Chapter 9
The feeling of protectiveness

"Amelia. You take five steps back and do not move, got it?" Aurora said. Amelia started to talk but Aurora didn't let her, so Amelia did as she was told. In the SUV, everyone was silent now, awaiting the younger woman's moves. It was obvious that she was protecting Amelia, so they were interested to watch the scene unfolding.

"Whose dog are you?" Aurora started, walking slowly towards them with a bored look on her face. Examining her nails, she didn't even glance up at them before stopping a few meters in front of them. "Hm? The Russians? Germans? No? Hm..." She made it seem as if she was interested in what they had to say, or who they were, but she was just stalling for time when the next explosion would come as a distraction and she could take Amelia somewhere safe. The men in the car were surprised once more.

"Seems like this girl is somewhat interesting, don't you think, brother?" Matteo spoke up now. But the car went silent as the girl outside scoffed in annoyance.

"This is boring. Are you going to attack, or do you want me to do so first?" she asked, without waiting for an answer. "Fine, fine. As you all wish. Amelia, turn away, it is about to get bloody, my sister." "It better be," Amelia smirked back, shaking her head in amazement. She knew who these people were so she didn't fear anything now.

Ares was surprised to see his wife following orders and was getting more and more interested now, but mostly suspicious. With a pop of her gum, Aurora took the first step, slowly, approaching. The men took a step back subconsciously after seeing the expression on Aurora's face as she looked up, peering over them. It was unreadable, cold, and predatory. Her smirk made everyone freeze, even the men in the car were taken aback now.

"Cosa state aspettando, ragazzi? attacco!" (What are you waiting for boys? Attack!) Aurora spoke up, again, taking everyone by surprise. Raising her eyebrows at their astonishment, she tilted her head and pouted her lips like a kid. "What? You didn't think I wouldn't recognize you guys, did you?" She started, really confused now, these people were easy to recognize for her, but that was the secret for her. "Oh! Wait, my bad, not everyone is as smart as me." She giggled shyly, really taking this whole act to another level.

"She's probably bluffing, how could she know who we are by just glancing at us?" A man spoke up, making the people in the SUV more interested in her answer.

"The Italian Mafia. Please, your people were the only ones that helped me out, of course, I'd remember you." She said in a serious tone, her whole stance changing completely now.

In the car, Ares watched carefully the young woman's face. It amused him how quickly she went from shy to serious, from sly to sweet.

"Interesting." He mumbled.

Aurora's time was up, the big explosion sounded once more and she rushed towards Amelia, placing a hand on her back and forcing her to crouch for her safety. Aurora's ears buzzed and her flesh felt an unspeakable kind of warmth, one that no human would ever want to experience. But fortunately, the explosion was on top of the mountain so it didn't affect anyone too much. Or so Aurora thought, it was oblivious to everyone that she was much stronger than an average human. "Amelia, are you okay?" Aurora asked concerned, everyone in the can immediately snap their eyes to Amelia, after all, she was why they rushed into this place. Amelia smiled and hugged Aurora tightly, fear written all over her features.

"I told you to protect yourself, why are you not listening to me?" Amelia scolded. Aurora was just standing there with her head lowered, at one point she looked at Amelia, trying to explain herself, but after seeing Amelia's serious expression she just sighed and looked down again. This went on for quite a while. Amelia was very angry at Aurora, which was starting to get angry too, why was she being scolded, she wasn't a kid.

In the SUV, the men were all confused, but the younger ones were chuckling slightly, "Look, brother, it seems our female Ares is getting scolded. This is so cute!" Andrea said with dreamy eyes, lust written all over his features. Ares noticed, and for some reason, it made him angry, he felt a pang in his heart as if someone was threatening to take away something that belonged to him. After the men in the car made sure Amelia was okay, they just continued waiting and watching the scene in front of them. The guys that Aurora was about to fight were instructed to go back to their cars. "...I mean come on! I didn't do anything wrong!" Aurora cried out in frustration. Amelia wasn't having any of it. "You didn't do anything wrong?! Are you serious, you could've died!"

"But I didn't! I know what I am doing. Can we continue our way now?" Aurora whined, smiling. "You little shit!" Amelia scolded. "Come on!" Aurora pleaded, showing off her puppy eyes at Amelia, which didn't even flinch "I have six kids, Aurora. These tricks don't work on me anymore." Amelia was cold to her but Aurora felt warmth spread into her heart that someone was caring about her safety. "You are bad!" Aurora yelled and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She liked this child's act. Amelia shook her head knowingly, and slapped Aurora's head lightly, "Ouch! You want to kill me or something?" Aurora fake-flinched in pain.

