4: Home Sweet Home

"You are at war with yourself.

Caught between what you truly are and what you are supposed to be."

C H A P T E R 4

L U C I A N A

The universe was definitely working against me.

Of all the people that I could have run into after returning to this damned place, it just had to be my brother.

I'm so lucky.

Please note sarcasm.

Running into Nathan was the last thing I expected, so naturally my response made me look absolutely stupid.

"Hey?"

Seriously Luce? That's the first thing you say to your brother after 5 years?

Well, I couldn't exactly say.

Hey! How are you? I'm sorry I let you think that your only sister was dead. But I'm back now, so lunch?

Yeah, no.

But I was saved from hearing his response because Angela burst into the corridor, looking for the cause for the commotion.

"Oh, hello Agent Crest, I didn't know you were down here."

"Hey" Both of us said together.

Angela looked at me curiously, probably thinking that I had suffered from some kind of brain damage.

Realizing what just happened, my hand flew to my mouth.

Nathan was staring at me with a smirk on his face.

I was such an idiot, Angela's greeting was directed towards Nathan, but I assumed it was directed towards me.

This kind of thing was really common when both of us were at the same place.

Most of the time when someone came to call me or Nathan and we were together, both of us would turn around and reply. The person would sort of be silenced and would be caught in the awkward situation of telling which one of us he or she called.

The same thing was happening now.

And Nathan was thinking the same thing.

I was brought out of my thoughts when Angela called me.

"Miss Stone, I think you should get some rest."

Miss Stone?

I looked at Nathan and he just shrugged.

Why didn't they just tell the doctors my real name?

Oh right, because they want to talk to me before they go around announcing that I'm back.

Maybe the sedatives they gave me were messing with my head.

"Actually, I'm here to take Miss Stone to Mr. Marcello." said Nathan.

Nice, right to the boss of assassin's himself. Thank you, brother.

Please note sarcasm. Again.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I was sitting in an extremely expensive chair in a spotless office with a huge mahogany table in front of me. Not a speck of dirt was visible.

"Ah, Luciana, it's good to see you here."

"Well, I would say it was a pleasure to meet you, but it's not and I prefer honesty."

"I see you have changed little since the last time we met."

"Doesn't look like you have either. Your office looks just the same as well." I gestured around us.

He sat down on his chair and removed a manila folder from one of the many drawers on his side of the desk and placed it on the counter, pushing it towards me. I looked at the cover and immediately pushed it back.

"Why are you showing me this?"

"Because according to the conditions stated in that file, you cannot return to you life as Lucy Cox, you have to stay here." he pointed at the folder in my hand.

"I'm not staying, the condition states that I would have to return only if you found him, and I'm not even sure how I ended up here."

"Alex called us."

"He WHAT?!"

I'm going to kill Alex.

"Don't blame the poor kid, he only called because you weren't responding anymore and besides if he hadn't called then you'd be six feet under by now."

I'd rather that than being here when he was still out there.

"Okay, but that doesn't mean I have to stay. None of the conditions were breached, and Alex basically invited you to me."

"None of these circumstances were thought of when the conditions were made, so I'm afraid you're going to have to stay."

"But why do you even need me? You have Alex, Nathan, and God knows how many other people."

"Actually, Luciana, I don't think anyone has informed you of the recent developments of Lucy Cox's car accident."

"What about it?" I asked, confused.

"You see, the police arrived at the ditch your car had fallen into, a while after we did and all that was left for them to find was a car which probably had someone inside, burned to the ground. After a little investigating, they declared that Lucy Cox was dead. Meaning that you don't have anywhere to go."

Oh great, that just makes my life a lot easier.

"So, I can't go back? And I have to stay here?"

"That is correct." he nodded.

"Right, so I'm assuming you want me to stay in my old room?" I got out of my seat, resigning to my fate.

"I was hoping you would be okay with that." he gave me a small smile.

"And do I have to work for you again?"

"Yes, but I assure you, you will not be asked to do anything until your arm is all healed up."

"I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"I'm afraid not."

I nodded, taking it all in. It's funny how everything in my life was flipped upside down just in a matter of seconds. After thinking for a while, a new question popped up in my head.

"Do the others know I'm back?"

"Yes they do, I tried to keep it from them but-"

"It's fine." I cut him off. "I didn't want to be the one to tell them, anyway."

"Alright then, I guess we're done here. I'll be seeing you next week and we can talk about all the details then, meanwhile I suggest you get some rest, I hope you remember your way around here?"

"Yeah I do, thanks."

"And Luciana? It's nice to have you back."

I just looked at him and nodded, not knowing what to say.

I would never know how these people still love me, I mean I ran away and let them think I was dead and they still don't hate me. I would hate me. How could they not?

All things aside, I had to focus on the main thing.

I'm back in IAO.

The International Assassins Organization.

My old home.