chapter 9

@Copyright kayannnn

After they had finished their meal, they bid their goodbyes before leaving.

"Alright, are we going back to my house now?"

"No, one more place to go."

"But-" He shook his head.

"No buts, relax." They walked back into the car.

He started the car and drove off in the distance.

After a few minutes, the car stopped.

He got out and opened her car door. Just like earlier, she thanked him, before looking around.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"Come on." He took a hold of her hand and led her into the woods.

"Now I'm quite sure you're going kill me." He chuckled.

"For the last time, I'm not going to kill you, Natalia."

"I'll believe that when I go home and sleep."

He rolled his eyes as they walked further into the woods, suddenly they stopped.

She looked around, it was a glowing lake.

"What sort of witchcraft is this?" She asked.

"Glowing crystals at the bottom of the lake it's one of the oldest spells in the books of magic, an ancient witch placed them here, also known as my mother, she placed them there." He told her.

"You're kidding right?" She asked laughing, he nods, joining.

They walked closer to the lake, it seemed more beautiful up close.

"Your mother sounds nice." He looked at her.

"She was." He held out his hand, this time she didn't hesitate as she held it.

He pulled her to the edge of the lake.

"After you." She looked at him.

"I'm not going in there." She states.

"Your lost." He zips the zip on his sleeveless sweater down, taking it off.

He remained eye contact with her as he threw it on the grass, he then took off his sweat pants before going to the water.

"You sure you don't want to join?" She nodded.

"I'm sure."

She watched him swim around for a while, sometimes he splashed her making her laugh.

She sighed and took off the sweat pants she was wearing.

She was only in her sports bra that she was training in and her underwear.

She heard her whistle from him causing her to laugh and roll her eyes.

She dived into the warm water, feeling relaxed.

"I knew you would give in sooner or later." He said.

They swam around the lake for a while.

Abruptly, he splashed her causing her to gasp.

She splashed him back before he could react, she swam away as quickly as she could.

Once she was far enough she turned around to see he wasn't there.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her ankle, bringing her down.

As she went under she opened her eyes, she saw Alessandro smirking.

She flipped him off.

Letting go of her ankle he held her hand.

He made a gesture to go straight, she didn't question it as she nodded.

They swam as quickly as they could, soon they reached a tunnel.

Going into it they swam up into a cave.

They gasped for air as the reached the surface.

"What is this place?" She asked as she saw the same crystals in the cave.

"Well, my mother use to take me here when it was my birthday. Every year, she decorated everything then she suddenly changed, we stopped coming for my birthday so I come here by myself." It then hit her.

"Today's your birthday." She said, he looked at her and nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't celebrate it anymore." He swam over to the other end of the cave and got out of the water.

"Well, we're going to celebrate it today." She got out of the water too.

"No, it's not going to be the same without her."

"Who would have thought the big bad mafia leader has feelings." She joked, he sent her a smile.

"Does your sister know today's your birthday?"

"She does but she knows I don't want to celebrate it."

"How about we-" He cuts off.

"Natalia I'm-"

"Hear me out, how about we go out to dinner tomorrow? With your sister."

"I-"

"We technically aren't celebrating your birthday if it's not on the day." He rolled his eyes but can't help but smile, he's only known this woman for a few days and she already as affected him this much.

"Alright, dinner tomorrow." She smiled.

"Let's go before you catch a cold." He said.

"Race you to the car." She dived into the water before he could respond.

After a few minutes, she was taking her sweats and running to the car as she heard him getting out the water.

Once she was in the car she tried opening but it didn't work.

"Looking for these?" She turned and saw him, he had the key in his hand.

"I won." She said.

"You did, what does the winner want as an award?" He took a daring step forward.

Her breathing got harder as he was now closer than ever.

He smirks, leaning in towards her. His breath skims over her lips, and his voices lowers to a growl.

"Think about, let's go, we don't want you to catch a cold." She snapped out of her daze and nodded.

He opened the car door for her, she thanked him before going in.

He walked back over to his side and got in.

He started the car and drove back to the house.

"Alessandro?"

"Hmm?"

"What did you mean by your mother changed?" He looked at her for a second before turning his gaze back to the road ahead.

"She stopped acting like a mother, can we leave it at that?" She looked at him, his jaw was clenched and his hand was gripping the wheel tightly.

"Sure, it's not my business anyway."

She turned on the radio and from that music started playing.

40 minutes later they finally at the house.

When they got out, Alessandro gave one of the guards the car key.

They went inside, only to see Natalia's parents sitting on the couch in the living room.

Her mother was sobbing as her father comforts her.

"What happened?" Alessandro asked, Natalia, groaned.

"I'm saving myself." She was ready to walk away but what came out of her father's mouth stopped her in tracks.

"Andrey is in the hospital."

-

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