As they were talking, Ares was watching very carefully. At the side of the road, he noticed cars stationed on the top of the mountain, watching the girls' every move. Little did they know, Aurora had already noticed them and that's why she was playing this game with Amelia, who also noticed too.

"Here's how it will go, we rush to that SUV and take out the driver. I know there are more people in there but I will just threaten them with a gun, easy enough. After, you get into the passenger's seat and wait for me to come back okay?" Aurora said in Italian. Amelia nodded and hugged Aurora once more, which the latter returned this time.

"Come on, let's get the thing out of the car and be on our way," Amelia said loudly enough for the people on top of the mountain to hear. The women walked naturally towards the car, one on each side. Amelia opened the passenger's seat first, noticing the three men in the back, she just smiled and said nothing, she glanced at the driver's side of the car where Aurora had already opened the door and had a gun pointed at the driver's crotch. "Aurora! You're not going to shoot his balls are you?" Amelia said, shocked. "Why not? Didn't you tell me not to kill anyone? If I shoot his balls, he won't die." She said In a matter-of-fact tone. Aurora looked around the car and tilted her head in confusion as if asking for confirmation from the three other men in the car.

"Yeah, he won't die, but he'd want to kill himself afterward, tesoro." Andrea spoke up smirking, "Well, that's not any of my business, is it?" Aurora asked, still confused. Amelia just face-palmed herself and took a deep breath. "Aurora, my sweet girl. Men usually need their balls to survive, you know, pride and shit, you might as well shoot him between the eyes, spare the poor man."

Everyone in the car went silent, Aurora was in deep thought, as the three men looked at the woman they knew all these years and shook. She'd never cursed before... "This girl is a bad influence, don't look at me like that," she said to all of them. Aurora then raised an eyebrow and brought the driver's chin up, looking deep into his eyes.

She smiled sweetly and brought herself closer, "Oh, not the charming Aurora again." Amelia rolled her eyes after closing the door next to her, she put her belt on and shrugged. "Dimmi, giovanotto, quale preferisci?" (Tell me, young man, which one do you prefer?) Aurora said while caressing his cheek. The man tried to speak up, but he was scared for his life. Aurora could see he was an innocent young man, so she had no intention of killing him, she smirked when seeing his terrified face. "Non preoccuparti, topolino, non ti farò niente" (Don't worry, little mouse, I won't do anything to you.) She leaned back on the car door and made a gesture for him to leave. The young man seemed hesitant for a moment, but after she smiled at him, he sighed in relief and slowly went out of the car. "Non farti ammazzare, ragazzo" (Don't get yourself killed, boy.) Aurora said while turning to Amelia now, dismissing the young man, a serious look on her face.

She didn't notice the man in the back. He was fuming in anger as if someone had touched something that belonged to him, but no one noticed, as they all were watching Aurora's performance. "We do as I said, okay? And if you people try anything.." she pointed at the three men in the backseats, then loaded a gun skillfully before handing it to Amelia, "I'll shoot the hell out of them, okay? I know you won't leave them here to die, after all, you're a good person." she rolled her eyes and Amelia giggled, "But you're a doctor, you'd know where to shoot without killing."

"Yes, my dear. Don't worry." Aurora sighed in relief, then took another glance at the men in the back seats. "You're Italian as well, hm?" Aurora asked and the youngest, Matteo, nodded. "What a trio, though, huh?" Aurora smirked at Amelia. "Aren't they just the meal?" she shook her head chuckling lowly, a predictor calling on their prey. "Aurora! Behave!" "Fine, fine. It's not the time, I know." Aurora rolled her eyes. "I have time, tesoro. We can play whenever you want." Andrea spoke up, making Aurora's eyes brighten in delight, but her sharp features promised hell to everyone in this car. "Sarebbe un piacere mio." (It would be my pleasure.) Aurora raised her eyebrows in a challenge and scoffed when she felt Amelia's gaze on her.

"I mean, come on. You're married and all, but I'm not! Why can't I just play a little, after all the men in the mountain will take some time to come down-" Aurora was now smirking, "Aurora! My girl, are you seriously asking me this? I won't let you! How am I going to marry you off if you fuck every male that passes your way?" Amelia fumed and smacked Aurora in the head. "I am NOT getting married!" she said lowly in a threatening tone, but Amelia didn't flinch, "You are, whether you like it or not!" "Θεέ μου, βοήθησέ με!" (My god, help me!) Aurora spoke in her national language, groaning, she sat in the driver's seat, leaning her back on the wheel, looking over at Andrea, annoyed.

