One Night Assassin

|CHAPTER 16| |Built up emotions, must come out|

|CHAPTER 16|

|Built up emotions, must come out|

"Where did all my socks go?" I say to myself as I run around like a chicken with his head cut off trying to get out the door as quick as possible since my shift starts at eight. 

Walking into the closet, my eyes drift around before seeing a small packed luggage at the top of the shelf. I twist my face in confusion since I thought I've already unpacked everything. Right after I pull the luggage down and quickly unzip it. 

"What is all th-" I stop talking as I just become more confused when I see a bunch of family pictures of me, my dad and mom all together. My heart breaking when I come across a picture of my dad holding me as a newborn at the hospital. Quickly I stuff all the pictures back in before I start to get teary eyed at the sight. But I soon stop when I see a folded up piece of paper. Sighing, I decide to just unravel the paper, and I knew that was a mistake when I come across a familiar shiny object. 

Seeing that there was a short note, I uncrumple it before reading it. And smiling immediately after I did so.

I know how much this button means to you, so I decided to wrap it up so it will stay safe. Sorry for being a d**k and I wish nothing but the best for you, Luna.

~Brian

"Damn asshole," I say with a smile before setting the paper down and examining the small round button in my hand. Closing my eyes, the memory comes flooding back like a tornado on a stormy day.

"Hey, sweetie. How was school today?" My daddy says in that sweet voice he always speaks in as soon as I make my way inside the house, making me turn to look at him as he adjust his suit tie. 

"I don't wanna speak about it right now, okay?" I say with a poker face before tossing my backpack down in a heap of built up anger I was feeling. Before my dad could question anymore, I quickly run upstairs and into my room. But not before hearing my mom say something about me only being 8 years old, and stuff like this happens.

I hated school so much, everyone was rude and mean. And every time I try and talk to someone, they'd look at me in fright before going their separate ways. But today was the worst out of all the days, today was the day I finally figured out why everyone always acted so weird towards me.

I was going around the corner of the hall and heard two girls talking about me and my family, and how I'd probably end up killing them just like my dad was known for doing. And that was where I finally drew the line, even at my age, I will NEVER let anyone talk bad about my family, especially when these stories are just all made up.

At least that's what my daddy says...

So I later on through the day, I ended up seeing the same girl who said those things and ended up tripping her and straddled her before shaking her by the hem of her stupid dress. Yelling nothing but, 'No one makes rumors like that about my family!' while shaking her. Until, eventually the teacher came and dragged me off of her hysterical crying self.

In which that left me here, having to be picked up by my mom due to my, 'irrational out lash.' 

A knock sounded on my door as I just sat in a fetal position on my bed with a pillow hugged to my knees.

"Come in." The whisper of the door creaking open sounded before the sight of my daddy's smiling face appeared in the doorway. Slowly, he let out an exasperated sigh as he mad his way to my bed before taking a seat on the edge.

"So, your mother told me what happened at school today. Is there a particular reason you lashed out like that?" He raised an eyebrow in question, in which only made me hug my pillow tighter.

"She was being mean and saying bad things about you. And how I was gonna kill them like you kill people. But I know they're just saying that to start rumors!" Daddy's expression went from a bit humor filled to stunned in a matter of a split second as soon as I spoke those words. He runs his hands through his brown hair before letting out a sigh, probably not knowing what to say next.

"Look, Lune. I love you with all my heart, and you know that. You and your mom are everything to me and I'm so lucky to have you two in my life." He grabs my small hands in his warm ones that were so big, they overlapped mine. Making me look into his brown eyes, I see the serious expression he was wearing, and I knew he wasn't playing anymore games.

"But you're going to hear stuff like that all your life. Rude, mean people trying to bring you down and that will never stop. You're young now, Luna, but it will get easier the older you get. And I want you to promise me one thing from this whole event, okay?" He finishes with a smile, making me do the same before quickly nodding my head.

"Please make right decisions. No matter what you are feeling, no matter what good you do. You have to ALWAYS to think in your head, 'Is this the right thing to do?' And if that answer is no, for the love of God, Lune, don't do it," he finishes the last part in a playfully exasperated tone, making us both chuckle at my daddy's playfulness.

It was like something clicked in daddy's head at that moment, because he then quickly reaches in his pocket and picks out a small gold button and places it in my small hand before closing my hand around the cold metal.

"This is the button of courage, okay? And every time you look at it in a sticky situation, I want you to remember what I said, and question if all of what your doing, or going to do, is worth it in the end." He tucks a small strand of my hair behind my ear before giving me a small kiss on my forehead and pulling away with a small smile on his face. 

