- 5 6 -

When I really woke up, it was with a jolt. I could feel the seat that trickled down the side of my face and my heartbeat that thundered in my ears.

"Look at me baby." I heard a firm yet soft sound from beside me instantly my eyes met cold, green ones that softened at the edges the longer we stared, but who was this man?

This man who was looking at me with a mix of worry, confusion and longing?

"Igor?" I whispered, his brows furrowing before his eyes became cold yet again as he pulled away in the slightest but I was quick to yank him back to me and press my lips firmly onto his.

"What the actual fuck?" Someone growled and I instantly snapped out of my daze, pulling away from the man and facing the intruder.

Anton.

"I thought I fucking told you to keep your hands to yourself, Angelo." He gritted out.

I frowned, my gaze meeting the man's beside me who leisurely stood up to his feet and straightened his shirt out, a bored look on his face as familiar words rang in my head.

"The Angelos? Who are they?"

"Italians." He replied.

The words rung in my head as I stared at the man for a while before my eyes widened with recognition.

"You're not Igor." I stated and my words seemed to grab both men's attention.

"Heather." Anton's voice broke me out of my thoughts as I looked at him.

"Are you still angry at him? It's my birthday soon and I don't want you two fighting because I love you both very much. I love him, Anton, please don't make me choose." I said when I saw the confusion swirling in the Italian's green orbs as he looked at me.

As for Anton, he gulped before sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Heather, you're okay. He's not here." He whispered, holding my hand in his firm grip when I frowned.

"Why'd you return from Russia so soon? I thought you said you wouldn't make it." I said and a pained expression crossed his face as he pulled out his phone, typing something before putting it back.

Not even moments later, Ivan and Alex had rushed into my room.

"What happened?" Alex asked touching my forehead.

"She's... lost." Anton said, his voice pained when I saw Alex clench his jaw.

"Heather, darling, look at me. It's Alex." He said taking Anton's place and kissing my forehead. I stared at him confused as to why he'd say that. I knew who he was.

He stared at me for a few moments before turning his head so he was looking at the green eyed man.

"Look at him." Alex said, gesturing to the Italian when my blood boiled.

"Why is he here Alex?" I bit out while he rubbed my hand.

"Darling, you know hi-"

"No. I don't know him, I've never even seen him before. You know I hate the Italians and yet you've brought one in my room." I spat at him and glared at the Italian who stood watching me with a calculating gaze.

Cold and unforgiving, I saw his eyes darken dangerously as he glared daggers at me, making me avert my gaze immediately.

"What the fuck is she saying?" The man snapped.

"Be gentle with her." Ivan snapped right back at him before Alex stood up with a clenched jaw and looked at the Italian meaningfully.

"As much as I hate this, it has to happen either way. Get her to remember you, it's the only way to bring her back. But if you dare hurt her, I'll hurt you." He said to him.

I saw my brothers sharing a look before they walked out with Ivan, while the man with the green eyes stared at me with such intensity I found it hard to look away.

He slowly came to sit where my brothers previously sat, watching me cautiously while his eyes scanned my face.

"What do you want?" I asked him, but his face remained cold and emotionless.

"You." He said and I suddenly felt my heart race at his words, something fluttering in my stomach as I registered the familiar words.

Where I have I heard them before?

"I don't know you." I said, watching him curiously as he reached a hand out and immediately I flinched.

His hand stopped in mid air, a dark look crossing his features before he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and ran his knuckles across my cheek.

"Really, angel?" His words struck something inside me, and my eyes widened at the endearment.

Angel.

"D-do I know you?" I asked hesitantly and watched his gaze linger on my face while I scanned his handsome features.

Jet black, wavy hair, a light stubble that covered his sharp jaw, full pink lips and eyes the most gorgeous shade of green I found myself drowning in.

I looked away, turning my head to the side when I heard his low and dangerous voice.

"Never, turn away from me." He warned and my eyes widened, a searing pain shooting through my head when I winced, putting a hand on my temple and closed my eyes.

"Heather, baby, look at me." I heard his soft voice as flashes of our bodies pressed against each other flashed in front of my eyes, his lips on mine, feeling so right.

