🖤🖤🖤

*****

Silence.

An absolute silence blanketed the room as the door was thrown open.

"Cian", Amara whispered, shocked to see him being pushed inside roughly by two Valentini guards.

"Finally", she heard Valerio mutter under his breath.

Amara felt like she was in a trance. Her amethyst eyes moved from Valerio and towards her cousin, confused and scared.

"What is the meaning of this?",Cian spat, breaking the silence. "Your guards-"

"Took quite some time to find you", Valerio interjected coldly, sending a sharp look to his soldiers. "I had my people looking for you. I think it's time that we have a small chat together."

"A chat?", Cian spoke disbelievingly. "First, your guards restrain me without any provocation and now you say that you want to have a little chat with me?"

Valerio snorted lightly. "Without provocation, you say", he echoed Cian's words. "This ignorant act doesn't suit you, little Sullivan", he mocked.

Amara flinched when he heard his form of address. Valerio's previous statement replaying in her head. The boys who had earlier attacked Cian had also called him by the same name. And Cian had claimed that if was Valerio whom had ordered the boys to go after him. Had he been really speaking the truth?

"Not all of us here have their lackeys running around", Cian bit out. "Now, will you fuc - just tell me why I'm here", he amended, his eyes narrowing to slits as he took in Amara's closeness to Valerio.

Amara shuffled slightly in nervousness, taking a step away from him.

But no sooner had she stepped away from Valerio than she was pulled back in his arms.

"What are you doing?", Valerio frowned at her, his arms resting comfortably around her waist as he completely ignored Cian and his guards in favour of focusing on her.

"I-I...", she fumbled, eyes wide.

Valerio sighed. "Sweetheart , I think it's best that you stay close to me while I interrogate him. I do not trust him with you."

Amara winced at his words.

"I'm not going to hurt her", Cian growled in disbelief. "And interrogate? Why am I being interrogated?"

Valerio ignored him, waiting patiently for Amara's reply.

She bit her lip nervously. "Val you don't need to do this. Just forget whatever happened and let them go. I hold no grudge against Harley-"

"But I do'', Valerio cut in sharply. "An offense against you is an offense against me.''

"But-"

"Harley? What has she got to do with anything?", Cian interjected impatiently, making their head snap towards him. "Is she here as well?"

"Ah yes! Your girlfriend is probably passed out in the interrogation room", Valerio stated carelessly, staring at Cian over the top of Amara's head, a wicked smirk on his face.

"P-passed out?", Amara stuttered, horrified. "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing much", he stated.

"I don't believe you", Cian spoke up, thrashing against the guards hold on him. "I want to see what you've done to her."

"You're not in a position to demand anything of me", Valerio answered back coolly. "You both will answer to me for your offense..... individually", he emphasised the last word darkly.

"I will see her right now",Cian shouted, struggling more fiercely. "Let me go", he demanded, hissing in pain when one of the guards twisted his arm sharply behind his back.

"Let him go!", Amara shouted at the guards, "You are hurting him."

The guards stood stony faced, not even a flicker of apprehension flashing in their eyes as they looked at Valerio expectantly.

"Please, tell your guards to let him go", Amara pleaded with him. "Valerio!", she exclaimed, desperate, when she saw how unmoved he was by her words.

Valerio's jaw tensed.

"Val please", she pleaded,"....for me."

"Lasst ihn los", Valerio commanded after a few moments of indecision, and the two guards stepped away from the Irish boy, taking their positions at the back of the room silently.

Once released, Cian glared daggers at Valerio. "I've had enough of your dictatorship", he practically snarled in contempt, walking towards Valerio with his fists clenched tightly. "You have a problem with me? Let's finish it off once and for all."

Amara panicked as Valerio too stepped forward but unlike Cian who was expressively angry, Valerio had dark humor swirling in his eyes.

"Gladly", he replied coldly but before any blows could be exchanged, Amara quickly rushed in between the two boys, her palms raised up against them as she separated the two.

"Stop it!", she half shouted and half pleaded with them.

"Step aside sweetheart", Valerio warned her in a hard voice.

"Yes Amara, step aside",Cian bit out through clenched teeth.

Amara shook her head, staring at them imploringly. "No"

Before she could realise what was happening, two arms snaked around her waist and Amara gasped in surprise when she was bodily but gently moved by Valerio, as he placed her directly behind him.

"Do not disobey me on this matter Amara. I can't have you anywhere near him knowing that he has compromised your safety today", Valerio told her sharply.

"He wouldn't do that Val", Amara pleaded with him at the same time as Cian snapped, "I have done no such thing, Amara is my blood, her safety is of utmost importance to me."

"Then why was her name submitted to compete in a combat event?", Valerio turned on him harshly. "From where did a girl with a background such as Harley's learn the skill of sword fighting? How was she able to perform moves which ironically you are quite famous for? Why did that same girl who is under your protection raise her weapon against your sister when her back was turned? ......I wonder with whose support she could have been able to achieve this!?", he asked rhetorically.

