{R} The Life of the Rich and Not So Famous {Natora x Dark Pidgeon}

[Natora]

{This roleplay is rated R for fits of all things including but not limited to swearing, drinking, drugs, sex, rock and roll, too much fun, etc.}

Name: Allegra Brambati
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Description: Tall and slender with black/brown hair to the middle of her back and a figure that could be a model. Bright green eyes and full beautiful lips with a thin nose.
Background Story: Born of privilege, her father is the king of the Italian mafia. With her being the only daughter and her mother dying of a mafia related incidence when she was very young, her father keeps her incredibly guarded. He has made sure that she knows nothing about any of the illegal businesses that he works and most importantly keeps her out of the spotlight and under guard 24/7.

Since she's completed university at the ripe age of 20, she runs a small chain of her father's hotels, one of his legitimate businesses. She takes care of the ritzy hotels during the week and burns all her energy on the weekend at dance clubs since her father never let her out to "anything fun" as a teen.

Allegra smiled in the mirror and applied the last touch: an incredibly alluring perfume that her father had bought for her from France. He had ties there to get certain things for dirt cheap but he went over those ties for his daughter and bought her the best that money could buy. She smiled at herself in the mirror, admiring her work. The entire purpose of tonight was to have some fun and tempt some men before magically disappearing into the night. She enjoyed these nights, not having to worry about work or anything else of any meaning.

There was a soft knock on the door. "Who is it?" she called in her soft voice. She didn't always use that tone, and likely wouldn't tonight, but she was at home and knew she was safe.

"Brandon. Can I come in for a second?" he called back. Brandon was Allegra's best friend that she had in the house. Her father hated her dating and so she went about it cautiously until she thought she found someone her dad would like. Brandon was her reliable straight gay friend, though. He was very good at protecting her as well as giving her great advice. He was only one of her guards that would be going out with her.

"Ya, it's open," Allegra called. Brandon opened the door and looked at her and his jaw dropped. After a moment's stunned silence he said, "Your dad is never going to let you out in that. Put some pants on and a jacket over top or something". Allegra rolled her eyes but knew he was right. The barely cover your ass skirt would never fly with her father. The top she was keeping though. It was an extremely low scoop neck and she liked that it showed off her cleavage well. She went through her closet and pulled on some leggings and a leather jacket. She topped if off with knee high boots. Why not have a little fun? She stepped out of her spacious closet again and asked, "What about now?" Brandon nodded. "Better. Ready to go?" he asked her. She nodded and they walked to her father's room where she knocked on the door softly.

"Enter," her father's almost raspy voice sounded from the office. She entered and walked over to him, kissing his cheeks respectfully. "I'm going out now, daddy," she said sweetly. She was the only woman who could get away with using that tone with him nowadays.

He nodded to her, his only daughter, and then looked over to Brandon who was standing attentively in the doorway. "If she leaves your sight, don't bother coming back," he threatened him.

Brandon nodded. "As always, sir," he answered respectfully.

Allegra laughed gently and smiled at her father. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. I'm taking three men after all. They could be here doing useful work for you but you ridiculously insist that I take them with me," she said to him with a small laugh. She hugged her father and said, "See you in the morning, daddy." She walked back out of the office, her father smiling gently after her. He hated when she went out. She had recently talked him down to three men from the original four, which was originally five, and before that six.

Allegra smiled to Brandon and went to the car with him where the other two were already waiting for them. She gave the name of a pub to the driver and they were off.

When they arrived at the bar, as normal, Allegra would go in first and the others would follow a few minutes later. She hated being watched but they figured there wasn't much she could do to get hurt walking into a pub a few minutes before them.

She walked in with an air of confidence around her and sat at the bar, crossing her legs as she leaned into the bartender. "A whiskey and coke, please," she ordered. She was never afraid to drink with the big boys. She sat back and scanned the pub, waiting for her drink.

[Dark Pigeon]

The Irish Lass the bar owned by the somewhat cocky but friendly Vincent Donovan was a mildly famous pub in the center of 'the Bronx', New York. The music was silently in the background while the chatter of it's patrons could be heard. Making it almost impossible to hear the music in the first place. But that was how it was in The Irish Lass. The owner wanted the people to talk, to connect with each other. It even became a tradition that he would break your Mobile Phone if you were making a call, and you tried to order at the bar. And that was exactly what was happening at the moment that Allegra walked into the bar.

"You son of a bitch!" The girl shouted in a heavy New-York accent, as she watched her phone beings smashed into pieces on the counter. The patrons sitting close all started to laugh loudly while the girl seemed to be in tears. Her poor poor IPhone was nothing more than some pieces of glass and broken technologie. "Read the signs sweets" Vincent mused as he wiped the broken phone of the counter and placed it within a plastic bag "You order while on the phone, and Ill break the damn thing" he said and gave her the small bag "Compliments of the bar miss, now what would you like to drink" he asked while he smiled. The girl quickly picked up the bag with the broken phone and ran out of the bar in tears. Vincent giggled and started to wipe his glasses clean again.

He leaned on the bar while Allegra came to order and looked at her with a cheeky grin. "Coke and Whiskey." he shook his head and looked at a good friend of him sitting at the bar as well. "She wants me to put whiskey.. in coke" he said and gestured at the pretty girl sitting across the bar from him. Ian, the man he was talking to shook his head as well and lifted his glass of whiskey into the air as if he wanted to show her what the right way of drinking whiskey was. But Vincent was not a bad man, he picked the cheapest whiskey he could find and poured the Johny Walker into a glass before pouring coke over it and placed it on the bar before her "Welcome lass" he said with a sweet voice and poured himself an ale before someone else called him over, trying to order herself a drink.

[Natora]

Her perfectly shaped eyebrow raised ever so slightly in surprise when he nearly denied her the drink because she wanted coke in it as well. She picked up the drink and swirled it around in the glass gently before raising it to her lips as he walked away. "Forgive me. I thought I was at an Irish pub. If Johny Walker is the best that you can do, I think I'll find a better Irish pub," she said simply, baiting and teasing him. She didn't like being upstaged and taken as a joke. This pretty "lass" could dish it as well as she could take it.

Lifting the glass to her lips, she downed it in one go and put the glass loudly back on the bar, "Sorry for the mistake," she said to him. Just to taunt him, she pulled her phone out of her purse and quickly dialed Brandon's number. "Ya. You want to start the car?" she asked as she pulled a 5 dollar bill out of the purse that the phone had just come out of. "There's no good whiskey in this place," she said while standing. She put the bill down and looked at the man who served her, challenging him.

[Dark Pigeon]

He had just finished serving the ale and took the payment of the bar while he put it in his pockets. He watched Allegra walked towards him, rolling her drink inside the glass and telling him that he had no good whiskey in his bar. Ow the insult!, he saw a few of the bars Patrons looking at her and him in amusement. They seem to understand that this girl was taking Vincent for a walk. What they they also fully understood was how much Vincent loved whiskey. And how insulted he got every single time anyone wanted ice in it, drink it with cola or something ele. Or even drinking it on one go. Without ever really tasting the whiskey. He never was a heavy drinker, something that was strange for an Irish lad. But he did love to drink, he could spend a few hours with one glass of Whiskey. Loving every single small sip he took while enjoying its flavor.

Vincent laughed, even when getting insulted he could only laugh. He did not like this girl telling him that he did not have real whiskey. But then again, what did she know? She wants to drink it with cola. He took the five dollar bill that Allegra just hade given him and shook his head. His hand moved along the bar, picking up the closest bottle of whiskey he could find. "Sweetheart, ya don't really think, that I'm going to put whiskey in coke now do ya?" He said while looking at her phone with irritation. He took a whiskey glass and filled it with a nice 16 year old Aberlour he had standing just a feet away from him. He smelled its flavor and placed the glass of Whiskey on the bar in front of her. And picked up his hammer for her phone. His patrons looked at the spectacle unfolding before them. And silently watched the two interacting "Now try this one, and taste it. Don't throw it into your throat like all you Americans think you gotta drink. Enjoy its taste. Then tell me I don't have real whiskey" He told her while he leaned the hammer on the bar, and stepped back giving Allegra some more space.

[Natora]

As soon as he laughed, she knew she had him. The smirk that danced across her lips was beautiful and amused. Finally someone willing to try and stick up to her. Without letting her emerald eyes leave his, she told Brandon, "Nevermind. Apparently he is just very touchy about how his whiskey is served," she said hanging up and putting the phone on the bar and sliding it over to him. He didn't really think that she would make a call and not give him the phone, did he? She had already bore witness to what happened when a phone call was made in this bar. She wasn't stupid enough to try and get away with it.

With her free hand, she picked up the glass with a decent whiskey in it and took a small sip. "This is much better. And I had to finish the last one quickly. What do you expect when you serve the worst of what you have?" she asked him, quite obviously not only speaking of whiskey and ale. She finally sat on the bar stool and relaxed now that she had what she wanted. The phone would be easy enough to replace once she got home. As she leaned back in her seat, the whiskey glass in her hand so it wouldn't get shooken up to bad when he brought the hammer down on the phone, she heard the door behind her open with a click and knew that there were three men walking in without even looking. They were the three that were following her, now slightly concerned as to her well being. She didn't even move when she heard them come in and they took a seat in a booth near the door.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent was already amused with this new girl in his bar, and he did not mind her being a pretty girl to look at as well. He placed his hammer back behind the bar and pushed her phone back towards her. "You can keep this one lass, we only smash phone's when you are trying to order." he said, his face lighting up as he smiled. He pointed to a large wooden sign that hang above the bar that said exactly the same. "And since ya was not ordering anything, ya get to keep it" he said and leaned on the bar and watched how Allegra was enjoying the whiskey he just had given her. "That there is a 16 year old Abelour ya got there lass." He pointed at her glass, the passion he had for whiskey clearly in his voice. "That ya don't drink with Cola. Nobody in his or her right mind does. And that would be ten Dollars" he said and tapped on the bar. Did she really expect him to give her a free glass of whiskey?

He saw the three men walking into the bar and nodded politely towards them. They did not seem to know that he knew exactly who they were. They always behaved the same, and without realizing men like them always seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. He looked back at the girl sitting before him and leaned on the bar "if ya gonna be a good girl, Ill show you some better whiskey's tonight. Learn ya a thing or two"

[Natora]

Allegra laughed gently and shook her head when he told her how much the glass was for the whiskey. Pulling another twenty out of her purse, she put it on the bar and said, "Keep the change. And if I planned on being a good girl, I wouldn't be starting my night with aged whiskey," she mentioned softly. The smirk grew into a smile and she took back another sip of the drink, letting the cold and delicious liquor go down her throat. She closed her eyes and relaxed again, putting her phone back into her purse. "Perhaps I will take you up on your offer another night," she said to him.

Crossing her legs, she completely ignored the men on the other side of the bar that had come in to watch her but one of them, Brandon, was keeping a very close eye on her. "And besides, you don't have music loud enough for me in here anyways," she teased him, the smirk returning. They played not bad music but it wasn't anything that she could dance to in here. There weren't many people that she wanted to be near in here anyways. The only person that she would consider holding a decent conversation with was standing across from her.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smiled as she put down the twenty dollar bill and made her comment about good girls. He took the money and put it in his pocket."So what brings a nice girl like you to a small pub all the way in the Bronx" he asked and looked over her clothing. Noticing that she comes from wealth. He glances over the bar to see if anyone wanted to order but they all seemed to be fine for the moment. The man that 'casually' had walked into the bar seemed to be with the girl that he was talking to. Specially one of the younger once kept his eyes fixated on her and him as well. Vincent nodded towards them in greeting and then looked back at Allegra.

It was pretty quiet in the bar at the moment, but that was how Vincent liked it. "The music? well, its a pub. Here people come to drink and meet strangers. Have conversations, you cant do that with loud music in the background without having to shout. Aand as I came to understand from young girls" He stepped down from the bar, placed his hand in his hip and made himself as girly as he could "OMG!!! meet that like.. so handsome.. like bartenderowner!!! YOLO!!!" he smirked as he saw he expression on Allegra's face and that of the other patrons. A few of them laughed and nodded in agreement.

As he came to stand by her again, he leaned back against the bar. "That, or they want to get drunk before they go to the clubs." He shook his head and poured himself a glass of the same Whiskey and took a small sip. "So, strange girl. Did you come to see the handsome bartender.. which I have to inform you is not working tonight." He looked at Ian that started laughing. It seems to know that he knew who the other bartender was "Or do you want to get drunk like all those other brainless girls"

[Natora]

A small laugh escaped her lips when he imitated what most young women acted like nowadays. It wasn't that far off from the truth but he needed a higher pitched voice for it. What he had now was much too sultry for it to be from a young girl that was just trying to hook up. After another small sip, copying his movement, and a smirk for his final conclusion, she answered him. "Well, you make a few very ridiculous assumptions when you speak of what girls do. First, you assume that all a girl wants is either sex or to get drunk. Not all girls are so shallow and you should be grateful.

"Second, you must be assured that even if the handsome bartender isn't working tonight, there is a very, very good looking one that is taking care of your patrons anyways. Thirdly, you're assuming that I'm a nice girl," she said with a look of invitation towards him. "Lastly, I am neither looking for sex or for inebriation. I am simply looking to relax and get rid of all my worries from the work week," she said to him. "Is there a problem with that?"

As she finished her question, Brandon walked up to the bar, leaning on it on the opposite side of Allegra from the bartender. "Hey. Would you mind grabbing my buddies and I some beers? Whatever's the best ya got. Thanks, man," he said with a nod and went back to sit at the table he was at with the others. Allegra tried to hide the sigh that overtook her. The only reason he had come up and ordered now was because her and the man who wasn't behind the bar anymore were having a decent conversation.

[Dark Pigeon]

" wow wow wow! I'm not saying anything about sex." he said and dramatically raised is hands up in the air. He looked at Ian who had his head turned to watch and listen to the two talk "Did I say sex Ian?" Vincent asked and the man shook his head "nope.. she started to mention it" he said and drank some of his beer and turned his face to look at the bottle standing across the bar. "Now, calm down your ovaries, women like to watch handsome bartenders as much as the next men likes to look at pretty girls" he said and lowered his hands and leaned against the back of the bar. He laughed at the mentioning of the handsome bartender that was working that evening and fixed his hair "well, I do my best" he mused and crossed his arms cross his chest and smiled at Allegra.

"So what kind of worries does a fine girl like you have? " he finally asked and saw the man in the back discussing something for a brief moment before the younger one got on his feet. "I have no problem with that, and we do need to discuss when you are coming back for your whiskey lessons" He said and smiled at her.

As Brandon came to stand next to her he could see the slightest of irritation in her eyes and it made him chuckle "sure, coming right up" Vincent said and watched the man leave. He started to pour the beer for the man, truly giving them the finest he had in the house and came to stand by Allegra as he put it in a tray "Nice guard dogs ya got sweets" He whispered and picked up the tray and walked towards the table to serve the man their beers.

[Natora]

"Their bark is worse than their bite," she said quietly to him so they wouldn't be overheard. She let him go to give the beers to the men but really hoped that they wouldn't scare him off too quickly. It happened all too often.

Allegra knew how Brandon was feeling. He was always this way and it agitated her something fierce. He was being overprotective and showing that he was the man to get through if the barman wanted a piece of her. The irritation was plainly in his eyes even if he wasn't showing it any other way. The other men knew his reactions and when the bartender came by with the beers, they said, "Thanks," tossing him a twenty and dismissing him quickly before Brandon could get too many words in. But Brandon wasn't to be deterred. "Just serve her her drinks and leave her alone. We clear?" he asked, his voice deep and threatening though his face hadn't changed in the slightest.

Allegra was sitting at the bar, not paying attention to them, keeping to herself, as she sipped on her drink, loving each moment of the delicious liquid sliding down. It truly was quite nice and a lesson on whiskey wouldn't be turned down quickly. As long as the men didn't scare him off. She took out her business card with her name and number stating where she worked, The Olypian Hotel. It was a very chic place that she ran for her father and she had been considering adding something more for a while. Maybe a place with good whiskey might be in order. She could maybe be closer to this gorgeous man more often that way.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smiled politely and took the twenty, and pushed into his pocket. He glanced at Brandon as he kept the tray balanced on his hand, and did not seemed that much impressed with the man "Ya not gonna tell me what to do in my own bar mate. If she wants me to leave her alone I will. I aint gonna listen to her guards mate. You just enjoy your beer. She's safe.. don't ya worry" he said with a voice as sweet as honey and could see Ian turn around in his seat in the corner of his eyes. The large man snorted as he kept his eyes on the man and Vincent. Making sure everything was going just fine.

If anyone would be a guard dog in this bar it would be Ian. He was build like a brick wall and was called 'the bull' for a reason. Despite is looks he was a gentle giant, and came for a drink every single night for some years now. He and Vincent were good friends, and they always watched each others back. He wanted to stand up but as Vincent gestured him that everything was fine he sat down and snorted once again. Nobody here was allowed to threaten anyone, he was know to break arms of man that would bring trouble. And he would protect every single women that came into the bar.

Vincent smiled friendly and turned his back to the man, showing them he was not all to worried about them and walked back to the bar. He put the Tray down and took out the money he had earned the last hour and put it in the cash register. As he walked back to his glass of whiskey he smiled at Allegra and came to keep her company again. "Nice dogs ya got, bit overprotective." he mused as he could see the anger in Brandon's eyes and how his mates tried to keep him from lashing out. Ian still had himself turned towards them, smiling politely as the looked at them.

[Natora]

Allegra laughed gently at his observation. Two of the men back there were "a bit overprotective". The other was just down right smothering. With a small smile she shook her head. "They're just jumpy because if I don't go home happy then one of them gets fired," she said with a small shrug. "We can ignore them if you want. Pretend they're not here. Might make things go more smoothly," she told him.

She toyed with her business card in her hand and asked, "So when should I come back for my lesson?" She picked up the glass of whiskey that was nearly gone now. Almost finishing it, she put the glass back down between them but leaned closer to him, giving him a decent view of her cleavage. Of course she was flirting with him. Why wouldn't she? He was absolutely charming and hadn't ran a mile when threatened by the bully dogs. It was an absolute treat for now. Just to bug him, she added, "Or do you offer all the ladies a taste test of all the finest whiskeys?" she asked him curiously.

Brandon was fuming behind her and saw that her glass was nearly empty. Wanting to stop her from leaning to close to the Irish pig that was serving them, he sent her a text message. Your glass is almost empty. We're ready to go after. The phone range next to Allegra's elbow and she looked down momentarily. A smirk crossed her lips before she looked back up at the man leaning close to her. "And when does your lovely establishment close for the night?"

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smirked "Ill remember to keep you smiling then. Don't want to see those lovely pooches getting fired" he mused as he leaned closer. "well, we could start a lesson tonight. Or if you like tomorrow around 4. Ill make you a nice diner with it." he said and enjoyed the angry faces of the guard-dogs behind her. He could see she liked to teas them and he did not mind helping her along. As she came to lean over the bar, showing him her perfect bosom his smile got even wider "Ow should all those girls coming upstairs to taste some whiskey" he mused and looked at her breasts for a moment, knowing it would make the man behind her jump out of their seats. "But non of them seems to enjoy its taste like you do. I should show you the price bottles I have. I don't serve them down here.. well.. only on very special days" he said softly and brushed a stray hair behind her ear.

As the phone went he looked at it as well and his smile only grew bigger. As a bartender he was a champion of it came to reading messages upside down. Despite his hatred for mobile phone's. "when ever I want. Its my bar, I make the rules" he said and showed her his price smile.

[Natora]

Her skin tingled when he brushed the hair behind her ear, leaving the delicious feeling in its wake. His stunning eyes had only left hers for a moment when they went after the beautiful orbs she was flaunting at him. She wasn't entirely sure if he was just playing along or if he really wanted to flirt back at her. She was not only teasing the men behind her but her intentions with the one in front of her were purely curious. Would he even want to bite if knew the truth? Most never stuck around long enough to actually find out. "Well," she started but looked down at her hands. "Dinner tomorrow night would be lovely but you wouldn't be able to mention it again tonight. And if you don't at least fake that I rejected you they'll never let me far enough out of their sight that I could sneak out to come," she said before looking back up at him.

Now was the true test. Sure tomorrow night would be fun but what fun would it be if he wasn't really interested in him. Her eyes studied his own as if trying to see if he really actually wanted her to be a part of his fun and excitement or if he was merely doing this to entertain himself momentarily. She picked up the glass and finished the whiskey in it before standing up from her seat. "If you want to have some real fun, then close shop and come by The Office. We can see if you can dance half as well as you pour," she said, naming a club that she enjoyed going to. "If you get there soon enough, I might be able to help get you in ahead of the line," she added with a small smirk. She subtly slid her business card across to him before turning to leave.

Brandon looked only all too relieved that she had stood from the stool and looked ready to go. He watched the barman carefully, making sure that him lip reading the bastard asking Allegra on a date was not justified. As soon as Allegra walked by him, he stood as the others did and followed her closely out before going to the car and driving her to the club she wanted to go to.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent was very much amused with the girl and took her business card as she walked out of the door, followed by her shadows. Ian shook his head, he had seen that look before "Oi can take over de boozer if yer want ter folly dat cuttie. jist don't try ter break dohs dog's bones." he said in his best English. Vincent shrugged and seemed to think it over, he did not think much of clubs. But it could be a nice evening out for a change. "Oi don't nu, dohs dawgs might gie me a call ter. oi allerge dare smug faces. someone shud gie dem a few lessons in soshal etiquete" Vincent said as he finished his whiskey.

As he looked around his bar he figured he would give it a hour before deciding. He chatted with is friends in thick Irish accents and drank some more whiskey before he took Ian's offer. "Yer guard de boozer for me bull, shuk go clap bibe aboyt sum wiskey." he said and walked to the back of the bar and took the stairs up to his living room. At least he wanted to change his clothing, but as a he was to lazy.. nor did he ever cared about what he was wearing he decided on a old tshirt of a Whiskey brand and fixed his hair before the mirror before he headed down. Whistling a happy tune as he went trough the bar and could see his friends staring at him. "Keep yisser eyes on yisser drinks. oi deserve a nice evenin' wi' bibe loike any other paddy" He joked and walked out of the door.

It took him a half a hour by cab to finally get the club. As he paid the cabby he walked towards the entrance and wondered what to do next. At least he could just boldly go to the entrance, and try to get in that way. But instead he made it himself lazily easy and he picked out his phone, and Allegra's card and finally got to find out what her name was. He smiled as he dialed the number and waited for her to pick up the phone.

[Natora]

The bar inside was a loud mess. There were drunk and crazy people moving ridiculously to the dance moves but in the VIP section there was a separate dance floor. It was smaller and more contained to people that were just trying to have a good time. No one here was overly drunk or crazy but they were all having fun just the same. Allegra was one of the ones on the dance floor. She had no inhibitions but was mostly dancing with herself. The guards wouldn't let anyone get too near and she didn't want to dance with the guards.

When her phone rang, the music of the chimes couldn't be heard above the music but the vibrations she felt at her hip alerted her to the phone. With a small start, she walked off the dance floor quickly and answered the phone. "Hello?" she shouted, covering her other ear to try and drown out the music. She didn't recognize the number but people that were calling for business didn't normally call this late or on weekends. Even if they were, she could easily say she was auditioning djs for a new event they were hosting.

Out of habit she started walking towards the door, the guards following quickly after. She shook her head at them and they held back but still kept close eyes on her. Brandon followed as she went farther from the VIP area but still gave her a decently wide berth.

[Dark Pigeon]

As the phone rang he looked around him, he did not like clubs like this. To loud, to messy.. no space to have a nice conversation and learn to know people. As Allegra finally picked up he could hear the loud noises "'owaya las, its me vincent. from de boozer? oi'm outside." he said in a thick Irish accent. "Yer towl me ter gie yer a call, cum ter de club. well, scon are 'ere." he could see a few girls smiling and waving at him and he greeted them back as he passed up and down the street by the entrance of the club.

But with the loud noises he could barely make himself understandable for Allegra, that and his accent made it all the harder. But as he walked passed the bouncer he saw the man gesturing him to come over. As a gentle man he was he told Allegra to hold on a few seconds and saw that the door opened for him. Without to much struggle he was allowed in. It seemed that looks DID matter in a world like this. "Oi'm inside, wha chucker yer want ter meet up?" he almost yelled into his old phone as he seemed already irritated by the noises surrounding him.

[Natora]

Allegra smiled when she heard it was him. Now to find out his motive. She had left a fairly detailed description of him for the man at the door to let him in ahead of the others. Without saying so much as a word on the phone, she hung up and made her way towards the door. When she saw him, she snuck up to him and took his hand. "Come on," she said, leaning close to his ear. "Or the guard dogs might get ya," she teased softly. She wondered why his accent had gotten so much thicker in the time that they had met but it really didn't matter. Any man with an accent was always sexier than a man without one.

She started pulling him towards the VIP section with the ever present eye of Brandon and the others on her. It was an interesting life but it was worth it. The privileges she had outnumbered the hindrances greatly. Pulling him through the crowd, intent on not letting his hand leave her soft and gentle but firm one, they finally made it up to the VIP section that was a little quieter with the private dance floor and bar. Once they were there, she smirked as she looked at him. "Took you long enough."

[Dark Pigeon]

As he got dragged trough the club he wondered why the hell he was there. He did not like these 'kind' of people, the music or the way moved like proper idiots on the dance floor. But has he followed the girl he had just met an hour ago he kept wondering where she was taking him.

As they walked into the private area he looked around. "Well, I had to get myself dressed in this fancy outfit now did I" Vincent said, his accent nearly gone. He was used to talk proper English since he could help more costumers that way. "had to ignore my hair, put on a other shirt and at least look at the mirror once. And I could not just leave my boozer now could I?" he said as he took up the scenery and smiled. He liked this private area much more than the part they had run trough. He could see that this Allegra girl was someone that did like these kind of places, she was much younger than him, he estimated the age difference being somewhere between eight or ten years. But it did not matter to him. He liked the challenge, and he could use a night away from his bar.

Seeing the bar in the more private area he smiled, it was something that got his attention immediately. He loved his line of work. At least the bartending one, and he wondered what kind of bottles were behind this one. But he did not want to seem rude and sniff between the bottles for some good whiskey's or other fancy drinks. Instead he stood there, feeling a bit awkward as he was not used being on the other side of a bar. "

[Natora]

Allegra smiled at him when he said that he had to get ready for her and get his bar taken care of. At least he had a sense of responsibility. He seemed a little bit older than her but not by enough to be concerned about. Older men were more attractive by far. They had everything put together and Allegra loved that in a man. When she was about to pull him out to the dance floor, she smiled as she noticed that he was paying more attention to the bar than her at the moment.

She leaned over to him and laughed gently, sounding like beautiful chimes in the wind. "Go get a drink. Tell them you want the best whiskey in the house and put it on my tab. You can tell what I'm used to so when I come taste tomorrow you know how much of a change I'm in for," she said with a smirk and a wink. "Then come dance with me." With that, she pulled away from him and slid back onto the dance floor for the heart pumpin' beats of Cascada as it mixed its way into the dj's playlist. This was what she liked to do. She loved to dance. You could see it with her as she moved as if she didn't know a soul was watching.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent was glad that he did not have to show his moves on the dance floor. He was not a good dancer and would pretty much look like bambi on ice. Realizing that he did not want to show Allegra this weak side about himself he decided that he would sit by the bar and just watch her dance instead.

He smiled as he walked towards the bar and looked at all the bottles that were displayed. He nodded, feeling that this club had a very decent collection and looked at the bartender that came to stand by him. He seemed to lighten up as he decided which one he wanted and looked towards the whiskey "Ill have the Glenglassaugh 41 Year Old, and please.. don't insult it by putting ice in there" he said as the bartender looked behind him and back at Vincent. "That is a very expansive whiskey sir. We all want a nice things, but not everyone can pay such a delicate price" The man on the other side mused, trying to sound as professional as possible "I could recommend a cheaper brand if you wish.. something more in your.. price range?"

Vincent's ears were bussing. Did that man just insult him? He looked at his clothes and back at the bartender and smiled sweetly "You listen to me lad, you give me that nice glass of whiskey, in the best glass you can find, and you better pour it generously. Or Ill climb over this here bar and whoop your ass until you will shit trough your mouth for a month" he said friendly and smiled as he looked at the man. "And no ice, please" He looked at the bartender with a wide smile as they just became the best of friends.

The bartender looked at Vincent and could see that behind the smile, this man mend every single word. And decided that he did not want to get into a fight with him. He did as asked, poured the whiskey generously in the best glass he could find, and placed it on the bar before Vincent. "I believe the wonderful lady called Allegra is buying" He said and smelled the whiskey, knowing exactly how expansive that bottle was that the whiskey came from. And how much this glass would cost him. Vincent ignored the look on the bartenders face and turned around to look at the dancing Allegra and took his very first sip of a whiskey he never tasted before.

[Natora]

Allegra danced for only one more song before she retired herself from the dance floor and made her way over to the bar where she saw Vincent standing. It was no fun to dance on your own when someone joined you at the club. The guards never counted and the only one that she ever danced with from time to time was Brandon. Even then, though, it wasn't very often. When she walked up to her new friend, she smiled. "Did they give you the best they had to offer?" she asked with a smirk. The music was at a level up here where all you needed to do was raise your voice and lean a little closer. There was no need to yell in people's ears.

She took his hand and pulled him from the bar, leading him to her booth that was always reserved for her. There were rare times when it wasn't but she simply went to the next booth over. She wasn't her father and people didn't lose their heads when she didn't get her way. "Just so you know, if you ever call or text me, everything on my phone is monitored and recorded. My father has a bit of an... over protective streak you could call it."

As soon as she said that, Brandon walked up to the table and looked down at Allegra's new play toy. He was way too old for her. She was smarter and hotter than this punk. He narrowed his eyes and looked down at him. "Do you know a man named Aedan MacAteer?" he asked, naming a man in the Irish mob and waiting for some sliver of recognition. Her father had heard the call and wanted to know if this scumbag had anything to do with them before he spent more time with his Allegra.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent kept watching Allegra dance until she came back. He enjoyed watching her while drinking his whiskey and would considerer this a pretty nice evening already. She knew how to use her body and she looked happy as soon as she was moving around on the beats of the music. He chuckled as he liked to see such a free-spirited woman and took a sip of his whiskey. As she stood by him he nodded and gestured at the bartender "he needed some persuasion but he finally got the idea, he has been a good man. Gave me a nice generous glass full" he said as he held it up in the air and smiled at the man. The bartender smiled and quickly went back to pouring drinks for the thirsty.Now he knew Vincent was with Allegra, and he refused the man his drink in the first place. He worried about loosing his job.

Vincent got dragged, its seemed that this girl like dragging people around and he found it very entertaining. He held his glass save, and was surprised about how strong the smaller girl was. She easily dragged him passed the dance floor while her entire presence almost pushed people aside. As they reached her table, and the nice soft couch he sat down and let out a sigh of relieve. He took a sip of his Whiskey and looked at Allegra while she explained to him her fathers overprotective nature

"That's quite alright lass, cant be to careful with ya daughters these days. I bet he heard me calling ya earlier than. His pretty girl with some irish lad." he mused and chuckled at the idea of an angry over protective father. As watched Brandon come closer he placed his glass on the table before him and sat himself comfortably in the couch, while his arm went around Allegra. He could not help but to smile at the man, Brandon was just trying to hard to look protective of the girl. And Vincent would not be himself if he was not toying around with angry men.

As soon as he asked about Aedan MacAteer he frowned and tried to remember who he was. "He a friend of yours?" asked as he looked at Brandon, not showing any sign of knowing the man he was asking about. "Ya should know mate, we Irish don't really know each other." He said with a slight mocking voice as he looked at Brandon and held Allegra closer "Don't ya worry mate. Get yourself a drink and relax"

He wondered why the man asked, why would some bodyguard ask about Aedan MacArteer he wondered. Though he did not show it, he did know the man perfectly well. Everyone in his circles did, the bar was just a front for the work he really did. The one that got him the cash in the first place to buy the bar and getting it into the shape it was now. If these people wanted to know about Aedan it could only mean a few things. A: Daddy really was overprotective and wanted to make sure Vincent did not have any ties with the Irish mafia or B: Daddy had some bad connections himself and did not want anyone remotely connected to Aedan close to his daughter.

[Natora]

Allegra near glared to Brandon as he seemed to want to press on with the idea if only to distract the "evil Irishman" from her for a moment longer. She knew this game. She knew it well. Without another thought, as Vincent wrapped his arm around her, she cuddled close to him, mostly to irk Brandon. She knew he was much too protective and had to loosen up. He had to let some things be sometimes. In any case, Vincent was a decent man and quite fun to snuggle up to.

"So no knowledge of that guy, eh? What about-" Brandon was about to start naming lesser and lesser villains in their mafia just to see if there was even one person that he could report something horrible back to the boss.

"He doesn't know him, Brandon. Get over it and go away," Allegra cut him off. She leaned forward and held the glass of whiskey that Vincent had ordered before putting herself back into his embrace. Taking a small sip, she smiled. "It really is quite good," she said looking over at Vincent and now ignoring Brandon. There was too much protection as far as she was concerned. She knew what her father did, of course. She would have to be totally blind, deaf, and dumb to not know what went on behind closed doors that got them most of their money. Still, this feud would have to end sometime, she figured. Why couldn't she have some fun with an Irishman for a night?

"So the pub does well for you even when you kill people's phones in the middle of them ordering, does it?" she asked with a small smirk, quite enjoying his little rule that they had.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent could only laugh at all the names Brandon came up with. Vincent knew almost all of the men and women Brandon came up with, some only by name. Few of them he had met, though he kept himself very good out of the spotlight. The man he worked with did not want the world to know about him, you never know when you want a sleeper to go active. And such a sleeper was Vincent. He was only called upon if something had to be done that they could not be connected to.d Those things pretty much always were killing competition, cops who came to close or 'family' that started to talk. But he knew how to play this game pretty well himself and kept shaking his head and asking Brandon if he had something against the Irish.

As Allegra pushed Brandon off he felt like he could relax a bit more. Not that he was scared of Brandon in any sort of way, but the questions he was asking where a bit uncomforting. Brandon was not to bright asking them as well, he was giving away enough of information for Vincent to know that Brandon was not a clean man. And had to be connected to a family himself. He knew a bit to many names, and that only made Vincent suspect that this girl was someone important, and that made Vincent eager to learn to know this girl. He knew that he just had hit the jackpot and smiled as Allegra tasted his Whiskey. "I know what I order, you can pay rent with the amount of money that bottle cost" he mused and took back his Whiskey and gave her a cheeky look "I'm not in a sharing mode, its not every day I get to drink a whiskey like this" he joked and took a sip himself and smiled as he tasted the rich flavor.

