"What kind of sick fucking joke is this?" Roman growled lowly, pulling out his gun and pointing it to the woman while he held me close to him by my waist.
Just as he said this, both my dogs came running out and when they saw Roman holding me tight with the gun in his hand, they immediately got ready to pounce on him, growling lowly.
"No, boys, stay down." I warned threateningly and both both looked reluctant before giving him warning growls.
"Rome, calm down baby." At my voice and the endearment that fell from my lips, his eyes snapped to mine and softened.
"Tell me this is a joke." He whispers, his voice confused and his eyes filled with worry when I put my hand over the gun in his hand and slowly lowered it.
"She's alive, Rome. She's really here." I whisper, framing his face with my hands as he rests his forehead against mine, a defeated breath escaping his lips.
"How?" He whispered painfully when I lightly peck his lips and take his hands, smiling reassuringly at Lilac.
"Why don't you ask her?" I say softly as he looks back at his supposed mother cautiously.
"Come on." I lead him towards the living room and Lilac silently follows, sitting down on a couch while we sit opposite her, but Rome is quick to pull me into his lap instead as both dogs come to sit at our feet.
"Sit here." He says and I nod softly, watching the soft smile on his mother's face at the affection.
"I told you he still loved you, didn't I?" Lilac asked me and I nodded shyly as his hands tightened around me.
"Who are you?" Roman finally spoke, looking directly into her identical green eyes when she took a deep breath.
"I'm-... I'm your mother, son." She says when he scoffs.
"Bullshit, you're not my fucking mother, she died long ago." He spat.
"Language!" Both Lilac and I say at the same time when he nuzzles his head into my neck a bit and sighs.
"Sorry, baby." He whispered when I hum, running my hands in his hair.
"This is your mother, Roman. The woman who died that day wasn't." I tell him, watching him frown slightly.
"Then who was that?"
"My younger sister." Lilac says with a sad tone.
"My mother never had a sister." Roman says when Lilac shakes her head.
"I did. Nobody knew she existed except my family. She was kept hidden all her life for her own safety. We looked alike, almost like twins." She explained.
"That night when you thought I was taken away, it was my sister. She sacrificed her life so she could save both you and me at the hands of your father and his men." She started.
"Your father and I were in an arranged marriage. I learnt to love him, but it was never enough because he was in love with someone else. But we got married anyway and had you, my beautiful boy." She said with a soft smile.
"Who was he in love with?" He asked hesitantly when Lilac looked at me and I sighed heavily.
"My mother, who was already married at the time to my dad, and was pregnant with Anton." I explained and Roman's frown deepened and he scoffed.
"Your mother? How is that possible? That man cannot love." He said shaking his head.
"The same was said about you, wasn't it?" I asked him with a raised brow when he pursed his lips.
"Why did he want to kill you?" Roman asked Lilac who shrugged, fiddling with the ends of her dress.
"I fell in love with one of his men. His name was Alvaro. He was one of his most trusted men and hated how your father treated me, promised to take me far away from there." She said as her eyes shone with unshed tears.
I felt my chest constrict at her painful story, the same one she narrated to me two months ago that had me sobbing.
How could someone be so cruel?
"He was only good to me in front of others, and when I was pregnant with you."
"But behind closed doors, he was a monster. Every night, I would have to tend to my bruises and wounds, bandages upon bandages." She sniffled.
"Alvaro found me crying one day when I couldn't stop the bleeding from a wound on my leg and he helped me out, forced me to tell him what happened."
"We were never the same after that." She said as a tear rolled down her cheeks.
"He used to tend to me when no one else did, took care of me, treated me well, like I deserved to be." She said with a sad smile as Roman's grip around me grew tighter and I stroked his knuckles softly.
"Why did he beat you?" Roman asked softly when she released a shaky breath.
"He used to take out his anger and frustration on me. Because he couldn't get the woman he so desperately loved, he took it out on me, saying it was my fault."
"He was driven to madness and because of it, this poor girl and her family suffered." She looked at me as I wiped a stray tear from my eyes.
"H-He used to force himself on me, at times. Those were the worst. At least I had Alvaro to comfort me and tend to me. I'm thankful for him." She said with a nervous chuckle as she wiped furiously at her tears.
"Is he alive?" Roman asked and she looked up with a small glint in her eyes.
"He is. We're together now, married, actually. Heather has had the pleasure of meeting him." She said when Roman looked at me.
"I have, he's a wonderful man and treats her really well. He loves her." I whisper and he nods slowly.
"Your father found from one of his men that night of the affair. He couldn't stand the betrayal and the humiliation, so he ordered for me to be killed." She said shakily when Roman sucked in a sharp breath.
"That night... how was your sister there?" Roman asked.
"Alvaro had taken me to visit my family. You were with us, don't you remember him? He had hazel eyes, a kind smile. You used to call him Varo." She chuckled lightly when recognition passed through Roman's eyes as he leaned back in his seat.
