Angel With A Shotgun | 18+

forty seven

ALEC ROMANO

It was half past seven at night and I had just gotten off the phone with Tiffany's Dad. Apparently she's 'devastated' we're no longer getting married. 

The only time I ever spoke to her was when she was blabbering on about how she was going to get her nails done by this new nail tech. I didn't even know how old she was!

"Well, the weddings off." I said, slamming down my phone.

Yas looked up at me, surprised, "Wow, um- okay. How did that happen?"

"Word got out that Angelo is dead. No more wedding, thank God!" 

I was dreading this wedding and I'm so glad I no longer have to marry that rude tramp. She was absolutely horrible to everyone, including me. But now I was unsure of my feelings. 

The second Angelo mentioned I was getting married, I was basically in love with Amara. I don't know what it is, or why. But every time I'm around her, my heart just stops. Like she's my air and I need her to breathe. But having Yas back is bringing up so many unwanted feelings that I've tried so hard to bury.

"How's Greg?" I asked, clearing my throat.

Yas smiled, "He's good. We're celebrating our third anniversary next week." She says.

I give her a weak smile and Yas catches on, "Look Alec." She starts, "I'm sorry things ended how they did. I really did love you." She sighs. I shrug, "But we were both young, you even younger." I chuckled, remembering how I was seventeen when we got together and she was twenty.

"It was also illegal." She laughed.

"I know. I'm just glad you're happy." I stated, moving back to my desk, "So, how do you wanna approach this? We have to be at the church by eleven tomorrow morning." 

I glance at my watch, watching the hand tick to seven forty seven in the evening. The clouds had rumbled over the city as snow began to trickle down, leaving snowflakes on my windowsill.

"I say we get there before everyone else, settle in you know. Make it seem less obvious that I killed him." 

"Okay." Yas smiled, "Well I'm going to head home. I'll meet you at the church at ten thirty, okay?" She said softly. I nodded, "Bye Yas, thank you!"

My body felt tired as I locked up my office, heading down the hallway, "Yet I hadn't slept a full nights sleep in nearly three days. Every time I close my eyes I see Angelo's lifeless body laying in the snow and then I open my eyes and see blood on my hands. Hallucinating.

All I want is to fall asleep with Amara next to me, but I haven't seen her since yesterday. 

I knock on her door, rapping my knuckles three times before her sweet voice calls out to come in. Her smile fades when she sees me and quickly hugs her brothers goodbye.

"I'll take you to school in the morning okay?" She says.

Joey kisses her cheek and they leave, not making eye contact with me as I leave. Weird.

"Hi." I say, oddly feeling nervous. I haven't seen her beautiful face or heard her voice since our encounter yesterday. I missed her, "How are you?" I asked, "Fine. You." She stood up, smoothing out her pink pyjama pants.

I noticed a small bandage on her arm, "What happened?" I quirked, "I slipped." She gave me a two worded answer and I was annoyed that she was lying to me, but I didn't press on the matter, "Can I-" I cut myself off, "Can I stay with you. Tonight." My cheeks grew hot and I was extremely embarrassed that I was blushing. 

I scratched the back of my neck when I didn't hear a reply, "Why?" Her voice was coarse, "I sleep better when you're next to me. When I know you're safe." I shrugged.

"Sure." She replied.

I pulled open her duvet cover, slipping off my suit jacket and pants while she busied herself in the bathroom, giving me my time. I was left in just my boxers when Amara came out, she too only dressed in pants and a small tank top.

She climbed in next to me, switching off her lamp.

The covers rustled for a few seconds until they stilled. I was laying on my back, wide awake and I stared at her ceiling. Her back was to me, facing the left side of the room when I turned my head.

I moved my hand, wanting to feel her but she was so far away. I frowned, "Why are you so far." I asked. "Because I'm tired, Alec. I want to sleep." She sounded annoyed.

I grabbed her waist, pulling her toward me. She gasped, hands flailing as she tried to pull my hands from her, "Let me go Alec!" She said.

"No. Goodnight." I closed my eyes, a small smile on my lips as I felt accomplished. "You're an idiot." She mumbled, relaxing finally.

I pressed my forehead to her warm back, my body giving in to the tiredness that presented itself, "I haven't slept since that day at the docks." I explained, "Every time I close my eyes I see my father- Angelo." I corrected myself, "And I feel guilty. But I don't. Because at the same time he's the man who raised me and treated me like shit."

She had stayed quiet, but I could hear her heart beat speeding up, "And I'm sorry but I just needed you tonight. I needed to know you'd be safe." I mumbled against her skin, kissing the soft patch of her shoulder. 

I could smell her cherry shampoo as she shivered. I moved to her neck, kissing the soft spots of her neck, tasting her vanilla body wash, "Goodnight, Alec." 

+ + + 

The next morning I had left Amara in her bed. When I woke up, my arms were still around her, but her face was on my chest, her eyes squeezed shut. She looked beautiful.

But I had to get to the church. Giovanni was going to bring Amara and her brothers later. I had to meet Yas.

"Finally! I've been waiting for you." Yas said, grabbing my hand and pulling me inside, "What?" I announced, "Here." She said, handing me an envelope.

"What is it?" I asked, opening it up.

"Read it and find out." Yas usually held her fear and composed herself well. But I could see it evidently on her face. "Yas, you look scared." I said, opening the letter.

"I'm scared, Alec."

+ + + 

Uh oh, what do we think is in the letter?