"𝐀𝐊- 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐋𝐄𝐘," Max called, "You're going to be late if we don't leave now. Hurry up tesoro."
Ashley ran downstairs, fixing her short and choppy blonde hair, "Alright, alright. How do I look?"
"Beautiful as always," Julio's deep voice responded from behind her, "Come on. I'm sure you'll do great."
She gave him a small smile, skipping out the doorway to the car.
Julio turned to Max, who nodded and said, "It's better this way. She'll be okay."
A frown crossed Julio's face, before he sighed, "She's still our Akira, just different now I suppose."
"It's for the better," Max soothed, rolling his eyes as her blonde head popped back in, urging them to hurry up. "We're coming, calm down."
Julio nodded his head, striding towards the door, and heading out into the warm Italian sunshine. What better way to fool the capo of the Italian mafia than to hide in his own territory?
Akira's memory would come back. It was inevitable. They just had to make sure she was ready to deal with what she would learn. He didn't dare pry to see how much she remembered.
For now, he was content giving her the life she deserved. A break from all the bullshit she had to put up with. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
*****
Akira beamed at the woman in front of her, "How can I help you today?"
The woman smiled back, "Just these items. That's a beautiful necklace you've got there."
"Thank you," Akira unconsciously ran her finger over the rose charm, grazing over where the hidden blade was located, before she started scanning the woman's items.
She couldn't wait for her best friends to come and pick her up after her shift which ended in a few minutes. An odd feeling gnawed at her insides. It felt as if it had been such a long time since she had hung out with them.
Shrugging it off, she finished scanning the woman's items before going into the backroom of the store to get changed.
Once she was changed, she headed out into the parking lot, clambering into the familiar sleek car that awaited her. Max sat in the passenger seat, feet up on the dashboard, arguing with Julio cheekily.
"Honestly, you'd think I'm the older one," Julio muttered as Akira buckled her seatbelt, a laugh escaping her.
Max wrinkled his face at Julio's statement, "Like I'd want to be old. Look at how handsome I am right now; you can age grandpa."
Akira smiled contentedly as Julio and Max bickered back and forth with one another whilst Julio drove. Being best friends with the both of them was the best thing in her life. Yet, it felt as if something was missing. Someone who she had been closest to.
Their face eluded her grasp, as she tried to recall who it was.
"Mi cielo," Julio coaxed gently, "are you okay? We're here."
Sure enough, when she glanced outside the window, she was greeted with the sight of white sand seeming to sprawl for miles, azure water lapping gently at its edges. She gave him a nod, taking his outstretched hand and hopping out onto the grass.
Max was already running onto the sand, spinning around and flopping onto it, sending sand granules flying. Akira laughed as it landed in his hair and screamed as he chased after her.
Julio shook his head fondly, pushing Akira behind him and giving his cousin a mock stern look. "Now, now Max. She's the princess remember?"
"Yes, and we're her measly little servants," Max gave Akira a deep bow.
A smile teased at the corner of her mouth, as she stepped out from behind Julio with the most regal air she could muster, "Bow down to me ye peasants."
"Hey, that's not how it goes," Julio swatted her shoulder lightly, before slinging it around her, tugging her to his side.
Max slung his arm around the other side of her, resting his head on top of hers. "I miss being young."
"You were the one who said you were handsome and young," Akira raised an eyebrow as she watched the pink and purple hues of the sunset slowly meld with the deep midnight colored sky.
Julio exchanged a look with Max over the top of her head.
"I am, we just haven't had a chance to be young once again, that's all. I guess I am an old grandpa, reminiscing," Max teased her.
The three of them then lapsed into silence, letting the sound of the ocean waves fill the emptiness and the salt spray their faces, the only thing that served as a reminder of the past, glittering gently against the hollow of Akira's neck.
*****
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Secrets Untold
Teen FictionThe Romano brothers hadn't seen their sisters for over ten years. Finally reunited by chance, Akira and Lila settle in. However, they were kept in the dark about what their brothers do. A mafia. An assassin. A murky past. What happens when one twin...