-I don't need music or fancy linens as long as you're here with me-
Reese, from Stone In Love. By @neverfakeit aka Morgan Rider.

"Are you still upset?". Alcina asked warily.
"No", came the muffled reply beside her. She hadn't pictured this date going this way and it was all thanks to Jason. Alcina had regrets for every moment with him, but those days were over now, nobody wants anything to do with their ex.

"You're lying". Alcina stated the obvious and Leonardo huffed, straightening his back and shoving his hands into his pockets.

As they turned a corner, a child ran into Leonardo. There was barely an impact, given to his rock hard bodice, but the little girl was caught in Leonardo's glare. A glare that could bring Godfathers to their knees.

"I'm sorry, Sir". She said with a shaky voice as tears gathered in her eyes. She turned on her heels and ran. But Alcina had seen a tear drop before the girl took off.

Alcina watched horrified as Leonardo kept walking as though nothing had happened.
"You insensitive brute!". Alcina shouted at him.

"What did you call me?"

"I'm done here, I'm going home". She turned and walked the opposite way. Palms clenched, she walked as fast as she could, but Leonardo still kept up with her.

"Stop acting like a child". Leonardo told her. He grabbed her hand, but she snatched it away.

She stopped now and glared at him.. "I'm acting like a child? Unbelievable!". She threw her hands in the air.
"You just made a child cry, because you were having stupid mood swings, and you're telling me that I'm acting like a child. I'm sorry if Jason insulted you, but you don't have to take your frustration out on the world"

Leonardo sighed. "I'm...so". He bit his lip, "I'm ssshory"

"What?". Alcina asked as she hid a smile.

"S..orr..y" , was all he managed to get out. Leonardo hadn't said sorry in a while. All it took was Alcina's blonde hair and brown eyes to get him to say it.

"Thank you".

"How about that walk?". He asked as he offered his palm, which she took.

She nodded and they walked hand in hand towards that same corner. A comfortable silence fell on them as they both thought about what had happened there a few minutes ago.
Alcina couldn't read minds, but from the guilt laden expression Leonardo had, he was truly ssshory.
She giggled at the thought.
Leonardo glanced at her warily.
"Are...you ok?". He asked.

"Yes. I was just thinking about your ssshory apology". Alcina giggled again.

"Drink it in cause that's all you're getting from me". After a while, he spoke again, "so what should we do?"

"I don't know, something crazy and spontaneous"

"Spontaneous, I like the sound of that". Leonardo said.

"Leonardo?".

"Hm"

"Can I ask you a question?". Alcina asked and she felt him stiffen beside her.
"Sure"

"Can you tell me about your father?". Alcina asked as she watched him grow distant at the question. She squeezed his hand in a bid to draw him back.

"Hmm, well he was a tough, brutal man, you should've seen him with a knife. But he cared about family. When my mother was alive, we would travel, to a new location every time. We bonded, we were truly a family, until my mother died. She was killed in a fight, it tore my father in two. He was always sad, and thinking. Yes, they would argue a lot but people always say you don't know what you have until you lose it. His health started deteriorating, the entire family was concerned. Without the godfather, they'll be thrown into confusion and be overrun". He choked as he kept his eyes fixated on the ground.

"When I turned 16, he called me to his room one day. He told me that the fate of the Moretti family rested in my hands, it was up to me to continue the empire. I knew then that I wasn't the average hormonal teenage boy, I became a godfather"

"I'm sorry", was all Alcina managed to croak out.

"I don't need sympathy. I've been this way most of my life". Leonardo said harshly. "My mother's death was my father's downfall, so I pledged to stay away from women. I dated once, she was just like you, hair and everything. But she ended it all of a sudden. Even when I found out she was from a rival mafia, I kept going after her. It took a bullet to the chest to get me to back off. I've pledged to stay away from women ever since"

Alcina's heart sunk, the feelings she had for him was not mutual.
"Until I met you". He added and she stopped to stare at him, her sunken heart rising to the stars. They probably looked odd standing there in the middle of the side walk, but that was far from Alcina's mind as her heart thumped in her chest.

"You make me feel these...things. I've never been a romantic, but you make me want to let go of my demons and turn back on my decision". Leonardo groaned and raked his hand through his hair.
"Why does my life have to be a complicated mess?"

"I don't think your life is complicated, you make it complicated. I feel the same way too, my heart flutters whenever I see you, like what happened today in my room". Alcina turned her face away to hide her blush.

Leonardo chuckled and it sounded foreign in Alcina's ears. "You're cute". Alcina blushed some more.
He raised her chin up, baring her flushed face to his view. His pupils dilated, and his eyes glanced to her lip. In a split second, his lips were on hers. It took a few seconds for her Alcina to realise that she was being kissed. She kissed him back, lifting her hands behind his neck. He slid his hands to her waist, tugging her closer which she was great fun for because she was feeling a little weak in the knees. He continued his assault on her mouth and she met his kiss with equal urgency and need. She was panting when he pulled away.
Alcina was dazed. He had taken her by surprise and was watching her reaction to it.

Leonardo chuckled again and swept her into his arms. She squealed in delight as he walked.
"Put me down Leo". Alcina begged.

"No". He said, then added. "Actually, I think I should, you weigh a tonne". Leonardo said with a pained expression and she smacked his chest. He eventually set her down after he had walked a significant distance.

"Shouldn't we be getting back, the boys are taking me out later". Alcina said.

"Really, where?". He asked with a raised brow.

"I don't know". Alcina dodged his question. She knew he wouldn't let her go if he found out they were taking her to a club. Most people would call it over possessiveness, but she felt like he was just protecting her from the likes of Giovanni.

