Third-person POV

"Casey? Casey, where are you?!" Eliana yelled. No response.

After Casey had left, she fell asleep. She had no idea how many hours it took for her to realize that Casey isn't home anymore.

Now, Eliana was running from room to room, yelling Casey's name. It was unless.

Eliana was about to check outside when she heard the sound of the opening doors. For a moment she was happy.

For a split second, she was sure it's Casey. But then she realized that it might be someone else. Her heart sank. She started advancing towards the sound source. When she saw the intruder's back, she instantly knew who it is.

"Rafael? What are you doing here?" Eliana asked. Her fists clenched until her nails dug into her palms.

"I came to get you home," he said as if it was obvious.

"How did you find me?" she continued her questioning. It took him several hours to get to her. Just that. What if Harvey is on the island as well?

"Casey had a tracker on her. Besides, she contacted Remi and Milo to get you both out of here" Rafael explained.

"Really? Wait, does that mean she's safe?" Eliana asked hopefully, "I can't find her anywhere"

"She should be waiting in the hotel room for us. Remi and Milo went to fetch her, and they will contact me as soon as they find her. For now, all we need to do is wait. And talk" Rafael informed.

"Of course, you want to talk" Eliana sighed and dropped down on the sofa. The depressive mood she was in came back quickly.

"Eliana. Look at me" Rafael kneeled in front of her and took her head in his hands, "I want to know what the hell were you thinking. How could you run off like that?" Oh, he was pissed, but anger was not the only emotion that was there in his eyes. It was also sadness.

"You really ask me this question?" Eliana asked quietly. "What would you do in my place? After I learned that you decided to hide from me my family's involvement with the mafia, the relationship between our families. Not to mention, you neglected to tell me who stands behind your sister's death, how can I trust you?"

"I can't blame you entirely for your reaction. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Harvey fed you a lie mixed with truth. My sister died and I wanted revenge. I didn't have pure intentions when we started our deal, that's true. However, you must be blind Eliana to assume that nothing changed. Do you think our relationship is a lie? I'm in love with you. I would never do anything to hurt you now. I consider you as a part of my family" Rafael admitted.

Before Eliana could respond Rafael's phone started ringing, he picked up and held the phone to his ear.

"Yes?"

"Hello, Rafael. Once again, you're making my life difficult. I don't recall inviting you for our family vacation"

"I invited myself" Rafael responded curtly.

"Obviously. Because of you, Eliana is missing family activities. Thank God we have Casey here" Harvey said in fake joy in his voice. He was disgusting.

"I suppose Eliana is somewhere nearby, right?" Harvey asked nicely.

Eliana heard everything he was saying. The moment Harvey asked for her, she took the phone from Rafael's hand and ignored his annoyed look.

"Let her go, bastard if you hurt her, I swear-" Eliana said in loud voice.

"The solution to your problems is very simple, dear Eliana. Bring me the signed papers and it all ends. If you know what's good for Casey you will come alone" he said and after that, he hung up.

"Shit!" Eliana yelled, "How the fuck did Harvey find us here? It was supposed to be a safe house! Wait... but what if it was a trap all along?" Eliana was thinking out loud, as Rafael was watching her.

"It was. Axel is working with Harvey" he said. "He admitted it after we had 1 on 1 discussion about your current whereabouts. He made you trust him and then at the first chance he got he separated you from me. He and Harvey planned this" Rafael explained. "Wasn't it weird to you that he didn't give you a phone if he suspected that yours is bugged? No contact with civilization? Why? What if you got hurt or Casey? What if you needed to contact someone, what then, Eliana?"

"I'm going to kill him," Eliana whispered in determination.

"I'm going to help you" Rafael whispered into her ear with so much conviction she had to believe him.

🔆🔆🔆

This whole time, Casey had a small folding knife hidden in her closed fist. She freed her arms some time ago, but she was keeping them behind her back just to keep the appearance. She never intended to wait to be saved. She's not a fucking Disney princess. She knew she has to save herself because Eliana won't get here in time.

"Let me out" she ordered firmly.

"Sorry, you're staying here until Eliana shows up" Ethan informed in an uncaring voice. He was doing something on the phone, and he was completely ignoring her, good.

