You Don’t Know Me

I stare up at his house- no scratch that, mansion. It's beautiful with several stories and a magnificent fountain in the middle of the front yard. I notice several armed guards which I find very odd. Before I can question him about it, I hear a door open and footsteps. I look up to see the same woman from the other day throw herself on Alessandrio. He hugs her back just as fiercely kissing he top of her head. He looks over at me and I know my face is showing how annoyed I look.

"Is my Rose jealous?" He smirks at me. The man I loved was confident and sweet, but the man in front of me now is an arrogant prick.

"You're not mine and I'm not yours. I don't care how many women you have. But that's not the reason I'm jealous."

He raises his eyebrows questioning me. I look deep into his eyes so he can feel the hatred of my words.

"I'm jealous that you got to move on and live your life. You must be so self absorbed to actually allow yourself to be happy. And because you're standing here in front of me today, I know you're the reason they're dead."

I watch as the light in his eyes dies out leaving black orbs. He clenches his jaw and his hands are balled into fists at his side. I wait for him to go back to his arrogant self, but instead I see him storm off into the house slamming the door on his way in. Looks like finally something I said clicked. Hopefully I can be out of here soon and as far away from him as possible. I don't know when this hatred for him started, but I know he has something to do with Miles and Ady's deaths. I plan to make him pay for every second he tries to keep me here.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts as the girl behind me clears her throat.

"So I'm Alexandria. You can call me Dria. I'm that jerk's sister." She gives me a warm smile as she gestures towards the front door. I follow her inside as she starts talking again.

"We have gotten pretty close since our parents died. Oh and don't worry. He doesn't have a girlfriend." She winks at me.

"Don't care." My tone comes out harsher than I intended and I feel guilty as I watch her flinch.

"Look, Dria. It's been a long day. I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm sorry." I let out a long sigh. Just because I hate her brother, doesn't mean she has done anything wrong.

"Oh don't sweat it! It's fine. I was planning on showing you around, but that can wait if you're too tired?" Her smile is genuine and I know that I'm gonna like her, not that I'll ever let her get close to me. I was about to accept waiting for tomorrow, but my curiosity got the best of me as I eyed the house. Everything in here screams money, and not to mention the several bodyguards that are patrolling around.

"Actually, I'd love to have a look now if you don't mind." I try to give her a smile, but judging by the sadness in her eyes, I know my expression looked pained. I haven't really smiled in the past four years and it's like my face forgot how to.

"Alrighty then, follow me." She gives me a tour of the four stories. The first floor is where the kitchen, living room, and the public gym are. The second has several offices and few bedrooms with a beautiful library. The third is made up of several bedrooms and some lounges. That leaves the top floor for Dria and Alessandrio's rooms as well as two more bedrooms and a private gym.

"So, who all lives here?" I question Dria knowing this seems more like an apartment complex than a house.

"Some of Alessi's coworkers." She answers quickly which gives me more reason to press.

"Oh. So what does he do? And why do these people live with him?" I can tell by the panicked look in her eyes that she didn't expect me to be forward.

"Well, uh, Alessi is a very successful businessman so it's important for him to be, well, protected."

"Uh-huh." I nod my head not at all convinced. I'll let it slide for now, but something isn't right here and I think it's why my best friend and sister are dead.

We stop in front of a bedroom door that's next to Alessi's.

"This is where you will be staying. My bedroom is on the other end of the hall if you need me. And the other one beside you belongs to Alessi's second in command."

I walk into the beautiful room. It has light gray walls with dark wood floors. The bed is huge and I know that the attached bathroom and closet are too. No sense in getting comfortable though, since I will be out of here as soon as possible.

I lay on the bed and watch the sun set. I don't know how long I stay staring out the window, but eventually I have to pee. I get up and do my business and check my phone before plopping back on the massive bed. It's midnight meaning it's May 17th. Our 21st birthday and the anniversary of the accident. I feel something wet hit my hands and realize I'm crying. I quickly wipe away the tears and scold myself. Crying is pointless. No amount of tears will bring them back or heal me.

I hear my door being thrown open and look up to see a pissed off Alessandrio. I can smell the alcohol on his breath from here and I know this can't go well. He throws a file at my bed causing papers to fly.

"Care to explain this, Emilia?" He storms in cursing. I look at the papers and see my name on several. They are hospital records and other papers that contain details about my life.

"You tried to kill yourself?? What is wrong with you?" He's yelling at me as if he isn't the cause of all this. I am not going to put up with him anymore. This is all his fault.

"Get out. I don't ever want to see your face again. I'm leaving as soon as I can. I hate you!" I'm screaming back at him and I feel more tears fall. He almost looks concerned before he storms out slamming the door. What is up with him and slamming doors?

