Farfalla

12.

8:17 AM

"Dad?" My voice was softened when Niall offered me the phone with my father's caller ID typed on it. My heart fluttering at the fact that I would get to hear my dad's voice.

"How is my little Farfalla?" He asked calling me by my childhood nickname he had always called me despite knowing I was no longer little.

"I've had better days. I miss you." I didn't want to cry. I didn't want Niall to see me getting emotional while I had this conversation. What I really wanted was for some privacy while I talked to my dad but maybe I wasn't allowed that.

"I miss you too, I'm sorry that this happened to you." He apologized for the lifestyle I had been living my whole life. I wanted to tell him it wasn't his fault but that wouldn't be true, he picked a career that not an average person had. His job put him at risk and also his family which was proven to be a fact after the murder of my mother.

"When can I come home?" I followed up wanting to know what it was like in London. The only place I had made a home in.

He sighed audibly on the other side, "It's not looking good right now. Things are getting worse before they get better, you are safest with Harry. The best place you can be right now is with him in Florence."

"How is Louis? Is he safe?" I still cared for Louis and hoped that because of my absence he was now in a safer state. I wondered what he was doing and if he missed me.

"Louis is fine. You don't need to worry about him." My father informed me about my past lover that I was still stuck on. I knew the distance between us would draw Louis and me apart even though it hurt to think about.

"I just want to make sure me leaving insured his safety. I could never live with myself if it didn't." My mind reeled back to Louis and when we said our goodbyes. When I drove away putting more and more distance between us both.

"How is Harry?" My father asked me and I rolled my eyes at the mere thought of him. Why was my father asking me how Harry was? Why couldn't he ask Harry himself?

"He's fine, runs a tight ship." I glanced over at Niall who smirked to himself at my thoughts on Harry. I didn't need to tell my father the details on Harry. He didn't need to know that Harry was cold, mean, and treated me like the dirt he walked on.

"Good! I expect you are on your best behavior right?" I hated when my father asked me questions like this. They were questions that were aimed at children and it infuriates me that he still has to ask things like this.

"Dad! I'm not a little girl anymore. You know I can handle myself." I groaned again rolling my eyes even though he couldn't see it through the phone.

"I'm just making sure, I have been in discussion with Niall and Harry and they brought to my attention that it would benefit you to learn some basic combat skills." I knew where this was going and it excited me. My dad was giving Harry the go-to train me in basic combat even though Harry was less than thrilled to be teaching me. "I agree, I want you to know what to do if someone tries to grab you again. I want you to listen to Harry and do whatever he asks of you."

"I always do." I nodded saying my goodbyes when I heard rustling in the background before my dad told me he had to go. Pulling the phone away from my ear I handed it to Niall while he walked over to my bed where I sat cross-legged.

"Your training starts this afternoon. I would get dressed and eat breakfast, today's going to be a long one." Niall winked closing the door behind him to give me privacy to change. A smile planted on my face while I stripped off my bra and panties and traded them for a fresh pair of panties and a grey sports bra.

Normally I would work out in just a sports bra and shorts but from the reaction, I got last night from Harry I didn't dare show that much skin. I didn't want to feel the embarrassment I felt when he pointed it out last night.

I opted for a black loose t-shirt and some black and white running shorts that came to my high thigh. I finally had a decent selection of clothing since Harry had gone out and gotten me a fair amount of clothing to choose from. I pulled on some socks and tied some black Nike's I found really comfortable, walking around to break them in I strolled into the bathroom down the hall. I opened up one of the drawers to pick out a hair tie to put my hair up and out of my face. Twisting the hair tie to fasten a high ponytail I grinned happily with how it all turned out.

I found Niall and Harry in the kitchen talking about how today was going to run through. Everything needed a plan, no day or action was to go unplanned. These agents were trained to run a tight ship with no room for error.

"So what's happening today?" I asked looking to Harry who stared at my nicely tanned legs. I knew I looked good and I had a feeling he knew as well. I drew in his attention and even though I saw him fighting it, I knew he had no control over his urges to check me out.

"Harry is going to go out with you today and train you in basic hand to hand combat. Like your father said we want you to know what to do in case something happens where Harry can't be there. Even though most likely that will never happen there's no such thing as being too safe." Niall forked his plate of eggs into his mouth while gluing his eyes to his laptop where he was typing away on the keyboard.

"This will be a spectacle." Harry threw in another one of his rude comments designed to make me feel less of myself. However, I had been waiting to prove him utterly wrong and render him impressed by what I could do.

