Code name: Athena [18+]

Code name: Cremesi

Good girls. They're a branch of my family now. I have dinner with them at least once a week while Mariano entertains Apollo.

"Have you talked to Angela?" I asked Allegra, draping my right leg over my left one.

She shook her head looking at the children "I'm scared she will hate me."

"She will. You know that boy broke her heart," I smiled at my girls giggling as they took pictures "wait," something clicked in my brain "did you make a move on him while he was your sister's boyfriend?"

Allegra glanced at me over her shoulder, nose tinted in red "I didn't mean—"

"Allegra!" I groaned "fuck, you make everything so complicated! When was the first time you cheated on Mariano?!"

"Three months after Serafina and Viola were born," she said and I rolled my eyes "I was studying late at the library and my redaction teacher came in...he helped me finish my homework, we kissed which quickly escalated to sex..." a deep sigh left her mouth "I wanted to tell Mariano but we were so happy."

"If you were happy you wouldn't have cheated on him."

"He thought we were happy," she looked at her daughters "all I ever wanted was to be happy with him but the moment I had it, it all crumbled inside of me. I didn't fit in his arms like before, there wasn't passion pumping blood to my heart when he touched me...nothing."

I frowned "Why didn't you just say so? We could've solved it, taken you two to a therapist—"

"He was happy, I wanted him to be happy; I thought it was the honeymoon phase ending, tricked myself into thinking my feelings would be the same as when I was 17 but nothing; just a void. I started fucking around so I could keep myself happy that way I could keep him happy too until it was too much...I was too toxic for my family."

"And what now? Will you try to have a relationship with your daughters? Or is all of this smoke and mirrors?"

She shook her head "I love them more than anything in the world. I'm so glad they have such a good daddy...tell me," she smiled softly "how is he?"

"Fine," I said looking at my son who waved at every person that passed past him then I saw him move his lips, Carlos raised an eyebrow and smiled. He probably said 'boner', 'cock' or 'fuck'. "He is in a relationship with a nice girl."

"Really?" She smiled and seemed genuinely happy for him "I'm glad, I hope she's the one. Please make sure of it."

She's growing up and I'm proud; someone has to be. I still think what she did was wrong, and hate how she made Mariano feel but if we want to make this work the only side that exists is the twins' side. Whatever is good for them, we will do.

"I believe she's the one," a soft smile formed on my lips at the memory of them the other night having a pillow fight, then having a fight about who is saying good night last. I prefer some cuffs and spanks but everyone has their own kinks.

"What's her name?"

"Abra Bakkal," I replied.

"Cute," Allegra leaned back. "How is everything between you and Apollo? Are you pregnant yet?" She smiled.

"Everything is perfect. And no, I'm not pregnant just yet," I told you already that this time he will be the one and only to know until it is impossible to hide it. Maybe we will tell Napsy that he is having a sibling but he is an unlocked door when it comes to secrets. You know what happened with the Bali situation.

"Arabella, I also want to fix our relationship; I truly do need you," she confessed.

"That's going to take time, Allegra but it wouldn't hurt trying," I said.

We both looked at the children and waved while smiling "I'm willing to wait; there's not a better friend in the world than you," she gazed at me and was just about to lean in for a hug when I heard those familiar metallic sounds; gunshots. Three of them. It all felt so surreal as if I was moving in slow motion, watching everything in front of me one frame at a time.

Allegra's baby blue sweater was being taken over by a crimson red as she looked at me seeming out of air "No!" I screamed and it resonated through my body. Her head fell onto my chest and I saw my girls approaching me with guns in their hands but all I wanted in the world was to have my son "Napoleon!" I tried to look between the bodies but nothing.

"Arabella..." Allegra struggled to get my name out between whimpers.

I gazed down at her with tears streaming down my cheeks "You're going to be all right, save your strength," I left her with my girls as I pushed through them to go get my son "Napoleon!" the twins were sitting on the grass, splatters of blood on their chubby cheeks as two bodies lay beside them: Carlos and Fabiola "NAPOLEON!" I looked around frantically feeling every limb of my body go numb. A gashing scream left my throat as I fell to my knees; my mouth tasted like blood and I couldn't breathe properly.

You don't know real fear until you don't know where your child is...until he is yanked away from you in front of your own eyes making you feel as powerless as possible.

You don't know real fear until you mess with me.

Well well. Who saw that coming?
-M