"He was Spanish." He stated when Lilac nodded.
"His father used to work with mine so he grew up with us." She said with a soft smile lining her features.
"Your father sent his men to my family house to end me, and when my sister found out, she somehow convinced me and Varo to go out for dinner, treat ourselves, while she looked after you." She said with a sad smile.
"When we came back, all we saw was blood everywhere and you hiding in the pantry. We found her body after a few days of searching, dumped in a river." She sniffled lightly.
"What was her name?" Roman asked, his voice cold and void of any emotion all of a sudden.
"Daisy. Her name was Daisy." She whispered softly when Roman nodded.
"Does my father know it was Alvaro with you?" He asked but she shook her head.
"No, thankfully, he never found out. Alvaro kept me safe. Left the mafia and everything so he could have a peaceful life with me. We had... We had a baby girl." She said softly when Roman's eyes snapped up to meet hers in surprise.
"You have a sister, Roman." She said when Roman released a small, shaky breath.
"I have a sister?" He asked, almost childishly when she chuckled a bit and nodded.
"You do. I know you always wanted a baby sister, always asked me for one when you were little." She smiled while Roman's lips curved into a small yet soft smile.
"You hear that, angel? I have a sister." He whispered, looking at me with awe when I nodded and chuckled a bit, pecking his cheeks.
"I know, and she's beautiful, looks a lot like you." I say in a soft whisper when his smile widens.
"Have you met her?" He asks me but I shake my head.
"I wanted to, but it wouldn't have been safe for her if anyone found out." I explain and see his small nod.
"What's her name?" He asks when Lilac smiles warmly.
"Genevieve." She says softly.
"Can I meet her?" He asks softly when Lilac smiles, a satisfied look washing over her face.
"Of course you can. She's been dying to meet you." She says and I get up from Roman's lap, ignoring his questioning gaze wen he gets up with me.
"I should get going now, Varo must be waiting for me." Lilac gets up as well, brushing off imaginary dust from her dress as she looked at the two of us warmly.
"We'll drop you off." I say but she shakes her head at me.
"No, sweetheart, I have someone to pick me up. You both stay here and enjoy, you've been apart for too long." She says looking at us with a proud smile as Roman pecks my temple tenderly.
"It's so good to see you after so long, mi hijo." (My son.) She says with teary eyes as she takes a step closer to Roman and wraps her arms around his large frame, making him tense suddenly.
"Te has convertido en un joven hermoso y apuesto. Estoy orgulloso de ti, cariño." (You've grown up to be a beautiful and handsome young man. I'm proud of you, baby.) She whispered as his own arms wrap around her small frame while he hugs her back and melts into her embrace.
"I missed you, mamma." He whispers when she pulled away, pushing the hair back from his forehead and nods with a warm smile.
"I missed you too." She says softly before looking at me and smiling wider.
"And I'm glad you have such a beautiful and smart young woman by your side. Never let go of her." She says when Roman looks at me intensely and nods once.
"Wasn't planning on it." He says as the color rises to my cheeks and I feel butterflies swarming my tummy.
"I better get going now, take care you two." She says wiping her tears with a grin and hugs me briefly before waving at us and leaving.
Roman sighs heavily, his arms wrapping around me from behind as he starts kissing my neck. I turn around in his arms as his lips capture mine in a warm and sensual kiss before we both pull away, resting our foreheads with each other.
"How long have you known?" He asks softly.
"Since I came to Italy. Nearly two and a half months ago." I say when he nods slowly, pulling me closer to him.
"I love you." He whispered out of the blue when my smile widens.
"And I love you." I say softly and pull him towards my bedroom.
I get changed into something comfortable while he just takes off all his clothes except his boxers and slips into the covers beside me.
With a few soft kisses, we let the night carry us as we dream of each other in a perfect world.
"You look great, Rome. There's nothing to be nervous about." I swat his wandering hands away from my ass as I tie the knot of his tie for him while he whines like a literal child.
"Are you sure?" He asks for the hundredth time in the past twenty minutes we were getting ready to finally meet his sister and Varo with his mother today who are coming over for dinner.
"Yes, you look really handsome." I say and he sighs, pecking my lips multiple times before his phone starts ringing and he groans, burying his face in my shoulder.
"I want to stay with you." He mumbles when I giggle, pushing his hair back and putting his phone in his hand, noticing Enzo calling.
"I want that too, but you've got work to do as well. You'll be back later, won't you?" I ask when he smiles briefly and kisses my forehead tenderly.
"Of course baby. I'll be with you all the time, whether you like it or not." He says and I chuckle, but his phone starts ringing again just as he lowers his lips to mine.
He grunts in annoyance and I push him back with a hand on his chest, small chuckles escaping my lips at his annoyed face that makes him look so darn cute.
