Keeping Them Safe

"Marry me." He uttered those two words from his lips, making me freeze in place as various scenarios ran in my head while I searched his eyes for any kind of hesitation, anything.

Maybe he's sleepy. Yeah, that must be it...

Maybe he thinks he's dreaming... Yeah, definitely.

But there was none. All I saw was love, and complete determination. His hand stroked my cheek softly as he gazed into my eyes and I knew I had to say something soon by the way his eyebrows were starting to crease together.

Shit shit shit.

"I-.." I was cut off by the blaring ringtone of both our phones simultaneously. I looked over at the phones with a frown thinking of who could be calling at this time of night.

"Don!" Heavy footsteps and voices were heard before the guards came into view and immediately stopped when they saw us both together. I became conscious of my clothing, which was only Nico's white dress shirt and my underwear.

Nico noticed this immediately and stood in front of me protectively, glaring daggers at the men.

"What is it?" He growled out, making the men flinch slightly.

Ouch.

"Ace!" Jake's panicked voice came from behind them as he stumbled into the kitchen, still in his suit from the wedding and gave both of us a meaningful look and gestured the guards to leave after he saw me behind Nico.

"What happened? Is everything okay?" I stepped from behind Nico who wrapped a protective arm around my waist while I questioned Jake.

"There was an attack. At the hotel." Jake told Nico, whose grip on me tightened as my blood ran cold.

It couldn't be...?

"W-what? Which hotel?" I asked shakily but Jake shook his head.

"Jake answer me!" I shouted as Jake gave Nico a nod.

"Get the men ready, hurry up!" Nico ordered as Jake quickly ran off to god knows where.

"Nico, what is he talking about?" I asked him turning round and saw him texting someone on his phone. He dropped his phone on the counter and released a frustrated breath and grabbed my face.

"Listen to me love, everything is fine, everyone is okay, you don't need to worry about anything my love." He assured me, making the fear inside me increase tenfold.

"N-Nico you're scaring me." I whispered as he kissed my forehead.

"Listen to me amore mio, the hotel where your family was staying in was attacked, but everyone is safe since the area was heavily guarded." He said, making my soul nearly drop right out of me.

No.

"W-what? H-how can that happen?" I asked, now panicking as tears formed in my eyes.

"I don't know my love, but I will figure it out. Now I want you to go to our room and stay there, yes? I will go check on everything." He told me but I shook my head.

"N-no. I'll go with you. There's no way I'm staying back." I said firmly, hoping he'd agree but he only closed his eyes a moment before opening them again.

"It's too dangerous my love. I want you stay here, where you'll be safe."

"No Nico, I'll be safe when I'm with you, no one else makes me feel safe. Please... I have to see them... Please.." I begged, tears streaming down my face as he sighed.

"Okay, alright. Come with me." He took my hand and led us towards the bedroom.

"Go change, I'll be waiting for you." He told me and I nodded, quickly heading towards the closet and pulling out black jeans and and a black button down, I quickly went in the bathroom and brushed my hair and teeth and wore the clothes after taking a quick shower.

When I came out Nico was already dressed in a black suit and was putting on his blazer. Since it was a little chilly, I also fetched a black blazer from the closet and put it on and some black boots. Grabbing my phone, I put it in my blazer's pocket and walked out.

"Ready my love?" Nico asked looking at me and I gave him a nod as he opened a drawer and pulled out two guns. He put his own in the waistband of his pants and handed the other to me.

"This one's yours, just in case." He told me and I took it, tucking it into my pants as he grabbed my hand and led us outside. We met Jake standing outside and giving out orders to many guards.

"Jake. Everything ready?' Nico asked him and Jake turned around, frowning when he saw me before nodding at Nico.

"Is she coming with? I don't think that's a good idea." He said hesitating.

"I'm coming with." I said firmly, making him nod as he got into one of the cars. Nico also led me towards a black car and we both got in, buckling our seatbelts and Nico drove off into the night.

"Try calling someone." Nico told me and I quickly took my phone out, calling dad, but he wouldn't pick up. Nether was anyone else picking up.

"They're not picking up." I said frustratingly as Nico's hand came to mine and held it in his firm grasp.

"It'll be okay amore. Don't worry." He reassured me, giving my hand a gentle squeeze, that seemed to calm me down a bit.

But once the hotel was in view, the nerves took over again and it took everything in me not to run inside even before the car had stopped.

"Wait darling, I need to make sure the area is secure." Nico told me by putting a hand on my thigh and effectively stopping me from moving an inch while he talked to his guards on the phone in Italian.

After what felt like an eternity did he put his phone down as more cars pulled up beside ours and Jake along with other guards stepped out.

"Wait a minute here. Don't come out until I tell you to." Nico warned me before stepping out the car and going over to Jake. They exchanged a few words before ordering the guards who scattered about with their guns ready.

Nico came back to me and opened my door, holding out his hand for me which I took quickly and both of us walked into the fancy hotel that Nico owned. We were greeted by the manager who quickly swiped his card on a panel near the elevator and ushered us inside.

I bit my lip as the elevator went up rather slowly and tried to keep the emotions at bay. Once the ding of the elevator was heard, both of us walked out briskly and walked in the heavily guarded hallways, the guards bowing their heads in respect when they saw us.

With a final turn, I saw Liam walking down the hallway and as soon as he saw me, he sighed in relief, and so did I as I let go of Nico's hand and ran towards him, engulfing him in a hug.

"Oh god Liam. You scared me so much." I whispered, hugging him tighter as he rubbed my back soothingly.

