Guarded Heart

Scott "The car that hit your parents was registered to Barnes Enterprises"

Y/N looked at Scott "You're absolutely sure it was one of their cars"

Scott nodded "Positive. And your parents were in your truck."

Her eyes grew "So this was meant for me?"

"Looks like it boss."

She turned and glared at Bucky "What the fuck is your game Barnes? Either you are gunning for me or your redheaded whore is declaring war for both of our families"

Bucky shook his head "I know Nat has been a real bitch but she wouldn't-"

Y/N cut him off "What did she come bouncing in to tell you today? What has she been doing to make sure you two can be together? What have you been telling her to do, James?"

He cringed at the way her using his name in that tone felt "No, Y/N, I didn't tell her to do anything to hurt you or your family. We have an agreement and I would never" he tried to persuade her.

She rolled her eyes, unconvinced "I'm giving you one chance to deal with her. If I have to do it, you won't like it."

The elevator near them dinged and the Barnes came out when the doors opened. Winnie pushed past Bucky and hugged Y/N. "We're so sorry for your loss, dear. Please let us know if there is anything we can do."

Y/N pushed back the tears she felt coming and built up the wall around her heart. They seemed sincere but criminals are often good actors and their organization was involved one way or another. "Thank you, George, Winnie. I appreciate your support. Unfortunately it was one of your cars so someone in your organization was behind it, with or without your knowledge is the question. I'm leaning towards Nat, especially after her behavior at your house earlier."

George took her hand and looked her in the eyes "I promise you it wasn't done with my consent, we have an agreement to join our families and I wouldn't break such a bond."

Y/N nodded "Would your son break it for the woman he says he loves?"

Bucky looked up in shock "I would never-"

She cut him off "I wasn't asking you James but I know people do crazy stupid things for love."

Bucky protested "You're not being fair, I've done nothing to make you question my loyalty"

She glared at him "Fuck being fair! My father is dead and mother in a coma from an accident in my truck that was hit by one of your cars. Fair isn't a concern right now, I need to know who I can trust. I want you to be one of the people I can trust but I can't do that blindly. We haven't known each other long enough. You need to find Natasha."

George Barnes promised he would do whatever he could to help find her then he and Winnie left the hospital to take care of business.

The elevator rang again and out came Thor and Wanda. Y/N sighed in relief, at least she knew she could trust them. Wanda gave her an overnight bag with clothes and toiletries since she knew Y/N wouldn't leave the hospital until she had to go to her fathers funeral.

Y/N introduced them and almost laughed to see Bucky and Thor sizing each other up. Men can be so predictable.

When Bucky and Sam were leaving, Bucky saw Y/N melting into a hug with Thor and felt the urge to shoot him right there. That kind of thinking wouldn't help anything but he wondered how close they really were, if he was the secret lover.

He turned to Sam who was sporting a shit eating grin "You've fallen for the princess haven't you? It's all over your face. No wonder Nats acting out. So didja sleep with her yet? I'll bet she's-"

Bucky snapped "Don't finish that sentence. And no, I'm not in love with her, don't be stupid it's just business. Let's go to the penthouse, I told Nat to wait for me there so we'll see if she can still listen"

Sam laughed and let it go.

Nat wasn't at his penthouse so they started running through all the places she used to haunt with Bucky but they had no luck.

Buckys temper was running short "Let everyone know I'm looking for her and to notify me as soon as she's seen. And tell Jensen to get online and find out everything he can about the accident. Y/N's hacker has been on it but I don't want to be caught unaware like that."

Sam nodded, knowing better than to press his luck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N sent Clint to her fathers office to deal with the business, while she worked on funeral plans, then spoke with Wanda and Thor for a moment before sending Wanda to sit with her mom while she took a shower.

The Y/L/N family was well known at this particular hospital since they were major donors and her father was friends with the chief of medicine so they were given the run of the place. Y/N was directed to the on call room to clean up.

Thor found his way into the shower "Are you alright little one?" He asked softly as he ran his hands down her soapy body. "Tell me what you need, what I can do to help."

"I'm always better with you next to me. Please make me forget for a minute" she leaned into him.

"As you wish, little one."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a seedier part of town Natasha was sitting in a dark bar waiting for her contact. Zemo slid into the booth next to her and slid an envelope over to her.

"Well Natalia, it looks like you're on your way to bringing down the Y/L/N family. I hear that James is looking for you, you might want to be careful who you trust."

She picked up the envelope and put it in her jacket pocket then scowled at him "I don't trust anyone, like my father taught me. I'm just ready to be done with all this and go home."

He smirked "Back to Russia? Or will you take your place at your father's side here?"

She smiled "I guess you'll just have to wait and find out but right now, I need you to go. My contact with her family is coming and he won't show his face if he sees you."

Zemo smiled "Very well, Natalia. Until next time." And left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After her shower Y/N felt a bit better but her emotions were still all over the place. Riding always helped clear her head but that wasn't an option right now. If someone was gunning for her, out in the open on horseback made too easy of a target. She couldn't leave her mom so it was irrelevant. She sent Thor back home to make sure the horses were taken care of.

She had a temporary office set up in the conference room closest to her mother and went to get some coffee before checking up on Scott and Pietro.

