CHAPTER 17 - THE GALA

Romeo POV:

Alina looks absolutely stunning tonight, I can't keep my eyes off her, even my men couldn't keep their eyes off her, I really would have shot Leo if he kept looking, family or not. I tie her mask and those beautiful blue eyes just pop, I don't know how I got so lucky, and she forgave me and I will not mess this up. It's time to enter and the mask will keep her identity safe for now, security is up a notch tonight to keep her safe if any of her father's men are here.

She takes my arm and the doors open, I have not seen the room since Alina approved all the designs for the gala, it's absolutely beautiful she has done well, golds and rich shades of reds. The round gold tables and chairs with darker red table cloths and gold accessories to match. As we walk in and the sing band plays and people stand around and chatter in their finery, eyes seem to drift to us and I feel like shooting all of the men, I feel Alina tense slightly but I glance over to her and see a genuine smile on her face, God she's beautiful.

I'm pretty sure everyone recognises me, but hey don't recognise her and she looks so beautiful they want to know who's on my arm, I do see a few jealous looks from women but I pull Alina's hand up and kiss it. And I see her blush, just priceless. I hand her a glass of champagne and almost immediately some business associates want a piece of us. "Alina baby, there are a few people that want to meet you and speak to us, just some business associates of mine. I will introduce you for now as Emma Johnson. Is that ok?" I ask her.

Alina nods, "yes that's fine, I'm just a bit nervous."

"No need to be, nobody knows who you really are, ShowTime baby." I say winking at her and I'm awarded with another smile. "Gentleman may I introduce you to Emma Johnson, the hotel manager and Co-Owner of R&L Hotels, Alina looks at me surprised but doesn't miss a beat and shakes their hands.

"George Mandell, I'm a partner in one of Romeo's Casinos in Vegas." He shakes her hand, they make idle chat but she seems to have him wrapped around her little finger. "If you ever need anything don't hesitate to call me Emma, I would definitely look forward to helping you," George says flirting with her right in front of me.

"George, if my girlfriend requires anything she will ask me," I say coldly and he knows I mean it, George has had to call my services once or twice. He looks shocked, but nods and kisses Alina's hand and walks away. Alina smiles but is red.

"Girlfriend?" She says smiling.

"Yes, my girlfriend, my woman, my Mafia Queen," I say in her ear and I kiss her cheek. After few more introductions, I ask her to dance, I see a few pictures being snapped, nothing alarming but I try to keep Alina's face hidden as we dance. We laugh and do about two songs before it's time for a speech, the lights flicker and it indicates its time to sit down at the tables. I guide Alina to our table where Mari and Leo are sitting and a few other associates, Luca and his girl, although I'm not sure if he's all that into her he seems bored. I give Alina a kiss and I walk up to the stage to make the opening speech, and I pull Alina up with me.

"Good evening ladies gentleman and esteemed colleagues. We are humbled to see you all here tonight for the opening of R&L Hotel and Casino. This is the first in this chain and we wouldn't have it any other way than right here in New York. I would like you give a round of applause to my partner and hotel manager Emma Johnson, my beautiful girlfriend has thrown together this wonderful event to mark the first hotel." I turn to Alina and she gets a roaring round of applause. "Now please enjoy the nights festivities, drink, dance, eat gamble and have a wonderful night, thank you all again for coming." I finish the welcome speech and am met with another round of applause. I put my hand around her waist and we take a few photographs which can't be avoided and find go back to our seats.

The first course is served and dinner goes off without a hitch, it's a very successful opening and potential for more investors. Mari and Alina are chatting up a storm and I see the way Leo looks at Mari, when he thinks nobody notices, finally the joker and non committed playboy finally has his eye on someone. Luc seems distracted, and he looks toward me and leans in to say something to me. "Russo and Mancini just showed up, Dario has eyes on them." He whispers to me.

