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Chapter 9

Scarlett allowed him to hold her as long as he wanted even though she could sense the driver's impatience as he tapped the horn lightly. Dean's bags were already placed in the boot and he had turned and enveloped her in a tight hug, refusing to let her go.

"Call me immediately if you need me, alright?" He asked her, parting slightly to look at her. She didn't want him to go just yet either but she also knew he had a schedule to keep so she pulled away from him completely and gently nudged him towards the car.

"Go. Or you'll be late for your flight," she said to him. He bent down to brush his lips against hers and Scarlett felt him lingering, thus with much difficulty she tore her lips free from his.

"Go."

Throwing her one final glance, Dean climbed into the cab and gave her a wave before the driver reversed, driving off. Scarlett stood there for a few seconds before she felt Don's presence hovering near her.

"If you could get back into the house please, Miss," he said to her, motioning towards the entrance of the house. She nodded and turned, walking into the house and missing the black sedan's doors close sharply and Don's hand going to the inside of his coat, eyes darting to look at her before his gaze roamed around the street.

Vitani, whom Esme had brought with her when she arrived, strolled towards her and Scarlett bent down to pick her up. She laughed as Vitani rolled around in her arms, happy to be back with her and Scarlett headed to the living room to sit down on the carpet and play with Vitani.

Esme busied herself in work while Don disappeared up the steps talking on the phone in hushed tones. That left her all to herself and Scarlett looked around herself then down at her cat.

"For someone who loved isolation, I think I feel lonely," she mused, twitching the feather wand that Vitani was playing around with. The yellow eyes turned to regard her before the feline padded over to her mistress and hopped into her lap.

"I know, you're here. I've just gotten used to…people," she said after a small pause. She never thought she would be saying those words again but being with Dean, Seth, and Roman for the past few months had slowly made her more comfortable with other people. She fell into a silence again as she played with Vitani. She could hear Don talking on the phone upstairs, although his words were muffled, and Esme was bustling around in the kitchen, the odd tinkering of the pots and pans ringing through the air every now and then.

Might as well get used to this, she thought to herself.

It would be a long three weeks.

~oOo~

Three days had passed and Scarlett was downright bored.

Dean and her had barely been able to talk because of the time difference and also because of how busy they were. The max she heard from him was the countless messages he'd send every morning and evening, to which she'd reply happily. As for a proper telephone conversation, nothing.

What surprised her more was the fact that she'd heard nothing from Seth and Roman. Scarlett had waited for word from them but hadn't gotten anything. Instead, Dean was the one that had told her they were both doing well when she'd asked. She knew the Europe tour was a busy time for all of them but she couldn't deny that it stung when the two hadn't bothered to send her a message. Even AJ and Randy had managed to message her!

Scarlett had let it go for now, opting to ignore it and be more understanding of their schedule. Several negative thoughts had run through her head, the top one being that they had forgotten about her, but she'd rubbished them immediately and chose to focus on more positive thoughts. Don had picked up on her distress and had suggested that they go to the park nearby. Hence, here she sat on the park bench under the shade of the tree, watching kids play around. Don was hovering behind her and she'd suggested he sit down but he'd politely declined. She heard his phone ring and turned her head to look at him.

"Take it," she urged him when he looked ready to ignore it. He gave her an uncertain look and Scarlett responded with a smile.

"I'll be fine for a few minutes," she told him. He still looked uncertain but nevertheless stepped away to attend the call.

Scarlett took a deep breath, soaking in the fresh air and leaned her head back against the back of the bench, shutting her eyes and letting the music from Mother Nature soothe her.

"Romero Alvarez…yes…"

Her eyes snapped open and Scarlett sat up straight, her hearing focusing on Don's hushed words. Romero Alvarez. She knew that name. She knew it all too well.

"So you let that lawyer friend of yours show up whenever he wants?" Her mother yelled at her father. It was just another one of those nights where her parents were fighting and Scarlett had barricaded herself in her room, trying her level best to drown out the screams.

"Romero Alvarez is my right hand man, Katherine. There's nothing you should be worried about!" Her father yelled back.

"I don't trust him and I don't want him near me or Scarlett," Katherine snapped. Scarlett heard grumbling and short while later the doorbell rang. Scarlett, out of curiosity, peeked out her room's window, which faced the front of the house and allowed her to see the front door. She spotted a man wearing a long beige overcoat with glasses standing before the door, holding a briefcase. She didn't understand why her mother was so worried about this person, he had a kind looking face and he appeared the same age (or maybe a few years older) than her father. Maybe her mother was just overreacting?

"You'll regret not trusting him, Katherine. If there ever comes a time when you need me, he might be your only hope," she heard her father say. There were footsteps thundering through the hallway and down the stairs and short while later the door downstairs opened and slammed shut.

Scarlett watched as her father set off down the stone walkway with Mr. Alvarez trailing behind him. The two men took a seat in a black sedan and she watched as the car zoomed down the road and disappeared as it turned at the end of the road.

