Rebound // Alfie Solomons

70. Rings

Alfie was in a mood. But of course he was. Cora told him that she loved him, that he was her future, her world and couldnt imagine a life without him and then she agreed to marry the enemy to keep, Finn, polly, Arthur and Ada safe. Charles safe if the fucker was crazy enough to kill a child.

"Cora." Ollie startled when he saw her.

"Hey." She rocked off the wall and moved to him. "Alfie around?" Ollie hesitated she saw his eyes drift to the office. She opened her mouth but a sigh came out instead of everything she had racing through her mind. She gave his arm a squeeze as she passed. She knocked on the open door and alfie didnt even look up.

"Fuck off Ollie. Im not in the mood." Alfie barked.

"Not Ollie." Cora offered "and im confident i could get you in the mood." His eyes drifted up to her

"Dont be cute Cora." Alfie told her and she pulled the door closed behind her.

"It comes naturally." she offered leaning against his desk. "Alfie-"

"Should I be calling you mrs Changretta?" Alfie pondered.

"What?" Cora coutnered. "no. Alfie I wanted to-"

"I'm leaving Cora."

"I want to-"

"I don't care what you want anymore." Alfie corrected.

"Alfie don't go." Cora begged.

"I'm always going to love you but you can't love me."

"That's not true. I love you. I want you!" Cora begged.

"I'm never going to be more important than the shelby family." Alfie corrected.

"You are. You are! You are my family!" Cora begged. "You know this deal with the changrettas is business. We can still-"

"Im moving." Alfie told her

"What?" Cora rasped. 

"Margate." Alfie answered stiffly. 

"Oh." Cora stared back at him. "Thats not such a far commute," she offered. Alfie opened his drawer and slammed down a little box. Velvet. Coras eyes drifted from it to Alfie.

"Go on it was for you." Alfie told her. She slid it slowly to her popping the top. She wanted to cry.

"Alf-"

"I was going to propose but like an idiot you were already agreeing to marry some Italian cunt!" Alfie spat

"Alfie," she rasped

"Damnit Cora you know how long I had this ring?" Alfie questioned scratching at his beard. She felt a shaky breath leave her lips. "Maybe if i was just a little bit quicker." Alfie tsked.

"Alfie..." it was all she could say. Tears in her eyes. What had she become? WHat did she do? She loved Alfie, her father was right, she was so foolish to run away from something good. 

"Keep it. Toss it. I dont care. I cant look at it." Alfie told her. "Get the fuck out Cora."

"Alfi-"

"Go Cora." Alfie begged. Cora put the box down as she nodded tears welling in her eyes. "Take the ring." Alfie said stiffly. "It's still yours." Cora grabbed it in shaky hands.

"Alfie I would have married you." Cora told him honestly. "I would have loved to marry you."

"Goodbye Cora." She nodded putting the ring on. It was perfect. Alfie watched her staring down at it.

Cora looked back to him and he didnt see the strong brave woman that always presented herself. He saw a broken girl regretting everything. 

+

"I'm glad you agreed to join me to dinner." Luca remarked. He tried to ignore the tear stains on her cheeks. Tried to ignore that she seemed a little bit broken, possibly at the fact that she was marrying him. "I wont mistreat you." Luca assured. "We will be partners, if you want this to be a business dinner, we can change course and I can try to ignore how beautiful you look in that dress." Cora offered him a small smile. 

"No, I would rather keep it casual." Cora offered as she downed her drink. "Keep em coming." Cora requested the waiter. 

"I have a feeling you are a woman that knows what she wants and what she likes." luca mused as he took a sip of his drink. 

"I do," she agreed. "Doesnt mean its right. Or good for me, or healthy..." she added

"A strong powerful woman like yourself. Thats right. That sexy. Thats dripping with desire already." Luca said dragging a hand up her thigh along her dress. "I bet youre dripping." Luca remarked. "I bet if i moved my hand a little further his hand traced the hem if her dress. I would find a lake of desire waiting for me." But luca saw the ring on her finger. "You get a new ring? Didnt like the one I picked out?" Cora shifted it to a different finger. 

"No... just... a friend got me something as... an engagement gift I suppose." 

"A ring?"