Estelle

15| Keep me Close

"Come back with me. I promise I'll help you start over."

I look down at my hands that are folded in my lap. He is sitting next to me on the bed. "I can't, Accelius will hurt Blue and Alec and," I look up at him, trying to hold back the tears, "he will hurt you."

"He can't hurt us. He might be dangerous but I'm even worse. Even though I have people who hate me I also have people who like me."

I see the sincerity in his eyes. "But I already got people killed."

"What do you mean?" He frowns and the faint light makes his gray eyes seem darker.

"That girl at the party and two other people. He killed them because of me." I look back to my hands as tears run down my face.

"That is in no way your fault, iI mio cuore. He is the only one to blame." [My heart] I feel his hand rest on my head and he pulls me to him. I bury my face in his chest and let the tears fall. "I'll keep you safe until I can get you somewhere safer."

After I cried into his chest, we both fell asleep laying next to each other. I clung to him all night and couldn't let him go. Anytime he would shift, I would hold on tighter. His strong arms were around my waist the whole time, keeping me safe from the world.

The next morning we wake up in silence and I take a shower in the very small dusty bathroom. When I come out, Adonis is waiting and after I am dressed, we go to the store for some food.

The whole time we just enjoy the silence and only speak when we have to. Once back in the cabin, Adonis and I start to make breakfast in continued silence.

After finishing the beacon, we both sit down at the small round table in the corner of the cabin. As we eat, I bring the coffee to my lips and turn my head to look out the window. The trees outside are dense against the cabin and I can't see very far into it.

"Jane." I turn my head back to Adonis. He has finished his plate and is just watching me. "Tell me about your mother."

I smile down at my coffee as I place it on the table. "That's what you want to learn about?"

He gives a quiet "I do. You don't talk about her."

"Her and my father were very in love. When I was young my father wasn't too involved with the mafia but had a gambling problem. As I got older he got into debt and we fell into poverty." I look down at my empty plate. "My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 8 and she started showing me how to stitch up dad's wounds after he got home from 'work'. I didn't know until after she was gone that his work was doing the dirty work of the mafia."

"I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "My dad always regretted how he destroyed our family, or at least that is what he said to me. I look," I gesture to my blonde hair and hazel eyes, "just like her and I think that tortured him."

"My mom wasn't around much and my dad was too focused on being the Don to raise Accelius and I right." Adonis says quietly.

After a moment of silence I mutter something before getting up to clean up. "I guess we both have our haunted past."

Adonis insists on doing the dishes and I am standing across the kitchen from him feeling completely useless. As I watch him, a thought comes creeping into my mind. 

"Why did you hire me?"

Adonis turns off the water and pauses to turn around and face me. The sleeves of his dark blue shirt are rolled up to his elbow and his arm muscles look so well defined.

"When I first saw your name and did a background check, I quickly found out who you were. You covered your tracks well but I was still able to find information on you."

He dries his hands off with a towel and I watch him wrap the fabric around his hands.

"I felt bad so I invited you to an interview." He takes a step closer to me and I raise my eyes to look at him. His eyes are a swirling gray with emotions I cannot place. "It wasn't petty anymore the moment you walked into my office."

"What was it then?"

"I was intrigued. You seemed to know more than you were letting on and most people show what they know at interviews."

"I wanted a normal job. I wanted to blend in."

He chuckles and my heart jumps. I didn't notice until his chest rumbled how close he had gotten.

His eyes pour into mine and I return the same gaze. "What are we, Adonis?"

His eyes close half way as he seems captivated. "I don't know."

His hand raises and I hold my breath as it gently brushes the hair on my shoulder. I feel tension form in the bottom of my stomach as I gaze into the eyes of this amazing man. His black hair sweeps across the top of his eyebrows in gentle curls. His jaw and cheek bones are sharp and manly, making him look like a god of a man. The way his gray eyes travel over my face makes me feel like the most precious person in the room.

"Jane..." His voice is deeper than it was before and this time husky. I feel my heart pound in my chest as his face comes closer. I lift up on my toes to get closer to him. "I can't help myself", he whispers more so to himself than me.

I let my hands slide along his forearms. I can feel how solid the muscles are and my hand looks so pale against his tan, olive skin. I tug on the sleeve of his shirt to pull him closer.

His lips brush against mine and I suck in a breath. His cologne and aftershave fills my senses and I feel hypnotized.

"Adonis... I..." I watch as his eyes slowly close and I do the same.

"What have you done to me, Jane?" I feel his lips touch mine and a burst of electricity erupts between us. I feel a deep red flower bloom within my chest. It emits peace and tranquility and I can't help but wrap my arms around his neck.

As quickly as the kiss came, it ends after a few moments. It ends too fast and I feel like the air has been knocked out of me.

He lifts his head away from me and a gray sadness overtakes his eyes.

"Why?" I whisper.

"You came to Italy to get away from that dangerous life." He pulls away from me. "I can't drag you back into this."

I look up at him in annoyance. "Tell me something. I never got an answer from you." He watches me warily, his dark brows furrowing and his steel gray eyes watching. "Why did you come back from France so soon and lock yourself in your office for the rest of the week?"