He's Fire and She's Playing with It - Mafia Version

Chapter 26: Monster

"Alesso?", Clara said as she let the door to the caféteria fall shut behind her. "Of course I've heard about them. How come you haven't?"

Ally shrugged. They walked along the corridor leading to the last thing shielding them from customer questions and nagging looks of managers, a door.

"How should I know?"

She searched in Clara's face for some kind of fear, but all she found was excitement.

"I know you won't listen to me if I tell you to stay away, and I don't believe anyone could be such an idiot that they torture or murder anyone who happens to cross their paths. Have fun with the guy if you want to, don't get serious involved with him, and keep your distance to places where he has the upper hand. Acknowledge that he's dangerous, but come on, a handsome guy in his late twenties treating your body like a princess? I wouldn't say no."

Clara's honesty was like a brush of fresh air. She had been always been attracted to danger, Ally could bet her left kidney that she wished they could swap places, but she had always been good at keeping things casual, separated from her personal life. She hadn't told her about Benjamin though. She couldn't, not when that might put him, or her, in danger. What he had done for her. What she had let him do to her. She blushed. She couldn't really explain what had gotten into her, but the truth was that the spanking had been some kind of blessing. She had felt better otherwise, less guilt ridden. When she didn't want to speak afterward, denying him giving her any type of aftercare, he had slipped out of the flat and left her alone.

The door by the end of the corridor opened and Leo stepped in. Her stomach turned to ice as Clara hurried the last few metres and took over the weight of the door as he handed it over to her.

"Thank you", she said quickly.

Ally followed her out and let out a small "Hi", when she passed him. She didn't give him any to time to answer, not even gave him a second glance, before disappearing into the never-ending stream of customers.

She felt guilty. Guilty for letting herself get punished by Benjamin, guilty for disclosing her longing for him outside the club, and guilty for causing his friend, and in return him, pain. Benjamin had told Leo and the others that he had been robbed. It was a good excuse, solid, but she wished he would've just avoided them until he healed. She knew how greatly it hurt Leo seeing his friend beaten.

"Are you okay?" Clara waved her hand in front of Ally's face.

She nodded. "Yes, always."

"Maybe you should play with this Adryan. You could use something to get your mind off of Leo."

Ally shot her a smile that she knew didn't reach her eyes. Thankfully, Clara didn't seem to notice.

"Twice will be enough", she said. "Hit and run the sequel."

Ally was choosing what to wear. She had to see Adryan one last time. Since she had accepted his invitation before Benjamin came knocking on the door, it would look suspicious otherwise. Maybe she shouldn't have told Clara. It would've been better if she stayed unknowing, innocent. Ally didn't even know why she had. Perhaps, she only wanted reassurance, comfort, someone to be aware of whom she was with and where she was going.

She pulled out a red dress but quickly put it back in the wardrobe. She didn't even bother folding it. Daniel still had his nails in her skin. She was prepared to claw it all off, if it meant that she would never think about him again, never feel the effect of the trauma, never breathe the same air as him. Sadly, she couldn't, so the skin stayed where it was.