"Lawyer…shouldn't find out…no…secured."

The words coming out of Don's mouth were faint and she could only make out a few of them. The name had sparked that memory and the few words she heard from Don's mouth sounded almost like a confirmation of her suspicions. She craned her neck trying to hear more of his conversation as curiosity began to sneak its way into her.

If it was the Romero Alvarez that she thought it was, why did Don know him? Why did he take his name? What shouldn't be found out? What was secured? Why did the company call upon a bodyguard for a lawyer? Wasn't the legal team supposed to handle that? Question upon question filled her head and Scarlett turned to look at Don, the moment he noticed her attention was on him, he dropped his voice further and soon after ended the call.

Don returned to stand behind her and Scarlett faced the front again, confusion and curiosity piling within her. She thought she was thinking too deeply of things but the name had definitely brought back memories and while there could definitely be other lawyers with the same name, her gut told her not to let this matter go just yet.

"Miss, I think it is time we return home," Don suggested. Scarlett glanced at her wristwatch, noting how they'd been here only half an hour. Truthfully, it was definitely very warm and she was craving the iced tea that she'd seen Esme put into the refrigerator earlier in the morning. Too wrapped up in her own thoughts, she missed how Don seemed to be hovering close and the three men in dark clothes that had begun to approach them. She also missed how the three men stopped and retreated when their gazes fell on another black sedan parked at the opposite side of the park.

When they returned home, Scarlett made a beeline for the kitchen with Vitani trotting behind her and jumping onto the counter.

"Down," she said firmly to her cat and the cat complied immediately, choosing instead to slink around her ankles.

"Ms. Rayer, do you have any plans to leave the home today?" Don asked, poking his head into the kitchen while she was adding a lemon wedge to her tall glass of iced tea.

"I was hoping to go to the mall," she responded.

"I think it is best if we stay home today, Miss," he said to her. Scarlett paused and turned to look at him inquisitively. Her eyes narrowed when he looked away from her and her thoughts were once more returned to his earlier phone conversation.

"Don," she started. "Is everything okay?"

"I have been instructed to keep you safe, Miss. The temperature is very warm and I fear for my life if you suffer from a heat stroke or any other health issues," he answered. Scarlett stared at him dumbfounded before she burst out into chuckles. The bodyguard looked uncomfortable before her and she shook her head.

"Dean put you up to this?" She asked.

"I was told to protect you, Miss," he repeated and Scarlett waved him off.

"Alright, alright. We'll stay at home. I don't want you getting into trouble," she said, still laughing as she made picked up her glass and headed to the living room to read one of the crime novels she found lying around the house. Before she lost herself to the words that the author had written, she picked up her phone and sent a quick text to Dean that read: "Cut Don some slack. I know you told him to keep me safe but honestly, I don't think a trip to the mall will kill me."

She put her phone away and reached for the book, except her eyes caught the headlines on the Las Vegas newspaper that was sitting right next to it. The picture of the Mob Museum caught her eye and she reached for it, unfolding it to read it. As her eyes read the description of the "Special Exhibition" at the museum that featured new exhibits from the recent decade.

Remembering how much she'd enjoyed her previous visit, she grabbed her phone again and flipped it open to scroll through and find the number for Dean's trusted tour guide, Travis. Scarlett smiled at how long it had taken to convince Dean to hand her Travis' number. She'd burst out into laughter when he'd told her in a tight voice that Travis was interested in her and had assured him that she was simply interested in the history of the organized crime world. She dialed Travis' number and waited for him to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Hi Travis, this Scarlett. We met a few months ago whe-."

"Mr. Ambrose's girlfriend! Of course I remember you, Ms. Rayer!" He responded enthusiastically. Scarlett couldn't help but feel her cheeks warm up when he said that and cleared her throat.

"What can I help you with?" He asked.

"I saw the news about the Special Exhibition and I-."

"I would be honored to give you a tour, Miss! I can book you in tomorrow at 2 PM. That time is restricted to guided tours only so there won't be many people around and you can take a look completely at ease. Of course there's…," Travis continued talking explaining all there was to do at that time with the guided tour and Scarlett held back her laughter at his enthusiasm. He truly was very enthusiastic about his work.

One she got off the phone with him, Scarlett wrote another message to Dean, telling him how she was going to go to the museum tomorrow. She also added a little heart emoji when she asked him if he remembered the last time they went there and then mentally smacked herself after sending the message.

That looks too childish, Scarlett, she chastised herself as she stared at the heart emoji she'd sent with her message. Distance did indeed make the heart grow fonder and Scarlett wondered if this is how the whole clingy girlfriend mode started from. Expelling the thought from her head, she settled back on the couch and delved into her book, while slurping on her iced tea.

~oOo~

'I don't know what you're talking about. DON'T spend too much time alone with Travis and make sure Don is with you at all times! And how can I forget out first unofficial date?'

