alpha-hero

Bree nodded eagerly, anxious to see her friend again. __ooh. I like that idea. Yeah. Let__ stay, Alessandro and then in the morning, we can have wine with our toast! Oh hey, that__ funny, huh. Wine, toast, get it?_ Bree giggled. Oh wow. Her head was feeling really, really fuzzy. __kay, let__ go to bed,_ Alessandro said rising from the couch after he and Kevin finished discussing the plans for the vineyard in the coming year as well as the progress it had made thus far. Bree gasped. __lessandro! We can__ have sex in someone else__ house!_ Alessandro blushed and placed a hand on her back, leading her towards the stairs after wishing Hadley a good night. __t__ my house, darling,_ he reminded her. __h well, that__ okay then, but you can__ be loud though cause that would still be rude,_ Bree said, reaching down and squeezing Alessandro__ ass. Gosh, her hubby had a really nice tight ass. __ere we are,_ he said, leading her into one of the mansion__ many bedrooms. __lessandro, I hass_have_a little confestion to make,_ Bree said leaning her head on his shoulder. __ou do?_ he asked placing her on the bed and bending down to remove her shoes. Bree lay back and stared up at the spinning ceiling. __mhm. I think_I__ ina...Little drunk bit._ __eally?_ Alessandro asked with feigned surprise.

Mmm,_ Bree licked the ice cream scoop and tossed it into the sink. __et__ just say that for the sake of the baby, Alessandro and I have reached a sort of_an...agreement, I guess._ __oes that mean I can__ punch him anymore? __ause that was fun._ __es. It does. Sorry._ __o are you two_ __o. Hell no. Not after him using Rebecca Malford as a scratching post,_ Bree grumbled, her stomach clenching tight at that little reminder. __e__ what? Alessandro and that...viper?_ __hat__ right._ Bree clenched her teeth. __ebecca and Alessandro? Oh my God. Mental bleach! I need mental bleach!_ Meggie rubbed her temples. __eah, keep doing that for another week and you might be where I am right about now._ __h, he__ a smooth one, that__ for sure,_ Meggie said with a sudden smile. __hat__ with that look?_ __ou__e so jealous,_ Bree snorted, turning away from her and taking a seat opposite of Will. __hat__ ridiculous._ __nd so true.

Alex cornered her right before she was going to make an appointment at the nurse__ station to see him. __ree, I__ going to be referring you to Carlo from now on,_ Alex informed her. __ think in light of recent events it would be a conflict of interest for me to continue to be your doctor._ __s that right?_ Bree asked leaning her elbow on the counter and raising an eyebrow. __es, I wouldn__ feel comfortable about it considering what you did to Carrie._ __w, that__ nice,_ Bree smiled sarcastically, staring up at his smug self-righteous face. __ice to know this place has such moral upstanding doctors._ __es, so I will be referring you to him from now on,_ Alex said, clenching his jaw. __reat,_ Bree said, fighting not to roll her eyes. __ave a good afternoon,_ he said curtly and turned to walk away. Don__ do it. Don__ do it, Bree. The evil Bree won though. __ou too, Dr. Home Wrecker._ Alex__ step faltered but he didn__ turn around.

You will never have to worry about safety. Being a Dardano will buy you all the security you__l ever need._ Bree shook her head and threw her hands up. __eing a Dardano will put the bulls eye on my back, you asshole,_ __eally, darling, once you become Mrs. Dardano, we__e going to have to work on cleaning up that saucy mouth of yours. At least in public,_ Alessandro purred, tapping her nose. Bree saw red. But she smiled at him. She took the plate from him and set it down on the vanity table. Then she took the vitamin shake, pulled out the waistband of his pants and poured it down inside.

I like that,_ Bree admitted. __t__ like_it__ never too late to change._ Her eyes met his, and she hoped he understood that she meant it for him as well as for herself. She wanted Alessandro to give in to the good she knew was in him and leave the Dardano family behind. __ forgot about that. I feel rather ashamed of it now. Because of the things I__e done. Then I was looking at this tiny creature here, and you__e going to think I__ mad but_every time I look at him, he looks different to me. He__ the same boy, but something in him is always changing. It__ not a physical thing that I can explain to you, but it___like_I don__ know,_ Alessandro said shrugging and lowering his head. He sat on the bed next to her and stared at the incubator. The baby__ eyes were open, staring back, blinking slowly, sleepily. __ou__e seeing him become a person. Like all the parts of him are coming together and making this tiny person__ soul. He was one person in here,_ Bree pointed to her stomach. __nd now he__ changing on the outside so he can be a part of the world._ __hat__ it,_ Alessandro nodded. __e__ a part of the world now. My world, in a completely different way than when he was inside of you. It__ like having two sons and watching them become one as a slow minute by minute process. He__ never going to stop changing. What he thinks and feels now is not going to be what he thinks and feels tomorrow or fifty years from now._ __t__ the same for you,_ Bree said, closing her fingers over his on the bed. __ don__ want to forget that again, Brianna. I don__ ever want to forget that I can change._ He looked so earnest that Bree couldn__ help bringing his hand to her lips. __hen don__.

