You Have To Stop

Maybe because she is too focused on keeping herself in check, Alora even fails to notice how Alessio's gaze briefly sweeps Killian Gray before he halts in front of her. She might miss this but it isn't the same for the keen Deputy Commander who clearly notices the way the stranger looks at him. Then he hears him speak.

"I didn't expect us to cross paths again this way, Alora."

This way? What is he referring to? This question crosses the minds of everyone, including Alora and the woman beside Alessio. Still, the Captain tries her best to put on a calm facade. Having no idea of how the keen Killian Gray sees through her, she flashes a little smile. "Same here," she says.

Alora notices how the lady beside Alessio attempts to speak up. However, as if sensing this, the Don beats her to it by saying, "Then... I hope I see you around." He slightly nods at Lt. Col. Killian as a way of greeting, or something more, which the latter exchanges. Then he walks away with the woman still holding onto his arm.

Alora stares at the two until they are out of her sight and then narrows her eyes.

Who was the woman? His girlfriend? Or... wife? She realizes that she doesn't even know if he is married or not!

"Alora."

Being snapped out of her thoughts, Alora McLean immediately shifts her gaze to Lt. Col. Killian who looks both confused and even concerned. "I'm sorry," she quickly apologizes and mutters, "Let us go, Deputy Commander." She does not even wait for his response and starts walking right away.

As he trails behind the Captain who acts strange since crossing paths with that man, Killian is reminded of that gloomy and troubled look on Alora's face he noticed after having breakfast in the McLean family home.

Does that have something to do with the current situation?

* * *

As the restaurant is not far from the hotel where he is staying, Alessio DeFazio soon finds himself riding up the elevator to reach his hotel suite. Though that lady from earlier is still beside him without physical contact this time, his mind is completely occupied by his second encounter with his 'first love' from earlier.

Who was that man beside her? A lover or... a husband? Just like Alora, he realizes that he has no idea if she is married or not. His mind is too occupied with this to even notice how the lady beside him is shooting him a glance over and over again.

Not to mention that it seems as if her patience is slowly running dry!

Finally, the elevator door is opened and Alessio makes his way to his room with the woman still trailing behind. Once the door to the suite is shut behind them, the woman suddenly quickens her pace as if she were waiting for that time! Suddenly, she makes Alessio turn around and loses no time to roughly press her lips against his!

The young Don doesn't even look surprised as there is no reaction from him. However, when she continues pushing him with an intense and obviously hungry kiss, he breaks free and eventually pushes her away. Just like him, the lady is quite calm about it and all she does is stare at his gaze as if searching for an answer.

Alessio DeFazio takes his time and softly exhales. "Go and rest in your room. Loris already has everything prepared for you," is all he says to the lady, not commenting on what just happened as if it were normal.

"Alex -"

"Do you want me to say it's an order, Celina?" The Don interrupts, sounding somewhat cold yet indifferent at the same time.

Celina Vacarelli, the consigliere of the DeFazio crime family stands still for a moment when she hears the Don. She never turns away from him though looking at him makes her recall how she sensed the effect that woman from earlier has on him. However, there is nothing she can do about it, especially after hearing his last sentence. As such...

"Rest well," is all she manages to mutter before slightly bowing her head and leaving the hotel suite.

Almost a minute has passed since Celina left but the Don remains in his place, no movement or action. Finally, he turns around and slowly approaches the desk a few steps away. Then he slowly leans down and places his palms on the desk before closing his eyes. Almost immediately, he is back to that encounter from earlier.

Prior to leaving Osmana for Elentrus, he had thought that he would be fine even if he were to cross paths with her again. The chances of meeting her again were slim, still, he was convinced that he had changed too much to be affected.

How wrong he was to think that way!

"You have to stop, Alessio," the young Don quietly says to himself, trying his best to convince himself not to think of her or that man with her. "You have gone too far for this. You... are not Lucas Wilde anymore."

* * *

Alora McLean enters her family home only to realize right away that her father is home.

He is already done with the meeting? Then why didn't he come to dine with them? These thoughts snap the Captain out of her busy and tormenting thoughts in the slightest bit.

For a moment, she even wonders if her father was just making up excuses but still, she decides to check on him and enters the General's room.

Seeing her father quietly sitting on the chair behind his working desk and his gaze solely focusing on the closed but transparent windows, Alora can tell right away that something is wrong.

Her father is someone who is in charge of the army of one nation, a responsibility strong enough to easily become a burden for anyone who shoulders it. As such, it is not rare for Alora McLean to see her father that way. Instead, she is quite familiar with that look on his face.

"Father." The Captain halts before the desk of her father who finally notices her presence. Despite whatever face he was making earlier, the General still manages to show his daughter a little smile. "You're home," he mutters and asks, "Did you have a good time?"

Alora immediately thinks of what happened at the restaurant but she knows better than to talk about it. She knows that she will have to tell her father about it one day as she can never hide things from him forever. However, she wishes to conceal it even for just a few more days.

"You arranged the dinner yet you stood us up." She slightly frowns, eliciting a light chuckle from her father.

"That was not my intention," Kenzo McLean muses as he slightly shakes his head. "It was quite late when the meeting was over and considering the distance, I did not want to make you and Killian wait longer."

"Does that mean you haven't had dinner yet?"

Kenzo McLean nods his head with a hint of reluctance on his face and just as expected, his daughter sighs.

"I will prepare dinner for you," Alora says after a moment of silence. "We were not supposed to have dinner at home; so, I already let Mrs. Quinn go home for the night. But I can prepare some dishes for you."

"Don't bother," General Kenzo promptly turns down and forces a little smile once again, reminding Alora of the uneasy feeling she had earlier. "You should rest. I'm not hungry anyway."

"But -"

"I'm fine, Lora," the General interrupts his daughter and adds, "I just need some time to sort out some matters."

"Did something happen?" Alora inquires, curious and concerned at the same time. However, she has little hope for a frank answer and she is proven right almost immediately.

"You know I can't say it for now," her father calmly mutters. "But don't worry. Rest well and I believe that you will get to know about it once you report back to work."

Whenever army and confidentiality is concerned, there is never another option, and the Captain is experienced enough to know this. As such, she can only nod her head despite her concern. "Alright. You should rest too, Father. It's not good for your health to overthink often."

His daughter's words bring a genuine smile to the General's face this time. "Don't worry," he responds with a little nod and Alora turns her back on him. He notices her standing in her place for a while before she slowly turns around to face him once again.

The look on Alora's face... Kenzo McLean can tell right away that it is different from just a moment ago. Why does she appear troubled and even hesitant?

He waits for his daughter to speak up which takes a few seconds. Then he finally hears her words which are more than surprising to his ears.

"About the Deputy Commander..." Alora mutters and pauses for a moment before asking, "Why do you think he may be a good match for me, Father?"