POV: Aletta

Gently, my eyelids flutter open, allowing the rays of sunshine peeking through my curtains to brighten up the room.

I lay staring at my plain ceiling, spending a little time to just think...

A smile is painted on my lips as I reminisce in the memory last night.
My smile widens into a full grin as I lift my fingers to my lips. I remember the feeling of another pair of soft lips against mine. I can still taste the peppermint in my mouth and on my lips.

At the thought, my lips begin to tingle and my whole body trembles with excitement.
I begin to giggle and squeal under my breath at the thought of the blissful kiss that Angelo and I shared last night on the hot air balloon.

I quickly turn my head into my pillow, muffling my squeals, trying to prevent myself from exploding with joy.

Sure I've had boyfriends, and kissed guys before, but I have never felt like this before...
I honestly feel like I'm floating on a cloud, my insides ready to explode like fireworks.

I almost leap out of bed and skip to my wardrobe. Today is going to be a good day! I think gleefully to myself while giggling a little.
I glance at my appearance in the mirror and notice my cheesy grin. I couldn't care less about my head looking like a birds nest, I just smile so much that my cheeks begin to ache.

I grab an outfit and hop into a nice warm shower.
I get tangled up in my thoughts as I rinse my hair. All my attention focused on remembering last night.

A few questions swirl in my mind and anxiety begins to knot in the pit of my gut. Did Angelo like the kiss? Was it good enough? I wonder if he felt the same sparks as me?

And then I'm shocked by my next thought, panic rising in my chest.
HOLY SHIZNICKLES! My breath didn't smell did it?!

After debating on my pondering I decide to divert my attention by hopping out the shower, getting dressed and going to get breakfast.

I skip down the hall into the kitchen humming a tune.
I immediately spot my father sat at the breakfast bar, drinking his coffee and reading the news on his phone.

"Good morning papa!" I chirp excitedly as I glide to the coffee machine.
As I turn it on, I can see out of the corner of my eyes papa looking up at me, slightly confused.

"Good morning principessa. I take it you slept well?" Papa asks whilst raising an eyebrow and keeping his eyes directly on me.

"Yeah, I did." I say a little too dreamily and this makes papà's other eyebrow join the raised one so that they are almost touching his hairline.

"Does this have anything to do with you sneaking in in the middle of the night?" Papa asks, trying to act chilled but sounding quite on edge.

His statement catches me completely off guard and my eyes practically bulge out of their sockets.
I almost choke at what he said, even though I'm not eating anything.

He takes a sip of his coffee, his scrutinising glare directly on me.

I try to avoid eye contact, looking anywhere else, the cupboards, the stools, the coffee machine - but it's no use.
I sigh dramatically, admitting defeat to myself and pour myself a coffee as the machine has stopped bubbling.

I slowly turn around, and murmur under my breath. "I-uh... maybe?"

Papa does not seem pleased with my response.
"That boy better not have touched you! I swear if I find out you were doing anything inappropriate, I will gut him alive!"

My mouth hangs open at what he said, and immediately a solemn expression masks my face.
Realisation washes over me and I'm on the brink of tears.

"We-we b-broke up." I stutter, trying not to cry.

Papà's mood changes from surprised to sympathetic, as he watches me.

"Don't be sad principessa. Clearly that boy wasn't the one for you. He doesn't deserve your tears." He says as he gets up to give me a warm hug.

I hug him as he embraces me, and I can almost hear him murmur something along the lines of: "When I find that boy, I swear he'll never see morning again!"

It was so quiet but I still back up and cross my arms across my chest.
As lovely as my father is, when it comes to me, he is super overprotective. It's surprising that I've ever even had a boyfriend.

"Papa!" I say in a warning tone and he gives me an innocent look.
I roll my eyes and proceed to drink my untouched coffee.

I'm no longer upset at the though, though. I realise that if it wasn't for Tyler cheating, I would never have experienced such a magical night with Angelo...

"Soooo..." papà interrupts my train of thoughts.
"Where were you last night then?" He asks and I'm speechless.

"I-uh-I..." he chuckles at my response and I nervously scratch behind my ear.

"Okay, let me rephrase that... Who were you with?" He asks more seriously.

"I-ummmm..." I still can't respond. What would papa think if I told him I was with Angelo? Would he approve? Would he get angry?

He gets along great with Angelo. He treats him like a son. But somehow, I don't know how he will react... especially with Angelo being the boss of perhaps the biggest mafia in the globe!

