Kidnapped By The Mafia

The Plan

•Noah•

The pain was the first thing I felt when I opened my eyes. It wasn't that sharp, not like it had been right after the bullet tore through me. My vision was blurry and it took me a moment to realize I was staring at the ceiling of my own room.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my chest, forcing me back down. I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut. And that's when I heard footsteps approaching, heavy and deliberate.

"Don't move." Matthew's voice came from somewhere near my feet. There was a sharp edge to his tone.

"Where...?" I managed to rasp, but the words were cut short by the pain in my chest.

"Where do you think?" He snapped, his voice closer now, as he sat down beside me. "You're lucky I found you before you bled out."

I turned my head just enough to see his face. He looked angry, no shit. Usually, Matthew kept his cool, no matter what situation I dragged us into. But right now, he looked, well, let's say displeased and definitely not happy.

"I didn't ask for this favour." I glared at him.

He let out a bitter laugh, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. "Nope, you certainly didn't. But I knew something was up when you left without telling anyone anything. You went to meet that woman again, didn't you?"

I didn't answer. What could I say? He already knew.

He shook his head. "I don't get it. What is it about her that makes you lose all common sense? You know Marcellus is out of his fucking mind. And yet, you keep going back."

"Matthew." I started but he cut me off with a sharp glare.

"No. You listen to me this time, boss. You've been obsessed with this girl for god knows how long and it's going to get you killed. Or worse, get all of us killed. And for what? A woman who clearly doesn't give a fuck about anyone but him?"

I rolled my eyes at his words.

Melena, she was different. I'd known that from the moment I saw her in that locked room of Marcellus's house. Woman was fiery and would just not go down without a fight or Xander completely losing his mind. She wasn't just another woman that Xander caught. Him and I we both knew that. She was so much more.

But explaining that to Matthew or anyone as a matter of fact was just a waste of my time.

Matthew let out a frustrated sigh after seeing me quite. He stood up and started pacing around the room. "You don't have a choice here. He's going to kill you next time. Hell, he almost did this time."

"He didn't shoot to kill." I muttered, half to myself.

"What?" Matthew turned, his eyes narrowing.

"He could have killed me, but he didn't." I said, my mind racing as I replayed the events of that night. Xander's face, his hand shaking as he held the gun. But he didn't go for the kill shot. He aimed near the heart, a wound meant to hurt, definitely, but not to end.

Matthew shook his head, disbelief clear on his face. "You're telling me he shot you out of some twisted sense of mercy? That's your defense?"