"I got the best Irish pub in the Bronx, its doing quite good. Despite the killing of phones, I just hate it when people order and are on the phone at the same time. Since I have that rule most of them think twice before coming towards the bar. I want people to connect, to talk to each other. Not playing with their phones while they are sitting in a bar." He handed her his glass whiskey so she could take an other sip

[Natora]

Allegra waited until Brandon left before she took another sip of his whiskey. She was starting to feel the effects of alcohol, having drank a few between getting to the club and Vincent showing up. After a decent sip, she handed him the glass back. "It depends on where you rent. It wouldn't quite pay for something that my father would approve of," she said with a small smirk.

With Brandon and the others out of ear shot with the music blaring, she leaned very close to his ear, turning so that she was speaking more towards the couch so the others wouldn't be able to read her lips. "If you want me to come tomorrow night at 4, we're going to have to meet somewhere that isn't at your bar. If we go there, they will find us," she said as quietly as she could while still being heard over the pulsing beats of the music.

Brandon watched from a distance, still not liking this new Vincent character. He called his boss back to inform him of his findings. "He's denying everything but he knows something that he's not telling us," he warned the boss before a brief conversation before hanging up. Shortly after they finished, Allegra would see her phone buzz on the table with a new text message from her father. Come home soon. With a great sigh, she shook her head and looked back at Vincent, waiting for his decision.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent looked at her as she turned around so she could talk to him in private. It was all to clear she really wanted to meet up with him the day after, and he smiled as she started to tell him that she wanted to meet up indeed. He listened careful to what she had to say and nodded. He took a sip of his whiskey and could see the phone message as well and smirked "one protective dad ya got there lass. Girl like you should be a bit more free.. Lets see" he thought for a moment what a good meeting point would be and came up with something. He held the glass of Whiskey against his lips so Brandon nor the other man could see what he was saying.

"There is this nice Sushi restaurant in the Bronx, Kiraku Sushi? its at Williamsbridge Rd. We can meet there, if you like sushi Ill get us a reservation, if you don't like it.. I can cook ya something in the bar" He took a sip and looked at Brandon with great amusement. The man was scowling, angry that he could not see what those two where up to "You just make sure you get ride of your dogs, they don't seem to like me"

[Natora]

Allegra shrugged when he mentioned sushi. It wasn't her favourite dish but she would eat it if she had to. She looked down to her lap and then over to him slightly. "Don't try and get out of making me dinner. You offered me home made and nothing will beat out homemade but if we go to your bar, they will find us there. You'll have to do better than that if you want me to come by," she challenged him. "But we could meet there anyways. It's as good a place as any," she added.

As a new song started, she started dancing in the seat, enjoying the beat and rhythm. Standing up, she took his hands, intending, quite obviously, to take him onto the dance floor and start dancing with him. "Come on. It will be even harder for them to understand what's going on," she tried to convince him. She wanted to be doing something fun and dancing was always enjoyable.

[Dark Pigeon]

"haha, you remembered that huh? Are you sure you want an Irish man cooking for ya? Well ... Okay, Ill think of something better. I might have an idea" he said as he put down his Whiskey and let Allegra drag him to the dance floor. He would rather have stayed on the couch, but you could not refuse a woman if she wanted to dance with you. He grinned as he followed her as he looked at Brandon and saluted the man as they passed him. He liked messing with Brandon, but only because he was trying so hard.

As they walked to the dance floor his mind came with a few options, he could cook her something at a friends house, in that of his dad... but should he really bring he there? Not that his dad was a bad man, just the opposed but he was extremely blunt and in your face. And would she be able to understand a word the man said? Their was a reason why Vincent taught himself to talk proper English, more costumers could understand you, and that would mean more costumers. He only talked with his accent if he was alone or with friends.

As the stood on the dance floor, and Allegra started to dance he did his best to look the part. But that he did not have any feeling for it clearly showed. But as he saw more men on the floor he decided to copy their moves.. which only made it one big mess of no-sense movements, copied and not to the beat or just plain weird. As he saw Allegra's reaction to it he smiled and shrugged "Hey! its why I am the bartender.. no dancing??" He joked and started to dance weirder just because he could and laughed at his own inability to move with the rhythm.

[Natora]

Brandon audibly growled as they raced past him onto the dance floor. It produced a small and beautiful laugh from Allegra and she was just excited to be on the dance floor again. When she saw his movements, it made sense that he was the bartender. She refused to laugh but the amused smile on her face could not be denied. As he started to dance more and more erratically, she chose to save him just a little bit. She sauntered so she was standing right up to him and showed his arms where to hold her so they were in the right place for them to salsa together. It was the quickest ballroom dance to teach someone and if she counted the beat for him, he would be able to do it.

"Just follow me and repeat it," she told him easily. She had him dancing to the beat with the rest of them in no time. Leaning in, she called, "If you stop bugging Brandon I can stay longer," she warned him after they had been dancing a bit. She knew that men liked to have "pissing contests" and see who the more determined one was. But at the same time, if she was allowed to stay longer all was better. She couldn't deny them if they simply told her it was time to go. One of the downfalls to having guard dogs that answered to your father instead of yourself, she supposed.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent let Allegra lead him into dance, and soon he was dancing far better than he ever did before in his life. He looked at Brandon and winked just to annoy the man. It was just to easy.. so .. so easy. But as Allegra caught in the act he playfully pouted and than nodded "okay lass, Ill let him be. Poor man will have a stroke before the end of the night" he mused as he moved to the beat of the music. He liked dancing just a tag more now he was doing it kind of right, but it still was not his favorite thing to pas the time with. As they danced for one song more he took the lead and took Allegra back to their seats. "So, tell me little miss. Why the guard dogs and the ever watch-full eye of your dad. I know over protective parents. But this is taking it to a new level." he said as he picked up his glass of Whiskey and took a sip, after which he offered it to Allegra.

He could see Brandon coming over again, his face flustered with anger as he came to stand by them. Vincent got on his feet and looked at the man. Brandon was just a tag smaller than Vincent and Vincent clearly showed that he was content with his hight. "Say man, Im sorry for giving ya such a harsh time. Why don't ya get a drink.. Ill pay. And next time when ya in my bar Ill give ya the best damn ale you can get mate. On the house" he mused and smiled friendly towards Brandon "And don't ya worry 'bout this lass, I am as decent as they come.. Won't hurt a hair on her head lad. Just relax"

[Natora]

To her slight dismay, Allegra followed him back to the seat she had claimed many years ago. She followed anyways and sat beside him. At the offer of a drink, she denied it for the first time tonight. Before she got a chance to even think up a decent lie of an answer, Brandon was back on top of them. He really was getting quite frustrating tonight, almost unbearable. With a deep sigh, Allegra let her rather attractive new friend stand and face Brandon. His tactic, though, was not anticipated and left her with a surprised look on her face.

Brandon, on the other hand, was not amused. He gave Vincent a smile of contempt and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, mate," he started, mocking Vincent's accent. "You won't need to pay me back," he finished. With that, he looked past the bastard that had been irritating him all night and looked to Allegra. "We're going. Now," he said with an authority that he was glad he had. The look that Allegra returned to him, though, made him realize how unhappy she was that they had to leave.

Nonetheless, she knew that tone and knew where the order was coming from. Grabbing her purse and phone, she walked by Vincent, kissing his cheek softly and saying, "Until next time." With that, she was forced to follow the other three out of the club. "You didn't have to be such an ass, Brandon," she said once they were out in the night air.

"Sorry, darling. Your father pays me to be an ass, just like the rest of us," he said to her simply as they walked towards the car.

[Dark Pigeon]

Yup, he hated Brandon. He made a mental note to spit in his drinks from now on, and sell him the cheapest shit for high prices. Or if he ever got so lucky, shot him a few times where he would not die from it instantly and watch the man suffer until he would finally die. He sat back down as Allegra left with her dogs and stayed in the club for an other hour before he finished his Whiskey.

As he walked outside and headed to the subway station so he could return home he took out the business card that Allegra had given him. He had only looked at her first name and the phone-number but now he needed to know who she was. When he saw her last name he grinned from ear to ear. It this was the daughter of
'the' Brambati he was thinking of he could earn himself a shit-load of money. No men alive was able to get close enough to him to kill him, not after what happened to his wife at least. Vincent never knew they had a daughter, but now he did.. he saw his way in. He could use her, yes it could take months maybe years before he could finally take out the number one competitor to the people he would sometimes work for.

It took an small hour before he was back at the bar. He saw how Ian finished up cleaning before he would head back home himself. Vincent opened the door and got greeted by his friend who gestured to the back door "Yer 'av visitors upstairs. they want ter blather ter yer aboyt dat lassy yer met the-nite" he said as Vincent went behind the bar and poured himself an other whiskey "Damn, bars travels fast dees days. who started blatherin' anyway?" he asked as he took his first sip. Ian frowned and leaned against the bar. "De walls 'av eyes mucker, they wha in 'ere only two 'ours after yer lef. if de lassy if a grease barl cums in yisser boozer yer better be sure they nu aboyt it" Vincent shrugged and walked tot he back of the bar and took the stairs to his living quarters that where right above it.

"Dare yer ye 'orny langer! gettin' friendly wi' a spagetti-slurper ye?!" The man that had been waiting for hours, and had spend most of his time digging trough Vincents Netflix account came towards him and patted him harsh on his shoulders. He was a true Irish man, thick bush of red curls and blue eyes and somewhere in his 30's just like Vincent. Vincent smiled as he saw his old friend from church and patted the man firmly back "Dat lassy 'oofed roi into me 'ands, bottle av water av de biggest guiney pig yer ever seen! boyt ye david, oi 'enny seen yer in donkey's years" Both man sat down at the table and seemed glad to see each other again. "Yer man still wants yer into de family paddy. best Oirish langer in new york! oi bet yer nu why scon are 'ere. yer figured oyt who dat italian wagon is?"

[Natora]

Allegra near pouted the whole way home. They were leaving about two hours sooner than what she was used to. She knew what it was. They were worried about her new Irish friend. But she wasn't. She liked to think that she could tell a good person from a bad one and she was pretty positive he was a good one. He had the dreamy eyes and the sophistication of someone matured by time. He was so attractive. In every way. She couldn't wait until the next day.

But she still had to get through the night first. And at the moment she was not going to make it through easily. As they arrived at the house, Brandon got out quickly after Allegra and said, "Your father wants to speak to you."

"Of course he does," she said snarkily before walking back into the house and going straight to her father's office. She didn't knock this time. It was too late for him to be talking to someone else. "He was perfectly safe. I wasn't in any danger!" she argued with him without giving him a chance to say a word. Just as he opened his mouth to talk, she continued, "If I only get one night out a week, I'm not all that tickled fancy when an innocent man has the ability to make me come home early then is it really worth going out in the first place?" she demanded. She was upset, that was easy enough to see.

Her father sighed and shook his head gently. "My dear, Brandon didn't think he was quite as innocent as he seemed. If you want to, you could go out again. Just go somewhere different," he tried to persuade her gently. He was always wanting to keep his daughter happy but safe was slightly more important to him that happy. "My sweet, please. The Irish are always trying to sneaky about getting into Italian territory. You have to pardon me for being a little more protective than normal with Irishmen," he said to her. Allegra rolled her eyes and shook her head. She was about to turn to leave when her father added, "You're not to see him again, Allegra," in a warning voice that he reserved for when he was being truly serious.

Allegra turned back at him wide eyed. "Because an overprotective guard who was being irritated the whole night doesn't like him?!" she demanded. "That is ridiculous! I can't even-" she started but her father held up a hand to silence her. Frustrated and angry, she turned away and walked out, going to their small personal dance studio (in the house) to dance for a while as she listened to music loudly enough to drown everyone out.

***********The Next Day*****************

Allegra "enjoyed" her Sunday morning and afternoon as she always did by going to church with her father and then lunch with him at one of his restaurants. She said very little the morning, though. She was still upset about the night before but was slowly starting to get over it. She wanted to move on but she was still pissed off that her father and over-protective guard had gotten too carried away. For the afternoon, she read and swam in their swimming pool at home before going to her room to relax on her own for a bit...or so she said.

She changed into some jeans and a nice black t-shirt with short flowing sleeves. After carrying her heels in her hand and a fancy Coach purse next to them, she looked out the window of her bedroom. The gardeners were long gone now and there was no one along the side of the house. After opening the window, she slowly snuck out and fell onto the soft grass beneath her. Tip-toing around the side of the house and onto the sidewalk, she started walking quickly out of reach of her house. She was a block away when she saw the first free taxi. Hailing a taxi had never been a problem for the Italian bombshell. Once the driver had the address, she started to relax into the seat again.

Her phone left at home and all other tracers she knew about and she was finally on her own for once in a while. She had a brief and impersonal conversation with the cab driver as they went on their way to the Sushi place. She checked the clock as they arrived. She was there at exactly 4:03pm, at the sushi restaurant she was told to meet him at. With a small and excited smirk, she climbed out of the cab and stepped into the busy street.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent woke up late that Sunday, he fell asleep a couple of time not wanting to get out and stayed in his bed reading a book for a few hours before he got out. He cleaned a bit in his bar kept himself from drinking any alcohol with costumers and left the bar in the hands of his father. Who was the other 'handsome bartender' in Vincent's bar. The old man made him promise not to have sex in his bed before he waved his only son goodbye.

It was only 2:00 when he got out, but since he had decided that he was going to cook he needed some fresh ingredients. He checked if he had the keys of his fathers house and his old run down car and finally drove of to do some shopping. He was glad he could use the car, he did not own one himself. It was just to expansive and his bar was having a hard time to keep afloat. As he shopped for the ingredients needed, he decided that getting a movie to watch was the second thing on his list. He did not know what she wanted to do, but if they wanted to keep hidden.. his fathers place was the best option.

As he drove trough the traffic of New-Yorks Bronx he thought about the conversation he had with David. They wanted Vincent to keep seeing the girl, see how close he could get to her father. They knew that despite the few driving tickets Vincent had, he had a clean sheet by the police and was not associated with any criminals. Such an Irish 'bastard' was rare to come by. And that just made him the perfect killer for the perfect job, or so David said. If Vincent could take out Brambati, they could take his territory. And that mend a shit load of money for Vincent.

Finally he reached the sushi-bar. He stopped the car and shut down the engine. Only five more minutes before 4.00 so he was right on time. He looked at the fresh groceries and smirked, he was a pretty darn good cook, so he could make Allegra one really fine meal. His mother had made sure of that, she found it important that he could cook. You never knew when you had to entertain guests. He even got a nice chewing bone for the captain, his fathers old dog.

As he kept looking around the streets he finally spotted Allegra coming out of the cab. He got out of the car, locked it and with his hands in his pockets he quickly walked towards her. "Hey there lass, I see you made it!" he said and smiled as he looked at her. His ticket to a cash load of money, and a nice seat in the Irish mafia family. He never had to worry about his bar ever again. He gestured to the car and started to walk as the rain softly started to fall. "We can use my dads house, Ill cook you something nice over there. I rented a movie.. so we are going to have a nice evening in the house. Just don't be scared of dogs... real dogs.. not the kind you drag around. I promise you its a good animal"

[Natora]

Allegra looked over as her new friend came up. There was so much buzzing through her mind that she wanted to discuss with him. First thing was first, though. She needed to see if she actually wanted to spend more than just a little bit more time with him. There were incredible opportunities here to spend more than enough time with him. As always, there was a plan forming in her mind to keep the pair decently close together for quite some time. She smiled warmly up at him and then followed his gaze to the car he had gestured to.

The car was...well... much less than she was used to but it would certainly do. Her father and the men would never guess she would be riding in something so...low class. "Perfect. It sounds fun. I haven't really been around dogs much so it will be fun," she agreed. The feeling of the rain falling was kind of nice. It let her get refreshed and ready for the rest of the night. It was going to be fun. After she got in the front passenger's seat of the car, she put her belt on and looked over to him. "So, I've realized that I'm at a disadvantage. You know my name but I never had the pleasure of learning yours last night," she admitted to him. With a slightly embarrassed laugh, she looked over to him. "May I learn it now? I promise not to give it to the guard dogs."

[Dark Pigeon]

He was glad to hear she was not scared of dogs, though captain could be bit of a show off. And pretty demanding of attention, it was a good pet to have around. His father wanted a guard-dog but got stuck with a coward that had a thing for 'the lady's. But his dad kept the pet and he considered it one of his closets friends. "Good to hear, Captain likes lasses so you will have a night with two man all for ya'self" He said as they walked to the car.

Vincent grinned as he saw her looking at his fathers car. It was pretty beaten up and rust was forming all around. But it was still driving and that was more then enough for Vincent and his father. He sat down and started the engine that faithfully started to purr. And he fastened his seatbelt before turning towards Allegra. "My name? Well lass.. I'm Vincent.. Vincent Donovan please to meet you." He stuck out his hand to shake hers and smiled warmly towards her. He turned his car towards the street and they started driving. "And I'm pretty sure ya dogs have it already. I did say my name when I called ya lass. I bet they come lookin for ya in the bar. But them will meet up with one sour ass old Irish bastards.. those poor dogs" He said and turned a corner while he smiled at the idea of his father and those Italian mobsters. If anyone was never EVER impressed by anyone.. it had to be his father.

[Natora]

"Well last night I certainly didn't hear it between the music and the dogs but at least now I'm sure as to what it is," she said gently. With a small sigh she decided to start defending them a little bit. "You know, they're just doing their jobs. Brandon a little too eagerly, I'll admit, but they're still nice guys if you get to know them," she bugged him a little bit as she tried to relax in the car. It was unnerving being in a car so old. She had never done this before in her life unless the car was remodeled. Her father had never been afraid to flaunt his wealth. Half of it came from legal business after all.

"So what will be for dinner?" she asked, trying to change the subject to something more neutral. "I normally do most of the cooking at home so this will be a nice treat," she said. It was true. Sundays were the one day that she didn't cook, though. They always ordered pizza or something easy so that she could at least have one full day off of all of her responsibilities. What good would it do to completely burn her out. She was trying to run one of those legitimate businesses after all.

As her thoughts seemed to keep trailing back to the mystery of the man that was sitting next to her in the vehicle, she found herself growing more and more fond of his looks and quirky accent. "So, how well does your business do exactly? I need to know these sorts of things. They can come in handy."

[Dark Pigeon]

"Ya need to tell him to give me a break, he's been on me skin since ya came into the bar" Vincent said as she started to defend Brandon. "he needs to relax more Lass, let his hair down.. dance a little and just .. I donno.. be less of a Holy Joe." He shook his head as he spoke of Brandon, he clearly did not like the man. "But if ya say he's a good lad, Ill take ya word for it" He smiled at her and turned into a more suburban looking part of New York.

"Gettin' curious are ya? I figure Ill be cheesy and make ya some Irish dishes. We start with a some Seafood Chowder Than some creamy Colcannon mash with roosted lam with rosemary and garlic. And some nice Lemon and salt ice cream. As dessert." He smiled as he spoke of the food, a twinkle in his eyes as he thought of not only making it but eating it as well with some good company... or so he hoped. But more because no woman could ever resist his cooking. And with her wanting him more would mean that he one day would get close enough to her father. As she asked about the bar he just smiled, but the twinkle left. He knew his bar did not always do well, and it had some hard times at the moment. People wanted to go to clubs, or stay at home and drink there. Bars like his where disappearing slowly and he sometimes worried that his would fade away as well. He raised his eyebrow towards her, how could that come in handy? But he shrugged, if she wanted to know.. why not tell her.

"Can do better, but its doing pretty okay. Things been hard for a while but I hope that the summer will bring more costumers. Got this idea of doing some Whiskey tastings.. advising.. that sort of things. Just to broaden my horizon.. get the bar a edge no other has" he said and stopped the car for some traffic lights. He looked at her as the stood still "And you Allegra, what kind of work do you do. You know, I need to know these things.. they can come in handy" he said with a cheeky smile and slowly drove off as the lights turned green.

[Natora]

The dinner sounded interesting. She had never had Irish cooking before so it would be fun to see what it tasted like. She was so used to her Italian style cooking that her mother had shown her when she was still alive. The memory brought a small smile to her face. It had always been fun when they would cook together while her father was working. Coming out of it, she looked back at him as he admitted how his bar was doing. It was interesting. She thought he would have been doing better after what she saw last night. In any case, her mind was continuing to grow with ideas.

Now, though, she had a question she needed to answer. It was about herself so she was sure that it would be okay to answer. "Well, I am the manager for The Olympian. Make sure everything runs well and make sure the high roller customers are always satisfied. In other words, I'm a glorified lap dog," she said with a small laugh. "My father is about to let me take over for one of the other hotels as well though, too so I'll soon be running the chain so he can retire at some point," she said to him with a small smile.

She smiled though as she thought about his ideas to improve the bar. "Whiskey tastings and you could advertise on a huge billboard! Make the whole city know who you are," she told him with a smile. It would be good for them to advertise bigger, she thought. She had literally just gone down the phonebook and chosen one that sounded Irish. As they continued driving, she got more and more nervous but tried not to show it. They were slowly leaving the neutral territory between the Italian and everyone else and getting closer to the Irish.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent frowned at the billboard idea "A billboard? it will be bigger than the bar" he said, not believing that such a thing would do any good. "I was thinking about a web-site, but I am not sure what to advertise with.. just Whiskey? I mean.. will that really get people going to my bar?" He asked as he sounded worried about his 'child'. "I don't need the entire city to know me, just the right people.. get costumers with the right mind set. People who love Whiskey, want to talk about it, share their story's.. drink whiskeys they would not buy themselves." He shrugged a few times, he seemed unsure about how he wanted to handle it. Truth to be told, Vincent did not like getting all the attention of the world. Getting the wrong crowd in his bar would destroy it's 'soul'. But he wanted to discuss this with Allegra, maybe they could put their head together and come up with an idea.

He could see her feeling uneasy as they kept driving "We are almost there, its around the corner" he said as he gestured to a house-block that was still in the neutral area. It took him only then more minutes but as they drove up on the drive-way of the house he smiled and parked the car. They were surrounded by plants and flowers, it seemed that his father had a love affair with is garden. Vincent got out of the car and took out the grocery's and walked up the front door. He could hear 'captain' bark and laughed "Quiet down ya mutt! I got ya bone, don't ya worry" He yelled to the dog and opened the door.

Captain happily wagged his tail as he run towards Allegra. The large Rottweiler jumped happily up and down as he saw the young woman and did everything to make her see him "See, useless guard-dog. He likes lady's just like his master" Vincent said as he came to the rescue "Get ya ass in the house Captain! GO!" he said and watched the dog go back, his tail hanging low in defeat.

The house was old, despite the garden that looked very well maintained the house looked like it could use a decorator. As if they went trough a time machine that scrambled time, the inside looked like a mixture between he 70's 80's and 90's .. and a grand new large LCD tv. Vincent placed his grocery's on the kitchen table and looked at Allegra coming in side. It was a strange sight, seeing such a modern girl in a house as old fashion as this. "My dad, he doesn't like throwing out what it still workin' Sadly to say.. I live like that as well" he said and walked towards her and offered her a seat. "Ya want something to drink Allegra? I got some.. .. juices, some soda's.. we got some tea and coffee."

[Natora]

As they drove up to the house, Allegra felt like she was not only transported back in time but to, perhaps, somewhere in Ireland itself. The richness in the blooms around them blocked out anything that could be seen of the large city around them. With a smile, she pulled herself out of the car and looked around at the beauty that surrounded them. This was something her father never cared much for. He wanted a manicured lawn and that was good enough. She had to go for nature walks to ever see this much natural beauty.

She heard the dog from inside and smiled already. A pet was something else her father never let her indulge in. When Captain came out to greet them, her eyes went wide. He was a much larger dog than she had ever really cared to pay attention to and he had so much energy. She wasn't entirely sure what to do with him. A small laugh escaped her lips as Captain went back inside looking very disappointed. As she followed the men in and looked around, she was quite impressed. She loved that it was all very traditional and not much changed. It was beautiful.

"That's a fantastic way to live," she agreed. She wasn't sure that she could do it herself, everything she had being handed to her on a silver platter and all but it was a good way to do things. "Water would be great while you cook," she said to him with a small smirk. As she stepped further into the house, she saw Captain sitting looking sad that he had been told to go away. With a small laugh, she squatted down and said, "Come here, Captain," to which he happily responded and ran up to her to receive some long awaited scratches and pets. After a few minutes, she stood up and walked to the kitchen to lean on the counter as Vincent cooked. "So do you have any other plans tonight besides entertaining me?"

[Dark Pigeon]

"Thank you for the compliment, my living quarters above the bar looks kind of like this, only far les furniture. My dad still try's to force more into it. Making it look 'homey'. Some water you say? I will get you some " Vincent mused as he walked back to the kitchen and poured her a glass of water. He could hear her call Captain and smiled. He liked people that liked animals and she clearly was not scared of the big beast that was 'the captain'. He placed the glass of water and some juice for himself on kitchen table and started to unpack his groceries. The big meat bone he had bought for Captain he left in the bag, so the animal had something to do while they were eating themselves. Though the dog knew perfectly well that the bone was in that bag and he looked at Vincent with desire and loyalty. Vincent would always bring a big bone as he came to visit is father.

As he started cutting the ingredients like a proper cook he could see Allegra coming back after she gave Captain a well deserved scratching. "My dad called that beast after his boss, the Captain of the 48th Precinct. The oldtimer has been a homicide detective before. He always said that his boss looked like a Rottweiler dog. So when he got one, naturally he had to call it Captain" Vincent said as he looked at the dog, that was slowly slinking towards him. Hoping that he would get the bone. As he worked in the kitchen, putting pots and pans on the stove and placing the lamb in the oven he looked at Allegra again. "emm.. well, first dinner of course and if you like a movie. After that we'll see what we're going do." He said as he turned around and walked to the kitchen table to get a drink from his juice. "ya got any ideas lass? your free for an evening. What would ya like to do"

[Natora]

Allegra listened and enjoyed the story behind how Captain got his name. It seemed rather fitting. He was the one that they doted on, so it seemed. He really was the captain of his own little world. And he was adorable. What kind of good dog wasn't adorable? When he started speaking to her, she came over to the kitchen so she could be closer to him and not have to near shout when she spoke.

"Well I had a little idea but I think we should keep it a surprise. We might have to try that whiskey tasting another night if you still want to see me after tonight," she teased him slightly. "You might not be able to keep up with this young whipper snapper," she teased. "Maybe if you can I'll invite you out again," she added with a coy smirk and accompanying wink. She was leaning on a counter inside the kitchen, opposite the stove, just so she could be as close to him as possible without being in the way.

[Dark Pigeon]

"Keeping a surprise for me are ya?" Vincent said as he was still cutting and preparing the ingredients for their diner. "I like surprises, shame tough about that whiskey tastin', but oi don't mind tryin' it an other time." He tasted a mixture of freshly cut herbs and spiced and smiled as he felt that it was just right. He walked over to Allegra and stood close against her and opened the cabinet next to her legs and took out yet an other pan. He laughed at her as she mentioned him being old. "Oi lass, ya be careful. We Donovan men don't let little young lasses tell us we are old. I can do anything you can" he turned around and walked back to his work station. "We have not even spend one night together and ya already want to spend more?" He looked at her, he seemed to love the idea of meeting her again. And he did, but not for the right reasons.

"I'll love to hang around more. But do we need to keep it all secret like? They will find out, ya cant disrespect ya dad like that to much. He'll only have more reason to keep ya in that golden cage of yours"

[Natora]

Allegra smirked at him as he reached beside her to get another pan. "We have too spent a night together. It just wasn't supervised. And for now, if we don't keep it secret, the only way we will see each other is supervised," she said to him. We should maybe see if it's worth telling anyone first before we actually do. No use if we only want to know each other for a week or so," she said to him with a small shrug. She pulled herself up so she was sitting on the counter now, able to watch him easier.

"So, exactly how old are you? You're not like...forty are you?" she asked curiously. It seemed a little older than what she would have ideally chosen. It was so hard to date anyone with all the people that her father didn't want to have anything to do with. It seemed that if they wouldn't benefit his business in anyway then they weren't good enough for her. She knew that if she really wanted to see someone, though, she could argue with her father enough that he would allow it.

[Dark Pigeon]

As he could hear her speak he had to agree. He had to be patient, he would have her father on the end of his barrel and that man would die because of him. Vincent nodded, it sounded logical what she said, they had to walk around with those Italian bastards behind them, following them like the dogs they were. He concentrated on the cooking for a while and than turned around, walking around the kitchen to set the table. As she asked how old he was, hoping that he was not in his forty's he laughed. "I'm 32 lass, I hope it aint to old for ya?" He placed some plates on the table and walked around the kitchen to get some more supplies. As he stirred a pan he wanted to know a bit more about her. "So, how old are you? And don't give me that 'ya don't ask a lady for her age' crap. I need to know, can come in handy ya know" He joked and placed the forks and knifes on the table.

He wondered what would happen if he took her now, get the old Italian bastard to get out of hiding and show his face. It would be easy now, he could overpower her as easy as making a roasted lamb with rosemary and garlic. But as he thought about it, placing the knifes on the table he knew that to many people had seen her. And they would directly know who took her if he started this. Damn, no.. its a bad idea. He had to be patient... so very patient.

[Natora]

Allegra watched him cook, completely content to do so. When he started setting the table, however, she hopped down, intending to help him. When he asked how old she was, she opened her mouth, fully intending to tell him that he shouldn't ask a lady's age. Well, he had revealed his own and it was rather comforting that he wasn't too much older than she was. "I'm twenty-six. And how can knowing how old someone is come in handy?" she asked, curiously. Just knowing someone's age didn't seem to have too much sway in any way. "I'm past the stage where I like to get drunk and party. I hope that's not too young for you," she teased him.

She reached over the table and took the glass of water he had gotten for her. As she took a small drink, a sound came from her purse sounding like a cell phone ring. She walked over and answered the text message quickly before putting the phone back in her purse. "Don't worry. They don't know about that phone," she told him with a smirk before he would give her crap for having her tracked phone with her.

[Dark Pigeon]

With the table almost set Vincent started to put in the last few ingredients for the first course. He watched as Allegra tried to help and smiled as she talked. "Well, ya gotta be older then 21 to drink in my bar. Oi need to know if you legally can ya see. And what 'bout birthday pie making? and all those wee candles" He said as he started to think of good reasons to know someone's age. "And ya aint to young lass, ya did make me believe you still are one of them party-girls. With the fancy clubs and expansive dressed and the like" He said as he tasted some of his cooking and added a pinch more salt. As he heard the phone ring he looked at her with raised eyebrows. Did she really? He watched her text and placing the phone back where she got it from. "Ya sure they don't know? I did not make enough for a small family gathering. And Captain aint goin' to share his bone"

As he mentioned the dog and the bone Captain started to softly whimper. He had been sitting outside the kitchen. Awaiting his bone. Vincent chuckled and took the bag with the massive bone and walked towards the large dog. "From the butcher Cap' extra meaty" he said and patted the dog gently on its large head. As the dog got on his feet and wagged his tail Vincent gave the large animal his bone and smiled as he watched the dog walk towards his own spot and happily started to munch on his large meaty bone.

After a few minutes the first course was ready. "Ya can sit down lass, first up is Seafood Chowder with some home made bread" he poured the soup and placed a slice of bread by each bowl and placed it on the table. He smiled as he looked at it and sat down himself, his hands folded as he looked at Allegra. "ya mind if I say a prayer lass?" he asked and hoped she would follow his example.

[Natora]

Allegra shook her head when he questioned her about the phone. "Trust me. I've had this one for years. They've never found it," she said gently with a small smirk. "I've stored it many different places," she added with a small laugh of some secret that only she was aware of. Her amusement grew as she watched Captain walk off with his bone, quite happy, it seemed, with the size of it. Perhaps she would bring up getting a pet with her father again. Captain was so wonderfully adorable she almost missed that she didn't have a pet.

When Vincent invited her to sit down at the table with him, she took her place and smelled the delicious chowder that was sitting in front of her. This was going to be a delectable meal. When he folded his hands to say grace, she smiled. "If you didn't I would have. Please," she said softly and folded her hands in front of her and bowed her head to say grace with him. It was a beautiful thing, she believed, having a faith that you believed in. Her father always believed in his faith and it was something that he had never negotiated on. Sure, he didn't follow all the rules all the time but he firmly believed in keeping faith alive in his family and his daughter was eager to follow his example.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smiled content that she felt the same about prayer, as she sat there with her hands folded he closed his eyes for a moment. "May this food restore our strength, giving new energy to tired limbs, now thoughts to weary minds. May this drink restore our souls, giving new vision to dry spirits, new warmth to cold hearts. And once refreshed, may we give new pleasure to You, who gives us all.... Amen"

As he opened his eyes and looked at the food before him he could not help but the smile. He loved to eat as much as he loved to cook, and it only was so much better if you had someone to share it with. He took a piece of his bread and dipped into the chowder, soaking up the liquid goodness and nodded as he took the first bite. Perfection!, he could not remember how many times he had made this dish, it was something he almost always made if he had someone for dinner. He looked up at Allegra as he was chewing on his bread and hoped to see her enjoy the food as well. Not that he ever met someone that did not like a good chowder.... but he did hang around other Irish far more than other people, and he wondered if an Italian girl could enjoy the taste of it.

[Natora]

Allegra appreciated the grace. It was beautiful and simple, just as a prayer for grace should be. She opened her eyes as she murmured a soft, "Amen," with him. "That was very beautiful," she said to him. "Thank you." With a bright smile, she looked to the food, not entirely sure how to eat it. She watched as he dipped the bread into the chowder and then took a hearty bite. There was no reason to not trust his cooking so she did as he had.

The bread broke apart easily in her mouth with the soaking it had received. It was delicious even if it was a bit salty compared to what she was used to. She nodded to him with a smile and said, "This is very good." She wasn't used to seafood. All that she normally had was a good fish on Good Friday. That was about all that she would have had before but this, though very different and a bit salty was still quite good. "So tell me something about you that I don't know yet," she said to him with a small smile.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent was glad she liked the chowder, and by the sight of it she was not a girl who was afraid to eat. He disliked people that were constantly on a diet to keep the 'size 0' look. It was not attractive at all, and a true man would in his mind only love a woman that had curves. He took a bit of his bread before he placed his spoon on the table so he could answer her question. He seemed to think the question over, what did he want to tell about himself, without sounding like a douche?

"Ya are one curious little lass Allegra, Ill give ya that. As you can clearly taste I can cook pretty darn good. I have been a cook for a few years in a restaurant in Manhattan before I got me own bar. I have a older brother, he's called Dave. And a wee sister who we call Cate. And as my mother is a teacher in ancient languages we can all speak Gaelic. I take it that ya know that is? " He smiled as he talked about his family, they were very close to one and other and that was visible inside the house. It was filled with pictures of children and people laughing.

