Chapter 6: In Which He Bleeds

Isla sat at the poolside dipping her dainty feet in the cold water after hiking her white, silk nightie up to her knees.

A chill traveled up her legs to her neck making her shiver a little bit the cold sensation felt relaxing on her feet.

It was late at night, and she could hear the chipper of the crickets. She had snuck out of the main house to the pool house, it was a hobby of hers when sleep wouldn't come to her easily or she'd wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to go to sleep. It was the latter this time.

She was lost in thought when she heard footsteps approaching near the pool and she turned her head around to see who it was. She could see the silhouette of a familiar tall bulky man nearing her.

She was surprised to see the silhouette belonged to Alexander who had just returned from his raid mission and was quite astonished himself to find her sitting there by the pool.

She looked like an angel in white silk to him, a faerie.

"Miss Gambino, what are you doing out here so late?" He asked, not liking it one bit that she was out alone without anyone keeping a watch over her. With her status, danger livened around every corner.

"I... I just come out here sometimes at night... what are you doing here? How'd you know I was here?" She asked puzzled herself as Alexander stood in front of her now completely towering over her.

"Ma'am I was assigned the pool house for my stay, it's close to the main house in case of an emergency," Alexander told her.

"Oh... I am sorry I didn't know that, I didn't mean to disrupt your sleep" she apologized.

"It's quite alright ma'am, I wasn't asleep, but you really shouldn't be going around alone, it's not safe," he said.

"It's never safe" she replied staring off into the distance her eyes holding a sadness.

That glumness in her tone tugged at his heart. He decided not to give her any more grief over sneaking out late at night, she probably needed space.

"Would you like me to escort you back ma'am?" He asked getting her attention back as she looked up at him with her big doe blue eyes.

"No Alex I'd like to stay a bit longer if you don't mind," she said with a little smile.

"Certainly ma'am, in that case, would you like to come inside? It's quite chilly out here, perhaps a cup of green tea?" He offered.

His offer was very unprofessional, and he knew that very well, but he just couldn't help it. It didn't feel right to leave her by herself in nothing but a flimsy silk nightie in the cold.

She contemplated his offer as she realized that it was Alexander's first advancement towards their friendship. With that thought, a toothy smile graced her face as she reached her hand out toward him to help her get up which he happily obliged, grasping her soft hand in his rough one and pulling her up with a mere tug.

"Thanks," she said sheepishly as she dusted herself off, he only nodded in acknowledgment.

She followed closely after him inside the pool house.

"I'll go put the kettle on," he said once they were inside, and she nodded as he made his way to the kitchen while she took a seat on the couch.

A minute later he came back, standing awkwardly beside the couch.

Isla noticed he wasn't in his usual crisp suit but instead in a casual attire consisting of a white v-neck and blue-washed jeans. He still looked just as handsome.

She then noticed the red inking his bicep, it seemed like blood and her eyes widened as she got up hastily.

"Oh my god you're bleeding!" she exclaimed.

Alexander looked down at his arm and his brows rose in panic. He had completely forgotten about his injury where the bullet had grazed him.

"Oh umm... I'll go take care of it" with that he rushed off before Isla could say anything else and she rushed after him.

He went to the room and took out the first aid from under the bed, struggling to open it as one hand was occupied with stopping the bleeding.

Isla quickly moved forward and helped him with opening the kit.

"Sit Alex" she demanded.

"No ma'am..." he started to protest but was cut off by Isla.

"That's an order," she said sternly challenging him with her beautiful blue eyes and with that, he was a goner as he took a seat on the bed letting her do whatever she wanted.

Isla cleaned up the wound with an antiseptic and carefully wrapped a bandage around his bicep, thankful that the wound wasn't deep.

Alex couldn't help but stare at her while she was at the task, he wanted to pull her on his lap and slam his lips on her ruby ones as her nimble fingers worked on him. She was just that enchanting.

"All done," she said, inspecting her work and pulling him out of his trance.

"Thank you, ma'am," he curtsied looking her in the eyes making her blush which gave him an inner satisfaction knowing he had that sort of effect on her.

"How did you get injured like that?" she asked, he was her bodyguard, and she wasn't in any danger as of recently so how could he get injured like that?

"I was on a job ma'am" he kept it as precise as possible.

"Oh, you have another job?" she asked a little disappointed, she was kind of jealous that he was someone else's bodyguard as well.

"Just something I do occasionally," he said, confused as to why she sounded so solemn all of a sudden.

"Oh, bodyguard job?" she asked

"No not really..." he answered, and she nodded deciding not to pry further, sensing his hesitance.

She was glad he was only her bodyguard.

Alexander remembered he left the kettle brewing for tea and got up.

"Stay here I'll get the tea ma'am," he said.

"Oh no it's okay I can get it" she offered.

"It's quite alright ma'am, I insist" he pushed with a look telling her to stay out, so she didn't object further and took a seat in the bed, getting comfortable against the headboard.

Soon enough he came out with two hot cups of green tea in a tray in one hand and set it down, handing her a cup and taking one himself.

Yet again he just stood awkwardly making Isla giggle.

"You can sit here asked, I don't mind," she said patting the space beside her on the bed.

He hesitantly took a seat before getting comfortable once he sat down.

The rest of the hours were spent with Isla asking him questions and chatting his ears off which he didn't mind one bit.

At some point, she had gotten a bit drowsy, and she rested her head on his shoulder making him tense a little bit and eventually relax as her chatter slowly died down till soft snores escaped her lips.

He looked down to see her sound asleep. It was 3:30 AM in the morning so he knew she didn't get up till 8 and she had time to sleep till then.

He carefully put a pillow behind his back and covers over them before closing his eyes as well deciding to let her sneak into the main house in the morning before it was her time to get up and other people noticed her absence.

He had a peaceful night even if it was only for few hours.