“You did what!” Lorenzo roared when Serenity revealed the findings of their evening out.
“I know you’re mad, but we got what we needed. There’s an underground tunnel entrance in the cellar just like the map suggested.” Serenity tried to reason, but Enzo wasn’t having it.
“That’s completely beside the point! Where did you even come up with this bogus plan?” He seethed.
*ONE DAY EARLIER*
“I’ve been looking at some old maps of the city, trying to piece together the things Matteo described to us, but there are so many possible locations.” Serenity unfolded an old map onto the table before Enzo and the Ruiz siblings.
 
Stepping out of the closet the clock on her nightstand read past midnight and Serenity felt the exhaustion of the day set in.All she wanted was to cuddle under the covers and forget the world existed, but just as she took another step in that direction she felt a rough hand close around her mouth, muffling the scream that bubbled in her throat. A large body trapped her against the wall and Serenity’s eyes widened in terror.‘This is it, my nine lives have run out.’ The thought invaded her mind as the man’s breath fanned her face, he smelled faintly of whiskey and musk.There was something familiar about it and Serenity chanced a look at his eyes, they were hardly visible in the pitch d
Serenity awoke to the feeling of Xander’s muscular chest pressed firmly to her back, his arms engulfed her as he spooned her tiny body with his large one and as much as she hated to admit it, she loved the feeling of him pressed up against her even if he was sleeping on her hair.Feeling Serenity move, Xander’s eyes propped open and widened at the position they found themselves in.“Xander, wake up. You’re on my hair.” She nudged him lightly with her foot and he quickly moved away, taking his weight off her body.“Sorry, are you okay?” He reached for her hair, but her fingers beat him to it, smoothing down the stray strands that were sticking up.&ldq
“Can you hear what they’re saying?” Julio whispered with a concentrated frown on his face.“Not really, but that voice sounds familiar.” Serenity bit her lip and looked at him, “We have to get closer.” She knew it was a bad idea and so did Julio by the look on his face.“Come on.” He motioned for her to follow him.The two crept around to the front of the house where the voices were more recognisable thanks to the broken window. They were still partially hidden from the road by an overgrown bush and the long grass, but if someone were to step onto the porch they would easily be spotted.“ -Not saying a word, I don’t know how much more he c
A searing pain in her head made Serenity groan.“Serenity!” Lorenzo’s voice called just as she felt his hand grasp hers and her eyes cracked open.“Hey.” She winced at the dryness in her throat.“Hey, are you okay?” He helped her sit up before bringing a glass of water to her lips.“I’m fine, my head hurts. What happened?” She looked around her room with confusion when her eyes suddenly found Xander sitting in the chair across the room.His dark stare was set on her and Serenity felt an involuntary shiver run down her spine.
Serenity hissed as she unwrapped the bandage wrapped around her head, the throbbing in her skull was still as prominent as the moment she woke despite all Olympia’s best efforts at drugging her.Cool wind touched the swollen skin which intensified the throb, the pain almost made Serenity abandon her plan, but she knew she wouldn’t get a moment of shut eye till she knew what was hidden in that house.It was a stupid idea to go back there after the day’s events, that much she knew, but her mind ran a mile per minute. Something was drawing her back there, back to that house.The night sky was littered with stars that under any other circumstance she would take a moment to admire, but given that she was sneaking out of a fortress, she couldn&r
“Matteo!”“Matteo?”Serenity and Xander called out when they barged back into the house. The duo wasted no time in rushing down to the basement where the knocking on the pipe was the loudest.“It was this one right here.” Using a random piece of metal, she tapped on the pipe, hoping she would receive a response but after a few seconds passed with no response she tapped again, more furiously.“The original entrance to the tunnel may be blocked off, but who’s to say a second entrance wasn’t created later on?” Xander followed the pipe along the wall till it disappeared into the brick.
“He looks so different.” Serenity looked at Matteo with sad eyes, but in her heart relief trumped any other emotion.“He’ll regain his strength in no time, you’ll see.” Enzo smiled reassuringly, the happiness he felt at having one of his brothers back at his side was overwhelming.“What did the doctor say?” Serenity turned to face Lorenzo.The elder brother sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “He’s gonna be okay.”“That’s all?” She frowned disbelievingly.“That’s all that matters.” Enzo shrugged, wheeling closer to the window. Ma
“You’re so beautiful.” Xander’s greenish eyes glinted in the midday sun as they feasted on every inch of her face.Serenity bit back a shiver when his fingers whispered against her neck and tangled themselves in her hair, “What are you doing to me?” She panted breathily, her eyes falling shut involuntarily when Xander’s fingers began moving against her scalp.“What do you want me to do to you?” He leaned closer so his breath tickled her ear, this time she was powerless to stop the tremble in her body. Every nerve ending was screaming at his proximity and she had no resolve to push him away, in fact, she wanted him closer.Serenity groaned aloud, they were still in the middle of the kitchen of a house cra