Corey was a really nice guy and Noelle was convinced that he was a very close friend to Valentino. Although they were safe at the moment, she still didn't feel certain that they were safe. As far as she knew, Baron was very dangerous and she was almost certain that he wasn't done with them yet. Noelle wondered how Val had managed to endure being under him.
Brianna, Corey's girlfriend was nice too. She was a regular visitor to her boyfriend's home and they all seemed to be getting along quite well.
"Hey, Noelle" Brianna said when Noelle opened the door to the sound of her knocking on the door.
"Hey, Bree. Come in" she responded.
She grinned and stepped in.
They settled down on the bed and began to chat about random stuff.
"So, you and Valentino" she said, wriggling her eyebrows.
Noelle raised a brow.
"What about us?"
"You seem to have something nice going on between you two"
"I don't get you" Noelle said.
She knew what she was hitting at, but she really didn't want to talk about it.
"I mean, for Valentino who's a really tough guy, He settled down for a lady finally. He's someone who does things his own way. Corey is the only person who understands him a lot. But, suddenly, he arrives here with a beautiful lady. He stayed with you. He wants to protect you.He likes you, Noelle" she said.
She shrugged.
"You're not in his mind, Bree. Besides even if he likes me, how sure are you that I like him too?" Noelle said. She chuckled.
"It's clear, Elle. You stuck with him. You like him. That's why you're not getting your ass out of New York City just to stay away from all the trouble he has with him"
Noelle blinked and lowered her gaze.
"I don't know if I like him or.... I just feel sympathy for him" she sighed. Bree placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You like him. What's stopping you from admitting it? Is it your past relationships?"
Noelle heaved another sigh, her blue eyed gaze meeting her hazel eyed ones. "My previous relationship wasn't great, Bree. At first, I thought I'd finally found my man. The one who would stick with me no matter what. He was gentle, loving and caring at first. But then, he changed drastically. He would miss our dates and anniversaries. Then, he would come up with filmsy excuses. The doubts set in. He became a horrible drunk. He started hitting me. Then one day, he raped me. It broke me, Bree. I tried to escape from him, but it was so hard. I suffered in his hands for another year until I disguised myself, and moved to New York. I don't want to suffer again. I'm afraid of falling in love" Noelle admitted, tears pooling in her eyes.
"I'm sorry you went through all that" she said, squeezing her hand gently.
"You'll find the guy who will fix you" she said and embraced her.
...
"Why won't you just try?" Noelle probed, following Valentino closely as he paced back and forth in the guest room. "I can't" he rasped.
"You're not even trying" Noelle said, exasperated.
"You don't understand! It's hard! What am I supposed to say when I show up at my brother's home? Hello, it's me. Your long lost brother who tried to kill you by stabbing you and pushing you off a building. You think I would get out alive if I even tried?!" He snapped, his fist clenched tightly. Noelle flinched, thinking he was going to hit her.
When nothing happened, she opened her eyes to see him gaping at him with his hand on the nape of his neck. He looked so shocked.
"Y-you thought I was going to hit you?" He stuttered, disbelief and hurt clouding his eyes.
She swallowed hard, turning away from him nervously.
"Noelle, please wait" he said as soon as her hand came in contact with the door knob.
She froze, refusing to look at him.
"Please, turn around" he pleaded. Slowly, she turned around, her head hanging low. She refused to meet his gaze, her hair hiding most part of her face.
"Why did you flinch? Why did you look so scared?" He asked almost quietly.
"Nothing" she replied
"Noelle..."
"It's nothing, okay?!"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Fine.... I'll go" he muttered.
"Go where?"
"To my brother's house to apologise" he breathed.
A smile ghosted over her lips and she quietly walked towards him and embraced him.
"I'm glad, you're trying at least. That's great" she rasped. He smiled weakly, his hand gently resting on her waist. She blushed and buried her face against his chest.
"Do I make you uncomfortable?" He asked, amusement in his voice. "No" she said, holding back a chuckle.
....
Ellise walked into Dre's lounge with a tray containing berries and cocktails.
