005

ARI’s POV

Never would I have imagined that one day I would end up in a situation like this.

My gaze narrowed to the third one in view, the same man I recognized.

Joe Kanner, one of the perps who had escaped my custody, punching and spitting on me before leaving.

‘Karma is a bitch now,’

I took one last look at the Stranger. He was propped on the other car end, gun raised.

The moment we made eye contact I felt a synergy between us. It was an unspoken contact.

I nodded in a silent signal before turning back.

It was time.

I stepped out of the other door of the car and didn't hesitate to start shooting.

I was good at close combat but my best feature? My aim.

Without hesitation I shot at everyone in my vicinity, starting with the man from before first along with two others.

The other half scattered and tried to shoot, leaving me to run and duck down against the nearest building to avoid it. Another gunshot followed by the sight of Cross told me he'd taken another one down.

‘Five more to go.’ I thought to myself,

I could tell from how they dumped their guns that they'd used all their ammo. They probably hadn't expected us to live this long but now we had the advantage.

Spinning around, I took a third shot straight in the thugs arm. The man toppled over groaning. Rushing to the place, I looked around counting the bodies.

“9?” I muttered out loud, looking around. If there were ten, where was the last one?

I spotted the shadow too late. I spun around and met the last one holding a knife. There was no way I could avoid it from this close.

I braced for the impact, except it didn't happen. Looking up, confusion rose when I saw them.

The Stranger was fighting the last thug. He pulled the thug away until they rolled away on the street struggling for dominance. My heart flew to my throat as the knife entered his shoulder.

It didn't seem to faze the Stranger however as he placed the gun directly against the man's chest. Three gunshots and, and then…silence.

I rushed over, guilt filling me at the blood seeping into his torn shirt and his face scrunched in pain.

He'd protected me.

Before I could do anything he held me back, taking out his phone. It took a few seconds to realize he was calling someone.

“Gustav, Hai un lavoro da fare.” He spoke Italian, making me furrow my brows.

He didn't pay any mind to me as he continued speaking. I faintly recognized some of the words as the address of where we were.

“Vieni qui prima che arrivi la polizia.” He said in that same stern voice.

‘Police?’ That piqued my interest, filling me with more questions. Was he a part of the police force? If he was then I would have recognized him right?

Who was he?

He ended the call seconds after before turning to me.

“Sorry cara, that we had to end our date in such an- abrupt manner,” he smiled through gritted teeth and I didn't know whether to scream or laugh.

Even when he was this injured, he still managed to flirt?

To distract myself, I looked over at the wound in alarm. It was bleeding so much so fast.

“We need to go to the hospital -” I said , but he cut me off before I could finish.

“No. No hospitals,” he argued, “take me anywhere else cara. I trust you. But we need to go.”

“But…” I trailed off, looking around. A strange knot formed at the sight of the dead bodies strewn around the street. It was in self defense, but still.

“Don't worry about those cara,” his voice pushed me out of those thoughts, “It's been taken care of. Trust me.”

I wanted to shout and argue that he'd given me less of a reason to trust him now but the words couldn't come out. Looking over at him, I settled on a decision.

“I'll drive.” I said, turning to the car.

Looking over at the slightly dented car and the dead man behind the wheels, I gave a silent apology.

He didn't protest as I helped him into the other seat before I slipped onto the driver's seat behind him. Instead he simply groaned, eyes slipping closed.

I couldn't keep my eyes away from him. Why was he so comfortable? Didn't he worry I'll use it to my advantage? I could take him anywhere, even the police headquarters.

‘Should I?’ my hands tightened on the steering wheel. I knew nothing of him but everything about him warranted suspicion. The smartest decision was to go to headquarters and detain him until I could confirm his identity.

Yet I couldn't bring myself to do so. Did I follow through with it or not?

“You're thinking of arresting me, Cara?” He drawled, making me stiffen. It was like he'd read my mind.

I half expected him to turn aggressive yet he chuckled raspily.

“You can do it if you'd like. My life is in your hands.” he said,

It was like a punch to the gut. I'd barely known him for a day, yet he'd claimed to trust me. He was in this state out of protecting me. Could I really send him off so heartlessly?

“Besides,” he chuckled, “I always loved a little roleplay.”

It took a few minutes to understand his innuendo. Heat rose to my cheeks.

“Shut up.” I muttered before pushing the engine.

….