As they resumed walking, Alcina grabbed his hands. Leonardo wrapped his huge hand around her small one and smiled down at her.
"Do you feel strange?". Leonardo asked her.

Alcina glanced around the street. "Now that you mention it, I do".

She noticed how tensed he had become, and she stroked his hand. "I know I can't get jumped or mugged, I'm with a godfather". Alcina said with a mischievous glint in her eye. Leonardo chuckled,  a deep rumble from his chest.

There was a bang. "Shit". Leonardo cursed as he dragged her into an alley.

"That was definitely a gun". Alcina said in a shaky tone. She muttered under her breath as Leonardo peeked around the corner.

"The ground is clear, so the shot must've come from one of the buildings. But which one?". Leonardo spoke to no one in particular. He had unsheathed his gun already and seemed to be ready for a gun battle, much to Alcina's dismay.

"Let's just make a run for it, Leo". She pleaded.

"We can't. We don't know how many they are". He said as he glanced around the street. "There". He pointed to an abandoned building
Alcina stretched to look, but as she did, another wave of bullets came at them from the said building, bashing the wall and sending broken concrete flying off.

"Shit. We need help". Shoving his hands into his pocket, he dug out his phone and called someone.

"Who are you calling?". Alcina asked as she clung to his side.

"Julian". He pursed his lips as he waited for Julian on the other end. "Get your ass out here...Chain Street...Porcupine"

"Porcupine?". Alcina asked.

He nodded. "You'll get it soon enough".

"How long are they going to take to get here?"

"Just wait".

A few minutes later, Leonardo cursed.
"Come on". He began pulling her further down the alley.

"What?"

"The assailant is heading this way. I saw him just as he left the building". They hurriedly trailed behind a building and stuffed themselves in a corner.
Almost immediately, the gunman ran past them. Leonardo stepped out, grinning at the dumb guy. But his smile disappeared when there was another round of shots. Turning behind him, he noticed a similar man with a gun pointed at them.

They were two.

"They're two!". He shouted unnecessarily.

"I know!", Alcina shouted back.

Leonardo leaned to the side of the wall, gun in hand, he fired a few rounds which seemed to knock the assailant off balance.

"Come on. I can break this door". He gestured to a door which Alcina had not noticed before.

"Have you tried opening it to see if it's locked before you go ramming your body into it?". Alcina asked.

Leonardo obeyed and the door opened once.
"Let's go".

Alcina took the lead as they ran up flights of stairs. She tried her best to ignore the fact that Leonardo was getting a good view of her back side and tried to keep her mind on important things like the armed lunatic chasing them.

They eventually got to the top and opened a door which led to the top of the building.

"Great, just great. Now we're stuck up here". Alcina muttered as she caught her breath.

"Come on". Leonardo pulled her along. They tucked themselves in a corner, away from plain sight.
Moments later, the door burst open and their attacker appeared, panting.

"Fuck". He cursed as he hunched over.

Alcina turned to the side and caught Leonardo steadying his gun.
"What are you doing?". She whispered.

"Trying not to get you killed". He replied absent-mindedly.

"Stop!". Alcina shouted and pushed his hand, causing him to miss. The enemy noticed and came running towards their direction.

Before Alcina could register what was happening, the man already had her and was dragging her towards the edge of the building. Leonardo had steadied his aim again and was trying to get a clear shot of the assailant. But with Alcina in the way, he couldn't risk it.

Fear coursed through Alcina. She had never imagined herself in such a situation. Being held by her neck with a gun to her head and a henchman ready to fling her off the building.

"Drop your weapon". The man shouted to Leonardo. Alcina gulped.

Leonardo hesitated and the man spoke again, "Do it!". He was getting impatient by the minute.

"OK, ok". Leonardo said as he slowly dropped his gun to the ground. Alcina pleaded with him with her eyes.

"Just let her go, it's me you want. It's me Giovanni wants". Leonardo spoke to the man.

"What Giovanni nonsense are you talking about?". The man asked Leonardo.

"Then who sent you?"

"That is something I can't say, but what I can say is that I was sent to kill you both". He chuckled darkly.

With the gun now away from Alcina's head but at Leonardo, she was still panicking. The only thing that could save Leonardo was if he was wearing a bullet-proof vest, which he wasn't, and if the attacker missed. Alcina struggled against his hold.

The man said something to her, but his voice was blown away by the whooshing behind them. The force of the wind knocking them off their feet. Regaining her balance, she turned to look behind her.
There was Lucas grinning at her from the pilot's seat in a helicopter. Puzzled as ever, she ran towards safety: Leonardo.

"Come!" Leonardo shouted to her. They ran for the door.

A wave bullets came at the assailant as he made his way to them. As each one hit his back, he jerked. Lucas in the helicopter grinned wilder as he shot at him. The machine gun attached the helicopter serving its function efficiently.

When the shooting stopped and the dust cleared, Leonardo and Alcina emerged, with Alcina trailing behind him. The man's body lay lifeless, with holes in his back.

"Now you see why I said Porcupine?". Leonardo asked Alcina and she nodded.

"Yes. And I really wish I was mugged". She said.

Leonardo was silent for a moment, then burst out laughing. Laughing, he pulled her closer as they got in  the helicopter and Alcina relished every moment of his laughter. It had butterflies doing their dance rituals in her stomach.

*  *  *  *  *
Awww, wasn't the end cute?
By the way, who sent those guys if it wasn't Giovanni?
Telling a story like a boss! Yeah!

You know the drill,
#VCF
Love,Vicki.💟