"I'm okay, it's okay." He assured me as I pulled back from him.

"Where's everyone else? Are they alright?" I asked in a panic but he only gave me a small comforting smile.

"They're okay, don't worry. We're all fine." He told me and it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I sighed in relief.

"Oh thank god." I whispered, placing a hand on my heart as I turned around to see Nico talking to a guard who had his back to us, but Nico's eyes were on me.

I felt the tears fall from my eyes finally as I walked towards him and immediately his eyes softened as he moved towards me, his large arms wrapping around me.

"It's okay my love. They're all okay. I won't let anything happen to them." He reassured me again and again as I cried into his chest.

"I was so scared Nico. What if something happened to them? They're in this mess because of me." I sniffled and felt Nico pulling away as he held my face in his hands and wiped my tears away.

"It's not your fault Dove, it never was." He whispered and put his lips on mine, kissing me softly before pulling away and touching his forehead against mine.

"Nothing will happen to them. I'm preparing for them to leave for their homes immediately. No one will be able to harm them over there and I'll appoint my men to protect them. Trust me, I will never let them get hurt." He told me, making my heart beat faster as love poured out of me for him.

"I trust you Nico, so, so much. Thank you." I said embracing him again and felt him hug me back tightly.

"I love you so much. And I will never let you get hurt. Never, my love." He told me, kissing my forehead.

"I love you too." I mumbled, finally pulling away from him.

"Would you like to see your family now?" He asked me softly and I nodded as he grabbed my hand and led me towards a room far down the corridor. He took out a key card from his pocket and swiped it, effectively opening the door.

We were met by a small hallway and walked through it for it to open into what seemed like a living room. And there, I saw everyone sitting down on the couches and waiting patiently.

"Mom? Dad?" My voice broke as their heads snapped to me and I immediately ran to them, engulfing them in a big hug.

"Hush darling, we're okay. We're safe." My mom assured me as both my parents kissed my head and I moved on to Ava and Abigail, and then Cole and Dan. Dad walked over to Nico who stretched out his hand but instead my dad pulled him in for a hug.

At first Nico stiffened but then soon relaxed a moment later as he hugged my dad back with a small smile on his face. They talked about a few things and walked out of the room along with Cole and Dan behind them.

"Are you okay Dove?" Ava asked me concerned and I nodded.

"I'm okay now. Are you?" I asked her and she gave me a smile.

"I'm okay, don't worry. The guards kept us safe in here." She told me.

"We're so thankful to Nicholas. He's kept us all safe." My mom said gratefully, taking my hands in hers.

"I know what he does isn't ideal sweetheart, but if there's one thing I know, he keeps his loved ones safe and happy. And you, my dear, are one of them. I'm proud of the strong woman you've become and I hope you'll always stay strong." She said patting my cheek affectionately.

"Oh mom, you're going to make me cry for the tenth time today." I laughed a bit through the tears as I hugged my mom tightly.

"But something else is bothering you, isn't it?" My mom suddenly asked me, making me pull away as I looked at her with wide eyes.

"W-what?" I asked her dumbly, making her chuckle.

"Something is bothering you sweetheart. What is it?" She asked me softly, making me fidget nervously as I glanced at her briefly before sighing.

"Nico and I... we had a... moment of vulnerability and he assured me everything would be fine, but I had this dream where he was... shot." I forced the words out of my mouth as Ava and Abby sat around me and took my hands.

"But I know the dangers of this life. His life. And I'm scared mom. I'm really scared for him." I whispered the last part as she rubbed my shoulder soothingly.

"I know dear. But did that stop you from loving him?" She asked me raising an eyebrow, making me smile slightly.

"No." I shook my head.

"Well then. The only advice I can give you if to forget about the worries because they will only bring you down. Don't waste your time worrying on what could happen. Spend your time on what you think will happen and enjoy the time you have with him, which I'm sure is a long one." She told me, making my smile get bigger.

"Thanks mom, I will." I said hugging her as dad came back in the living room with Nico, who gave me a small smile. I got up from my seat and went over to him and stood right next to him while he held my hand and ran his fingers over my knuckles.

"We better get everything packed if we're to make it to the airport in time." My dad said looking at my mom who nodded.

"Of course." She said with a smile as she stood next to dad who was now eyeing Nico.

"Thank you for everything you have done for us son. I'm trusting my daughter to you and hope you will take great care of her." My dad said firmly.

"Of course, David. The world will end before anyone touches even a hair on her head. I will make sure of it. I won't let any harm come to her. You have my word." Nico said proudly, and my dad gave him a small smile, completely satisfied as he turned to me and engulfed me in his arms.

"Come back soon, okay? Stay close to him, and stay safe sweetheart." He said to me as he pulled away and kissed my forehead.

"I will dad. I love you. Both of you." I said looking at my parents who gave me warm smiles. I said goodbye to my friends and Ava and Dan, wishing them well and an hour later, we were on our way home and my family was on their way to the airport.

"Rest love, I'll wake you when we reach home." Nico told me tucking my hair behind my ear as I yawned while buckling the seatbelt.

"I'm not really tired..." I said yawning once again, making him chuckle as he reached forward and placed a chaste kiss on my forehead.

"Sleep my love. Everything will be okay." He whispered softly, making me smile as I played with the ring on his finger, intertwining our hands together.

"Okay..." I whispered, feeling my fingers running up the ring finger on his left hand that was currently bare, and brought a smile to my face as I remembered his words.

"Marry me."

And the words slipped out from my lips before I could stop them, but I was too tired to realize that he actually heard them as I fell into a deep slumber.

"Of course I'll marry you."