Burnt Lies

Something to Control

Cameron 

I was in my car when I got the call from Leo, "There's been a situation with Alara," his voice was measured and rushed all at once.

"What happened?" I asked immediately turning my car around and heading towards the Mortello household.

"There was an attack they tried to take Alara, and the Mortellos think it has something to do with her engagement to you," Leo explained succinctly. 

I cursed under my breath, "Did they get her?"

"No but she's a bit shaken up so be gentle when you get there,"

I scoffed, "Me gentle?"

"I know Cam, but I don't think scaring her is going to do any good when she was almost kidnapped," Leo sighed, "Just be nice for once,"

"Alright, just this once."

It didn't take long for my car to pull into the driveway of the Mortello house, as soon as I exited the car I saw the damage, one of the large windows was burst open and completely shattered, leaving a trail of glass into the kitchen. There were shells of bullets just behind the window frame from what must have been an intense shoot out. 

As soon as I knocked on the door it was flung open by Alara's brother Theo Mortello, stood in the door frame. He scowled when he saw me, his jaw clenching in anger, and a singular flash of hatred in his eyes, "What are you doing here?"

He was about the same height as me, his broad shoulders reaching from each edge of the door and those dark eyes followed my every move. He was every bit as dangerous as me but he didn't have the same reputation I had. I was know for my ruthlessness for a reason. 

"I'm here to check on my fiancé." putting extra emphasis on the word fiancé just to anger him further. It didn't matter to me if I had his approval or not. 

Without another word, Theo stepped to the side and let me in, there was a mass of guards and people rushing around and it struck me as to why they weren't here when the actual attack had occurred, but I didn't have time to be questioning the security of the Mortellos, I only had my eyes out for one Mortello and that was Alara.

As soon as I settle my eyes on her, she looked up as though sensing my presence, there was a pressed look of shock on her features like she didn't expect me to be there. As I got closer, I noticed she was clutching onto a small fragment of paper, the edges crumpled in her small hands. 

"Want to tell me what happened, darling?" she did seem just as shaken as Leo had told me she was. There was a look of tangible fear in her eyes, and there was a bruise making itself known on the length of her arm. 

I sat down next to her and she lifted those soft golden eyes at me, but there was still a fire in them that couldn't be quelled even with the recent events, she held her head high and said, "I'm guessing you already know, isn't that what they say nothing can get past the oh so great Cameron Grayson,"

I'm guessing she couldn't be too hurt if her sarcasm was still intact. 

"You're right I do know roughly what happened but I want to hear it from you,"

"Why?"

"Can't a man care about his soon to be wife?"

"You don't care about anyone," she stated as though she already knew everything about me.

"True, but entertain me Alara, pretend I care," to her it was an odd request but she began to divulge what had happened last night. 

"I just woke up thought I'd make a drink and when I was I heard some shuffling from outside, so thinking it was an intruder and it was a grabbed a kitchen knife and hid in that corner," she pointed to a small space between the kitchen counter and window where she could have easily hidden, "But then they started shooting, they must have seen me, it wouldn't take much just them tilting their head slightly and then I would be seen, they started shooting, there was glass everywhere," she paused her breathing quickening slightly but she soon schooled her breaths to become even once more, "I laid on the floor to avoid the glass but then they grabbed me pulled me up and I slashed their arm with the knife," I couldn't help smiling a little at this fact because it meant she really did know how to hold her own, "I shoved him back and that's when Theo came in, he started shooting and then the intruder started to run but they left this," she slipped the note to me and I read it out loud.

"We will take her and give him back whatever's left," the statement was a clear threat but I furrowed my brow at the use of 'him' wondering who that could be referring to and then it dawned on me that they were threating her because they thought I would care if something happened to her. 

"The 'him' in the note its referring to you isn't it?" she asked her voice barely audible as though she didn't want to truly ask the question.

"I'm guessing, yes."

"But why?" her eyes were alight with confusion as she turned fully towards me, looking straight at me, "You don't even care about me what use would it be to threaten me to get to you. You wouldn't care less if I ended up dead in a ditch."

I frowned at her statement, maybe I didn't care about her but it was a bit harsh to say that I wouldn't feel anything at all if as she said she ended up 'dead in a ditch'.

"It's the principle of it," I explained, "Whether I care about you or not you will be my wife and if anyone threatens my wife they are threating me. They are saying that they don't care for what I am responsible for, that they will go against me by getting to you,"

"You're not responsible for me," she insisted obviously wanting to extend that she was entirely independent.

"Whether you like it or not I will be responsible for you,"

She opened her mouth to respond but was stopped by her parents walking in. Her mother rushed to hug her while her fathers eyes settled on me. 

"Ah Cameron, you're here already that's good." he nodded at how close I was to his daughter, "We are going to have to move the wedding up."

"What why?" Alara's voice rang between us, "The whole reason I was attacked was because I was associated with him and you think moving the wedding up will help at all?"

Her father gave her a stern look, "Being married to Cameron will not only provide you with much needed protection it will solidify the alliance between out gangs and strengthen them both making them ready for any possible threat."

Alara looked like she wanted to say something but she merely pressed her lips together and nodded half heartedly. 

"What's more I think you should stay with Cameron until further notice," Alara's eyes widened at the suggestion. 

This time she didn't keep her mouth shut, "What? Why am I not safe here? Don't I get just a little time before you ship me off to him. Do I get a say in anything?"

Her father completely ignored her protests and turned to me, "What do you think Cameron? Would it be better for Alara to stay with you?"

As much as I wanted to say no, that she would be safer in her own home I knew it wasn't the truth and I would eventually have to get used to living with Alara once we were married so moving up the schedule a little shouldn't make much difference. 

"I think it would be better." At my words Alara gave a look of contempt, "Get your things packed sweetheart we'll be leaving soon."

"So that's it. I don't even have a choice?" she was exasperated and annoyed that we were making decisions for her. 

"I'm not just something you can control." she crossed her arms across her chest and had a stern look on her face, a look of complete defiance. 

"No one's trying to control you dear, this is just for your benefit. It will just give you time to get to know your soon to be husband," her father tried to be as consoling as possible.

"Yay for me," again that snarky tone made its appearance and I knew it was something I would have to tolerate and get used to.