"C-combat?",Cian asked, staring at Amara, his mouth going dry. "You f-fought .... I can't even - a combat?", he stuttered incomprehensibly.

All the blood left his face as he stared at Amara in shock. His eyes roving over her urgently as if checking for any visible signs of her being hurt.

Valerio's eyes narrowed. "You act well", he mused thoughtfully.

"Valerio please I can assure you that Cian had nothing to do with my participation. I trust him", Amara began urgently,"I don't understand why he's being held responsible-"

"Harley has confessed his involvement behind this", Valerio grit out, trying to maintain his calm around Amara.

"But what if she's lying?",the words left Amara's mouth before she could even realize what she was saying.

Valerio's eyes flashed with such a darkness that it sent chills down Amara's spine.

But before he could form a reply, the door opened again and one of the Valentini guard — Paulo, stepped inside, sharing a very significant look with Valerio.

While this confused Amara, it seemed that Valerio understood the unspoken message clearly, his face turning frosty at once.

"On second thoughts", he spoke suddenly, "I think that you should spend as much time with your girlfriend while you can. Who knows when you will be able to see her again.....if ever."

Amara's heart jumped at the unmistakable threat in his words.

"Guards, do escort him to his girlfriend for their last date, while I greet our new guest", Valerio commanded.

And in that moment as a shocked Cian was being dragged away from her, Amara should have realized that this was only the beginning of the chaos that would soon take an ugly turn.

******

Harley flinched at the sound of the door being unlocked, terrified that Valerio had returned to torture her again.

She glanced around the dimly lit room, desperately searching for any way to run, but the room was packed from all the sides, containing only a single door.

She squinted in the dark, trying to figure out who it was that had entered and her heart skipped a beat when she was finally able to recognize that person.

"Cian", she sobbed in relief. "Look what he did to me", she cried, too terrified to even address Valerio by his name.

Cian's eyes fell on her at once, his jaw clenching in anger when he took her in.

Spurred on by the anger that she could see was swirling in his eyes, Harley continued, "He scared me so much. Please, don't let him do anything to me. Save me from him."

Cian walked towards her,an undecipherable expression on his face. On reaching her chair bound form, he ran his fingers over her tear stained cheeks lightly.

"I'll protect you from Valerio", he vowed, making Harley smile at him in relief.

His fingers slowly trailed up and entangled in her hair in what would have been very soothing if it wasn't for the way he tugged at them harshly, raising her head up and making her look in his eyes.

"But who will protect you from me?",he hissed dangerously.

Harley gasped in fear. "C-Cian?"

"How dare you?", he snarled, tugging at her hair once and ignoring the sharp yell at his action. "How dare you raise your fucking hand against my sister?"

Harley's heart stopped beating in that moment. All her hopes shattered.

"Even after everything that I've done for you, this is how you repay me? By trying to to harm my blood?", he continued, staring deeply in her eyes, betrayal flashing in his own. "I stood by your side when you went on making enemies with people who you can't even dream of taking on.... I went as far as letting people believe that you were my girl so that you would be better protec-"

"Let go Cian, please, you are hurting me", she cried.

"And what about me?", he shouted, incensed, letting go of the tight grip he had on her locks, "Do you even realize how hurt I am?"

"I... I didn't mean to, please, I'm sorry", Harley pleaded.

"Shut up!", he roared. "To even think.... if something had happened to her....it'd be my fault again", he pulled at his hair in frustration.

"But this isn't fair. You guys can't punish me just because I was her opponent in a fight", she protested.

He turned on her at once. "Did you not try to hit her when her back was turned to you?", Cian accused, remembering Valerio's words.

Harley nodded hesitantly.

Cian let out a strangled laugh.

"Do you realize how many eyes watch Amara's movements? How many guards are assigned only for her protection?", he asked rhetorically. "The arm which you raised against her would have been left broken if you had even thought of attempting something like this outside of the competition. I would have personally—"

''How can you act so angry with me when you don't even care about her?", Harley protested weakly. "In the months that I have known you, I've never heard her name slip of your tongue even once. Y-you are lying to me... I know you are. I've heard the r-rumours too you know....",she left off.

Cian's face turned stone cold. "Go on", he ordered." Tell me what rumors you've heard."

''A-about your U-uncle and how she was responsible for his death .... something to do with the Valentini's, and -"

"Say it", be commanded sharply.

Harley gulped nervously.

"Speak!", he snarled, his rage palatable.

"And how she was the reason behind your mother's death", she rushed out in a low voice.

Cian's eyes clenched shut in pain and Harley almost regretted saying that aloud. It wasn't a topic that was ever discussed openly, No. It was forbidden to talk about the Sullivan's family affairs. She remembered how terrified Abigail had been when she had accidentally let something about Cian's mother slip during a conversation.

