Aurora’s POV
I stretched my arms from the restless sleep I had and jumped out of the bed. My mind couldn’t accept to rest after everything that happened last night so I stood up and brushed my teeth.
Since I left my uncle’s house, I hadn’t done any exercise or even jogged in the morning which was unlike me.
I tossed on a black crop top and a matching pair of joggers then packed my messy hair into a ponytail. As I left my room, I heard some voices, from the wing opposite the direction of my room which belonged to Angelo. It wasn’t loud enough to warrant attention, but as usual, I let curiosity take the lead.
When the door creaked open, I ran towards the hallway quickly and headed for the gate. Matteo’s house arrest could kiss my jogging ass.
“Where are you going?” I heard when I got to the gate and turned around to stare at the person who caused me to halt my steps.
Matteo stood by the window with a questioning look and a running outfit as well.
It was still early and that was why I decided to jog first so that I could return on time and prepare breakfast. “For a morning run, it’s been long since I did that and my body needs it, don’t you think?”
He didn’t reply but went away from the window while I rolled my eyes and headed for the main gate. The guard in charge didn’t open the door.
“Can you let me out of here? I’m not your prisoner..” I demanded but he shook his head and slanted a look to someone at my back.
“Open up, we are going together.” He ordered and the guard obeyed while I snorted
When we were outside, I calmed my simmering anger and asked. “Why do you want to go with me? This was supposed to be personal,”
He cocked his head at me, his dark brown hair following his movement. For a moment I was lost in his chocolate amber eyes then I blinked and looked away.
“Because this place isn’t safe and I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He admitted it sincerely.
“But nothing will happen to me because I can take care of myself and I don’t go looking for trouble,” I replied, my body itching to start jogging already.
“Let’s stop talking and do what made us leave the comfort of our beds so early this morning. We’ll jog first for warm up, then have a running competition, all these shouldn’t take up to an hour because we both have work to do.”
He started jogging in the lonely street without warning and then I joined him, moving some meters behind him because of his long and able legs.
I let my eyes scan his features. The short he wore revealed his long legs and T-shirt clung tightly to his upper body showing the shape of his abs. For a splitting second, I felt like running my hands through his body and feeling the sturdiness of his chest and back.
The insane thoughts slowed me down and then he turned around with a smirk, “Am I so handsome that you had to lose your focus?”
I smiled, genuinely happy to see the playful side of him again. “You can’t even compete with my crush, he’s like a Greek Goddess.”
“Oh, the one you cannot date because he is just a mere fantasy and he doesn’t exist.” He taunted and burst into laughter.
I could tell that my cheeks had turned red in embarrassment. I thought of a comeback, but my brain wasn’t supplying any so I glared at him and wanted to jog. My side brushed his as I tried to pass, then he grabbed my waist and pulled me close.
“Don’t tell me that you are angry because of what I said.” He tried turning his expression into a serious one but it didn’t work as his lips still trembled.
“Let’s keep jogging, that’s all I want.” I croaked and he set me free.
The jogging went on without any conversation as I tried to put myself together, chanting continuously in my heart that I was around for a mission and not to play lover.
“Are you tired?” He asked when he saw that I was getting slow.
“A bit… Can we sit somewhere so that we can catch our breath?” I suggested and he led me to a chair which was under the tree.
My heart palpitated and trickled with sweat, making me uncomfortable, but the cold breeze was quick to dry the sweat slowly. “So what will you do when you go out today?” I asked casually, school my face into an expressionless one.
“Why are you interested in knowing that? Do you want to join me?” He asked, scanning my face intensely.
“For knowing sake. Besides, we can stay here without saying anything to each other…” I giggled.
“Well, I have meetings with a few captains and then I’ll go out with my right hand man to check out some of my properties. That’s all,”
I sighed, “Isn’t your position as a Capo of the Outfit draining? Most times you have to work and have no rest. Then you make difficult decisions for the benefit of the Outfit.”
He nodded, a wistful expression etching his features. I hoped that I could get something from him. “Well, it might be sometimes. But I want to do better than my father who was an asshole and never deserved to be Capo. I will make sure that the Outfit doesn’t suffer under my watch. It’s my duty to make the organisation succeed.”
His words cut deep into my angry heart. I could agree that his father was more than an asshole for killing my parents because of a crazy obsession.
“Are you alright? You seem upset by my words,”
“No, I’m fine, I just remembered something. But can I ask you a question?”
He nodded, drawing closer to me which made the hairs on my body stand. Being beside him was one thing, but I couldn’t control how my body reacted whenever he was very close.
My mind flashed to the kiss we would have had at the William’s club, then I shoved it aside.
“Have you ever fallen in love with someone before?”
“Nope, I don’t even think it exists.” His voice cracked.
“Why do you have that notion? Love is real and it can meet you at any time.” I explained, but he shook his head in disagreement. His body was getting tense by the second, that wasn’t what I wanted.
“My father never loved my mother and both of them never loved me, especially my father. So what reason do I have to believe that it exists?”
I chuckled drily, “But you love your brother..”
“I could die for him. He is the only family I have and I can trust.”
Then I decided to tread on the tiny line that kept him from snapping. “How did you lose your parents?”