Thomas

I tossed and turned the entire fucking night. Hannah’s beautiful eyes haunted me in my sleep. I went through everything that happened since the night in the alley. My entire life has changed because of one beautiful innocent witness. When I let her walk away, I hunted her down realizing that I had to stop her from talking. I knew that I would be able to scare the shit out of her and keep tabs on her. I had no idea that her innocence would affect me.

I never knew there was any good in me. I never thought I could have any signs of innocence. Hannah has proven the exact opposite. She proved that a man with a stone-cold heart, still has one. I have never been a man that liked to talk about my feelings or show any kind of emotion, but a fucking tear almost fell when I left the warehouse. What would the Deluca’s or Oliver say if they saw that shit? They would think I was losing it and Alex would probably want to shoot me.

The Deluca’s and Oliver are my family. We are so close we are thicker than blood. Most families have something buried in the backyard. If there is something buried in the backyard we each a job in placing, it there. We never keep secrets in the family, and I have never kept anything from them until Hannah.

When the alarm clock goes off, I reach over and shut it off. I think back to Oliver telling me that I had no choice but to kill Hannah. There was no other option at that point. Hannah was a fucking liability. The names of my casualties kept increasing and she knew where the bodies were hidden. Henry was just the latest and the one that she wouldn’t be able to forget. Killing her brother was crossing the line, she wouldn’t let that one slide. At midnight I stared into Hannah’s eyes as she stared at the gun being pointed at her. I am startled out of my thoughts when someone starts pounding on my door. I climb out of bed and head to the door, knowing already who it is.

Frank and I are staring at each other as he sits across from me on the edge of my chaise.

“Is there anything you want to tell me Thomas?” he questions, and I shake my head. His eyebrows lift so high they nearly touch his hairline.

“Are you sure about that? I think there should be.” Frank challenges and again I shake my head.

“Thomas… we have known each other for a long time. We need to trust each other, and you know I have been exactly where you are now.”

“Where exactly would that be Frank?” I snapped at him and he pinches the bridge of his nose

“I was told I had to kill the woman that I was in love with. You know how that ended, I married her instead. It was the only way I could keep her safe from the family and it offered marital privilege.” Frank hinted as he stood and walked towards me

“I would never encourage anyone to do something like that unless they were in love with that person. I knew I was in love with Lola, I knew that any woman that I would even consider going against my family for was the woman I had to be with.” Frank continues as I narrow my eyes on him

“Did you need something Frank or are you just here to share your love story?” I hissed and Frank chuckles as he turns to leave.

“Thomas… there is another reason that I am here. Doctor Rogers was expecting two bodies at the warehouse and as you know there was only one. You might want to come up with an explanation before you show up at the club later.” Frank hints and I lock the door behind him.

I lay my head against the door and walk back to the bedroom. I lean against the wall watching Hannah sleep, knowing that I need to come up with a good reason for her still being alive. Hannah moans and turns over to lay on her back as she stretches, and her eyes meet mine. I walk over and lay down next to her as she snuggles up against me and I wrap my arm around her.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Do you know your wanted by the cops?” I reply, and she starts to laugh. Hannah thinks I am lying to her, but little does she know I was offered a deal if I helped put her ass away

“I’m serious” the laughter quickly stops. I explain to Hannah that Henry did such a bang-up job at committing bank fraud that he was able to set her up for it. He funneled the money back to Hannah making it look like she was the one in charge.

“This means that we both have enough information on each other that we could put the other one away?” she whispers

“No… you’re in more danger than I am Hannah. I can avoid the cops, but the mob is a different story.”

“You’re the mob. You were going to kill me last night, weren’t you?” she asks, and I nod and explain to her that she was supposed to be dead by midnight. What Hannah doesn’t understand is there is a trust issue that won’t go away. The Deluca’s and Oliver won’t forget that she witnessed too much. They will never trust her and the one time she went to the cops painted a fucking target on her back. Anytime anyone talks, they will think it’s her.

“They want me dead.” She whispers, and I flip her over so that I am leaning over her.

“I am not sure if they all do. Frank was here earlier, and I think he was giving us a way out.” I advise and she puts her hand on my face

“What is it?”

“Marry me” … Hannah eyes widen before she starts to laugh as she pushes me off, so she can get out of bed

Have you ever seen someone laugh so hard they started to cry? I watch as she starts to wipe away tears and she can hardly catch her breath when she starts to talk. I just asked this woman to marry me, so I can protect her, and she thinks this is funny? I have never asked anyone to marry me before, but I can assume this isn’t the reaction someone should get.

I roll out of bed and grab a t-shirt before walking out of the room. Hannah is still laughing as she follows me and the more she laughs the angrier I am getting.

“Wait a minute… your mad… you weren’t serious, were you?” she asks in between giggles and I ignore her as I walk over to start the coffee pot

“Thomas…you weren’t serious right?” She asks, and I take out a coffee mug slamming it so hard on the counter I think a piece of it chipped off.

“Thomas…” Hannah stops laughing and she walks over to me and grabs my arm before I snatch it away

“Oh my God… you were serious. Thomas, we can’t get married.” She comments, and I keep my hands behind me holding onto the edge of the counter. It’s either holding on to the counter or wrapping them around Hannah’s neck.

“It would never last Thomas. I am from the wrong side of town and you’re from here.” She waves her arm around the room

“I mean I know you’re not perfect either, but that is another reason we wouldn’t last. I believe in making an honest living and you’re a…” she stops before finishing and tilts her head taking a deep breath

“You’re a killer Thomas. I can’t marry someone knowing they are burying bodies before coming home. You’re in the fucking mob.” She stresses, and I walk past her leaving the room. Hannah follows, and I force myself to smile before turning to look at her.

“You are really something Hannah. You didn’t mind who I was when you spread your legs open for me.” I remind Hannah as she slowly inches closer to me.

“Don’t get any closer Hannah. There is a target on your back. You might want to come up with a plan to keep yourself safe. I’m going to take a shower and go out for a little while. Be gone when I get back and I don’t want to see you again.” I whisper as I turn away from her and head to the bathroom to take my cold shower. Once I am dressed, I walk past Hannah as she is crawled up on my chaise. I don’t say anything to her as I walk out slamming the door.