Giovanni extended his hand for me to take, which was weird considering he literally threatened to kill me; or at least his iguana boy did.
I was hesitant, understandably, and just looked at him like a deer in headlights.
"It's okay Alexis. I won't hurt you." He smiled. The kindness in his eyes looked like a wall that was ready to crumble only to reveal a raging flood.
Unconsciously, I took his extended arm and he gently lifted me off the ground; his other arm on my back to prevent me from falling.
Am I dreaming or is he actually being a decent human? Like he hasn't been pushing me around and making my life a living hell.
"Alexis don't go with him! If you hurt her I'll murder you myself Herrera do you hear me!" Yelled Jaycee, still held back by those gorilla guys.
"You already did that when you killed my brother you worthless piece of crap! You took away my only family and I promised myself that I wouldn't ever leave you for that. And you know very well that I tend to my promises." He said, then turning to me he gently added, "Let's go princess. Your uncles are waiting for us outside."
"I'm not going to my uncles.." I reply weekly, barely getting my legs to move. "My uncles want to kill me and my brother. Please don't take me to them. Please." I whispered.
He got a 'ding' on his phone, and he stopped dead in his tracks. From where I was standing, I could see that a it was an email and whatever it was, it made him smile a little.
"$1,397,977.76 has been deposited into your account" was the message that came in that email.
"Half now, half later." He muttered under his breath.
Did they actually pay him to do all of that? How bad do they want us dead?
"Let's go Alexis. And for the record, I'm sorry to be doing this. But lover boy over there took something from me and I promised revenge." He said, emotions taking over his face for a split second before it was masked with whatever mask he had on.
"Hey?" I asked, getting his attention for once. Everyone else was just a blur in the distance at this point.
"What did Jaycee do that got you so adamant on hurting someone you've never met?"
"If I tell you, I don't think you'll believe me." He sighed.
"Try me." I pushed, determined more than ever to find out more about what Jaycee has been doing in that stupid gang of his.
He was contemplating whether or not to tell me before he finally started speaking. He took my arm and wrapped it more securely around his neck as we walked into a smelly doorway with an ascending staircase. He sat me down on one of the steps as he started tying my shoelaces.
"To make a long story short, he killed my brother." He let out, his voice faltering ever so slightly.
My entire body froze, goosebumps erupted everywhere and I felt so sick. He could clearly see that I was shocked, because no way would Jaycee ever threaten someone; let alone kill them.
"I'm... I'm sorry. You must be mistaken because Jaycee would never harm anyone, let alone kill them. Maybe another gang did that to you and tried to frame him?" I reasoned. There's just absolutely no way he would do that, trust me.
He finished tying my shoelaces, tucked them into my shoes and just looked at me with kind, remorseful eyes.
"Only kind, and genuine people choose to see the good in others Alexis. And in this time, it's very hard to find someone like that." He was cut off when someone said something over the intercom.
"Gio where are you? The boss is asking about her!" Said the voice; awfully close to Brad's.
"Tell them to wait a second! We're clearly not going anywhere!" He hissed back, then looked back at me, still crouching a couple of steps below me.
"I'm guessing you want to know what happened, but even I don't know. All I remember was his cop brother and his partner showing up at my house and delivering the news. They wouldn't even let me see his body. And ever since, I swore that I would take away everything he holds dear to his heart. Until I met you, and I saw how determined you were to sacrifice your own life for those you care about. I thought to myself that he doesn't even deserve you, but you still deserve to live. You're too good for him you know that?" He said, removing a stray hair from my face.
Woah buddy, a little too close for comfort don't you think? I think he saw the look of utter confusion and horror on my face so he just smiled and sat on the ground, legs crossed.
"Aren't you supposed to take me to my uncles? Sorry I mean the devil's advocates?" I ask.
He laughed and shook his head.
"Do you want me to?" He asked, lifting an eyebrow in.... amusement?
"Well obviously not, yet here we are."
"Run with me Alexis." He said.
I'm sorry come again?? Is he ok? Does he hear himself?
Then he continued.
"I know you think I'm probably the weirdest human being ever. Like how I literally wanted to kill you a few weeks ago but now I'm offering you a way out." I shook my head very slowly, and he continued.
"Well in that time, I went and did my own research. I found out more about you and your family. You're an only child, well until you weren't. You were the one who connected all the dots and got your family together which, in turn, put everyone in danger. You were the one Jaycee fell for three years ago because, I mean, who could blame him. You're beautiful, and smart and resourceful." He trailed, looking deep into my eyes; making me a little too uncomfortable. He smiled to himself, sensed my discomfort and continued.
