- 7 2 -

"This way." I lead the woman to my apartment, stopping at my door and bringing out my keys as I unlocked it, pushing the door open.

Just as I entered, both my dogs jumped on me, taking me down with them as I laughed.

"Baden! Pyro! Down, boys!" I say chuckling as I scratch behind their ears while they get off of me and immediately growl at something behind me.

Looking back, I sigh before patting their heads.

"It's okay, she's a friend." I reassure them as they snuggle closer to me before I get up.

"Come on in." I tell her and she smiles briefly before stepping in while I close the door behind her, both dogs on alert at the new person and ready to attack if something went wrong.

"Make yourself at home, I'll just go and quickly change into something comfortable." I tell her and she nods before I throw a warning look to the dogs who whimper and follow me into my room.

Taking a quick shower to remove the touches of those disgusting men off me, I change into a white tee and grey shorts and tie my hair into a pony tail before going back out.

Both my boys are on high alert, watching Lilac, ready to attack any moment when I shake my head with a small smile and sit down on the couch opposite her and immediately Baden and Pyro come and lay down near my feet.

"So... You're Lilac." I repeat when she smiles softly and nods as I watch her carefully before frowning as I remember something.

"This is going to sound a bit rude... But aren't you supposed to be like, dead?" I asked scrunching my face up in confusion when she chuckles lightly and shakes her head, her eyes twinkling.

"That's what everyone thinks, sweetheart. I wasn't the woman who died that night, it was my younger sister." She said with a sad expression as my brows raised.

"Younger sister?" I asked confused when she nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Yes. We both looked more like twins, had the same eyes, the same hair, same everything. But sadly, she gave up her life to save mine all those years ago... to save me and my baby." She said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

I immediately got up from my seat and handed her a tissue box, sitting next to her as she mumbled a small thank you.

"You're... Roman's mother... Right?" I ask cautiously when she nods, a small smile on her face as she looks back at me.

"I am, yes. And you must be the girl he's so madly in love with?" She asks with a sly smile when I sigh heavily, my shoulders slumping.

"We're not-... we're not together. At least not anymore." I mutter when she gives me a sympathetic smile and squeezes my hand lightly.

"How do you know about me?" I asked when she shrugged.

"I have a few sources who were willing to help me out. Some old friends, you could say. They informed me of your arrival in Italy and of your... plans." She said carefully when I nodded.

"I know what happened to your mother." She whispered when my eyes widened in the slightest.

"Y-You do? H-How?" I asked utterly shocked when she smiled, as if remembering something.

"Isabella was a good friend of mine. I met her in the U.K during an educational trip when I was younger, and we both immediately... clicked." She sighed heavily as I listened with rapt attention.

"We were inseparable after that. She was expecting, at that time. Your oldest brother, actually." She said when my brows raised.

"Anton? She was married to my father then?" I asked and she nodded.

"I wasn't married at the time, but I met my husband there as well. It was arranged for us to get married since I was the only heiress to the Spanish mafia." She said as I soaked in the new information.

"But... It turned out that Ferruccio had feelings for someone else." She said and looked up into my eyes with a sad smile.

"For Isabella." She whispered as my lips parted in surprise.

"Mom? M-My mother? But she didn't like him back, did she?" I asked hesitantly when she shook her head.

"No, she did not. She was utterly in love with Zavid, your father, and couldn't look me in the eyes when we found that the man arranged to marry me was in love with her. She thought it was her fault, but it never was." She said, sniffling lightly as I leaned back in my seat.

"But you both got married anyway, didn't you?" I asked and she nodded.

"We did. I fell in love with him, I leaned to, but it was never enough. He wanted someone who could never be his, because the Russians and Italians were never on good terms, that is, until you and Roman." She said looking at me warmly.

"Their story is much like yours, except your mother never reciprocated that love. She was loyal to her husband, and I was loyal to mine."

"I eventually had a beautiful son, Roman. He was absolutely adorable." She smiled, a fondness in her voice only a mother could have for her children.

"How is he now?" She asked somewhat worried when I gulped.

"I talked to him a few days ago... He told me he still loved me and wanted me back, but... Once I'm done with everything, I don't think he'll feel the same." I sighed heavily, looking at my lap.

"If I know my son correctly, and that I do, he's loyal to the people he cares for, and you, sweetheart, are the one he cares for the most." She stroked my cheek tenderly when I smiled briefly and nodded.

"I know. It's not that I doubt his love, it's that I doubt mine. I've-... I've been through too much and I don't think I could ever love him the same way he loves me." I said when she shook her head at me and chuckled lightly.

"The fact that you care about him still loving you with this desperation shows how much you love him. Never, doubt yourself, sweetheart." She said and I smiled, her words giving me a new found hope as I nodded slowly.

"Thank you, that means a lot." I said softly as she squeezed my hand softly.

"Don't worry about it. Now, I'd like to know more about my future daughter in law, so tell me about yourself." She said excited.

