She's still that child

Alex cursed himself for not being strong enough to chase after her sister as he called out, "Max? I know you're there. Come out."

Max silently walked into the clearing holding two guns and a bag sling over his shoulder and stood beside Alex's wheelchair looking in the direction Aria had run off too. "She still doesn't want to." he said in a small voice.

Alex sighed as he leaned his head back, "Of course she doesn't want to. Who would want to leave behind everything they loved to go live a life of someone who abandoned her when she needed him the most?" "Should I go after her?" Max asked. He had been spending a lot of time with Alina in the past two months and had come to gradually like her a lot. They both loved Alex with all their heart, and were willing to do anything for him, and that had been enough for them to accept each other.

Alex shook his head and motioned Max to sit down. "Don't. Give her some time to cool off. She has decided to technically die for me. I at least owe her this much." he said, his voice cracking. Max shook his head and sighed, "She really seemed like she was coming around."

Alex fumbled for his hand and interwined their fingers together. He rubbed Max's wrist with his thumb as he said, "I thought so too. I guess that's one more thing that hasn't changed. Alina keeps too much inside. She could be stabbed in the back and give you the brightest smile. I'm afraid she very much needs someone to love her."

"You love her!!" Max exclaimed, "Even I love her now. Everyone in the village loves her." Alex shook his head, "Not like that. She needs someone to save her from herself. Like you did for me. We were both the same in the end. Two broken kids who didn't have anyone to turn to at the end of the day. I found you. But Alina, she's still that child."

Max looked up at the clear sky and said, "I think she has already found someone." "Huh? Really?" Alex asked, very surprised. Max nodded as he continued, "Of course I don't know for sure or who it is. It's just some little things she does. Like how she blushes and smiles whenever she thinks no one is looking, or how sad she gets upon the thought of leaving the people here behind."

"And seeing a marriage probably made her realize how might never have one. Definitely not with the one she loves now." Alex spoke, feeling very angry at himself.

Max was surprised, "Why would she think that? It's not like she is going in for life." Alex sighed and said, "Think about it Max, do you believe that you'll ever be able to truly leave? Even if you leave, the viper cartel and all the other gangs will keep tabs on each and every aspect of your life. And it won't be Alina Swan they're tracking, it'll be Alex Flame. Alina knows she's in it for life. And no normal guy will love her with all that baggage."

Max held his head as he spoke, "I hadn't thought about all that."