Stay With Me

Chapter 2

Allan

"Izzy's seeing someone."

Fuck.  That's all I can think about.

That's good isn't it? As long as he treats her right, then that's good.  Glad she found someone, I told myself.

Then why do I feel like my heart has been ripped out of me?

I shook my head.

I'm no good for her.  I'm damaged
goods.

I came here for one thing and one thing only. To make sure that my family's safe. I haven't told anyone the real reason I came back. Yes, I missed them. But it wasn't until I received a message. A message that made my gut curl.

I'm coming for you and everyone you care about.

Who sent it? Fuck if I know. I've made a lot of enemies. I know I have to talk about this with the guys and make a plan. Soon. After the party the Anastasi's have prepared for me. I don't want to put a damper on what they have prepared. The respect and love I have for Massimo and Arabella is beyond anything. They've become the parents I never had. The way they have included me, Nate, Jake, and Dave into their family is just amazing. I'm grateful. They love their family fiercely and I love them just as much. I will protect them with my life.

Whoever sent me this note is a fucking idiot. He doesn't know that my family never loses. We always fucking win. He just guaranteed his life sentence by threatening to come after the most
important thing in my life. My family.

Nate

"How is he?" Lia asked as I walked towards her and wrapped her in my arms.

"To be honest, I don't know," I sighed. "He's always been a little reserved, you know that."

"But?" She prompted and I sighed again.

"I know he's back for another reason and he'll tell me when he's ready. I know he's not staying, I just don't know why and when he'll fucking leave again."

Lia squeezed me and sighed.

I chuckled. "We're doing a lot of that. Sighing."

She chuckled too.

"I know something happened to him... both in the past and after Izzy's kidnapping and I know you made a promise and I love you even more for not breaking it, but at one point he needs to realize that we love him and we're his family. No matter what we're here for him."

"And I love you for never asking me to break my promise, because you know that I will never lie to you and will tell you everything you want to know," I admitted. I once told her not to ask me about Allan because I will if she asked me to. I hate keeping things from her, but she respected me and the word I gave Allan not to ask.

"I know and I won't ever ask you to break your word. I just..." She broke off and I know exactly what she's thinking.

"I told him that Bella's seeing someone."

"Good. That will get his head out of his ass," Lia said.

"I think it did something, but..." I trailed off.

Lia frowned. "But what?" She asked.

"As much as Allan wants Bella, he's need to keep her away is strong. He'll fight it and he'll hurt her. He'll want her and still push her away. He'll want to fucking rip this guy apart, but he'll also want him to stay with her," I said.

"Argh," Lia growled. "Him and Dave. I swear. Why do they do this to themselves?"

I looked at her and she flinched a little. Understanding crossing her face.  She knows exactly why Allan and Dave are doing this.