Alpha's Second Chance

NATASHA RUSSO

BRAILLE stepped on the stairs two at a time. The only elevator in the apartment building is currently occupied when she entered the building a while ago. When she finally reached the fourth floor, she sped her way to the third door on her left.

She did not bother to knock. She pushed the door forcefully that it smacked the wall.

Three pairs of eyes turned to her but her attention was at the woman sitting in one of the two chairs at the dining table.

She went to her directly. The two other medium-built guys were eyeing her. One hindered her way but when she glared at him that he instantly moved away.

She kneeled down in front of Natasha who has her face down. She put her hand under the petite woman’s chin.

“Look at me.” She said sternly when her hand was about to be swatted away.

Half a minute and a deep sigh later, Natasha raised her face but did not meet her eyes.

Braille bit her lower lip to prevent herself from swearing. There were finger marks on her left cheek and a trace of blood on the lower side of her lip.

She gets hold of the cold compress from Natasha’s hand. She placed it in her cheek to minimized the possible swelling.

“Where were your bodyguards when this happen?” She asked Natasha to put her hair on one side.

She heard the two of the men heaved a fake cough when Natasha did not utter a word.

She removed the cold compress from Natasha’s face before standing straight. In quick stride, she seized one guy in a chokehold. The shock was evident in his eyes. When the other guy tried to hold her, she gave him a quick punch in the jaw that sent him to the floor.

“Where were you when this happened?” She muttered in gritted teeth.

“We w-were outside t-the building.” He answered. His face was turning red due to the minimal air that goes through his lungs.

“Braille, please let him go.”

“Stay where you are, Natasha.”  She warned when she saw her about to stand from where she was.

“The only job that you were supposed to do is to guard Natasha. Both of you were not doing your job.” She whispered in his ear.

The man blinked his eyes. He was trying very hard to stay conscious. On the other hand, Braille was not even bothered with his hands that attempt to remove her chokehold in his neck. The animal in her wanted to tear him into pieces knowing that her mate’s life was endangered due to their neglect.

“Please let him go.”

She took a deep sigh. She did not notice that Natasha was standing beside her already. Has she not squeezed her arm, Braille might not know that her mate was nearby.

“Please, Braille.”

The guy slumped to the floor when she let him go. She blinked her eyes before turning to Natasha. The petite woman looked up with her doe eyes and forced a smile when their eyes met.

Braille embraced Natasha. She lifted the petite woman and placed her on top of the kitchen counter. She inspected the bruised cheek once again.

She exhaled when she spotted the evident swell forming in her cheek.

“What happened?”

“Jack knocked at the door to my apartment. When I didn’t allow him to come in, he forced his way in.”

“Who is he?” She questioned as she caressed the unaffected cheek with her thumb.

“He’s my ex-boyfriend. He was part of my brother’s business.” Braille nodded. “He wanted us back together. He wanted to talk but I told him that it was over. He became violent.”

Her other hand form into a fist while listening to her. She placed her forehead in hers. At some point, that calm her and her beast down.

Natasha played with the lapel of her shirt as she continued her account of the incident.

“I was screaming for help when a guy barged into my apartment. He pacified Jack.” Her mate exhaled before meeting her eyes. “I was not able to thank that man who helped me.”

She kissed Natasha on the forehead before letting her go. “Don’t worry about it.”

“You knew him?” She nodded again. “You put someone to watch me?” She nods again. “Thank you.”

She sighed in relief when Natasha said that. She was expecting a disagreement.

“You put both of them down.” She heard her say.

She turned to where Natasha was looking.

The two useless bodyguards were on the floor. Both were unconscious.

Braille finally surveyed the unit after glancing at the men.

The living room was in disarray. The television was broken. The only presentable in the apartment was the kitchen part.

She took a deep sigh before sending a link at the sentinel that she posted to look after Natasha. She gave him her gratitude for saving her mate.

“You’re no longer safe here.”

“I know. I should check-in a hotel while looking for a new place.”

“You can stay in my condo. That’s the safest place for you.”

“It’s fine, Braille. You did enough for me. I owe you a lot already.”

“Please. Do this for my peace of mind.” She begged.

Natasha was staring at her when she glanced at her.

“Why are you doing this?” Her mate asked. Their eyes were on each other.

“I wish I could tell you.” Braille admitted.

“I have time, Miss Wilson.”

“I know. It’s a little complicated.”

“Is this about the cult thing?” She was not able to contain her smile despite the situation.

“Yes, but It’s not a cult, really.” She scratched her head in embarrassment.

“I hope you’re not part of the group in the black market that sells out internal organs.”

She chuckled at Natasha’s wild imagination.

“You’re serious?” She said when she found her studying her.

“I had enough of illegal doings to last me a lifetime, Braille.”

“I’m not doing illegal. My business followed the law of the State.”

“Good.”

Natasha jumped from the counter. She followed her when she entered a door.

She watched the petite woman as she put her clothes in the luggage together with other important things. In fifteen minutes, they left the apartment building with two pieces of luggage in tow.

                                                                                    **********

NATASHA’s POV

BRAILLE owned the penthouse of the tall building they entered. The gigantic woman might have owned the building, too.

Her place was huge and it was beautifully designed despite the monochromatic colors she chose for the furniture.

The living room was big. It was enough to entertained at least 10 people together. The dining table was an eight-sitter. There were three bedrooms, too.

To say that Braille was rich was an understatement.

Braille has a construction business and a big parcel of land. Natasha’s family has money but not this rich and she knew that those money were not accumulated through legal means.

She left the family to relieve herself from complications. Being a Russo was enough to be complicated.

She grew up as a sheltered daughter. She studied in an all-girl school until high school. She thought that life was simple. A little complication here and there but she did not know that her life was more complicated than that.

She studied a business course in college. She believed that if she has a degree in business, she would be able to help her father and brother, Antonio, in the family business. However, things got complicated when her father was killed. His car exploded when he went to one of his business trips.

Antonio told her that it was because his enemies in business were threatened by their father’s ability as a businessman. The investigation went on.

Right after college, she met Jack. He exuded confidence and treats her like a princess. Just like how her father and brother treated her. It was a year-long courtship before they become official.

Their relationship was mostly long-distance since she spent her time traveling. Antonio insisted she travels. He said, it was a gift from him and their father. She was easily persuaded since she likes going to different places and it served as a reminder of her father who loved to pamper her when he was still alive. She was wandering throughout the glove for a couple of years until she decided to go home to surprise her only living family.

She got the surprise of her life when she saw him shooting a man in the living room of their manor. Everything stood still. It was another blow when she found her boyfriend for more than two years was there.

That day she learned that her family was a part of an organized crime syndicate. And her brother was the current head of the Russo family, one of the Italian mafias.

Her upbringing and the sheltered life were due to the fact that she needs to be protected at all times. The travels were for her own protection.

Antonio was taking revenge to the other Italian family that killed their father. She will be in the way if she stayed in the State. 

That day, she learned the dirty family secret. That same day, she broke up with her boyfriend that she learned as one of her brother’s Capo.

Jack reports to her brother about her activities back in college since he was also the one in charge of d**g dealing in the University where she studied. Catching two birds in one stone.

She went away. That was her decision. Antonio agreed since it would be safer for her if she was as far away as possible. However, there was a deal. She will have a bodyguard wherever she will be. She knew that these bodyguards were members of the mafia under her brother’s command.

The last two years that she was living on her own, she knew she was being shadowed by at least two bodyguards. Sometimes, she was already oblivious of their existence. She was even surprised when Braille noticed them because often, her bodyguards were very discreet in accordance with the agreement with Antonio.