Chapter Six

They took their time eating as they all talked about brighter days. Once they were finished eating, Evangeline helped Aurora clean up while Alessandro spoke with Luca. "Hey, Luca. Do you still have that fire pit in the backyard?" He asked as he folded his arms over his chest.

Luca scoffed. "Of course I do. Both Aurora and Evangeline would kick my ass if I got rid of it." He said as he shook his head.

Alessandro chuckled. "I can see that happening." He cleared his throat. "The wood and everything still in the same place?" he questioned as he stood up.

Luca shrugged. "Of course it is."

Alessandro nodded and quickly went to Evangeline's bathroom. He grabbed her bloody clothes before making his way to the backyard. "What are you doing?" Aurora asked him as she turned to face him.

He looked at Evangeline with nothing but love and adoration in his eyes. "I'm taking care of my angel." He said softly before leaving them to follow him.

Once he was in the backyard he threw some firewood into the pit. He set them aflame before tossing Evangeline's bloody clothes into the fire. He went to stand beside Evangeline as they all watched the fire burn. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I promise I will always take care of you."

She let out a small, happy sigh as she leaned into him. "Thank you." She whispered.

They watched the fire burn for a while before putting it out and heading back inside. "Well, it's early in the morning," Luca said as he looked at his watch. "It's almost time to get ready for work." He said with a yawn.

Evangeline sighed. "I'll go into the office today. Luca, you stay home and get some sleep. I'll take care of everything."

Luca scrubbed a hand over his face. "Thank you, Evangeline. I haven't been to bed yet."

Evangeline nodded. "I can tell." She stood up and ran a hand through her hair. "I'll take care of everything in the office. I'll leave all the paperwork that you need to sign on your desk for tomorrow morning."

He nodded. "Alright, Evangeline. Thank you."

She hugged him tightly. "I'm the one that should be thanking you. You're always there for me. Even in the worst times." She whispered to him.

He pressed a kiss to her temple. "You're my little sister. I would do anything for you."

She smiled with tears in her eyes. "I love you, Luca."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I love you too Evangeline."

She gave Aurora a tight hug before turning to Alessandro. "Do you think you could drive me to my house?" She asked him softly.

He nodded. "Of course. A couple of my men are actually on their way there right now to clean up from last night."

She shook her head with a small laugh. "You better tell them to wait for us to get there. I have a lot of security and traps set up."

He nodded and pulled his phone out. He sent a quick message to Richard and gave her a nod. "Done. Now let's head out."

She nodded and blew a kiss to Luca and Aurora.

They got into Alessandro's car and he drove them to her house. She let out a rough breath as they pulled up in front of her house. "I just need to say something before we go inside." She whispered.

He gave her his full attention. "What is it, angel?" He asked softly.

She inhaled deeply before starting to speak. "What you're about to see in there is not going to be pretty. Because they came in the middle of the night it was worse. I wasn't exactly prepared for them."

He took her hand in his. "It won't change my mind about you angel. You did what you had to do. They attacked you. I'm sure they deserved it."

She nodded with a sigh. "Also I want you to be careful." She shook her head. "I think Luke and Greg were following us when we were at the carnival last night. Which means that they saw us together. Which is not a good thing. They will try to use you against me now."

He chuckled. "Little angel, you have no idea who I am. I am very powerful though and I have a lot of men under my command. I think I'll be okay."

She let out a small laugh. "A single assassin could get through half of your men in twenty minutes if they're trained correctly." She explained softly.

He shook his head. "Don't worry so much. I'll be alright." He frowned as he thought for a minute. "Wait, what about Aurora and Luca? Aren't they in danger also?"

She sighed. "I've taught them everything that they needed to know. They're prepared. I've built them a safe room in their basement that no one can get into no matter how hard they try. I've taught them both what to look for and I've taught Aurora how to use several different types of guns just in case." She took a deep breath as she looked at her house. "They're as prepared as they can be but it seems like they're strictly after me. They haven't tried to go after Luca or Aurora in all of the years that I've been with them."

Alessandro nodded. "So what makes you think they'll try coming after me?" He asked in slight confusion.

She shrugged. "In those camps, we are trained to pay attention to body language as well as everything else. Yes, I love Aurora and Luca and they would be able to tell. With you though, it's different." She whispered.

He smiled in understanding. "I understand and I promise that I will be careful."

She nodded with a small smile. "Thank you."

She took a deep breath before getting out of the car. "Damn it." She muttered. "Should have put pants on." She muttered under her breath.

Alessandro chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "At least you're at your house."

She shrugged as she walked to the door. The men that Alessandro had waiting for them were all standing behind them. "Everyone stay here. I don't need anyone getting hit with the throwing stars and arrows." She muttered as she unlocked the door and disabled the first bit of her security.

