An Empire of Guns and Lies (18+)

Eighteen (Diciotto)

I winced as my petite flight attendant who sometimes doubled as my nurse dug the bullet out of my thigh and placed it on the tray, great another scar to add to the collection. I knocked back the amber liquid, savoring the burn as it went down, she stitched my wound and the anaesthetic lulled me to sleep for the rest of the flight.

The turbulence of the landing pulled me from my dreams.

I was back in Italy, the spectral green mountains of Florence embraced me in a homely comfort, back at the estate I would have loved to said I stormed in but unfortunately due to my injury I limped through the large overly ornate door straight into Jaxon's office.

I slammed the embroidery logo I stole off the men's uniform onto his desk.

"Care to explain why I was almost fucking killed twice on my trip to Spain" I was upset and tired to say the least.

"Trust me Vera, if I knew it would be that dangerous I would have sent backup but I didn't" he said with sympathy. I brushed him off and for the next half hour that followed I relayed everything that happened.

By the time I finished briefing Jaxon it was 12:08am and I needed to de-stress, I decided to utilize the hot tub in our backyard.

I quickly went up to my room and changed into a plain black bikini and threw my hair into a messy bun, nothing fancy as everyone was about sleeping at this time.

I tested the water with my toes and when I was satisfied that it was in fact hot, I submerged my legs, my wound earning a slight sting, soon after my body followed. I rested my head on the concrete and allowed the bubbles to wash away my tensions from the last three days, the tension that immediately returned when I heard my name come from his lips.

"Vera... you're back" August said softly. The man that stood in front of me was not the man I left, he looked tired, his hair was unkempt, his eye bloodshot, and face not groomed.

While fighting for my life in Spain I had forgotten all about August's betrayal, my heart felt heavy as the images returned to my head."

Hi" I chirped softly "I'm back"

"Hey" he gave me a sad smile and I could have placed everything I had betting on his next words.

"We need to talk V, please?" there it was, the line I've been avoiding, I had no idea what to expect. Was I about to get my heart broken even further? I was unsure, but I certainly had no energy to fight with him so I nodded. Something resembling relief flooded his face as he took off his shirt to reveal his toned body, at least this remained the same, he got into the tub with me and sat at the opposite side, not daring to touch me.

Then he began "Everything you saw was a mistake Vera, wait no, not even a mistake it didn't happen, nothing happened between me and Maeve" his words fell out of his lips with urgency as if they've been pent up all this time. He continued his explanation while I listened not saying anything "I know it seems suspicious and you have every right to think that given what you saw but I swear nothing happened, we were drunk, yes and she was bringing me another drink when she tripped over the carpet and the alcohol fell on me, I know it seems ridiculous but that's what happened honestly, my shirt was open because it was wet and she was on her knees because she wanted to help dry my clothes but I repeatedly told her it was fine that's when you came in" He took a deep breathe after speaking.

"Are you really telling the truth?" I whispered to him tears pricked my eyes

"Yes, Vera I would never lie to you, me and Maeve did have a thing of the past but it's in the past, nothing exist there anymore I swear it" he pleaded to me.

My next words surprised us both,

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry for acting out and shouting at you, I'm sorry August" the tears now spilling out of my eyes.

August waded through the water and held me in his arms which made me cry even more, his scent comforted me in ways I did not know I need he felt more like home than this house ever did so I hugged him back and sobbed until my pain away till eyes were swollen.

-August's POV-

Her perfect body glistened in the water as I held her in my arms, I waited for this moment for what felt like forever. Vera cried against my chest for a long time and I held her for how ever long she needed, when she calmed down I wiped her tears away with my thumb, seeing her cry pained me and I swore to myself I would never do anything to hurt her again. She was my entire universe, nothing mattered if she wasn't at my side.

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Yeahhhh there's some good stuff coming up ahahaha ;)