My thoughts turn into a whirlwind of emotions and questions and I don't know where to start explaining. Before I have to though, papa does it for me.

"You were with Angelo. Weren't you?" He says and I almost faint.

I stand there gawking at him, but he pays no attention and continues talking.

"Angelo is a great guy Aletta, and you know I like him. But he has a lot off baggage.
He is the leader of the Italian Mafia, ruthless and merciless. He does not love like others, he has probably never experienced love.

Dangerous would be an understatement of what he is. I'm sorry, Aletta but I cannot permit you to be seeing him..." He finishes sternly and that makes my heart clench.

"W-what? Why not?!" I almost shriek.

"Aletta, Angelo may be a good guy deep down, but he has done terrible, unspeakable things! No matter how much you believe in him, he will not change his lifestyle for you." My father states calmly but dead seriously.

I'm speechless for a moment, but the anger flares within me.

"You don't know him like I do! Angelo is a good man! He would never hurt me. I know he wouldn't." I begin to sob at the end.

Pap tries to embrace me but I push him back, shouting "No!" At him.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me Aletta! I'm sorry but my decision is final. You shall not get involved further with Angelo!" He says and I storm down to my bedroom.

I grab my jacket and phone, chucking a warm fleece and some faded grey jeans on. I pair my outfit with some fluffy brown ugg boots and braid my long hair quickly.

I storm back along the hall in a rush and yank the front door open.
"You don't understand! You never would. You can't stop me from seeing him." I say to my father and turn to face outside.

"Where are you going?!" He questions, his voice softening slightly.

"Out." Is my firm reply as I slam the front door shut and storm down the hall and out of the building.

I hate arguing with papa, and I know he dislikes it too, but I just needed to get out and go for a walk to clear my mind.
I can't focus when I'm angry and I act impulsively and irrationally.

I wrap my cozy winter jacket around me as I walk along the crowded streets.
I can see my breath appear in the cold air ahead, as I breathe slowly.

I focus on my steps, counting them as I wander down the many streets. I don't recognise where I am, but I really don't care.

I see the buildings turn to trees and the pavement turn to frosty grass. Eventually my feet stop moving and I'm stood facing a tree with only a little amount of leaves still attached to the branches.

It towers over me and I tilt my neck upwards so I can see how large it is.

Despite there not being many leaves, the familiar weeping willow tree is still mesmerising. That's the beauty of nature a familiar voice echoes through my head.

The voice is sweet and gentle and I could recognise it anywhere... it's Maman's voice.

"Oh Maman, how I wish you were still here." I weep to myself as I move to sit beneath the tree.

It's times like these that I really wish she was here with me. If only I could hear her melodious laugh again and her soothing voice to calm me...

I sit with my Kees pressed to my chest, resting my head against them as I let tears soak my jeans.

I don't know how long I'be been here, in this position for, but as a chilly breeze surrounds me, I instantly feel the effect of the cold.

I get up slowly, brushing my hair down, and making sure I have no dirt on the part of my coat that I was sat on.
I glance at my phone screen, noticing that the battery is only on 8%. Fantastic!

I check the time and it says 11:23am, so I decide to head back home. I say goodbye to the tree, for some reason, I feel like that is where Maman would be, and head back towards the city.

It takes me roughly 25 minutes to get back to the road that my apartment building is on. I can see the cream and grey building at the end of the road, towering over the cars that drive by.

I continue to walk toward it when suddenly I become trapped.

Someone wraps a hand over my mouth with a smelly cloth covering my nose, and I attempt to scream!
A strong arm clenches my body, making sure I can't escape so I thrash about, dramatically.

I'm facing away from the road, so no cars can see me, and oddly there are no pedestrians around.

I continue to thrash about and have muffled screams, but it becomes more and more difficult as my muscles all turn heavy and my body begins to slump.

The grip releases from my mouth and my eyelids begin to weigh down.

I can feel myself being dragged away, but I cant move. I slowly drift in and out of consciousness, darkness clouding my vision and thoughts.

The last thing I remember is the sound of an engine starting and a low male voice with an accent saying, "we've got the girl".
That is when I completely shut down, nothing but numbness surrounding me...

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Author note: Hey there!

Sorry it took me ages to update! I am just super busy lately! (I'm sure you can relate).
Schools just started last week and I've got homework and revision all the time!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter nonetheless!

Don't forget to comment and vote!

Hope to see you guys soon!
Bye! :)