Isabella.
"Mommy!" Rena squealed as Alex and I walked into the house. I caught her before she could fall and propped up her on my hip.
I tapped her nose with a smile. "My little star or should I say my little sprinter since you like to run so much."
"I'm a star!" She giggled and turned to Alex with a grin plastered on her face.
"Hi daddy." She smiled.
Alex didn't smile. "Your should be asleep by now Rena." He said.
"What took you so long? Hernandez is pissed off." Liam said as he emerged from the kitchen and I took that as my cue to leave. I went up to Rena's room, helped her change and put her to sleep before heading to mine. Alex and Liam were probably discussing in his office so I knew they'd probably finish late. I took a long shower and put on something more casual, not ready for bed yet as worry for Sofia gnawed my insides and I wasn't sure what Alex had done to her.
"Grayson?" I called as I entered Sofia's room. The room was dark, except for the light stand behind Sofia that illuminated the place.
"She won't stop mumbling." Grayson said from where he stood. I turned to where Sofia was and I could hear her mumbling incoherent words.
I sat next to Sofia. "What did you give her?" I asked, stroking her hair softly in an attempt to calm her down.
"Valium" He said. I drew a shaky breath and held Sofia's hand in mine as she mumbled something again.
"Why?" I asked.
Grayson sighed. "Alex made me do it. I'd never drug her on my own accord, she's just nineteen." He said , sitting on the couch opposite us.
"Please just let me go" Sofia mumbled inaudibly, my heart wrenching for her as she started getting restless.
I turned to Grayson. "Do something please."
Grayson.
It's not working, the shot's not working. I moved to my feet, pushing Isa aside as I grabbed Sofia's arm to stop her from falling off the bed.
"Lock the door." I said.
"What?"
I looked at her like she just asked the dumbest question. "Lock the damn door before Alex hears anything." I said.
"Hey, hey, it's me I won't hurt you Sofia" I whispered, grasping her shoulders and I'm sure if we weren't in this situation, she would've cut my hands off for touching her. Sofia tried to scream when she heard my voice and it took me nearly everything to shut her up.
"Let me go!" She rasped.
"Sofia open your eyes." Isa said from behind me. I tried to pin her down but her hair kept getting in the way, making it impossible for me to hold her down properly.
"Sofia." I said, louder than before.
I let go of her as she slowly opened her eyes and blinked. "Grayson?"
I exhaled. "God you scared me." I sighed.
"We should call a doctor." Isa said.
"No." I said, tensing when Sofia wrapped her arms around my body to hug me. Something foreign to me. I glanced at Isa, not sure what to do with Sophia.
"Please don't leave me."
It's funny that she can't stand me and yet she wants me to stay with her.
"I can't. It's not part of my job." I said and peeled her hands off my sides and forced her to lie back.
"You should stay with her." Isabella suggested.
I stood up and stepped back. "It's not part of my fucking job!" I repeated. Alex would have my head if I went through with this and his wife is suggesting it.
"If it's about Alex, I'll talk to him." She said.
I let out a frustrated sigh. "I can't."
"Grayson, she's scared and partially unconscious. You have to stay with her."
"Alright." I said, giving up.
Isa smiled. "Thank you." She said and walked out. I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I sat down and watched her.
"Aren't you ....tired of staring at me like a watch dog?" Sofia murmured.
"There you go again, you should be asleep and not staring back at me." I drawled. Sofia turned towards the night stand, her blue hair fanning pillow and her eyes blinking slowly due to the valium in her system.
"Did Alex ask you to sedate me again?" Sofia questioned, her words slow.
"Yes but I-"
"Don't explain yourself, I know you won't hurt me." She said.
I raised a brow. "You sound confident, how do you know I didn't do it?" I asked.
"Because you love our banter and you can't bare to see me quiet. You said it yourself." Sofia said.
"I didn't" I said.
"Does 'God Sofia you scared me' sound familiar to you?" She said with a weak smile.
"I thought you were going into a coma." I defended.
"So what you care?" She asked, her tone sharper than the last time.
"Go to sleep Sofia." I said, avoiding the topic.
"Just answer the damn question Gray." She snapped, sitting up straight.
"You're weak and we can talk tomorrow. Good night." I said in a clipped tone.
"Maybe you should leave." She murmured softly.
I got up with a sigh. "See you tomorrow then." I said and turned to the door, ignoring the sound of ruffled sheets behind me.
"Wait, where are you going?" Sofia asked, grabbing my arm and yanking me backwards.
I shrugged. "You told me to leave and that's what I'm doing." I said and turned to the door.
"Good night." I said.
"Please don't go, I'm really scared." I wanted to stop but I didn't, staying would only make things worse.
"Sofia go to sleep." I sighed when she blocked my path and grasped my arm.
"I keep seeing him every time I close my eyes." She admitted. I don't want to stay and at the same time I don't want to leave but t if I choose wrongly then Alex might kill me. I glanced at my arm and at Sofia, longing and desperation clear in her eyes but she needs to understand that we're not normal. We can never be as long as she's the sister of a Made Man and I'm just a soldier.
What we have is forbidden.
"Butterfly I-"
Sofia pressed her lips against mine, wrapping her arms around my neck but I stopped her.
"Don't do something we'll both regret." I warned her.
Sofia.
"Don't do something we'll both regret." Grayson said, his own one hinting a warning but I was too high to care.
I pulled him closer. "That's not what you said last time." I teased. I know the last thing Grayson wants is for Alex to find out that he'd kissed me once but I like his company, even though we argue a lot.
Grayson groaned inaudibly, a sign that I was affecting him. "That was a mistake." He said.
"This is also a mistake." I shrugged and kissed his. again and this time, he kissed me back.
"You're trouble" He murmured, grasping my waist firmly as he sat down with me in his lap.
"You like me that way admit it." I smiled.
"I like it when you're quiet." He rasped, devouring my mouth with passion and need.
"Stay." I muttered, burying my head in the crook of his neck.
I felt Grayson's hand on my back. "You always know how to get what you want." He sighed deeply. I laughed and kissed his cheek, curling up in his arms.
"You just don't know how to say no to me" I said.
Grayson shook his head. "No, you're manipulative and sneaky." He smirked.
"Goodnight Grayson." I whispered, shutting my eyes close.
"Goodnight butterfly." He said, kissing my forehead as I drifted off to sleep.
"I'm not a butterfly." I yawned.
I could feel Grayson moving to his feet and placing me back on my bed. "You're stuck with it." He said, holding my hand in his as I fell asleep.
"You're stuck with me." I think I heard him murmur.
We're stuck with each other Grayson.