Chapter 12


Alec POV

"This is beyond ridiculous." Belle whined from five paces ahead of me. Apparently walking next to me on the sidewalk was not a negotiable subject. I can't say that I blame her though.

After what transpired in the kitchen this morning between us, and now the added drama of whatever Dimitri has going on…I can understand needing her share of space. I wish I could just tell her everything I knew about Dimitri, but she's so enamored by him she probably wouldn't hear me out. Or she'd think I was just talking out of my ass to make her leave him.

Honestly, I don't think anyone in their right minds would believe me if I told them that Volkov was the one and only heir to the largest Russian Mafia family on this side of the country. Belle wouldn't hear it for five seconds. This was the most I could do to protect her. As much as I hated the feeling of being ordered around by that pompous prick, walking five steps behind her was the least I could do.

"What's beyond ridiculous is even being out of the house in the first place." I grunt back in response. I've spent the last several months wishing for any sort of one-on-one time with Belle to try and smooth things over with her. Just figures that when I finally get it, I can't even fully focus on her. Instead I'm sizing up every single person that walks past her on the sidewalk. On the other side of the street. Down every alley. Assessing for potential risks. Hyper aware of the gun holstered to Logan's jeans that Belle forced me to borrow.

She said she wouldn't be caught dead walking up and down the streets of our town accompanied by a police officer. Thankfully, the chief gave me the okay to switch out my uniform for pedestrian clothes since my babysitting duty was technically related to the case.

"Damien basically said whoever this guy is, he doesn't have a single clue who I am. He just knows that Dimitri has a girlfriend. And besides, people get pissed everyday, it doesn't mean they're going to go out and hurt a complete stranger."

Unless that complete stranger has ties to a certain Russian mafia heir.

"Where are we even going?" I ask, and pick up my pace to casually fall in step beside her. I was sick of staying her designated five steps back. If someone were to grab her there wouldn't be anything I could do about it from back there. At least if I'm by her side the chances of someone messing with her would be slimmer.

"I want to go to the bookstore." She says matter-of-factly while swinging the majority of her long brown hair over one of her shoulders. And my eyes slide over the exposed skin of her neck where my lips had been only just this morning. "I already said I don't need a baby sitter, so you're free to go." She turns her eyes in my direction to find mine already on her, and for a moment neither of us says a word.

"You don't really want me to go," I muse out loud. "You enjoy our back and forth much too much over your forced solitude." I finish, which earns me a swift roll of her eyes and an indignant headshake.

"I don't enjoy very much about your company at all these days." She whispers and quickens her pace. So soft that if I hadn't been listening I might not have heard it. I wish I hadn't. Because a large part of me knew for a fact that each word was true. She meant it.

It's already been over an hour since we arrived at the bookstore, and not another word has passed between us. Which would have been completely normal six months ago. Comfortable silence was one of the best things about our friendship. Now the silence just feels like suffocation.

And I find myself wondering just what about Dimitri made him better than me. He had the advantage of being new and shiny. I'd give him that. Belle loved a good puzzle, and Dimitri had that certain thrill of having to figure him out. There wasn't a lot of mystery left in a childhood friend that had seen you through every embarrassing moment you never want a partner to know about. Through braces and first dates. Every bad Halloween costume and terrible high school party.

Belle had seen too much of me growing up. Too much of the playboy. Too much of the guy who distracted himself with expendable girls because he was just trying too hard to not fuck up the one functional relationship with a girl he actually had. Until he went and fucked it up anyway.

I just don't understand how she can deny our chemistry. The way things had been that night…the way she looked at me; it was like pieces finally falling into place. Every time we're in a room together it feels like the whole universe might implode. It's nearly unbearable. I know she has to feel it too, and I wonder if she feels anything even close to that with Dimitri.

"So, do you forget how to stand when he kisses you too? Or is that just a me thing?" the words leave my mouth before I can stop them, and I'm rewarded with narrowed eyes over the top of her book.


Belle POV

"Excuse me?" I hiss, setting my book down on the table beside me. I straighten myself in the oversized library chair, trying my hardest to look just threatening enough that the cushions nearly twice my size seem a little less laughable.

Alec sat a few chairs away, allowing for a comfortable distance between the two of us. His nose was buried in some cheesy graphic novel, and to anyone else walking by it wouldn't even seem as though we knew each other. His eyes don't leave the book, and for a moment I question whether he'd spoken at all.

"You heard me." Is all he says as he flips a page.

For a moment I can't muster any words. Or I don't want to. I want to scream at him and hurl the nastiest insults I can think of in his direction. And at the same time, I don't want to dignify his cruelty with a reply. So, I say the one thing I know will shut him up.

