Pull the Trigger | ✓

f i v e

Noah had taken me home but what I didn't know was that he and his men were taking refuge at my place. I wasn't shocked when about fifteen men stumbled inside the foyer, some hurt and some assisting the injured. I called for the maid who couldn't speak English but was smart enough to keep her mouth shut when it came to the underground activities.

"She'll have you fixed," I announced as I walked up the staircase before facing the maid and her friend who bowed their head in acknowledgement. "Aiutali con le loro ferite."
[Aiutali con le loro ferite = Help them with their wounds]

The maids nodded in understanding as Noah's eyes scanned the house before murmuring under his breath to his companion who seemed to stick by him like glue.

"Italian, huh?" Noah questioned, stopping me dead in my tracks.

I turned around and started to descend. "Yes, half Dutch and half Italian. You?"

Noah smirked. "Spanish with a mix of Chinese and French."

I tilted my head to the side to see his Asian culture but I guessed his Spanish was more dominant than the other. I nodded my head before heading to the kitchen with him hot on my heels. "Would you look at that? We're already getting to know each other."

He chuckled as I handed him a glass of water. "I guess so."

I went over to the sink and washed the dried blood off my hands, silently breathing in and out as my eyes fluttered shut at the way my hands had easily slit throats of men who could've been sons, uncles, husbands, boyfriends and brothers. I bit my lip and chewed on it before grabbing a paper towel and wiped my murderous hands with it.

"Not used to killing?" Noah questioned, his frown deepening as he watched me.

I shrugged. "I haven't went out on the field for a long time."

Noah nodded in understanding as he grabbed the paper towel and wet it with water before taking a step closer to me. He hesitated before wiping the paper towel on my cheeks and it was probably because the blood of other men had squirted on my face.

"Does it get easier for you?" I asked quietly.

Noah nodded again. "I've been doing it since I was fifteen so yeah, it got easier over time."

With a nod, I allowed my eyes to dance around his facial features and realised that he had faint freckles painted on the bridge of his nose as his brown eyes concentrated on wiping the blood from my face. The longer I stared at Noah, the faster my heart beat picked up and the warmness in my stomach began to become evident.

"Stop staring, would you?" Noah questioned, his lips quirking and I coughed, forcing myself to pull away from his soft touch.

"I'm going to take a shower instead," I announced, brushing past him as I headed for the spiral cases. I glanced around to see the maids working on the wounds of Noah's men before ascending the staircases.

"Goodnight, Moretti," Noah said, loud enough for me to hear. "You've saved half my men tonight. They owe you."

I simply ignored him as I continued to ascend the staircases back to my room.

It was at least half an hour later that I had walked out from my en suite and inside my walk-in closet where I picked out black silk pyjamas before unwrapping the towel from my hair. I exited my room and descended down the stairs, surprised to see that Noah and his men were still lingering around the living room area. Noah -who must've used the bathroom downstairs to take a shower- had a white towel on top of his hair, dressed in a pair of black sweatpants and a white fitted shirt that almost vacuumed the air out of my lungs. The ink on his skin was managed to make a show seeing as he wasn't wearing sleeves that covered them up and they almost covered an entire bicep.

"Why are you still here?" I questioned with a frown, running my fingers through my hair wet hair as I approached Noah who excused himself from his men.

Noah shrugged. "The men from earlier may come back and find this house so we're here as your protection."

I shook my head, a smile playing on my lips. "I can protect myself."

Noah let out a cold chuckle. "You can't protect yourself from twenty men, princess, and besides, my men insisted."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Okay, well, if any of you are hungry, you can order pizza. Just put it on my tab."

Noah echoed my words to the men who cheered in delight. "So, how was your first night as being engaged to me?"

I feigned a pained expression. "Horrible."

He raised a brow as if he didn't get my sarcasms. "Oh."

I rolled my eyes and swatted his hard chest. "It was a joke."

Noah opened his mouth to say something when his phone started ringing. I showed him away when he picked up his phone and started speaking in Spanish fluently. I couldn't help but sigh as I glanced over at one of the Italian maids. "Prendi cuscini e coperte e daglieli a loro."
[ Prendi cuscini e coperte e daglieli a loro = Take pillows and blankets and give them to them].

The maids nodded in understanding before hurrying to the basement as I ascended the spiral staircases once again and almost flinched when one of Noah's men -I recognised from earlier- was standing outside my room.

"Um, what are you doing?" I questioned slowly.

The man cleared his throat. "Noah assigned me to your room door and two others under your window just in case anything happens."

I nodded slowly, confused at why Noah was so overprotective. "Thank you?"

The man's lips quirked. "Sleep tight, Miss Moretti."

•

I had slept well enough to wake up around eight in the morning and when I had descended the stairs, to my disappointment, I had realised that Noah and his group of men had already left. The maids had informed me that Noah has left a note with them and had instructed them to give it to me once I was awake. Why was I disappointed? I should've been glad.

I unfolded the paper, revealing neat, cursive handwriting.

Dear princess,
thank you for saving my men and letting some rest in your home. Your kindness will not be forgotten. I have some business to attend to so I will keep in contact. My number has already been put inside your phone.

N. Bellucci.

I couldn't help but smile at the note. If he was going to forget my kindness, I was going to make sure he died in his sleep.

The doors buckled open and my attention snapped to it as my father and a few of his men began to scout the place. My father's panicked expression ceased as he found me alive before quickly approaching me with a hug.

"Oh, piccola mia, I thought I lost you," my father whispered as he began to peck my face with kisses. "Noah already informed me on what had happened. I'm so glad you're safe."
[piccola mia = my baby]

I nodded with a grin. "I'm alright, padre. How was your task?"

My father grinned. "Successful. Now, please, tell me what happened."

As I told my father what had happened last night, he was listening intently while his men were still scouting the place for enemies. And when I was done, each of the men pressed their lips to my temples before leaving the place and I couldn't help but smile at their brotherly-love.

"They're relieved that you're safe," my father said as he nodded at one of his men who had just been whispering in his ears before leaving the house. "You gave us such a fright."

"I'm fine, padre and besides, Noah was there."

My father wiggled his eyebrows suggestively but I only laughed and shook my head with a crinkle of my nose. "Maybe this marriage may benefit you."

"Only in your wildest dreams," I laughed.