Harry was dressed in a white tank top with white basketball shorts that attracted me when he stood up and headed towards the back door. The sun was bright outside, the Florence sun more beautiful when it touched the landscapes outside. It was weird seeing Harry in something other than his appointed uniform of white button-ups and black skinny jeans. I liked the more casual look on him, it cut out the professionalism.

"Well, are you coming? We have things to do!" Harry widened his eyes to emphasize that I needed to get my ass behind him. Finishing filling up my water bottle I screwed the lid on and jogged on my tiptoes over to Harry who opened up the back door sighing at me and shaking his head.

The summer morning air was nice against my skin, the breeze causing my baby hairs to fall from being pulled back out of my face. I followed behind Harry, taking the stairs down from the deck that was elevated from the ground. I set my water bottle down on the grass before standing up in front of Harry.

"We are going to start with a warm-up. I want you to do 5 laps around the yard, GO!" Harry shouted initiating my legs to make a mad dash around the grass-covered yard. Harry's eyes were watchful of me, probably making sure I didn't cut corners or walked instead of ran.

"Faster! They are right behind you! Do you wanna be taken?" Harry shouted trying to get my speed up. Moving my arms back and forth bent by my sides I picked up my speed with the encouragement of his words. "Is that all you got princess?" He shouted again coming to run next to me, falling just a little behind me.

"I'm right on your tail! Pick it up princess, this isn't frolicking in the park!" Harry came up next to me passing me when I tripped over my own feet. Tripping into my face I groaned annoyed that I had just embarrassed myself again!

Harry stopped and looked back at me while I got up and started to run again. He shook his head at me and moved his hand down his face which pulled his under eye skin down. "We've got a long way to go."

My heart beat in a rhythm getting faster and faster with each stride I took to being done with my five laps Harry had demanded I do. By the fourth lap, I was already in need a drink, panting heavily trying to keep up my speed.

"Pick it up! Pick it up!" Harry clapped his hands when he saw my speed was slowly decreasing in the last lap. Rounding the comer I came to a stop to put my hands on my knees and take in deep breaths.

Hearing a quick shift in the air a clicking sound echoed that was all too familiar. Snapping my head up and straightening my spine I saw Harry pointing his pistol at me. His gaze hard while he looked at my stunned expression.

"Someone points a gun at you, what are you going to do?" He rasped keeping a steady aim towards my chest area. Heart beating in my ears when I saw how steady he was at holding the dangerous weapon.

"I um..." I stumbled not knowing if I should move or try to escape. I racked my brain to try and think of a way out of this situation.

"By now I would already have you in a hold." Harry holstered his pistol into his waistband and grabbed me, holding his right arm around my clavicle bone. Wrapping his arm around me like a ribbon I realized he had me in his hold with no way out due to his overwhelming strength. "Let's try this again."

He released me and walked to his original position. Standing in front of me he drew his gun on me, putting pressure on me with only an object.

"What are you going to do? You have five seconds to make a move." Harry warned me once again setting up the situation as if it were real.

"I don't know..." I was nervous under the pressure of the gun. Even though I knew Harry would never put me at risk like that I still didn't like the fact that it was pointing towards me.

"Grab the gun," Harry instructed moving my arm to the correct position where he knew it should be. Concentrating I wrapped my hand around the barrel of the gun and waited for further instruction. "And push my hand away."

Doing as he said he groaned at the light push I inflicted on his arm. Blushing at my lack of force I dropped my arms to my side, "Let me try again."

"You need to use more force. One wrong move and you're dead." Harry handed me the gun, the weight of it more than I originally thought. "Watch me."

Holding the gun up like Harry did for me in one swift motion he had managed to knock the gun from my hand to his and swat my arm away leaving me empty-handed. With intense concentration, I waited for Harry to get back into position for me to try this all again.

"Remember use force when you push my arm away or it won't work," Harry instructed with the same clenched jaw and intense looking features.

Holding the black gun up to my chest once again hoping that I will get it this time I grabbed the barrel of the gun and snapped his hand away like he had instructed me to. Although my movement was slower and more sloppy then Harry's precision I felt accomplished.

"Again." Harry urged taking the gun from me and getting back in position for me to try again at the new move he had taught me. I enjoyed this, learning to care and defend myself and with Harry's help I knew I was, even more, better off.

Despite my rough start, I could see myself getting better with each repeated drill. Once I had become quicker in my movement and more precise like Harry I grinned to myself. Maybe this training wouldn't be so bad.

-May 23, 2016