Another's Demise

For Her

Cameron

There wasn't much I could not accomplish given the right time frame and mindset. And I had all the will I needed to dig into Vincent Torres. What I hadn't told Alara, was that I was already seeking out all the knowledge I could on the Falco Mafia leader.

There was always something so forced about his expressions, a calculation, a plot. The same tightened look my father would have.

The leader of the Duplicitous who hadn't made an appearance since the swarming of the Ball, to celebrate Alara's return.

Fire had crushed all evidence of them, charred and blackened masks spread across the rubble, and the helm of his staff.

But I knew of all people, father was not dead.

He would come for her, and I would not allow him to destroy her.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come to Italy?" Leo's voice rand down the receiver, an edge of worry clinging to each word.

"Yes, you focus on your wedding."

"I can't really focus, not without my best man. You've been through a lot Cam," he murmured softly, "Do you ever take a break?"

"You've known me my whole life, Leo," was my only response.

"So you haven't slept in days. And you keep thinking of her, endlessly, wishing you could have done it all different-"

"Ok." I cut him off, "No need to remind me,"

"That's what I'm here for, to remind you you're a piece of shit."

I chuckled lowly, "Sure."

"You stay safe okay, Echo's still with you Ma and Brother right?"

"Yeah, him and Connor seem to be close. He doesn't really want Echo to leave so he'll be staying with them for a while. He's been looking into Vincent. But I wanted to ask-"

"So you didn't call me to see how I was," he chastised.

"No. Why would I do that?"

"Honest to a fault, right Cam. And about Vincent, there's a lot that doesn't sit right."

"Like what?"

"Like the fact that he had no interest in Alara, until the rumours of the Blood Diamond became true. It was only after the listing was placed on the Black Market, that Vincent ever wanted to interact with her. You would think there would be some support, a money trail anything. I mean even Mafia Lords have to provide child support, right?"

It was an odd question, "I assume so, he does have a legitimate business, so he'd have to save face."

"I can get over the no want or need to see her," it was a harsh truth to expel into the world, but a necessary one, "But to never keep tabs on her. Your only heir? And what makes it more off is the story behind his brother."

"Isobel's father?" I questioned. A tightness in my chest, the memory of Alara's sister, so enthused and ready for life, despite everything that had happened to her.

"Yes, there was a huge fight between them, a lot of bloodshed and a solidifying of the position of the Falco Mafia as the most powerful in Italy. They were estranged after that. But many say it was because Victor Torres, his brother found out about something, something so terrible it cost him his life."

"You're not saying that..."

"Vincent was likely the one that orchestrated the death of his brother."

It was brutal the story of Victor Torres' death, he had been confined to his house, arson the reason for the burning down of his family home, in a far off corner of Italy. But there was more than just fire that blazed through the building, there were bullet casings, melted in the debris, Victor Torres was likely shot and incapacitated before the fire. But his body was unrecognisable when found.

"You cannot tell anyone what you have found Leo, promise me that."

It would break her all over again. It would break the welded safety of her heart, and she would be lost forever. To know her father was capable of such.

But we had no proof just an inkling, but it was a rotten thought, a poison that turned through me.

He looked at Isobel with such love, with care that couldn't possibly come from someone who had murdered his own brother.

But then again, you didn't become the most feared Mafia by being honourable.

"We need Echo to find some proof of this,"

"I hope it isn't true, because that's fucked," Leo spoke what I was feeling.

"Yeah," I wouldn't put it past the sallow faced leader. The eyes that had seen to much to even flinch at the sight of blood.

"Alara. How's she?"

"Still despises me, can't even look at me," and it burnt to see the hatred flare in eyes that had the capacity to be full so much love. But there came a time when the soul could not bear to hold up that precious smile.

I hoped it wasn't gone forever.

"And she took her ring off."

There was a hiss of breath across the phone, "Ah I'm sorry man."

"It's fine."

And it wasn't.

But there was no one to tell, no one to know the wrought twitsted feeling in my gut, Leo did not know what it was to lose the love of your life, he was marrying her in a matter of weeks. And they deserved to be happy Mel and Leo.

"I know when your not fine, Cam, you can't lie to me."

My heart clenched at that, "I didn't lie. I don't lie."

"Perhaps not to other's but you do to yourself all the damn time. Let yourself feel for once, don't bottle it up. It sucks. It's a shitty situation but think of it this way. She asked for your help. She still trusts you. Build up the relationship again. I don't think anyone but you could ever be right for Alara."

And I wished it to be true, heart heavy I nodded into the barren air, "Ok, yeah. I'll try."

"You'll do more than try-" a voice burst through the line. I heard a scuffle before Mel's voice rang true, "Remember what I said Grayson. You get her back, you damn fool. And you do it even if you have grovel on your knees."

I bend for no one

What a distant memory.

And what a bold faced lie, now.

I would bend for her.

I would die for her.

For her, there was nothing that I wouldn't do.

For her, I would rip apart my soul, just for a fraction of her brilliant smile.

For her I would run myself into the ground.

For her.