I was so happy, I couldn't help but jump into my daddy's arms and hug him until my arms felt like they were about to break.

"I love you, daddy." I squeeze my eyes tight as he responds to the hug.

"I love you too, sweetie." He says as I pull back away from the hug, making him standup from my bed before dusting the wrinkles from his suit.

"Remember, always do the the thing you think best is right," he says before starting to head out of the door, leaving me a smiling mess as I stare at the button I was given.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go make reservations at a restaurant for me and your moms anniversary dinner. But don't tell her, it's a surprise, okay?" He whispers as he puts his index finger to his lips, making me look at him before smiling and making a gesture to zip my lips. 

"Little did I know..." I whisper as I close my eyes to hold back the tears that were threatening to burst out. Quickly, I stir out of my distraught revelry by the sound of a knocking coming from my door, making me start to shove everything in the bag before zipping it up in a hasty fashion.

"You ready for work, lune?" I hear the familiar voice of Adriano say out loud. And within those next seconds, I spot my flats before slipping them on and swiftly opening the door. A smile plastered on my face as I meet face to face with Adriano, making him jolt back a bit.

"Yeah, all ready and set to converse with a bunch of snobby people," I say with a sarcastic smile on my lips before walking past Adriano and giving him a pat on his shoulder. I could hear his chuckle as he begins to follow me down the stairs.

"What is your plans for today. You know, since you don't work and all," I say with a roll of my eyes as I take step by step down stair with Adriano following in tow.

"You see, lune. That's what I meant to talk to you about..." He immediately stops when we both make it down stairs and I turn to him so fast, our faces were mere inches apart. Ignoring the rapid thumping of my heart as I gaze into his ocean blue eyes, I stand my ground before calling him out with my facial expression no longer mirroring one of humor.

"What? That you actually live a somewhat normal life at a crappy minimum paying job? Oh wait, or is it the test that has put people ten feet underground you forgot to mention?" I say before raising my eyebrow slightly, his face showing no emotion other than the look of a kid who got their hand caught in the cookie jar. 

"Blake," is all he grumbles before running his hand through his hair in frustration, making me snort before walking away from him once again.

"Hey! I thought we sorted all this out last night, remember?" He yells before throwing his hands up in exasperation, making me smile slightly, but not in happiness. Turning around with the fake smile still on my lips as I finally make it to the front door to leave for work.

"That doesn't mean I'm still not mad at you for keeping every secret in the book from me. I got all I needed to know by that. But you wanna know why I'm still upset? The thing that hurt the most?" I finally finish getting closer and closer to his guilt expressed face with every word, not upset anymore even in the slightest, just a bit hurt.

"I thought we were supposed to be friends. Or hell, even partners. But that was an obvious mistake since you couldn't even tell me something as little as having a regular job," I finish, my smile now gone and turned into a frown. 

I wasn't trying to be an extrovert, but if he couldn't even tell me something as minuscule as having a dumb minimum wage paying job, what else could he be hiding? This was the only person in this business I felt comfortable around, and see as someone I could be myself around, and not this concrete person. That was at least before he pulled this whole stunt. 

After a second goes by of Adriano just standing there looking at me with a look of guilt written on his face. I just shake by head in disbelief before turning the door nob to head out.

"Bye, Adriano," is all I say before yanking the door open and getting hit with the cool breeze outside. Expecting to hear Adriano say something back, I hesitate at my car door before realizing there was nothing else left unsaid and getting in.

• . • . •

"Boss said to give this to you when you walked in," the familiar southern twang said aloud as soon as walked in, making me jump back a bit before seeing her smiling expression. Looking at what she was handing me, I look at it before scoffing in humor. 

"Bethany Gillian? Really?" I say holding back a chuckle as I stare at the small gold name tag in my hands. Looking up, I give her a look of incredulousness and humor, making her throw her hands up in surrender before pointing to the kitchen where Blake was cooking.

"I'm just the messenger bird. You'll have to talk to mister hot stick-up-his-ass man." And right at that same exact time, Blake turns his attention to me. His serious and stern expression immediately softening to a wide grin ass soon as laid eyes upon me. He quickly mouths an 'oh' as soon as I show him the name tag before quickly making his way out of the kitchen and towards the both of us.

"Well, I'll just be in the kitchen! Working hard as I can, so I can satisfy the greatest man in the unive-"

"I've already told you, Willow. I'll think about giving you a raise only if you don't push it," Blake says as soon he approaches us, making the girl known as Willow just let out a sigh in defeat.