"Anyway, why don't ya tell me something about yourself?" he asked and took his spoon in his hand again and dipped some of his bread into the chowder, enjoying the taste of it yet again.

[Natora]

It was interesting, and duly noted, that when she asked about him, the only thing about him that he really told her was that he used to be a chef in a restaurant. The rest she learned about his family. Well one thing was certainly clear; he didn't see her as a threat. If he had, he wouldn't have told her about the people in his life. It was time to return the favour after already finishing half the soup in her bowl.

"Well, it's only my father and I now. He works all day and night which left room for me to get spoiled rotten whenever I chose to," she started with a small smirk. "I'm a good cook too, as I cook dinner every night for about ten people without fail but I have never learned how to cook for a small group," she said to him. "I went to school for a business degree and now am slowly taking over for my father's chain of the Olympian hotels. Other than that, I enjoy fine liquor and working out," she said to him simply, telling him anything she randomly thought of.

With that, she turned back to the dinner and looked over at Captain as she took another bite of food. "I've always wanted a great dane," she added absentmindedly. She had never told anyone that before, really. Her father knew but he refused to get a dog, insisting that it would never be taken care of.

[Dark Pigeon]

That her mother was not alive anymore he knew, as soon as he got the assignment he did what he could to find out more about her. Though she was smart enough to keep her privacy from the internet, something he had found rather annoying but very interesting as well. Not many people that could successfully do that, but her father had to be behind it. Someone that kept himself safe for years would do the same for his daughter.

As they both finished their chowder Vincent took his and her bowl and started to place the next items on a plate. Next up was the creamy Colcannon mash with roosted lam with rosemary and garlic. "A dane? those are them big dogs right? flappy ears, real couch potato's? " He asked as he turned around and placed the plate before Allegra "I'm more of a Jack Russell kind of man, but ya cant have a dog in a bar. And it does cost loads of money to take care of dog." he said as he sat down himself and took a sip of his juice

"I started running myself a few years ago. Need to be fit right? Donno if ya run yourself lass. But we could do it together one time. Just 'run into each other' in a park." he said as he placed some of the Colcannon on a fork and popped it in his mouth. "Ya like watching movie's? or are ya not much of a television kind of person"

[Natora]

"The big dogs just leave more to love," she said with a small smile. "Maybe I should just get one and bring it home, say that it followed me," she thought absentmindedly as she finished the chowder. As it was magically replaced in front of her by the next course, she smiled. "Thank you," she said softly as she smelled the delicious food in front of her. She took a bite of the mashed potatoes and smiled. They were delicious. Mind you, if an Irishman couldn't make potatoes, he wasn't that good of a cook, now was he?

"I run. It might be fun to just run into you somewhere," she said to him with a small smirk. After that, she took a bite of the lamb...and stopped. She finished the bite quickly as she could. It wasn't that it wasn't good...kind of. She just...didn't have to taste for it. Without saying anything, she had a few more bites of the lamb between the potatoes but never managed to finish the whole thing. To take attention away from that fact, she chose distraction. "I can watch a good movie. As long as there's nothing else that needs to be done. I like to be busy."

"Speaking of, are you going to come for some fun with me tonight?" she asked him with a small and playful smirk, dancing beneath her mischievous eyes. She had a secret and she wasn't about to spoil it. I have a fun surprise for after dinner," she informed him. Well, she would think it was fun. His opinion would be interesting once he found out what it was.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent noticed her liking his colcannon and smiled, and smiled even more as she seemed not the be that interested in the lamb. He did not say anything about it, he knew it was good and she properly did not have the taste for it. He did not mind it at all and joined in into the distraction. "We should make it a date then, a running date. I'll bring Captain if you like, than we both have dogs with us" he chuckled and shook his head as he found that he was making to much jokes about her protection.

As they together ate the second course, him enjoying the lamb and her not so much she mentioned the surprise again. "Sure, I'm in for a surprise." he said, smiling at the mischievous look in Allegra's eyes. He wondered what the surprise was and if he would like it or not. But this was a night that they had to learn to know each-other and that he did not mind. "I bet ya aint gonna tell me what the surprise is, now would ya lass?" he said as he finished his colcannon and lamb and leaned back in his seat until Allegra was finished as well.

- - - Updated - - -

Vincent noticed her liking his colcannon and smiled, and smiled even more as she seemed not the be that interested in the lamb. He did not say anything about it, he knew it was good and she properly did not have the taste for it. He did not mind it at all and joined in into the distraction. "We should make it a date then, a running date. I'll bring Captain if you like, than we both have dogs with us" he chuckled and shook his head as he found that he was making to much jokes about her protection.

As they together ate the second course, him enjoying the lamb and her not so much she mentioned the surprise again. "Sure, I'm in for a surprise." he said, smiling at the mischievous look in Allegra's eyes. He wondered what the surprise was and if he would like it or not. But this was a night that they had to learn to know each-other and that he did not mind. "I bet ya aint gonna tell me what the surprise is, now would ya lass?" he said as he finished his colcannon and lamb and leaned back in his seat until Allegra was finished as well.

[Natora]

Allegra rolled her eyes at his comment about her "dogs" yet again. "Why do you dislike them so much? They're just doing what my father pays them to do," she pointed out to him. "Brandon gets a little more touchy about most things but he's just special," she said to him and took the last bite of the lamb that she wanted to take. There was still a quarter of the shank left on the plate when she put her fork down to the second course.

Looking up at him, she realized how gorgeous his eyes were and was locked there for a moment. With a soft smile she shook her head in answer to his question. "I would never tell what a surprise is. Would ruin the actual element of surprise, don't you think?" she asked him with a smirk dancing on her lips, happy to be there. Sitting back in her chair, she was able to blink and break their gaze again. "I'm sorry. The lamb is really good, I'm sure. I'm just not used to foods so... gamey," she admitted to him. "If you want to finish it, please do."

[Dark Pigeon]

"Your right, I should not keep mentioning your bodyguards. My dad keeps sayin' I'm like an old woman, I keep going on and on" he said with a smile. "My mom says it is a Donovan-men thing. My dad can do it as well. But ya are lucky that ya dad wants ya safe. Even if it means that you cant do anything on ya own. But it does makes these secret little dates pretty fun" As he looked at the left over lamb he shrugged and showed her a comforting smile "its okay about the lamb Allegra, my dad will be glad with the left-overs. He will be eatin' like a king tomorrow" He smiled as she kept looking at him, it always made him slightly nervous that women would do that, he knew he was considered handsome, but he never behaved as such. Though he did love to keep making the joke about 'the other handsome bartender' who was his father. A broody, muscular large red-headed man that looked like he could kill you with his mind.

Last course, lemon and salt ice-cream. As he cleared the table (And quickly took a bite of the lamb) he started to get the dessert. He scooped the ice out of the ice-machine onto small old dessert plates, and placed it on the table in front of Allegra and himself. As he sat down he rubbed his hands and looked at her "I agree about the surprises, its more fun if nobody tells ya what it is. So.. Seeing that you already know what the dessert was. It is quite a surprise if you eat it the first time. My dad made this, I did not have the time today. He will love to hear how much you loved it, or hated it.. he's a pretty easy lad"

[Natora]

Allegra could tell he uncomfortable when she watched him too long but it was an interesting fact to learn about a man, that he didn't always want the attention on himself. Men like that only lasted so long with her. As much as her father hated it, Allegra loved attention and sometimes did fairly ridiculous things to get it. When he told her that it was okay that she left some leftovers, she appreciated that. He didn't want to make her feel awkward and she appreciated that.

Having this kind of ice cream she never had before. She was about to dig right in when he said it was home made. She stopped and looked over at him surprised. "Are you serious? You guys make ice cream?" she asked, rather impressed. Looking back at the ice cream, she paid it a little more reverence. She took a small bite sized bit onto her spoon and then ate the little bit, enjoying and savouring the taste. "This is delicious. You do know the way to a woman's heart," she said to him with a small smirk. Taking small bites every time, she savoured the ice cream and when they were done, she happily sat back, quite content in how full she was.

[Dark Pigeon]

He laughed as Allegra seemed surprised that they made their own ice-cream "ya we do lass, we do. Got me dad one of them machines a few years ago, started to try out strange flavors and now we both make ice-cream. Mostly together. Is far better tastin' than store-bought ice don't ya think?" he said, watching her enjoy the ice-cream. As he took his first taste himself he was surprised that it had worked out that good yet again.

As they both had finished their ice-cream and Allegra seemed to be satisfied he started to clean up the the kitchen and table. As he worked he put down a nice cup of coffee in front of Allegra and happily drank his own while he worked. Within twenty minutes or so he was done, the dishes in the dishwasher, the table and kitchen both clean as he looked up at Allegra with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "So lass, ya had a surprise in store for me? Shall we proceed our lovely evening?"

[Natora]

Allegra was going to help him with the dishes but he gave her coffee and seemed to almost insist on doing them himself. Sure she was on a date but that didn't mean she couldn't be a decent human being. As it was, she decided that she would sit and enjoy the coffee while he did the work. She never did the dishes at home but, in the same breath, she did all or most of the cooking. When he seemed done, she walked over with the coffee cup in her hand.

"Well, before we can go, we have to go somewhere else and then we can do one more adventurous and fun thing," she said with a small smile. "You know, I would have helped with cleaning up," she added and rinsed out her empty coffee cup and put it in the dishwasher with the rest of the dishes. "Thank you for dinner and cleaning up," she added with a small smile to him. "Come on. We have to get across town," she informed him with a smirk and walked to get her jacket.

[Dark Pigeon]

"I would not much of a host if I made ya clean now would I?" Vincent told Allegra as she was placing her cup in the in the dishwasher. Vincent quickly turned on the dish-washer, he really wanted to know what this surprise was and did not want to spend one more second inside his fathers house if he could be in town with a girl like Allegra. He liked her, she did not behave like a spoiled brad, and she seemed to be a hard working woman. Despite that everything was handed to her, she still had to prove herself. But he warned himself, he could not start falling for a girl like this. He was just working, make her like him, get close to her dad and that was it. Nothing more.

As he put on his own woolen coat and made sure that he house was safely locked and Captain was inside, followed Allegra out of the house. But surprise or no surprise, he needed to know where he needed to drive them "Other side of town? can ya give me a small hint on where. Big city and all" he said as he held the door open for Allegra and let her into the car. As he sat down himself he started to engine, but old cars have old-car-problems and the engine failed to start at the first go. Only after a few try's and gentle words, the car finally started and they were ready to finally drive off.

[Natora]

Allegra laughed gently and slid into the passenger's side. "Don't you worry. I'll turn you in the right direction," she promised him with a gentle laugh. She sat quietly as the car struggled to start up, resisting the urge to say they should take a cab. It would probably offend him in some way. Men were so touchy with their cars no matter what they had. This car needed a great deal of TLC but she was not going to be the idiot of a girl who tried to recommend it.

As they started going down the roads, Allegra directed him by pointing him in the right direction, literally. It always confused people when she gave "her kind" of directions so she would simply point right or left now. It made things much easier for cab drivers and bodyguards alike. As they continued they were getting closer and closer to the warehouse district in the area where most contractors and car repair shops had their offices. Finally, she told him to stop in front of a warehouse with a large garage door on the front. "When I pull the door up, just pull inside," she said gently.

With that, not answering any other questions, she got out of the car and closed the door behind her. She had no idea who he was but he might not know that. This wasn't a trap but would he be actually willing to pull his car inside. She walked to a side door and dug some keys out of her purse before unlocking it and going inside. Before she opened the garage door, she went to a small wardrobe she saved there and changed into a short, pleated skirt and a spaghetti strap t-shirt all in black with a red pair of killer heels. Once she was ready, she went and opened the garage door so he could come in. There were three cars parked in the garage covered up. There was room for one more with a stall on the end that he would be able to pull into.

[Dark Pigeon]

As Allegra got out of the car he wondered if he was being set up, or this was just her way of surprising a person. He tapped the steering wheel with is finger, wondering what he should do. He did bring a gun, hiding in the door of the car. If he would pull it out now she would find out about it properly, but he could not just walk into a trap like this. Not now, he wanted to live a few more years at least.

As she was changing her clothing he kept asking himself what he should do, trust this girl? She looked innocent enough and nothing like her father. But he knew that women could be killers just like him, wrapping him around her finger would be a good way to drag someone into a secure place to shoot their heads of. He chuckled nervously as he waited and suddenly could see the door move and finally open.

He made the choice to trust her, he did not want to blow this just now. If this was a trap he failed already, if it was not and he would come in guns blazing.. he would fail. Like Schrödinger's cat this warehouse was a trap and not a trap at the same time.

Slowly he drove the car inside and parked it next to the two that were under covers. By the look of the shape of them they could not be cheap cars like his fathers, it almost made him feel sorry for the car he drove as he shut down the engine and got out. He looked at her, blinking rapidly as she stood their in different clothes and raised an eyebrow. "Ya changed ya clothes first?" he asked as he put the car keys in his pocket and looked around in the warehouse. "So.. what is this place, and what will this surprise be?"

[Natora]

Allegra smiled to him as he pulled in, leaving the garage door open. When he got out, she watched him as he looked at her curiously with her change. "I've set a standard where we're going. Wouldn't want to stop being sexy now," she said with a smirk. "The big question is, can you actually drive," she said to him and tossed him a set of keys. Out of the three cars there, one was her baby, the second was her first prize and she drove sometimes, and the third she had yet to modify to her specifications. It was fixed and running, just not necessarily the way she liked it. She had tossed him the keys to the third. No use letting him ruin a car that was already running the way she liked it.

Walking back over to the first car in the garage, she bent down to undo the string that was holding the cover on before pulling it off to reveal a beautiful black and silver street racing car. He was right about one thing. These cars were expensive. Alone in the garage she had spent almost a quarter million just on these three cars so far. "You take that one," she said, pointing to the car that was parked next to his. It was a blue and green car that looked just as ready and eager to get on the road as her baby did. "Let's go have some fun," she said with a smirk and a gleam in her eye.

Throwing the covering cloth to the ground on the side, she opened the door to her car and stood there, thinking of something before she got in. "You can drive well enough not to crash it, right?" she asked him with a smirk. As much as she hadn't really cared too much that the car was altered slightly, she did care if the car was destroyed.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent blinked rapidly as he cached the keys out of mid-air. As Allegra as uncovering her car he could not help but to look at her as she stood bended over. She was a beautiful woman alright, and it seemed that she liked cars. As he looked at hers he raises both eyebrows as he saw the Saleen S7 Twin turbo. His mouth dropped as he saw it, he never in his life would have guessed to be this close to a car like that. He walked over, looking at the car as he saw a ghost and felt like hew as getting an heart-attack when she revealed the car he was about to drive... A Noble M600...

He looked at the keys and back at both cars, they were worth more than everything he possessed combined. And she was letting him drive a Noble!! A car he only had seen in magazines and TV-shows like "top gear". "I.. I.. ya sure.. I mean.. that car is... very.... very expansive" he said, almost finding it difficult to speak as he walked over to the Noble. He held the key's tight and unlocked the door. At least he wanted to sit in the drivers-seat.

As he sat down he could feel tears sting in his eyes, he loved cars. Specially wonderful cars just like this one. It was always a childhood dream to drive a real sports-car. But all he could ever do was look at them and wonder if he was ever able to even sit in the seat.. even if it was for a few seconds. "Ow me Bejasus, dis is master day av me life already" he said, softly stroking the steering-wheel. He looked up at Allegra and wondered if she truly was letting him drive a car like this. "Ye really sure yer are gonna let me drive dis car? oi.. oi can drive, yer seen me drive. but dis, dis is somethin' else than me fathers banger lass" he said, not even noticing he was talking with is thick accent again.

[Natora]

Allegra shook her head and laughed. "Just don't hit anything. Go slow at first so you can get a handle for it. And don't lose me," she said to him simply. She ducked into the car and started the engine of her baby, making sure that everything was how it was supposed to be and then slowly pulled out of the garage. She waited until he came out of the garage before she closed the garage door with a button. Once they were out in the night air, she made sure to adhere to the driving limits for now. She didn't want him crashing something and his drool was already threatening the upholstery.

She laughed and shook her head when she thought about his reaction to the cars. It was like any good man's reaction. What she needed to make sure of right now was that he didn't crash the car. Keeping to the speed limit, they came up to a large parking garage. When the person manning the entry bar saw who it was he raised it immediately. As she passed, Allegra leaned out and said, "He's with me too," knowing that Vincent was right behind her.

Slowly and carefully, she drove up to the second floor, waves parting for her to let her through. She drove to the near center of the lot and parked the car next to another man that had his car parked and was leaning on it with three women around him. In the garage there were probably close to a hundred cars around and twice as many people. Once she was parked, she got out of her car and smiled at the other man. "Hello handsome," she said almost teasingly.

The man standing there, a Japanese driver, smirked back at her. "Hello yourself, darling," he answered, obviously having known her before.

[Dark Pigeon]

He did not want to sound like a old woman, but he really did not feel comfortable being allowed to drive such a car in such a shot notice. But he did get in, and as he started the engine he could hear it roar like a wild beast. His heart started beating faster and faster as he carefully pulled up and without any problems got the car out of the garage. He smiled as he rolled it into the streets and felt like he was the riches man alive.

It took him a while to get a feel for the car, but soon he was driving it like he never drove something else. That he was a quick learner, and had feeling for cars could be seen and he managed to keep his drool and tears of the upholstery. He loved driving this car and wanted to spend the whole night just driving up and down the city, but when he saw her driving into a parking garage he raised an eyebrow. What the f*ck was she planning anyway? But he followed, greeted the man at the entrance and drove the car up. As he followed Allegra he could see what this was all about and smiled like a teenage boy. More cars! more for him to look at and properly touch and talk with stranger about. Something he loved to do, talking.. and meeting strangers.

He parked the Noble and listened to the engine spin like a satisfied cat before he turned the ignition off and got out of the car. He parked it next to Allegra's Saleen S7 and gently closed the door of his car behind him before walking towards her. "That lass... that was the best thing ever" he mused as he looked at he cars around them. He extended his hand in greeting at the Japanese driver and gave him warm smile "Ellow there lad, Nice meetin' ya. I'm Vincent"

[Natora]

The Japanese driver looked at Vincent with an uninterested look. The man in front of him seemed so much like he was much too excited to be a normal guy. Allegra gave the other driver a look, though, and he took the offered hand and shook it. "DK. So how'd you come to be here? You obviously haven't driven much," he pointed out to him. If he had then he wouldn't be trying to stop himself from looking around like a mad man.

Allegra gave the Japanese driver a hard look and answered for him. "I brought him here. Be nice, DK," she told him simply.

DK smirked. "Anything for you, sweets," he said honestly. "As long as he's not a cop, I don't care," he said simply. As soon as he finished speaking, behind him there was a roar of engines and two cars swing around, drifting the corners in a race that was half way over. As they passed and continued on, there was a spark lit in Allegra's eyes. Her attention turned back to the Japanese driver.

"So, where's my race you promised me?" she asked curiously with a smirk on her lips.

DK laughed at that. "No one's been brave enough to ask yet," he said with a small smile tugging at his lips.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent let out a hearty chuckle as DK thought him to be a cop. Him, a cop.. far off it. That this was a street-race meeting was clear to him. He never been to them, to hard working and he did not own a car himself. He just did not need one, and if he ever needed one he could just borrow his fathers car." First time here lad, don't have a car on me own. Allegra here been so nice to borrow me her Noble.. very generous of the lass. Me dads car can only win a few raced mate... and non of them 'bout speed' He joked and looked around him at the cars.

As the cars in the race drove by and Allegra mentioned her own 'race' he raised his eyebrows. He did not expect her to drive one of the fastest cars in the world against these modified street-racers. She was one tough little girl and he smiled as he came to realize that. She seemed less and less of a spoiled girl he thought her to be in the first place. It did seem that she had to earn her own living.. but he did wonder how she did get such expansive cars. Vincent did not even think about racing a car in a race like this, specially one that was not his. He was a good driver, that he knew but he never spend enough time behind the wheel of a super-car like the Noble.

As he looked at the car of DK he smiled and gave it a good look, keeping his hands in his pocket so he would not accidently touch the car and have him go bunkers in him. He kept a respectable distance between him and the car as he looked at it and nodded as he seemed to love and recognize the car for what it was. "That's a nice car ya got there lad.. 1969 Chevrolet Baldwin Motion Chevelle right?" he asked as he looked at DK, trying to break the ice between him and the young Japanese man.

[Natora]

DK looked at Vincent confused. "Allegra?" he asked simply, confused. He looked between the newcomer and his old friend as the Irishman started walking around his car.

Allegra saw the flaw in her plan now. The people here didn't know who she really was. There was no sure way to know that he could play along now that he had already given up her real name. Allegra shrugged. "A mutual friend. I sold her the Noble and he let him take it out tonight because he wanted to see where I got it," she said with a smirk. She sent a pointed look to Vincent. He wasn't going to be allowed to give her up after how long she had worked to keep her identity.

DK looked over at Vincent as he walked around his car. "It was," he answered easily enough. "Until I got a hold of it. Now it just looks like that. A bit better underneath," he answered. He shooed the girls away and was about to continue the conversation when an engine roared at them that turned both DK and Allegra's head. DK stepped forward but Allegra stayed near the cars. It was a newcomer. DK liked to welcome them on his own.

A muscle car that tried to rival with DK's own drove up and parked a little too close to DK for his liking and put a scowl on his face. The driver got out and walked up to DK. "I hear there might be someone here worth racing," he said with his arms crossed over his chest.

DK laughed at his arrogance. "And who says that?" he demanded.

The man shrugged a bit. "I was told to ask for DQ," he said and noticed Allegra then. He smirked over at her and added, "I'd race to have a good romp with you."

Allegra laughed from where she stood and pushed off the car. "I'll make you a better deal. We can race and if you manage to beat me, then you can have a romp with me," she said with a smirk. "If not, I'll take that pretty little car off your hands," she said to him easily.

The man laughed. "Fine then. But once we're done, I want to race this DQ that they told me about," he said sharply.

Allegra shook her head and rolled her eyes. DK laughed. "I'll guarantee it," he said with a laugh. He walked back towards Allegra as she got in her car. "The street route. If you don't know the path, follow her," he said to the man simply. With that, and a fleeting look to Vincent from Allegra, they drove slowly out of the garage and towards a line in the road.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent did not know why, well.. he did know why but he wondered how protective she really was about her true identity. He knew who she was, she was pretty comfortable the day before with letting him know. But if she wanted to keep it a secret, he did not mind playing along. That DK had 'raped' a car like a Chevrolet Baldwin Motion Chevelle was pretty hard on him. He would kill to own a car like this, and a 'boy' like DK just did his thing with it. He smiled faintly as he looked at the wonderful car and turned around as he could hear the newcomer coming towards them as well.

He was quick enough to understand that DQ was Allegra, and he smiled as he watched her get into her own car. It was fun to see that the entire 'gang' chuckled as the newcomer drove behind her, expecting that he could win from a Saleen S7. It only mend that the man did not know his cars, and was to arrogant to understand his would not even be able to keep close behind hers. But it was all about her driving now, fast car or not.. of the driver could not handle it the car would fly away without her. So he wanted to see this race, and he watched as both of them pulled up into the streets and placed their cars behind the line on the road.

He wondered of, found a spot between some strangers as they all stood alongside the road to see how DQ would win yet an other race. The flag was up, the girl in a shorts started to count out loud while both cars where roaring like wild animals, ready to be released. As soon as the flag went down both cars started to speed of and everyone started to shout and jump in excitement.

[Natora]

When they were off, DK walked over to Vincent, curious about him and how DQ had met him. He nodded to Vincent as they turned the first corner and said, "Follow me. It's not a quick race. We tricked out DQ's car with cameras so we could watch closer when she drove. She hates short races." With that he walked away and led him to a laptop that was set up not far away. He watched as four cameras that were well placed around her car allowed them to see the race as if they were in it like a video game.

"So, do you know what DQ stands for?" he asked with a small smirk as he watched Allegra take the turns expertly, pulling them off beautifully. The man she was racing was still behind her. It was easy to see since they had a camera on her tail as well. There were others crowding other laptops but only a few were at this particular one. The cars were speeding around corners and other cars that were on the road as they fought for first place. It may not be obvious but DK could tell that she wasn't trying all that hard.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent told DK the truth as he asked how they had met. They met in his bar and she had insulted him by asking Whiskey inside some cola. He smiled as he told the small story, how both would see how far they could push each other and how they decided to go out the next evening. As the cars disappeared into the first corner he followed DK towards the laptop. He could see how small groups formed around the other laptops, and was somewhat glad that DK and he had their own. Vincent was somewhat impressed by how organized this race was. But he never figured them out for placing small camera's all over the place so they could follow the entire race on laptops.

He watched as Allegra was driving and smiled, she knew how to handle a fast car like a Saleen and that was a very impressive skill. " Did not know that DQ was about racin' cars. Color me impressed.. she knows how to handle a car like a Saleen" he mused as he looked at the laptop. He really started to like this girl, she was not one of those rich spoiled bitches that would come in his bar every now and then. He even felt like he could forgive her for asking for whiskey-coke.

"DQ? she had not told me but, let me guess.. Driving Queen? Than you must be.. Driving King" He said as he looked at DK and than back at screen. The race was almost over and it was clear to everyone that DQ would win this race. "That man must be bunkers for thinking he can win against a Saleen with that Toyota of his" he chuckled "Poor bastard will loose that car of his"

[Natora]

DK laughed gently as he said it stood for 'Driving Queen/King'. "Not quite," he answered. And just then, Allegra illustrated his point quite well. She drifted around a corner and then took off easily in the other direction. "More like Drift Queen," he said with reverence as he spoke of Allegra. There was some obvious positive feelings there but it wasn't easy to see how far they went. Then DK's face changed from a satisfied smirk to a concerned glance as he watched the camera that was on the back of her car. "What is he doing? He's getting too close," he said concerned.

The roar of the engines could be heard as they got closer to the finish. The opposition obviously had some sort of nitro in the car. Normally, some getting close to DQ only meant that she had to speed up a bit and keep her lead. But this guy was getting close to her directly behind her. It was as if he didn't really want to pass her. DK looked up as they rounded the last bend. The bastard that had challenged her was close but in the wrong way. He came up close behind her and tipped the car's back end so that it started to spin.

Allegra gasped as she felt it and knew what was going to come next. The spinning started and she tried to control it but they had been too close to the center of the road where there was a meridian of trees standing. The back end of her car hit one of the trees to stop it. She was still facing towards the group that had assembled for the finish line, though, and she was furious now. The look was reflected in DK's own eyes as he glared at the driver who dared race a dirty race with his queen. Allegra knew she was going to finish this. She revved the car and sped her heart out, passing him easily and finishing first before she got out of the car. The smell of rubber rubbing against the frame of the car filled the air. She probably shouldn't have driven it but she would fix it soon.

The other car pulled up and the guy got out, standing there and being subject to furious glares from both DQ and DK. He shrugged with a smirk. "Who knew she could actually handle a car, huh?" he said with a smirk on his face.

[Dark Pigeon]

While Vincent could not help but getting ABBA's Dancing Queen stuck in his head he watched the race unfold. "I see, she be driftin those corners like a pro. That lass has skills" he said as he came to lean closer to the screen as he found it to be very exiting to watch. He normally would find these kind of person's idiots, endangering other drivers in traffic while busting expansive cars. And for what? but now he had the change to meet these people and they all seemed to love their cars and were very passionate about racing and yes.. even keeping it safe.

The sound of a roaring engine and both cars were to close for comfort. He muttered under his breath as the driver did not seem willing to pass. He just wanted to ask what that man was trying to accomplice and followed DK's gaze as they both wanted to keep watching the race. But specially, the idiot in the other car. It was clear to all that he did not make a mistake when he hit her car and send her of spinning. He became quite angry seeing it as well, it was just playing dirty in a game they all seemed to love, for a worthless price in Vincent's eyes. As he could see that Allegra got control back of her car he felt mighty proud of her.

As she finished first and the other car pulled up next to DK and him he smiled as friendly as he normally would. Vincent made sure he was first there, knowing that the rest would want a piece of his man for endangering an other drivers car and leaned on the roof of the man's Toyota. "That lass can drive alright" he mused as he looked at the man, who frowned as someone was leaning against his car. The broad and tall Irish man looked down as he quickly grabbed the man by the scruff of his neck and pulled him back in his car. The man just wanted to shout when he felt his head hit the steering-wheel of his car. Vincent smiled as he saw the blood streaming out of the mans nose and before the man could even say or do something about it the door of his car opened and the tall Irish man dragged him out of his car and send him falling to the ground. "What the fuck is your problem!" the man roared, as he looked up at the almost angelic face of Vincent. "Didn't yer 'ear mucker, yer are me problem." he said as the man got on his feet and only then realized that he broke his nose. He wanted to swing out towards Vincent, but no respectable Irishman would let himself being hit so easily. Vincent took the opportunity and grabbed the man by his arm and pushed him firmly against his car.

[Natora]

The man winced and grunted as he was shoved up against the car. Allegra walked over to the car, looking a bit alarmed at how Vincent was so easily able to switch to that role. "Vince, stop it," she said a little more worry in her voice than necessary. DK walked up with her, standing just behind her but looking like he would like to do what Vincent was doing to the man as well. DK looked at his queen and said, "You know, he has a point."

He was returned and stern look from Allegra and pointed out, "He's already bleeding. Isn't that enough?"

DK walked past her finally and looked at the man that was pinned against the car. "You still breathing?" he asked the driver.

The man spit some blood at DK's feet and said, "Ya. At the moment."

DK looked back to Allegra and shrugged. "Not enough for me," he said simply and turned back to the guy, punching him quite hard in the side. "Don't touch my queen," he growled at the man. He looked up to Vincent and nodded to him. "You can keep going if you want. I'll hold her back," he said and stepped back towards Allegra.

Allegra shot an angry look at DK before looking past him to Vincent. "Vincent, I'm fine. A bit of whiplash. He's already lost his car and I'll sell it to help pay for the damage," she said to him simply. "You really don't have to rough him up that bad," she said, a little worry dripping into her voice.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent kept the man pinned as DK came to discuss the matters with the dirty driver. As the man got hit in his side and lost all breath Vincent let him loose so he would drop on the ground again. "I'm fine, think he got the message alright" he said to DK as he walked away. He could see that Allegra did not like this situation and he did not want to upset her anymore than he already did. As the man came crawling on his feet again Vincent lend him a hand, reluctantly the man took his hand and stood a bit wobbly on his feet as Vincent put his arm around him and started to walk him away from his car "Now ya listen carefull mucker, ya not gonna show ya face again ya 'ear?" he said as the man held his nose and nodded in agreement, knowing he could not win a fight with the man that was holding him. The dirty driver nodded his head and frowned as Vincent took five dollars out of his pocket and pushed in the mans hand " Have a beer on me and get ya'self cleaned up." Vincent mused and let the man go, watching him walk off without his car and dignity.

As Vincent turned around again he smiled at Allegra "Sorry 'bout that lass. But that idiot could have killed ya. He needed to be .. taught a lesson 'bout cause and effect. And he aint learning that from loos'n his car." He walked back to her and could see the damage on her car as he looked passed her. "Ya one skilled driver DQ, I see now why they call ya so"

[Natora]

Allegra still didn't look as impressed with DK and Vincent as she could have. After a sigh when he commented on her driving, she followed his gaze and looked at the vehicle that she had driven here. There was no way that she was getting it back to the garage in one piece without having it towed. The rubber would rub too thin and the wheel might pop. "Thank you," she said softly, giving in a little bit to him and not being quite as upset about what he had done as she could have been.

She looked up as a few choice people came up to congratulate her and others stayed behind wanting to know what she wanted done with the cars. She looked to one of them and told him to tow her car to the shop that he owned, and then another as she told him to sell the car she had won to whoever would pay enough that it would pay off fixing her baby. They nodded and went about it. DK came over to her and hugged her close from behind, his hands around her waist. "I'm glad you're in one piece," he said to her and kissed her cheek gently.

She laughed and patted his hands that were on his stomach. "Thank you, DK," she said gently, a little more relaxed now that everything was dealt with. "Get that neck looked at," he added to her before he let her go and everyone started filtering into the garage. She waited until it was just her and Vincent left before she groaned and put a hand on her sore neck. "That hurt," she reluctantly admitted.

[Dark Pigeon]

"I bet it does, that was quite a hit ya took" he said as he came to stand closer, he wanted to help her and release some of the pain in her neck. But as he came to stand by her he did not want to insult the woman by just placing his hands in her neck. Instead he placed his hands in his pockets and looked behind her for a brief moment as her friends started to take care of the cars. It made him just a tag jealous, he did not have the money to even buy a car himself, while these kids were wrecking them for their pleasure.

As Vincent stood next to her he seemed worried about Allegra. She clearly had hurt herself and now had an almost priceless car being towed away because someone decided that it was 'fun' to hit her car. He did not understand why she wanted to protect the man that wrecked her car, if it was his he would had gone completely bunkers. For him it only showed how much of a better person she was, or maybe just a bit to spoiled. It seemed a bit like a glass half-full half-empty kind of situation. He decided to see her as just a more forgiving person than he was himself and smiled at her as he shook his head. "What ya wanna do lass? stay here and enjoy some more races. Go back home, maybe watch a movie or something?" he asked as he stood next to her, not knowing what to do.

[Natora]

Allegra saw the look in his eye when he looked around them. "Don't get too crazy. Most of these guys lie cheat and steal for the money they need for the cars," she told him gently. "Let's go. I...I just want to relax a bit. Maybe a hot-tub or something," she said with a small sigh. She started walking, leading him back to the Noble. "You can drive back," she added simply.

As they walked back to the car, Allegra couldn't help but think how different Vincent was from most guys that she snuck out to see. He seemed almost distant, wanting to stay near her but not too near her. Most men that were willing to go and throw a guy around for her weren't ones that didn't seem to want to put their hands on her. DK for example, had been giving her a hug and a gentle kiss after he destroyed the other man's ability to breath. Vincent didn't even seem to mind. Was he actually interested in her or was he already thrown off because she could drive?

Once they were in the car and driving back to the garage where her other car was parked, she couldn't keep her silence any longer. "If you want to, you can leave me at the garage and I could catch a cab home," she suggested. "Easier than me trying to make sure you don't get too close to the guard dogs I have."

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent parked the car on it spot, shut down the engine and let out a deep sigh as he stroke the steering-wheel. He hated it that he was falling in love with such a car, he always dreamed about owning a car like a Noble, something extraordinary expansive that felt like he was taming a wild animal while he was driving. And he would look so good in a car like this, he just knew he had to.

