Elaina felt fear freeze her bloodstream as she stood staring at the intruder, the gun still in her hands. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling. She hoped she would be able to hold the gun steady should she have to fire. "I've got a gun!"

"Elaina, don't shoot," a calm, soothing voice implored, and one hand slowly raised into the air. The hand holding the gun, however, didn't move; it was still trained on her. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Who are you?" she demanded again, trying to place the voice. She had heard it before; it was familiar. It's not Tony, he's on the way...but I know this guy....

"It's Victor Andrisano," the figure said. "Elaina, please put the gun down."

Elaina swallowed. She dearly wanted to believe Victor was not here to kill her, but Emily and Jerry had just killed Michael in the parking garage and had tried to kill her. Her trust in people was beginning to wear a little thin. "No, Mr. Andrisano. Not while you still have yours."

Victor sighed. "Okay, Elaina, on the count of three we both crouch and put the guns down. All right?"

"Okay," Elaina replied, her voice trembling.

"One," Victor started patiently, flexing his knees as Elaina copied him, watching him like a hawk. "Two."

The two were now both crouched, Elaina balancing precariously in her heels, still pointing the guns at each other. Elaina was glad she'd thought to turn the safety off, just in case she did have to shoot. I really hope I don't, though!

"Three."

Elaina and Victor both put their guns on the ground and raised their now empty hands into the air.

"There," Victor said, his shadowed face seeming to peer intently at Elaina's. "Do you trust me now?"

"I don't know," Elaina confessed. "I feel better now that you don't have the gun, though."

Slowly, Victor rose into a standing position, Elaina imitating him. The guns lay on the floor, their metal barrels glinting in the light from the kitchen.

"Let's step into the kitchen," Victor suggested. "I was worried about you, Elaina."

Elaina backed up, not removing her gaze from Victor. When she bumped against the counter, she put her hands on the edge and moved around it, keeping her eyes on him as he followed her into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry," Elaina told him. "I just...there were people shooting at us in the parking garage, and I don't know what's going on. Please understand, Mr. Andrisano."

Victor nodded. "Of course I do, Elaina. And please, call me Victor. Are you okay?"

Elaina gave a small nod. "Yes." Barely.

"I heard about the shootings," Victor said, running a hand through his hair. "Can you tell me what happened?"

Taking a deep breath, Elaina relayed her account of everything that had occurred starting when she and Michael had stepped into the parking garage, ending with Tony's promise to come. Victor frowned at that, narrowing his eyes.

"Why did you call my brother?"

"I was supposed to meet him for dinner," Elaina said with a small shrug. "I wanted to let him know why I wasn't coming."

"Of course," Victor muttered, glancing away, pressing his lips into a thin line. Then he glanced back at Elaina. "Elaina, you're going to have to trust me. Can you do that?"

Elaina looked at Victor. She wanted to trust him, she did. Besides, he was Tony's brother after all, wasn't he? "Okay, I will trust you."

"Good," Victor said. "Elaina, my brother is coming to kill you."

Elaina gasped. "What?"

Victor nodded. "Yes. Tony is coming to kill you. He'll kill me, too, if he finds me here."

"Why?" Elaina demanded, her head whirling. Tony trying to kill her? How? He had just invited her to dinner earlier. Why kill her?

Victor pursed his lips. "Elaina, just trust me on this. He's coming, and he will kill you."

"I don't believe that," Elaina said staunchly. "Tony wouldn't try to kill me. That's just not...Tony."

"I know it's hard to believe," Victor said, sighing. His expression was tense, worried. "But listen to me, Elaina! Please? Tony is going to kill you if you stay, and he's going to try to track you down. He wants you dead! So does my father, for that matter."

Elaina gaped. She'd only met Marco Andrisano once, but he had been very polite, if a little brief with conversation, and had certainly not given Elaina the opinion that he'd ever want her dead.

"Why do they want me dead?" Elaina pressed, still unable to believe what Victor was saying.

"Because they're trying to kill me, too," Victor hissed. "And everyone connected to me. You're one of my employees, so they want you dead."

"This doesn't make any sense," Elaina told him flatly. "None of this makes sense. I can't believe you. I don't believe you."

Victor sighed in aggravation, turning and running his hands through his hair. Elaina noticed absently that he looked quite attractive when he did that, then shook her head angrily. This is no time to be thinking of that, she scolded herself. Michael just died and apparently Tony wants you dead now, too, so don't you go thinking about how hot Victor is!

"Look, Elaina," he said. "Tony is not coming to protect you, he's coming to kill you. Why can't you just trust me on this?"

"Because I can't imagine a scenario where Tony Andrisano would want to kill anyone, let alone me!" Elaina retorted. "I don't care what the shootout in the parking garage was about, or why you showed up at my house with a gun, but Tony wouldn't kill me!"

"You don't know Tony," Victor insisted. "That whole pleasant guy routine? That's an act. He's the reason behind that shootout in the garage. Look, Elaina, you have to believe me."

"Why?" Elaina demanded, crossing her arms. At this point, she wasn't sure who she was supposed to believe, Tony or Victor, but she didn't want to believe Tony was capable of murder, least of all murdering her of all people.

Victor sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Elaina, my family's involved in...ah...the wrong things. I want out, but Tony and my father can't have that. I know too much. So they're going to kill me and everyone they think knows anything."

"But I don't know anything," Elaina pointed out. "I don't even know what you're talking about."

"You're the accountant for Andrisano Construction," Victor said in exasperation. "You know more than you think. And even if you honestly have no clue, Tony and my father don't know that. All they know is that you're a threat. So they want you dead, too. You're a priority target, actually."

Elaina frowned. "But he invited me to dinner. Why invite me out if Tony was planning to kill me?"

"He was going to kill you after dinner, I suppose," Victor said. "Look, Elaina, he didn't tell me what he'd planned! I'm assuming it was a diversion, to get you to let your guard down so he could kill you, or lead you somewhere where someone else could take you out. Just please, believe me on this. I'm not lying to you. Why would I lie about this?"

Elaina pursed her lips, thinking. "I'm sorry, Victor," she said. "I just can't imagine Tony ever trying to kill me. He's too sweet, too nice."

Victor grimaced. "Yeah, that's what killed Tilly."

Elaina furrowed her brow. "Who's Tilly?"

"His ex," Victor explained. "She thought he was nice, too. Then he killed her. He was done with her, and she knew too much. He couldn't just let her go. So bang." He made a finger gun with his hand and mimed shooting someone. "Goodbye, Tilly."

Elaina's eyes widened in horror. "What?" No. Not Tony. Not Tony Andrisano. Could he really kill someone?

"I'm sorry, Elaina," Victor said quietly. "I know this isn't what you wanted to hear."

Tony's face flashed through her mind as she remembered their conversation about Fall Out Boy's Christmas song. We all have people we don't want to see for Christmas. Had he meant her? Was it a warning of what was to come? His expression had changed at that point, if Elaina's memory served her correctly. Was it an indication that Victor really was telling the truth?

What reason does he have to lie to me, anyway? Why would he make any of this stuff up? What does he gain? Nothing. All he gets, if I believe him, is to save my life.

Elaina looked up at Victor, who was watching her carefully. "Okay," she said heavily. "I believe you. What now?"

Victor opened his mouth to speak but the sound of a car engine pulling into Elaina's driveway cut him off. The sound of a door slamming shut quickly followed. Eyes narrowing grimly, he glanced down at her. "Follow my lead."

/**/

What did you think? Apparently, Tony wants Elaina and Victor dead. What do you think will happen next? Excited to see how Elaina and Victor get out of this?

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed; please vote and comment!

Skylar Wittenborn