A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Matteo

"Do you mean risking Alena's safety and putting her life in danger?" Mikhail asked, as soon as the words left my mouth. He had raised an eyebrow at the idea, thinking it was going to be a big mistake but he continued to listen, he was willing to give my idea a chance. I turned to look at my wife who was confused as well but she trusted me to go on. She wanted to ask different questions because I knew, there were a lot going on in her mind. However, I hadn't let go of her hand at all and held it tightly the whole time. We had been married for awhile and we had gained each other's trusts.

"It sounds a little bit absurd but,"

Alexei had cut me off, "How did you come up with that plan?"

I cleared my throat to regain my composure, "Luca and I had spent days thinking about it. No, it took us weeks to weigh the pros and cons. It was Luca's idea at the first place after we tried to draw the patterns. We think this might work."

"It was my idea. I'm sorry Alena," Luca added.

"What do you actually have in mind?"

"We noticed how he kept showing up in front of Alena whenever nobody was aware. He came when nobody expected anything and then he just disappeared again. He wanted to show Alena that he was real and he knew it would work because she was terrified of him," I replied, trying my best to convince Mikhail and Alexei before I spread out the real plan.

"Mm, keep going."

"That day at the café and recently, at the hospital."

"Seems like he has been following her around,"

I nodded, "He's around and he's somewhere. We just lure him out,"

"What makes you think this will work? What if he finds out about it?"

As usual, Alexei had his doubts whenever it came to me. He didn't like me and he wasn't going to like me but it didn't matter, as long as I stood up for myself. For someone like Alexei, he had trouble trying to believe that someone else out there could be better than him.

I had met a lot of men like him; they had their own egos. Believe it or not, I was one of those men before I lost everything- I thought I could protect everyone and everything without a single obstacle in my way but when it was all taken away from me, I knew it was better to be humble. Until Alena came into my life and she showed me the beauty of it.

"He wont,"

""How can you

"I'm sure,"

be so sure?"

"I don't just accept confidence."

I sighed deeply as I looked at both of them. They were both staring at me; if only looks could kill. Their stares were piercing

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and I swore I could feel-it-deep inside my soul.

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"I have to be frank with you two, I don't think it will hundred percent work. There's a fifty percent chance that this will fail but there's also another fifty percent chance that we will catch him," I replied.

Mikhail didn't say anything as he tried to process the words.

I had to do a lot of convincing for them to believe me but it didn't matter, as long as they could try and believe me. I didn't need to fully gain their trust, just a bit for them to go through with the plan-I needed them as allies, the more the better.

However, Alexei seemed to have a lot to say. He was the first one to ask different questions and I knew he was doing all of that on purpose, he was doubting me. He wanted to see me fail if he could because it could be the only chance for Alena to go back to their home. "Did something happen to you when you saw him at the hospital?" Alexei asked, looking at his sister.

Alena shook her head, "He was just staring at me."

"Why didn't you tell us?"

""You wouldn't understand,"

"Why not? We're your family,"

"All you do is blame me or Matteo. You wouldn't listen,"

Alexei kept quiet as he leaned back on the sofa, out of words to say. He knew those words were right and he could never try to prove otherwise even if he tried his very best. Sometimes, I felt sorry for him because I knew how much he loved his sister.

Both Alena and Alexei were close when they were growing up but when their priorities had changed, they grew apart and they didn't have the chance to reconnect. I never knew what it was like to lose a sibling because I never had one but I knew, deep down, Alena had regretted the words she said to him.

I also knew Alexei regretted the words he said to her.

They didn't say another word.

"Give us some time to think about it," Mikhail replied.

"I wouldn't take too long,"

"Give us a day or two."

I nodded, "Alright."

"We'll be leaving. Take good care of my daughter,"

It didn't take them long to make their way out of the front door. Alena, Luca and I had stayed in the living room as we watched from the sliding door, seeing them driving away.

Honestly, I didn't expect for Mikhail or Alexei to take some time I had expected them, to disagree or agree with the plan-it was risky because Alena had to be out there alone, all by herself but my men were going to be around her, surrounding. She was going to be safe because there was no way in hell, I was going to risk my wife's life for no reason.

The meeting was brief and they didn't listen to the whole plan yet.

"Do you think he'll agree?" Luca asked.

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"I'm not sure. I hope so,"

"We need his men too,"

"I know."

I turned to look at Alena who has succumbed herself to silence. She hadn't said a word ever since her family left and I knew there was something wrong; she was thinking about something and she was drowning in her own thoughts. I couldn't read her mind and decided to ask her the same question, every time she was reacting this way.

"I'll be in the kitchen," Luca said before he walked out.

Luca was always in the kitchen whenever he could. He loved going through the fridge because our fridge was always stocked up-I never liked it for it to be empty. I always made sure every ingredients were available for Alena incase she wanted to cook something. It was to make things easier for her.

Once Luca was away and we were left alone, I decided to grab onto my wife's chin.

She seemed to be surprised by my sudden action but she didn't pull away. "What's wrong, baby? Something bothering you?" I asked, looking into her eyes.

She shook her head but her eyes

were filled with tears.

"I'm just thinking,"

"About what? Tell me,"

"I'm really scared, Matteo."

I wrapped my arms around her body before I pulled her into a hug. I used my warmth to bring her comfort because I knew she needed it more than anything else. She had went through a lot ever since Marco was gone, she deserved to be happy.

I had failed to protect her and as much as I hated to admit it, Mikhail was right.

However, I always intended to make things right by being by her side. I never wanted to leave her because I wasn't good enough for her. I had to keep improving myself to be better because I needed to be good enough for her-I hated the fact of seeing someone else making her happy when I knew, I was capable of doing all of that.

"I know, I know you're scared." I muttered under my breath, having her close.

"What if your plan fails? What if he catches me again?"

My wife was trembling. She was terrified.

I leaned back to get a better look at her face before I leaned in to kiss her forehead. Nothing could bring her comfort when she was overthinking but a few things like this could help calm her down a little bit. I knew she was worried and I didn't blame her.

"It's a risk we have to take," I replied.

""For what?"

"For our future, Alena."

"What if he knows about all of this and he comes after us? What if he catches us first?"

"That's not going to happen,"

"How can you be so sure?"

I kept quiet, trying to figure out the words to say.

"I'm not..."

Alena stood up as she paced back and forth. Her arms were crossed around her body and she looked anxious, she was worried about something bad. I stayed still at my spot because I wanted to give her some space, she was going to push me away if I was near her. My heart broke at the sight of her. I never wanted to see her this way.

"You're not? You're not even sure," she breathed.

"I'm sorry. I'm not,"

It was disappointing for me to say that but I could never lie to her. I could never lie just to make sure she felt better about what we had planned. It could only hurt her even more and I never wanted that to happen, sometimes the hard truth was needed. "You're risking my life over something that you're not sure about, Matteo."

"Alena,"

"Do you even know what you're thinking?"

I stood up, making my way towards her.

"Of course I do. I've thought about it a lot,"

We both stared at each other. It was our way of telling one another about how scared we were but we didn't have the right words to say-as much as I wanted to be there next to her and wrap my arms around her body, she was going to keep pushing me away. She needed to have the space for her own sanity.

It was a lot to ask for.

I didn't even discuss things with her.

"I need some time,"

"Baby," I called out.

"Just for a little while."

Then, she walked out and up the stairs, leaving me alone.

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