"Take care of it, I will ask Alina to dance, she is not to know they are here," I say and he nods. I turn to Alina, "dance with me bella." She places her hand in mine and I signal Leo to dance with us so he's close by to the girls if anything goes down.

Alina POV:

I can sense something is amiss, Romeo seems a bit tense, but he asks me to dance and I accepted. I notice Leo and Mari are close to us, I keep a smile on my face, "Romeo, what's wrong?" I ask him my heart pounding in the process.

"Nothing baby, just a security issue, I don't want to ruin your night," he says smoothly, I don't buy it, but play along. We dance and laugh, and I need the bathroom, I ask Mari to go with me, but Romeo is not having it. He walks me and Mari to the powder room with Leo. As we walk across the lobby, away from the crowd I feel someone watching me.

"Romeo, I think someone is watching me," I whisper to him. As we turn around the blood drains from my face and I feel faint. I see the man of my worst nightmares walk up to me.

"Alina, my daughter. How lovely to see you, and with Romeo. I could not be more disappointed." My father.

"Russo, get away from my date. I don't know why you think this is your daughter but this is my girlfriend Emma, now please excuse us." Romeo says smoothly and my heart is pounding as we turn to walk away. My father raises his voice to a menacing tone. "Romeo De Luca, do you think I'm a fool and I don't know my own daughter when I see her? I want her back and where she rightfully belongs, with Drago Mancini, you see Romeo I have cut our previous deal and I want my daughter, now I will not make a scene here, but I will be coming for her that you can guarantee." My father says even though Romeo, Leo and Dario now have guns on him.

"Russo, I see you brought the leper Mancini with you, oh how the mighty fall, keeping company with that scum. Don't fucking come near Emma, with your twisted logic that she's your daughter," Romeo spits at him and my father shakes his head. "I will only give you this one warning Russo and Mancini, back the fuck off and nobody will get hurt. You forget who you speak too old man, I can end you in a fucking second," Romeo continues, but his voice is eerily quiet. Now I see the man that everyone fears, he lowers his gun and my father seems to be shaking, but trying to keep his cool.

"You will be sorry De Luca. Alina I will see you soon," my father says and leaves right out the front doors.

"Alina baby, are you alright?" Romeo asks pulling me into his arms, I can't help but break down and cry as Romeo picks me up and carries me. "Dario, have Tino bring the car around, we are heading home, Leo stay with Luc and handle things till the party is over, Mari please stay with Leo," they all disperse after their instructions from Romeo and we head out to the limousine with Dario and about ten security guards. I assume Romeo's men. They check the limo while Romeo is holding me, we get the all clear and Romeo places me in the car and he gets in beside me and I crawl back onto his lap.

I don't say a word, I just cry. I have been running from this man for years and now he's finally found me. I finally find my voice, and I'm shaking. "Romeo, how did he find me?" I ask unable to hold back the fear in my voice. My father was a verbally abusive prick, he killed my boyfriend and tried to trade me to a psychopath.

"I don't know Lina, but I will find out, we were really careful, it seems we might have a leak." Romeo says his voice full of regret as he holds me close. I know that only a few close people knew my real identity, so Romeo is taking this hard. I stay in his arms both of us in deep thought, I have never been so happy to see Romeo's place in my life. Still holding me, Romeo carries me into the house.

"I can walk baby," I say giggling and Romeo puts me down.

"Oh right, sorry it just felt right having you in my arms," Romeo says looking slightly embarrassed walking over to the bar as I sit on the sofa kicking off my shoes and remove the jewellery and he pours us a whisky and hands one to me. I take a sip and the liquid burns my throat right into my stomach and warms me and calms me a bit. Romeo puts the fire place on and he walks over to me removing his bow tie and jacket and undoes the first few buttons of his shirt and rolls up his sleeves and sits beside me, I curl up into his chest baking in the scent that is Romeo.

I finish my drink and put it down, as does Romeo, he pulls my hair loose and massages my head with his one hand as his other rests on my naked leg by the slit of my dress. I moan at how good it feels, "Lina..." I cut Romeo off my putting my finger to his lips.

