home?" I ask, wiping the blood from my hands and ignoring the question.

"Why have you got blood on your hands?" Mum repeats, raising a brow.

I breathe out, "Alessio was shot."

"We said to infiltrate him, not kill him, his father is the one we want." Dad scolds.

I look at him deadpan, rolling my eyes.

"I did not shoot him. I had to stitch him up." I refrain from mentioning the fact that I had to save Artemis and the others as well, without backup. Dad would not be happy. "Why did you need me?" I repeat, concern washing over my features.

"It can wait until morning when the whole team is present. Meeting before school." He announces but I can still hear the concern in his voice.

"What's wrong?"

"The school rang." Dad starts "You weren't there, I was worried."

My shoulders drop, a smile sneaking onto my lips.

"You don't have to be worried dad."

"When it comes to you Paisley, I always will be."

I smile and walk over to him, giving him a quick hug.

"You're getting soft, dad." I murmur on a chuckle.

He shoves my shoulder away, but I see the smile on his face. "I am not getting soft"

Mum lifts a mocking brow. "You are getting soft Arch"

He stands up, walking over to her.

"Am I?" He asks taking her jaw in his hands.

"Ew." I say, "Nope, I'm out of here. Please refrain all contact until I've left the room. Disgusting." I stick my tongue out, hurrying to leave.

"How do you think you were made Paisley?" I hear mum yell as I exit the room and start up the stairs.

"I was a miraculous conception." I scream back, running up the stairs now.

"Not exactly." Dad yells, his chuckles following next before it silences.

I gag but a smile reaches my lips as I walk down the hallway.

I love my parents, but I do not want to know.

I make my way to Windsor's' room, pushing the door open and waltzing in, planning on waiting for her.

I stop in my tracks as I see her already at her desk, typing away.

"Oh your here." I say and walk over, taking a seat on her bed and digging in my pocket for the bullet. I'd taken it out of the emergency bag when I got back in the car.

"Where else would I be?" She spins in her seat and looks at me, raising a brow.

"Training."

"Meh." She shrugs and looks at my hand, specifically at the bullet in my palm. "What's that?"

"A bullet I pulled out of Alessios body."

"He was shot?"

I nod my head, handing her the bullet.

"Dumbass." I chuckle as the word leaves her lips and she spins back to the desk, grabbing equipment.

I release a sigh and crash back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"So when are you and Ry going to get together?"

There's a pause and silence from her direction before she starts moving again. "I have no idea what you mean."

"That is bull." I sit up and glare at her back. "He's been in love with you since we were children."

"Hmm." she hums, completely ignoring me.

"Windsor." I warn but she spins and glares at me, so I stop.

"Shut up and come look at this."

I get up from the bed, walking over to her desk and peering over her shoulder, narrowing my eyes.

"Is that-"

"An engraving." She grabs the bullet and places it in the palm of her hand. With the other hand she grabs the small microscope. Placing the glass over the bullet so we can see the engraving clearer.

"I've been doing research." Windsor says, "On the Vitale family. When the current leaders father was still in power he had an insignia made for his sons. A signature of their kills and power." She moves the glass closer, the bullet rolling in her palm. "A human heart entwined with thorns."

"So it was Alessios father who ordered Harleys execution and Alessio and Enzo-"

"Execution?" She interrupts, glancing at me from the corner of her eye.

I shake my head. "Harleys fine, they all are."

"It has to be their father. The bullets are only permitted to be used by the two brothers, Giovanni and Pierro, and their men. Carlos Vitale had them made before his death, and shortly after Giovanni went into power. Everything his father built. Every bit of respect he garnered for his family disappeared a few years ago and that is the reason he is now our target"

"Yeah, but why is he going after Harley?"

"What happened?" She turns to me, placing the bullet neatly on the table.

"From what I could gather, they wanted one of the boys to shoot her."

"Maybe its training, orientation? To see if they would kill for the family?"

"But Harley? It doesn't make sense."

"She's an outsider, it's probably a test of loyalty."

I hum, "Maybe."