Saving Her

Chapter 15: Situation Averted

Audriella's POV:

"What? No. We can't. You can't... We can't get married Zayn." I panic looking from him to my father who is contemplating it. "We hated each other yesterday, my mother will surely be suspicious if all of a sudden today we are getting married! We aren't even together! I just learned the truth about everything yesterday! This is too fast!" I argue.

"It's either marry me or someone you have never met." Zayn argues back. "You already told me you loved me. I know you may not still feel that way. And that's fine. But I care about you Audrey. I care about when happens to you." He tells me, holding eye contact with me.

"I have known that you were who I was going to marry at 8 years old. And I knew I liked you before even that. You have been in my life since I was 6, and you were 4. We grew up together Ella, sure we didn't have the same life, I was raised in this world, and you were raised away from it. Even if we aren't together, or you don't feel that way for me anymore. I refuse to let you get married to somebody you don't even know. You know me! I am still the same Zayn you knew as a kid. Sure, I led this entirely different life that I hid from you, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm still the same person. What someone does for a living doesn't automatically make them a different person. Not all doctors are good people. Not all mafia men are bad. Audrey honestly, you don't even have to stay loyal to me. Your father and birth mother are one of the few who were loyal. Most mafia relationships are filled with affairs. No one would bat an eye if you didn't stay loyal to me. You can date whoever you want. I will never stop you from being who you wish to be. So please, Ella, just sign the damn paper to say we are going to get married. Then you, by contract, can't marry someone else."  He pleads.

I stare at him, then I look to my father who simply nods, saying it's okay, and that he's right. I look back at Zayn, who is patiently waiting for my answer, I turn and look out the window. Thinking about my future and what I want, and then I think about who I want in that future. Do I want to be a prisoner in a marriage I don't want? Do I want someone else someday? Or do I want Zayn? Do I want to marry Zayn? Have a life with him. Do I want to have children with him? A family? Instinctively, my hand goes to my stomach.

I want children, and I want them with somebody I love. I turn to look at Zayn again, his eyes are already on me, well, on the hand that's now on my stomach. Then I look at my father again, who is looking between us both. I look back at Zayn, meeting his eyes, Zayn says I can do that, even if it's not with him. I continue to look into his eyes and nod. Zayn's eyes widen, looking at me.

"Fine. Write up the contract. I'll sign to marry Zayn." I breathe out, not looking away from his eyes. My father doesn't make a sound as he walks out to his office, and begins writing up the contract.

"Zayn." I start

"Don't. Audrey. Don't say anything right now. Let's just get you out of the mess your mother's created for you. We will figure everything out." He interrupts. "I mean it, Audrey. You do not have to be loyal to me. I just want you out of whatever this deal is and safe." He sighs, pulling me into a hug. I just nod in response, wrapping my arms around him.

I need to figure this out for myself before I figure out what to figure out with Zayn. Do I still love him? Are there any feelings left for him at all? What about Leo. I told him I would still want him. And I do, still want him. But I also want Zayn.

I continue to hug him, breathing in.

"Audrey, Leo's here, I snuck him up. Not really sure if that was necessary or not but." Alice chuckles from the door opening it to let Leo in before leaving again.

His eyes meet mine immediately. I pull away from Zayn and make my way over to Leo. He smiles and pulls me into a hug, burying his head into my neck. I sigh in content breathing him in.

Zayn's looking between us confused, but not upset, at all. Leo relaxes at that up pulls me closer to him. He holds my face in his hands staring at my eyes, then my lips.

"Hey" Leo smiles

"Hey, love" I smile back.

Zayn clears his throat behind us and we pull back looking over to him.

"Leo...Leo's the 'L' in your phone? How long have you guys been communicating? How did this happen?" Zayn asks, looking confused. But still not upset

"I never stopped." Leo shrugged. " I went to her birthday party to see her, and we'd randomly meet up after that. Eventually we started texting. It was easier than trying to sneak a meeting in. Especially after she started sneaking out to see E..."

"Okay, we are not tattling!" I scold him, glaring. He just smiles and shrugs.

"So you did know she was sneaking out" Zayn spoke and Leo just nods. "At least she wasn't alone." Zayn sighs in relief.

A few moments later we head into my father's study. He is sitting at his desk, with the contract in hand. He hands it first to Zayn, who immediately grabs it and puts it down on the desk, signing it, without hesitation. I don't think he even read it. He then hands the pen to me, sliding the paper over.

"Wait what's that?" Leo asks, I look at Zayn who explains to Leo

I look at the contract laying on the desk and stare at it. I look at each and every word on the page. Memorizing them all. I look up at Zayn, who is watching me intently. I lean down and sign my name next to his at the bottom.

"You also need to sign here, Audrey." My father states pointing to the authorization line. I sign and hand both the pen and paper back to him.

He takes it and puts it into the locked safe under his desk. With a thumbprint scanner on it. He then adds mine into the system. "Congratulations Amore Mio, you are now the leader of the Moretti Clan. Welcome, to La Cosa Nostra" He smiles, kissing my head.

That's it. Zayn and I are set to be married. The contract is signed. Zayn pulls me to his side and kisses the top of my head.

I'm safe, I can't be given away. I'm okay.

With a sigh of relief, I hug Zayn, burying my head into his chest. Mumbling "Thank you, Zayn."

Zayn mutters a response. And I back away from him, looking at my father.

Before I can open my mouth he speaks first "I'm going to the study. You guys talk or whatever, but you should probably leave soon, Zayn." My father nods before leaving and closing the door.

"So we are gonna get married?" I ask shyly. Not really sure what to say.

"No. I mean, not yet. Not anytime soon. I just got you back I'm not rushing into a marriage with you." He chuckles. "As long as the contract is signed you're safe from someone forcing you to marry them. We just do this, spend time together. Let me and try and fix everything I broke by leaving without saying goodbye. Start as friends. We can go from there, Ella. Whatever you are comfortable with. As long as the contract is signed and you're safe you can do whatever you want. I'm serious. This doesn't mean we have to be together. It's just ensuring you are never forced into something you don't want to do." He shrugs. "And if you decide that this is something you want, if you want to be together, as a couple. I'm okay with that too. More than okay with it. But you don't have to be."

I just nod, relieved that I don't have to plan my dream wedding with no previous warning.

"So, I guess it's time to have the meeting with the Evil Queen?" I ask. He simply nods as a response.