"Damn, El. You're always right on time" Dmitri said, grabbing a glass of cocktail.
She grinned and handed her boyfriend a glass of cocktail before leaning down to kiss him. Dominic sighed, throwing a berry into his mouth.
"I really miss Jade" he said and Ellie smiled, placing her hand on Dre's shoulder.
"He's drowning in misery because his girlfriend went to Chicago" Dmitri said, rolling his eyes.
Dominic glared at Dmitri, his nose flaring.
"Geez, you guys are so weird" Ellise said, stroking Dre's hair.
There was a knock on the door and the chief security agent walked in with a grim look on his face. "Sir, there's someone here to see you" He announced.
Just then, Xanthis walked in.
"Who?" He said, grabbing a bunch of berries.
"His name is Valentino"
Everyone stiffened, tension filling the air.
"He's here with a red head"
"Noelle" Dominic breathed.
"Is he armed?" Xanthis asked.
"Not at all"
"Send him in" Dre ordered, leaning back on his chair.
The man nodded and left.
"How is this possible?" Dmitri whispered.
"I don't know. I'm just as stunned as you are" Dominic said.
"Mum's gonna flip when she hears this" Xanthis said, running a hand through his hair.
Few minutes later, the door opened and in walked Valentino with a pretty red head latched to his side. Dre noticed that he looked different from the last time he'd seen him. He looked really pale, not in a healthy way. He had dark bags under his eyes and his previously shorter hair was now as long as Dre's.
He looked very nervous, Dre could tell by the way his gaze kept flicking from him to Xanthis.
Both men stared at each other, silently. Really, Dre didn't know what to say and clearly Val was speechless too. The red haired lady beside him nudged him in the rib.
He took a deep breath.
"I... know that I'm not supposed to be here. Not after what I did to you. Really, I don't know what I was thinking. I had to come here anyway. The guilt keeps eating me up and I can't move on from it no matter how much I try. I just want to settle the score between us. You might've disowned me from being your brother, but I don't care. I just want bygones to be bygones.
And... that's why I am asking for your forgiveness. Forgive me for trying to kill you....If it makes you feel better, you should whip me. I know, I left scars on you. You should leave scars on me too and then, we can move on" he said, his voice shaky. Surprise crossed Dre's features. He had a hard time wrapping his head around what was happening.
Xanthis looked shellshocked. Ellise had tears in her eyes as she watched the scene unfold before her eyes.
Dre knew he would forgive him. He was his brother after all. But, he didn't like where this was going. He didn't appreciate the fact that Val wanted him to leave scars on him too. He rose to his feet slowly.
Val took out a whip and a frown creased Dre's brows.
He walked towards Dre until he was standing right in front of him. They were the same height, he wasn't surprised. With his stare intense, he placed the whip in his brother's hand. Dre stared at him, a strange look in his eyes.
Val started to take off his shirt, only then did Dre find his voice.
"I forgive you, Valentino. We don't have to do this" he said.
Val shook his head.
"No, Alexandre. I actually deserve it. You should do it. Hit me as much as you can. I need you to do it or I won't be convinced that you've forgiven me" he said.
Xanthis sighed
"You can't be serious" he rasped.
"I am" Valentino replied and took off his shirt. As soon as he turned his back on them,
Ellise let out a strangled cry.
His back was marred with several scars. It was worse. Much worse than the ones on Dre's back.
Dre dropped the whip in shock. "Oh my God" Dom breathed, his gaze fixed on Val's scarred back.
"I can't hit you. I won't hit you. I forgive you. I can't do this. I'm not going to" Dre insisted.
Valentino grabbed his shirt, turned to face him with a dead look in his eyes.
"I doubt that you have truly forgiven me" he said.
With that he walked away with Noelle.
Ellise let out a sob, burying her face against Dre's chest.
"Did you see his back?" Xanthis choked out.
"I'm guessing emperor X did that to him. I guess, I was wrong about him all along. I can't believe what just happened now" Dominic rasped.
Dre quietly stared at the whip lying on the floor. Valentino had just asked him to forgive him and he had let him walk away. What was he supposed to do now?