I'm woken up by the bright sunlight and smell of... pancakes.

I immediately climb out of bed and make my way into the kitchen where Ca–Luis is making the pancakes and Luca sleeping on the couch in the main room. "Did he sleep on the couch?"

"Yeah. He said he wanted you to be alone for a bit. He feels terrible about it and didn't want you to find out like that," Luis responds, flipping a pancake like an expert.

As I sit at the table waiting, something shuffles around and groans in the living room.

"Good morning," Luca says while stretching. I smile softly at him. "I'm really sorry–"

"Don't. We don't need to talk about it. It's okay," I say. We honestly don't, and I honestly don't want to. He nods before sitting across from me.

Luis brings two plates over for us before grabbing one for himself and we eat in silence.

"So you both can cook?" I ask, hoping to break the tension.
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"Luca!" I scream.

My heart pounds so hard I feel like it will burst, my breathing's so uneven I can't catch my breath, and my fingers and hands are shaking so much you might think I'm having a seizure.

"Please say something!"

My tears blur my vision and roll down my cheeks that are red and puffy from my crying. I place my hands on his chest firmly but it seems to do nothing, so I pull them back and stare in shock at all the blood. Once again, a hysterical sob leaves my mouth and shakes my body. The gravel like rocks and sand dig into my legs and knees as I sit on the ground.

Wondering how this happened? Let me show you.

Two hours earlier

"I'm tired," I groan, dragging my feet.

Luca thought it would be a good idea to go to the city and explore while Luis worked. I didn't want to but I went anyway.

"We haven't even been here for two hours," Luca says, matching my tone.

I just roll my eyes. "We've just walking through the city, not even doing anything!"

"Because I have a surprise for you!"

I shut up and trudge forward.

The longer we walk, the busier the streets got and the older the buildings looked. They weren't trashy or anything, but they looked more old-fashioned–less modern. After a while of walking, we come to a forest with a few trails.

"More walking?" I say with a sigh.

"Yep," he says while smiling.

"Why couldn't we just drive her?"

"Stop asking questions."

I stop, reluctantly, and follow him on one of the dirt paths.

Though the walk was long, the place we ended up in was amazing. It was a small lagoon with clear water surrounded by palm trees, rocks, and sand. It was absolutely stunning.

"You like your surprise?" He asks with a small chuckle.

I nod quickly before walking over to the edge of the water and walking in until the water is up to my knees.

Good thing I wore shorts today.

Luca walks over to me with a huge, flawless grin plastered onto his face. I dip my fingers in the cool water and continue to walk around in the water but not going any deeper than I already am. "You know..." He starts and I look over at him. "You're pretty damn beautiful." He says it so confidently and calmly like it's just a normal, everyday, while I pretty much have a heart attack right there. I feel a heavy blush travel up my neck and up to my cheeks, but I can't stop the smile that appears on my face.

"This is were you compliment me," he teases with a smirk. There's so many things I could compliment him on but I choose one I like the most.

"You have a nice smile, you should smile more." His smirk turns into a small smile.

"I–"

It happened so fast. The big noise echoed throughout the lagoon. Birds cawed and flew up and out of the trees while Luca falls into the water. It takes a second for me to comprehend what just happened. He lays in the shallow water grabbing at his chest while moaning in pain. I rush over as quick as I can.

"Luca!" I scream.

My heart pounds so hard I feel like it will burst, my breathing's so uneven I can't catch my breath, and my fingers and hands are shaking so much you might think I'm having a seizure.

"Please say something!"

My tears blur my vision and roll down my cheeks that are red and puffy from my crying. I place my hands on his chest firmly but it seems to do nothing, so I pull them back and stare in shock at all the blood. Once again, a hysterical sob leaves my mouth and shakes my body. The gravel like rocks and sand dig into my legs and knees as I sit on the ground.

"C-Call Luis from my phone," he says before yelling in pain. "Fuck!"

I race back to the shore where his shirt and phone is. I open his phone, which surprisingly doesn't have a passcode, and look through his contacts until I find 'Luis'. I press the phone to my ear as it rings and try to calm my breath.

"Luca?"

"N-No it's me, Avery," I say, stuttering like crazy.

"What? Why do you have his phone?"

"He's been shot! Oh god please hurry Luis, I don't know what to do!"

"WHAT?! IM ON MY WAY!" With that he hangs up. How does he know where we are? He doesn't! He'll probably go back to the room.

"It's okay, Avery. I'm fine."

I look back towards Luca, who's struggling to get up.

"No, lay back down."'

Instead, he just sits. "I-I told him where I would be taking you so he knows where we are." His hand clenches his chest. "P-Please stop crying Princess. I'll be o-okay." He says reassuringly but it doesn't make me feel any less worried.

What if he dies? What will I do?

"What if you aren't though?"

"Avery," he says looking me in the eye, "I've been through worse." I make my way over to him before sitting next to him in the water. My crying has stopped significantly but a few tears make their way down my face. I'm petrified.

Someone shot him. And that someone is still out there somewhere. What if they shoot me? My body is shaking with sobs once more at the thought.