He lowered his head and shook it from side to side, giving her a rueful smile. __ find it so ironic that someone I think of as sometimes so brave to the point of stupidity could be so terrified of her own happiness,_ Bree felt the shot hit home, and she couldn__ look at him. She ran her finger along the marble topped of the island. __hat__ ridiculous. Who in their right mind is afraid of being happy?_ __omeone who has lost too much,_ he moved slowly towards her in gentle careful strides as if he was afraid of startling her. Fair enough, she did tend to attack him when he tried to corner her, but for some reason, Bree just couldn__ tonight. The much too relaxing bubble bath must be making her sluggish. __omeone who is so used to being told she caused too much pain to others to ever be worthy of happiness herself,_ Bree closed her eyes. __hut up. Please, Alessandro.

Alessandro shrugged and pushed the blade in, dragging it down the man__ skin, making him cry out. He struck him again with his fist, blood spurting onto Alessandro as well. __id Arturo tell you that the mother of my child was in that limo? She__ carrying my baby inside of her, and that her son was in the limo too? I__ sure he did. I__ sure he left explicit instructions as to who exactly you were supposed to dispose of, didn__ he?_ __e__l kill me. I swear, he__l kill me,_ the man cried, tears mixing in with his blood. __ext, I__l take an eye, you snivelling little shit!_ Alessandro growled, raising his bloody blade to the man__ left eyeball. The unmistakable scent of urine filled the air. Alessandro stepped back in disgust and turned to Jason and his other man, Marty, two of the best Dardano soldiers, loyal and efficient. They took his cue and slipped on their brass knuckles. __ust say the words, ol_ boy, and we__l stop this,_ __uck you,_ the man shouted. Alessandro smirked. __uch defiance for a man who just pissed himself._ He crossed his arms as Marty and Jason went to work. It only took a minute. __ll right. Okay! Stop! Stop! Fine, I__l talk!

Bree stared down at Bernardo__ still form. The monitor was the only sound in the room apart from his deep breathing. Alessandro had gone down to the cafeteria with Will and Gianni to grab something to eat before they left for home. Bree lied and told him that she wanted to check in with Tina and her mother Roxanna for a few minutes before they left. Even unconscious, the son of a bitch was formidable and Bree felt nervous around him. __hy don__ you do everyone a favour and just die already?_ Bree said. No response. Bree sneered and shook her head, turning to leave. __ou could always smother me with a pillow,_ a groggy voice said behind her, making her heart nearly stop. Bree whirled around wide-eyed and met Bernardo__ dark gaze. She forced herself to shrug and crossed her arms. __o you think Alessandro would forgive you for murdering his father?_ Bernardo asked. They both knew the answer to that.

That__ our clue. I know where he is now._ Alessandro said, pulling her away from the dead fish. __ dead fish means_what? The docks?_ Bree asked. Alessandro gave her a small smile. __ou__e as smart as you are exquisite, my darling._ ____ sorry. A crazy man has my son. Could we get a move on now?_ Bree pushed him towards the door. __orgive me, darling. Old habits._ Bree rolled her eyes, but she was grateful for the brief, light moment. It allowed her to regroup and focus, to lift her head from the haze of panic that gripped her thus far.

Bree crossed her arms over her protruding belly. ____ fine. No one has shot at me in the last twenty four hours, and my family is talking to me again. Things are looking up._ He grimaced at the mention of her family. __ow fortunate for you._ Bree narrowed her eyes at him, picking up on the derogatory tone. __ell, you should know all about the importance of family. You__ do anything for yours, right? Bernardo says jump, you ask __ow high?_ _ Alessandro felt a sick twist of guilt in his chest, __ell, congratulations, Brianna. You__e worked very hard for the title of O__eiley doormat. I hope it__ all you__e ever wanted. I hope you__e happy._ __lissfully,_ Bree shot back and turned on her heel, leaving him there filled with anger and regret.

His eyes widened. __ain? Darling, you haven__ yet experienced the pain I can inflict when I__e been played for a fool. I__ in awe at your gall to try and fool me._ Bree went still as panic froze her. Oh, God. No. __h, the light bulb finally goes off,_ he purred against her face; his voice low and cold. Even knowing who he was, and the family he came from, Bree could say that deep inside, she__ never felt any real fear of him. She did now. He knew. The look on his face told her he knew that she had lied about him being her baby__ father. Frantically, she grasped for any foothold she could find. __ don__ know what you__e talking-_ __ON__!_ he snapped, grabbing the sides of her face.

Bree rubbed her belly. Figured; Alessandro wasn__ one to live in quiet but strained tension. She stared up at the fabric of the canopy and then squeezed her eyes shut. __lessandro, considering that the outside world has the sterile hospital rooms, not to mention the epidurals, yeah. For goodness sake, Alessandro. You know we can__ stay here forever. I__ entering my eighth month here._ __ must say, I__ surprised you__e so anxious to leave._ __hy?_ Bree asked, turning to look at his strong profile. __ou know why, Brianna. As soon as we walk out that door, you and I are over._ Bree felt a guilty tightening in her chest. __erhaps that__ what you want, though._ __hat__ not fair,_ Bree whispered even as she feared he was right. No. He__ wrong. I love him. She wasn__ going to let anyone shake what she and Alessandro had built here. She__ let her family know that she wanted Alessandro in her life and that she wanted to be a family with him. __hanks for your confidence in me, though. Really.

