Alison was walking nervously behind Mason to Albert's office. He was going to scold her for sure and she didn't like it at all. The constant stress that she had over a week was slowly taking its toll on her. She was tired. Tired to the core.

They reached a leather-wrapped door and Mason opened it and kept it for Alison who walked in hesitantly. Albert had sat behind a big table looking mighty as ever. But he was not the only one there. Other than Rich, Alex, Damien, Xander, and Hunter were there looking at her with a mixture of anger and relief.

Her eyes locked with Alex's gray ones. His eyes had a magnetic pull that seemed to draw her to him. "Alison!" called Albert and she looked away from Alex only to find her brothers glaring daggers at Alex. "I'm so happy to see you are fine." continued Albert. His tone was firm and authoritative. "What you did today was so dangerous. You left school without telling your brothers or your bodyguard especially in this dangerous time that we are in. You then went to your friend's house where you knew was dangerous as well. You could have gotten hurt, you know that?"

Alison sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again and staring at Albert confidently. "I'm sorry if I made you worried." she said. "But what would you do if your brother calls you and you understand that he is in danger of death? Ed is my dear brother. I know him much longer than you all. He was there when I needed him and I'm going to be there if he needs me. I was ready to jump into any trouble or danger because of him. I will do what I did again if I see it necessary, not only for Ed but for Ashley and Logan as well. They are my family."

Her brothers cringed when they heard her talk about Ed that fondly. They felt jealous that she knew them more of a family than them.

"Although, I really don't know how to thank you for helping us." she said with a smile. "It means a lot to me. Thank you."

Albert looked at her. Maybe her eyes were fooling her but she could see the pride in his eyes as he looked at her. "Leave me and Alison alone." he ordered and everyone left the room silently.

Alison stood there and fiddled with the hem of her blouse. Albert stood once Mason closed the door behind him and walked round his table and stood in front of Alison. Alison dropped her head and bit her lip readying herself for hearing his complaints.

"I'm so proud of you." said Albert and Alison's head shot up surprised to see him looking down at her with a soft smile. "Don't tell my sons, but I always wanted a daughter, a princess, but God always gave me boys. Not that I love them any less, but it would have been great If I could have had a little girl to spoil. But my wife died and so my dream until you came into my life." he paused for a second and put both hands on her shoulders. "A strong, kind, and smart daughter like you who isn't afraid to voice her thoughts. The exact daughter that I always imagined to have."

He then bent down and kissed her forehead. "I love you, princess, like my own child." he said. "If anything happens to you ever, I can't forgive myself. That is why I'm so strict toward you. You are so fragile and precious for me and my sons. You are our little princess. I'm sorry If I was so strict on you."

By this time tears had welled up in Alison's eyes as she stared at Albert's sincere eyes. "I know what kind of a hard life you had." spoke Albert again. "Of course your mother has done her best to raise you and your friends were there for you when you needed them, but you never had a fatherly figure to count on and to protect you. But my dear, you now have me. I know you know me as a criminal and you don't like me a bit, but I would be really happy if you count on me in the situations like today. I'm so happy that you decided to call your brothers, but it was only because you needed help with the health of your friend, otherwise, I'm sure you wouldn't. You are independent, like to solve your problems yourself without putting your burden on anyone. But my dear, what if you were arriving there alone? What if your friend's father was much conscious and had hurt you? I want you to call me, as your father, in a situation like this and let me help you, Alison. You are not alone anymore. You have me and of course your brothers. Do you understand?"

A sob escaped Alison's mouth as she nodded furiously before Albert pulled her into a tight hug. She felt as if a heavy burden that was on her shoulders for years was lifted from her and her heart warmed up. She had forgotten how it felt to have a father who cared for her and her wellbeing. A father that you can count on to protect you. The feeling of power that it was giving you. She hugged Albert tighter. "Thank you, dad." she said wholeheartedly.

Her words warmed up Albert's heart and he kissed the crown of her head. "Your welcome, my dear." he said. He then pulled away and wiped her face. "Now go to your friends. I'm sure you want to be with them. You can stay with your friend, Ed tonight if you want. But your other two friends should leave. You know about the business. The less they know the better."

Alison nodded. "Thank you." she said and walked to the door when Albert called her again and she turned to him.

"Don't expect me to lessen your security. That's my red line." he said. "But after we dealt with this enemy of ours, you can go back to your work if you want. I have no problem with it."

Alison's smile grew wider. "It means a lot to me." she said. "Thank you." she said and then walked out of the room.

She was happily walking in the corridor she had come from when suddenly an arm snaked around her waist and a hand covered her mouth and muffled her scream and she was pulled into an empty room and a second later, she was turned with her back against the wall. She looked up and sighed in relief when she saw Alex looking down at her.

"Hello, my beautiful running girlfriend." he whispered huskily next to her ear. His hot breath sent chills down her spine. She lightly hit him in his hard chest. "Godness me, Alex." she panted. "You really should stop dragging me to empty rooms."

Alex smirked and stepped closer so their bodies were flushed against each other. Her scent was driving him crazy. He wanted to kiss her hard badly. He ran a hand through her hair and his smirk grew when he saw her closing her eyes and purring in bliss. "Well love, people tend to drag their girlfriends to empty rooms to do things to them." he said smugly and Alison's eyes opened and glared at him and tried to push him away. But he stood on his ground. "But unfortunately for my poor self, I have to drag my girlfriend into empty rooms, only to be able to talk to her." he said and pouted.

Alison chuckled. "Don't be such a kid." she said and playfully slapped his chest.

"Ouch!" he pulled away slightly and made a hurt face and put his hand dramatically on his chest. "You wounded me, love."