Scarlett stared at the pink heart he'd sent right back at her and then burst out into a fit of giggles. If only people knew that Dean Ambrose loved using emojis, especially colorful heart emojis, in his texts.

"You have no idea how much I miss you," she recorded the voice message and sent it to him before turning to prepare for her trip to the museum. Donning a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, Scarlett headed out the door to where Don stood with the car door open. The young man did his job a bit too perfectly and there were times Scarlett would forget he was even there even though he would be standing right next to her.

Just as Travis had informed her, the museum was quite empty when she arrived and the young man who had given her the tour last time stood near the ticket booth, waiting.

"Good to see you again, Travis!" She said, greeting him with a slight hesitancy. After all, it was the first time he would be seeing her without her scarf. He looked at her and his face split into a delighted smile as he rushed forward to greet her.

"Ms. Rayer!" He said excitedly. Don was in front of her within a blink of an eye, a hand wrapped firmly around Travis' shoulder to stop him from reaching for her hand. She looked at the blank faced Don and to the perplexed Travis then sighed.

"It's okay, Don. He's harmless," she said to him. The bodyguard looked at her and opened her mouth, no doubt to tell her that it was her ever caring boyfriend's doing but she waved him off.

"Dean's not here and the purpose is to relax, not aggravate me," she said pointedly. He contemplated her words before his grip loosened and he returned to stand behind her. Travis rubbed his arm before he held out a hand to shake her hand in greeting.

"It's good to see you, Ms. Rayer," he said, smiling hesitantly, eyes darting to Don as if anticipating an attack of sorts.

"Same here. Thank you for taking time to show me around," she replied politely, glad that his treatment towards her had not changed due to the lack of her scarf. Rather it was her bodyguard's imposing stature that had Travis' eyes darting to him every now and then.

"Shall we start the tour then?" He asked her.

Just like the first time she'd been here, Scarlett was entirely absorbed in her exploration. More so with the Special Exhibit being up that housed the recent crime lords and their history. Her questions were never ending and her interest unwavering, something that delighted her tour guide as he animatedly talked her through everything. Even Don appeared to be quite impressed for he too asked Travis a question or two, reminding Scarlett of his presence next to her.

"And this is the last stop for the day," he said coming to a stop before an exhibit of what were the remains of a car that had been blown to smithereens.

"The car in which the Russian crime lord Yazov Valentinovich was killed," Travis explained. He went on to talk about Valentinovich's many illegal activities as well has how much money he'd managed to gather in his lifetime from his activities. Scarlett listened intently as he continued to speak while her eyes gazed at the remains of the car.

"Who took him out?" She asked, peering at the bumper of the car.

"Many names have come up but no one's been able to confirm the perpetrator," Travis replied.

"Really?" Scarlett asked, straightening to look at Travis in surprise. She vaguely felt Don stiffen beside her and she glanced at him only to find his jaw tightening.

"Ms. Rayer, you must be getting tired," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We should head home."

Scarlett shrugged his hand off her shoulder and turned back to Travis, not tired at all and not ready to go home just yet. Her interest in this stuff was surprising even to herself but Travis was her best source of information at the moment. Leaving right now would mean she would have to come back another day and by then who knows if the exhibition would still be open.

"If he was such a big name in crime, could it be that he was killed by a gang or something?" Scarlett asked.

"Your interest in this subject astounds me, Ms. Rayer. I mentioned it to Mr. Ambrose too and he threatened me to stay away from you last time you two came," Travis said, his face going grim as he remembered the ordeal. Scarlett blinked as her mind went back to the time Dean and her had come here. She remembered Dean returning to the museum while she waited outside and coming back to her looking more satisfied than ever.

"He threatened you?" She asked, perplexed at the newfound knowledge.

"Hmm, he returned after he told you to wait outside to warn me not to get closer to you. Anyway, I learnt my lesson but considering he's not here, I have no fear in saying that you are by far my favorite person to take on the tour," Travis responded. Scarlett chuckled and her attention returned to the car once more, intrigue lighting up her eyes once more.

"It's so strange. No one's been able to figure out the perpetrators even though he died last year," she said. Had it been anyone else, she was sure the police would've blown a gasket looking for the ones responsible.

"Lots of names have been thrown about and the one person who seems to be the most plausible suspect has been investigated but cleared," Travis continued. Scarlett looked at him and once more she felt Don's hand grip her shoulder.

"Whose?" She asked.

"Ms. Rayer, I do think we sh-."

"The Kingpin himself, Cassio Zaro, of course."

FFN is seriously annoying me right now. Been trying to upload this chapter since yesterday, argh! Anyway, a bit of a filler chapter but one that sheds light on the new turn of events. This chapter was supposed to be longer but I had to split it into two because it was getting too long. Enjoy and do leave me with a review if you can! Until next time!