"I don't want to die," I cry as I bring my knees to my chest.

"No no no. You're not going to die, I promise. I'll protect you," he says quickly, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me closer.

"What if you can't?"

"I'd do anything if it means you'll be safe."

With a sigh, I lean into his touch, hoping it will save me. But how selfish am I? I'm the one crying and being a coward when he's the one who just got shot!

"Avery! Luca!" I turn to the voice and relax a little when I see it's just Luis. "Oh shit, what happened?"

"I-I don't know..." I mumble.

He sighs before running over to us. He helps up Luca and I stand up, still crying. "Did you see who shot him?" Luis asks as he throws Luca's arm over his shoulder and begins walking to the trail quickly.

"No."

"So he could still be out there?"

I nod. He continuously curses under his breath the whole way to his car. "Are you taking him to the hospital?"

"Pfft, no. I can take care of him." He starts the car. "Just sit by him and keep him calm."

I sit in the back and Luis puts Luca down gently, with his head on my lap. I just play with Luca's soft hair as the car ride goes by in a blur.

Before I know it, we arrive at an unknown to me house. Or should I say, mansion.

It turns out it's Zachariah's house.

As we rush through the gates with Luca, Rico and another man come out to help us.

"What happened?" Rico asks and we walk through the front door into the foyer.

"Someone shot Luca, but we don't know who," Luis answers.

"Anthony, get Zach," Rico demands.

The man, Anthony, rushes to another hallway. We keep walking until we reach a room that looks like a living room. Rico and Luis set Luca down and he groans in response.

Rico inspects the wound carefully. "The bullet went straight through, so we just need to stitch and wrap him up."

"Are you a doctor?" I ask quietly after a while.

"Are you doubting my qualifications?" He asks while raising a brow.

"No," I say quickly. "I was just wondering."

"Well, not legally. But I know people, a lot of people, so they trained me. I'm like the family doctor."

I nod and watch him do what he needs to. Every so often pain paints it's way onto Luca's face and I grab and squeeze his hand, which seems to calm him down a little.
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Luca De Santis

I feel a sore pain in my chest. It grows from sore, to almost excruciating. With a groan, I open my eyes slowly but close them from the brightness. Then the memories from before flood into my brain and that's all I can think about.

The way she cried, the way she shook in fear. All because of me. If it wasn't for me, she would be in school enjoying herself and talking with her friends. But now she's stuck in a foreign country, in danger. She saw me dying, and she had to realize that at any moment they could've shot her too.

But why didn't they?

Was it only a hit and run and they didn't bother trying to take her out too? Or maybe they missed and were aiming for her?

My mind begins to swirl with possibilities of who did it, and why. But I can't find a definite answer, which is very agitating.

I sigh and open my eyes once more but don't close then this time. After a second or two, my eyes begin to adjust to the brightness and see only one other body in the room.

I try to say something but it only comes out as a wheeze. Her head, which was turned to the TV, snaps over to me.

"Don't speak, you're not supposed to yet." I sigh but nod nonetheless. "He's awake!" She yells and a few seconds later the door opens. Rico, Luis, Anthony, and Zachariah walk into the room.

"How are you feeling?" Luis asks and sits down next to me on the couch.

"He's not supposed to talk yet, dumbass," Avery points out.

"You're hot when you're mad," I say without thinking but it comes out hoarse. She looks at me, surprised, before looking down at her lap flustered.

"Try to not to talk at all. But if needed, as little as possible," Rico says annoyed.

"We have some news," Zachariah says with a sigh.

"What is it? Do you know who tried to fucking kill me?" I yell.

"STOP TALKING!" Rico yells, clearly frustrated and runs his hands through his hair multiple times, which makes Avery giggle and me chuckle.

"No, but it's about your familia."

"What is it?" I ask in anticipation.

"You're familia is no longer on the top," Zachariah says awkwardly and scratches the back of his neck.

I can only stare in surprise. Who could possibly beat me?

As if reading my mind, Anthony says, "It's the new one. The one that Romero's son is leading."

Romero.

Oh, how I hate that fucker. He's the man who killed my father and put me into this shitty business that I never wanted to be a part of i'm the first place.

I've hated his guts ever since.
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yooo :)) i'm in a happy mood for some reason.

so i already know i'll be making a sequel to this one:)! you will be able to read it on its own but i suggest you read this one too. it's gonna be called Luis and guess who it's featuring !!

Luis De Santis!

ikr, you guys never would've thought of that. but anyways, it will be about him and his story. it'll be in his pov which will be a slight challenge since i don't really write in guys' pov but it should be interesting to learn! i will not start it until i'm done with YDMC:) this is the cover i'm using as of now but if you want to make me one feel free to do so or PM me:)

it's not very good (or creative) but i like it;-; ily all sooo much and in so thankful for those who read my book and aren't ghosts <3

also a guy idk asked me out and when i said no he assumed i'm lesbian?? but i'm not??? i don't know him and he was creepy because he kept asking me out :/

alright i'm out.

peaceee