Then There Was You (AMBW)

Finally Caught

                                                                                       Dakota

     Shayne pulled up to the building and we both got out of the car. One of the employees walked out of the building and guided us to the back where the hot air balloons waited. We stepped into the basket and within a few minutes we were slowly lifting to the sky. The cold December air blew against my skin, closing my eyes, I let out a slow, deep breath letting the stress melt away.

   After five minutes passed, I finally opened my eyes, and Shayne was standing in front of me watching me with concern silently asking me what was wrong.

"There is a lot going on. With work, this bullshit with Zach, Valerie ending up in the hospital a second time, the pregnancy, me damn near getting killed. It's just so much happening and it's fucking with me."

     Shayne pulled me into a hug and held me for a while longer. "I just wish that things could go back to the way they were, but even I know that's impossible."

"Nothing is impossible. But we can't change what has happened already, we can only hope that the future is better." Shayne whispered. The future will be better, because then my baby will be born, Zach and the situation I'm in now will be taken care of and everything will be okay.

    One can only hope. But the future isn't definite.

    A few hours later, we were back on the ground and on our way home. Pulling up in the driveway, Shayne parked the car and helped me out before lifting me off the ground and carrying me to the front door.

"I could have walked." I mumbled.

"I know, I just wanted to carry you." Shayne smiled as he carefully sat me on my feet. The two of us stood in silence for a moment before Shayne finally spoke. "It's been a while since we been out to dinner, just the two of us."

"It has." I agreed.

"So how about it?" Shayne asked stepping closer to me and taking both my hands in his, looking into my eyes. I knew what he was asking and honestly, I miss when things were simple. 

    "This Friday night at Italianos." I smiled.

"You read my mind." Shayne smiled pulling my body towards his and kissing my lips. Minutes later, we walked into the house and Shayne's family stood in the kitchen waiting for us while Alice set the table for dinner. They all looked happy.

"What's going on?" I asked carefully making my way to the kitchen table where everyone helped Alice prepare the table. "Oh, Alice had called us while you were away for a while. I was gonna do that anyway, but she beat me to it." Milan laughed.

    "Anyway, we just decided to spend some time with you and help make dinner, especially after everything that's happened in the past few days." Milan said as she grabbed the pan of hot lasagna and sat it in the middle of the table. Xian and Bethany had just finished setting the table, Ryan sat a bottle of chilled wine on the table and Seojoon and Gabriel brought the fried chicken, garlic bread and a salad and set it down.

     I glanced at Shayne who grabbed my hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing my hand. Xian walked up to me with a wide grin on his face and hugged me. I hugged him back and stared at the young boy.

"Every day, your beauty continues to take my breath away." Xian smiled, and I thanked him. Everyone sat at the table and enjoyed the dinner Alice made and engaged in conversation. Alice cleared her throat and stood up, grabbing everyone's attention.

   "I have something I want to say on this lovely night." Alice glanced at me and let out a deep breath. "So, Dakota and I have been friends for years and we have always lived together, even when we were in college. But we're both adults now and I think it's time for Jace and I to move out. We found a nice house literally an hour away." I stared at my best friend in shock.

She's leaving me.

   Taking in my shocked expression, Alice explained herself further.

"I know it's a big change but it's a good one. You and Shayne can move in together and raise your kids together and we wouldn't want to impose on that. Plus, Jace and I would want kids of our own someday. Please don't be mad D."

"When did you decide this?" I asked still staring at her.

"Yesterday. Jace and I talked to the realtor a few hours before your accident. We had closed the deal minutes before Shayne called us."

     I wasn't angry or upset. My best friend had been by my side for years, the both of us protecting each other and being each other's support system for a long time. I'm sad that she's leaving me but I'm also happy that she's ready to explore the world on her own. I stood from my seat, everyone literally watching my every move, and made my way towards Alice and stood in front of her.

"Promise me that you will visit often and stay in touch." I said, trying to keep my voice as steady as possible. Alice wiped away the tears sliding down my face and nodded before pulling me into a hug. "When do you move in?" I asked.

"In a week. I want to be here with you a few days longer." Alice smiled. I nodded and made my way back to my seat. Once I was seated, conversations started again, and Shayne stared at me with a smile on his face. I returned the gesture, and we enjoyed our dinner.

    It was a great night. After an hour or two, Shayne's family left and Jace and Alice went to bed. Shayne stayed with me tonight and we talked about moving in together and we both agreed that it was a good idea and that he would move in within the next week. We went to bed happy, Shayne's hands over mine over my belly where our baby grew every day.

"I love you little baby." I whispered before finally closing my eyes.

                                                                          Marco

    I sat in my car across from the Italianos restaurant, patiently waiting for him to walk outside. I glanced at the picture on my phone and looked up just as he walked out of the building. Yup, that's definitely him. I watched him walk towards a black F150 and get into the driver's side. I started my car and followed behind him, but not too close, I didn't want him to freak out and bail on whatever plan he had going on in his brain.

   About ten minutes of driving and I recognized the route we were taking. He was on his way to Dakota's neighborhood. Turning onto her street, he slowed down and parked across the road from her house. Turning off the car, I glanced at my watch, it said 9:30 P.M. Dakota's house was dark so she and everyone else were most likely asleep. I pulled out my phone and dialed Riccardo's number and he answered on the first ring.

"You found him?" Riccardo asked.

"I'm watching him watch Dakota's house." I responded.

    I heard the shuffling of sheets and the cocking of a gun in the background. "Good. Be there in five." And then he hung up the phone. Five minutes later, three other cars pulled up behind me and I stepped out while Dante and Nico walked towards the truck and pulled out a screaming and thrashing Zach. Zach managed to free one of his hands and punched Dante in the face.

   Dante froze for just a second before sending his fist flying into Zach's jaw, his head whipping to the right and hanging downward. Zach was unconscious as both men carried him to their car and threw him in the trunk.

   Riccardo glanced at Luca and told him to get rid of the truck and meet us at the warehouse. A few seconds later, Luca was driving the truck away. I got back in my car and all four cars disappeared down the street and headed east of the city. It was gonna be a long, bloody, torturous night, but it was gonna be fun.

Oh so very fun.