He had noticed her being a bit quiet when they drove back, he did not know if she was getting tired, still was hurt or just wanted some peace and quiet so he let it be. But he could hear it in her voice, that 'thing' that people had when they felt someone did not like them as much as they wanted them to. He looked at her and shook his head "Not a change lass, I'm taking ya back to me dads place. Draw you a hot-tub and get you some of that ice-cream. And while you are getting warm and relaxed ill make us some pop-corn and we watch us that movie. Then you get to leave. Ya don't think ya get ride of me that easy do ya?" he said "And you might not know it, but we Donovan men are very good in giving massages. So if ya want, Ill help ya with that neck of yours, get it all nice and loose"

[Natora]

Allegra couldn't deny that the idea sounded incredible. She didn't really want to leave. He was an intriguing man and there was something about him that just made her want to stay and learn a bit more. "Well that sounds very nice," she said with a gentle smile, the hurt in her voice gone from the worry about him not wanting to be around her. "You're a very curious man, Vincent Donovan," she said to him gently as they got back to the garage. She got out of the car and went to open the garage, changing back from her short skirt to her pants that she had been wearing. When she went to change her shirt, however, she found it too difficult and decided to leave it for now and just bring the extra shirt with her for after the bath that he promised her.

When she opened the door to let him drive in, she walked over to his car and leaned on the door, waiting for him to open it. When he was out of the Noble she gently asked, "So what have you done in your past that made you fairly decent and beating a man up and throwing him around like you did?" It had also been on her mind for a while and she wanted to know what it was.

[Dark Pigeon]

He got out of the car and looked at Allegra "Being a bartender for some years lass, ya see to many girls gettin' hurt by scumbags like him." Vincent said while he gave her the keys to the noble. He could not help but to notice that she had only changed her clothing half way, she was clearly pretty hurt by that mans actions. And that did piss him off slightly, he was raised with the idea that a man should treat a woman right, treat them like human beings. His father would make sure his sons would be stand up man towards women, and if not so... well... Vincent did not even want to think about the consequences "Man like that lass, they need to learn what they can and cant do to an other person. If he was in me bar, hurtin' a girl like he had hurt ya? or anyone else that matter.... he would not be standing on two legs. If not me, it would be Ian he fucking hates men like that dirty driver" He threw a last look at the Noble and smiled "that was mighty generous of ya Lass, lettin' me drive a Noble. Never thought I would ever be doing that."

He walked over to the car of his father and was glad to see it, it was far simpler and far less stressful to drive a car like that. If he would wreck that car he did not have to pay up a few 100K. He looked at Allegra and quickly walked around the car to open the door for her. "after you misses" he mused and watched her as she got into the car with him.

[Natora]

She laughed gently when he called her misses. She tucked the keys in her pocket, having a much better idea about what to do with the Noble now that she had seen how he looked at it and felt how he was driving it. She liked this man and there were a few ways that she intended to show it. After getting in the car, she leaned back against the seat, happy to be somewhere comfortable and going somewhere that would probably help her relax her stiff and sore neck and shoulders. It was a fantastic idea to get those things to calm down and not feel so horridly tight.

"So," she started as he got in the car, "you had fun with that little surprise even with a small hiccup?" Her eyes were kept straight ahead of her the whole time as they drove out of the garage and then down the street back to his father's house. She bit her lip gently before asking, "Would you ever want to run a second bar?"

[Dark Pigeon]

"Fun! Lass, you made a dream come true.. drivin' a car like a noble. What man does not want that?" he said smiling from ear to ear as he spoke of the Noble. "Not to talk dirty 'bout this car lass, but it is getting to old. Dad is repairing it with scraps and bits to keep it runnin, much memories in this car. But .. damn.. that Noble, ya promise me not to tweek it to much will ya? its perfect as it is" he said, almost hoping that she would not ruin it into an other toy for her to race around on the streets with. Though a Noble itself would demand to be whipped into high speeds, he just loved the car as it was. "I never would have taken you for a racer, ya have more of such surprises for me in store? Cause I think we need a small first-aid-box then" he chuckled and could feel how much difference his fathers was compared to the noble.

As she asked about a second bar he frowned "wishes.. got plenty of those. I would love a bigger bar, more clientele, sell rare and exotic whiskeys and not havin' to worry 'bout the bar making it until the next quarter. Never thought 'bout a second bar, gotta get this one running first" he said, truly hoping his bar would make it. "but as they say 'luck of the irish', its almost 6 years now and she's still there. My faithful wee boozer."

The drive back went pretty fast, he knew New York like the back of his hands and soon they where only minutes away from his fathers house. It still felt a bit strange that he was bringing a girl over there, but it was worth it. His own living-space was not suitable for having guests. He only slept there and lived down in his own bar. So it was quite easy to talk his father into using his house.

[Natora]

Allegra nodded, considering his words. Sure, he would be proud of everything he owned. All men were. She thought about what he had said before they got back to his dad's home. She really did love the family home but there was one thing that she didn't really understand. When they got out of the car, she was careful and followed him into the house where Champion was more than happy to welcome them. Allegra, for that purpose, stayed behind Vincent as she followed him to the bathroom for the bath that he had promised.

"So...where is the rest of your family? If your dad lives here, where is your mom and siblings?" she asked him curiously. She stood there in the small bathroom with him but was incredibly grateful for what he was offering.

[Dark Pigeon]

He took Allegra with him up the stairs and to the small bathroom, the staircase was filled with family pictures of children, his parents, graduating teenages from high-school, old news-clippings from cases his father worked on and diploma's from every single child, including that of Vincent himself. As he started to run the hot water for Allegra he placing some cheap scented oils next to the bathtub so she could add them herself. "Me mom could not handle me dads work, they got divorced when I was a young teenager, they are still good friends tough. She's remarried and lives a few blocks away from here. Me brother and sister they live with their own family's, both have lovely kids." he said as he watched the tub slowly fill with water.

"So, we have some scented oils for ya, use what ever ya need lass. Towels are over here and.. lets see.. a yes! some reading material if ya want" he said as he placed a clean towel on a chair and handed her some old gardening magazines. "Hope ya like readin' these.. " he said, almost expecting the answer to be no. "if ya want I can get ya some other magazines to read.... but the man loves to garden. I still got some old comics in me old room, Ya know like Ironman, spiderman.. that sort of comics." he said and chuckled as he realized they pretty much only had boyish stuff.

[Natora]

Allegra laughed gently when he pulled out the reading material. Of all things, gardening. She hated gardening. It was never something she had become interested in. "I'll be fine. I can have my own company," she said with a smile. It really was a beautiful old house...it was just fully of boy stuff. She had grown up with mostly men around her so she had always loved having the girly things available to her since she was around men so much. "Thank you," she added, turning to the tub. There was still one concern she had.

Biting her bottom lip, she looked over to him. "I need you to do me one more favour. I... I don't think I can take my shirt off myself," she said softly, blushing lightly. "Would you help me get out of it?" she asked, turning her back to him. It was obvious that she still wanted to keep some sort of modesty but there were some things that she just wouldn't be able to do on her own for a little bit and she was going to have to accept that. It was a very loose necked and stretchy shirt so it was just a matter of getting it over her head without hurting her neck and shoulders much more.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent was already planning to head out of the bathroom so Allegra had the space to herself. As she asked him, shyly for some help to get out of her shirt. He smiled warmly, and as she turned around for him to help he walked over to her. He gently and without hardly touching any skin pushed her hair over to one side, making it easier to get the shirt of as he wanted to help. He made sure to stand behind her, not wanting to take advantage of the situation. He took the bottom of the shirt in his hand and carefully pulled it up, making sure he would not hurt the girl that was standing before him. Or even touch her skin, not that he did not want to, but he wanted to be professional about this, and she clearly could not get out the shirt herself.

He could not help but to look at her soft young skin, and he few bruises that were already showing from the hit she had taken earlier that evening. As he carefully pulled the shirt over her head and managed to free her from the piece of clothing he turned around and placed the shirt safely away. He did not turn around again so he could look at her, wanting her to feel safe in his presents. "Well lass, Ill let ya be for the moment. If ya need anythin' just give me a howler" he said and started to walk out of the bathroom.

[Natora]

Allegra grunted slightly as the shirt came up and over her head but other than that was able to get through it all rather painlessly. When she had no top on, she put her arms around her waist, trying to preserve what little dignity she had. She appreciated that he had not made a move on her there and taken advantage of something that he could have so easily done. "I will. Thank you," she said softly.

Once he was gone, she sunk into the bath tub after undressing. The hot water stung but it really did soothe all the muscles that were sore from the accident. She took a deep breath and relaxed into the water, closing her eyes and thinking about the evening they'd had together. It had been really quite nice and if she could, she would probably do it again. After coming home with bruises and the like, though, she doubted it.

She stayed there for almost a half hour before she decided to get out. The warmth had helped everything relax and she was pretty sure that the massage he had promised would feel divine. Dressing was a lot easier than the undressing had been. She came downstairs dressed as she had originally shown up. Her father would have no idea about the other activity she had participated in tonight. "Fresh popped popcorn?" she asked as she came downstairs and found him getting ready for the movie.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent moved down stairs as Allegra got into the bad. As he stood downstairs he smiled and started to preparing the couch by moving it closer to the TV. Since he did not know what kind of movie's Allegra would like, or knew he had rented a few and placing the DVD's on the table so Allegra could choose what movie to watch. He smiled and looked satisfied as he looked at the old couch and brand new tv. He liked it that Allegra loved the house, and it did mean a lot to him that she had told him so.

He cleaned up a bit, let Captain into the garden so he could do his business before the movie started and cleaned up after the dog after it walked inside. Captain happily walked back to his bone and started working on it again, his small tail happily wagging as he started munching again.

Vincent wondered how long Allegra would stay in the bath, but as he could hear her move around upstairs he knew she was getting out. He quickly put some clean glasses on the table, added some juices and soda's and started to make the popcorn when Allegra came walking down stairs. He smiled as he saw her, she looked far better now she had a warm bath and nodded "Ya look much better lass. Why don't ya sit down. I placed the movie's on the table, if ya want you can pick one. And about the popcorn.. want salty or sweet?" He finally asked "ow.. and there is a blanked lass.. wrap it around ya shoulders.. keep them nice and warm. Can get ya a sweater if ya want it"

He smiled, feeling more and more relaxed around her. She was a beautiful, exiting and strong woman. He had plenty experience with girls, complaining about all kinds of soars. While she did not once complained about what happened to her. He liked that in a person, just keep going and not complaining.. she was a true fighter.

[Natora]

Allegra laughed gently as he kept offering her more and more to try and make her comfortable. "Salty popcorn," she insisted. "And if I wrap myself up in the blanket, how are you going to give me that massage you were bragging about?" she asked him with a small smirk. "I'll go choose the movie and get comfy," she said to him. The smile on her face told him how comfortable she was with him. There was so much care for her that he was giving her. Perhaps she had misinterpreted the lack of contact before. Maybe he was just more of a gentleman than she already thought.

Walking into the living room, she looked at the movies on the table. There was a little bit of everything, including an action movie. After the action tonight, she felt like they could avoid that one safely. There was a good comedy there though that she had wanted to see: Father of the Year. She took it out and loaded it into the player before getting comfortable on the couch, tucking her legs underneath her.

[Dark Pigeon]

He nodded happily, he was a salty popcorn man himself and he was just happy to hear she liked them to. "Salty it is lass, ya get ya'selve comfortable. Them be ready in a few minutes" he said gently, watching her as she moved towards the couch, and looking trough the movie's. As he watched her putting the DVD into the player he turned around and started to make the popcorn from scratch. Soon the kitchen would smelled like melted butter and popcorn.

It took him a couple of minutes before he was ready. But nothing tasted as good as home made popcorn. Specially if you was to watch a movie with a new made friend. As he was carrying a big bowl full of popcorn to the couch he smiled, seeing how Captain slowly was crawling over the floor to lay close to Allegra. Trying to hide himself under her feet. "there we go! Some salty popcorn" he said as he sat down on the couch next to her. Vincent patted Captain on his head, letting the animal know that it was alright that he came to join them. He picked up the remote as he sat down against the back of the couch and placed the bowl full of popcorn between him and Allegra and started the movie. As the main title started he looked at her "You want somethin' to drink first lass? or do ya want to see if I can massage as good as I said?"

[Natora]

Allegra laughed gently. "Well how about a water and the massage at the same time as the movie?" she asked. "I'll get the water," she insisted. She looked down and then stepped over Captain as she got up and went to the kitchen. She found one of the glasses that he had filled with juice and soda, bringing them into the living room for them instead of the water, giving herself the juice and him the soda. She sat back down on the couch, wincing slightly since she had fallen half the way with Captain in the way of the couch. She moved so she was comfortable again before turning her back to him.

She needed to show him that she was independent and could get her own drink. Her self reliance was very important to her and there was no man that she would allow to take that away from her. "Chop chop, Mr. Donovan," she teased him as her shoulders waited to be rubbed by him. The movie started playing and the plot line started to be revealed. There was one thing that she could say about Vincent in her own life. She trusted him. Even after only knowing him for an evening, he had shown her such respect and kindness that she wanted to see him again she knew.

[Dark Pigeon]

He chuckled as she told him she wanted it all at the same time. She sure was not shy about what she wanted. He nodded when she said she went to get the water himself and watched her walk towards the kitchen while he relaxed himself further into the couch. There was no reason why he should stop her from doing so, she was to strong of a woman to let a man dictate her every move. It only made it all the more sad that she was constantly being watched, but it did show she was strong, stronger than he had given her credit for when he saw her the first time.

As she came back, handed him a drink and came to sit next to him he stood on the couch and came to sit on the backrest of the couch. He leaned over her as she smiled and carefully took the blanket from over her shoulders. "Have to be just behind ya for this lass, so no worries" he said with a friendly tone and rubbed his hands together to warm them up, right before he started to massage her neck.

And yes, Vincent Donovan knew what he was doing as he first warmed up her muscles before gently massaging them. Finding the muscles that got hurt with quite some ease. "Well, good thing is ya don't have a whiplash Allegra. But ya gonna be soar for quite some days" he said, feeling the knots in her neck and shoulder muscles while the both watched the movie. He laughed at the dark humor off it and after spending more than 30 minutes massaging her neck and shoulders he moved the blanket back over her and came to sit next to her. Still holding respectable distance as he did not know if she wanted to lean in against him or not. He took a hand full of popcorn and quickly drank his soda as he was thirsty. Silently hoping that Allegra wanted to have a second date with him.

[Natora]

Allegra smiled and let him massage her neck and shoulders, quite ecstatic that she did. He was very good with his hands and knew what he was doing. She had relaxed so much that she was going to fall asleep against him when he moved. She finished some of her juice as he went to sit beside her...on the other side of the popcorn bowl. "You Donovan men may be good with your hands, but honestly," she said with a smirk. She picked up the popcorn bowl and cuddled herself against his side. She wanted to be there with him and the warmth from him was very welcome. Setting the popcorn bowl on her lap, she finally felt like she was ready for the movie even though it was already playing.

As the movie played, she stayed cuddled up with her body against his side and her head resting back on his chest. The humour in this movie was quite good. It had a great story line as well. The whole idea of having way too many children to ever remember was incredible. Once it was done, she was incredibly relaxed against him. "So, have you ever had children that you might not know about?" she asked teasingly.

[Dark Pigeon]

He chuckled as she mentioned him sitting on the other side of the bowl. As she came to sit closer he lifted his arm so she could cuddle against him and placed it back. Gently holding her against him as they both watched the movie. As it ended and the bowl of popcorn was empty he looked at the girl resting against him and smiled. "Ya picked a nice movie Allegra" he said and turned of the TV. He wanted to spend some time with her without the TV turned on, see if they could learn to know each other a bit more.

Allegra's question made him blink rapidly and than laugh. She seemed to have the same idea and he shook his head. He had to think about it for a moment, should he tell her about his kid? their was really no reason not to and he loved talking about his son. " Got a five year old boy. His name is James." he said looking at her to see how she would reacted to the news he was indeed a father. "Thinks did not work out between his mom and me. We never got married or anything.. we had to much to drink and before we knew it she was pregnant. She was pretty pissed about it. But what ya gonna do? She left after he was born, they live in Denver now, she got married .. emm.. last.. october. Don't see him that much.. last time would be." He thought for a moment while he took his phone out if his pocket and showed her the front picture. A small boy and Vincent when he came to visit his son in Denver. They seemed to be in a Carnival were he had won a bear for his child. Both smiled proudly."Two years ago, this is him" he mused and smiled as he showed the picture of his son.

[Natora]

Allegra had just been teasing about him having children. When he admitted that he did indeed have a son, she felt terrible for him. He didn't get to see his son often and she had been teasing him about having other children. She took a nervous gulp as quietly as she could as she looked over at the picture. Looking at that precious picture of a father and a son, both seeming so happy and proud of each other. Her heart went out to him. She had never had a child, of course, but there was still a maternal instinct in her that wanted him to have his children home with him.

"I'm sorry you don't have him all the time," she said gently. "I'm sorry I was laughing about the idea of children. He really is quite cute," she said to him. As bad as this thought was, though, she was happy he didn't have the child. She wouldn't have even tried to go out with him if she hadn't known the situation beforehand. She wasn't ready to be a mother. She was still building her and her father's empire. There was no time to date someone who had a child. The child always needed to be taken care of more than the man that she was dating himself. She had tried it before. It hadn't worked out. With a small smile, she looked back at him. "You are a surprising man, Vincent Donovan. A very surprising man."

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent looked at the picture and smiled, memories of those days swimming around in his head while he looked at it. Being with his son, even if it was only a few days every other year were something he always looked up to. But with the bar having difficult times, and the mother of the boy not being to willingly to have him come over to see James.. it just made it difficult to spend time with his little boy. He put the phone back in his pocket and, he could see that Allegra was taken back by the sudden news and pulled her close as if to hug her. "Its quite alright lass, ya didn't know. I hope it doesn't make ya think any less of me?" he asked gently, worried that she would not be willing to date anyone that was a father. It would endanger his mission, but he had to be truthful to her as much as he could. Lies only made things so much more complicated.

"Ge's the best, smart little fella. He's a true Donovan boy. Doin' good at school and makin' loads of friends" He smiled as he spoke of James and took in a deep sigh, it was not easy bringing this subject up and he did not know if he wanted to talk about it some more or not. He wanted to talk about something simpler to get his mind of things and smiled as Allegra called him a surprising man. "me? surprising.. Ya be the one with fancy cars bein' a racer and all that. And ya made me drive that car of yours.. I be talking about drivin' a Noble for years after lass. So.. talking bout that.. I would like to see ya again soon. If ya want of course." he asked, hoping that she would say yes. It was getting pretty late and he knew she had to go home soon. At least before his own father would come walking into the house. That would make things only so much more complicated.

[Natora]

Allegra could see that he was a good and caring man when he talked about his son so wonderfully. One day he would have more children that he could talk about like that as well, she hoped, for him. Smirking, she was happy that she had been able to give him a good night, as much as he had given her one. When he offered for them to get together again, she smiled and nodded. "I'd like that. I thought we had a running date already, though," she pointed out to him with a small laugh. "Maybe we should postpone that one though."

She thought for a moment and then gently asked, "I know this is rather soon but would you like to come for lunch with me tomorrow? We'll have watch dogs but I would really like to treat you to lunch. You would have to wear something a little more dressed up. Do you have a button up shirt?" she asked him with a small smirk. She got up from the couch and reached out her hand to get him up so they could go.

[Dark Pigeon]

He was glad to hear she wanted to go out with him again, though going for a run did sound like a bad idea indeed. Vincent smiled and nodded as she came with the idea to go for lunch, he loved the idea and quickly went over his mind to see if he indeed had a button up shirt. he had only one, if he ever needed to go to the bank for business about the bar. He would dress to impress but it did not really seem to help. "I can dress all fancy, don't ya worry lass. And we can just ignore ya watch-dogs. I don't mind having them there with us. Just tell me where to go and how late, Ill be there." he said as he took her hand and got off the couch, following her back to their coats.

Now it was getting late he wanted to take her home before she really would be in trouble. But now the question remained.. how to do this? He could not bring her home, and he did not want to drop her off somewhere along side the road. Though he figured she could take care of her own, it was just not something he would do. He helped her into her coat, making sure she did not have to hurt herself and gave Captain a quick hug before he walked her out of the house and helped her into the car. As he started the car he kept it standing still on the drive-way. "So.. how are we going to do this? Do I bring you home? I don't mind, but I can see how you want to keep this night a little secret. So.. where can I drop ya off lass"

[Natora]

Allegra followed him to get the jacket on and appreciated the help, uttering a small, "Thank you," once the jacket was on. She followed him out to the car and got in, sitting there and waiting to go home, her heart wanting to stay out longer but knowing that she really did need to get home before her father had a heart attack or something. She waited while he got in.

"If you drop me off at the gas station on Bronsted and 3rd they'll see me and pick me up and you won't get in trouble or anything ridiculous," she said with a small smirk. "I'll be fine. Really. I don't want you getting in trouble if we are getting together tomorrow for lunch. They'll watch you too closely," she said to him with a small smirk. "Come on. Let's get me home so we can get together tomorrow."

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent knew she was right, and he did not want some Italian pigs putting their noses where they did not belong. "Gas station at Bronsted and 3rd it is" he mused and backed the car out of the driveway and headed towards the gas station. He found it a shame that the night was already over, he would have loved to talk with her some more, maybe get a drink at his bar before he had to bring her to the gas station. But he knew it was not possible, why could she not be just a girl? Instead of someone he had to use to get to his target. It frustrated him slightly, he liked Allegra and he almost felt sorry that he had to kill her father. Specially because she did not have a mother anymore.

As they kept driving and neared the gas station pretty quickly he slowed down a bit. This way he could be with her just a bit longer, but soon.. just to soon he could see the gas station coming in sight and he took a deep sigh. "well, there it is lass. The end of our perfect little evening.. well... despite the little crash ya made" he said gently and smiled as he looked at her. He drove the car up and parked it so she could get out and turned around in his seat so he could face her. "Thank ya for the evenin' lass. It been very interesting, so.. where do I need to go tomorrow all fancy lookin'." he asked again, still not knowing where he had to go."

[Natora]

Allegra sighed sadly as the gas station came into view. She wanted this evening to end about as much as he did. She had had so much fun with him and appreciated his kindness to her despite everything. "Come to the hotel, The Olympian. If you go to the front desk, they'll call me down for you," she said gently. "Thank you so much for tonight, Vincent. I had a fantastic time," she told him honestly. She leaned over and kissed his cheek before she pulled away and got out of the car. "I'll see you tomorrow. Now get outta here before you get shot," she teased lightly.

She walked away from the car and then towards the station. They had a phone there that she would use to call the men that would come get her. In a half hour, she was being led into the house and into her father's office. As soon as she walked in and the door closed behind her, she could tell her father was angry. You could feel it in the air. "You're getting two extra guards," he said simply. "Obviously you've had too much time on your hands with only three so you'll have five again from now on," he stated.

"Father that's just unreasonable," she started but was cut off quickly.

"YOU SNUCK OUT!! What if someone had gotten a hold of you? What if someone tried to use you to get to me?!" he demanded angrily. "You are all that I have left, my daughter. You will be kept safe even if it means that you will not work any longer. For now, you can keep your position with The Olympian. If you sneak out one more time, you've lost it," he warned her upset.

Allegra knew it was no use fighting him when he was this angry. She nodded simply and turned, leaving and going to her room, ignoring all the glares from the three guards that she normally had for evading them. For tonight, Brandon, who was normally very loud spoken, kept quiet. He knew that sometimes Allegra wanted space. Even though he didn't know where she had gone, he was determined that one night he might find out.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent drove back with a broad smile on his face. He did not have an night like this for a long time. Ever since James was born he was pretty much working to hard to pay for the alimony. Not many girls would want to hang out with a man that already had a child and he just loved it that Allegra did not seem to mind at all. She was one heck of a girl, such a shame he had an agenda. He would go out with her no matter what, he wanted to know more about this interesting wild girl and luckily for him tomorrow he would spend a part of the day with her.

As he parked the car in front of his bar he could see it was still open. His father greeted his son as Vincent walked in and it seemed pretty busy for the hour. "Dare yer ye lazy arse. 'oy wus yisser date!" he said loudly while he poured his son a tall beer. Vincent sat down next to Ian who patted him on the back and smiled "Gran' gran', she's a nice lassy. she liked yisser poke. we 'ad sum lef over so yer 'av somethin' ter ayte the-morra. so 'oy wus did it go the-nite? " Vincent said and saw how his dad smiled from ear to ear as he heard that Allegra liked is ice-cream. "Whaen pure gran', got a call raun six. few birds throwin' a bachelorette party. de boozer dat wud be caterin' it made a few mistakes. they asked if we did last notice party's an' oi said aye. whipped ian ter de grocery store, ter git sum chips an' waaat not. we jist kicked oyt de last birds.. an' vincent.. yer made a juicy nice provide the-nite! so draink yisser guiness! yer 'av somethin' ter celebrate" Vincent could not believe is ears and looked at Ian who nodded "Yup, still nade ter chucker de register but we tink we did juicy darn gran' the-nite."

All tree men celebrated the good night with laughter and some beers. He got Ian to do the bar for the next day for the time he was gone. His father was happy to see his son dating again and patted Vincent firmly on the back. Remembering him what he would do to him if he treated a woman any less than with respect. The night went on as Vincent finished doing the cash-register he beamed proudly, for the first time in weeks they the bar did outstanding for itself. As his father left and promised to bring Ian home. Vincent closed the bar and went to bed, but not before he got out his best button shirt and his best looking pants and shoes. Ready for the date he would have the next day.

..................

The next morning he decided to go for a run, the streets were bussing with life as he run passed hard working men and women going to or from work. He loved living in the Bronx, he grew up in it and he would not want to change it for any place in the world. After a full hour of running he came back into the bar, cleaned himself up before he went downstairs to do some work. Bringing in orders he had placed the day before and making new orders for the day after. Around 11.00 it was time for him to change into his button shirt and to leave the bar. Ian was right on time and wished him good luck.

It took him a small hour to get to the Olympian, as he looked at the large hotel he finally really understood why he had to wear a button shirt. He looked at the men and women walking in and out of the hotel, wearing suits that were as expansive as his fathers house. He was impressed, that a girl of Allegra's age had such a important job in a hotel like this.

As he walked to the reception he could see the woman standing behind it frown a little bit. He looked out of place, his shirt was cheap and not something you would see in a hotel like this. But it did not matter to Vincent, he walked towards her and greeted her with a warm smile "hello there lass, I'm looking for Misses Allegra Brambati?" he asked as she raised her eyebrow and looked at her college standing next to her. "off course sir, I will call for her. You can wait in the lounge area.. she will be here shortly" she mused as Vincent looked behind him and nodded and walked over at sat down.

[Natora]

Allegra had woken up rather early considering that she had been out so late. It was a good thing she was up though. She needed another hot bath. She stayed as long as she could reason in the tub. She was interrupted, of course, by someone knocking on the door, her thoughts of the night past interrupted abruptly. "Allegra. We're leaving in ten or you'll be late," Brandon's voice clearly came through the door.

A grumble and a drained tub later, she was in her bedroom, looking at her battered upper body from yesterday. It would be high collars for a week thanks to that idiot. And that was just what she wore. Getting dressed in a blouse that did up to the base of her neck and a jacket and skirt matched suit, she put on some heals and was good to go. A half hour later and she was in her office eating an omelette that the kitchen of the hotel had made and working on setting up things for the meetings she had scheduled today.

As promised, her father had increased her security. There were two watching in the lobby, two outside, and Brandon in her office with her at all times for the day. Allegra could tell that Brandon was still mad at her for sneaking out last night and so stayed quiet as she worked. When the front desk was put on speaker Allegra gently asked, "Yes?"

"Afternoon, Miss. There's a rather... plain gentleman that's here to see you. Didn't leave a name but he's certainly Irish," she told him.

"Thank you," Allegra said rather quickly, hanging up before Brandon's anger could get the best of him. As she finished up the last email she was working on, Brandon's upset and hurt voice cleared the silence. "It better not be him, Ali," he warned.

"Oh please," Allegra said as she stood, heading to the door. "What other Irishman do I know?" she asked him before walking out in public before Brandon could vent his anger too openly in private. Allegra walked down to the lobby and smiled when she saw her new friend. "Hello hello," she said with a gentle smile. "Come with me. I have a reservation here," she said to him.

With three men following them, she led her new friend back up to her office. None of the guards seemed okay with her having an Irishman there. She opened the door and walked in, taking a seat at her desk. "I'm sorry we have to eat here. We're having a...small problem with the kitchen. I've ordered in for us, though," she said and then nodded to one of the other chairs in the office. "Pull it around. I don't want a desk between us," she assured him.

"I do," Brandon muttered from one of the corners behind Vincent, earning himself a disapproving look from the only lady in the room.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent patiently waited in the richly decorated lounge area, he felt a bit out of place. Never in his life he had been in a place like this. He had only seen expansive hotels from the outside, and always wondered how it would be to be so 'crazy' rich that you could afford to spend a night or even more in a hotel like the one he was in now. The men wore suits that were perfectly tailored and fit them just perfectly. Vincent had been shopping for a good suit a while ago, and he knew that suits like those worth a fortune.

As Allegra came towards him he smiled and got of his seat. "Hello lass! Its good to see you again" he said to her as he put his hands in his pockets. "This be one fancy hotel lass" he said as she lead him trough the hotel and back to her office. He did not expect to end up there, but he really did not mind. It was nice and cozy, and he did feel a bit better knowing the did not have to eat in some fancy restaurant. As she told him he could sit next to him he did, but for Brandon's peace of mind he kept a small distance between them. He shook his head as he saw Allegra throw the man an angry look and could not help but to silently laugh. "What be the problem with the kitchen?" he asked out of curiosity.

[Natora]

Allegra smiled to Vincent as he asked what was wrong with the kitchen. "That's exactly why I wanted you here," she said with a small, mischievous smile. She had been planning this since last night when he said he was a chef in a restaurant.

Brandon couldn't believe his ears. "You're not seriously thinking of-" he started but was cut off when Allegra's phone rang and she answered it. There was a short part of her conversation, "Yes.... Mhmmm... Thank you... No, I have someone that can go get it," while she looked up at Brandon. After she put the phone down she smiled up at him. "Want to go grab lunch for us, please?" she asked him. Brandon left the office fuming as he went to get the lunch.

Allegra knew that the other two guards seemed as impressed as Brandon that she was about to offer a job to an Irishman but she didn't really care. "Now, I was going to say, I need someone that I can trust to run the restaurant and bar that we have reopening this weekend. I still haven't found someone to manage it so I was going to do it but I think you'd be perfect for the job. I know you have your own bar and I would only ask that you are here for service one night a week but you would work to make sure the menu and bar are stocked perfectly, that the right chefs and sous-chefs and whatever else a kitchen needs would be there and you would have complete control over the liquor and what's served. I want your flair here. It would do the hotel some good, I think."

Brandon came back in as soon as she finished her small speech and put lunch down on the desk. There was enough for all the people in the room and she had planned it that way.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent frowned as Brandon got send out to get the lunch for him and Allegra, what was she planning? As Brandon walked out of the office he looked at her with a questioning look. As she talked his eyes grew bigger, she was offering him a job. It would be hard work, very time consuming but he needed the extra cash. He knew she knew about his problems with his bar, and he wondered if this was her way of helping him out. Without insulting him by handing money. He knew he could manage this job, it was all he ever did but one day in the week was to little to get things organized. He stocked his bar every other day, kept track of what he sold and did not sell almost daily and knew out of the top of his head what he could and could not sell.

This, this was just perfect. He could do what he loved to do and working hard was something he loved. He leaned back in the chair and pushed his hand trough his hair, thinking about her offer. "I.. I would love that lass, truly. But ya cant manage a restaurant and/or bar being there only one day ever week. Specially if ya want things to get started... so.. If ya want me to do it perfectly, And I know I can.. ya need me here three days a week." he said looking rather bewildered at the sudden change of events. He did not expect an job offering when he went out to have some lunch with Allegra.

[Natora]

Allegra nodded softly when he said he would need to be here three days a week. "You can be here as often as you like. You'll be working on salary because you'll be the manager," she said easily. She reached over to the lunch she had ordered. Salads from Subway. It wasn't too fancy but it was a good lunch, she knew. She handed one of the five to Vincent and then took one for herself and then nodded for the others to grab one each.

She reached to a small stack of papers beside her and handed him one that was three pages long. "Read that while you eat. It's the details of what you'll be responsible for and what your pay will be annually," she told him gently and opened her salad to start eating.

The responsibilities he would have included hiring/firing of staff, organizing staff effectively, running the liquor and food count, covering shifts if needed, planning special events and coordinating with the manager of the hotel for advertisement, and running the kitchen/bar/restaurant. His salary, she had decided, would be $104,000 annually. That was what she would pay someone who had come from university with experience and that was what she would pay him. There were details in the paper that he had to accept a signing bonus though the papers never stated what they were.

[Dark Pigeon]

He opened the salad box and silently and carefully read the contract she had placed before him. It felt a bit strange to be hired or even take the job on the spot, but he knew he needed it. He smiled as he saw the salary, this would help him out immensely, it even would make it possible to change the bar as he would like it, pay the alimony he still owed his son. As he finished the last paper he looked it over once more, not finding what the signing bonus would be or what they were. But he decided to live dangerously and took a pen from her desk and signed his name on the dotted line.

'Vincent Caoimhín Donovan'

He pushed the papers towards her as he pushed some lattice into his mouth and smiled happily as they both started this little adventure. He got to see her more, and now he was working for the hotel there was only so little Brandon could do about it. He knew he had to do some shopping to get some clothing that would not make him look right for the job. "well lass, it seems we are colleges now" he mused "so, do ya still need to hire people for the kitchen? what kind of personnel do you have"

[Natora]

When Vincent mentioned they were collegues, she held back her laugh. "As long as you remember that I'm still the manager of the entire hotel including the restaurant that you manage, we'll be fine," she teased. She was completely ignoring the men around her that were horrified at the thought of an Irishman working for their boss...who was technically Allegra's father.

"Eat now. After lunch we'll go down to the restaurant and you can see what's there and we can talk more about work," she said to him. "So how have you been since Saturday?" she asked, referring to the day that they met at the bar. The men around them still didn't know where she had gone to and she didn't intend on them ever finding out. At least not this soon.