"You were the reason they had to relocate you and all your friends to a safe house to run away from your uncles; who by the way are satanic, just saying. You almost died when they found you there and took you hostage from the hospital where Royce and Ross were staying. You managed to escape but they found you again and this time I was there to bring you to them. That all seems pretty impressive to me, but the most impressive thing you did yet was get Bradley suspended. Little bro thinks he's all high and mighty and I'm extremely glad someone put him in his place." He said, chuckling.
Wait. Come again. Did he just say "bro"? Bro as in brother?
"That little piece of crap is your brother? The idiot who tormented me my entire high school life is your brother?!" I yelled out, accidentally spitting on him but I don't even care at this point to be polite.
"I'm really sorry for everything he put you through. He always spoke about you with so much highness and admiration I thought he had a crush on you. He always said there's this girl at school who is super smart, beautiful, strong and extremely well liked. He kept saying how he's trying to confront you about his feelings but couldn't do it. I remember he would always mention your name at least a couple of times a day per conversation. He was really in too deep, but had an extremely stupid way of showing it. And then of course, there was this whole 'you being with Jaycee thing' that might've been a deterrent."
"Is that why you're being nice to me right now? Because you feel bad that your brother tortured the heck out of me?"
He laughed a little, shaking his head.
"I'm helping you right now because I don't think you should be caught up in something that isn't your fault. And I also might've accidentally followed you and kept up with your drama long enough to actually start developing feelings towards you." He replies, his face down in shame.
"How can you like someone you've never actually met? Same thing as how can you want to hurt someone you've never met." I tried to reason.
"I guess you shouldn't. At least we met now, doesn't that count for anything? I can get you out of here if you'd like me to. I can make sure your uncles are taken care of. I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though we never formally met before, your kindness and courage gave me strength to start being a good person." He smiled at me, and don't ask me how but I could tell he was genuine.
Wow. This is a lot to take in. It's a lot to take in on top of everything else happening around me. I obviously can't run away with him because I'm not leaving Jaycee behind.
"I can't leave here without my friends you know. They all risked their lives by coming here and there's no way I'm going and leaving them behind." I smiled, trying not to look hostile towards this super emotionally vulnerable guy. How is he brothers with that imbecile?
He thought about what I said long and hard, looking straight at me the whole time. Staring is rude, just saying buddy.
After what seemed like a century; he finally replied.
"As a way of saying 'thank you' for saving my soul, I'll call for back-up and make sure everyone gets out alive. Even that Royce character. Even though I don't personally like him." He said, which caused me to smile.
He got on the intercom with one of his people and started speaking to them.
"Joseph. I need you to call for Elena and her crew so we can all get the hell out of here without the satanists finding out." He said, still looking straight at me. That's just a little too weird.
"I wish that was a viable option." Replied his friend.
"What the hell do you mean? What happened?"
"They got tired of waiting so they're coming towards you! Get out right now because i think they're coming to kill you all and take the girl. They're even going to kill her brother! Leave right...." he was cut short by a groan.
"Joseph! Joseph are you ok? What the hell is going on?" He whispered loudly.
Someone else spoke; not Jospeh. Someone I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemies.
"Seems like the person you're trying to reach is currently lying on the floor, about to bleed out."
His eyes widened in shock as he realized who he was talking to.
"What the hell did you do to him you lunatic!" Yelled Giovani, standing up on his feet.
"I'll do a hell of a lot worse than shoot his arm if you don't bring me the girl right now!" Yelled Blake. Then he continued. "I will kill all your boys right now if I have to. Bring me the girl, or I'll set the whole place on fire with all of you in it!"
I was almost in tears because I fully know what he's capable of. I know he's crazy, and he's done worse things before.
"Just take me to him." I whispered out. "No need for any of your friends or mine to die. I'm not worth all of that trouble." I breathed out, trying to balance myself as i stood up but I fall again. I'm exhausted and filthy and hungry and I know if I stood up against Lucas and Blake; I'll end up killing everyone here.
"No! That's not happening. You're worth a lot to me...." he was cut short when the rusty door above us was slammed open.
They were coming to get me.
Maybe I should just give up.
Maybe I will give up.
For real this time.
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AN: so sorry for the long wait. This chapter was particularly hard to write because I didn't even know what I wanted to happen in a fight you know? So I thought I'd drag it out one more chapter teehee!!
So what do you guys think??
Do we Stan Giovanni or not?? Also this is him below :)
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS??? Talk to me :) I missed you guys