Burnt Lies

Bloodlines

Cameron

"Does that prove it to you darling?" I pulled back from the kiss my hands still framing her face, her eyes wide as she looked longingly into mine. 

I brushed a stray tear from her eye and heard her breath hitch. 

"Say it again," she murmured softly. 

"Say what darling?" I smiled back at her. 

In response she pulled me closer pressing her lips against mine for the second time, she was much gentler than I had been, her lips parting slightly as she pulled back from the chaste kiss. 

"Never call me Alara again," and then she pushed at my chest, a playful gesture as she stepped back, her fingers lightly touching her pink lips. 

"I can't believe we just did that," there was something whimsical about the tone of her voice like she couldn't quite grasp that this was a reality, "I'm supposed to be mad at you, you're mad at me and we just-"

"Well you know what they say the most passionate lovers are the ones that are always angry at one another," I drawled. 

She scrunched her nose up in that adorable manner, "No one has ever said that ever."

I flashed her a grin, "I guess I'll just have to trademark it."

She snorted a little, "Good luck with that," I had the sudden urge to scoop her up into my arms and never let go. All remnants of anger had dissipated.

So I did just that, I reached for her arm and pulled her into my chest.  I heard the soft gasp she gave before her face was buried in my shirt. I rested my chin on her head, breathing out slowly as I whispered to her, "Let's just stay like this for a moment."

She hummed in response, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace. She too never wanted to let go and for a time we could convince ourselves that everything was ok as long as we had each other to rely on. We could disillude ourselves into believing that times could always be like this. 

The moment was broken by the ringing of her a phone, it was Alara's, she pulled free of the hug and reached into her back pocket pulling out her vibrating phone. It was the new one I had bought her a couple of days ago, the screen flashed with the caller ID 'Devil."

I furrowed my brows, "Devil? Whose that?"

She hesitated for a moment before spilling the truth, "Uh...it's your father. I was sort of angry when I made the ID name, he made me take his number down."

"Answer it," I instructed, "But put it on speaker, I want to hear everything he says, but don't let him know that I am with you, I want to know what he says when he thinks I'm not there."

"Ok, sounds good," she answered the phone turning it on speaker and laying it down on the counter. 

"Hello?" her voice was immediately unsure of itself, the confidence that she usually had ebbing away from it.

"Alara, dear," I hated the way he spoke to her, with false sensitivity and care. I caused my jaw to lock to force myself not to give him a piece of my mind, "I'm sure you have thought a lot about our little talk and what you need to do in order for me to nullify the clause of your marriage,"

"What?" Alara bit out her fiery nature bursting forth, "You said you would already change that,"

"That my dear is where you are mistaken, I said I would change it, not that I would change it immediately. There is much you need to do before that clause is taken out,"

"You liar," she seethed, only to be met with coarse laughter. 

"You sound just like my son, you really are a perfect pair," I can't react, I began to tell myself it would put Alara in danger, she had told me how he had made her promise not to involve me, "No Alara, I have made an appointment for your birthmark to be analysed,"

"You're not cutting it off me," she snapped. Her eyes glancing over to me as she saw me tense, at the thought of her being hurt once again. 

Again my father chuckled on the other side of the line, "I'm not as barbaric as those fools who tried to steal what is mine,"

"It's not-" he immediately cut her off ignoring all her words. 

"They were stupid to think that it would be as simple as removing it from you, but your grandfather was much smarter than that, what they don't realise is that birthmark requires your living blood and nutrients to keep it viable, without you, the map diminishes, it lives and dies with you. No, I have had an expert who will look carefully at it and as best as he can replicate it."

"Once it's replicated will I be free of you?" there was hope in the intonation of her voice one that I knew was wholly misplaced as nothing was that simple when it involved my father. 

"I'm sorry but it is not as easy as that. You will still be desired, while I may have a copy of the map and where the Blood Diamond is, other gangs will not know that, they will still be seeking after you, and if I have you with will bend to my very whim."

Alara let out a sigh, her hand raking through her hair in a nervous habit, "But what will you promise them to get them to obey? They will want me in exchange do you intend to send me off like a lamb to slaughter?"

"No, of course not, why ever would I do that my future daughter-in-law, just dangling the possibility in front of them will be enough and if they become too rowdy remember that I will have a copy of the map, I will have the Blood Diamond."

"If you go around flaunting the diamond, I won't be of use to you or anyone anymore, what do I have that insures my safety," the question she asked was a critical one as I could imagine how all hell would break lose once the Blood Diamond was found. And where would that leave Alara? Entirely vulnerable?

"My dear, you really don't know much about the Blood Diamond, it is not called a Blood Diamond because it is red, it is called a Blood Diamond because only those linked to the Mortello bloodline can retrieve it."

"So why can't my father just get it for you? You seem to be the best of friends," she bit out sarcastically, accentuating her statement with a roll of her eyes in my direction knowing fully well my father could not see her. 

"Ah, I must amend my previous statement, only the female heir of the Mortello family can retrieve the Blood Diamond,"

She let out a sigh in response, "And I'm the only female Mortello heir, everything is making so much more sense now."

"Exactly, and you as Cameron's bride will mean that the only Mortello daughter would have sworn allegiance and be a part of the Vipers, our secret weapon."

I didn't take well to Alara being objectified as a mere weapon, although she was a deadly shot, she wasn't a sword to be wielded at the hands of power starved men. 

"The appointment is Wednesday at 3:45 at Hours Clinic don't be late," and with that the line went dead. 

"I really hate him, " Alara breathed out, turning back towards me. 

"I can tell, darling," I responded wrapping an arm around her and pulling her to my side.

She rested her head on my shoulder, "When did life had to become so complicated?"

"I'm sorry darling," I genuinely apologised because I felt it was my fault that she was in this situation. 

"You have nothing to be sorry about, you just need to promise me you'll be with me throughout this whole thing," she reminded me. 

"There's no where else I'll be, I'll be here for every step. I promise to look after you." I pressed a soft kiss to her head, "And I don't go back on my promises."

"I know, breaking a promise would be too much like lying to you, and I know you won't lie to me."

"Not ever."