I blushed, a smile forming on my face as we spent the remainder of the night talking about my childhood, and then Roman's childhood.

I wish it could stay this way.

* * *

- T W O - M O N T H S - L A T E R -

"Thea, honey, did you eat the snacks I put out for you?" Lilac asked, her head peeking out from the kitchen as I held the phone to my ear and smiled at her.

"I did, thank you." I told her and she nodded.

"Who's that? Lilac?" Alex asked me from the other side when I hummed, watching her hum to herself and dance a bit as she put the groceries in their places in the kitchen.

"How are you both getting along?" He asked when I smiled fondly.

"Really well. I like her a lot." I said when he hummed.

"That's good. And how many targets have we crossed off from the list?" He asked.

I looked back on the numerous papers on the coffee table and squinted my eyes at the crossed out names in red.

"All of 'em." I replied after a few moments and sighed heavily, leaning back against the sofa.

The past two months had been really hectic, to say the least. I had gotten rid of more than a hundred men from the list of people I had made who had taken part in my mother's murder.

"That's good, keep me updated. And uh-... you've caused quite some uproar and confusion." He said when I chuckled.

"Oh, have I?" I asked when he hummed in response.

"Their have been rumors of an assassin who has ended nearly all of Ferruccio Angelo's closest men, and what's more surprising is that they haven't caught the assassin yet." He said when I grin.

"And do they know who it is?" I ask when he chuckles.

"They're assuming it's a woman, considering the red lipstick stain on every victim's collar." He says and I purse my lips together.

"I think the Italian don knows it's you." Alex says and I could imagine his frown.

"Oh?"

"Yeah... But what's more surprising is that he's doing absolutely nothing about it." Now that made me sit up straight.

"He isn't?" I asked confused and there was silence on the other end before Alex spoke.

"No, he isn't. But his father's gone nuts, that's for sure. I'm guessing the son isn't very fond of the father?" Alex asks when I purse my lips.

"Nope. He holds him responsible for killing his mother, who is, in fact, alive." I say, recalling Lilac's story from a few days ago about what really happened in the past.

"But then who died that day?"

"Her younger sister, who looked exactly like her. Ferruccio mistook her for Lilac." I say.

"How could he forget his own wife?" He asked when I sighed.

"He didn't exactly care much about her. Loved someone else." I say softly, playing with the hem of my t-shirt.

"Who?" He asks when I swallow thickly.

"Mom." I say softly and hear some shuffling in the other end before he speaks again.

"Mom? Like, our mom? What the actual fuck?" He says and I hum.

"I had the same reaction." I say.

"Heather, I want details, right now." He said sternly.

"Alright, grab some popcorn." I sighed, getting ready for another story telling session as I told him about everything that really happened in the past.

At the end of it, he was shocked, to say the least.

"Will you tell Anton for me?" I ask.

"Yeah, sure. This is-... this is a lot to process, darling." He says chuckling humorlessly.

"Tell me about it." I say before looking back at the papers in front of me.

"Well, anyways, I better get ready for tonight. Talk to you soon?" I ask hopefully.

"You will. Goodbye darling, take care." He says and I nod mindlessly before ending the call and laying my head on the table with a slight groan.

"Thea, sweetheart, is everything alright? Who were you talking to?" Lilac asked me with a hand on my shoulder, looking at me concerned.

"Yeah, it was just Alex. I uh-... I have to get ready for tonight. Will you be staying here today as well?" I asked her when she shook her head.

"I need to go back to my place today, but I'll visit tomorrow, alright?" She asks and I can't help but smile at her.

"Sounds good. I'll go get ready now." I told her and saw her nod as I stood up and headed to my room while she fed the dogs who had grown quite fond of her over the time.

I sighed heavily, looking at my dress for tonight and ran my hand over the soft fabric.

I had chosen a different dress for today. It was a light blue colour, even though I usually wore dark and bold colours for my missions but I wanted something different today.

Maybe because of the person I was meeting today.

Taking my time in the bath with my favourite rose scents, I dried myself off, going out of the bathroom in my gown and sat in front of the dressing table to make my hair.

I had started on the first few strands when Lilac knocked and came in.

"Need any help?" She asked me when I smiled.

"Sure." I said when she came in, curling my hair for me while I started on my make up, finishing the look with a light smokey eye shadow and blush, a bit of highlighter on my cheek bones and finally, pink lip gloss.

"Pink? No red today?" She asked as she finished up on my hair when I shrugged.

"I wanted to do something different today." I said softly when she nodded in understanding, knowing what I meant.

"I've been wanting to ask you something." I said when she nodded for me to continue.

"You don't have anything against me for... killing your people?" I asked hesitantly when she shrugged.

"They aren't exactly my people, they're my husband's." She said when I bit my lip.

"And what about your... husband?" I asked cautiously when she frowned slightly, sitting on a seat nearby.

"I meant it when I said I loved him. But only because he was the father of my son. It was expected of me to love him. Yes, I still care for him... but after what he's done to my sister, my friend, you-..." She trailed off, shaking her head with a sad expression.