[Dark Pigeon]

"of course boss, I would not dare seein' it differently" he joked while he quickly ate some of his salad. He liked the idea of inspecting his new workplace and the thought of hiring people amused him greatly. He knew a few good cooks that could benefit from a new job, as they were held back in the restaurants they worked now. He knew how they cooked, how hard they could work but most of all.. that they would listen to what he had to say, and to each other. He could have kitchen running perfectly before the end of the month, but knowing that it had to be the next weekend he knew he had a challenge ahead of him. And no Donovan men would ever walk away from a good challenge.

"I been good! thanks for asking lass. Me dad I had a good night at the bar yesterday. We had a sudden bachelorette party. Had to improvise but we did very good. So I'm pretty content with how yesterday went. Mighty proud on me dad for working as hard as he did" he said, indeed proud that his father was able to pull something like that off in such short notice, and not once calling Vincent to tell him he had to come back. That it was important for the old man that is son was seeing someone again was pretty clear for Vincent. "What about you lass?"

[Natora]

Allegra smiled, enjoying hearing about the night before for Vincent and that it had gone so well for the bar. She ate her salad as he talked, enjoying listening to his voice and an accent different than the light Italian one that she was always so used to hearing around her. When he asked how her night was, she resisted the urge to smirk. "Well, I got to go out and have some fun last night. So that was good," she said gently. "Sadly, I didn't make it back to your fine establishment, though," she said with a half frown.

A few minutes later and she was done her meal as were her guards. They were always very good at keeping fed and normally were finished their meals before her. She took a drink of her water and asked, "Ready to go see what you'll be working with?" Standing from her chair, her body was very stiff. She knew it was going to be today but had to try and convince most other people around her that she wouldn't be.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent finished his salad "That's a shame lass, would have loved to see ya again yesterday. I still owe you that whiskey tastin' But as I am to work here now, I guess we can do some tastin' over here. Ill show ya what to sell and why." he said, enjoying that there was a little secret they both shared. As she finished her salad and invited him to join her for a small tour he nodded in agreement and stood up. He could not help but to snicker a little, he could see that she was a bit stiff. It was amusing to know she had to keep it a secret, like trashing a Saleen was a normal thing to do.

"You lead the way Allegra, Ill follow and see what I can do to make this restaurant and bar of yours up and runnin' in no time at all. Ya giving me quite the challenge, but that's just what I like" he mused and followed her out of her office. Brandon kept close to him, not wanting the Irish man walking next to Allegra. It amused Vincent, the man was trying so hard that he failed in doing his work. But he let him, giving the man the 'lead' and showing him some respect. If he wanted to come close to Allegra's father he needed to have the trust of Brandon and his men as well. And that seemed to be an ever greater challenge than getting the bar running in time.

[Natora]

Allegra led him out of the office and down the stairs to the lobby that he had been in not too long before. Turning down a small hall, there was a restaurant to the right. It was decorated richly with muted lighting. All the furniture was a dark and rich mahogany. The design was beautiful with a piano in the corner that would be played, she assumed, during dinner hour.

"There are three waitresses that decided to stay through the remodeling and the head chef from before as well. If you want to get rid of him, you're welcome to. It is your place now," she said to him. She stood next to the entrance, letting him wander around. Once she had given him some time to look around the restaurant, she walked up to him. "So, I have to get back to work. About those signing bonuses," she said to him. She took out a small handful of money. "Two thousand for a few new suits and whatever else you might need. And no manager of mine is walking to work," she added, pulling out a set of keys that looked oddly familiar. "It's parked out front for you. If you have any questions I'll be in my office. We can talk about a budget when you're ready."

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent took a good look around the restaurant, it sure was almost like he would design it himself. He trailed his fingers over the mahogany furniture and smiled as he heard that there were three waitresses left and the head chef. He did not want to fire any of them, it was important to have some people around that knew how things worked around here. It was important to have some impute, he made the mental note to talk to them and listen to the ideas they had for the restaurant. "That's okay lass, I want them to stay. Is good to have some people around that know what kind of people come and go, Ill go talk to them later today. See what idea's they have" he said as he looked around him and felt more and more assured that the decision he made to come and work here was a good idea indeed.

As she told him she had to leave, and brought up the signing bonus. He could not believe that she pushed 2.000.000 dollars in his hands as if it was nothing. But he truly had to gasp for some air as she pushed the key's to the noble in his hands. He wanted to take it and held the keys in his open hand as he looked at it. He would be driving his own Noble M600 as a company car. He could see himself driving it around, wearing a good looking suit as if he was some important lawyer of business man. But he knew it would only bring so much trouble, he had no parking space for it and he felt a bit overwhelmed as he held the car-keys. "I really.. thank you .. but I cant take the car" he said reluctantly for he truly wanted to have it. "Don't have a garage lass, I cant own a car like this without having trouble paying taxes over it. Its really nice of ya and all.. But I cant take it" he said and handed her back the car key's.

[Natora]

Allegra smirked and shook her head. She knew he would have come up with some sort of excuse. That was specifically why she hadn't put in what the signing bonus would be directly. She took her hands away when he tried to hand her back the keys. "Now now, Mr. Donovan. You signed a legally binding contract saying that you accept any and all signing bonuses offered you. You now make $104,000 a year. Take $5,000 and build a garage and you certainly can afford the taxes," she said simply. "There aren't any. The insurance is in your name already and everything is done. You're taking the car," she pointed out to him.

With that, the satisfied smirk painted on her face, she turned and walked away, the three guards following in her wake. "Your staff is coming in in a half hour to talk to you about what you want to do and I'll expect a budget after that," she said to him simply. She was quite satisfied with herself. She had granted a wish of one of her newest personal interests without making him feel like he wasn't a man. It was the perfect solution to be able to see him as often as she wanted.

Going up to her office, she went back to work for the rest of the day, completing the responsibilities for the rest of the hotel.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent stood there as the smile on his face grew wider and wider, he was owning a super car now. He took he keys and placed them deep inside his pocket and felt like this was the best day of his life. Now he not only had a new job that would pay him enough to keep his own bar afloat and even pay Ian for working there. But he got to do something he loved as well.. driving an overly expansive super car that luckily was not modified in any way. "Thank you Allegra, you will not be disappointed. I will talk the personnel and have a budget ready as soon as possible" he said.

As she walked of he walked further into the restaurant and got behind the bar. He was a born bar-tender and would love to spend some time serving costumers if he could find the time. But for now he needed personnel and he needed them quickly. It took him some time, but as he managed to get some papers and a pen he started to write down some idea's and distributers he used himself for the liquor he sold. The rest of the day he spend talking to the personnel, the three service girls seemed reluctant at first that a stranger was to tell them what to do. But as soon as he asked them for their input they soon would talk, give him the idea's and wishes they had for the bar and told him about the kind of costumers they had. Vincent listened, wrote down their ideas and had a very nice chat with the Chef cook as they both discussed the menu and what they both wanted for the restaurant.

At the end of the day Vincent came back into the office and put down a neatly formed typed down plan and budget for the restaurant. In it he had written how many more personnel he needed and, their pay annually even some names people he wanted to hire. Names of distributers of liquor and good biological and healthy food and ingredients and a small muck-up of the new Menu, ideas of events that he made with the cook and one of the service girls and many more necessary work was done to make the paperwork not only very clear but even extremely detailed.

He sat down at the other end of the desk and smiled at her "There ya go lass, I told ya you would not be sorry?"

[Natora]

Whenever Vincent was near Allegra, there were three guards around. She finished the email she had been working on quickly before she turned to Vincent and took the papers that he had brought her. Quickly she skimmed everything, mostly concentrating on the numbers. It was clear from her expression and concentration that she was actually taking this seriously. She wouldn't have given the Noble to just anyone. When she was done quickly reading through it, she had to give her opinion on things.

"Just a few things. For the events, no live bands. The piano is there to keep it classy and, since this is a hotel, there are rooms above the restaurant and so I don't want them disturbed too badly. Second, I need you to find a way to reduce the budget by $1,000 for the first six months. After that, as long as it's doing well, I'll increase the budget for you by $5,000," she told him simply and handed the papers back to him, a challenge painted in her eyes. "The rest of it looks good," she added, knowing that she was supposed to give some sort of positive feedback.

[Dark Pigeon]

--- The next few days---

Vincent worked hard the next few days. Next to driving his new car, buying suits, going to a hairdresser and celebrating his new job he had to hire new staff for the hotels restaurant, tell Ian he had to work a few days in the week in his own bar and explaining why he got to drive such a expansive car. His father was not liking it one bit, he knew who owned that restaurant, and he did not like his son working there one bit. But as stubborn as his father was, Vincent was even worse and ignored his fathers pleading words to stop working at the Olympian right now.

Hiring new waitresses and kitchen staff was far more difficult than he had anticipated. Most of them did not know what drink was what and did not seem to have the social skills he was looking for. He had hoped that he would run into good men and women within two/three days tops. But it seemed that NY was almost out of good hard working men and women. But he hired the last one on the spot just hours before the big opening.

He was pretty stressed out, but he did love working as hard as he was now. He needed to have his own bar stocked and the restaurant as well, but luckily Ian was a fast learner and knew within only one lesson about 'stocking and restocking' how it was done. Vincent only slept a few hours every night and the rest of the time he spend working for the hotel, making sure everything would be just perfect so that the grand opening would be as a hotel as this deserved. A good piano player was hired for the party and every single waitress and kitchen help had to work that evening, making sure that the opening party would go as planned.

As the party was only a few hours away he stood in the middle of the restaurant. Answering questions of the staff and making sure everything was stocked and put on the right place. He felt very exited and helped the men and women of his staff making sure that every detail was just right. It seemed that they liked Vincent right on the spot, he was strict but he did listen to what they had to say. Somehow that was something most of them were not used to.

[Natora]

As the next few days flew by, Allegra was getting more sore before she felt any better at all. For two days she spent it all locked in her office so that she didn't have to move much, sending others to do the things outside of the office for her. One tradition that she had started, however, was always finding Vincent whenever he was working and saying hello to him.

As the night of the grand opening became closer, she knew that eventually she was going to have to tell her father that she had hired an Irishman. The fact that she continually didn't find the "right time" or the "right words" kept getting in the way though and she made it through until the grand opening not telling him a word. What would it help to worry her father about him going to work? The only thing that truly surprised her was that none of the guards seemed compelled to tell him either.

When the night of the grand opening came, Allegra had gone home before she normally would have so that she could get changed for the event. When she returned to the restaurant, she was dressed as richly as an owner of the hotel should be. In a knee-length black cocktail dress, that had long sleeves to cover her bruises, with a purple pair of shoes and a purple clutch, she looked the part and came into the restaurant an hour before the reopening began. She walked inside, impressed with all that was around her. Smiling, she walked up to the bar where Vincent was currently stocking everything with the waitresses. "How does a girl get service around here?" she demanded and sat at the bar, a perfect smirk painted on her face.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent popped his head from behind the counter and smiled as he saw Allegra. "Can ya finish this for me lass?" he asked the waitress, she nodded and greeted Allegra before heading back to work. Vincent leaned on the bar and showed her a cheeky smile. He was dressed in a full suit that made him look the part as the manager of a hotel restaurant. "I'm sorry Misses, we are currently working hard on preparing for the reopening." He mused "But... if you don't tell my boss I'll get you something to drink." he said with a smirk painted on his face.

He looked around himself and smiled "Only a few days and I got this all working just fine, I hope ya are impressed Lass. Been working quite hard, if everything keeps going as it does there will be no problems at all" he said while quickly adding some more bottles behind him. He took an other one of the shelve and picked up two small glasses. One for Allegra and one for himself. He poured in the rich colored whiskey and placed in front of Allegra and held his one up for a small toast. "To a perfect opening" he said.

[Natora]

"Now, now," she chastised him as he pulled out two glasses for them. "We don't drink on the job, now do we?" she asked him, half serious and half joking. She really hoped that this would be her only glass for the night. When he offered a toast, she raised her glass as well. "Nothing is perfect. I will toast to a grand reopening, though," she offered and raised her glass, clinking the cups in a toast before he could argue with her at all. Taking a small sip, she realized quickly that this whiskey was the same one he had introduced her to at his own bar. It was nice as she had a moment to reminisce of a fantastic evening, and evening to follow.

"So, the service better be top notch wherever I am sitting because my father will be coming to see the grand reopening, too," she told him. "The boss's boss's boss will be here and all," she said with a small laugh. "Perhaps we should wait before we introduce you as my very romantic interest," she offered with a small whisper so the others wouldn't hear and think he was favoured. He was! But there was no reason everyone else needed to know.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smiled as she scowled at him, for pouring the rich flavored Whiskey he wanted to toast with her, for he had pulled of something rather impossible as hiring and getting the entire restaurant up and running within a few days. He was rather proud of it, he knew that he had outdone himself and could hardly wait for the feast to start and at the end finally have a good night of sleep. As they both toasted and he saw her eyes light up as she realized what she was drinking he felt very content with himself. He had made sure that this brand of whiskey would be in the bar, it was not expansive but it did taste like it was worth a few million bucks.

"Ay lass, ya don't have to worry one bit. Ill have this bar and the restaurant running smoothly. Ya just sit back and relax and show your dad what you have accomplished in such a short time span. That is, hiring a handsome Irish man to do the work for ya" he joked and took a sip of his whiskey. Hearing that her father would be there was kind of a surprise for him, the man hardly showed his face in public. After his wife died the man was very paranoid that someone was out there to kill him. He was not wrong either. More and more the other 'family's' wanted him out of his territory. The people Vincent was working with tried to take him out for some years now, and it just could not be done. Vincent smiled as he heard he was coming. "So, Im your very romantic interest am I now" he said, placing his glass on the bar as he gently let the golden liquid swirl inside the glass. "ya better tell him quick though, ya don't want to hold secrets for ya over protective dad. But I'll be on me best lass, I will that man feel even more proud of his beautiful daughter"

[Natora]

Allegra didn't miss the compliments that were hidden inside his words. They made her smile, glad that she was interested in him. He was a good man and she could tell. She stood up as the hour came near to where they would open. She had already walked by a line of people that were staying in the hotel and excited they wouldn't have to brave the outside rain storm that was threatening to get a good meal. "Well, I never take credit where credit is due so he will have to meet the man that accomplished something so great," she said with a smile.

She knew she had challenged him, thrown him under the bus almost, just to see what he was capable of. If tonight went well, it would show that he was the perfect man for the job and she had done well. "Maybe I'll introduce you to him after the meal is done, though," she thought out loud, a smirk dancing on her lips. "But when you're ready, there's a line of people wanting to get in. You could open ten minutes early for them if you're ready," she said to him. Raising her glass to her lips, she took another small sip of the delicious whiskey. "I'll take a table for six," she told him with a small smile, knowing he didn't like being watched but appreciating him in the fine suit anyways.

[Dark Pigeon]

As time came near and it became time to open the doors, Vincent had made his way towards them. He looked around at 'his' restaurant and could only than feel pride of how everything was going, but also how nervous he truly was. He quickly fixed his tie and hair and looked at the waitresses who all seemed ready and as nervous as he was. Just minutes ago he had gave them and the kitchen staff a small pep-talk, letting them know that if anything was wrong they had to come to him, they should stay polite no matter what and that today was the big day. If they made it true this there was nothing that could ever stop them again.

But also nervous because he was to meet the man he was to kill, he knew he could not do it today without getting killed himself, or getting imprisoned which would only mean he would be killed a bit later. He never got to talk with the people he was to take down, he never knew them for who they were. Besides the information that was provided to him so he knew who his mark was. He hoped that he would not like the man, that it would be easy to kill him later on. As he thought about it he tried to focus himself on the present moment. He had to open the restaurant to let people in, later if everyone was seated he had to work his ass of to keep things going. For him but also his staff it was all new, they still had to learn to work together and seeing that they only knew each other for a day or two it was double as hard for them to make it all look as professional as possible.

As he opened the doors, feeling his heart pounding in his chest as he let the first guest in he smiled politely and greeted every single one. He walked a majority towards their seats while one of the other hostesses helped the rest of them towards theirs. Soon the peace and quiet that had filled the restaurant was filled with the chatter of the numerous guests that were finally sitting down. The waitresses started their dance between the tables, serving, answering questions and quickly making their way back to get every single guest their drink.

Before they would all be able to dine Allegra would give a small speech. Welcoming the guests inside the restaurant and with that opening the grand opening officially. After that, Vincent knew true 'hell' would break loose as every one would want to eat. Luckily for him he had a pre-made menu for the evening. Everyone could only choose between two options of every single course. Not only would things go faster, but it did keep the costs down for the party, as Allegra had wanted.

[Natora]

Allegra wandered around as people started sipping on their drinks, asking what they liked about the new arrangement and comparing it to the last one if they weren't first time guests. Her father was going to make an entrance as he normally did when he decided to go out so she would wait for him to come and the buzz about him to die down before she would make her speech. Part of her speech was to introduce the new manager anyways and she figured a public admission of what she had done would be the best way to avoid too serious a punishment for bringing an Irishman into his precious chain of hotels.

When he did arrive, it was with his normal flair, three body guards to each side of him. Four of them found places among the tables along with three of Allegra's. Allegra and her father would both sit in the middle of a table for six with a guard on either side so no one could get too close. Once he was seated, after greeting a few guests that were around the table that he and Allegra would share, Allegra walked to the center of the restaurant and tapped a spoon gently against her glass to get everyone's attention.

Once all the noise had died down, she was finally able to begin. "Welcome everyone to our grand reopening! I know this will be a fantastic evening for everyone with the delicious food that we can all already smell cooking behind me," she said with a smile as her back was indeed facing the kitchen. "Many of you have been to this restaurant before and been less than impressed which is why we chose to close it and renew and refresh its look. With that new paint and chairs, though came one piece of the puzzle that couldn't be avoided. I have hired a new manager that has conquered this week phenomenally and exceeded all expectations I had of him. Without a doubt this would never have been completed in time if it weren't for the hard work of our new manager, Vincent Donovan," she said, taking a step back and using her hand to introduce him. After a small round of applause, and avoiding her father's glance, she continued, "So, if there are any compliments about the meal or the new settings, please tell me as we love your feedback. In the same case, if there are any complaints, please notify Mr. Donovan." The comment earned a few laughs and that was what she had been hoping for. "Now, without any further adieu, please be kind and patient with your waitresses tonight as we do have a full house and enjoy what will be a fantastic meal in our new restaurant, Donovan's Lounge," she said to them.

That was something she hadn't told Vincent. The name. They hadn't created a sign that she liked quite yet so she hadn't approved one for the grand opening. Without looking back at Vincent, not really wanting to see his reaction to the name, she walked back to the seat that was across from her father and sat between the guards that were already waiting for her. As soon as she sat down she knew she was in trouble. The first thing her father commented was, "Interesting new choices."

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent was busy making sure that everything went smoothly and it did. He was already proud of his team and it only just had started. As everyone had something to drink, and the smells of the kitchen could me smelled faintly inside the restaurant he smiled. He looked at Allegra taking a stance and nodded politely as he was introduced as the new manager of the hotels restaurant. That she complimented him on his hard work made him smile even bigger as he looked at the waitresses standing next to him, as they smiled as well. He and the girls laughed at Allegra's joke, and he nodded in agreement. He did not mind getting complaints, he was as laid back and easy going as any person could ever get.

The big surprise, and to his shock.. and that was clear to see on his face when she introduced the Restaurants name. "Donovan's Lounge'. He blinked rapidly as two of the girls patted him on the back, seemingly proud of their manager as they were quite surprised as well. As Allegra walked back to her seat and the chatter filled the room again he quickly ordered them to start working again. The orders where already made, the only thing that had to happen was serving the guests their meals.. now the real challenge awaited them.

Vincent followed them to the kitchen, the loud noises of pots and pans and the shouts of the chef cook clear to all as he ordered the other cooks around. The Chef was a difficult man, he seemed to frown almost every moment of the day but he knew what he was doing, and what he did was almost perfect. Vincent and he were quite different from each other but that just seemed to work out just perfect. Where Vincent was to open minded Andrew would hold back, and vice versa. Making them able to work quite fast and making rash decisions on the spot.

With hands short, and the waitresses running around Vincent had took it upon him to serve the table were Allegra was seated. With several bowels of soup he walked towards their table and smiled as he walked towards the guard. "just soup boys' he mused as he walked passed them and served the first bowl to his bosses boss. Mister Bramboti himself.

[Natora]

Allegra shifted in her seat until she was comfortable. "They are my decisions to make, are they not?" she asked him back gently, not trying to challenge him but remind him that he had chosen to give her this responsibility instead of allowing her any knowledge of the other side of family business. He continued to give her some small talk that wouldn't matter if it was heard and spread among the people that were here in attendance.

When Allegra heard Vincent's voice as he came to serve them their first course, she looked up to him, smiling softly, trying not to give too much away about the relationship between them. Of course she had been gaining feelings for him ever since he had taken on the large responsibility she had put on him. He had taken it and run very well with it. Allegra had been taught manners well and the table waited until everyone had soup in front of them before they bowed their heads to say a silent grace quickly.

Allegra had to tackle something and before Vincent could get too far away, she put the idea out in the open. "You know, father, Vincent's responsibility is not only here. In fact he owns and runs his own bar in the bronks," she told her father. A nod was all she received in return for the information. "Actually, we were going to be going on a dinner date tomorrow evening," she said softly a she took a bite of soup. She had been intending it for quite a while now and just simply hadn't told her father yet about it.

This comment, however, elicited a reaction. "Over my dead body," he said quietly enough that no one would be able to hear it if they were easedropping on the conversation.

[Dark Pigeon]

As Vincent walked away from the table he could not help but overhear Allegra trying to oversell him towards her father. It was clear in the her fathers eyes that he did not like the situation, but more she he did not like Vincent at all. It made it a bit easier to for Vincent to see the man as nothing more than a mark, a way for him to get he riches that he deserved. Though with is new found job it did became better. Within a few months he would be able to pay off all his depts. And get work done on the bar to make it just the way he always wanted it to be.

The guests all seem very content with their soup, as the waitresses walked up and down to make sure everyone had what he or she wished it became clear to Vincent that at least the first course was going well. But the evening was not over, the second course of the four in total still needed to be made and served. And with his experiences in this particular field he knew that there was always someone giving the kitchen and the staff trouble.

When everyone had finished there small soup it was time to clear the tables and for the second course to arrive. Vincent made his way back to the larger table, the one with Allegra and her father and other members of the 'family'. He smiled politely as the guards glared him down, if their boss did not like him then either did they. But Vincent would not be himself if he let it all just slide of his shoulders. He was glad to see that every single bowl was empty, at least the 'boss' trusted him and his workers enough to eat the food that was made for him. " Was everything to your liking?" He asked as he held his hands firmly behind his back and looked around the table. Only a few glares that showed the slightest of approval showed him that at least the other members liked the soup. But did not wish to give Vincent any more credit for the lovely evening he had planned. But still Vincent smiled politely as he looked at Allegra as he started to pick up every single bowl so he could return them to the kitchen.

[Natora]

"It was quite good. Thank you," Allegra commented gently, trying not to make too much eye contact to avoid her father's wrath later on. She knew what her father was thinking and she only hoped that there wouldn't be a punishment awaiting her because of the choices she had made regarding the restaurant. She had merely been wanting to help a new friend without directly helping him. Simple as that. It didn't matter though to her father. To him it was an utter betrayal of his hate for everything and anything that had to do with the Irish.

"Compliments to the chef," her father agreed, purposely leaving out any compliment that might imply that Vincent himself had done well. Allegra hated that her father was acting this way but it was how it was going to be it seemed. There wasn't anything that she could say about Vincent that would make her father feel any better about him and she had been trying already through the first course.

The rest of the meal progressed much the same, Vincent bringing and clearing their dishes while Allegra was forced to ignore him as her father did. What more could she do without making her father more angry. When the dessert was brought around, though, Allegra stopped Vincent from leaving, reaching behind her chair and putting a gentle hand on his arm. The movement and the way she was positioned made her have to avoid a wince of pain as her bruises were resting against the chair painfully. "You should have dessert with me," she said softly. In a rather bold move, she stood from her table and took the dessert with her. "Surely you can spare five minutes of time," she said gently as her father's neutral expression watched her with furious eyes on her. How dare she so blatantly offend him.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent was being a true gentleman, it was clear that Mister Brambati did not like him and would not compliment him on anything he did. But it only made it so much more of a challenge to serve the table and to get Mister Brambati to like him. And Vincent loved challenges. He smiled sweetly as he promised Allegra's father he would bring the compliments to the chef personally. He would not have that Italian bastard ruining his evening, and he even made it a small game for himself he served their table without ever loosing his smile and polite behavior towards the man that clearly hated his guts.

The whole evening seemed to go perfectly, only two complaints but luckily only minor as the waitresses were clearly having to much people to serve. But nothing happened that Vincent could not handle himself, and his always shining smile seemed to make people feel comfortable. As the deserts were finally being served he walked back to the table. Still the hateful glares of the family, but no one could surpass the burning hatred behind Mister Bramboti's eyes. It made Vincent wonder how long he would be able to keep his job. But that was something he had to worry about later on. As he wanted to leave he felt Allegra's hand on his arm and smiled "Anything wrong Misses Bramboti?" he asked with a sweet voice. As she told him that she wanted to have desert with him he smiled "I would be delighted Misses Bramboti" he mused and could not help but the smile towards mister Bramboti as Allegra stood and took her desert with her. "I will bring your daughter back shortly Mister Bramboti, please enjoy your desert" he said friendly and walked off with Allegra.

[Natora]

After they were out of earshot, Allegra commented, "Call me Misses Bramboti one more time and I'll fire you." It was a light hearted comment meant to tease him rather than upset and actually threaten. She walked with him to the bar and took a seat with him. "Tonight seems to be going rather well. Of course, I am seeing it from a spectator's stand point. How do you believe it's going?" she asked him curiously.

It was one thing to watch it all run rather smoothly but it was a whole other ballgame being the man behind the desk making all the calls about what worked and what didn't and how smoothly it was truly running. She needed to know if he believed that he could continue working as much as he was here. She knew that he wanted to and that he had accepted her challenge with zeal and done incredibly well with it but she needed to know that he could continue to out perform everyone like he was doing.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent chuckled as she threatened to fire him if he would ever call her Misses Bramboti again. He could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice that she was playing around with him, instead of being serious. As he sat down he took the liberty to quickly pour himself a glass of water and gestured to some of the waitresses that some people were without anything to drink. Quickly the young women walked off and Vincent smiled content on how good they listened. As Allegra wanted to know how everything went he got more serious and raised his eyebrows. "Thinks are going good Allegra, only a few complaints. Drinks or food being served at the wrong table, that sort of thing. Nothing to worry about. The waitresses have to get used to working with each other, but them are trying hard I can tell ya that. These are fine men and women I hired. So I don't see anything going badly in the future. But the party is not over yet. So anything can happen."

Vincent looked around and drank some of his water. From his seat he could over see the entire restaurant and only saw content faces. Well.. almost everyone was. From her he could see Mister Bramboti and the man was not amused. Vincent looked at Allegra and shook his head "Ya are bold lady Allegra, your father is pretty angry. He ain't liking me a lot now is he?" he asked as he looked over at the man and than back to Allegra.

[Natora]

Allegra finished the bite of her dessert before answering him. "He doesn't like any Irishman," she said softly. "Nor Russian, nor Japanese, really. It eliminates half of New York if we're honest about who my father dislikes," she pointed out to him. "I understand that most of what he wants for me is protection and to keep me safe but there comes a limit that he seems to not want to press past for anything," she remarked before taking another bite from her dessert.

After a deep breath, her heart pounding, she managed to ask what she had wanted to ask him for a while. She hadn't seen much of him except for when they were working and it bothered her. Did he want to see more of her and spend more time with her? She knew she did but he had been under a lot of pressure from his new job and there was a lot on his plate. She just wanted more time with him. He was a good man as far as she could tell but she knew that he had needed some time.

"Would... Well... I mean, I know you're a busy man but...Would you stay here tonight? With me? We could get adjoining rooms and there would have to be guards and all but we could at least kind of stay together," she offered gently. "It's public so I would have an easier time convincing my father to let this happen," she tried to explain.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smiled gently, he felt sorry for Allegra that her father was such an hateful man. She clearly was not like him, otherwise he would not be sitting her with her in a hotel restaurant that was named after himself. He found her to be a caring person, he knew that she was helping him out but the way she was doing just felt right to him. And it slowly made him like the girl a bit to much. "He sounds like a hateful man, but if hate fixes on your soul lass.. its hard to get ride of it. It must be hard on ya seein' him like this" he said gently as he drank some of his water, truly wondering how difficult it had to be for Allegra to have a father like Mister Bramboti.

He could see she was about to ask or say something that difficult for her to do. He placed his hand on her's and ever so slightly tilted his head. As she asked him to stay the night he smiled, the way she asked it made the otherwise strong looking young woman seem shy. "I'll love to lass, gonna be a long night working and all for both of us. Ill love to see you a bit more, and not just work related" he said gently as he softly rubbed the back of her hand. "And them guards? I just gotta get used to it, but that's fine lass. Ya dad just needs to see that I'm not some scary Irish lad. Give him some time"

[Natora]

"Don't forget, you're also responsible for room service now," she said with a small smirk, teasing him lightly. Hearing that he wanted to come and spend more time with her made her feel excited with butterflies in her stomach. It was an incredible night and the only problem would come when she had to tell her father what she planned on doing. For the next three minutes though, she had a plan that would make her extremely happy.

"I want to tell you something but it's not really an appropriate conversation topic for here. I'll tell you when we're in a more private place" she offered to him. Turning her hand, she held his in hers for a long moment, enjoying the physical touch that he was finally willing to give. She looked down at her dessert and realized she had already finished it. "I should get back to the table. I'll call down here and give you the room numbers once I have them. My father will want to leave soon," she said gently.

She stood from the seat she had been sitting on and left the plate where it was. "Congratualtions, Vincent. This was a spectacular opening night," she said to him softly.

Vincent was right about one thing. The night was still young and there was a chance for everything to go wrong still.

At the door two men walked in. Japanese. They had obviously also heard that Mr. Bramboti would be out tonight and wanted to do something with it. Both pulled guns out of their jackets, one pointed it at the big boss and the other pointed the gun at the back of the daughter's head ready to pull the trigger.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smiled as he saw her reaction, she truly seemed happy that he decided to stay. He could see that she liked him far more than he liked her, but that was just how he had it planned. "You should have me bring you something to your room then" he joked and held her hand gently inside his. As her dessert was now gone, and she still was working just like him he knew she had to go again. Before she did she seemed to be willing to share a small secret but that it had to wait "we have all the time later tonight Allegra" he said as if it would make her feel more comfortable.

As she left he gestured the bartender to take his glass and the empty dessert bowl. It was not time to remove the bowls from the table's. Within now and a half a hour everyone would either order drinks and stay, or leave. Vincent gave it a couple of seconds before he followed Allegra towards her seat so he could remove the bowls. As soon as she turned around to be seated Vincent could see the Japanese man walking into the bar. He smiled but it quickly faded as he saw what their trough intentions were.

Without thinking about it Vincent grabbed Allegra and both fell on the ground. The guards that held watch saw the Japanese man as well and covered their boss, while others forced the older man on the ground. Only inches away from Allegra and Vincent the man fell on the ground, covered by at least tree man lying on-top of him while gunshots where fired frequently.

Everyone in the restaurant started to scream and panic, while the Japanese shot as many of the guards as they could, as well some of the guests that stood in the way the Guards made pulled out their guns as well. Shooting at the two man. Both got shot rather quickly while only one of the guards was killed and two guests were severely hurt from the shooting inside the restaurant.

Vincent held Allegra down, covering her head with his arms and her body with his as the guards made their way over to the shooters to make sure they were death. Vincent looked straight into the eyes of Mister Bramboti, it was strange to see the man pinned down on the ground, fear and anger clear in his eyes. To think that Vincent should be the one taking him down made the whole situation very awkward. As the guards shouted that they where dead, Vincent let go of Allegra and sat down on the ground next to her "are ya okay lass?" he asked, truly being worried about the girls wellbeing.

[Natora]

When Allegra fell to the ground with Vincent, she had to force her eyes closed and bite down on her lip to avoid crying out in pain. Most of the bruising from the crash had gone but there was one on her shoulder that still hurt quite a bit. She hadn't seen the shooters and at first didn't understand what was going on, until the shots rang out. At that point, she tried to make herself as small as she could under Vincent's protective form.

The fear that Vincent had seen in her father's eyes was misplaced. The part of this that frightened him was that his daughter might be taken away from him too soon as well. The fact that an Irishman was protecting her rather than one of the five guards that was supposed to be looking out for her also irritated him greatly. Once the shots were finished and he was let up from the ground, he went over to his daughter first, concerned about the same question that he heard Vincent ask her.

"Thanks to you," she said gratefully as she looked at him. "Are you okay?" she asked him, feeling her father's arms wrapped around her in a hug and knowing he was all right as well. He held her tightly, almost too tight as she lost her breath before he let her go.

Reluctantly, Mister Bramboti looked up to Vincent. "I owe you her life. There is nothing more precious to me," he told the Irishman. "Name your price," he stated simply, not wanting to owe someone anything.

Allegra piped up with an idea before her father could argue. "Allow him to see me," she said simply. "As in dates and such," she offered. The look in her father's eye showed how much he truly hated the idea.

In any case he looked up to Vincent and asked, "Is that fair? Or would you prefer to take something else in reward?"

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent looked how Mister Bramboti hugged his daughter, it had to be terrible for the man to even think about loosing her as well. Vincent smiled faintly as Allegra informed about his well being "I'm fine lass" he said gently and looked up at the guards that were surrounding them. Keeping the scared hotel costumers away from them while they all moved out of the restaurant quickly. While some of the waitresses had huddled together the bartender already had phoned the police, within moments they should arrive.

As mister Bramboti asked about a reward, and seeming reluctant to ask for it. Vincent could not help but to feel offended by the question, and showed clearly as he looked at the man. As if saving the life of a person needed to be rewarded, as if he did it just because of that. He shook his head, wanting to say that there was nothing he wanted in return for saving the life of Allegra. But before he could she interfered and named a price.

He looked at Allegra, he could hear it in her voice how desperate she was for some more freedom. He wanted to help her, but asking to date her would not grand her such a thing. Vincent shook his head as he looked at Mister Bramboti "Ya give this lass some more freedom Mister Bramboti, I understand how it is to have a child, fearing loosing them and feelin' powerless. But ya aint helpin' her with this golden cage. So ya want a price? than give her what she wants. But don't insult me with such questions again, it doesn't suit ya." He said, looking the man straight in the eyes.

