The Gang Leader's Iris

16// Angel

"I'm going to go find Pat." I tell Mahogany as we walk into the bar. She nods and I walk off in search of Patrick. As I near the bar I see a mop of red hair and grin. "Patrick." I smile, walking up to the red headed guy with blue eyes.

"Olive." he smiles, hugging me.

"I go by Iris, now." I state hugging him back.

"To bad." he pulls away and frowns. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk with your dad." I answer.

"Well he's talking with someone right now..." he trails, crossing his arms.

"Who?"

"I don't think you know-"

"Who?" I repeat, cutting him off.

He sighs and rolls his eyes before looking me straight in the eyes. "Ian Rider." he answers.

"I know him, we're sort of friends."

"Ok well I guess I can take you-"

"Thanks, Benedetto ." I smile, cutting him off again. He rolls his eyes, at the sound of his first name, and leads me to his fathers office.

"Dad, I have someone here to see you." he comments, cracking the door open.

"I'm talking with Ian; they can wait." I hear the deep voice of Angelillo roar.

"It's Olivia." Patrick chirps.

"Benedetto Patrick Amedeo, why did you not say that in the first place?" He asks. "Let her in." Patrick rolls his eyes at the mention of his full name and opens the door wider for me. "Figlia. (Daughter)" he whispers, motioning me to come closer. I walk up to his desk and smirk at Ian because of his confused expression.

"Hi." I smile. He stands up and walks around his desk.

"Siete cresciuti in una bellezza. (You have grown into such a beauty)" He smiles, hugging me. "Ti ho perso, il mio caro. (I have missed you, my dear)"

"I missed you, too." He pulls away and looks me over.

"What brings you here?" He asks, not letting go quite yet.

"Two things actually." he nods, urging me to continue. "I want to start fighting, again."

"You? Fight again?" He questions, thinking it over. "I guess....." he trails, releasing me and walking back around his desk. I smile and bounce on the balls of my feet. "On one condition." he adds and I nod, vigorously. "You have to train for a week or two first and I have the perfect person to train with you." he looks to Ian and smiles.

"Ian you said you wanted a way get some extra money....." Angel trails and Ian nods. "You train with my Olivia and this will show me you have learned enough to become one of my trainers. I'll give you a raise in winnings and some extra cash on the side for training." He turns to look at me again. "Kyle can even help and I'll give him some extra as well. When you think she's ready tell me and I'll get her a match. Do you think you can do it?"

"Yes, sir." Ian answers.

"Olivia is like a daughter to me, just as you are like a son to me. I trust you to help her get her strength back and be truthful about her being ready."

"Yes, sir." Ian repeats.

"Good." he muses. "Monday thru Thursday after school, until she's ready, in the private gym. Now what was your other requests?"

"I want to know where Thomas went." I say, bluntly. It was like ripping off a band aid. You do it fast so it won't hurt, but it still finds a way to bother you after.

"I don't know." he answers, a sad look in his eyes. "If I did I would have gotten him back by now."

He's lying.

"Right." I sigh. "Do you think-"

"I don't know, Sweetheart, I honestly don't know." he answers. "Ian can you take Olivia home, please."

Changing the topic...

A sign of lying!

Ian looks to me and smiles. "Sure." he looks back over to Angel. "Angel, what time on Monday?"

"Right when school ends, Son." Ian nods and grabs my hand walking me out of the office.

"I don't think you should fight." he comments.

"Well to bad you have no say." I retort.

"I kind of do." he smirks. "I get to tell Angel if I think you're ready."

"He said to be truthful." I counter, getting agitated.

"I will be because I don't think you should fight again." he states.

"Why not?" I ask, scolding him. "Mahogany fights and I have never heard you say anything. I have never lost a fight, not even my last one. To be honest, I don't even need training I could fight someone right now and I would most likely win."

"Fight me than." he retorts, stopping and looking me straight in the eyes. "If you think you would 'most likely win' in a fight right now then fight me."

"You realize I have fought men bigger than you and won, right?" I ask.

"Yeah." he deadpans, letting go of my hand to cross his arms over his chest. "Size isn't what matters it's skill." he corrects. "If we fight and you win I will train with you for a week and tell Angel you're ready no matter what. If I win you have to tell him you changed your mind. Deal?"

"No deal." I answer, starting to walk ahead.

"Why?" He asks, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back.

"Because Angel said I can fight so I'm going to fight, end of story." I conclude.

"I don't want you to fight." he says, sternly.

"Why do you care so much?" I ask. "I have fought before-"

"Tommy wouldn't want you to." he cuts me off.

My eyes snap shut at the mention of that name. "What is the real reason?" I stand in my spot for a few moments waiting for an answer. When one doesn't come my eyes snap open and reveal Ian's face.

"How do you know that's not the real reason?" He asks, crossing his arms over his chest again.

"Honestly...." I trail, looking up at him. "It's not that hard to tell. Obviously there is something that your not telling me."

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"I won't get hurt." I reassure.

"You don't know that." I sigh and walk up to him, subconsciously, and wrap my arms around his waist.

"I'll be fine, I know how to fight and Angel wouldn't have said yes if he didn't think I was ready." I smile looking him in the eyes. "Don't worry." He looks down at me and nods.

Maybe Ian does really care........

Maybe we can be friends.........