Hannah's POV

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I was frozen when he pulled away.

"God, I missed you." He sighed, smiling down at me.

Jake just kissed me. Jack just fucking kissed me. A couple months ago, that would've made me die of a heart attack. Now? I think I may die of a heart attack, but not for the same reasons. I know Ace has men watching me, and I'm scared of what he'll do. I'm scared he will come here and kill Jake, himself, for thinking he could kiss me. However, I think I'm more terrified of him doing nothing. I know Ace can be territorial, and if he does nothing, then I've lost him for good.

I didn't know what to say to him. I missed Jake like crazy, but not in this way. I missed my friend, not my crush. Everyone has known I've been fawning over him like a puppy since freshman year, how do I just immediately shut him down without people getting suspicious? Lucky for me, I have a best friend with a big ass mouth.

"Hannah, who the fuck was at the door?" Olivia yells, making her way to the entry room. When she rounds the corner, she sees Jake and smiles. "Oh." Olivia makes eye contact with me and gives me a devious grin before Jake notices. I think she could've had that look on her face the whole time though, because he was too busy staring at me to notice her. "So...have you guys caught up yet or do I need to give you a guest room?"

"We're good." I quickly answer.

"Yeah, that'd be great." Jake says at the same time.

My eyes widen and, before I can even react, Jake is dragging me upstairs. I give Olivia a pleading look but she just shrugs before walking back towards the kitchen. Jake brings me to one of Olivia's guest rooms before sitting down on the bed. I sit down next to him, still making sure there is distance between us.

"So..." I trail off, fiddling with my hands.

"I'm glad you're back." He says with a smile. He hasn't stopped smiling since he kissed me and I'm slightly concerned. Doesn't his jaw hurt?

"Yeah, I'm not sure how long I'm staying though." That finally caused his smile to fade.

I hated it, but it was the truth. Sarah was right, I've changed a lot over the past couple of months and it's hard to go back to being the shy, rule-following girl I once was. I love Olivia, and I will always come to visit her, but I can't stay here. 

I have no clue where to go. I don't have ample amounts of money, even though I'm sure Ace would give me some if I asked. The funny thing is, most people would've taken my opportunity to vacation or go somewhere nice, like Bali, but I don't want to. I can't help but want to go back to the mafia. Regardless of Ace and my friends, that's my world. Thats where I belong.

I decided I would stay here for a little while until I figured out my situation. The Sicilian mafia is my home. It's where my family is. If Ace won't let me back in, even as a regular soldier at a compound, then I was considering talking to Annika. I wouldn't necessarily classify us as friends, but I do trust her and have an immense amount of respect for her. My only problem is her loyalty to Ace. They're strong allies and, if he doesn't want me in that life, he will find a way to keep me out of it.

I could never join under Cixi. She's a beautiful woman and a strong leader, but I couldn't follow her, not after she slept with Ace. She knows what happened, yet she slept with him. If I joined her mafia, I would be disrespecting myself. I would never join under Jack. If I hadn't been brought into this world when I was, then I might have been able too. Now, though, I've been on the other side. I have just as much hatred for his ways as the rest of them and I could never fight against the ones I love.

"Why? Do you not want to stay?"

"I do, I missed you and Olivia, but California just doesn't feel right anymore."

"You just got back, maybe we can change your mind." He said, trying to be optimistic.

"My mind is already made up." I sigh.

"What about school?" Shit, I never even thought about that. 

Not only have I been gone for months, but I've missed school. My grades are probably lower than Olivia's standards for men by now. Theres no way I could graduate, but I think what worries me the most, is that I don't care. Before, I never let my grades go lower than a ninety five, but now I consider myself done with High School. I mean, I've done five years of it, I think its safe to say I have a basic education by now.

"I'm not going back. Look Jake, I'm not going to go into details, but I've changed. I'm not worried about high school, or being on my own. I came back to see you guys and make sure you're okay, but I can't stay in this god forsaken town. I have too many memories here, too many memories where the bad outweighs the good." He was silent for a moment, taking in everything.

"What about us?"

"You and Olivia will be okay, I'm only just a phone call away."

"No, Hannah, I mean you and me. Before you disappeared, the night you disappeared, we kissed. Hannah, I've dated others in the past, but I've always wanted to be with you. I told myself you were shy and distant, and I'd have to wait, but I've waited years. You disappeared into thin air just to come back and tell me you're leaving again?"

"Jake." I frown. I've been madly in love with him for years, just to find out he's felt the same way. "You're too late."

"What?"

"I've been in love with you since freshman year but, when I left, I met someone."

"Who?!"

"His name was Ace." I smile lightly.

"Was? So you guys broke up?" He questioned slowly.

"Yeah, something like that. He broke my heart, but I still love him with all the pieces."

"Is there any chance of us ever being together?" My silence answered his question.

"Jake, I love you and I care about you, but the love I had for you will never compare to the love I have for him."

"Ouch." He says awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Hannah, I guess we can't help who we love." Trust me, I wish we could. "Friends?"

"I'd like that." I smile.

Jake opens the door for us to walk out, but someone falls into the room just as he does. Olivia. She looked up at us and smiled, acting as though she hadn't heard a thing from our conversation. 

For the rest of the day, the three of us hung out at Olivia's house. We talked, caught up, and watched movies. I called Anne, who was in tears when she heard my voice. She told me to come visit her soon, and I told her I would before I left.

By the time the sun was setting, we were four movies into our marvel marathon. Olivia was passed out with her hand in the empty bowl of popcorn, and Jake was on his phone. I was glad I told Jake we wouldn't work out, but I don't think he had his head fully wrapped around it. Throughout the movies, Jake would casually slide closer to me, or flirt with me. It wasn't anything sexual, but he was constantly getting closer and being "touchy-feely". 

"I'm going to get a shower." I sighed, as the credits played on Olivia's tv.

"Good, you stink." he jokes.

"Rude."

"I'm not rude, I'm just honest." He laughs, playfully shoving me. I shoved him back, not thinking anything of it.

Jake and I ended up having our own WWE match right next to Olivia, who somehow managed to sleep through the entire thing. I couldn't help but laugh at the fact he was genuinely trying to pin me, whereas I was having to hold back. I could've easily had him within ten seconds, fighting with Sarah and Oliver was much harder and much more entertaining.

I was straddling Jake with one of his arms pinned, while I was "trying" to grab the other. Right when I went to grab it though, I saw a flash come from Olivia's window, which immediately caught my attention. Jake didn't notice it and took that as his opportunity to flip us over and pin me, but I was on full alert now. I easily shoved him into the floor, before running to her window.

"Geez, when the hell did you get so strong..." I hear him mumble from behind me. 

Olivia's room was hot, so we always left the window open to get fresh air. With it being pitch black outside, you could never see anything, but the flash that came from the window made it obvious as to what was outside. Someone was watching us.

I stuck my head out of the window and looked around before I saw a black figure running across Olivia's roof. I immediately climbed onto the roof and chased after them. The person got to the edge before they quickly started to climb down a latter. Idiot. Grabbing either said of the latter, I pushed it back until it starts to fall over and I heard and loud thud, followed by a groan. 

I quickly turned around and went back in the window and ran to the bed, where I had hid a knife under the frame. I sprinted downstairs and out of the door, going around the house. The later was there, but the person was gone. 

"Hurry!" I heard a voice yell on the other side of the house. I ran to the side facing the street to see the black figure running towards a van that was already starting to take off. He jumped into the back of the van right as I through my knife, which landed in his left shoulder.

But just like that, he was gone.

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Sorry for the late post, besties, next chapter will be out in an hour or so. Comment and Vote!