The Explanation

I lay on the bed in the room I'm going to be staying in. This house seems much more homey than the last and even more elegant. As I lay there, I think about how crazy my life is now. Normally, if something happened to mess with my schedule I would be a mess from panic attacks. Now I'm in a completely different country in a house that belongs to the mafia. I can hop in cars without a second thought and I haven't even had one panic attack in the past couple of days. Maybe all I needed was a little change to get me out of the rut I had put myself in over the past four years.

A knock on my door brings me out of my thoughts. Dria sticks her head in before walking over to the bed.

"Supper is ready. I figure after we eat I could show you around?"

I nod my head enthusiastically at her. I can't wait to see what's all in this house. I might as well get comfy here and treat it as a vacation.

We make our way down to the dining room and take our seats with a few of the men that came with us from America. Soon a maid places meals in front of us and tends to anything we might need. The cook prepared a lasagna and my mouth is watering from the smell. My hunger strike is quickly forgotten as I devour my meal. If the food stays like this, my stay here might even be enjoyable.

Once everyone is done, Dria takes my hand dragging me through room after room showing what all their house has to offer. There is a library, movie theater, game room, and indoor pool. There are lots of bedrooms but not as many as the other house had. This house has three stories and the front two corners of the house has tall towers. One is an observatory and the other is a huge library full of any books you could think of. My room is on the top floor along with Dria and Alessi's room and his office. The whole house is full of elegant decor and portraits.

Once I've seen the whole inside, Dria takes me outside. In the massive backyard, there are two pools, a basketball court, and several small gardens. We make our way into one of the gardens and sit on a small wooden bench. We fall into a comfortable silence as we watch the sun set. It really is beautiful here. I wish I was here under different circumstances.

Our silence is interrupted when someone clears their throat behind us. I turn around to find Alessandrio nervously shifting from one foot to the other. I study his odd behavior wondering where his normal cocky demeanor is.

"Emilia, I think it's time we talked."

His voice comes out low, but I don't miss the shakiness of it.

"Well, I'll leave you two to it."

Dria quickly stands leaving us alone in the garden. Alessi makes his was around the bench and sits beside me.

"I guess I owe you an explanation."

His eyes drop down to his hands that are rested in his lap. I scoff at him.

"I guess you could say that."

He tenses at my cold sarcastic tone.

"I think the best place to start is that I'm in the mafia. Well I basically run the Italian mafia."

He quickly looks at me studying my face. I assume he is looking for fear or expecting me bolt off. I already knew this, but it's still shocking hearing the words come out of his mouth. However, I'm not going to let him know I'm intimated by him or that he has any impact on me. I let out a chilling laugh catching him off guard.

"I already know that, Alessandrio. Body guards? Guns? Not to mention, you don't even have a lock on your phone. I'm surprised that no one has killed you yet, with how careless you and your men are. I've only known you for what? 5 days? And I figure that out on day 2. I'd recommend upping your game. Especially now that you're keeping me hostage. I'd hate to die because of your poor judgment."

He looks at him mouth agape. Honestly, I'm shocked by my confident demeanor and rant. He starts to collect his words figuring out what to say to that, but I cut him off.

"I don't care about the mafia or any of that. I want an explanation of what happened four years ago."

I keep my tone sharp letting him know that he better start talking. I watch as he runs his hand through his hair obviously dreading this conversation.

"Seven years ago, my life was being threatened because I was the heir to the Italian Mafia. My father decided to secretly send me to America and let me live there until he had gotten everything under control. I was supposed to go and lay low, but I met you and fell in love. I became best friends with Miles and Ady, and everything seemed great. Those three years with y'all were the best."

He pauses looking at me making sure I'm still following him. I felt my body tense when he mentioned Miles and Ady. I still don't think he has the right to talk about them. I grit my teeth and nod at him urging him to continue.

"On that day, four years ago, the men who were after me, the Russian mafia, found out were I was. They sent men to kill my parents and then to kill me. Those men were the ones who shot Miles. My father's men were able to get there in time to save you though. They brought me back to Italy immediately and I've been here ever since. I had to start running the mafia since my father was murdered."

I can feel tears welling up in my eyes. I was not expecting that story. I look up at him and see tears falling down his face. Without thinking, I raise my hand his face letting my thumb wipe away his tears. He looks down at me with more tears falling.

"I'm so sorry."

He sobs out and I wrap my arms around him. I'm not sure how long we sit there with his head on my shoulder crying. I don't know why I'm comforting him, but seeing him emotional and vulnerable with me reminded me of the man I used to love. I feel him pull back clearing his throat.

"Since you've been seen with me and you killed an important gang member, you'll have to stay here for a while."

He avoids my eyes looking down at the ground.

"How important was he?"

"He was in pretty deep with the Russian Mafia. He oversaw their drug distribution in the states so him being dead hurt them pretty bad. You can't go back to America, Em."

I feel my breath catch in my throat. I can't stay here. My parents are back home. Surely, he realizes that.

"Alessi, I can't stay. My parents."

My voice comes out barely above a whisper and I feel my hands starting to shake.

"Either you can tell that you're moving away, or we can fake your death. I prefer the latter. It'll be a clean break. It'll keep them safe too."

I shake my head as I quickly stand up. I can't believe what he just said. He can't fake my death. It'll break my parents. They have already lost Ady, and they won't make it if they lose me too. With tears running down my face, I run out of the garden to the house.

"Rose, baby come back."

I hear him calling me and his footsteps as he comes after me. I don't look back as I slam the back door and run up to my room. I lock my door before falling onto my bed sobbing. Soon Alessi is beating on me door begging me to open it. Eventually he gives up when he realizes I won't let him in. Once he's gone, my sobs die down and I'm left alone in the silence. I hate the silence. It's when I can hear the voices in my head the loudest. Sighing, I settle down into the bed waiting for sleep to take me. Fortunately I don't have to wait long, but with sleep comes the nightmares.

Alessi POV

I'm standing outside her door begging her to let me in. Hearing her sobs breaks my heart. I just want to hold her and comfort her like she did for me. I still remember the way her arms wrapped around me and how good her hair smelled. If she was able to comfort me and hold me close, then maybe she doesn't hate me after all. Maybe we can get back what we used to have. Deep down I know that probably ever won't happen, but it doesn't hurt to dream.

Sighing, I walk away from her door knowing she isn't going to let me in. I make my way to my room and hop into the shower hoping it can calm me down and relax me. The warm water does little for me since I know the only thing I need is my Rose in my arms. I quickly dry off and make my way towards my bed. It doesn't take long for sleep to come, but I'm soon woken up by a familiar scream. Rose.