"And you are?" Layla question in an annoyed tone, the kid of tone I wish I would have taken earlier
"I'm Cara, a friend of the family. And you?"
"Layla, Franco's girlfriend."
"You always did have a thing for the younger girls Franco." Cara grins at him
Layla takes my hand. "Let's leave them to walk down memory lane." We exit the room and head for the back door. "Who the fuck is she? She's giving me all kinds of bad vibes." Layla whisper shouts as we enter the back area
"I can help you answer that," Luda speaks up.
"You scared the shit out of me." I hold my chest, not having seen her sitting on one of the large outdoor chairs
"Come and sit." She pats the seat next to her.
Both Layla and I make our way over and sit down.
"Cara is Dom's ex-girlfriend, and they were together for six years. Everyone thought they'd be together forever, get married, have children, and take over the crew together, but then, she slept with Franco"
"Of course she did." Layla rolls her eyes "I could tell by the way she was looking at him."
"Wait, she was with Dom for six years and slept with Franco?" I question
"Yes." Luda nods "that's why they broke up. She tried to get Dom back a couple of times after the truth came out and it almost worked as well, she has this kind of hold over him, he's almost blinded by her."
"You don't say." I sigh softly
"In Franco's defense he was off his face on drugs at the time, but she was totally sober, she knew what she was doing."
Layla looks in my direction but my head is down, focusing on the chair below me "What is it?" She asks
"He introduced me to her as Easton's daughter, not his girlfriend" I admit
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Layla snaps "I'll break his fucking neck." She begins getting riled up
"As I said, it's like she has some kind of hold over him, he's never himself around her." Luda speaks once more
"Dom said I was overreacting like seeing them all over each other in the kitchen wasn't a big deal. He said he just froze when he saw me standing there and that's why he didn't what to say, that's why he didn't tell her I'm his girlfriend."
"Asshole." Layla scoffs
"For what its worth Alena, I've never liked her, she's beautiful but she has a horribly nasty side to her, she manages to get her paws on whatever she wants, she always has and I wouldn't be surprised if she's back for Dom."
"I'm not in competition with anyone, if that's who Dom wants to be with, he's free to do so." I stand up quickly, to quickly and become dizzy the colour draining from my face
"You good babe?" Layla stands up with me and places her hand on my back
"I'm good, stood up too quickly." I give her a soft smile "what time is everyone else due back?"
"Soon, now come and sit in the air conditioning for a little while" She walks me inside.
Everyone else arrives home and heads for the back yard area, all talking and laughing, everyone greeting Cara and her family. I, however, stay inside
"Principessa" Franco sits down next to me and pulls me into his arms, holding me. "You okay?"
"I'm okay." I shrug and snuggle up to him
"You're sulking over a girl who isn't even as pretty as you." He attempts to make me smile
"I'm not sulking, I don't feel good." I admit, keeping in my same snuggled position
"You okay Le?" Layla asks with a soft smile as she sits down next to Franco and I.
"Bring it in." Franco opens his arms to her
She wraps her arms around the two of us snuggling in. "I love you both very much," Franco says as he gives us both a cuddle
We pull back from the hug and I give him a soft smile. "I'm so glad you two are together. You're everything I ever wanted for my La." I tell Franco
"I'm glad you brought her to me, If it wasn't for you we would have never met, the only reason she came here was to see you."
"You guys stop, I'm going to cry." Layla giggles.
The front door opens once more and Bex and Riccardo walk in hand in hand. "Hi love bugs" Bex smiles "oh, what's with the threesome? Where's Dom?"
"Well shit, what's the slut doing back?" Riccardo questions as his eyes look out the back door "And what the fuck is Dom doing standing with her?" He huffs
"Ask him, he introduced Alena to her as Easton's daughter and proceeded to tell her she was taking of the Cobras" Layla states
"For real?" He huffs
Dom makes his way into the room with a smile on his face "hey, you're late."
"And you're fucked in the head." Riccardo shakes his head "why is she even here?"
"She's here with her family, it's not like I asked her here, I didn't even know she was back in town."
I sigh softly and stand up, making my way out the back as they argue. I find my Mum and give her a big hug.
"Hi baby." She smiles as she holds me.
"I can't believe you're leaving tomorrow."
"I know, I wish I was taking you with me."
"You can take me with you if you like?"
"You only have a few more months baby and then you'll be home for good, don't wish your time here away."
I wish it was....
"You okay princess?" Dad questions as he makes his way over.
"Yeah I'm fine, just a little unwell today is all." I bite down on my bottom lip "do you still have the hotel room tonight?"
"No, Lorenzo invited us to stay here. Franco is driving us to the airport in the morning so it's easier."
"Oh." I nod and look around
"Are you sure you're okay baby?" Mum questions sadly
"Yeah" I nod and give them my best smile "have fun, I'll see you later." I make my way back inside
At around eleven the party finally wraps up and everyone except those staying at the house head home including Cara and her parents.
After my shower I make my way back into Dom's rooms and change quickly into my pyjamas. I then shove all of my things into my bag and zip it up.
"Going somewhere?" He questions
"Do you have a spare blanket?"
"Really Alena, you're not going to talk to me?"
"What do you want to talk about Dom? I tried talking and you told me that I was overreacting. You made me feel like I was being stupid when anyone with eyes can see what's happening here."
"Oh yeah? What's happening?"
"You're still in love with her"
"That's really what you think?"
"You were by her side almost all night Dom, you didn't attempt to speak to me or have anything to do with me, if you wanted to make it right you would have."
"I was letting you cool off. Papa kept us talking, he kept me interacting with her and her family. She's a friend, you have nothing to be jealous over."
"But she was never just a friend, I-" I take a deep breath and stop myself "I'm not fighting with you, forget that blanket, I'm going back the dorms, it's already done." I place my bag over my shoulder and head for the door
"Alena" He pulls me back to him "What are you saying? We're over?"
"Thats what you want isn't it? Doesn't it make it easier on you if I end things now."
"No, that's not what I want." he shakes his head and takes the bag off my shoulder placing it on the ground "Please, will you just come to bed and we'll work everything out in the morning?"
I think for a moment a sigh, feeling defeated "Only because my parents are here and I want to see them in the morning."