"But look at him, he's such a cutie," Aurora whined, making Amelia smack her in the head once more. "You! What are you looking at my girl like that!" Amelia snapped at the man now, which was lost in a trance, looking at Aurora's oceanic eyes. "Oh, for Christ's sake! Aurora, snap out of it! I can't believe this is happening to me!" Aurora giggled as she ignored Amelia and leaned over her seat, sitting on her knees, as she scooted closer to Andrea, which sat right behind her. She rested her chin on the seat's head and sweetly smiled at Andrea, which was now raising an eyebrow at Aurora's smirking expression. "No one can stop her when she's horny. Now you all have fun when she slits your throats, after doing the thing. I can't even say it." Amelia exposed Aurora who now sulked in defeat, "Why did you do that? You're no fun!" The men were confused once more.

After, Aurora sat back in a leaning position, closing her eyes and waiting for the people on the mountain to come. Silence overtook the car and Aurora had time to think now.

•••

These people weren't trying to hurt them. Which meant one thing, "Voi." (You.) Aurora pointed at Ares, who hadn't talked at all since the women got in the car, his anger was getting out of hand and he had to calm down. Ares raised an eyebrow, "Me?" a deep, low voice was heard inside the car, making Aurora feel as if it trembled by the octaves that dropped. She looked at him up and down, her eyes squinting slightly as if she was scanning every single inch of his body. She leaned back, placing her arms wider in the front of the car, kicking the seat down one of her legs.

"Mhm. You," she answered calmly, a serious look on her face. "Che dire di me, agnellino?" (What about me, little lamb?) he asked, looking at her questioningly, not a single expression could be seen on his face. They didn't talk after that, silence overtook the space, as Aurora went back into deep thought. She then looked over at Amelia, whose eyes were closed and a smile plastered on her face.

"You found out already." Amelia spoke up suddenly, "Found out what?" Andrea spoke up first. Amelia chuckled knowingly but remained quiet. Aurora's gaze pierced through Ares, making him raise an eyebrow in question. The two men noticed their interaction and furrowed their eyes in confusion.

"Handsome indeed." Aurora sighed, stretching her arms first and then legs, as if no men were in the car, making Amelia giggle once more, "You don't stretch in front of men, young woman." Amelia said, "Huh?" Aurora looked at her confused, Amelia just giggled louder. "I don't care anyway. Men are men, you can always kill them." Aurora said in a bored tone. "No, nope you can't!" Amelia smiled. "But sister, your husband gets on my nerves." She suddenly said.

Everyone's attention was now on Aurora, who looked intently at Ares, the latter's mouth twitched upwards, the only change in his facade. "How did you know-" Matteo started, but was cut off by Amelia, "She's smart like that." Aurora scoffed and opened the door. "Anyway. I don't have much time to waste here. Amelia, we do it like before, when I come back, you get on the wheel, si?"

"Si," Amelia smirked. "Aurora..." Amelia gripped Aurora's wrist tightly. Aurora turned her head and looked at the older woman questioningly, "... Can you just let Ares's men handle it? It'll be much easier-" Aurora shook her head immediately, glancing back at the man. "I don't trust your husband, I don't trust his men, either. The man might've sent these people to abduct you and you'd have no idea about it." Aurora gritted her teeth in anger. "Look, sister. You are a pure woman, you don't understand what evil and darkness mean." Aurora started shaking her head, "I'll handle it, okay?" Aurora smiled bitterly and Amelia let her wrist go.

"At least, when you come in, you can let them help you. Ares, can you just let her order your men instead? I swear she's a good fighter. I've seen her, and she's better than both your brothers combined and multiplied by ten."

Amelia looked at her husband, who was now intrigued once more. "Okay," he replied and Aurora sniffed in annoyance before sliding out of the car. "The explosives?" Aurora asked and Amelia handed them to her, "Wow! Where did you find these?" Matteo asked amused, "Aurora made them." Amelia said smiling, and the younger girl nodded. "Let's see how big of a dick they have, shall we?" Aurora smirked.

"WHAT?" Amelia snapped, "You are a girl, you're not supposed to talk like that!" Amelia scolded once more and Aurora rolled her eyes and winked at her.