Fidelity

0.16 - 'Change of the Tide'

Ashton helped Noah onto his feet, looking down at Karis from the top of the balcony. She was talking to Noah's men trying to understand what exactly had happened. 

Noah looked down at his chest he could feel the bullet hole starting to close. If he didn't take out the metal quickly, he would die. 

Noah's grunting caught Ashton's attention, "What's wrong with you?"

"Oh, if you didn't notice, I have just been shot, saving your girlfriend's life."

Ashton dropped him onto the sofa, "Thank you" he said lowly. "Heal Yourself."

"Well I am doing that, but the bullet is stuck I need you to help me take it out." Noah chuckled dryly if he believed Ashton was going to save him, he was severely mistaken. Ashton scowled at him.

"Tell me what I need to know and I'll help you. The longer you stall the closer you are to your last breath." Ashton stood over him, frowning but the smirk he wished was on his lips was swimming in his eyes. Noah could see it. 

"You're not as innocent as Karis portrays you to be. I've always known you're a wolf in sheep clothing,"

"Ironic, isn't it, wolf?"

"You know that I could kill you," Noah grunted his eyes flashing between gold and brown. 

"But you can't. Tell me what I need to know and you'll live to carry on your stupid plans to kill your dad in peace. Don't tell me and you die."

"Once, you take it out I could kill you."

"Kill me and Karis will kill you,

 "We all know what's in those bullets. They weren't for me. They were for you. Why is Bianchi after you?" Karis said walking into the dingy office. 

Noah frowned looking at his skin closing around the bullet, he had 15 minutes to live. 

"Tell him what we need to know and we will be on our way."

"The boat," Noah breathed, "The key that Tobias is looking for leads to a safe that's on that boat. If you want to protect yourself you buy that boat before anyone else get's to it."

"I'm sure you can tell us more than that."

"Those were not under Francessco's order. There is a power struggle between the Hasting's side of the family. The marriage between Francesco's sister and Luca Moretti meant the Bianchi side of the mob grew in size and strength excluding the Hastings. As you know the Bianchi clan is made up of a mixture of families that all take the Bianchi name. The Hastings want that." Noah's eyes closed the beast in him was using all their energy to push the bullet out.

Ashton picked up pliers from the corner and started to slowly pull the bullet out of Noah's chest. Noah's shirt soaked up the blood escaping his chest. He could feel the bullet move away from an important artery. 

Before the bullet was removed. Ashton stopped and pulled away. Smiling sweetly, he was anything but. 

"There's more isn't there."

"If this turns into a full out war. No one will be safe. Whoever has the key needs to make sure no one knows where it is."

"Are you working for Tobias?" Karis whispered she glared at Noah. The look made him feel uncomfortable and if he couldn't rip her to shreds he probably would have been scared. 

"No."

"Then how do you know this?" Ashton interrupted. "Only an idiot would share his plans with someone like you if he wasn't working with them."