Warning - slight racist talk at end of chapter.

Alessio pulls up outside a deserted shed, the walls rusted and chunks missing from the old building. The tin walls are weathered with age, a thick layer of leaves coating the tin roof.

I open the car door, my eyes staying glued to the place as I exit the car.

Alessio appears beside me, his fingers brushing mine before his hand curls into his side.

I pretend not to notice.

He nods his head towards the decrepit shed and starts walking towards it, silence wafting off him like a cologne.

I follow as he holds the door open for me.

I keep my curiosity at bay as we enter and he shits the door behind me.

My eyes sweep the area, a door opposite me ajar with scratch marks down the bottom of the door. Probably from the wildlife.

The room is pretty clean, leaves the only thing dotting the concrete floor.

Finally I give in and turn to Alessio.

"What is this place?"

"Somewhere. . ." He pauses, searching for the word, "peaceful"

My gaze catches his, the questioning look in his eyes causing a smile to lift my lips.

"I can work with peaceful."

His eyes light up slightly as he walks further in, opening the scratched door for me. I follow in behind him.

"Enzo and I come here to get away, sometimes we stay here for a few days." He directs to the worn lounge in the corner of the room. The windows are boarded up, warmth seeping into my bones as I walk further in. A carpet sits on the floor, pillows in a circle.

A small kitchen is in the corner, a sink sitting on top.

"The water is about the only thing that works in this place."

"You sleep here?"

He pauses. "Sometimes."

I don't ask the question at the tip of my tongue, though it takes more will power than I'm willing to admit.

Why?

I walk forward, fingers skimming the couch before taking a seat. I look up at Alessio as he stares down at me.

"Are you going to sit?"

He moves, sitting beside me.

I take his hands in mine, looking around.

"Do you have a first aid kit?"

"Why, are you back to being my personal doctor?"

"Well, when you keep hurting yourself I have no choice but to be your doctor."

He chuckles before getting up. He walks to the back of the couch and I lean over as he picks up a torn bag from the ground.

"This is the best I've got?" He question as he hands it over.

I look in but all I see is a handful of bandaids.

I give him an eye roll and stand up, looking around for a rag of some sort.

"You said the sink works?" I ask distracted, glancing over at the old sink.

"Yeah, why?"

"We need to clean the wounds, do you have a towel or rag I can use?"

His only answer is silence and I look back at him.

Fabric lands in the middle of my chest and I hurry to catch it.

"Thanks." I grab the item and shake it out, eyebrows furrowing as a t-shirt forms.

"Wha-" I look up as a cough echoes in the room.

Alessio stands in front of me shirtless and I try to fight the blush that wants to stain my cheeks.

You've seen his chest before, why are you acting like this?

"You asked for a rag." He shrugs, a smirk lifting his lips.

"A rag, not your shirt." I splutter.

He shakes his head in silent mirth and walks towards me, taking the shirt from my grip.

He walks past me, towards the sink and stuffs his shirt under the nozzle.

It takes a few seconds for the water to appear, a hissing and whining sound interrupting the tense silence before water tumbles into his awaiting palms.

The shirt soaks through before he turns off the tap and walks back over to me, folding the shirt into my palms and taking a seat once more.

I stare down at him silently.

"Are you just going to stand there?"

I shake my head and sit beside him, taking his hand and placing it gently in my lap. Slowly patting the blood from the small cuts on his knuckles and the blood from Jackson. I'm careful as I work, making sure not to irritate the cuts or the bruises.

Minutes pass as I watch the shirt cast over his relaxed fists, feeling his attention on me as I try to ignore it.

Finally I give in, "what?"

"Nothing"

I look up, lifting a brow "nothing?"

He smiles at me, the faint sign of a dimple appearing in on his left cheek. "Nothing." His eyes twinkle and I grind my teeth.

"You're annoying."

He looks affronted before a laugh bubbles out of him. "I'm annoying?"

"Yes." I hiss, my hands stopping their ministrations on his knuckles. The shirt scrunched in my grip.

"Okay, sure."

"What is with you today?" I whisper, a smile crawling up my face.

"Nothing."

"Stop saying nothing." I snap halfheartedly, throwing the damp shirt at his face.

He struggles to catch it, falling back on the couch. A smirk lifts my lips as he stares at me with wide eyes, the shirt sitting on his shoulder.

A darkness enters his eyes and he reaches for me as I try to get up. His hand lands on my waist and he pulls me to him, flipping us so I'm against the couch cushions and he's on top of me.

I narrow my eyes.

I could easily flip us back over, I've been trained my whole life in combat. One-upping him would be easy.

I look up at his eyes, the laughter in them deepening to something more.

The silence stretches, though it isn't uncomfortable as he settles on my body. I don't whisper a sound as his eyes trace my face.

Finally his eyes catch back on mine.

"You're really beautiful." He whispers, as if trying not to interrupt the moment.

Though I have no idea what the fuck is going on.

"Thank you."

He grins. "You're welcome."

"Are you going to get off of me?"

"No, I'm comfortable."

"Alessio!" I snap on a laugh, pushing at his shoulders.

He doesn't move though I don't expect him to, I'm not really trying to have him move. I'm comfortable too.

I settle back on the lounge, my eyes tracing his face. He pushes himself up, standing from the couch and holding his hand out to me.

"We should probably get back to school."