Harley gulped once before continuing on bravely. "I-i just figured out that you hate her and so it wouldn't matter if I-"

"If you deceive me", he completed her sentence. "When you gave me the chit and asked me to submit your name for you in the combat event, you lied to me",he growled putting the story together.

Harley nodded, ashamed for having deceived him."I had already submitted my name. The name which you submitted wasn't mine, it was Amara's."

"Why?",Cian shouted in rage.

"Because besides Veronica she was the most influential girl here, even more so infact", Harley finally confessed. "You warned me before that you would withdraw your protection if I tried anything against Veronica because you didn't want to upset Caden. But then you seemed so uncaring towards your own sister that I thought ...that it wouldn't matter to you if I do anything."

"You have committed the biggest mistake of your life", Cian spoke, leaning down to be on her eye level, his arms on either side of the chair, caging Harley in.

"I'll let you in on a little secret today",he whispered darkly. "The reason why you never heard her name fall from my lips is because..... my sister is very precious to me", he breathed out. "In my eyes even the merest mention of her name should be with someone worthy enough..... And you, Harley, were never one of them", he emphasized each word.

Harley's blood turned cold.

"And another thing. My mother is n-"

"Master Cian"

Both of their heads snapped towards the new voice.

Cian straightened up, recognizing the man as one of his family soldiers.

"Master Caden is waiting for you outside", he spoke.

Cian nodded his head. "I'll be out in a moment."

He waited until the guard had left before turning towards Harley once again.

"I won't let Valerio get to you",he stated stoically. "I considered you a friend and you broke my trust Harley. You have deceived me. I think it's only fair that I decide your punishment."

And as Cian walked out without even sparing her another glance Harley knew that she lost something more precious than her power today.

She had lost Cian's friendship.

*****

"What are you doing here?"

These were the first words that left Cian's mouth when he saw Caden waiting for him outside. To his surprise there were no guards around in the room, just his older cousin.

"Veronica was able to contact me before the school was put on lock down", Caden answered simply. "She told me a very interesting story which involved Amara, Damien and you of course. And when I rushed here Valerio gave me a detailed description of the events which I missed."

Cian gritted his teeth. He should have known that Veronica would have something to do with this. She simply loved creating problems for him.

"I have already questioned Amara but she refuses to speak anything on this matter.Her silence though, is enough of an answer for me."

Cian opened his mouth to respond but Caden waved his palm impatiently.

"I'll discuss your actions with you later", Caden told him sharply. "Because time is something which we all don't have right now. I received the news before coming here, the elders are going to reach New York in a few hours and all of us need to be present for their arrival", Caden informed him. "All of us, unharmed",he emphasized.

"Today? But Grandpa and the others weren't due to arrive until the day after tomorrow", Cian muttered in shock.

"Plans have changed", he replied dismissively. "We need to hurry and officially hand Harley over to Valerio while you-"

"No!", Cian snapped.

Caden's eyes narrowed to slits. "Have you not broken up with that girl yet?",he asked angrily. "Even after everything that has happened."

"Harley will not be handed over to the Valentini's. I will personally decide her punishment", Cian replied back.

"I have already spoken to Valerio and he has set the conditions before me. Harley's fate lies with him and not us",Caden answered back coolly.

"I-", Cian started.

"Cut it out Cian", Caden snapped, frustrated. "Harley is nothing but a power hungry conniving bitch", he spat. "But since the day you've met her, you have started breaking all the rules. You even stood against m-"

"I did not stand against you",Cian interjected firmly. "I stood against your girl."

"And by doing that you gave Harley the impression that it was alright for her to do the same. You gave her the power and courage to stand against your family", Caden snapped coldly.

Cian bit his tongue to stop himself from answering back. He realised that what Caden spoke had merit. Harley herself had said more or less the same thing to him before Caden's arrival.

"I judged her wrong. It was my responsibility to keep a check on her movements and I have failed—"

"And she will be punished for it",Caden spat. "You don't know how difficult it is for me to stand back and let Valerio take charge even though I know that she tried to hurt Amara. But I'm forced to do this because that's the only way he has agreed to give you a chance to defend yourself."

"I don't want to defend myself to him then. I am ready to accept any punishment that grandfather deems fit for me",Cian swore. "I will consent to anything. But Harley's punishment will be decided only by me."

Caden snorted darkly. "You think Valerio is going to let you or that girl leave this place without any repercussions?", he asked rhetorically. "He went as far as to put the school on a look down to prevent any Sullivan interference while he punished you."

"Only Grandpa Sean has the authority to punish me when the question is about Amara", Cian snapped.

"He cannot know about this. No one can know about your involvement in this."

"Why not?", Cian asked confusedly.

Caden's eyes hardened. "The Romero's of course, Or the Don to be more specific."