"I couldn't want anything more than to get rid of that man. I'm still tied to him, whether I like it or not. It's suffocating, to say the least, and now all I want is out." She whispered in a plea when I nodded.

"And besides, would you have spared him if I told you too?" She asked with a raised brow when I looked away.

"No." I muttered and she nodded in understanding.

"Would you stop if Roman asked you to?" She asked after a moment of silence when I froze, looking back at her surprised, not realizing when and how the answer slipped off my lips.

"Yes." I whispered, shocked at my own answer but she only smiled knowingly.

"See how much you love him? He loves you the same, sweetheart. Now go on." She urged and I nodded, biting my lip as I got up and went to change into my dress.

"You look absolutely beautiful! My son is so lucky to have you!" Lilac said excited as she hugged me tightly, pressing a small kiss to my cheek when I grinned.

"Thank you." I whispered, closing my eyes and basking in her motherly embrace that I had missed for so long.

"Now go break a leg. Preferably not yours." She winked.

I laughed before leaving the apartment after blowing a kiss to my boys who woofed as I left with my car keys.

"Okay, let's do this. No pressure." I reassured myself again and again.

I turned up the music, glancing briefly at the message I sent a few hours ago on my phone as I parked the car in the club's parking lot.

"Elias." I told the bouncer who nodded briefly before letting me in as I strutted in, taking a deep breath before heading straight for the bar.

I won't be able to get through this sober anyway.

Ordering a drink, I downed it quickly and looked at the dance floor and smiled to myself.

A little fun won't hurt.

Moving into the crowd of people, I let myself get lost to the beat of the music as I closed my eyes, raising my hands above my hand and swaying to th rhythm.

I didn't know how long I had been dancing for as the adrenaline coursed through my veins, my body on full alert as I danced with random people.

My eyes snapped open when I felt someone's eyes on my back, but didn't dare turn my face to confirm my suspicions because I knew full well who it was.

After I felt like I couldn't dance anymore, I huffed a breath as I tried to get back to the bar and plopped down on a stool, ordering another drink.

"You alone, sweetheart?" The bartender asked when I shrugged.

"I'm waiting for someone." I told him over the loud music as he looked around behind me before nodding once and tending to the other people.

"Now to wait for them to actually show up." I rolled my eyes annoyed and frustrated.

I played with the rings on my hand nervously and ordered another drink, sipping on it slowly as I waited patiently.

"Water?" The bartender asked and I was about to shake my head when someone spoke from behind me, both the bartender and my eyes widening before I regained composure.

The bartender, though, seemed to be scared out of his wits.

Poor guy.

"Give her water." His voice was the same, deep, velvety, doing things to me as I sighed heavily feeling his presence behind me.

I kept my gaze on the bar table as a glass of water was placed in front of me and I took a few sips as the man sat right next to me, our legs slightly touching and sending sparks of electricity through my body.

"Problems?" He asked sipping on his drink when I shrugged.

"Matters of the heart." I said nonchalantly when he chuckled humorlessly.

"They're the worst." He answered and I could feel his gaze on me but didn't dare look his way.

"Tell me about it." I whispered, looking at the dance floor once again.

"You look beautiful." He said after a few moments of silence and I bit my lip to stop my smile from forming but the blush on my cheeks said otherwise.

"Thanks." I muttered lowly when I heard his grunt.

"Fucking look at me when I talk to you, angel." He spoke harshly, butterflies swarming my tummy at the endearment.

God I missed that.

My blue eyes clashed with his emerald green ones, my breath catching in my throat and I could've sworn I heard him suck in a sharp breath.

He looked the same, except maybe more rugged.

His stubble looked a few days old, his hair a bit longer and slicked back like it always was in their wavy state, jawline sharp as knives and his eyes, god, they were a sight for sore eyes.

The same cold and emotionless eyes I fell in love with.

"Hi, Roman." I whispered, lost in his gaze as his hand slowly raised towards my face, slowly cupping my cheek as if he was afraid I'd disappear if he'd be any rougher.

His thumb softly stroked my cheek, our eyes never leaving each others as a breath escaped his lips and fanned my face.

"Heather. I missed you." He confessed and I felt my heart warm at his words as a small smile pulled at my lips.

"I missed you too." I whispered as the corner of his lips tugged upwards slowly, taking my breath away at the sight.

"You wanna get out of here, amore?" He asked lowly, leaning towards me when I bit my lip and his eyes drifted down to it, darkening slightly before they came back up.

"I'd like that." I whispered as he stood up to his full height, holding his hand out to me.

I looked at it for a few moments before releasing a breath and taking it as our fingers intertwined together and he led me out of the club, and into the cool night.

I looked at our joined hands as I led us towards my car, unlocking it before he took the keys from me and buckled me in, getting in the driver's seat himself.

"Where to?" I asked, his hand on my thigh when he looked at me meaningfully.

"Anywhere with you."