"I don't want to talk..." I whisper as I climb onto Romeo's lap hiking my dress up. He leans back against the back of the couch and runs his hands up my thighs and a lean down placing my hands on his chest and kiss him with everything I am. I feel Romeo breath heavily as he grips my ass squeezing it as I grind into him feeling his harness below me. Romeo gives a low groan and its hot, he picks me up and carries me to the bedroom making his way up the stairs effortlessly all the while holding tightly onto my ass as I grip around his neck.

Romeo pushes his bedroom door open and kicks it closed as he carries close to the bed and puts me down softly on my feet. I moan into the intense kiss as I unbutton his shirt and remove it slowly as I feel him unzip my dress and it drops to the floor in a soft puddle at my feet. I make shirt work of his belt and undo his pants dropping it. Romeo kicks his shoes off and pants away and quickly removes his socks standing in only his boxers. He runs his hands up my arms and appreciates the white lace strapless bra and barely there lace thong I'm wearing. "You are the most stunning woman I have ever met," Romeo says as he starts kissing me again unclipping my bra letting it drop to the floor and gently laying me on the massive soft bed with black silk sheets.

I let out a moan as Romeo kisses down my neck to my breasts, taking his time licking and sucking each one and he comes back up to kiss me. He stops and looks into my eyes as he grinds his hips into me and I wrap my legs around him revelling in the feeling if having this gorgeous, protective man all hard for me, wanting me. I stare back into his eyes breathing heavily, hands around his neck resting in his back, what he says next makes my heart stop. "I love you Alina."

I freeze for a moment my heart still isn't beating, he looks intensely into my eyes, after a beat I come to my senses. "I love you too Romeo, so much." I'm awarded the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. Romeo moves so he can reach his night stand and takes out a condom, I guess he doesn't want to take chances and lays it on the bed, he rips my panties off and pulls his boxers down and pushes them off. He smiles at me and moves down my body, between my legs and I feel his hot breath on my sex, and his tongue touches me in my most intimate area, an involuntary moan escapes me and I feel his tongue tease me and then his mouth is on me giving me the utmost pleasure. I feel Romeo push one finger then two inside me as his tongue flicks my bundle of nerves, working in and out and I'm a moaning mess. "Romeo don't stop, please!" I say out loud. He keeps going and before I know it I'm climaxing, my whole body shaking and responding to every touch and flick of his tongue.

I come down slowly panting like I have run a marathon. Romeo comes up and kisses me softly, and I roll him over and straddle him, "I want you Romeo."

"I want you too Lina, so much," he responds as I massage him working my hand up and down his shaft. I grab the condom and rip it open, I take it and slide it over his length all the while he's leaning on his elbows watching me with burning passion. I move so I'm hovering above his erection and Romeo sits up to kiss me while I lower myself down on him, his breath is coming out in uneven pants and a sexy groan that makes me weak. "Oh fuck Lina, you feel amazing," he says in a whisper against my lips and I push him down and start riding him slowly, enjoying every inch of him, worshipping this man that I love so much.

He grips my hips and moves me harder as I place my hands on his taught chest. "Romeo..." I moan his name like a prayer.

"Lina, baby fanculo!" Romeo mutters and his eyes are closed tightly and he finally opens them and they are blazing. I feel my orgasm approaching fast, and I roll my hips harder and harder and up and down and repeat that a few times.

"Romeo, cazzo!" I shout as I come hard my body shattering and I hear Romeo let out a deep moan as he releases and his body stiffens, that sets my body off even more as he grips my hips.

"Lina... Ti amo mi amore".

"Ti amo", I answer smiling as I fall down to his chest, and I move off him. Romeo goes to the bathroom and comes back and climbs into bed.

"Sleep baby, we can speak in the morning," Romeo says as he pulls me close and I fall asleep as he holds me.

(I love you, my love)

(love you)