"Typically, when Dimitri has his lips on mine, we're not doing much standing." His jaw clenches in response to my words and his face turns subtly away. Content with my victory, I stand and place the book I'd been skimming back on its proper shelf. I don't even get three full strides away from where we were seated before Alec is also on his feet and following close behind.

"Nice, Sullivan." He says, as he brushes his way past me towards the exit. For just a moment I feel bad about the comment. Looking at his slumped shoulders and the way his steps fall one after the other like each one requires all his concentration; I question if maybe I'd gone too far. But then I remember this morning, and the fact that Alec has never given a single shit about my boundaries, and any sympathy I have vanishes.

"So, you can dish it but you can't take it? Typical Alec." I say, quickly shouldering past him on the sidewalk. My phone dings from my back pocket, and I pause to read the message displayed on the screen. It's a message from Dimitri. It's short and simple.

I thought you were going to stay home, moya lyubov'

My brows furrow in confusion as I take in the scene around me. How in the world did Dimitri know I wasn't home? I scan the thin crowds for his face, but I don't find him there.

"That isn't creepy at all." Alec says from behind me. I turn my head slightly to find him staring down at my phone from over my shoulder. I scoff and begin walking towards home, anything to put a bit a distance between the two of us again.

"Clearly no one ever taught you manners growing up." I throw over my shoulder, and glance back down at Dimitri's message again. I couldn't help but somewhat agree with Alec's comment though.

I sprung myself from house arrest early. The company sucked, I type back quickly and hit send, hoping Dimitri finds at least a shred of humor in my message. My phone dings a second later and I click the message open.

I did offer much better company, if I remember correctly. A pang of guilt bubbles up in my stomach as I read Dimitri's message. He had sent Damien to pick me up, and I'd refused. I'd lied about homework I needed to finish, and before that I'd lied to Alec about Dimitri coming over at all. I stare down at Dimitri's message for just a moment longer before sliding the phone back into my pocket without sending a reply.

"Trouble in paradise?" Alec calls from behind me, and I roll my eyes and attempt to quicken my pace down the sidewalk again. The quicker I get home the quicker I can just be in my room with the door closed and not have to deal with Alec's bullshit. He was intentionally trying to provoke me at this point.

I begin turning to shoot him a crude hand gesture when my body collides with something much harder than itself, and I let out an audible groan as my ass finds a new home on the pavement. "Dammit," I grind out and peer up at the stranger in front of me.

The man before me appeared to be in his early thirties, and was dressed neatly in casual business attire. He had a lazy half-smile plastered across his face, and was already holding a hand out in my direction.

"Sorry 'bout that ma'am." He says, and waits for me to take his hand. I take in the man. His icy blue eyes, slightly disheveled copper red hair, and a very slight Irish accent If I hadn't heard him wrong. I slip my hand in his and allow him to help me to my feet.

"No, I should have been watching where I was going." I say half to him and half to myself.

"Jesus, Belle. Are you alright?" Alec says, finally catching up and turning me to face him as if he's looking for injuries anywhere on my body. I shake his hands off with annoyance and shoot him a scowl.

"I'm fine. I'm not made of glass." I offer the stranger an apologetic smile. "Thanks, and sorry again." I say and begin to make for home again when a hand wraps itself around my wrist pulling me back slightly. I half expect Alec to be up to his usual bullshit, but when my eyes meet a pair of blue, it takes me a moment to realize it's the stranger.

"Wh – ," my words are cut off by the stranger bringing a finger to his lips. The cool press of metal against my waist greets me next. My eyes widen and I swallow a scream.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He whispers with a friendly smile. "I just want you to pass on a greeting to Dimitri. Can you do that?" My eyes land on Alec a few paces behind us and unaware of the current situation.

I try to muster a smile to return to the stranger, but I'm sure my face looks as weird as it feels. "S-sure. What's the message?"

"Simple, Annabella Sullivan," and my blood runs cold at this strangers' use of my full name. "I want you to tell Volkov that Killian Byrne is in town. And that if he doesn't want to play nice, then I won't either." He shot me a wink and a lopsided grin that made his eyes crinkle at the edges, and also made me want to vomit. "Think you can do that for me, Acushla?"

I nod my head quickly, just once, and watch as Alec catches up to where we're standing. I feel the cool press of metal retreat from my skin and I can finally breathe again.

"Sorry again," Killian says with the same lopsided smile as he walks away. "Have a good day."

I can't make my legs move as I watch Killian's back disappear into the crowd. I can't stop the shaking in my hands as I listen to my ringtone blare from my pocket.

"Did you forget how to walk or something?" Alec asks, placing a hand on my shoulder that causes me to nearly jump out of my skin.

"I'm fine!" I snap, taking a few small steps forward. "I just want to go home."


What do you think about this update?

Leave me a review and let me know if you have any ideas!

- Poetic