Alison giggled a bit but his face became serious again. "Are you back to avoiding me again?" he asked. "Mason said that you now know everything about us. Is that the reason? Are you afraid of me?"

Alison dropped her head and bit her lip. Alex's eyes snapped to her lips and a deep growl left his throat. He raised his hand and released her lip from between her teeth. "Don't do this in front of anyone other than me, Alison." he said sternly, his voice raspy and dark. Alison shivered at his tone. He then put a finger under her chin and lifted her beautiful face to him. "What's wrong, love?" he asked while staring down at her waiting patiently.

"I don't know If I'm ready for this life, Alex." she sighed. "I don't know how long I can bear it. Can I stay with a mafia family and a gang leader's son as my boyfriend? Won't I get tired or scared of them after a while and want to leave? Then they will be all heartbroken because although they are trying to show themself as buff scary guys outside, they are all teddy bears inside. Can I bear this lifestyle?"

She then looked up and locked eyes with Alex. He bent and kissed her forehead. "What your heart tells you?" he asked.

"To stay." she whispered under her breath. "I want to stay."

"Then stay." said Alex and took a step closer. Their bodies were once again flushed. He put a hand on the wall above her head and put the other on her lower back pressing her to himself, enjoying having her close. "Simply listen to your heart and stay. It will give you the power to bear. I will give you the power to bear with this life."

Alison put both hands on his chest and closed her eyes. She loved to be this close to him. The feeling of safety and love she felt was overwhelming. Her heart was beating fast and spreading warmth all over her body. She looked up again and her eyes locked with his charcoal eyes. "Okay." she whispered with a soft smile and the next moment, his lips crashed onto hers in a fierce and long waited kiss.

He was kissing her like there was no tomorrow. His hand that was on the wall found its way to her waist while her hands ran up his chest and behind his neck and laced with the hair on the nape of his neck. He growled in the kiss and deepened the kiss earning a soft moan from her which made him wild. How much he had waited for this moment.

Alison pulled away a few moments later from lack of air. They both were panting hard. Alex pressed his forehead to hers. Never in his life, he had felt this way only by kissing someone. "Tomorrow night, at 6." he whispered. "I will pick you up from home. I'm taking you on a date."

"You don't ask, do you?" giggled Alison.

"Never." answered Alex and then dived his head ready to capture her lips again, but just then the door slammed open and they both turned to the door only to see a seething Hunter standing there with clenched fists and jaw.

"Get the hell away from my sister." roared Hunter.

Alex smirked and turned back to Alison who was red as a tomato. He pecked her lips lightly before pulling away. Hunter quickly came and stood between them. "Get out of here before I kick you out myself." growled Hunter.

Alex's smirk only grew wider at Hunter's threat. In reality, he would easily overpower the youngest King. He locked eyes with Alison once again. "Tomorrow at 6 P.M sharp." he said before walking out of the room.

"What the hell that means?" asked Hunter and turned to Alison with a deep frown.

Alison giggled and kissed his cheek. "Nothing to worry yourself about, my dear brother." she said and then walked to the door. "I'm going on a date."

She said and walked out of the room leaving Hunter confused about what she just said. She called him brother. Does it mean ..... wow, wow, wait a sec. A DATE!!!!???

"Alison wait!" he shouted as he ran out of the room.

**************

Alison entered the medical section happily. Logan and Ashley were still sitting on chairs next to Ed's bed. They both turned to her and she walked past the curtain and Logan frowned instantly. "Who the hell has kissed you?" he asked angrily and stood.

Alison put a finger on her nose and hushed him. Ashley chuckled under her breath and shook her head. "You are going to wake him up." said Alison in a hushed tone. "No one kissed me."

"Don't screw me, Alison Harris." said Logan sternly. "So why do you have red swollen lips and red cheeks?"

"We saw your other brothers as well." said Ashley. "Alex was with them too. He left early. So everything is fine between you?"

"He asked me on a date tomorrow." giggled Alison.

"Really?" squealed Ashley as she jumped on her feet and take Alison's hand. "It's exciting."

"Wow, wow, hold the horses, girls." said Logan and tore their interlocked hands and stood in front of Alison, and grabbed her shoulders. "You are fucking kidding me, right? Didn't he hurt you just two days ago?"

"Everyone makes a mistake, L." said Alison nonchalantly. Now that everything had settled she doesn't want to ruin it with the past. She wanted to start again. "He promised he won't do it again."

"Promis my ass." spat Logan. "You are not going out with that asshole."

Alison made her best puppy dog eyes. "Please, Logan." she said. "I feel happy with him. I want to give him a chance."

Logan sighed after a moment and closed his eyes. "Okay." he said and Alison squeaked and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back. "But Ed will not be happy when he hears this. And don't say I didn't warn you. That boy smells trouble."

"I will tell Ed myself." said Alison and pulled away and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, L."

Logan raised a finger threateningly. "If that dickhead hurt you again. I will personally punch him to mush." he promised.

"Okay, You are allowed." said Alison. "By the way, you guys can't stay here. You should leave. I will stay with Ed and call you when he is awake."

They both nodded. The stress of that morning had made them tired. "We will come back tomorrow to pick you up." said Logan.

"I will tell you the time." nodded Alison.

Ashley gently kissed Ed's forehead, hugged Alison, and then left with Logan.

Alison took a deep breath and sat on a chair. She grabbed Ed's hand and listened to the beeping of the heart monitor that was showing his heartbeat. She was happy. Now that she had taken her decision, she felt free. She was going to stay. Her new family and boyfriend were dangerous, yes, but she welcomed that danger because she loved them. Call her blind, but she wanted to stay by their side.