Mine [18+]

13

Xavier

"Are you okay?" I walk over to Stella, who's just staring at the door as if her brother was to walk back in any second.

"Well, apart from my brother acting like a dickhead, yeah. I'm okay."

"He's just very protective. He's been acting more like a father to you than I ever have."

Stella looked at her father, frowning. "Well, when your own dad prefers drugs and messing with mafia's then having a brother act like a father is more than not having one at all." She sighs.

Why the fuck am I in the middle of this conversation? I should get out. This doesn't involve me.

Well, to a certain extent it doesn't.

"I deserved that." Jack sighs and looks at me. "I know I still owe you money. I don't know if I'll ever be able to pay that off but..." He stops, trying to find the words to say. "I know that somewhere underneath that hard exterior you have a good heart. I'm not asking you to let me off, I just want you to be careful with Stella."

Nevermind, I should stay.

Stella goes to say something but Jack cuts her off again, looking at her. "Elijah may have filled in for me but it's not the same. You tried to help me, you associated yourself with dangerous people to save me and that means more to me than any drugs or money."

No, maybe I should go.

I start to move towards the door but Jack catches my shoulder. "Stay."

Nevermind then.

I look at Jack, "I promise to take good care of your daughter. I won't put her in any danger anymore."

Stella looks at me, furrowing her brows and frowning. "Absolutely not. You don't get to decide what I do during my day anymore. If I want to work for you then I will fucking work for you, dammit," She huffs and fuck, I think I just fell in love with her even more.

Jack sighs, "she's a stubborn one ain't she?"

I let out a small laugh.

"Now, can you all stop treating me like a god damn baby? I'm fine. Apart from the fact that I almost got choked to death but I'm fine." She looks up at me and her dad and we both shake our heads.

Stubborn.

That's exactly what she is.

Jack places a kiss to her head and stands up. "I've got to go, but come see your old man sometime? I'm still trying to pay your little mafia man over here but I sure as hell ain't selling the house me and your mother worked so hard for." He smiles. "Plus, I miss you. Think of this as a little I'm sorry talk."

Stella smiles at him slightly, "I miss you too."

"Jack? Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you got back to your senses." I tell him. He just shakes his head before standing up and walking towards the door before giving me a nod and walking out.

I make my way to Stella, tucking her hair behind her ear as I sit down. "I'm sorry about Elijah."

Stella shrugs her shoulders before looking at me. "I'm sorry about him shouting at you. He's an ass sometimes, doesn't really think before talking."

"He was right. I got you in this mess in the first place. This," I touch her neck softly, "is because of me." I murmur, looking at her neck. It was slowly starting to bruise, but it didn't make her look any different. She was still beautiful.

She shakes her head, sighing. "I got into this mess because of my father. But I wouldn't change it for the world. I got into this mess because I wanted to. And I wouldn't change it for the world."

I don't say anything. I didn't really know what to say. For the first time in my life, I was speechless.

So instead of saying anything, I just lean in. I'm careful not to hurt her as I kiss her, my hand going down to her waist to grip it gently.

The kiss is slow, passionate. And it made me feel dizzy as I pulled away. A good kind of dizzy. It felt like I got drunk off her lips, and I constantly craved more.

"Please don't ever doubt my ability to protect myself. I know I may have failed in this case but I want to help you."

"No. You've helped me get my money back from Nathaniel. This just showed me how dangerous my job really is. Plus, I think your dad would beat me with a baseball bat if he found out I wasn't looking out for you." I shake my head.

Stella just huffs but a small smile was playing on her lips as she looks at me and leans in for another kiss.

"In that case... care to get me some more ice?"