Once she was inside she stood still and let her security system scan her before shutting down.

When she was sure that all of her traps and security were disarmed she poked her head out the door. "You guys can come in now." She said softly.

They walked inside and stood in the living room. "Just so we know which rooms to clean up," Richard said hesitantly. "Where are the bodies?"

She cleared her throat. "Um, they're in my bedroom." She mumbled as she looked down. "Follow me. I'll show you where it is."

She led them to her room and paused at the door. "Prepare yourselves." She muttered as she opened the door.

She walked inside and ignored the bodies completely while going to her closet. She quickly grabbed a slim, tight-fitting, pants suit for work and her favorite heels. "Replace everything if you have to. I'll pay you guys whatever it costs." She said quietly as she walked past their shocked faces. "Can't believe I'm going to have to have the carpet replaced again. Motherfuckers." She mumbled to herself as she walked into the guest bathroom.

She made quick work of getting changed for work. She fixed her hair and tossed her clothes into the laundry basket that she kept in the bathroom. She slipped her heels on before leaving the bathroom. She went downstairs and gave Alessandro a small smile. "I'm ready to go. I can take my car though."

He shook his head. "It's no problem. I can take you." He said as he stood up.

"Well, how am I supposed to get home?" She questioned with a small smile, even though she knew that she could easily walk home in no time if she needed to.

He scoffed as he playfully put a hand over his heart. "I am honestly hurt that you would think that I wouldn't pick you up from work." He said as he took a step closer to her.

She giggled as she shook her head at him. "I wasn't sure if you would have time to pick me up. I'm not sure what your days are like." She said with a shrug.

Alessandro chuckled as he took another step closer to her. "I will always stop anything that I'm doing for you. No matter what it is, I will be there for you." He said as he twirled a bit of hair around his finger as he stood in front of her.

She blushed as she looked at her feet. "That means a lot to me." She whispered.

He grinned and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Let's get going." He said softly.

She nodded. "I'm sure there's a lot of work waiting for me. Especially since Luca won't be coming in today."

He followed her out to his car and drove to a cafe that was close to the office. "Have to make sure that you eat first." He said softly as he looked at her. "Get anything that you want and you have to get something to eat as well as coffee."

She stuck her tongue out at him before climbing out of the car.

He chuckled as he followed her inside. They waited in line for a couple of minutes before getting to the counter. They placed their order and moved to the side after Alessandro paid for it. As they were waiting Evangeline's phone went off in her pocket. She pulled it out and answered when she saw that it was Luca. "Hey, Luca. What's up?" She asked as she held her other hand to her ear as she tried to listen.

"How far are you from the office?" He asked through the phone.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Hold on Luca." She said as she pressed the phone into her ear. "I can't hear you."

She gave Alessandro an apologetic smile before making her way outside. "Sorry, Luca. Alessandro stopped us at a cafe and they're quite busy. What's going on?" She asked.

"I need you at the office as quickly as possible. There's been a man there for the past half hour. He's trying to get published and refuses to leave until he speaks with someone." Luca explained through the phone with annoyance in his voice.

Evangeline blew out a rough breath. "Alright." She looked up as the cafe door opened behind her. "Alessandro just came out with our food and coffee. We'll be at the office in about ten minutes." She said as she walked to Alessandro's car with him right behind her.

"Thanks, Evangeline," Luca said in relief.

"No problem Luca. You just relax." She said, "I'll take care of it."

They said goodbye and she hung up the phone as she shook her head. "Is everything alright?" Alessandro asked her as he started driving.

She nodded. "Yeah. Just this guy that's at the office who wants to be published refuses to leave until he speaks with me or Luca." She scoffed. "This wouldn't be the first time someone has done this."

Alessandro scoffed. "That's just how some people are."

She groaned as she took a sip of her coffee. "I hate people like that. They should put the work in and send their novels through email or the mail. Like everyone else."

Alessandro took her hand in his and pressed a featherlight kiss to her knuckles. "I'm sure it'll be alright. You know how to handle yourself." He said with a proud smile.

She blushed as she looked at her lap. "Thank you."

They pulled up in front of the building and Alessandro turned slightly in his seat to look at her. "Call me when you're almost done with work and I promise I will be here to pick you up." He grinned as he held both of her hands in his. "Also perhaps we can grab some dinner."

She let a small, heartwarming smile slip onto her lips. "Are you asking me out on another date?" She asked softly.

He chuckled. "Yes, I am." He looked into her eyes. "Would you go on a date with me tonight, little angel?" He asked quietly.

Her smile widened as she nodded. "Yes, I would love to."

He pressed a light kiss to her lips. "I'll see you later angel."

"See you later Alessandro." She said softly before grabbing her things and climbing out of the car.