Against my logic I decided to take him to my apartment. He'd seen it anyway.

Throughout he drawled out jokes, passing on little flirtatious words that made me grit my teeth.

I would hate him if I wasn't so damn worried.

Once I reached my building, I parked the car at the other end of the road near the bushes where I knew it wouldn't be seen before carrying him into my apartment.

He groaned as I set him onto my chair. I was even more alarmed as the blood stain had grown.

I wasted no time gathering my first aid kit before preparing the instruments I needed.

“I like your home cara, it's pretty. Quaint. I wished I'd seen it under sexier circumstances.” He drawled out as I took off his shirt to eye the wound.

“This will hurt,” I warned, dousing spirit on the wound. His grunts filled the room.

Immediately I was done, I quickly went to work on stitching his stab wound. He kept silent throughout. Aside from a spare curse or groan the room was completely silent.

I kept my peace until I was done, cleaning up the fresh sutures before putting a bandage on it. Relief flooded me at the sight. He was going to survive.

Grabbing a drink from the fridge.

“You need to drink and regain your energy. You've lost enough blood.” I rushed out, passing it to him. He accepted it, drinking in silence.

After he was done no other words were shared. Only his faint breaths remained. There was nothing left to do. I should have left already or taken care of my own bruises.

I stood up to leave when a hand grasped mine gently, holding me in place.

“Do you know what made me so intrigued about you cara?” he drawled out, making me tense.

“It was that damn face of yours.”

I couldn't say a word, frozen in place as his warmth seeped through my palm.

“For a cop of your caliber, your face is your weakness.” he chuckled, “it was the same thing last night. There weren't any hidden intentions or motives. Not even a hint of darkness. Just your desire.”

Heat rose to my cheeks before I could stop it. He chuckled lightly.

“It gives you away. Every little emotion, even the ones you try to hide. It's written all over your face cara.”

He breathed out raspily.

“I could see your suspicions from a mile away, yet you still helped me without a reason or motive. You're so pure.”

I jerked back at that word. It was an insult I'd been given too many times by my co-workers when it came to my weakness. Too green. Too idealistic. Too pure.

I turned around to protest but stopped as I looked at his face. It wasn't mocking or patronizing, instead he looked at me with awe.

Before I could think he'd pulled me into his lap.

“You-”

His lips covered mine before I could speak, kissing me deeply. Suddenly everything became blank and I wrapped myself against him, swept up in the waves.

I had dated only a few times in my life and had one night stands, yet none of those encounters ever made me feel like this.

So much yet not enough.

All my defenses fell apart. I leaned into him, relaxing against his kiss.

Had it been an hour? An eternity? I didn't know when he released me but I didn't move away. The exhaustion from the day weighed on me , making my limbs feel heavy.

“Who are you?” I whispered against his chest, laying on him. A question I'd asked him and myself far too many times.

“I promised to tell you after tonight, didn't I?” He said, the vibrations making my eyes grow heavier. I felt the sleep coming but between his scent and the leftover metallic scent of blood there was nothing I could do about it.

My eyes slipped closed as I gave into slumber, his last words echoed right before I did.

“It seems like you'll have to wait a bit longer.”

…

I woke up to an empty and clean couch. My ID card was left on the desk, but every other sign of the Stranger was gone.

I bit my lip. Why did I feel so disappointed?

On arriving at work the energy took me back. The entire office was buzzing with more energy than before.

“Officer Santiago!” I heard my name called to find Gina running towards me.

“What happened?” I asked Gina

“Someone received new intel on Cross. He was spotted nearby injured.” she said, visibly excited.

What? Now I understood why everyone was so excited. I felt excitement brim in me.

Spotting Cross alone was already an impossible feat. If we could find one crack in his plans then it was more than enough.

“Where is it?” After getting the location I eagerly rushed to the large police board meant for important information where others crowded.

The moment I saw the picture my blood ran cold.

It was fuzzy and not a proper angle, but I recognized it easily, from the contours of his face to that damned bloodied shirt.

“No,” I whispered in horror. This couldn't be happening.

It was the Stranger’s face right in front of me. He wasn't just any normal man, but Cross Margiello.

The man who had proved elusive to us for years on end. The Mafia boss and head of the crime ring in the entire city.

The man I'd gone on a date with, that I'd helped heal and spent the night with twice was the feared Mafia Don we had been searching for the entire time.