And then the dark glint of a gun that was pointed to my head, once warm brown eyes I loved now cold and emotionless that made a tear roll down my cheek.

"Baby, stay with me, look at me." The deep voice demanded as his arms came around me, pulling me to his firm chest as sobs broke through my body while his fingers threaded through my hair and his lips uttered sweet nothings into my ear.

"Call me by my name." A faint memory of his voice echoed in my mind as I gasped for air.

Emerald green eyes.

"Mine." He whispered against my lips, making my heart rate spike.

"Yours." I breathed until he was all I could see.

I remember now.

"Heather." He greeted, regarding me carefully.

"Roman." My lips lifted upwards at our greeting.

Roman.

"Roman." I gasped, wrapping my arms around his neck and straddling him.

His hands ran up and down the length of my back soothingly as I buried my face in his neck and clung onto him like my last breath of air.

"Shh, baby, I'm right here." He cooed, his voice soft yet rough, his touch gentle yet firm and his eyes, cold yet full of emotions.

And I knew I'd lost myself to this man the first time I had gazed into his deep eyes.

He placed a kiss on my neck, inhaling deeply as he nuzzled his face in my hair, grabbing a fistful of it and tugging it so I was looking at him.

His eyes searched mine for unasked questions that had no answers while we wordlessly drowned into each other's embrace.

"Do you hate me?" He whispered after a while and something tugged inside my chest at his question.

"No." I answered without hesitation, and saw satisfaction flash through his eyes before it was gone.

"Good. I was keeping you anyway." He said and my heart skipped a beat at his words.

He wanted me.

The door to the room opened and I briefly saw Anton walk in, hands in his pockets while he watched us with a clenched jaw and I realised I was straddling the guy and quickly scrambled off his lap.

"Anton." I said looking at said man whose gaze lingered on Roman a second longer before it rested on me.

"I see you've worked things out." He said and my brows furrowed as I cocked my head to a side.

"What?" I asked him confused when he sighed.

"When I came in previously, darling, you had your mouth all over him thinking he was... well, you know." He said and I paled immediately, glancing at Roman in horror.

"I-I'm so sorry, I-I didn't mean to." I apologized to Roman who gave me a stiff nod, his eyes cold again while I bit my lip nervously.

"Come down for breakfast if you're feeling better. Roman, a word." Anton looked at both of us meaningfully before leaving the room.

"I'm sorry." I whispered again but didn't dare look at him as I heard him get up from my bed.

I glanced at him briefly and saw him running a hand over his jaw as if he was in deep thought before he muttered something under his breath.

He turned around, his icy gaze set on me when I gulped, knowing full well what the next question was.

"Who the fuck is Igor?" He seethed as my heart raced at the mere name of the man who made me bleed, metaphorically, but still. What I didn't give for him. To him.

"I asked you something, tesoro, and when I do that, you answer me." He stalked closer to me, holding my jaw in his firm grip when I nodded hesitantly.

"I-I'll tell you, but not now." I said softly when he grunted, clearly displeased.

"I-I promise I'll tell you. But alone." I said again and saw his eyes drift towards me, something like disappointment flashing in them before it was gone.

"Fine." He said and stood up to his full height, his dark gaze still on me while I looked everywhere but him.

"Go out with me. Tonight." He said firmly, leaving no room for any other choice.

"W-what?" I asked, now looking at him.

"You heard me, and I don't like to repeat myself." He huffed in frustration while I bit my lip in nervousness, contemplating my answer.

"Okay." I whispered, my voice barely audible but I knew he heard it the way his lips twitched upwards in the slightest.

"Good. I'll see you tonight. Be ready at seven and dress casual." He said, drawing closer to me and leaning down to place a lingering kiss on my forehead before he was gone, just like that.

As if he was never here.

And for some reason, his absence made my chest tighten and I found it suffocating without him. I wanted him to be here with me.

No, I needed him. Right next to me. I wanted to be in his arms while he held me and comforted me.

Sadly, I knew that wasn't very easy to achieve.