"Where's Piet?"

Scott smiled "Chasing down some leads. I think we found something but it's pretty big so I sent him to confirm. You want what I have now or do you want to wait till he gets back?"

"Lets get started with what you have now and we'll see if he comes up with anything else."

As they went over what Scott had found her eyes grew "Holy shit, this goes way beyond a jilted mistress. If this is all true it's going to be an all out war between multiple families. I need to know who they have inside my family. There's no way they could have gotten this far without someone on the inside."

Scott nodded "I'll keep you updated and let you know as soon as Pietro comes back."

Y/N went back to sit with her mother while she ate the sandwich that Wanda brought her. She tried to keep up her small talk with her mother and keep it light but she couldn't. She told her she was afraid of falling in love with Bucky after what happened with Zemo and with what she had seen in other mob marriages, too many mistresses and nights with the boys. Like her own father but she didn't say that out loud. She had thought that having Thor would keep her from developing feelings but it didn't work. Bucky was too charming and sweet and while she loved Thor and they had great times together, she was never in love with him. Her mother was the only one that ever knew about Thor, without ever being told, she saw it.

Y/N cried a little. Some for the loss of her father, some for the loss of her own life and dreams that would at least be put on hold for now.

She kissed her mother on the forehead and got up to stretch her legs. After using the restroom she went to see if Scott had any news and almost ran into Pietro returning.

He looked at her seriously and it made her nervous, Pietro was never serious.

Y/N sat across from Scott. "What have you two found?"

Pietro confirmed what Scott had told her already and she texted Bucky to come by the hospital asap.

A couple of hours later he showed up with Sam in tow. "So what's the latest?"

Y/N smiled at him "You might want to sit, it's pretty serious."

Bucky sat and she passed some papers to him "What's all this?"

She steeled her expression "Evidence. I wanted to be sure we had solid proof before I brought this to you."

Bucky smirked "Evidence of what? Put it all together for me."

She scoffed "It's right there in front of you. Your girlfriend is a mole. Her birth name is Natalia Dreykov, she is Dreykovs daughter, Yelenas half sister. That family is working with Pierce to bring the rest of the families down."

Bucky looked at her in shock "No, that can't be true. I had her checked out when I first met her. She's an orphan." His voice dropped "And she loves me"

Y/N gently rubbed his hand "I know this hurts but it was all an act. In fact shes not infertile from an accident, it's part of Dreykovs training. Girls are sterilized so that they never have anything more important than their mission and the family. She's lied to you from the beginning."

Bucky pulled his hand away like she bit him "No. There's no way. Nat wouldn't do something like this, she swore her loyalty to me. Your hacker is trying to set her up!"

"Bucky, you know that's not true. Neither me or my people have any reason to set her up."

He shook his head "No this is bullshit. You caught feelings for me and want her out of your way. Even if you get rid of her she will always be the woman I love, you can't compete with that."

Y/N frowned "Bucky, I wouldn't lie to you and this is just business"

"NO! You're lying, trying to trick or manipulate me. Natasha loves me and all this is bullshit" he swept his arm across the table, sending the papers flying. Y/N tried to show him. "I'm getting out of here, away from you and your lies." He stood up to leave.

Y/N stood to face him. "If that's how you feel then I won't be needing this anymore." She removed his ring and put it in his palm, refusing to show how much it hurt to do it "Best of luck in the war that your whore started. I'll see her dead for what she's done. Stay out of my way or I'll put you down too."

Bucky looked at the ring in his hand then back up at Y/N. He felt an ache in his chest at the thought of losing her but pushed it down with thoughts of Nat. She was probably in trouble and he needed to find her so he stuffed the ring into his pocket and nodded at Sam before they both left.

Sam looked at her apologetically on his way out, she just shrugged back at him. She understood how this business worked and knew all too well about men and their fickle natures. She should have known it wouldn't work, maybe in a different life.

Bucky and Sam raced back to his penthouse and Sam tried to talk to him. "Are you sure about this Bucky? Y/N had a lot of evidence that makes Nat look pretty bad. Maybe it's true."

Bucky growled "You better shut the fuck up about that. Nat wouldn't betray me. Y/N is lying and manufactured all of her so called evidence to frame Nat. There's no fucking way its true."

Sam shook his head "Fair enough, man. I'm gonna drop you off and head home."

"Fine. Make sure you keep your phone on and close. I might need your help later"

"Sure Buck. Whatever you say."

When Sam dropped him off Bucky took his private elevator up to his place. When he opened the door he was surprised to find Nat sitting on the couch like she was waiting for him.

"It's about time baby, I've been waiting for you forever."

Bucky felt his temper winding back up "No if you were waiting for me you would have called or answered your phone.

Now tell me what the hell is going on. Y/N said you're the mole, that you've been playing me all this time. I didn't believe her and she ended our engagement so you need to tell me what the fuck game you're playing"

Natasha shook her head and tutted at him "Tsk, tsk. You shoulda listened to her but I'm glad you didn't."

Bucky looked at her confused "What do you mean, Nat. Tell me what's going on." he sensed movement behind him and turned to look, eyes growing wide in shock "What are you doing here, you work for Y/N" then he felt a pinch in his neck and everything went black.