I take his hand silently, letting him pull me up. He doesn't let go of my hand as he walks me back to the entry.

We walk out into the other room, the leaves still coating the rough concrete floor.

Alessio stops, pulling me in front of him. "Thank you for helping me."

"Thank you for hitting Jackson so I didn't have to." I reply "though I hope you don't get in trouble."

He shakes his head, the smile slipping slightly as he watches me.

"You're worth it."

"Am I?" I tease, standing on my tiptoes to get closer to his face.

He quirks a brow as if thinking. "Maybe."

"Maybe I'll just have to show you I'm worth it."

He narrows his eyes at me, hand tightening on mine.

I smile up at him, stepping closer. He doesn't move, his eyes still pinned to mine.

My eyebrows furrow as a noise interrupts the silence and I turn my head to the door.

I start walking there but Alessio pulls me back, pushing me slightly behind him. He walks ahead.

"Stay back for a second."

I listen though my curiosity heightens.

He walks to the door, slowly peeking out.

His shoulders tense, muscles contracting and i shamefully watch them before snapping my attention away as Alessio turn back to me, eyes dark with concern.

He rushes towards me, hand diffing into his pocket and pulling out his keys.

"Go to the car." He shoves them into my hands and I open my mouth but he pulls us away.

We practically run to another door and he pushes me out gently.

"Stay in the car, if you see or hear anything, don't come out."

"Alessio-"

"Please, Paisley. Promise me."

I swallow, taking the keys.

"I promise. Did you want me to get anyone?"

"Keep yourself safe. Stay hidden."

I nod and take a step back.

He goes to close the door but pauses before thinking better and shutting it.

I stand there for a minute before catching myself and spin around. I sneak around the side of the building, slowly peaking around to see if I can see anyone.

No one lingers at the front but I see two cars that weren't there before.

I sneak to Alessios car, quickly getting in the car and closing the door quietly behind me to not draw suspicion.

I sit there for a moment before cursing myself.

Why am I missing a great opportunity for the mission?

Rolling my eyes at myself, I push the door open quietly again and hop out, keeping my eyes on the building and the two cars.

I walk over to them quietly, keeping my footsteps silent and keeping an eye on the building for the intruders.

I try the first car, looking inside the heavily tinted passenger window before trying the handle. It pops open and I quickly hop in, closing the door behind me slightly so it leaves only a slight gap. I check in the inner console and under the cars before opening the compartment in front of me.

It's filled with folded papers that I quickly skim through.

A name catches my attention, Pierro Vitale, the younger brother of Alessios father, Giovanni. I skim over the information but nothing jumps out at me, just the basics of the man.

I let the paper go and dig through the others but nothing has Giovannis information. My fingers skim a box and I pull it out. Bullets line the velvet box and I pull one out, twisting it between my fingers as I trace the engraving.

A human heart entwines in thorns.

I grit my teeth and shove it back in, snapping the lid shut and putting it back in the compartment. I right everything so it looks the same as I found it before getting out of the car and shut the door gently.

I walk around the side of the building, bypassing the door is exited through before finding a window. I lean beside it as the sounds of voice muffle through the tin walls, speaking lowly.

I try to focus but can't make out the conversation.

Risking a peek in the door, I see them conversing in the corner. Alessio back against the wall.

They spit something and his fists clench, muscles bunching as he folds his arms in front of him.

A chime hits the air and one of the men retrieves a phone from his pocket.

His dark laugh echoes in the building and he looks at Alessio in mock pity.

"Saving damsels are we, Vitale?"

He stays silent. "I wonder what the punishment will be this time, surely the girl can take it."

Alessio grunts something lowly, throwing daggers with his eyes.

The other man laughs. "Should've seen her last punishment, all because you wouldn't kill the black bastard." He shakes his head.

Alessio reacts, stepping forward and talking lowly to the man. He only shakes his head with a laugh.

"Boss doesn't care what happens to the bitch, you and your brother can protect her all you want. Eventually boss will get his way. Never should have let her whore of a mother go though with the pregnancy."

The other one pipes in. "Boss should've killed her when he found out about the bastard,"

He turns to Alessio and pats his cheek condescendingly as Alessio fights his reaction. His fists clenching and unclenching, jaw grinding as he glares at the two men.

"That's what used to be wrong with your father, too soft. He won't make the same mistake."

They turn and saunter, their faces shrivelled in looks of disgust as they peer around the place.

Alessio watches them go and so do I, waiting until they are out at the throne cars and I hear them leave before I rush my way to the front door and walk in, calling Alessios name.

"Let's go." Alessio says as he rounds the corner and grabs my hand, pulling me out of the building on quickening steps.

I don't ask about the men, instead turning to face him. "Are you okay?"

"I need to check on Harley."

"I'm pretty sure Artemis is with her, I can text her?"

"Can you?" He opens his car door and gets in as I get in the passenger seat and pull out my phone, texting Artemis quickly.

"Is she in trouble?"

He doesn't answer for a long time and I see him eye me out of the corner of his eyes. I keep my gaze on my phone as I wait for a reply.

"Alessio?" I ask when he remains silent for another minute.

"Harley is-" he stops. "My fathers brother has been trying to hurt her for a few years. But Enzo and I are always with her and he could never risk hurting us."

"Hurt her? Why?"

He hesitates. "She's his daughter, Harley is my cousin."