"Was worth a shot," she adds lastly before waving us bye as she heads off into the kitchen. I raise an eyebrow at him, but he just shakes his head as to just say it was nothing, the smile still prominent on his face.

"So... Bethany Gillian, huh?" I say fiddling with the name tag in my fingers. He lets his head fall down into his hand before running his fingers through his already tasseled hair, hiding the obvious laughter he was suppressing, making me want to hit him, but decide against it since I don't want another stunt like yesterday to arise.

"Don't laugh. Who in the hell is Bethany? And why am I wearing her name tag?" I say trying to sound serious, but failing in the end when I feel the smile still prominent on my face.

"Maybe we should talk about this somewhere else. We need to speak about something serious ASAP. It has to do with the mission. Come to my office after waiting your last table and we can discuss it, okay?" Seeing his now serious expression, I just nod in reply as he pats the back of my shoulder in comfort before giving me a warm smile, not wanting to spook me I'm guessing.

"Now have fun at work." Knowing exactly what I wasn't going to do, he says. In which only making me let out a sigh in frustration as soon as he leaves. 

Putting on my stupid apron, I pin on the fake name tag and start the day of hell.

•  •  •

Fourteen customers later, I finally make it to the last table of the night and am completely relieved when I get up to the table. 

"Welcome to Holinda. What would you like to drink toni-" with my head still down, I am completely shell shocked; as well as the other person, when I come eye to eye with a person I thought I'd never see again in a million years.

My mom...

With another man?

Gulping down the lump in my throat, I swallow my nerves and paste a smile on my face, masking all emotions from my face and just holding in my jitters for the time being.

"Uh, what may I get you two for tonight?" Seeing the same woman with dark curly brown hair that didn't look a day over forty all dressed up with a man I had absolutely no clue was.

"I will have an iced tea and... What would you like, honey?" The man says, making me take in a shaky breath.

Honey?

HONEY?!

Just breath, Luna. There's nothing you can do in this moment but breath and don't loose control.

The woman known as my mother just looked at me with a look of shock written on her face as well, but was masking it just as well as I was.

"Oh um, just some water, thank you," she says before looking down at the menu with food on it, avoiding my gaze and just focusing on the food laying before her on the laminated paper.

"I'll be back with your drinks," I steadily shake out before almost running back to the kitchen. Feeling the state of panic set in, I sit down as soon as I make it back to the kitchen, clenching my stomach from not seeming to catch my breath very well.

"Honey, are you okay?" Willows familiar accent breaks through my ears, making me look up to see how concerned she was. I just nod my head before seeming to catch my breath. Knowing that my state of panic wasn't over as soon as I stood up, because as soon as I did that, everything went fuzzy before shutting off to black.

• . • . •

"What in the f**k do you mean you don't know?! So she just passed out for no apparent reason I'm guessing!" A loud voice is heard as soon as I come back from my unconscious state, making me blink at the bright light as soon as I open my eyes.

"Well, I'm sorry I didn't see the whole scene play out. As if you f*****g care anyways!" The voices become more prominent as I become mor and more awake.

Looking to the side, I see that it's a man in a ragged up grey T-Shirt and loose fitting jeans. Stains that were very prominent on both of the clothing items. Both Blake and this man fighting about things I had no clue of.

"You think I drove all the way to this rich diner because I didn't care?" The people became more clear, and I blinked my eyes when the man in ragged up clothes became more clear.

"Nightmare?" I blurt out loud by accident, making both of their heads turn in my direction. Picking my body off of the couch as I look around the room, not knowing how I got in what seemed to be Blake's office.

"W-What are you doing here? What am I doing here?" Adriano just scowls at Blake's concerned face before walking up to me and picking me up by my hips, holding me up right.

"We are going home," he says in a stern expression as he lets me lean against his broad frame.

"You can keep her from the truth, but you can't keep her from following the rules, old man. She still has to work here." Blake says loudly before Adriano can walk out with me, making him stop in his tracks and turn around to face Blake with a tighter grip on my waist.

"She passed out for some reason due to working here. So I couldn't give to shits about any f*****g rules right now." He states bluntly, making Blake chuckle at his statement.

"Good luck explaining that to the man in charge," Blake says between humorless chuckles. Looking at Adriano for a quick glance to see a devious smirk prominent on his stubbled face.

"Let's see him stop me," is all Adriano says, all humor erased and forgotten from Blake's face as soon as he spoke those words with such distain. And before I knew it, we were in Adriano's car and heading home. My head leaned against his shoulder while still in a haze.