[Natora]

Allegra was stunned by his answer and after he finished, shared a look with her father. You could see that he was furious about the fact that someone would demand that he let up on his daughter. In his opinion, if she didn't live in the golden cage she was in, he would have lost her tonight....if not for Vincent. There was still something about Vincent that bothered him, though. He was much too quick to react and didn't seem upset at all by the fact that someone had just shot at all of them.

Finally, after a long pause of silence, he nodded to his daughter and Vincent. "Very well. You're down to three guards again," he told Allegra though it seemed it was killing him to do so. There was more though. "And while you're with Mr. Donovan, you won't have a guard. But I will be checking in to make sure that you're all right. Phoning, not that stupid texting thing that you kids like," he pointed out to her as well.

Allegra was stunned by what he had just offered her and the happiness and elation showed on her face. She leaned over and hugged her father in thanks, the gun shots from moments ago long forgotten. "Thank you, daddy," she said quietly enough that no one around would hear. She sat up again after a moment and stood, dusting herself off. "I'm going to stay here tonight. With Vincent. I'll do some cleaning up that we have to do," she told her father with a half smile.

He nodded, seemingly satisfied for now. "Brandon and Michael will be on call for you if you need anything," he said simply. Once the guests were all cleared out, Mr. Bramboti left with all of the guards, leaving Vincent and Allegra alone in the destroyed restaurant with the waitresses and bartenders, the chefs just starting to come out of the kitchen.

[Dark Pigeon]

As soon as Mister Bramboti left Vincent let out a sigh. "for heaven sakes! what was that all about" he said as he got in his feet and looked around 'his' lounge. He looked at Allegra as he could hear the sirens of the police cars and ambulances. He looked over at the waitresses, they were scattered all over the place. Some of them started to do some first aid with gun-shot victims while others stood dumfound and shocked in the restaurant. They all seemed scared and needed someone to tell them what to do, they needed their manager. The evening that seemed to go so well just ended in travesty. Gunshots and people being hurt or dying.

Vincent found himself between a rock and a hard place. He wanted to stay with Allegra to make sure she was safe but he also had to work now. He looked at the woman standing in front of him and showed her a nervous smile "You go talk to the police, Ill see what I can do here" He said while he gently pushed some stray hairs behind her ear. "Keep Brandon and Michael close okay? I don't want you to get hurt" he said with worry in his voice. He was keeping himself big, trying not to panic after what just happened.

He nodded once before walking away from Allegra to one of the waitresses. As soon as he placed his hand on the girls shoulder she turned around and held him tight in a hug and started to cry uncontrollably. Vincent held her tight while trying to sooth her. While he was helping her he watch two others walking towards him and he faintly smiled "See if you can help any of the guests, we have to keep strong for a while longer. When this is over we all meet in the kitchen so we can talk. If anything is wrong, or you need me help just call okay?" he asked them. They all nodded in agreement. Some wiped away tears and walked to the guests who all gathered just outside the Restaurant. While the few that were helping wounded guests looked up at him. He nodded and showed them that he was incredibly proud of them.

[Natora]

Allegra knew that right now he was putting business before pleasure but she appreciated that he was able to do what was needed to be done. She only hoped that he could be completely with her later. He wanted to know what that was about and she intended to tell him... at least some of it. She walked away quickly and caught up with her father enough that she could ask Michael and Brandon to stay behind with them for the night. They agreed easily, Brandon a little too eagerly, and stayed back with her.

As the police came in with paramedics from the ambulance, Allegra pointed them in the right direction and told them that she would be back there in a minute. She went to the front desk first and said that any guest who had been in the restaurant tonight was to have their entire stay here free of charge. She needed to have some way to repay them for what had just happened. Reporters started coming into the hotel lobby, going for the restaurant. At a quick signal from Allegra, Brandon and Michael started for them, holding them back as well as two men could.

Once she was back at the restaurant, Allegra spoke to the police about what happened and humbly requested that they didn't bother any of the guests further but instead, if they needed, spoke only with the staff. She assured them that she had no idea who the shooters were but were now dead Japanese men. Her father's body guards were authorized to shoot in a matter of defense without being charged with anything so there would be no charges laid in the matter. It was solved.

When the paramedics started taking out guests that were injured, Allegra requested first that the guest was covered so the paparazzi couldn't have too much of a field day, and that all the bills be forwarded to her at the hotel. She didn't want her guests paying those kinds of expenses when they were supposed to be paying for the travelling and the business trips. Once she was finished speaking with everyone, she went back to the front desk and asked for two three rooms, two adjacent, and one on a separate floor. Once the keys were handed to her, one of the other guards came and brought her a change of clothes and then another set for the guards as well.

It had taken near an hour for her to fix everything that she could but once she was done, she walked back into the restaurant and into the kitchen just as Vincent was finishing speaking to them. She stepped forward and decided to add some words. "I want to apologize to each of you for what happened tonight. No one could have seen it happening and it was just too terrible to imagine. You will all, of course, be compensated and if you would like to stay and continue working here, the restaurant will still be open after tomorrow so we can get it cleaned up," she said to them gently, seeing that many of them were still shaken and upset by the incident.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent did not have time to think about what had happened. Between helping guests, his staff and talking the police he had no time to sit down and realize what just had happened. He kept hoping that Allegra was safe, that Brandon and Michael were on her like hawks to make sure that nobody could harm her. He did not yet realize it, but he was starting to feel something for her. Something he could not allow himself to feel. She was a way to his mark, nothing more nothing less.

As the waitresses and the staff of the kitchen gathered around. They all just finished cleaning up what could be cleaned without interfering with the police research. Vincent himself had made sure that they all had something to drink while they all waited to hear what he had to say. Vincent took a deep breath, he was not someone to give speeches and after tonight there was only so much you could say. "First off, I'm proud of everyone here. What happened tonight aint easy on anyone, and you all behaved like professionals. Something that is pretty hard if ya are in a situation like we where. I donno why those men came in and started shootin'. I'm just glad nobody got seriously injured tonight. Victim aid will be provided, I urge ya all to go if ya need it. If ya need someone to talk to I'm always available" He said. He could see that many of them had questions, how did Vincent know that they were to shoot at Allegra? He had to know more than that he was showing. But before they could fire off their questions Allegra came walking into the kitchen.

Vincent was glad to see her, and gestured her to come and stand by them. The women and men of the restaurant all turned their attention towards her and listened carefully to what she had to say. A few of them were not sure of they wanted to stay, after tonight they felt like the hotel was not save. "Don't decide now, get some rest and decide tomorrow if you still want to work here. I can assure you that what happened tonight will not happen again." Vincent said and saw a few of the women faintly smiling.

When the last of the waitresses left to go home, and the Chef Cook took his last round in the kitchen to make sure everything was as he wanted it to be Vincent took Allegra with him out of the kitchen and into the lobby. He did not want to go to the restaurant. The body's were just being removed. He gently took Allegra's hand in his and looked at her with a friendly smile "I think we can finally crash for a moment" he said, happy that his work was done for the evening.

[Natora]

Allegra waited until the staff had all left. She laughed when he said that they could crash now. Brandon and Michael were watching them from not far off. "No. I can't. There's a lot more that needs to be done now, including a press release. And for the first time ever, I will probably have to work on a Sunday," she pointed out. The next morning she would probably end up at church as any good catholic woman and then at the office to make sure that all their bases were covered for media and new security measures.

Walking back over to Brandon and Michael, she grabbed her overnight bag from them and handed them a room key. Brandon still looked like he dislike Vincent more than he deserved but it was all that he could do not to say anything to Allegra. He needed to respect the boss' wishes. She bid them good night then went back to Vincent. "Come on. Let's go upstairs," she said gently.

She led him to the elevators and then went up to the 25th floor of the 30 floor building. "We have rooms right next to each other," she said gently. "I have them sending up swimming shorts and pajamas for you from the gift shop. I figured that maybe we could share a Jacuzzi since you may have rebruised my shoulder," she said to him teasingly as she walked to the door for her own room. After unlocking her door, she handed him his own key for the room next to hers. "Come join me when you're ready," she said gently.

[Dark Pigeon]

'You poor lamb, working on a Sunday!? how would ya survive" Vincent joked, trying to lighten the mood. It had been a long and stressful day for both of them, he was just glad he did not have to go home first but could stay in the hotel. As she took her overnight bag he followed her into the elevator. It was a pretty long way up as the Hotel was pretty large. But as they finally reached the floor where they had to go they got out of the elevator.

As they walked to her room he looked at Allegra and smiled "sorry 'bout the shoulder though" he said gently as she mentioned him bruising it again. He figured that it would take days again before it would feel slightly better. "Ya send Brandon and Michael to get me Pajamas and shorts? ow god.. they will hate that" he said laughing as he could see the two man before him, shopping for swimming shorts for him and Pajama's. "Ya should be nice to them lass, not torture them with getting me some clothing. But Ill see ya as soon as I changed into the swimming shorts." he mused as he took the keys from her and watched her close the door behind her as she walked into her room.

He looked at the keys and walked towards the room that was provided for him. He never had seen the rooms before and as he opened the door he stood there dump found. He never seen a room this big and well designed as this one. It was bigger than his own living space and everything was far more expansive than he had himself. When he closed the door behind him he looked around and smiled content. This truly was a luxury hotel and he started to like working here all the more.

[Natora]

Allegra went into the room and started to make it comfortable. She got out her own bathing suit and changed into the bikini, glad that the only person who would see her like this would be Vincent. The bruises were showing on her shoulders and it could be seen that her side had been slightly bruised too but it was fading fast. It had been a week and there was only slight discolouring along her side now. She was slightly embarrassed by the bruises but considered that they were better than what she could have had.

After about five minutes had past, some workers from the hotel had brought up shorts and pajamas for Vincent. She wasn't so foolish as to try and make Brandon or Michael do it. They might take advantage of the situation. She ran a hot tub for the Jacuzzi and waited for Vincent to come. She had propped the door open slightly so he could come in on his own. The hotel staff would also bring him a bottle of wine and strawberries for them to enjoy together. And chocolate. Because chocolate was delicious.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent looked around in his room, he was curious about it and walking around did show what kind of people would come into the hotel. He kept thinking about what happened that night, he wondered about what he had done. And if Allegra would be alive if he did not have followed her to the table. But soon he got distracted when he heard knocking on the door. As he opened it, and saw the help of the hotel standing before him holding the pajama's and swimming shorts he smiled at the man. He thanked him, after giving a tip and walked back into the room to change into the shorts himself.

As he had changed from his suit to the swimming shorts he felt ridicules standing there wearing them, he could not even remember the last time he wore something like it. He never wore shorts, only long jeans and ever since he met Allegra and got the job suit-pants. But never something as short as the swimming shorts he was handed. He was at least glad that they were not the tight once, he did not want Allegra to know to much about him already. He did remember the last time he went swimming, that had to be two years ago with James. But they stayed in the children's pool for the most part of their time together there. As he looked at himself in the mirror he shook his head and quickly put on a bathrobe and grapping a large bath towel, before walking towards Allegra's room.

He locked his door behind him and made his way over to her room that was just next to his. He greeted two guests that looked at him as he walked into her room. He closed the door behind him as he looked around Allegra's room and walked in further. "Allegra? I'm here." he said gently as he walked towards the bathroom where he knew the hot-tub/Jacuzzi to be. "Can I come in?"

[Natora]

Allegra had been relaxing in the Jacuzzi for a while before Vincent had come in the room. It had been time for her to think about what kind of lie she would feed to the media to cover her father's ass for this whole thing. When Vincent came into the room, she looked up, smirking lightly. "No. You can't come in. I was leaving the door open for the boss of those shooters. Thought they might want to finish the job," she called to him from the bubbling tub. "Get your ass in here," she said, laughing as she did.

There were so many options that they had tonight and she figured she owed him at least a few answers after what had happened in the restaurant. But she had so many questions that she wanted to ask of him as well.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent shook his head in slight irritation "I mend the bathroom you silly girl! Ya could have been naked, ya don't want a handsome Irish lad coming in ya bathroom then now do ya" he said as he walked into the room and saw her laying in the Jacuzzi. He could not help but to look at her for a second to long, she truly was an exotic beauty. He took of his bathrobe and when he tossed it in a corner and stepped into the Jacuzzi with Allegra.

He looked at her as he made it himself comfortable in the hot bath, while bubbles where pushing his swimming shorts full air. He looked at it and quickly placed an hand on them to make sure she did not get a 'sneak peak' of his baby makers. "Should have gone with a tight one" he joked as he pushed the left over fabric under his legs and looked very content with himself as it seemed to help. He took a deep sigh as he relaxed and yawned as he felt his body slowly relax. "So..." he said, knowing he had to ask what happened though he knew exactly what just had happened. "Why did those men try to kill ya dad and you?"

[Natora]

Allegra laughed gently when he asked her the question. "Getting right down to business?" she asked with a small smirk. "Fine but for every question that you as me, I will ask you one too," she said to him simply, stating her bargain. It was the only fair way that they could both get the answers they wanted. There was only one problem at the moment, though, and she had every intention to fix it.

She moved over so that she was sitting on his lap, her back leaning against his chest. "Well..." she started, debating whether to give him the media explanation or something closer to the truth. She decided to try the media explanation and see if he might buy it. "There's some diplomats staying here and I'm sure they just had terrible aim," she told him simply. "How were you able to react so naturally to the situation. It was as if you had done it before," she pointed out to him.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smirked as she came to sit against him, he pushed some hair over her shoulder as she told him her explanation. He frowned, he knew it was not true but she did not even do her best to make a believable lie. " Ya dad and ya'selve are surrounded by guard and have to believe that story? That man had his gun pointed straight at ya head lass" he said and poked her a few time on her head. "If ya gonna bullshit story's ill give ya one to." he said with slight irritation in his voice.

"I'm actually a secret agent of the leprechaun police. I learned all kinds of things to defend those large pots of gold! From greedy evil men that want to take it away. They magically made me look like a human, but in secret! I'm a wee leprechaun!" he said with a mocking voice, making a small fairytale of the true story behind his skills.

"Now I'm gonna tell ya the truth lass, and I hope ya trust me enough to tell me yours. "I boxed most of me life, been pretty good at it and did self defense classes cause me dad wanted me to. He hoped that I would become a cop just like him. That, and I been shot once, so I know how it can fucking hurt. When I saw them lads pointing their guns to ya I did not want ya to get hurt." He said as he leaned slightly over so he could look her more in the face. "Believe me, I look cool and collected.. but I was almost shitting me'selve"

[Natora]

A small smirk crossed her lips at the end of his story. She was impressed that he had been able to hold himself together so well. It was no easy feat for anyone to hold themselves together so well in the faces of danger like that. When he called her on her bullshit, though, she could tell he was upset about it. In all honesty, though, she would have been upset too if he had been willing to completely lie to her through his teeth.

When he finished, she looked over to him, moving herself slightly so that she was sitting beside him with her legs resting over his lap. "Well..." she started, not exactly sure how much she could tell him. Almost embarrassed at her lack of conviction, she looked down towards her lap before back and up at him. "My father's a fairly important man, he likes to think. He... He is the boss of a large group that deals with some...not so friendly people," she said gently. She knew what the speculations were about her father and they were all pretty close to on target.

"I'm surprised your father let you go out with a girl like me if he used to be a cop. They all believe he's the head of the Italian mafia here in New York, you know," she told him honestly. After a deep breath, she asked, "What's your next question?"

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent looked down at her, she seemed so fragile now she was confessing about her father. It could not be easy on her, he could see how other men would want to stay away from her. And the once that did not mind.. well.. they where up to no good. Vincent knew exactly who Mister Bramboti was, and it did make him feel ashamed that he had made her confess about the man. He knew he could not say to much about it without looking suspicious, but as she was mentioning his own father he knew she was right about it. They did have a large fight about it, but both Donovan man knew they could not stop one and other. While his father secretly hoped that it all would turn out to be just a 'thing' for a few weeks, Vincent knew that he had to keep it up until Mister Bramboti was dead.

He took in a deep breath "Me dad knows him, had some dealings with the man when he was still a cop. He told me that ya dad was a kingpin of some sorts. When I told him I was to work here he got pretty upset, got in a big fight he and I, but that's how we solve things he and I. He knows I'm a grown man, have to make me own decisions so he lets me.. aint happy about it.. but he does let me do what I want" Vincent said, telling the truth about the evening that he had told him about Allegra and the job he had gotten.

He held her legs in his lap, softly stroking the skin with his thumb while he looked at her. "Its strange to think that that man might be a criminal of some sorts. But I wont keep it against ya lass, just be your own person. What he does or not does.. its has noting to do with ya." he said, wanting to comfort her with his words, wanting her to know that he would not turn his back on her now that he knew. "I'm not sayin' that I aint grateful lass. But why are ya helpin' me like ya are? The car, the job? what does it mean"

[Natora]

It made her feel relaxed and comfortable knowing that he knew and was willing to accept certain things about her father, even if it did mean that she was related to a crime organization. No man wanted to be near or around her while she had guards or anything else to do with her. He was the first man that hadn't run and it was very comforting to know that.

"I almost didn't," she admitted to him. "After the crash, if you hadn't told me I was coming back with you, I would never have spoken to you again," she admitted with a small smirk. "I like to think I'm fairly good at reading people. You're a good man. I don't like to see a good person struggle and if I had ever just handed you the car and the money you would never have taken it," she explained easily. "It was the best way to help you without tearing you away from your bar that you so completely adore," she said with a small smile.

It was her turn to ask a question. There was more that she wanted to ask and more that she wanted to tell. She just couldn't decide which she wanted to do more of. "Why aren't you scared away by the big mean guard dogs and the father that hates you when he only knows your name and background?" she asked him curiously. There weren't many men that would be able to stand it.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smiled and slightly blushed as she said she found him to be a good man. He did not like to think he was, with his 'secret' jobs or being able to take good care of his son. It tore at him that he only got to see James once ever other year. He just did not have the money nor the time to see his child. Hearing from hear, calling him a good man that just made him feel good about himself. A girl like her, who was surrounded by all kinds of men every single day. He liked to believe that she indeed knew what good man was, and what wasn't

"Ya right lass, I would not have taken ya money and I did almost give ya back the car. It is very generous of ya to help me out, without handing me all kinds of things. I love to work, always had. It just means more if ya earn it ya'selve than getting it handed over to ya on a silver platter" it was indeed important to him, from a early age on the Donovan family never had enough money, they had to make ends meet but they always found a way to do everthing they wanted. It made the family incredibly tight, even after the divorce. His father and mother did see each other a lot, and he was even invited when she got remarried. There was never bad blood between them, something that made Vincent respect his parents greatly and showed him that hard work and honesty made the world go round.

As she asked about his reaction towards the men around her and her hateful father he smiled. "Sweets, them ain't have as scary as some of the men in me bar. Ya they do make me want to lash out sometimes, they don't like me and aint afraid of showing it. But that only makes it so much more of a challenge to make them like me. And ya dad? What man doesn't hate the man dating his daughter? Its is job to hate me. Ya it does make me wonder if this all is worth it, but I'm starting to like ya. Nothing that come easy is worth having lass.. And ya one difficult lass to get"

[Natora]

Allegra smiled at his compliment, even if it wasn't a direct compliment it still was kind. the fact that he was starting to like her, she took as a good sign. She had started to like him a week ago. She was now just continuing to like him. So what more did she want to tell him? Lots. After a brief pause, she decided that she needed to tell him something that she wasn't sure would make him run far away or stay close.

"When I was ten, my mom and dad worked their business together on some trips. One trip, my mom never came home. They were trying to make peace negotiations with the Irish, or at least that's what dad tells me. At some point, the negotiations went sour and the Irish started opening fire. A bullet caught my mom in her neck. There as nothing they could do and she bled out before they made it home. That's why my father hates all Irishmen without meeting them. That's why he wasn't really willing to be kind to you," she explained to him. "It's hard for him to separate one Irishman from the rest," she told him.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent listened to her story and frowned, he never heard the full story but he knew something had indeed go wrong and she got killed. Nobody at their side truly had cared about it, Mister Bramboti should have agreed with the conditions of their peace negotiation but he never did. Even Vincent believed that the man was to blame for his wives death, no Irish man would ever bring their wives to a negotiation as important as that one. They could be used for ransom or getting their way, it was just to dangerous and they would never bring their own family's into such a dangerous affair if they could prevent it.

But he did feel bad for Allegra, she was at such a young age that she had lost her mother. It must have been horrible for her, a child of that age could not comprehend the true nature of what her father did. He gently rubbed her leg as she told him the story of her mothers death, as he wanted to comfort her. "Must have been hard on ya Allegra, loosing ya mom. Cant imagine loosing me own, specially like that. I understand why ya dad must hate the Irish for what they done, loosing someone ya love.. must be horrible for him as well." he said finding some truth in what he just said. He did not like mister Bramboti and he refused to, but as he said those words out loud he could indeed see how it had to be difficult for the man as well.

[Natora]

"It was...and is," she said slightly sadly. After a deep breath, though, she put a new smile on her face. She hated lingering in the past like that. She felt that he at least deserved an explanation as to why her father detested him so much without even saying a word. Sharing her smile with him, she leaned closer to Vincent and put her head on his shoulders.

"Let's get out. You owe me a massage for hurting my shoulders," she teased him gently before pulling herself away from him and getting out of the tub, giving him a decent look at her body for the first time. While in the tub she had always been in at least shoulders deep. She was definitely fit and the only marks on her body were from the bruisings she had taken in the last week. She reached and grabbed a towel, starting to dry herself off.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent let himself slide under the water. He staid there for a while, holding his breath as the hot water surrounded him. As he slowly got up again, only his eyes peaking out while he looked at her as she started to dry herself, admired her body from a safe distance. Soaking up the image of her soft young body. He chuckled as she mentioned a massage and shook his head while he relaxed in the Jacuzzi. "Getting out? I just got in! I'm staying until I'm nice an toasty. Who knows, maybe I never get out, ya will have a restaurant manager in a Jacuzzi.. how do you like those apples!. "He laughed as he said it and took in a deep sigh, not even thinking about getting out of the hot bath. "And as I see it I'm the one getting a massage for working so hard for ya. Getting that party nice and perfect. So get ya bum back into this water woman. And have those hand working their magic" He said with a massive grin on his face. "And don't forget.. savin' that bum of yours."

[Natora]

She looked at him surprised he was being so demanding. The shock on her face was painted there for him to see plainly. The only other time he had acted anything like this was after she had been in the accident. This time was different though. Normally he let her be the "big man on campus". This time he was acting like the boss in a very demanding way.

"Well then," she said simply, dropping the towel back to the floor, standing there in her bikini in front of him. Walking with her hips back to the water, she moved to sit behind him and put her hands on his shoulders, starting to rub them, her legs to either side of him. "You know, I've never done this before," she said to him with a small smirk. It was true. She was always the one that was getting pampered and treated like a queen, never wanting for anything.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent chuckled as he saw the shock on her face, it was clear that she was not used to this side of him. Though he clearly had it, he was able to run his own bar and a restaurant and that he did not by farting rainbows. He moved a bit to the center of the tub so Allegra could sit behind him and he chuckled even more when he watched her coming towards him and sit down just behind him.

As she started to massage him Vincent noticed that she wasn't even half that bad. He let out a deep sigh as he felt himself relax more and more and chuckled as she said that she never done it before. "ya aint half as bad lass. If I don't know any better I'll say ya have done it before" he said to her in a friendly tone. He did not mind sitting between her soft young legs, as he did not mind Allegra having her hands on his shoulders. "When ya done Ill give you that massage Allegra"

[Natora]

Allegra kept rubbing his shoulders, intending that she could finish this and then get out of the tub to prevent herself from wrinkling any further. When he offered the massage when she was done, she had to stop herself from laughing. "Oh no. Not a chance. You lost your shot for giving me a massage when you told me to get back here," she said to him simply, a smirk very plainly on her face. She wouldn't admit it to him, but she almost liked the demanding and controlling side he had. It was sexy.

She sat there for a little while longer, massaging his back. When she was finished, she took her hands and moved them so they slid down his chest and around his waist so she was wrapped around him in a hug from behind. She softly kissed the little bend between his neck and shoulders before sitting back up. "There you go. All loosened up," she said to him softly before standing and getting out of the tub, going back to her towel.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent enjoyed their time together and laughed as she told him that his change was gone now she had to massage him. He enjoyed her soft touch, her legs that were he was sitting between and just being with her without anyone bothering them. It kind of surprised him that he had not asked for something else from Mister Bramboti, he could have told him to leave NY, that it was the Irish that wanted his territory. Instead he had asked for the freedom of the girl he was sitting in a Jacuzzi with.

He knew he would get in trouble for such a thing but somehow he did not care, Allegra was worth it. As she wrapped her arms around him and softly kissed him in the neck he could not help but to faintly smile. he has not been with a woman like this for quite some time, ever since he found out that he made a young woman pregnant he was very careful with what he did. As she got out of the tub he looked at her as he staid in the bath for a while longer.

As she was almost dry he got out himself and picked up his own towel, quickly drying himself before slipping into his bathrobe. "What are you going to tell the press?" he finally asked, knowing that they would be there soon enough to ask her everything they wanted to know.

[Natora]

Allegra shrugged as she wrapped the towel around herself. "I'll figure that out in the morning after I've slept," she told him. "I might just stick to that diplomats story and just learn to lie better," she said to him with a small laugh. Finally, she yawned. "Early church morning tomorrow," she said gently. "I should probably get to bed."

Inside, she was almost hoping for him to stay with her for the night. Someone had taken a shot on her life tonight and she still didn't think that she had reacted reasonably yet. She knew that when she went to bed it would be a different story. She had never gotten very far with men, having to either sneak out to see them or have body guards there normally and all, but it didn't mean that she didn't want one around.

With a deep breath, she smiled up at him and left the bathroom, heading into the large main room. All of a sudden, with the large windows and balcony, she felt very vulnerable. Quickly, she went over to the window and locked it before closing the curtains. She didn't want anyone seeing in tonight.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent walked just behind her "If ya come with a story like that they will find out your lyin' within hours. Don't do the politician story. Say that ya don't know why, that your heart goes out to the family's of the victims.... somethin' like that" He said as he stood in the room, watching her as she franticly locked every single door and window, and closed the curtains. "Ya on the 25th floor lass, they wont be comin' from outside" he said. "are ya gonna be okay alone? Or do ya need Brandon or that Michael lad over here"

As he walked towards her he gently wrapping his arms around her, with her back against his chest. As he took her in a hug he softly whispered against her. "Or I can stay, don't worry nothing will happen. We will just sleep in the same bed. Ill make sure nobody will hurt ya Allegra. Ill stay up all night if it wil make ya feel safer." He felt like the cheesiest man alive when he said that. But he did mean ever word. He knew how it was to be at gun-point, he had seen the fear in a mans eye when he was about to kill them. And it never was pleasant. He wanted to believe it hardly did anything to him, but he would wake up at night sweating as he could see their faces in front of his eyes.

[Natora]

She didn't want to call on Brandon or Michael. They would stand there and watch her sleep which was more creepy than she wanted. When he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, her heart started beating faster. The idea of Vincent staying with her made her feel safer than anything else ever had. It was more comforting to think that he might be there than any of the others. He had been the one to protect her in the restaurant. The others had been too slow to react. It was all him.

She put her hands gently on top of his and turned her head towards him. "I would really appreciate it if you would stay," she said to him softly. She stood there in his arms for as long as she could. It was a wonderful thing to feel like someone cared for you. That was how she felt with Vincent. It was the best part of being with him.

"You can sleep though. I trust that you just being here would scare any terrible men away," she said softly. "I would feel terrible if you stayed the night and got no sleep on account of me," she told him. She held his hands in place so that he would follow her as she moved to the bed. She turned towards him as they got there and let her towel fall from her body, leaving her in her bikini again. "I should go get changed," she said softly.

Before he could protest she ducked away from him and got her overnight bag, going back to the bathroom to change. Once she was done, she came out, excited that she wouldn't be alone tonight, and crawled into the bed.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent tilted his head as she walked away from him. He could not help but to watch her hips sway, while she was hardly even dressed. If he was half the man he was he would have at least tried more, but he was not like that and he kinda was proud of it. As she left into the bathroom he quickly made his way over to his room. He was almost running with a big grin on his face as he quickly ducked into his room and quickly removed the packaging from the pajama's and ever so fast changed into them.

As he picked up his mobile phone he could see that his father had tried to call him at least twenty times. He gasped, he had forgotten to tell the man that he was alright and felt his heart sink to the floor when he read the text message "I'm on my way" .. what was written at least an halve an hour ago. "of for fuck sake!" Vincent muttered as he closed the door behind him and walked to Allegra's room. As he walked in he still held his mobile in his hand. "I got to go downstairs for a while lass, me dad called a bunch of times. That old fart is worried an will be here any second now" he said gently as he watched her lying in bed.

[Natora]

Allegra looked over at him curiously as he said that he needed to go to the front lobby. "Why don't you gents go back to your room?" she offered. "You'll be a little closer," she explained. It would make her feel better if he was closer and to have an ex-cop in the room next to hers. "Take my key though. When you're done just come back in. I'll watch t.v. while you're gone," she said softly.

It did bother her a little bit that he would be leaving her but it wouldn't be for long she assumed and he would be back. He had always made her feel safe and like he wouldn't put unwanted advances on her. He was advancing just enough for now, she thought.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent stood in the room feeling not all to comfortable with leaving Allegra. He could see that she wasn't feeling all that dandy and he did not want to leave her alone. "Well, okay lass. If anything is wrong ya come and get me alright?" he said almost stern, he did not want her to think she could not call for him if anything was wrong, or if she did not feel safe. "No excuses, ya come running trough that door okay?" he said as he took the keys from her. "Ill be back before ya know it." he mused and turned around to walk out of the room.

Just when he closed the door behind him, so he could call the reception he heard the phone ring. As he answered it it became clear that his father was indeed in the hotel. "Angry looking Irish man, big beard? Send him up, that's me dad alright" He said and hanged up the phone. Before his father would enter he quickly poured himself an nice glass of scotch as one for his dad.

A few minutes later he could hear someone knocking on the door. As quickly made his way over he could hear is father already mutter on the other side of the door. He smiled and opened and looked the big man in the eyes. "Yer damn eejit! yer 'ad me worried boke!" he almost yelled when he walked into the room. "Oi called yer a few times an' yer did not peck up. oi tart somethin' 'ad 'appen. an' 'ere yer are wearin' a fancy bathrobe in a fancy 'otel. yer asshole!" Vincent closed the door behind his father, he could see that he had been worried sick "Oi'm sorry, been workin' al' noight ter keep de waitresses calm, blather wi' guests an' 'andle de damn situashun as best as oi cud." Vincent said as he walked to the side table and offered his father a drink. "Yer still cud take foive bleedin minutes ter call yisser da an' tell 'imself yisser gran'. yer damn damn paddy! oi raised yer better than dat." his father almost roared and quickly downed the scotch in one go and sat down. He took in a deep sigh and looked at his son and shook his head. "So, ye 'eadin' ter tell me waaat 'appened?" he asked as Vincent sat down next to him.

Vincent took a large sip of his scotch as he sat back in his chair. "Sum shooters came in ter aff dat bramboti pig, did not go as planned. oi saw dem cum in, wan 'ad is gun pointed at de bramboti lass, de other ter de big paddy 'imself. 'is guards tuk bramboti ter de floor while de other started shootin'. before yer nu it everyone wus screamin' bleedin murder. de shooters got killed, a few guests got shot but they 'ill be gran'. " He said, his father snorted, he would have loved that they had succeeded but he did look mighty proud of his son. "Shame they did not aff dat pig vincent. so dat lassy, she dat lass dat yer loike so much? de wan dat gave yer de job an' everythin' " Vincent shrugged "Yer shud 'av stayed a cop. aye so'tiz dat lassy. she is in de room next ter mine, shuk after waaat 'appened. oi promised dat oi wud be back soon. not dat oi want yer ter git oyt. but oi don't want ter leave 'er alone for ter long. an' oi tink dat after waaat 'appened meetin' yer is de last tin' she wud survive. "

His father laughed as he nodded "Dat stoney broke lassy 'ill be runnin' for de 'ills. well, its gettin' late an' oi jist needed ter clap if yer were in once piece. yer cum 'um the-morra as soon as yer can. we 'ill be 'avin' bill skinner together, an' oi want ter 'ear more details yer 'ear? " The man said as he stood up as did Vincent. He took his son into a bear hug and patted him firmly on the back. "Ya ya, I 'ear" Vincent said as he hugged his father back.

As he opened to door for him he watched his father get into the elevator and smiled. Despite their differences they could not live without each other. He closed his door behind him and walked back into Allegra's room. All and all he was only gone for 45 minutes. He smiled as he entered and closed the door behind him. "I'm back lass"

[Natora]

Allegra had heard the yelling and the screaming at the beginning of the men's conversation but simply smirked and turned up the volume on the show she had chosen to watch. With nothing else too interesting on, she had chosen to watch 'Say Yes to the Dress'. There were always pretty things to see on that show and if you couldn't join 'em, watch 'em. Right? She had been sitting there, enjoying her episode, before she heard the door open again.

Quickly, she changed channels. Worst case scenario, someone was there to kill her at which point, it wouldn't have mattered. Best case, it was Vincent and she didn't want to be scaring him off by watching a wedding show a week after they had met. When she heard his voice, she let out a breath she had been holding. "I'm still in bed," she answered. "Come sit with me," she offered.

When the commercials finished, she realized she was watching some sort of game show that she didn't understand. After about three seconds, she turned it off and looked up to him. "Daddy all content now?" she asked just as the phone beside the bed rang. After a quick answer, she realized it was her own father. A small smile spread across her face as she heard his voice. "Hello.... Hi daddy....Yes, I'm doing fine.....I will be at church in the morning. I promise....Yes, I will offer it to him as well.... Stop worrying. I'm completely safe....Alright daddy. Good night. Please sleep," she said. After one final laugh, she hung up the phone again and curled herself up under the blankets.

Looking up at Vincent, she smiled. "So how exactly does this work? Are we going to curl up like the movies or should we just lay down?" she asked him, not entirely sure of which way to work it out.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smiled "He's never content, but it is all good now. I should have called him. Letting him know that I'm alright" he said as he walked to the bed and sat down on it. Right then she got a call from her father, he could not help but to listen in for a second or two before taking of his bathrobe and lying down with her in the bed. It was already nice and warm. He fluffed up his pillow and placed it behind him and sat down comfortable while waiting for her to finish her phone call.

