She

Chapter 12 - Airplanes and Ships

'I learned love can't always weather the circumstances of our lives.'

Ellen Hopkins, The You I've Never Known

3rd POV

The first light of dawn filtered through the curtains as Anna and Maddison lay entwined in the warmth of each other's embrace. The gentle hum of the early morning was a stark contrast to the hushed intimacy they shared. Anna, reluctantly stirring from their shared cocoon, glanced at the clock.

"Hey, Maddison," Anna murmured, her  voice a soft caress, "I've got that meeting with Will and Xavier in two hours. I should get up and prepare."

Maddison groaned, their eyes half-closed, refusing to let go. "Can't it wait? It's too early, and you're warm."

Anna chuckled, tracing lazy circles on Maddison's back. "I wish it could, but duty calls. Plus, I need to pick up Estella from the airport later."

Maddison's eyes flickered open, a hint of reluctance in their gaze. "Estella, huh? Why are you picking her up?"

Anna sighed, amused by Maddison's sleepy jealousy. "Estella's back in town, and you know how she is. Always wanting a grand entrance."

Maddison pouted, feigning nonchalance, "Yeah, sure, grand entrance. Sounds fun."

Anna sensed Maddison's petty jealousy but decided not to address it directly. "Come on, don't be grumpy. I'll make it up to you later, promise."

Maddison tightened their hold, burying their face in Anna's neck. "You better!"

Anna chuckled again, savoring the moment before untangling from Maddison's embrace. As Anna got up, Maddison muttered, "I hate early mornings."

Anna leaned down, planting a soft kiss on Maddison's forehead. "You're adorable when you're sleepy and petty."

Maddison scowled playfully, "I'm not petty. Just... not a morning person."

Anna slipped into their clothes, glancing back at Maddison. "Well, get some more sleep. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Maddison sighed, "Just be careful with Estella. I don't trust her."

Anna shot Maddison a knowing look, "Jealous, are we? Relax, it's just a pickup from the airport."

Maddison grumbled, "Not jealous. Just... concerned."

Anna smiled, seeing through the façade. "Sure, Maddison. I'll be back soon."

As Anna left the room, Maddison rolled over, letting out a frustrated sigh. The early morning light seemed to magnify Maddison's internal conflict. Despite the insistence on being "just friends," the twinge of jealousy persisted. Meanwhile, Anna, the hopeless romantic, couldn't help but revel in the subtle dynamics of their intricate relationships within the mafia.

At the airport, Anna spotted Estella, standing by the arrivals gate, her charismatic smile lighting up the space. Estella greeted Anna with a hug that lingered just a bit longer than necessary.

"Missed me?" Estella teased, their voice dripping with playful charm, "you look amazing" she winked as Anna took her bags away.

"As always a pleasure, Estella. Looks like you still have your flirtatious tendencies" chuckled Anna while dramatically opening the car door for her and starting the engine.

"Man, I missed this princess treatment! By the way how's the big alpha? Is he nervous about the coronation?" Estella asked.

"About him being the new Boss? No. About who is gonna be the queen next to his throne? Yes" Anna joked

"Gosh, I'm here on time. It's time to play cupid!" she exclaimed.

"As long as it's just him and him only" Anna replied, feeling lucky to not be in his position.

"You know, I just noticed that you are still a lonely workaholic. I just might shoot an arrow at you" playfully joked Estella

"Let's get going. Maddison is waiting.", said Anna looking for a subtle change of topic

Estella smirked, "Aah, Maddison. The ever-vigilant friend. I bet she is thrilled to see me."

Anna smirked back, "Thrilled might be an exaggeration. More like reluctantly tolerating. Don't forget she is the soon to be Boss's favorite sister"

"I think you mean only sister" retorted back Estella, clearly not happy with what all was going on while she was undercover in another country.

As they left the airport, Anna couldn't shake the awareness of the dynamics at play. The complex web of relationships within the mafia house seemed to tangle even more with the arrival of Estella, adding a new layer to the intricate dance of friendship, duty, and unspoken desires.