She already severed the rope that held her hands and legs together. Now she had only a split second to act.

She jumped to her feet and at the same time, Ethan realized that something is wrong, but it was already too late.

Casey opened the knife and hit the vein in Ethan's neck. She panicked and quickly started running away, closing her eyes as she saw his terrified expression. She was running as fast as she could, tears streaming down her eyes, while she could hear Ethan's body dropping on the ground.

She was running through the forest as fast as she could. Away from the shed. Away from Harvey and whoever else he brought with himself. She was running until she lost breath, finally, she tripped and fell over the branch. She could feel her leg hurting, she started screaming in pain.

"One more step, Casey and I will take care of your other leg," Harvey said. He was right behind her with a gun pulled out. He was aiming directly at her. "I had no idea you have it in you, kid. Maybe you want to work for me? I admit I never saw a girl who can pull a cruel move like that. I'm impressed"

Casey, however, had no time to respond. Her sister was here.

"One more step and I will blow your head off," Eliana said in a calm, steady voice. She had a gun pointed at him, her hands were steady. She was determined because this man has put her through hell, and now he was trying to hurt the most precious person Eliana had in her life. Casey.

"Eliana?" Casey moaned. She looked at her with disbelief. While Eliana was looking at Harvey's cold and collected expression. My eyes darkened with the intent to... kill.

"I have a bullet, you have a bullet. We exchange it we both die" Harvey said carefully, he was also watching his niece's expression with fear.

"I am fine with that," Eliana said with determination.

"Eliana no!" Casey yelled, seeing how she's getting ready to pull a trigger. Harvey was working fast as well, but not fast enough.

While she was aiming at him, someone was aiming at Harvey's hand. Everything happened very quickly. His gun fell off Harvey's hands, while she aimed her gun straight towards Harvey's face and pulled the trigger.

Remi and Milo were now near Casey, they were both shielding her from the view of the dead body. Remi lifted her from the ground and started carrying her to the car.

Eliana on the other hand was standing in place, frozen. She tried to process what she just did.

She could hear Rafael's comment from the back. "Nice shot". He wasn't phased by the situation.

Eliana turned around to see him. He was holding a gun as well. While she was shooting at Harvey, he was making sure she won't get shot.

She looked at him for a long while, unable to believe that she really run away from this man. How could I not trust him?

🔆🔆🔆

After the events, they decided to stay on the island for one more night. Rafael made several calls, his people were "taking care" of the crime scene. Casey was taken to the doctor for a checkup. She had sprained her ankle, but other than that physically she was fine.

Eliana and Rafael talked to the kids about what has happened. The moment Milo and Remi realized Casey is not in her hotel room, they immediately notified Rafael and started following the tracker, that's how they found her.

Later when Eliana was alone in the room with Rafael, she was still trying to process what has happened.

"How are you feeling?" Rafael asked, he was sitting on the bed in his black pajamas.

"I've had better days. But it's irrelevant" Eliana admitted.

"You shot a person," he said bluntly.

"I don't want to talk about it today. Or ever" Eliana said in a nervous voice. She'd rather forget it ever happened.

"We don't have to. Do you want to talk with me today? Or ever?" Rafael was trying to figure out what's next with their relationship. If they have one.

"I want to go back home. Figure out how to lead the company. Figure out how to be the mafia boss, apparently" Eliana still didn't know how to feel about all this.

"I can help with that one" Rafael said, a hint of amusement appearing in his voice.

"I also need to figure out how to raise a child. More than one actually" Eliana added.

"You're planning to keep the baby?" Rafael wanted to make sure.

"I do. I was... afraid. I still am but no matter what your opinion is I will keep it" I said with determination.

"What about us?"

"What about us, Rafael?" Eliana sighed tiredly. "I'm naive and stupid. You shouldn't love me,"

"I think you're more than what you believe is true about you. I love you, I don't need your permission for experiencing that feeling. I want you to stay with me Eliana, I want you to give us a chance" he said quietly, but she heard him very clearly.

" I should be the one asking you for a chance. I love you too" Eliana admitted her feelings to him and herself simultaneously.

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This is NOT the end of the story. :)