As she hung up the phone he looked at her, his hands behind his head as he felt that his body really wanted to get some sleep now. After a week of working quite hard and hardly any sleep he did want to get some this evening. Though he would not mind staying awake and just talk with Allegra. It felt a bit strange to be in one bed with her, not that he never slept with a woman. It was more the reason why. "What do ya want?" he bluntly asked as she wanted to know how this worked "if ya want to curl up that's okay, if ya don't and just want to sleep its fine as well. No rules about this sort of thing." He pushed himself under the blankets and took with him the pillow and placed it under his head. "Its up to you lass"

[Natora]

All of a sudden, she felt very vulnerable. He was there with her, willing to do anything she needed and here she was, feeling like she was about to start crying finally over what had happened this evening. She took a deep shaky breath and curled up against him, simply just lying quite close to him with her head on his arm. "Thank you for saving me today," she said softly, her words very sure and firm, even if her previous breath had not been.

It was a very noble if not slightly stupid thing to do. She was grateful that he wasn't calling on that and requesting any sort of special favours from her in return for saving her life. What's more, it only made her feel safer that he was here with her.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent placed his arms around her as to keep her close and safe, resting his head on hers as he gently stroke her back. While her words were sure and firm he could not but sense that she was holding some emotions back. He did not want to be the 'bartender' and ask her about how she was feeling now. Instead he just wanted to lay there with her in his arms and make sure that she felt safe, and both could enjoy a nice evening together and get some sleep.

He pulled the blankets up, making sure that both of them were nice and warm under the tick fluffy rich silk covers. He yawned sleepily as he kept her in a gently but firm hug. "Ya want to sleep lass?" he asked in a soft and gentle whisper "Ill make sure you're safe"

[Natora]

After another deep breath, this one more steady than the last, she snuggled against him, burying her head against him. "We can both sleep," she said before yawning as well. "Should I move so your arm doesn't fall asleep?" she asked him curiously. She didn't want him to be uncomfortable as they slept. Once they were both comfortable, she closed her eyes and easily fell asleep with his warmth embracing her.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smiled and let out a sigh when he snuggled up against Allegra, he ignored her question about his arm and just closed his eyes. He wanted to sleep, and her to feel safe. For that he did not care for his arm to fall asleep or not. He knew how this would work out, people tossed and turned in their sleep. Before they would wake up they both would be on the other end of the bed. So his arm just to bear with it and not complain for a light weight girl to sleep on it. Within minutes Vincent fell asleep, softly snoring as he did, and muttering in his sleep as he started dreaming.

[Natora]

The next morning, Allegra woke up as the sun kissed her face, coming in through the sheer curtains across the window. It was the easiest way to wake up in time to get ready for church. She stretched carefully, still close to Vincent even through the night. With a small smile, she nuzzled closer back into him and kissed his shoulder. "Good morning," she said quietly.

There was a knock at the door and Allegra sighed. She got out of bed in her pajamas and went to let in the breakfast people. She tipped the person who brought it up and then took a deep breath, smelling the omelets and pancakes. She walked over to the bed and looked down at him. "Want to come have some breakfast? I don't think I saw you eat dinner last night. You must be starving."

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent woke up from a deep sleep when he felt the kiss Allegra gave him on his shoulders. He opened his eyes and smiled tiredly as he looked at her. "Good morning lass" he said softly as he watched her opened the door and frowned slightly as he saw the breakfast. He did not mind the luxury but it was a bit odd to him. He got out of his bed and walked over to the small cart. He was glad to see that the kitchen was still up and running, even after last night. He could imagine that everything would be a bit slow. He made the mental note to call the waitresses that day, see how they were doing and if they had any questions concerning their jobs.

"I had something to eat, don't ya worry lass. I take good care of me'selve." he said gently as he put on his bathrobe and took one of the plates with breakfast. He sat down at the table and stretched himself while yawning and smiled at Allegra as she came to sit by him. "So, how did ya sleep Allegra?"

[Natora]

"Better than I expected," she answered as she sat beside him with a plate of food of her own. There was something that her father had asked her to do last night and she still wasn't sure how to breach the topic. After bowing her head, she started grace. "Thank you our kind and dear Lord for keeping both of us safe yesterday. For that we are truly grateful. Thank you also for the delicious smelling breakfast that has been served to us this morning and please bless the food that we have sitting for us. Amen," she said.

She took a few bites in silence, wondering how to approach the topic. "Daddy would like it if you would come to church with us this morning," she finally said as quickly as she could. There was no other way to say it and she had heard that mean hated it when women beat around the bush.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent close is eyes for grace and hungrily ate some of the omelet. She was right, he had hardly eaten anything last night and had been hungry for quite some time. He had planned to eat something after the party, but after the shooting things went differently and he just forgot to eat.

As she popped the question about him joining to church he almost chocked in his piece. He managed to swallow it down and quickly chased it with some juice. "Ya dad wants me to what?" he said a bit shocked, just a few hours ago he heard why the man hated the irish as much as he did. And now he wanted Vincent to join them to church. "That was quite a surprise, I would love to join... I thought that you father hated the Irish. Why the sudden change of heart" he asked as he slightly coughed and popped a piece of omelet in his mouth.

[Natora]

Allegra winced a bit when she caused him to choke on his omelet, feeling bad about that. It wasn't her intention that he would end up dead from an omelet. What a way to die that would have been! He survived a shooting in his restaurant but he couldn't manage to eat breakfast the next morning. When he was done answering, she sighed in relief. She had been so desperately hoping that he would say yes.

"I think he's just realized that I don't really want you to go anywhere. The only way to keep me where he wants me is to invite you along for the ride. That, or he wants to threaten you while close to God so you know he's being serious," she said with a smirk, doubting her father would ever actually threaten someone in or near a church.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent chuckled, even if it was slightly nervous. "Ya dad sounds like such a pleasant man." He said slightly joking at the awkwardness of it all. He had not expect to be this close to the man, and it made him feel slightly nervous about all of it. His expectation was that it would take a couple of weeks.. months even, not only a week. But if he was to kill him he would not do it in a crowded place like a church.. specially not a church. "I better get dressed after this then, don't want to have your dad waiting" he said gently as he started to finish his breakfast.


As he finished he gently placed a small kiss on Allegra's forehead and smiled "Ill go take a shower and dress, be back in 10/15 minutes tops" he said and started to walk away out of the room.

Back in his room he did want he was suppose to do. Get a shower, get dressed and making sure he looked at his best. It was still all so strange. As he smiled as he looked at himself in the mirror he made sure that he had everything with him before closing the door of the hotel room behind him and walked back to Allegra's room. He knocked to make sure she knew that he was coming in and slowly opened the door "are ya decent Allegra? can I come in?"

[Natora]

Allegra smiled after him as he left. As soon as he was gone, she went to her own room to get dressed. After the Jacuzzi last night, she didn't really want to shower. She did anyways and then quickly did her make up and got dressed. She had been given a sleek, bright blue dress for church with a white shall to cover her shoulders. As Vincent came back in, she was putting her earrings in to finish her outfit. "Why do boys always take so long to get dressed," she mused as she walked out, ready to go.

She laughed gently at her own joke and put her shoes on, grabbing her purse. The rest the others would grab later. "Come on. Can't have God waiting," she said to him seriously. She took his arm in hers and led him back to the elevator. Within a few minutes they were out front and waiting for their cars. "Just follow me. It's easy to get to," she said. She had a nice Nissan Maxima that was supped up for her from her father. She jumped in her car and drove, leading him to the church only about ten minutes away from the hotel.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent got in his car and drove just behind Allegra as they kept themselves to the speed limit. This would be Vincent's first time bringing a car like this to a church and he felt a bit awkward about it. Nobody knew him there as he went to a different church on the other side of town. But mostly just because he was going with a girl-that-was-a-friend.. or something more? He shook his head, he kept thinking about those things and he really did not want to. She was just a way to his mark.. why was he starting to like her?

Traffic was just a dream, and he managed to keep close to Allegra's car. He still loved driving his new 'toy' and already had given it a nick-name. they reached the church he parked his car next to Allegra's and waited for her at the end of it. "So here you go. At least ya a catholic .. seems that we have somethin' in common." he mused as he fixed his tie and run his hand trough his hair. He had to look at his best, specially if he was to visit a church and meet with her father again.

[Natora]

Allegra laughed gently as he mentioned that they had something in common because he was catholic as well. It was good to know that they came from the same kind of upbringing. In the short time it took for them to make it to the front door, her father arrived with most of the men that stayed with them all the time and a few others besides. There was about fifty men that worked for her father that came to church every Sunday with them.

Allegra walked in ahead of them, taking Vincent by the arm and leading him. "Trust me. Just stay beside me and they won't bug you too much," she said to him softly. As they went into the church, she walked to the front pew and sat in the center. This was their normal place. Between all of the men that her father demanded come to church and their families, they took up half of one side of the church.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent nodded and silently walked with her into the church. He knew that most of these men worked for her father, some of which had a target on their backs for quite some time now. They all kept an close eye on him, they did not like an Irish man touching the daughter of their boss, and they knew that the big man himself had to hate it as well. They all felt horrible that an Irish man of all had to safe Allegra the night before, off all things.. he had to be Irish.

As Vincent sat down next to Allegra he looked around the church. It was quite old and like every Catholic church it was beautifully decorated. He always liked that about church, if it all became to 'dusty and boring' he could just feast his eyes to the beauty surrounding him. He smiled as he looked at Allegra who seemed to be right at home in this church. "This is quite a beautiful Church Allegra" he said before he nodded towards her father in Greeting.

[Natora]

Mr. Bramboti walked into the church and to the front pew to sit next to his daughter. He noticed the nod from Vincent and returned a less excited one to him. He knew he was only doing this to satisfy his daughter but it was the right thing to do...something he wasn't used to doing. At the very least he could say his thanks to God and ask for a blessing for the boy before he chose whether or not to get rid of him.

Allegra smiled when Vincent complimented the church. She had always thought it beautiful. It was one of her favourite parts of church. There was so much history in any church's walls, the weddings, baptisms, funerals, everything! What more could she ask for than what was right around her? It was the first time her father had met any of the men that she had ever had an interest in and she was so glad that it was him. As was appropriate, she did keep her hands to herself as the mass began. While the choir sung, Allegra and her family kept rather quiet. Other members of the congregation sung together happily though Allegra and her father refrained from doing so.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent knew it already.. but ya.. he did not like Mr Bramboti. One would think that you would love the man that had saved your daughters life, but he just kept on that harsh hateful glare. He could see that the man hated his guts and that made it all just more difficult to be in a church. He refused to think bad thoughts and silently said his prayer to keep him from killing the man right there and then. Or lashing out as he did safe his daughter, and he did try to get on the mans good sight. The more Vincent prayed in his mind.. the more he felt like this would turn out to be a very difficult discussion with god himself.

As the mass begin he smiled, he said his prayers, listened to the story's and sung as loud as the rest of the congregation. He did not care if Allegra or the rest of the 'family' was not singing with them. He loved to sing and with it he just felt a more connected with god. It had to be a strange sight, him being the only one singing and he did try to have Allegra join him. But as everyone seemed to reluctant to do so he just kept singing himself when needed.

[Natora]

Allegra smiled when she heard Vincent sing. He had a lovely voice. She loved listening to the people sing. Most of the women and children would sing with the choir but Allegra and her father stayed quiet. She could feel the nudges as Vincent tried to get her to join in the singing. After receiving communion and they were kneeling to say their prayers, Allegra leaned over to him quietly. "I may be good at a few things but I am a horrible singer," she said softly so no one around would hear. It was the truth. She had managed many things but singing was never one of them.

[Dark Pigeon]

As Allegra told him why she did not sing he smiled. He looked around first to see if nobody was listening in and leaned towards her "Good thing you did not sing, if I had to hear it.. and be so close to ya dad.. I might have run away" he joked and stuck his tongue out playfully towards her. As he shrugged he leaned forward "next time just sing lass, its good for the soul" he told her gently, wondering why they all refused to sing.

As the mass came to its end Vincent wondered what her fathers next step would be. He could not truly ignore him after. Though he did a very good job as they where sitting almost next to each other during. As people started to walk out of the church while chatting loudly with each other Vincent took it upon him to ask the man how he was doing. Maybe invite him for a small lunch at his own bar. He smiled at Allegra before he stepped forwards to her dad and smiled friendly. While his guards stood ready to tackle him down. "Thank you kindly mister Bramboti for your invitation to join you and your daughter to church. I hope you are feeling alright today?"

[Natora]

Allegra's father looked up as Vincent addressed him. He was surprised, needless to say, that the man still insisted on speaking with him even though he was ignored the entire ceremony. A nod was the first thing to be returned before he felt an elbow from his daughter. "I am better now that I see my daughter safely in church. Thank you for bringing her back safely," he said genuinely. It was probably the most kind thing he had done or said to this boy ever.

Allegra smiled, glad that her father would at least be cordial with him. She smiled up at Vincent and stood. "Yes, thank you kindly. It was a very pleasant evening together after the fireworks," she said gently. "In any case, I believe I am to give a small speech about what happened last night at the restaurant. I'm sorry but you'll both have to excuse me," she said gently, staying behind for a moment to give Vincent a chance to escape with her if he wanted to.

[Dark Pigeon]

"It was me pleasure sir, to make sure ya daughter would attend church and to be safe. One cant be to careful these days." Vincent said gently, as if he was talking to a friend. He was not letting Mr Bramboti dragging him into a negative spiral.

As Allegra mentioned that she had to go Vincent nodded "Please do not come up with ya politician story, no person in the world will believe it" he said to her, hoping that she had come up with something better. "I will call the waitresses and see if they are alright, and constructers to make sure that the hole's in the walls are removed post haste" He wanted to give her a small kiss goodbye (and he felt very cheesy because if it) but stopped himself from doing so, knowing that her father was standing right next to them. "Would you want me to come with ya? or are Brandon and Michael to make sure ya get there on one piece"

[Natora]

Allegra was about to answer when her father chose to interrupt her. "Brandon and Michael will be going with her but that doesn't mean that you can't go as well if you don't want to," he offered to Vincent before Allegra could say otherwise. "I expect her home for dinner is all," he explained gently to them, trying for some sort of decency with his daughter's presence.

Allegra sighed softly and nodded to him. "Yes, father," she said gently and smiled to Vincent. "Let's go," she offered and started walking away. "That is...unless you have somewhere else you need to be," she added after a moment of consideration as if she hadn't thought of that before. She was a true only child. The only person that mattered or that she cared about was truly herself. If she didn't come first, who else needed to?

[Dark Pigeon]

"ow that is quite alright" Vincent said to her father. "I do need to head back to me own bar, and me dad had some plans for today. That and me things it is a good idea to call the waitresses and visit a few to see if them are alright. They had quite the scare yesterday" Vincent said as he walked out of the church with Mister Bramboti. "I fully trust that Brandon and Michael will keep your daughter save. Thank ya once again sir for the invitation" he mused and held out his hand for a hearty shake.

...... A week later....

Vincent was back in his own bar, and he was glad that he was. The week that followed after the shooting was quite the thing. Next to reporters coming over to him after hearing he had saved a girls live he had to rehire two more waitresses after two of the 'old' once left. But he had managed to work himself those days, and with him still looking for one more thins soon looked to return to normal.

With his father working as well this Wednesday night the bar was quite full. Some old colleges of his father had come over, turning the bar into a small feast of old man reliving their glory days with tales of the past.

[Natora]

Over the week after the shooting, Allegra had been nothing but swamped with work. From reporters to guests to workers, everyone seemed to need to express themselves to her or at least ask her questions. It was tedious and long and just pushed all her regular work back for hours on end. With all the work she was doing, she hadn't really been able to see Vincent all that much and it truly had upset her quite a bit. Mentioning it would only make it worse though, so she kept her nose to the grindstone and worked through it all.

It seemed like everything was running well enough, until her father called her into his office Wednesday night. She walked in, tired from a long day of work and then having to make dinner for the household. The plans she had made included sitting in the hot tub and relaxing a little while. "Yes, daddy?" she asked as she walked in and closed the door behind her. It was a rare opportunity, it being just the two of them. The meaning wasn't lost on her, though. This probably wouldn't be a meeting that she would enjoy.

"Sit down," he said gently. "We need to talk about something." Once she was seated in front of him, he continued. "I trust that by now your little infatuation with that Irishman is finished," he said evenly, not yet able to look his daughter in the face, wanting to hear her reaction first.

Allegra was shocked and taken aback by the thought of it. "No. No, it's not, father. I really do like him. He's a good man," she insisted to him. When she realized what this was about and knew her father's opinion, her heart sank.

He sighed and looked to her. "You cannot trust him, Allegra. He is one of them, no matter how insistent he is that he isn't. I will not have you flittering around with him any longer."

"But daddy-"

"Have you forgotten what they did to your mother?! Killed her in cold blood when they refused to get their way. He will do the same to you!"

"He wasn't part of that!"

"Listen here, young lady. You will either replace him by the end of the week or I will replace both of you. If you cannot see past what he has tricked you into seeing, you're not ready to have this responsibility!" he threatened easily.

"Daddy, that's not fair!"

"He is using you, Allegra! He is using you to get closer to me. Why can't you see that?!" he demanded.

Allegra had no words for him then. She simply turned from the chair and ran to her room, lying on her bed and crying herself into a restless sleep.
_________

Meanwhile, Brandon had taken it upon himself, knowing what the conversation would be about, to drop into The Irish Lass that night. When he walked in, he saw that it was rather busy compared to their first night there. He walked up to the bar and waited for Vincent, tapping his fingers on the bar while he waited.

[Dark Pigeon]

"Ya wait ya turn you old goat!" Vincent's father roared trough the bar as he laughed loudly. The man that he was talking to held his empty pint in the air as if it was to order some more. Vincent laughed as well, walking back and forth in the bar to help every costumer that his father had dragged into the bar. It was one of the busiest nights Vincent ever had in his own bar and he could not be happier about it. Though he could not help but to hope that Allegra would drop in as well, meet his father so the old man could see that the girl was a fine lady, and worthy of his courting.

As he saw Brandon standing at the bar he moved over, his face lite up as he saw him and quickly he glanced around if he could see Allegra as well. As he reached the man he frowned slightly and quickly took a pint of his finest ale with him and placed in front of Brandon. "There ya go lad, have something to drink. Its on the house" he said as he got called over by his father. He walked away stating that he would be back in a few seconds before he helped his father. "What do you want" he asked while his father clearly seemed to know who Brandon was. Some more of the cops looked at him as well and nudge each other as they gestured towards Brandon, and they were not shy about it. He quickly helped some of the costumers getting their drinks and some snacks before returning to Brandon.

"Ya here alone Brandon?" he asked friendly "Ya aint commin' for me company. So what's up"

[Natora]

Brandon recognized some of the faces in the bar and it only confirmed his suspicions as they each took many turns looking over at him and checking him out, of course just to make sure that he was not being threatening. He knew how this worked. As long as he was quite and calm, he would be fine. As soon as he started causing a scene, there would be a problem and he knew it.

He sipped at the ale while Vincent went and dealt with some other men before returning. "Just wanted to give you a small warning. You need to stay away from her. You've had your fun. It's done. If you had any decency in you, you'd resign from your position at the hotel," he insisted quietly so he wouldn't be overheard easily. He was asking a man to put his dignity behind him and do the right thing. That didn't normally go over well with many men.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent frowned as Brandon started to speak and frowned some more as he finished his speech. Without even realizing what he was doing he grabbed Brandon by his collar and dragged his chest over the bar. He was furious that someone would think he would have 'fun' with a girl, and that they would think so lowly of him and Allegra. The bar felt silent as all of the old and young cops looked at Vincent holding Brandon. "Ya and nobody else will tell me who I can and cant see me ya hear ya damn piece of shit! Ya get ya ass out of me boozer and tell that man that I wont stop seein' Allegra." He pushed Brandon back on his feet and pointed his finger at his as a warning. Everyone could hear them talk and everyone was listening carefully what was being said. "Ya better believe him lad, I did me best gettin' him to like an other girl" His father roared from the other side of the bar. Everyone laughed and looked at Brandon as if he was the joke itself. Vincent looked down right furious as he glared at Brandon. "that man gave me his word that he be giving his girl more freedom. He better not being turning his back on that deal. Or his daughter life doesn't mean anything to that piece of shit. Ya tell him that if he wants to break a deal be better get that fat as in to me bar RIGHT THIS EVENING! do you understand you damn pansy"

[Natora]

Brandon didn't make a move to be aggressive towards Vincent. He knew if he did he wouldn't be going home for a while. He stumbled back as Vincent got furious with him. Once he had his footing again and Vincent had had his words, he had a few for Vincent as well. "You jaded goat! She's still got her freedom as much as she wishes. He just wants to keep her safe from Irish pigs like you!" he stormed. He was baiting him. He wanted to show Allegra what Irishmen did to people. They weren't good wholesome people like the ones that worked for her father. "You think he doesn't know what you're doing? He created men like you! Dogs that do nothing but follow orders!" he growled at him not making a move to leave.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent was not having any of this and grew angrier. He just wanted to climb over the bar and beat the crap out of Brandon. But he kept himself in check and snarled as Brandon called him a jaded goat, a pig and a dog right in his face. As if he was a barn full of animals. His father frowned as Brandon mentioned 'dogs following orders' He always knew Vincent was a troubled boy, stealing cars and doing some bad things as a teenager. Luckily for him most of those crimes where hidden for him. With him having a bar, and getting some shady costumer from time to time he did sometimes wonder if his son could truly shake of his old habits.

Vincent could not restrain himself and jumped on an off his bar to get close to Brandon. He pushed him firmly against the wall and towered over him. Holding his hand over Brandon's throat. "Now ya go home ya Italian piece of shit. Ya tell that dog Im staying at the hotel, keep seeing his daughter and not have him telling me or her what to do" He tightened his hand, but still kept himself from choking Brandon. "If he really thinks Ill be coming for him he be sadly mistaken. I don't care where that piece if shit ends. He just keeps his nose out of me and Allegra's business and we are gonna be grand"

[Natora]

Brandon let Vincent do as he wanted before he started lying to his face. Brandon knew there was more to what Vincent was telling him. He wasn't as stupid as he looked. When Vincent was finished, Brandon reached up and grabbed his shoulders, bringing his knee up and connecting with his gut effectively. He pushed Vincent away after that and glared at him. "Just stay away from her. She'll be happier with you gone," he said effectively before turning and leaving the bar, going back to his car.
*****
Allegra woke to the sound and feel of vibrations under her pillow. It was the races. There was another one tonight and of course, she was invited and her car was done. She took a deep breath and gathered the things she'd need. Quickly and quietly, she snuck out of the house through her window and was gone from the property in under a minute. After a short cab ride and a car ride later, she was parked in the garage, looking her dashing self, standing by her car.

DK looked at her confused. "What's upset you, princess?" he asked her gently as he walked over. As much as she wanted to hide it, you could tell she had been crying.

DQ shook her head. "Don't want to talk about it," she answered.

DK didn't take his eyes off her. "Is that Vincent coming?" he asked.

DQ's jaw tensed before she took a deep breath. "No."

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent felt the air being forced out of his body as effectively got kicked in his guts. He leaned back against the bar and and chuckled. He did not expect Brandon to be that strong. He wanted to stop a few of the costumers for running after Brandon, as soon as Brandon had kicked him pretty hard in his guts they all had jumped out of their seats. Almost wagging their tails like happy dogs. They had him for something now and they would not have him get away with it. Vincent failed and got placed on a bar seat while other followed Brandon outside.

As his father placed a glass of water in front of his son he leaned on the bar. "ya damn fool. Ya steering up a hornets nest." he said while Vincent got his breath back. "Ya think ya can win this? Let that girl go man. Its not worth it" he said angrily before walking away. Refusing to listen to what Vincent had to say.

After finishing his drink Vincent had enough for the night. He did not care if they would catch Brandon or not. Instead he walked upstairs and sat down on his bed. He was confused by what he had done. He had defended Allegra and he did feel like he was starting to love her. It frustrated him greatly and all that he wanted was just to hear her voice. As he sat on the bed, his phone in his hand he dialed the number of her secret phone, hoping that she would pick up.

[Natora]

Allegra felt her phone vibrate in her purse. She picked it up and noticed the caller. How had he gotten this number? She answered and walked away from the cars. "Hi," she answered, much shorter and upset than she normally did. "What do you need? I'm a bit busy," she said to him as gently as she could. She had a decision she needed to make. She either had to get him out of her life or she had to sacrifice all that she had been working for the last four years. Sure it wasn't long but where else would she be able to get a job that her father would approve of? There weren't a lot of options for a girl with her last name.

[Dark Pigeon]

It felt like it lasted forever before Allegra picked up her phone, but as she did Vincent smiled, and it only grew wider a as he heard her voice, the way she talked however made him feel a bit les relaxed. "Hey lass, how are ya? I was wond'rin' Ya want to meet again this week? Get some lunch at the hotel, or would ya like com'n' over again to the bar? Ya still need to try them whiskeys" he said a bit to cheerful as he tried not to sound like something was wrong.

[Natora]

Allegra was too lost in her own turmoil to hear or even comprehend the meaning behind his words. She just knew that this instant she wasn't entirely sure of if or when she could see him again. "Vincent, I-" A car revved up and sped by before she was able to answer him. "Maybe some other time. I need to go," she said before quickly hanging up the phone.

After walking back over to where DK was, he looked at her. "Hey, sweetie, can I borrow your phone? Left mine at home tonight," he said to her. He had overheard the phone conversation and had figured out who it was fairly easily. When she handed the phone over, he went to the last caller and sent a text to that number with the address of where they were at. Come by. 524 Broadway St. Vincent had been a fairly decent protector. There was no reason for him to not be here. He handed the phone back as soon as he was done and said, "You have a race in ten if you want it."

Allegra nodded. "I want it."

[Dark Pigeon]

Before he tossed the phone away, knowing that they got to Allegra as well he could feel it vibrate again. As it was a message from Allegra he frowned, what the hell was going on? He did not care, trap or not he was going. He wanted to talk to her eye to eye and he would not have her letting him go because her dad wanted her to.

He quickly walked out of his own living room and ran downstairs where the bar was located. His father smiled as he saw his son but could quickly see that something was very wrong. "Where ya goin lad" he asked as he followed his son towards the front door "I'm out, close the bar for me will ya" he said, ignoring his fathers look as he got out of the bar and walked into the streets. He smiled as he saw that his fathers old colleges were reading Brandon is rights. They got to him first and the man was smart enough not to walk away from an arrest, which would make things only so much worse for him.

As Vincent reached the garage where he had parked the car he quickly opened it up and smiled as he saw his new toy. He was quick about it to get it onto the streets and as he had closed the doors of the garage he drove the car wildly trough the streets. He wanted to be there as quick as he could, and quick he was. With the engine roaring like a wild beast he drove up the parking garage and found a spot next to some other racers car. He got out, greeted the man friendly and walked up towards DK, hoping that he could tell him where he could find 'DQ'

[Natora]

DK heard of Vincent showing up and after he walked up, DK didn't even have to turn to him to know who it was. "She's upset about something. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't you who upset her," he said simply before he turned and looked at the man. "You just missed her. She's lining up for a race right now," he said, walking over to the side of the parking garage so he could look down at the starting line. "I'm wondering if she might lose tonight," he told him simply.

Allegra lined up at the starting line. If she hadn't been so emotional tonight, she might have realized that her car wasn't driving quite right. As it turned out, that wasn't the case for now. The racers were off and around the first corner...but there was a problem. Allegra spun too wide. It was easy for any trained eye to realize what was wrong from above. She had it figured out as soon as she had almost lost control of her car. The brakes were cut. She wasn't able to stop. DK saw what was wrong. "Oh fucking shit," he swore easily. "Someone get down there and help her!" he yelled to the drivers that were around. He jumped into his own car, disregarding Vincent for now and driving as fast as he could to go try and do what he could to stop her.

Going from anger and upset to sheer near panic in an instant, Allegra gained control of the vehicle and continued to drive it, not able to slow down, since someone had done something to the accelerator as well, but not speeding up either. Instead of following the set route, though, she decided to continue going straight to allow herself to avoid turns at all. Going the speed she was going around another turn would make her spin out or worse. She got into traffic and had to start weaving in and out of cars to avoid hitting anyone. After a while, she finally got to a more abandoned part of town and was driving around, DK right next to her and another driver on her other side. She knew what they were trying to do but knew it wouldn't work.

There was only one way to slow it down and she knew it at this point. She shook her head to DK and he knew what she was going to do. Everyone saw the wall coming up. "Allegra, don't be stupid!" DK shouted at her. When Vincent had called out her name, he had gone and looked her up, finally finding everything on her that he wanted to know.

"How else are we going to slow it down?!" she demanded. "Just stay out of the way and don't get hurt. Call an ambulance for me!" she screamed back at him. It was the wall or the pier. Not that she was going to tell them but her belt had been tampered with too. She couldn't undo it. DK shook his head, pissed, but signaled for the rest of them to get out of the way.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent got into his car as fast as he could, this night just could not get any worse than it already was. As several drivers, including himself and DK followed Allegra down the streets and towards the docks he could almost feel what she was up to. Driving the car into the water, it would make a very hard hit but she would have a fighting change surviving that. Driving straight into the wall would mean her death.

He kept his car close but he did not want to get in the way, DK knew her far better than he did. And if it came to cars and driving like they did, he would only get in the way. As DK signaled for all of them go get out of the way Vincent felt horrid but he did what was told. He should not try to be the hero now, but listen to the people that knew what they were doing. With his heart pounding in his chest he watched Allegra's car. Hoping that she would be okay.

[Natora]

Allegra took a deep breath, a solid wall of brick coming up on her side. She knew that they only way she could survive was that wall. With the belt stuck, she couldn't go in the water without drowning. With a flick of her wrist and a twist of the wheel, she set her car into a spin before setting it into the wall. As the impact with the wall came, all the airbags let loose inside as she twirled, every side of the car hitting the brick at some point. Some at least twice.

The car came to a stop once she got to the edge of the wall, almost going into another lane of traffic but missing. She could feel the pain just beginning. Her arm and leg were trapped in painful positions. Glass shards had nicked her face and shoulders but left everything else bare. The last thing she remembered hearing was DK screeching to a halt next to her and running up to the car. "We got you. You're going to be okay," he said through the window.

DK pulled out his phone from beside the car, calling 911 as Allegra's eyes fluttered closed. He looked to Vincent and demanded, "What hospital?" just before the operator picked up on the other line and he started spitting off locations and problems. When they asked what hospital she needed to go to, he looked to Vincent. There were two hospitals in the city. One was in the middle of Italian territory and the other was in Irish territory.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent felt his heart skip a few beats as her car hit the wall. How could she be so stupid as to park it there? He did not know that her seatbelts were tampered with and started to curse out loud as he stopped his car and ran as fast as he could towards DK and Allegra.

As he reached DK and Allegra he took in a sharp breath. Other cars stopped to see what was going in while several people were already calling 911 as DK did himself. As DK asked about the hospitals he gave the younger man an angry glare "How the FUCK should I know, why the hell are they asking that. Pick one ya damn fool! This is no time to get all fancy 'bout hospitals" he roared as he looked at the devastated car and wounded Allegra.

Scared that DK was more a fool than he gave him credit for, asking silly questions made Vincent believe that he did not know what he was doing. As he came closer he grabbed the man by the collar and dragged him away from Allegra before he made sure nobody could come close. She had to stay seated, the seatbelt had to stay on she could not be move before the medics knew it would be safe. He held her hand as he pushed some hair out of her face and felt his heart sink as he looked at her. "ya damn fool" he muttered, afraid that this would be her end.

[Natora]

Allegra was slipping in and out of consciousness. At one point, she swore she could hear Vincent calling her a 'damn fool' and it put the shadow of a smile on her face. The ambulance took a little bit of time getting there, as they didn't have many in the area, but it wasn't too long before a paramedic took Vincent's place beside Allegra, asking her to stay conscious and to keep thinking about breathing. DK hadn't made another move to get close to Allegra. He knew that Vincent would want to be the one there.

The paramedics had to cut the seatbelt off mentioning that it was jammed with no way to undo it. They pulled her onto a stretcher where she groaned in a moment of consciousness. Knowing the kind of damage that might have happened internally, they wheeled her back to the ambulance and took off after announcing to DK and Vincent that she would be taken to the hospital that happened to be in the Irish territory.

DK was standing around just a little bit longer before a tow truck arrived to take her car away. The police would be by shortly to take statements. Street racers and cops weren't normally the best of friends. Once it was as well cleaned up as could be managed, DK looked to Vincent. "Look, I looked her up once I heard you call her Allegra. I wasn't sure if it mattered where she would go. I don't think she wanted her father to figure out exactly what happened," he explained easily. "Let's go. Better the cops don't know who we are," he pointed out before jumping in his car and travelling to the hospital with the ambulance.

In the hospital, they realized that Allegra had been incredibly lucky. Some internal bleeding (only one brain vessel and a few others through out her body), a collapsed lung, and she was bit cut up. There were no broken bones or permanent damage as they could see it. After three hours of surgery to stop the internal bleeding, she was in the recovery room.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent followed the ambulance as soon as he and DK could, both of them had stayed with the cops to talk to them. While DK had uttered the other drivers to leave as soon as he had called the ambulance. There was no use for them to get arrested or being charged with driving recklessly at this point. Two witnesses were more then enough.

As Vincent followed DK he started thinking about what was going on. Two hits in a week on Allegra herself, the other family's were getting impatient and wanted the Bramboti family out. He did not trust DK, as he now knew who Allegra was and her car being tempered with. But at this moment Vincent did not trust anyone near her. He made it to the hospital just before DK, and as he had parked his car on a handicapped zone he cursed under his breath when someone told him that he was being rude. He did not care, he needed to be close to her before anyone could do anything to her again.

The lie was easy, they did not want to leave anyone near her except for family of the patient. He told them that he was her fiancée, that they were to be married soon. DK was a true gentleman when he backed the story up. Vincent thanked him and as he was let into the recovery room to be with his soon-to-be-wife he took a chair and sat right next to her. As he sat there it only came to him then that her father would have a hard change to get here himself. The Irish family would know by know that Allegra was in their territory and they would not let him make it alive if they could help themselves.

[Natora]

It took hours for Allegra to wake up. While she was sleeping, Mister Bramboti had sent a text to Vincent's phone. He had been sent a picture of Allegra in the hospital with Vincent from one of the security cameras. To say he was shocked was easy. The text that he sent to Vincent's phone was Keep her safe. When she is able to wake and move, we will request a hospital change if it's safe for her. Of course he had Vincent's number. He had his daughter's phone and it had the number in there.

Allegra groaned as she woke up, flinching and squeezing her eyes tighter together. Everything was sore. Nothing was able to move without feeling like she was taking needles into her hands, arms, anything. Her breathing was troubled, as she found she couldn't get a full breath and started to panic a bit until she convinced herself to calm down and just take more of the shorter breaths.