* * *

As evening rolled around, I walked towards Anton's office when he asked for me. I spent the day lazing around in bed, talking absolute shit with Zarina and Zephyr who tried their best to take my mind off things.

Other than that, I had a long conversation with Jane on the phone while we did our assignments, and she seemed oddly happy and joyous for some reason.

I told her about everything that went down last night and then this morning. She sympathised with me, obviously, but didn't dwell on the topic much longer because she knew I hated talking about it.

And when she heard of my supposed 'date' tonight, she just rolled her eyes and said 'about damn time he grew some balls to ask you out.'

According to her, Roman's been secretly pining after me long before we knew him but I laughed it off, knowing full well the day we first met was on the college fair when I so nicely interrupted his speech by laughing.

Not my brightest moment, I know.

And then we spent nearly half an hour choosing what I should wear after which I was called to Anton's office.

"Sadis', milyy." (Take a seat, darling) He said and I glanced at Alex and Ivan warily before sitting on the plush seat in front of the desk.

Anton never spoke Russian until it was serious. And I don't think he would change his speaking habits now.

"I know this is too much to ask of you Thea, but I really don't have any other choice." Anton started off, glancing at Alex briefly before continuing.

"We need a sniper." He said it, straight to my face, without any filter.

"Nyet." (No) I narrowed my eyes at him and heard him sigh heavily.

"Thea, darling, we would've told the other guy, what was his name... never mind that, but he's currently... well, dead." Alex said with as much of a straight face as he could.

I swear my bothers talked about death like we talk about the weather.

"Why do you need me?' I asked him.

"We need to take someone down. He's coming tomorrow from the U.K and is supposed to meet us and Roman." Ivan said and my head snapped to him, my ears perking up when he said U.K.

Home.

"Where?" I asked hesitantly, forcing the emotions down my throat.

"At Roman's place. The one you redecorated and shit." Ivan said and I exhaled slowly.

"I have one condition." I said and all three of them glanced at each other before Anton nodded once at me.

"Anything."

"Anything?" I asked raising a brow when his face faltered.

"Well, when you say it like that, I'm doubting saying anything." Anton said when I shrugged.

"I need to go out tonight." I said when all eyes snapped to me.

"Need to? Or want to?" Anton asked bored, flipping through the pages of a file while I bit my lip in nervousness.

"I have a date." I said and immediately everyone's gaze locked onto mine.

"Nyet." (No) Anton said without a second thought.

"Fucking hell." Alex muttered.

"I thought we were getting married." Ivan said and we all looked at him. He raised his hands up in surrender when I glared at him.

"Joking, I was joking." He said exasperated.

"Who is it?" Alex asked me.

"I can't tell." I said digging my nails into my palm.

"Why not? Have you been with him before?" Alex asked me with a disgusted look when I scowled.

"What? No!" I defended myself when both my brothers heaved a sigh of relief.

Unbelievable.

"Nyet. You aren't leaving the house. It isn't safe." (No) Anton said finally and I glared at him.

"I'm never safe. You can't keep me locked in here forever." I said crossing my arms over my chest when he glared right back.

"Togda skazhi mne, kto eto." (Then tell me who it is) He said.

"Why?" I countered.

"So I can kill him with my bare hands. I've been itching to kill someone lately anyway." He said in a lazy tone when I rolled my eyes at him.

You wouldn't be able to kill him even if you tried.

"Kill Ivan then, he'll make a good sacrifice." I said and saw Ivan scowl from the corner of my eye.

"I'm right here." He stated in displeasure.

"I know." I winked at him before facing Anton again.

"Heather." Alex warned. "Name, now."

"No." I said again, narrowing my eyes at the two.

"I have an idea of who it might be, darling, but I want to hear it from you. Now, who is it?" Anton said with a knowing glint in his eye that made my heart beat faster.

He's joking... right?

"Why do you care?" I tried to appear calm but he knew very well I was panicking inside.

God damnit he knew me well.

Too well.

"Because I care for you god dammit and I can't see you hurt again, and the man you want is one who can hurt you the most. He'll burn you alive." He seethed lowly, making me gulp.