"What about my car?" I say as I let out a loud and very unattractive yawn, making him laugh at my drowsy ramble.

"We'll worry about that later."

"Hey, can I ask you something?" I say as I hug onto his arm that wasn't on the steering wheel.

"Shoot." I open my eyes just to look at him as I ask him the question.

"Since you know more about my life than me, did you know my mom was dating another man?" He stiffens at my words as his lips go into a thin line, looking actually shocked at my words.

"I'll take that as a no," I say with a chuckle as I just close my eyes once again and snuggle into his arm.

"Lune, I'm sorry. I didn't kno-"

"No, sorry I assumed you knew. And sorry for being a snob before I left this morning, I just saw something that upset me and I guess I kind of took it out on you." I then let go of his arm when I realize we made it home, along with no longer being tired from the panic attack spell back there.

"We struggled so much through all these years with money. Only for her to end up being with some man that had a watch worth more than my car. No wonder she cut all ties with me." Holding back my tears, I just scoff before turning to look at Adriano. A unreadable expression on his face as I just see him with his hands still on the steering wheel. 

Noting that he probably didn't want to hear about my sad life due to not wanting to get too personal. Embarrassed that I thought we were anything other than partners, I just narrow out my lips in a thin line before trying to exit the car.

"Did you ever wonder why people at the office think I have I'm heartless ever since the 'incident'?" I hear Adriano say, making me stop and turn to look at him with my eyebrows pulled together. His eyes closed, avoiding eye contact as he rubs the stubble across his chiseled jaw.

"Uh, your wife passed away, ri-" confused as I'm cut off by the humorless chuckle as he just shakes his head.

I didn't understand what he was getting at, so I hesitantly place my hand over his on the steering wheel, making him look at me with a angry expression written on his face. In which only made me jolt back a bit.

"That's not the whole story I'm guessing," I say as he just lets out a breath before beginning to speak. Avoiding all contact with my eyes as he just looks at the driveway in front of us.

"It was my fault. I told her not to go to work that day because the weather was bad, but she just kept assuring me that it was okay and she'd be okay. But I ended up listening to her and letting her go anyway. I was a f*****g i***t to let her go, I could have done something. It was my fault they were killed." His voice was filled with sadness and I could here it. But I could only focus on one thing."

"They?" I question as I pull his hand off the steering wheel and hold it tightly into my grip, making him look at our intertwined hands before tightening his grip on my hand as well.

"She was three months pregnant." 

I was in complete and utter disbelief. I knew now why he was heartless towards me when we first met. Why he never wanted anyone or anything else to be in his life. He lost not one, but two things that meant the absolute world to him.

"Adriano, that's... I'm so sorry, I-"

"No need for the grievances, I've had enough of them through the years," he says with another humorless chuckle before finally looking away from the driveway and staring into my eyes with his dark blue ones.

"Ever since that day, I pushed everyone out of my life, including everyday friends. And that's what I hate about you. You're too f*****g forgiving and selfless. It makes me like you and I can't stand it. I haven't cared about anyone since her and here you come, acting too good to be real." I didn't know what to say, or if I should be hurt by his words. I just look at him with a confused expression until I feel his hand get placed into my short hair, making my eyes go wide at the look of pure emotion in his eyes.

"That's why I can't stand you. Why I keep pushing you away. I won't let myself feel anything other than the grief I deserve. And I'll be damed if another person gets hurt because of me." 

Once he was done, there was a moment of silence before I decide to take a risk and take the back of his neck before placing a small and comforting kiss on the corner of his lips. Even though I wanted it to be more than that, it wasn't what either of us needed right now.

"I may not be the one person you need, but you do deserve to have feelings, Adriano. Everyone deserves to have at least someone in their life that loves them. So don't push people who care about you away, and please don't push me away," I say with a smile in reassurance, before backing away. Exiting the car before starting to make my way to the door, not wanting to stay any longer in fear that I might be reminded of my loved ones and start crying myself.

"Hey, Fiore!" I hear the nickname Adriano gave me yell out, making me stop and turn to look at him with a small smile on my face. Seeing the smirk on his lips as soon as I turn to see him.

"Yeah, Nightmare?!" I yell back, suppressing the laughter, but making Adriano let one out before answering.

"Ass up by 8 AM sharp tomorrow. We need to discuss some things," he said before throwing me the house key, making me fumble for it before finally messily catching it. I give him a look in question as I see him get his car keys back out and jump back in.

"I've gotta take care of some things," was the last thing he yelled before the roar of the ignition sparked and before I knew it, he was driving off to take care of God knows what.

What could he possibly have to take care of?

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