Bree shot to her feet and glared at him. __ook all you want, Brianna. That was the deal, remember? Until Arturo is found, I__ not leaving you alone._ Alessandro stared down at her with immovable stubbornness. __ow am I gonna explain you to my grandfather? And what if the rest of my family is there?_ __ello O__eiley family, you remember Alessandro, the father of my child, the man that I love, the light of my life, ma raison d'être_ __re you done?_ Bree asked cocking an eyebrow. __epends, are you quite ready to go? Look, you can explain that I__ there for answers too. My father__ involvement in this vendetta directly influences my own future and that of my child.

He took a step back and stared down at her, and she watched the cold mask slowly slip back over his face. __o_that__ it? You just decide I__ not good enough to be with and-_ __h, Alessandro no! You know that__ not-_ __ell, let me tell you something, if you think you__e going to keep me away from my baby-_ __o,_ Bree promised. __ou can see him anytime you want_at my apartment._ He laughed bitterly and sniffled. __ou know something ironic, Brianna? You__e probably the only woman who could have turned me into that man that you deem worthy of your love,_ Alessandro walked towards the door and opened it. __addy?_ a small voice called out. Both Alessandro and Bree turned to Will wearing identically stunned expressions. __an you stay wif me __ill I go sleep __ain?_ Alessandro choked on a sob and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

She took one look at Alessandro and Bree and placed a hand on her chest. __esus, Mary and Joseph. Francesca, lass. Is that you?_ And then she fainted. __oly shit!_ Bree rushed to the fallen nun's side, ignoring Sister McReady__ scowl of disapproval at her language. __ommy! You killed da penguin lady!_ Will cried out in surprise. Bree lightly slapped the old woman__ face and felt a rush of relief when the Mother Superior stirred. The last thing she needed on her conscience was a dead nun. The old woman__ blue eyes opened and anger filled them when her gaze shifted to Alessandro. __ou. You spawn of the devil. Why don__ ye take yerself back where ye came from and leave our poor Francesca alone?_ __h, Mother Superior, yer confused is all. Come now. On yer feet, mum,_ Sister McReady said helping the old woman up. __h, I__ sorry. Sister. Francesca was my great aunt. My name is Bree._ __ree? Jaysus but it__ a ridiculous resemblance it is,_ the old woman panted, holding her chest. __nd you?_ She asked turning to Alessandro. __f course yer not Adriano Dardano, of course but I__l be a drunken fairy if yer not the spitting image of that demon of temptation, sent to corrupt our poor Francesca. Such a good girl she was,_ Sister Brannigan murmured, tears filling her eyes. __uch a good girl.

She walked slowly towards him, taking in how he looked so eerily still. __kay you,_ she said, her voice choked. __e have to have a talk. I know you__e a Dardano, but a wedding reception in the ICU? Not so classy._ She lowered her head, her attempt at levity falling flat under the weight of her heartbreak. She blinked back her tears and cupped his face. __ou listen to me, okay? You are not leaving me. You__e not allowed. You__e going to fight, understand? Alessandro, I will not bury another husband. Do you hear me? I refuse to grieve for you. That is not even an option because you are my life._ She kissed his forehead, the beeping of the heart monitor and the respirators the only sounds in the room. __unny huh? I spent so much time pushing you away and here I am begging you to stay. Not just for me, but for our boys. Will__ already lost one father, don__ you leave him too. And Gianni_don__ you dare leave him nothing but stories about some man in a picture frame._ Bree took his hand, rubbing his ring finger. __lease, Alessandro. Fight. I won__ survive without you. I won__._ She kissed his palm. __e__e fought too hard for you to just give up when we__e finally going to be happy. Dammit Alessandro, you owe me! You owe me a life, a happy life together. So don__ you dare die on me. Don__ you leave me to deal with that son of a bitch father of yours by myself._ She covered her mouth with her free hand to stifle her sobs. She leaned down and kissed his still mouth. __ love you_I love you so much_ Her tears fell on his face as she rested her forehead against his.

Alessandro gathered her into his arms and flipped her over so that she was on top of him, her blonde hair falling over him like a gold curtain. The strands tickled his face as she righted herself over him. She caught her lower lip between her teeth as he pushed up inside of her, and Alessandro reached up, bringing her mouth down, wanting to taste that swollen lip. Her breath wafted over his face, and he grabbed her hips, pulling her down as he pushed up deeper, wanting to fill her to her very soul.

His scowl deepened. __f he wanted to hurt Will, he could have easily come here when I was at work, but no, he respected your feelings, and he allowed us to come together in our own time._ __s opposed to what? Dragging me up by my hair to the altar?_ Bree asked. __ell that was his suggestion. I suggested a more diplomatic approach.