"He won't." I said confidently.

"Yes, he will." He countered when I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I'll prove you wrong then." I said with my head high when he laughed humourlessly.

"Be my guest, darling, but I'm warning you. And we all know what happened last time." He threatened and made my stomach churn.

How dare he?

"Don't. Don't cross that line Anton. He would never hurt me." I said more firmly this time and I saw regret passing in his eyes at what he said as he pressed his lips into a thin line.

"How do you know that?" He asked me.

"Because I can see it in his eyes." I answered when I heard a scoff from behind me.

"Bred sivoy kobyly." (Bullshit) Ivan muttered but I heard loud and clear.

"Shut up Ivan." I gritted out when he glared at me.

"You shut up." He said when Alex let out a frustrated breath.

"Stop acting like kids." Alex snapped and both of us shut up immediately.

"He wouldn't hurt me, and you know it." I said again, turning to face Anton who raised a brow at me in challenge.

"Do I now?" He asked amused.

"Yes. You do." I said when he let out a breathy chuckle and shook his head.

"He's obsessed with you darling, there's a fucking difference between caring and obsessing." He stated, making me frown.

"Maybe I need someone's obsession to feel like I'm actually wanted. Needed." I said with desperation and saw his eyes soften.

"You don't mean that." He said softly when I shook my head lightly.

"I really do. Let me go. Please." I nearly pleaded, watching his stoic face contort into one of calm as he weighed the pros and cons, probably.

"Fine." He bit out, a corner of my lips tugging upwards.

"Fine?" I asked in disbelief.

"You may go to this damned date. But I swear to god if you stay the night at his pla-"

"I'll come back. YA obeshchayu." (I promise) I said confidently and saw him nod.

"Khoroshiy. You may leave." (Good) He said as I stood up from the chair with a small smile.

"Thank you." I said gratefully when he nodded. Just as I opened the office door to leave, his voice stopped me in my tracks.

"And Heather?" Anton called out to me and I looked over my shoulder at him.

"Yes?"

"Be ready tomorrow." He said when I nodded in understanding.

"Da." (Yes) I replied before leaving the office and going back to the confines of my room.

That was exhausting.

Taking a nice shower and lathering myself in my favourite rose scented lotion, I stepped into my closet in my bath gown and scanned the clothes I had chosen, black skinny jeans with a strapped silky top, slipping them on quickly.

I dried my hair and let the dark waves fall naturally till my waist, put on some lip gloss and eyeliner along with a little highlight on my cheekbones.

I scanned my rack of shoes before pulling out my black heeled ankle boots, I put them on quickly and grabbed my bag, slipping in the essentials before taking a look in the full length mirror.

I grabbed my black leather jacket and shrugged it on my shoulders since it was a little chilly tonight.

Nodding to myself in satisfaction, I left my room, only to bump into Anton in the hallway.

"Are you leaving?" He asked me, his eyes scanning my choice of clothing which he surprisingly found appropriate.

"Yes." I said.

"Stay safe darling." He kissed my forehead and I nodded.

"Bye." I waved to him and continued on my way while he watched me leave.

Going down, I heard a chime on my phone and opened the message from Roman.

"Outside." It read and I quickly put my phone back in my bag, weaved hand through my hair before stepping out.

I saw the shiny black McLaren glinting even from afar and with a deep breath, I walked towards it.

Just as I reached it, the door opened and Roman walked towards me and I took this chance to scan him.

He wore black pants, a fitted black tee on top that stretched across his chest and highlighted his muscular yet lean body.

His hair was neatly combed, a stray strand falling onto his forehead and a leather jacket like mine rested on his shoulder.

"Aw, you matched for me." I cooed and saw him roll his gorgeous green eyes. If I didn't like him so much, I would've smacked him.

But you do like him.

"You look beautiful." He said looking deep into my eyes when a smile tugged on my face.

"Thanks. You look really nice too." I said shyly, my blush growing when he raised a dark brow at me in amusement.

He opened the door for me, and I briefly caught sight of him looking towards my house and nod once before he closed my door and walked towards his seat.

