As soon as Russo walked through the door, the tension rose to a fever pitch, and before he could even say hello, I let loose with a barrage of charges that were directed squarely at the heart of our connection."Where the hell were you last night?" My eyes narrowed into an accusatory stare as I posed the question.Russo's expression revealed that he was taken aback and he wrinkled his brows. He responded with a question that revealed the real perplexity that was written all over his face: "What are you talking about?"The fact that I hadn't been able to sleep the night before, along with the smell of vodka that lingered about him like a shameful secret, stoked the fires of rage within me. "Don't play dumb," I said angrily. "You left, reeking of alcohol, and you didn't even bother talking to me."Russo exhaled deeply, a look of confusion and exasperation painting itself across his features as he did so. I was in the pub at the time. What gives you such a bad case of the jitters?My ans
I sat on the luxurious sofa's edge, tapping my fingers repeatedly on my thigh, while the room was softly lighted and hung heavy with an air of suspense. As he walked about the room in a restless manner, Russo emanated an anxious energy that gave the impression of permeating the entire area. It had been days since I had left the home, and the isolation was beginning to take its toll on me. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic.I eventually addressed my dissatisfaction by saying, "Russo, I can't stay cooped up here forever," breaking the awkward stillness that had formed in between the two of us.He stopped in the middle of his stride, his penetrating eyes landing on me. The love that was still present under the surface was reflected in the anxiety that was engraved onto his features. "Alissa, please understand that it's not because I don't trust you. It is for your own protection, after all. I can't take the chance that something bad may happen to you."My aggravation and comprehensi
We were both startled as the sound echoed through the night, and based on the way Russo was gazing, I could tell that he, too, had no idea what the sound was. Instantaneously, he wrapped his arms around me and planted a kiss on the top of my head. I forced myself to calm my pounding heart and made the conscious decision to block out the possibility of anything bad happening to me while I was here, fighting for my life."Stay here," his whispered demand reverberated, a deep rumbling that carried with it an underlying current of urgency. He jumped out of bed and quickly dressed himself before leaving the room. Before I went back under the covers, he stroked my leg and glanced at me in a way that seemed to be a reminder of his earlier warning. I gave him a nod in response. I waited for him to shut the door behind me before removing the sheets from the bed, at which point I got out of bed, dressed quickly, and left the room.I cautiously opened the door and made my way out of the room. I
The night air hung heavy with the scent of uncertainty as Russo entered the dimly lit room, his presence casting a fleeting shadow across the office. I sat at the desk, surrounded by the faint glow of the city lights filtering through the windows. The tension between us was palpable, an unspoken acknowledgment of the tumultuous emotions that lingered in the air.His apology cut through the silence like a hesitant whisper. "Alissa, about earlier..." Russo's voice wavered, a rare vulnerability surfacing in the deep timbre. He approached cautiously, as if navigating a delicate terrain.I met his gaze, my own eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and weariness. "What happened earlier, Russo? Why did you react like that?"He sighed, the weight of his actions etched on his features. "I saw the pregnancy test in the bathroom cabinet. I thought you might be pregnant."The revelation sent a jolt through me, the implications of his assumption sinking in. "Russo, I'm not pregnant," I stated firmly,
The air hung heavy with the scent of anticipation as Russo and I made our way to the extravagant venue for the night's festivities. Russo, with a sheepish smile, tried to make amends for the argument that had soured our evening earlier. I glanced at him, my arms crossed, unsure if his attempts were genuine or just a fleeting gesture to ease his guilt."Alissa, I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have snapped at you," Russo mumbled, his eyes avoiding mine.I sighed, relenting a bit. "Just make sure this party of yours isn't a disaster waiting to happen. I don't need to be caught in the crossfire of your enemies."Russo chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood. "I promise, sweetheart, it's all going to be fine. No enemies tonight. Just a night of celebration."We arrived at the opulent venue, the pulsating music and vibrant lights setting the tone for a night of extravagance. Russo, true to his word, led me through the crowd, introducing me to various acquaintances and associates. I tr
The air in the room crackled with tension as Russo paced back and forth, his gaze avoiding mine. His phone buzzed intermittently, each message adding another layer of secrecy to the heavy silence that hung between us. I'd had enough of being sidelined and kept in the dark about the dangers that seemed to be closing in on us.I was starting to see myself as a vital part of this world and nothing about my other identity concerned me anymore, I want to keep myself on check but i still can’t do it, Instead I focus on immersing myself badly into Russo’s world. "Russo, we need to talk," I said, my voice firm. I was tired of all of these, and the parables too. He sighed, finally meeting my eyes with a hint of reluctance. "Alissa, not now. I have things to deal with."I crossed my arms, frustration bubbling to the surface. He was doing it again, dismissing my opinions. "Things? Russo, we're not playing games here. If my life is in danger, I have a right to know. You can’t just keep me in th
My hands were more clenched around the steering wheel as the dread that was building up in the hollow of my stomach intensified with each passing second. After being ripped away from me by invisible powers, Alissa had left a void in my life that echoed all the way to the center of my existence. I felt like an idiot as I watched them haul her away and as I allowed them to make fun of her in front of me. Instead of being rational, I should have acted on something.I still feel stung by the look of betrayal that was in Alissa's eyes, despite the fact that acting impulsively hasn't helped me come this far in our world. She believed in me, and we even had a conversation about how she wanted to make sure she was secure when she was with me. I gave her my word that she would never be in danger. Even though I assured her that nothing bad would happen to her, I was unable to maintain that promise. I watched as they yanked her away from me in such a manner.Desperation fueled my determination a
The relics of the night's chaos lingered heavily in the room that Russo occupied, and the air was dense with them as a result. I was unable to shake the lingering feeling of impending doom that hung in the air around us as he removed his bloodstained garments off his body. The room, which had been a refuge in the past, gave off the image of a battleground that was plagued by the noises of war. This was despite the fact that it had been a safe haven in the past.I couldn't decide whether or not to walk inside the room since I wanted to fulfill my innate curiosity, but at the same time, I respected his requirement for personal space. My motivation stemmed from the realization that there was a pressing need to aid others and narrow the ever-growing chasm that separated us. As I went inside, the door opened with a groan, and the faint light revealed the pandemonium that had been left over from the previous night."Russo," I muttered, my voice scarcely heard above the whisper of doubt that