American Dynasty

T W E N T Y - F O U R

I'M ABSOLUTE TRASH FOR NOT UPDATING BUT HIIII HELLOOO HAVE SOME FLYNN

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Flynn woke the next morning to an unusual feeling. Pure and sheer happiness. It was feeling he hadn't felt since he was a small child.

He glanced down and saw Stella sound asleep, her head resting on his chest and her slender arm draped over his waist. He watched her for what seemed like hours, analysing every small detail about her. The light splash of freckles across her nose, the natural highlights in her hair, the way she lightly smiled in her sleep every time he softly caressed her cheek.

A few words came to mind when he thought about Stella: heavenly, ethereal, bright and dangerous. And in the deepest, darkest corner of his mind Flynn had tried to shove away the inevitable truth about his relationship with Stella. He could barely bring himself to think about it, especially now that she was his and he was hers. He was broken from his thoughts when he felt a light kiss on his collarbone. "Good morning," Stella said with a sleepy smile, her eyelids fluttering open.

"A good morning indeed," Flynn replied, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. An abrupt knock on the door made both of them jump. Flynn felt his chest seize up in a panic until a familiar voice came through from the other side of the door.

"Signorina? It's Tilly."

Flynn was about to rip the covers away and go hide in the closet when Tilly's voice came through again, this time much quieter. "It's alright, I-I know you're not alone in there."

Flynn whipped his head towards Stella, but she looked equally as panicked and perplexed. "May I come in?" Tilly asked.

"Um-I just-just let me-us get dressed first," Stella said quickly, throwing the covers back and disappearing into her closet.

Flynn followed her lead and snatched his clothes from off the ground. Stella emerged from her closet just as Flynn was doing up the last button of his shirt. She was wearing a simple yellow dress and her hair was a mess, but despite the circumstances she still managed to take Flynn's breath away. Stella shot Flynn a nervous look before opening the door to let her maid in.

As soon as Tilly walked in she eyed Flynn with suspicion and distrust, but said nothing. Stella closed the door behind her and let out a breath in the awkward silence as Tilly continued to glare at Flynn. "So-" she began, but was promptly cut off by Tilly.

"Are you out of your right mind?!" She seethed, pointing an accusing finger at Flynn. Stella was startled by her usually quiet maid's outburst, but became as equally confused when she realized that Tilly's anger and disapproval was not directed at her. "Do you even realize the danger you're putting her in?" Tilly continued, waving her hands in the air. "You're making deals with her father and expect him to trust you while behind his back you're sharing a bed with his daughter?!"

Flynn was abnormally calm while Tilly continued to berate him. Perhaps it was because he would never lay a hand on a woman, or perhaps it was because he knew how right she was. Stella stood by the door, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared ashamedly at the floor. Flynn brought his attention back to Tilly when he suddenly found her only inches away, her jaw set and eyes that held a fury like that of a mother protecting her child.

"I know who you are, what you do and I know you'll step over anyone's dead body just to get what you want." Flynn's eyes narrowed and he wanted so badly to fire back at her until she lowered her voice so Stella couldn't hear. "And if you love her as much as I can see that you do, you'll put her first. I think you know what that means."

Flynn's anger dissipated as he glanced over Tilly's head at Stella. She was watching him intently, trying to read his expression. He pressed his lips together and slowly made his way over to her. He placed his hands on her hips and she immediately responded to his touch, placing her small hands on his chest. She stared up at him with big, brown, doe-like eyes and it felt like someone was driving a red-hot metal spike through his heart.

"Flynn?" She said softly, her head tilting to the side.

Flynn placed a hand on her cheek and smiled forlornly. "I love you, baby girl." With that, he planted a long kiss on her lips, savouring each second as if it was his last. When he pulled away he saw that Stella was studying him with a bewildered expression, but Flynn couldn't bear to look at her any longer. He quickly turned away, grabbing his coat from the couch and disappearing out the balcony doors. Stella heard the faint sound of his hand hitting the metal railing as he heaved himself over the edge and the light thud as his feet hit the ground.

Slowly, she turned her head to stare at her maid. "What did you say to him?" She asked, the edge in her voice surprising even her.

Tilly came towards her mistress and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Stella, you know I treasure you and consider you as family." "You sent him away!" Stella said, her voice laced with anger. "I can't stand by and watch you put yourself in harm's way. You may love him and I can tell that he loves you back just as much, but he's beyond dangerous. He's killed people, Stella!"

"So has Beppe," Stella said shortly, crossing her arms.

"I am not excusing nor condoning Beppe's actions," Tilly said carefully, "but you did not choose to have him as your father. Being with Flynn is a choice that you are making on your own, and it's a bad one at that."

Stella set her jaw tilted her head up. "You don't know the whole story, so stop acting like you do."

"Stella-"

"Enough," Stella held her hand up, her voice firm. "You're overstepping your boundaries."

Tilly looked taken aback, but she lowered her head and turned to leave. "I simply care about you, Stella. You don't belong in their world."

"But Flynn belongs in mine," Stella whispered. "And I'm not going to stop fighting for him."