As he sat inside, I caught the brief figure of my brother hunched over the balcony as he watched us with hooded eyes, a cigarette dangling from his mouth before he went inside.

I buckled up my seatbelt, ignoring the fact my brother saw Roman, even though he had a pretty fair idea of who was taking me out.

Definitely not concerned.

"Anton knows we're going on a date." I blurted out, unable to take the silence in the car when he looked at me briefly before gazing at the road again. He hummed in response while I frowned.

"Aren't you going to say something?" I asked him but he still didn't answer, just ran his thumb across his jaw in thought.

I looked out the window, trying not to let disappointment show on my face when I heard him curse.

"Fuck." He muttered when I looked at him questioningly.

"I'm sorry, angel." He said again.

"For?" I asked confused.

"Ignoring you." He said when I frowned slightly.

"It's okay." I said softly when he shook his head.

"No, it's not. I-" He started but I cut him off before he could say anything else.

"It is, you don't hav-" I said but then he cut me off too.

"Don't fucking interrupt me, angel." He gritted out and I gulped.

"Sorry." I whispered, my gaze out the window.

"I don't care what anyone thinks, or says, because unfortunately for everyone, I will keep doing whatever the fuck I want. And right now, I want, no, need you, baby." he said more softly now and my eyes snapped to his, warmth rising to my face.

He wanted me.

He needed me.

"So when I tell you I don't give a fuck, I don't. And no one, I repeat, no one, will come in our way. That's a promise." He said in a dark promise as I nodded my head automatically at his words, butterflies swarming in my tummy.

"Okay." I whispered.

"Yeah?" He asked and I nodded as he laced his fingers through mine on my lap.

"Yeah." I said smiling a bit when he hummed in response.

"Where are we going?" I asked a few minutes later, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"It's a surprise." He said when I huffed.

"Please?" I asked with a sweet smile.

"No." He said and I fought the urge to roll my eyes, knowing how much he hated when I did that.

"Pretty please?" I asked sweetly again when he sighed.

"No." He said coldly when I pouted.

Rude.

"I'll do anything!" I said exasperated, clutching onto his hand as he swept his dark gaze over me slowly, licking his lips in the process that made my throat run dry.

Hot.

"Anything?" He asked with a dangerous glint in his eye as my smile faltered.

"Yes?" I asked hesitantly when he smirked.

"You're playing a dangerous game angel, and you might just end up getting burnt." He stated.

"I know what I want. And if it burns me, fine, let it burn me." I said confidently, watching his eyes look at me before he sighed.

"You'll get hurt." He said.

"Worth it." I replied, watching his lips twitch.

"Sure?" He drawled out lazily when I grinned.

"Never been more sure of anything in my life." I said with a smile and heard his deep sigh.

"Why?" He questioned after a moment of silence.

"Because it feels right. You feel right. And because I'm a very emotional person and a hopeless romantic who craves, well..." I trailed off, his fingers tightening around my hand when I heard his sharp intake of breath.

"What if you don't find what you're looking for?" he asked lowly.

"What if I have?" I countered.

"I'm not a gentleman." He said rather darkly which made my thoughts run wild at the all the sinful things he could do to me, and funny thing was I'd let him.

God, this man.

"Who said anything about being one?" I said sweetly when his eyes darkened dangerously and his tongue swiped over his upper teeth.

"You won't survive the fire." He bit back forcefully.

"I'm already in it, Roman. And I love it." I said staring at him when we stopped at a red light and he turned to face me.

"Good to know. Because I'm not letting you go anytime soon. O mai per quella materia." (Or ever for that matter) He said, even though I didn't understand the last part, it sounded like a dark promise. One whispered to a lover.

"Glad we're on the same page." I said.

"Because I meant it when I said that you were mine. Per sempre." (Forever) He said again, his grip on my hand firm when I sighed.

"And I meant it when I said I was yours." I replied back with equal firmness and heard his satisfied hum

"Good." He whispered as the light turned green and all of Anton's warnings flew right out the window when I realised something I probably shouldn't have.

I was falling for this man.

Hard.