Once she had convinced herself that she was still alive and so everything else could be managed, she opened her eyes. What she saw first was a nurse at the end of her bed checking her vitals. The nurse smiled when she saw Allegra wake up. "Hello dear. Glad to see you're still with us," she said happily. "Your fiancé hasn't left your side since you got here. Very lucky lady you are," she commented before she put the chart back down and left the room.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent was half asleep and drank some strong coffee to keep himself from closing his eyes for a nap. He was tired, but he did not want to sleep and have something happen to the girl laying next to him. He held a close eye tot he nurses, hardly letting any of them to close as they took care of Allegra. He knew most of the killers that the family he worked for hired, and he knew that they were cleaver as musts as they were Irish. He had send her father a message back when he got one from him "She is not going anywhere, if you truly give a rats-ass about your daughter you come and visit her" .

He was sick and tired of the games the man was playing. Fist he invited him to church, than he told him to stay away from his daughter and now he wanted him to keep Allegra save. He needed to take control over this situation before he would fall into even more problems than he was already in. The Irish part of the family kept an close eye on him now they knew that the Japanese had tried to take out Bramboti. Needles to say they were pretty pissed that Vincent had not tried to kill the man now he had been close to him twice. He expected a call or message from them soon, at least someone would wait for him at the bar. Vincent knew that if he would let them transfer Allegra to an other hospital he would have a slim change of seeing her again. And at this moment he needed to be close to her.

As Allegra woke up he blushed slightly when the nurse was the one to inform her of their upcoming marriage. As she left he let out a relieved sigh and turned his attention towards Allegra. He found it strange that Mister Bramboti had not told on him, or he did not know that Vincent lied. At least the hospital staff was not informed off his lies and he wanted to keep it that way. "Hey there Lass, you are in the hospital. Would you like something to drink?" he asked, already holding a cup of water in his hands. He carefully stroke some hairs out of her face and smiled gently. He was glad to see that she was waking up.

[Natora]

Allegra looked over at Vincent and was confused. Hadn't she told him that she was supposed to not see him? Not exactly, she supposed. She had simply told him she wasn't up for a date right at this point. She frowned gently when she remembered her father's words. Right now though, she couldn't really answer him except for a small nod. After the drink of water was down her throat, she felt a huge amount better. Well...her throat did at least. Finally, she could say what she needed to say.

"My father isn't happy you're still around," she warned him. "He told me that I had to choose between you and the hotel," she added, trying to explain why she had postponed their date. "I'm sorry about the phone call. I didn't know what to do. The fact that you're here though just shows that I was going to make the right decision," she said with a small smile. She shook her head gently. "He was convinced that you were using me to get closer to him. I told him that was ridiculous. He wouldn't believe me," she said gently.

The phone next to her started to ring. She knew who it was going to be. With a small sense of dread, she answered the phone before Vincent could get to it. "Hello?.... Yes father. .... I know.... He is.....If you think that's best," she said softly. She was about to hang up before her father said, "I will see you soon," and she hung up. "I'm being moved to our hospital so our doctors can watch over me," she said calmly.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent raised an eyebrow when she started to talk, for someone that was just in a car accident she sure was very chatty. He wanted to ask her what her decision was when the phone rang. He shook his head in utter irritation as he knew that it was her father. He could not help himself but to raise his middle finger to the camera, knowing that that man was watching his every move. God how he hated that, if only he could punch the man right in the face. That would help, he knew it would make him feel so much better.

As Allegra hang up the phone he looked at her and frowned as she told him she was being moved. "Ya dad sure is persistent" he said while taking an sip of his coffee. "to scared to get his ass all the way here. Ya ain't in condition to get fucking moved Allegra. Ya been in an fuckning accident!. What makes that pompous ass think he can just transfer ya? Cant ya fucking see he is controlling ya every damn move? Ya foolish naïf girl!" He angrily shook his head as he got out of his seat. He wanted to curse at her, yell and just shake her around. But it was not his place to tell her what to do, nor to whom to listen. "Ya what.. in ya early twenties and still having that man controlling ya damn ass. Ya wanna know what I think?! I think ya don't even fucking know how to take care of ya own damn ass. Racing damn cars, living with ya dad, having him giving ya a job. Ya damn damn fool!"

He slammed his fist into the wall as he only grew more angry. He knew her father was doing anything he could to keep Vincent away from her. That he was used only made him so much more angry. He walked back to the bed and leaned on the end of it. Looking at Allegra with fury in his eyes. "As soon as ya leave this hospital ya know he will do anythin' to keep ya away from me. Ya know this right? Ya old enough to make ya own fucking decisions. So grow a pare of balls and start thinking for yaself!"

[Natora]

Never in her life had a man ever spoken to her as he was speaking to her now. They had all held her up on a pedastol that she didn't ever like coming down from. As he got more and more angry, her heart rate quickened, not sure if he was going to hurt her or keep taking everything out on the furniture. Her breathing became more shallow as her heart rate quickened and she looked hurt and extremely upset at the fact that he was yelling and throwing so much at her all at this moment. Of course she knew that if she left here that she wouldn't have an easy time seeing Vincent. Of course she knew that her father was making all the calls in her life. Did he really think she was that blind?

Did he also not see that she wasn't safe without an entourage? Sure, she had snuck out and gotten herself terribly hurt but no one knew who she was until he was around. A nurse came in, hearing the commotion. When she saw that Allegra's stats were going dangerously up, she walked over to the bedside. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave, sir. Now," she instructed simply as she laid Allegra down so she was horizontal again instead of slightly lifted into a sitting position.

Allegra looked at Vincent and managed to get out a, "Go....Now," between her stressed breaths. When Vincent left, there was an Irish family member waiting outside to see him. "Well...no' exactly wha we had planned bu' I s'pose it will work. Thanks, Vincent. We'll deal wi' the girl from 'ere," he told him, holding out an envelope to him. It was clear what was in it. They were in a camera dead area. They had only allowed Mr. Bramboti access to the camera in his daughter's room. He wouldn't see this.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent shook his head, he had been upsetting her and that was not what he had planned to do. As the nurse told him to leave he figured that going to the cafeteria and get himself something to eat. He should return a small hour later and talk to her in normal tone. He was getting angry because he was tired, that she was so easily plucked away from him after all he did for her just made him want to kill Mister Bramboti sooner.

As he walked out he spotted the Irish man directly. He knew who he was and worse.. what he was capable off. He could have Allegra dead within seconds without anyone ever knowing who did it. He walked over to him, wanting to warn him to stay away from Allegra until the man spoke. Now Vincent was already angry, he was tired and getting hungry. He knew he would soon not see Allegra anymore because of her father but now the man was offering him money and telling him that he would take care of the girl himself. Vincent smiled generously and took the envelope from the man and leaned forward. "Yer keep yer 'ands av dat lassy, or shuk cum for yer me'self yer 'ear?"He said nicely. "ill feckin buff yer alive. she an' bramboti.. they are mine. yer keep yer feckin distance" He hissed as he fixed the man's tie and pulled firmly on it, making sure the man could not get an breath of air. "if oi say shuk chucker somethin' shuk chucker somethin' but oi aint gonna go ter feckin jail for poppin' yer paddy yer 'ear me mucker?"

[Natora]

The man smirked, not deterred from him by the simple movement of him tightening the tie. Who did this man think he was, trying to scare off a closer like him? He allowed the threats to happen, not seeming concerned in any way. "Yer 'ad yer chance. 'Er pa ain't dead, is 'e, Vincent. They want it done. They wan' a trade for the lassy. She goes free and Mr. Bramboti'll come here to do that for his daughter. Now ge'out afore they can't use yer sorry ass again," he threatened back just as easily. He hadn't touched Vincent yet and had no intention to at the moment. They had bigger fish to fry right now.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smirked, this man was not someone that was going to leave at least not alive. He knew he had to move quick now. If someone like him was here, there had to be an other close by. He looked around for a split second before grabbing the man's face and smashed it as hard as he could against the wall behind him. The soft sound of a crack could he heard before Vincent removed his hand and placed the man in the seat as if he was sleeping. That he was dead was all to clear for Vincent, but it would take hours before anyone knew this man was not just taking a nap in his chair.

He could not simply contact Allegra's father. If he found out what Vincent was he would hunt him until the end of the world, and Vincent would love to stay alive for just a few more years. He sat down next to the man and smiled as a few nursed walked passed. He had to wait until the nurse had left Allegra's room and than he had to move fast, very fast.

As the nurse walked out, giving him a smile and a warning glare she walked off to the nurses station. As soon as she was out of sight Vincent moved into Allegra's room and walked up to her. "No questions ya hear? Them be in the hospital for ya so we need to get ya out now" he said, removing the needles out of her arm.

[Natora]

Allegra was relaxed again as the nurse left. She was in enough pain that she was grateful to know she was alive. In the same breath though, she didn't really like feeling all the pain. It was an easy decision to want to get back to sleep. The warm darkness had almost taken her again when she heard someone walk in again. She opened her eyes slightly when she saw Vincent.

Her eyes grew confused when he spoke and started pulling things out of her arm. It was a strange feeling, to lose a needle. It had been the only thing keeping certain parts of her together, like the one that was giving her blood for the blood she had lost because of internal bleeding. "What are you... talking about, Vincent?" she demanded tiredly. Her breaths still not able to be full. She knew he had said that she wasn't allowed to ask questions but there were too many that she couldn't ask at least a few. "How do you know...who might be after me?" she asked.

DK walked in then. He had seen what Vincent had done from a waiting room. He had quickly snuck past the nurses and looked in the room. "What do you need me to do?" he asked quickly and quietly, figuring what Vincent was trying to do.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent looked startled as DK came walking into the room, for a moment he was afraid he had to hurt DK as well. Something he might be quite good in, but he hated is with every fiber in his body. As DK seemed to be there to help he gestured to the door "Get them distracted, I need to get her out of here. " he said as he started to drag Allegra out of the bed, ignoring her questions he knew she had.

As he had lifted her out of the bed he removed his blouse and pulled her into it. He stood there in an old "Black Sabbath' shirt and pulled his belt from his pants and pulled it around her. Making the blouse look like some sort of short dress. He ran his fingers trough her hair as he looked at her with slight panic in his eyes. "Ya need to trust me now Allegra, do as I say. Ill tell ya more when we are out of this damn place"

As DK walked out of the room, wanting to make sure Vincent was being a decent man with Allegra Vincent grabbed a infuse and some needles from the small desk at Allegra's bed and put them in a small bag or under his shirt. He knew that as soon as the pain killers would work out he needed some, and for now he did not have the time to do everything right as he wanted to. He looked at Allegra again, the poor girl had to be very confused, he walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "please, just trust me" he begged her and started to walk her out of the room.

[Natora]

DK nodded and turned, going out into the hall and causing a bit of commotion, pulling most of the nurses away from the station and at least keeping the attention in the opposite direction of the staircase. The elevators would be too obvious, he thought.

Allegra was not only confused but also getting more and more angry with him by the second. Sure she had pain killers but they were only dulling the pain as it was. She saw the panic in his eyes, the desperation...There was just so much that wasn't answered and she wasn't used to it. He had just become near violent and she wasn't entirely sure that if she had been well enough that she wouldn't have been at the end of that punch rather than the wall.

When he made her stand on her own and try to walk with him, she groaned from the pressure and pain of everything. "You're damn lucky. I'm still upset.... about you flipping out....for no reason," she conceded as she followed him out of the room and around the corner to the stairs. "Damn you," she hissed softly as she saw that they had to go down at least two small flights of stairs.

After DK saw them disappear around the corner, he brought up the fact that the guy that was sleeping was rather still to move the attention off himself. The nurses shifted focus and went after the other man, glaring at DK while he waited for them. When she realized the man was dead, they started flitting about, trying to bring him back and do what they could.

DK slipped away, walking calmly. The part that disturbed him was he saw another man entering the room Allegra had been in and emerge moments later, pissed and went for the elevator now. He walked calmly to the stairs and came up behind the two others. "He's right behind you. Went into the room two minutes after you left."

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent ignored her anger and kept on walking, this was not the time to start and argue about what was going on. While his mind kept raising and he kept lifting Allegra of her feet so she did not have to walk the stairs herself he could hear someone coming toward them. He felt himself growing more and more nervous until he heard DK's voice. He looked behind him and stepped aside "get ya car, we need to get out of here" he said as DK nodded and passed them both as quick as he could.

As Vincent kept walking he wondered how much he truly should tell Allegra, for now they had to disappear for both parts of the family's. Her father would have him killed if he knew for sure, and that he had brought Allegra in danger. The Irish side would know who killed their man and go after Vincent himself. They were not a forgiving bunch so he knew that they had to get as far away from all of this as they could.

Soon they reached the end of the staircase and only had to walk out of the hospital. Vincent looked at Allegra, she seemed pretty pissed of at him as he pushed her against the wall and looked around the hallway to see if everything was going well. It seemed that it was pretty bussy at the moment, people coming in the ER and visitors for patients just came into the hospital. They could easily walk outside without anyone thinking something about it.

As he walked her trough the door he smiled as he saw DK just pulling up his car in front of them. Vincent opened the back door and helped Allegra inside before sitting down next to her. As DK looked into the rear-view mirror at both of them Vincent looked back at the man "Get us somewhere safe lad, and .. thanks.."

[Natora]

DK nodded and was about to speed off when Allegra mentioned something. "Go to 4613... Brentwood Avenue," she told him simply. DK nodded and started off, trying to drive as gently as he could for Allegra. He did a rather decent job of it too. Allegra simply laid back against Vincent, waiting for the ride to be over. She stayed silent in the car, closing her eyes and allowing herself to relax as much as she possibly could.

When they got to the address that she had given them, it was a very large and expensive looking apartment building that was in neutral territory. She opened her eyes as she heard the car park in front. "You sure we're in the right place?" DK asked her.

Allegra nodded. "This is it," she answered. "Help me out," she said softly. DK got out and opened the door for them. When the doorman saw who it was as Allegra got out of the car, he opened the door quickly. "Good to see you again, Miss," he said, trying to ignore the fact that she looked rather beat up for just coming home.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent held his arm around her, holding her close against him as they drove down the streets and up to the apartment complex. He wondered if it would be a good idea to go there, but he had no other option in mind. As he wanted to get somewhere fast he held his mouth shut until they where at the address and DK helped them out. Vincent did not know if DK would come with them but as they walked into the apartment complex they got into the elevator.

When it was just them he took in a deep breath, for now they would be safe for a while. They could talk, something he was not looking forward to. He had to let her know that he was connected at some degree, or she would not believe a word he said if he told her he knew who was after her. He held her close still, hoping that nobody would be at the apartment they where heading towards

[Natora]

Allegra walked with Vincent, grateful that DK was letting them be for now. She needed to figure out who and what Vincent was and she didn't want to have to do that with an audience. As they arrived to the penthouse suite, she sighed, feeling his tension. "If between my father and you, you men... had no idea about this place, I wouldn't worry about... anyone else knowing. It's in neutral territory.... But... you already knew that, didn't you?" she asked, a bite to her tone.

She walked slowly, leaning on him for support as she unlocked and went into one of the two penthouse suites. It was a very large and luxurious place. Leading him in, she laid down on a leather, white sectional in the living room. The entire place was white except for some silver accents in the furniture. There was a white bookshelf that had colourful books and movies and games on it, red throw pillows on the couches, and the appliances in the kitchen were red as well. That was the colour scheme here and she quite liked how she had chosen to decorate it.

Once she was comfortable and relaxed, as much as she could be while she was in pain, she looked at him. "So who are you?" she demanded angrily.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent followed her into the room and looked around. It was .. 20 times the size of his own 'house' the kitchen here alone was almost bigger than his entire living quarters above the bar. That this girl had money was all to clear, and even a bit overwhelming as he looked around. He wondered how much of it she truly earned herself, but as he was the one that had to explain everything about himself he leaved the questions hanging in the air.

He sat down on a chair a few paces away from her. Wanting to have some space himself as he had to lie trough his teeth as he had to talk to her. She already knew that he was connected, there was no reason to lie about that. But he did not want her to know that he killed, even a less than a hour ago. He never was proud of it, he hated to fact that he did it but there was no way out for him anymore. He was on a leash and if he would bite to his master he would surely pay with his life.. or worse.. with the lives of people he cared about.

He leaned back and let out a stressed sigh as he looked at the ceiling as if the answers to all his problems would be there. As he looked back at her he leaned his arms on his legs and stared at the ground for a moment. That it was hard for him to have to talk was clear in his whole demeanor.

"So.. when me dad and mom divorced I became quite the troubled teen. Ya know, stealin' cars gettin' into fights walkin' away and bein' gone for day's. Me dad, he be a man that knows how to.. well.... handle me. So when I came to live with him he got me to take fightin' classes. Ya know.. boxin' and the sorts. I became quite good at it.. very good. There I met some other Irish boys and we became good friends. Trough them I got some.. well... jobs. Ya know, bringin' messages over, stealin' cars or .. deliverin' some punches to people that have.. emm.. done thin's to the Irish family" he took in a deep breath and felt his mouth turning dry. He never talked about these things. His father might suspect some things but he never knew the truth. "I got in to deep lass, and ya cant walk away from these things while ya in. Ya know.. ya dad would not let anyone walk away when they want right? Every know and then I get a call.." He stopped, he did not want to talk about those things " Just as sec lass' He said and walked towards he kitchen to pour himself a drink. It was just water, but as he took a few sips he felt a bit better and walked back to the chair he had been sitting on. "I saw someone in the hospital, him be a irish lad and I know what he does. When I saw him walk to the toilets when I got out I knew ya be in trouble so I had to get ya out. I locked the man up, gave him a small punch on the cheek so he be out for a few minutes. Give us some time to get out" He kept his eyes on the glass, he would not tell her he just killed someone or ever did. If it was up to him she would never find out.

[Natora]

Allegra sat there, listening to every word he said, patiently and merely only able to hope that he was telling her the complete truth. There wasn't much more that she could do. She didn't know him well enough to be able to tell whether or not he was lying. She understood what he meant when he pointed out that he was in too deep to get out. Most of her father's men were the same, at least, the ones she knew about.

"Well," she started. "It takes more than a small...punch to knock someone out. I may be... out of touch but I'm not quite...that ridiculous. ....What is the worst thing you have done for them?" she asked, looking him in the eye. She knew what most if not all the men that worked for her father had either done or were more than capable of. All that she had ever wanted was to find someone outside of that life style. Why couldn't she seem to be able to?

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent knew that for now she was 'safe', he was not sure if the Irish would hold him responsible for the death of one of their men. Or if they would think that he was killed by someone of the Italian family. The last would cause all sorts of problems. All and all, there were to much uncertainties for him to feel comfortable with and that he did not like. He had to know, just so he could sleep tonight.

He took an other sip of his water as he listened to Allegra talk, he had expected her to be angry or upset with him but she seemed pretty fine with how she handled the information. As she asked him what the worst thing he ever done was he felt the blood rush out of his face, he never talked about it if he could help himself but now he was and he had the opportunity to tell someone, to get it of his chest and finally being able to say that he did not want it. It might have started out that way, he might lie trough his teeth even to himself if it came to killing. But always felt that he was a horrible person for the things he did, and he was sure he would go to hell for it.

He looked at her and showed her a faint smile that did not meet his eyes. He watched her for a moment, she grew up in this kind of mad world. If anyone would understand his position than it would be her. He did not expect her to be good with it, but he felt like he could trust her with the kind of information he had. "Because I'm not associated with the Irish family.. or any for that matter.. I'm perfect for some kind of .. jobs that have to be done. Ya know, people have to.. disappear without anyone havin' proof that it is done by them." He looked down at the floor again, looking someone in the eyes was a bit to much "Every now and then them want me to... " he took in a deep sigh, he felt like he had to break trough tick walls just so he would be able to speak "... to kill someone"

[Natora]

Killing. So that was it. That was what he had been hiding from her all this time. Seriously? But then why would he... He would have to know who she was before she had told him. He knew everything. He knew how this worked, understood who and what she was and who her father was. He had been lying to her this whole time! "He was right," she said quietly, thinking of what her father had said.

Shaking her head, shaking and furious, she moved so she was sitting up properly instead of lying down. It was clear he was ashamed of the fact that he was a killer and honestly, Allegra could live with that fact happy enough. The fact that he had been lying to her since the beginning however, she wasn't sure. She pushed herself up to standing, flinching and grimacing at the feel of standing on her own two feet.

"So when... my father said that... you were using me... he was right," she told him simply. She moved to walk to the bedroom but paused as she leaned on the chair that he was sitting in. "If you hadn't been...why would you have lied... to me about any of this?" she ground out before starting to walk again, clearly struggling. "You can stay...here as long as...you need to."

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent could see the pain in her eyes as she realized that he had lied to her about everything. He could see that she was hurt by the idea that she was being used so he could get to her father. "Because that would have been the stupidest thing to do, and ya know it would" Vincent said as he followed her. "Ya think that if I would tell ya I had to kill ya dad ya would still see me? What ya think they would do to me if they found out? Ya dad would have me death. And if he wouldn't them others would not hesitate. The Irish family, they know I'm takin to long, I had two TWO opportunity's to take him out and I did not do it. " He said as he walked towards her and stopped Allegra from moving any further.

"When I saw that man in the hospital I knew they where for ya Allegra, them wanted to take ya.. get ya dad to pay ransom and kill that man for tryin' to safe ya live. If he would." He said, his hands on her shoulders as he looked her in her eyes. As he had to say the following he looked back at the ground. ".. I.. I had to kill him. if they would have taken ya they would never let ya leave alive. Had to think fast, had to do somethin' to keep ya safe"

[Natora]

Allegra was near shaking as she stood there. Her breaths were getting more shallow as she was forced to continue looking at him and listen to him. "I don't care...if you have...killed the...whole damn...Bristish army. ...You lied. ...And not just...about your job...but about...everything. ...How do I know...anything you said...is true," she demanded, her shaking becoming more and more apparent with her continually increasing heart rate and her pain as she had to continue standing.

Everything she had thought about him was a lie. Well it was no wonder that he hadn't pulled any moves on her. He didn't want to get too attached to the only thing that was helping him get closer to a target. He wouldn't be a very good killer if he had done that. "Let...me...go... Please," she demanded, not sure how much longer she could stand.

[Dark Pigeon]

He wanted to tell her that most of what he had said was true. His job, his father, his son, the bar the divorce and how he was a bit of a bad boy as he grew up. He wanted her to know that he did not lie about most things. Just that he had to keep her close so he could get close to her father. He wanted to tell her that he had feelings for her, that he.. loved her. .. as they started to spend time together. He had lost everything as for now. He could not return home, he knew she would not let him work in the hotel anymore. And he was already slowly losing his bar until she helped him with the job he got at the hotel. IF that was gone as well he would stumble in a very deep black hole. And he was not sure if he could get out.

Vincent let go of Allegra as she was visibly shaking. He had put his hands of her shoulders and had stepped aside to let her pass. If she would keep getting angrier or more upset she would faint. He knew she needed the infuse again, he needed to get her to get her medication so she would not feel even more sick than she already was. He stepped aside as she asked him to let her go and he did. "I .. I am sorry Allegra." he said softly, his voice full of shame " ya should get some rest lass... we will talk some more tomorrow" he gently said as he stepped aside to let her pass. "But for now.. we need to get you in bed and install that infuse again. Ill help ya and then Ill stay in the living room. Ill sleep on the couch, make sure nobody gets in the house"

[Natora]

Allegra was grateful that he wasn't making her stand anymore. Through a small bit of struggle, she walked with him to the bedroom of hers that she had decorated beautifully, of course. Laying on the bed was the most welcome thing that she had done since she had left the hospital. She stayed silent as he did whatever he thought he needed to do to make her comfortable. This was all for him. It had nothing to do with her at this point.

Once he was out of the room, she closed her eyes, trying to make her body relax again after what she had just learned. How could she trust him again? He had gone off on her at the hospital for allowing her father to dictate and delegate what she did. This was precisely the reason that she did do that, though. So stupid things, or boys, like this wouldn't happen.

Of course, now the problem was what were they going to do? She could go home again and live her life as she always had but...he couldn't. If the Family knew what was going on, they would off him for sure. The only safe place that he would have would be under the protection of someone else. Perhaps her? Could she trust him enough, though? And with that unsettling thought, she fell asleep.

[Dark Pigeon]

After he helped Allegra, Vincent removed himself from her bedroom and sat down on the couch. His mind went a mile a minute as he sat there. Thinking about what happened and worst of all.. what was going to happen. He knew he had to disappear, build up a new life somewhere else as he could not go home now. They would kill him for betraying them, for coming between them and their mark. As they would find out that he had killed the man. Or at least they would suspect him from doing so. He wondered what Allegra's father would do. Yes would know that Vincent was after him. But for now it was useless. Even if he killed Bramboti he would be killed for what he did. The Irish side would not take his indiscretion lightly.

James, he thought about James. He knew the would not go after a child that young. They had their boundary's but what about Allegra's father? Would he go after his son if he found out what Vincent had to do? Would the Irish family change their way's and go after James just because they were angry at Vincent. Would they truly murder a small boy to get their way.

Than his father, his mother his sister and brother. Non of them had connections towards the Irish family's and he was glad that they weren't. But they knew about them, the bosses Vincent worked for knew about his family and they would make a good target. They would try to flush Vincent out if they could.

The police? should he turn himself in and start talking? Disappear into the witness protection, become someone else. Loose his Irish heritage and never being able to be Vincent ever again.

The ideas, all of them frightened him. Why was he such a fool as a young man to get himself entangled in this god forsaken world? Why could he not just do what was said, get his mind straight and work as everyone else on his problems. Instead he wanted to money, making life easy and start his own bar.. who knows.. invent his own whiskey one day.

As he laid down, holding a large kitchen knife close he felt himself drift asleep. He would wake up, he had to if someone came in. HE quickly barricaded the door and as he felt that he done enough he laid down again and slowly fell into a restless sleep.

[Natora]

The next morning Allegra woke up very late compared to her normal time. By the time she wanted to climb out of bed it was near 10:30. She tried to move but now that her body was healing she was more stiff and sore than she was last night. She felt trapped all of a sudden. She felt trapped in her own body on her bed. "Vince," she croaked almost inaudibly. It hurt. It hurt to talk. It hurt to move. It almost hurt to think.

With a fair bit of struggle, she turned over and managed to grab her phone out of her purse. She opened it and dialed Vincent's number. When he picked up, she asked, "Water," in a terribly scratchy voice. She hung back up after and laid in bed, not sure if there was anything that could take away her pain right now.

A moment after Vincent hung up with Allegra, she heard his phone ring again in the living room. When he looked at the call display, it was his contact that had given him the assignment to get to Allegra's father.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent had woken up around 5.20 and searched around in the apartment for something to eat. He found some breakfast cereal but no milk so he munched it away as he kept guarding Allegra's room. He checked on her a few times before he took a quick shower and got himself dressed again. His mind kept racing, questions went trough his head and the hope that he would have an other change about this all. But more desperate he was for a change to turn back time and never serving Allegra in his bar.

As his phone rang he froze, he should have gotten rid of the thing but he had forgot about it. He slowly walked towards it and saw that it was Allegra's number. He picked up, his hands shaking as he asked who it was. As he heard a weak voice asking for water he faintly smiled. He was glad to hear that she was up and hang up the phone as soon as she did.

As he was pouring her some water his phone went of again. Without looking at it, thinking it was Allegra asking for more he picked it up "Ya want more lass?" He asked as he picked it up and smiled. He was already on his way to her room as he spoke. As he heard a different voice, one he knew to well he dropped the glass. It fell into tiny pieces while the floor around him got wet. "Hello there Vincent" the voice said, sounding almost to friendly as the treat behind it was all to clear. Vincent said nothing but looked shocked as he knew that they would find him soon enough. "Ya have been a bad boy Vince. Killin' me own man for that girl? Ya gave use quite the predicament. What to do with such a loose canon? Specially one that is siding with the enemy." Vincent was shaking, he wanted to say something but as soon as he made a sound the voice told him not to speak. "Ya always been a loyal man Vince, ya do what I ask and never ask me questions. Its a shame to see one like ya go Vince, specially if he has such a lovely boy" Vincent felt his heart sink as he heard the voice mentioning his son. "So, seein' that I'm in a generous mood... I'm givin' ya one more change.. ya got 24 hours to bring me Bramboti's head. Killin' wont be enough now Vince, ya bring me his head in a nice box with a ribbon... a nice pink one.. or we will hunt ya down Vince. Just say yes when ya understand" Vincent nodded 'yes' he said, looking at the mess before his feet. As soon as he had said yes the phone on the other side was hang.

He needed a moment, his body was shaking as he did not expect this to happen. He had a second change, something not easily given. But 24 hours, to get close to Bramboti again and kill the man and worst of all... remove the mans head. He walked to the kitchen as his mind was racing even faster now and poured Allegra a new glass of water.

He walked into the room and smiled, he was pale and looked like had seen a ghost as he walked up to her and helped her sit up before handing her the glass of water. "Good morning lass, Ya sleeped well?"

[Natora]

Allegra closed her eyes and winced when he helped her sit up. It was not comfortable but she supposed she would have to get used to it sooner or later. There was little chance that she was going to end up back in a hospital anytime soon, she assumed. The water was the most welcome gift, like an oasis in a desert. She was so grateful as she felt the beautiful liquid slide down her throat.

Looking back up at him, she flinally answered. "Well enough. You look like crap. What's wrong?" she asked him. It was clear that he wasn't just fine. She wanted to know what had happened. After that maybe she could start her day and asking him what he had told her already that was the truth.

[Dark Pigeon]

"Ya couch ain't that comfy for sleepin' lass" Vincent said gently as he took back the glass and sat down on her bed. He could not tell her about what just happened, she would try to stop him from killing her father. And for now he did not know what to do, or how. But if he wanted to keep himself safe and his son he had to take down Bramboti. "Ya need to contact ya dad Lass. Tell him that ya are alright and safe, tell him where you are" He smiled faintly as he said it and looked at the phone next to her bed. "Him will be worried sick, he been keepin' a eye out on me so he knows I'm here as well"

He hoped that witht his the man would come to the apartment himself. If he would be that lucky killing Bramboti would be easy, but he knew that after that his life would change dramatically. If he wasn't killed by his guards he had to face Allegra as well, he knew he would end up in prison but at least his son would be safe.

[Natora]

Allegra looked at him confused. What was he suggesting? "No. I told you. No one knows where this is. I pay for it in cash and it's not in either side's territory," she was trying to make him understand. "I thought you wanted me to stay away from my father," she pointed out. "Stand on my own two feet as you said in a few more words than that last night," she said before a deep sigh. The pain was tolerable right now but it wasn't fun to be in pain in any case.

"Should...should we just stay here a while?" she asked. "If you want, you can call the number on my phone and they will deliver food to the apartment." There was a lot of benefits about this place. It was always easy to maintain things with someone always willing and ready to do it.

Vincent's phone rang again, a text message this time. Where are you? Where is my daughter? Mr. Bramboti asked him simply.

[Dark Pigeon]

Before he could say anything about it he felt his phone vibrate. He started reading the message and than showed it to Allegra " He's ya dad, he deserves to know his daughter is safe. Standin' on ya own to feet doesn't mean ya should stay away from him. Call the man and let him know ya safe. Ill get us some food later, make ya some pancakes if ya feel up to it" he said gently as he took his phone back and stuck it in his pocket but not before he send a message back.

"Your daughter needed to get out of the hospital, she wasn't safe. She is for now, you don't need to worry. Ill make sure no harm comes to her." he messaged him and with it send him the address of the building. He knew that Allegra would not be happy about it and looked at her. "I would be devastated not knowing if me boy was alright, no matter what ya dad does lass.. he deserves to know yar alright"

[Natora]

"Well, either you'll make me food or I'll attempt to get up and make food," she told him simply. "You took away the drip bag that was making sure my body thought I was full and now I'm starving," she informed him brusquely. "Please?" It wouldn't do to be impatient and intolerable with the one man that was standing between her and angry forces on both sides ripping her apart.

"Thank you for saving me," she said only half reluctantly. "Maybe later you could separate truth from lies for me?" she suggested more openly as she tried to shift and closed her eyes from the stiff, sore pain that hindered her movement.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent smiled but he seemed reluctant to do so, she was joking about him having to keep her safe while that gave him more trouble than he wanted. "I can always bring ya back lass, them have plenty more of those bags at the hospital. And some angry Irish men looking for ya as well" He said, more angry than as the joke he tried to make " but Ill make sure we get some stuff to make pancakes and fresh juice. If you make the call.. get them to get the right ingredients Ill wipe us up somethin' nice and fresh.

He let out a sigh as she asked him to separate truth from lie's and looked at her as he did not feel like talking about anything at all. "Why not now? Why not just get it out in the air now instead of waiting. 'Cause I'm in deep shit as it is so why not add some more to it" He sat down at the end of the bed and looked at her "So, what ya wanna know, ask away"

[Natora]

Allegra looked at him, stunned at the almost passive aggressive manner he was carrying. Sure, he had been that way with the guards before but he had never acted that way with her. "Seriously? What is your problem? Get out of here. Go calm down and come back when you're ready to not act like a prick. I appreciate you helping me but I really, really, don't care for the nasty way you're speaking," she said to him.

It wasn't like she was being much better but it was woman's logic and woman's logic rarely made sense.

Once he was gone, she made a call for her shopper to bring up some fresh fruit, ingredients for pancakes and some dinner foods as well for later. She couldn't have the man that was trying to help save her staring at her hand. When she was done, she leaned back and took another short nap.

When she woke, it was because she heard the buzz at the door. She assumed she had just slept a long time and the food was already here. She didn't guess that she had only been asleep for five minutes and it was her father waiting to be let in at the door.

[Dark Pigeon]

Vincent nodded, he was being a prick indeed and he felt like he was being attacked from all sides. "Sorry lass, Ill come talk to ya when I'm feelin' better. Ya get some rest, Ill be in the living room. Give me a howler if ya need anything" He said before leaving the room.

As he closed the door behind him he leaned against it and let himself drop on his bum. He hated himself for loving her as he started to, it made things all the more difficult. He did not want to kill the father of someone he liked, despite everything she seemed to love her father and mister Bramboti loved his daughter as well. Just as he wanted to get some more water he heard the doorbell and frowned, who could it be?

He did not hesitate as he walked to the kitchen, picking out a knife that felt good in his hands and would do the job as he had to kill if he needed to. He hated that feeling, the adrenaline rushing trough his body, the dry mouth his senses sharpening as he knew he had to fight. He knew not to look trough the peak hole in the door. Lesson number one in assassination, best way to kill the first one was TROUGH the peaking hole. He stood at the side as he finally was ready to open the door."Who's there?"