As soon as he is gone, I look through the file. I thumb through my therapist's note and see how much of a failure I am. The silence of night overwhelms me and the voices in my head grow louder. The wanting of death seeps into my mind and heart and I want it all to end. I promised my mom that I wouldn't so I quickly make my way to the private gym to blow off steam. The punching bag is calling my name as I make my way to it. I don't bother taping my knuckles embracing the pain with each punch. I don't know how long I go at this. My sweat and tears mix together and every once in a while I feel the sting of my knuckles as the salt burns my wounds.

Alessandrio's POV

I look at my phone to see it's 5 am. I have a headache from all the liquor I drank last night. Emilia's words come back to mind as my heart cracks a little more. She wasn't wrong. This was all my fault and what makes it worse is the fact that it broke her. My beautiful Rose held so much pain in her eyes. I did this to her and I hate myself even more for it.

Looking back at my phone I notice the date. It's her birthday and the reminder of what she lost. I can't believe I yelled at her earlier. Today of all days. I quickly hop up and head to her room to apologize. I can't bear the thought of hurting her more.

Shaking my head I head down the hallway to apologize. Yesterday when I saw her scar, I had my suspicions, but my Rose who was so full of light and laughter couldn't do that. I got one of private investigators to get me everything she could find on Emilia. It wasn't long before I had her file in my hands. I knew I shouldn't read it, but that didn't stop it as I downed one drink after the other flipping through it. The more I read the angrier I got. I wasn't mad at her, but at myself. This was all my fault. I broke her.

When I get to her room, I knock on her door waiting for to open it. Several minutes pass and I start to worry. I know a few more times before I open the door and see the room is empty. I start to panic as I remember her words. She wanted to leave. She will be in so much danger is she gets in the wrong hands. Her being seen with me is enough to warrant a price on her head. I call my guards and fill them in before running down the stairs to start searching. I tell Vincent, my second in command, to start looking as well.

It's been a good twenty minutes and there is still no sign of her. I start to dread the worse knowing she couldn't have gotten far. My phone rings and Vince's name fills the screen. I answer it quickly wanting answers.

"I found her, boss. She's in the private gym. You know when you told me yesterday that you were bringing your high school sweetheart here, I wasn't expecting a street fighter."

I quickly thank him and head to the gym. I shake my head in confusion wondering what he is talking about. My Rose couldn't hurt a fly. I remember one time she cried for hours because I accidentally ran over a squirrel. Imagining her being a fighter nearly brings me into a fight of laughter.

I see Vince standing outside the glass door watching her. My gaze goes past his shoulder and I see Emilia in the back with the punching bag. I can feel my jaw drop as I watch her pummel into the bag. I instinctively rub my face remembering the nice punch she gave me. Vince chuckles at me shaking his head.

"She sure is a feisty one. You sure this is the sweet girl you told me all about?"

I simply nod my head as I watch her fists make contact over and over. Even from the door, I can see the blood that's trickling from her knuckles. I make my way into the room wondering is someone trained her. Obviously someone had to have taught her how to punch like that, but she apparently didn't have the sense to tape her knuckles.

Sensing my presence, she turns around swinging her fist to my face. Luckily, my reflexes are faster as I grab her wrist.

"Careful there, Rose. Just because you know how to punch doesn't mean you can take me on."

I smirk at her watching her scowl. I remember how much fun I used to have messing with her. She gets mad so quickly, but she has always been quicker to forgive.

"You don't know me. That file barely scratched the surface."

She yanked her arm away and stormed off. I hate that I end up being so cocky around her. I guess it's easier for her to hate me than me to explain anything.

I make my way down to my office with Vince following me. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket causing me to pull it out. An unknown number pops on the screen. It's the same number that send me pictures of Emilia and I in the city. That was how I knew she was in danger yesterday. I look at the new messages. One is a picture of Emilia covered in blood sitting next to a dead body. My eyes widen as I see the next to her. I look down at the last message and my heart stops.

"You should've controlled your woman, Romero. It was all fun and games til she killed one of my men. I'll make sure I have some fun with her before I kill her."

I can feel Vince looking over my shoulder. I turn to him knowing he saw the messages.

"Sir, are you sure that you know who Emilia is? She looks like she has been trained as a street fighter and now she is killing gang members?"

I look back at the picture and realize he's right. I curse myself for not noticing the tattoos on the man's arms. Maybe this woman isn't my Rose. She might be Emilia Watson, but I apparently don't know.

I head towards Emilia's room planning on figuring out what she is doing. My anger grows with each step I take. Who is this woman?