American Dynasty

T H I R T Y - O N E

A shooting never shook Flynn up. 

Except this time, it had. When he had gotten back into Queens he rolled up to his house and just sat in the car, smoking a cigarette. His heart was still pounding and pure adrenaline was burning in his veins. 

The smell of burning tires hung in the air, and even though he was far away from where the action had occurred, he could still smell the gunpowder. It stayed in his nostrils like an acrid reminder of his failure. It had been a long time since he'd come that close to death, and all because he had allowed himself to be careless for only a moment. 

"Flynn?" Brady had come to stand by the car, looking at his friend curiously. "You alright?" 

"Honestly, Brady? I don't know." 

Brady frowned and came around to the other side of the car, climbing into the passenger's seat. He lit up a cigarette of his own, staying silent. And that was all Flynn needed in that moment: quiet company. They sat for what seemed like hours. "Aiden told me about Stella," Brady confessed, breaking the silence. 

Flynn breathed out hard through his nose. "Did he?" 

"I don't think I really need to tell you what I think because you've probably already gotten an earful from Aiden."

"Stella is none of his business nor yours," Flynn said quietly. "Besides, I don't think she wants me anymore." 

"Are you certain about that?" Brady asked, giving Flynn a meaningful look. 

Flynn frowned. "What are you getting at?" 

"I think you should come inside." 

Curiously, Flynn obliged, following Brady into the house. There sat Stella, perched on his armchair, her dainty legs crossed one over the other. Her face lit up when she saw him and she quickly stood up, smoothing down her dress. 

"I'll leave you two alone," Brady said before disappearing into the kitchen. 

"Are you okay?" Stella asked hurriedly, scanning Flynn's body for any injuries. "I heard you and Giuseppe were attacked."

 "How did you find out?" 

"Giuseppe called my father and I...I may have eavesdropped. That's not the point though, are you okay?" 

"I'm fine," Flynn murmured. He was still standing by the door, several feet away from Stella. "Why are you here?" 

"I-I wanted to make sure you weren't hurt," she stammered, pressing her plump lips together. 

"I thought you didn't want anything to do with me," Flynn said softly, tilting his head to the side. 

Stella opened and closed her mouth, not quite sure what to say. "Can I not still care for you?" She asked, a tinge of annoyance in her voice. "You got shot at, Flynn, I have every right to be concerned." 

Flynn closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, that was unfair." 

Stella looked down at the floor. "I may have been unfair to you as well." Stella took a deep breath and continued. "I knew. I didn't want to think about it but I always knew. I always knew who you were and what you did." Flynn gulped and looked down at the ground, feeling the back of his eyes beginning to sting. "And for better or for worse, I find myself still irrevocably in love with you," Stella said softly. She took a shaky breath as she tentatively stepped closer to him. "I-I was going to stay away, I really was. But when I heard that you had been attacked...I just couldn't help myself." 

The phone rang in the other room, but Flynn ignored it. He placed his hand on the side of Stella's face, brushing his thumb against her cheekbone. "Baby, I know-we both know that what we have isn't good for either of us." 

"Then why can't either of us stay away?" Stella whispered, her eyes becoming glassy. "That's human instinct, isn't it, to stay away from something dangerous, from something that could get you killed? So why do I keep coming back to you? Why do you always come and find me?" 

Flynn sighed as he set his hands delicately on Stella's hips. "I'm not used to not getting what I want," he admitted. "And I want you more than I've ever wanted anything or anyone." 

Stella pressed her lips together. "So what now?" 

"What do you mean?" 

"We can't just keep pretending, badly, might I add, that we don't want to be together. So what are we to do now?" Stella stepped forward to rest her head against Flynn's chest. "I don't want to keep pretending." 

Flynn swallowed the lump in his throat as he let his lips rest on top of Stella's head. Her hair was as soft as ever and smelled of jasmine. "Neither do I, mo anam, but...I can't see this going any other way other than horribly." 

Stella sniffed and Flynn realized she was crying. He gently brushed tears from her cheeks. "Stella, please don't-" He stopped midsentence, and instead just held her close, gently running his fingers through her hair. 

"I love you," Stella whispered, burying her face into Flynn's chest. 

Flynn let out a quiet sigh and closed his eyes. "I love you too, Stella." The phone in the other room rang again and this time someone picked up. Probably Aiden, Flynn thought, since he had most likely been eavesdropping already, knowing him. 

"I don't want to let go of you," Stella said, her voice warbly from crying. "Not now, not ever. You're mine and I'm yours, this isn't how things are supposed to be." 

"Stella, look at me," Flynn said, holding Stella in front of him. "No matter what happens, no matter where we end up, you'll always have my heart. I will always be yours. And we will find each other. Someday, somewhere, I don't know, but we'll find each other. Okay?" 

"Flynn." 

Flynn turned around to see Aiden standing there, his expression unreadable. 

"Not now, Aiden," Flynn said, shaking his head. 

Aiden shrugged and said casually "I just thought you'd like to know that Giuseppe Masseria and Beppe Biancardi are here. And they have about three dozen armed men with them."