Estelle

11 | In The Rain

My hands shake as I read over the note.

"Your time is up."

It is Accelius. I slowly close my front door and lock it behind me as I take slow steps to the kitchen counter, my eyes still on the note.

All of the fear comes washing back and I feel the air around me grow thin. It is like the fear and danger has gone and now it is coming back stronger than before.

I steady my shaking hand and crumple the paper in my fist. Something isn't right. He would never just leave a note that serious. He would come to tell me himself. The only reason he would do this is if he can't get to me. If someone or something is keeping him from getting to me.

Someone more powerful than him.

My fear gives way to anger. I feel the air around me tighten as tears prick my eyes. Why can't he just leave me alone? Why can't I be at peace? Why do I deserve this?

I look up to my open window curtains and walk over to them to close them. I can't stand the idea that he might be watching from that dark street.

My hands fist the soft fabric but before I can close them, I spot something on the street. A dark hooded man stands by an ally looking right up to my window.

That bastard.

I slip a gun in my waistband and grab my jacket before storming out of my apartment. I know I am not thinking clearly but I am sick of him mocking me. I know what I am doing is dangerous but at this point, I would rather he kill me than keep torturing me like this.

I can't leave or he will catch me and hurt someone else. I can't reason with him because I am just a thing at his disposal. I can't seem to get a break.

As I step out of my building, I notice a light drizzle. A chill whips through the air but I stay on my mission.

The man across the street is now gone but I have a feeling he went down the alley. He must have known I was coming after I saw him.

I rush across the street and hide against the dumpster just inside the alley. I check around the side but see no one.

Damn it.

I pause to catch my breath, not caring that the rain is soaking through my clothes. When I pause to take a deep steady breath, I hear voices in the alley. I glance back down the alley and focus enough this time to see that it turns to the left around the back of the building.

The voices come again from that way and I breathe in deeply before stalking down the alley, gun drawn.

I don't think I can bring myself to shoot him or anyone. The gun is just to make myself feel safer. Maybe I'll threaten him with it but I know he will see right through my lie.

I come to the corner and crouch by the wall before peering around it. There are two men. The one with his back to me is in all black and must be Accelius. The other man, I cannot see because Accelius is blocking my view.

"Il signor Vallorani sta lasciando l'Italia adesso. Ce ne siamo assicurati." [Mr. Vallorani is leaving Italy now. We made sure of it.]

The man in black must not be Accelius. Then who is he? The other man sounds familiar too...

"Lei è qui." [She is here].

I suck in a breath as I hear the voice. It is deep and calm, everything that I love about it.

Adonis turns around and looks right at me. I hadn't even noticed I had been half out of my hiding place. Behind him stands Alec looking at me with a blank face. His expression is completely different from how it was with Blue. It is like he is a different person.

"You can leave, Alec." Alec nods before turning and walking down the alley out of sight.

"Why have you been watching me?" I feel my lip tremble as I try to comprehend what I am seeing.

Adonis walks towards me and I feel a strange stabbing fear course through me. When he is a foot away from me I try to turn and run. His hand grabs my wrist and I am pulled harshly back to him. I choke back a gasp before spinning on my heel and looking up to meet his eyes.

Instead of anger, I see sadness. "I'm sorry you had to find out. You were never supposed to know."

"I don't understand. Who are you?" I feel a tear run down my cheek.

"Not someone safe."

"Please, let me go."

Adonis does not move. He holds my wrist firmly but without pain or anger. His eyes watch me as I tremble in the rain.

"Jane, I would never hurt you."

"Have you been working with him?" I feel myself start to break. "Have you been working with Accelius?" My voice raises at the end, desperate to be proven wrong.

He pulls me closer to him and I breathe in the scent of his cologne. It invades my senses and I feel suffocated by the wonderful smell.

"No."

"Then who are you?" I demand while trying and failing to keep my voice from shaking. I can't tell if it is the rain or the complete shock I am in.

"I can't tell you that now. I will soon but not now."

Rain continues to drench every part of me. A flash of lightning and a deep rumble from the sky makes me jump.

"Don't do that. Don't be scared." His voice is calm and pleading as he pulls me to him, wrapping his arms around me. I freeze and don't move an inch as he holds me to him.

"Why does this have to happen?" My voice is small and weak.

He pulls away and I feel his hand rest on my cheek. It is warm against my cold skin. A calmness consumes me and my shivering stops almost instantly. "I will never hurt you, Jane. I don't work for Accelius Vallorani and I never will."

"Why did you leave dinner early?"

"Alec informed me that someone was seen lurking around your building. They checked your apartment before I dropped you off. I had to stay to make sure it was still safe." I can hear the desperation in his voice.

"You have been keeping him away? This whole time?"

He nods. "Jane, I'll always keep you safe."

"Who are you, Adonis?"

He goes quiet but his eyes remain locked on mine. The rain lightens but the rumbling is still nearby, off in the distance. His thumb wipes away a stray tear and I stop crying. His arm around my waist tightens and I feel myself lulling into his safe embrace. I feel protected in his large arms.

"Così bello." [So beautiful]. His voice is deep and full of so much emotion. His eyes are racing across my face, taking me in before settling on my lips. I see the want, the pull in his eyes.

"Adonis, please kiss me." I whisper. I just want to know what it feels like.

"Non posso, il mio cuore." [I can't, my heart].

"Why?"

"Because I have to keep you safe from me."

I swallow down the sadness. "Please don't."

"I'll have Alec take you back."

"Adonis, please."

He pulls away and I am left numb as the cold rainy wind can finally get to me. I watch as Adonis disappears back down the alley and soon after Alec comes around the same corner.

"Let's go, Jane."

I numbly follow Alec back to my apartment and wrap my arms around myself.

As the warm elevator moves up floors, I break the silence and look at Alec. "Does Blue know?"

The elevator stops and dings as the doors open. "Yes."