"Che cazzo ti prende?" (What the fuck is wrong with you?) He grunts into the phone while pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Sto arrivando, quindi smettila di chiamarmi porca miseria." (I'm on my way, so stop calling me for fuck's sake.) He growls lowly and slams his phone back on the table before kissing me on the lips.
"I'll be back. Promise." He whispered against my lips when I hum, pulling him down for another bruising kiss before we finally pull away.
I see his eyes briefly wander to the rather large soft board on one of my walls that has all the pictures of the men that were on my list.
All of my targets with red crosses over them, and his eyes linger over his father's untouched and clear picture.
"I'll be going now." He clears his throat and I nod, watching him leave the place with a shake of his head.
Sighing heavily, I went out of my room and watched his car leave from the window before looking around the house.
I started cleaning up the place, dusting and arranging things as I went, putting away all the papers and unnecessary stuff in my room and then proceeded to make a grocery list for dinner.
"Baden, Pyro, come on boys!" I say and both dogs come running towards me.
I put on their leashes and then tuck my phone and money into my pockets, putting my headphones in my ears before leaving the apartment.
I softly hum along to the music as I walk down the streets of Italy with my dogs leading me to the familiar grocery store while passerby's watch my dogs and then me with fear, making sure to stay away from the rather large hounds.
Grabbing a cart, I wheel it into the store where the lady behind the register smiles and waves at me in greeting, already knowing who I was before fetching the dogs some treats who happily take it from her.
It takes me nearly half and hour to gather everything and then I'm on my way home, carrying lots of bags that are now weighing me down, even though both Baden and Pyro are complete angels to me.
"Need any help there, bella signora?" (Beautiful lady) I hear a deep voice speak from behind me and stop in my tracks, my arms and fingers hurting from the weight as I turn around.
I'm met with a slightly sweaty guy in a grey track suit with shorts, the shirt clinging to his tan skin and showing his very obvious toned chest.
He has curly brown hair, warm brown eyes and a big smile on his clean shaven face as he takes out his earphones and stuffs them into his pocket.
"Um.. sure?" I say and he nods, reaching for one of the bags when Pyro immediately stands in between us, growling at the poor guy.
"Down boy, it's okay." I say and Pyro looks at the guy sceptically before backing off and letting the stranger take the heavy bags from me.
"Thanks." I say, flexing my aching arms and hands as we begin the walk to my apartment.
"Sorry for being a nuisance, I must be taking your time." I say sheepishly when he grins and shakes his head.
"Not at all, I live nearby and was just heading home. Seems you live near too. Really near, perhaps." He looks at me with a twinkle in his eyes when I grin and shrug, looking up at the apartment complex.
"You live here?" I ask and he nods as we make our way inside.
"First floor. You?" He asks when I chuckle and shake my head.
"Same here. I live in the farthest apartment in the lobby. The corner one." I say and he nods thoughtfully.
"I live in the first one." He says when I nod as we get inside the elevator and make our way up to my floor.
"Come on." He lets me go out first as I lead the way towards my apartment, unlocking it and pushing the door open for him to get in first, both dogs running in after him and settling on their mats.
"You have a nice place." He comments, looking around a bit.
"Thanks. Can I get you anything?" I ask when he smiles at me warmly.
"Water, please. Mine's out." He says showing his empty water bottle and I nod, hurrying to the kitchen and getting him a bottle of cold water.
He says a small thank you as he settles on the stool next to the kitchen island and downs the bottle in one go.
"Do you have a name or....?" I trail off when he chuckles lightly.
"Sorry. The names Juan." He says, showing off his pearly white teeth.
"I'm Heather." I say with a smile when he nods.
"Bel nome per una bella ragazza." (Pretty name for a pretty girl.) He says cheekily when I frown.
"What?" I ask confused when his eyebrows raised.
"You don't know Italian?" He asks when I shrug sheepishly.
"I'm not from here." I say and watch his thoughtful nod.
"Oh. Where are you from then?" He asks.
"Russian, lived a few years in the U.K, but I've lived in the States for a while now." I say when his smile widens.
"That's cool. So you're Russian?"
"Yeah." I say as he gets up from his place.
"Well, I better get going. Thank you fro the water, bella signora." He says with a smile when I nod.
"No problem. It was great meeting you." I say and walk him to the door.
"You too." He says with a grin and just as I open the door, both of us come face to face with a very hot looking Italian don who has his fist raised in the air to knock on my door.
"Angel." He looks at me confused before his eyes trail to the man beside me, his gaze hardening.
"Who the fuck are you?"Roman seethes at the guy who suddenly seems white as a ghost as he takes a step back.
"M-Mr. Angelo." He says shakily and my brows raise in surprise.
Do they know each other?
"Uh-... Why don't you come in, Rome." I say, pulling at the man's arm and bringing him inside, his arm wrapping firmly around my waist as he leans down to place a small kiss on my lips.
"Right. This is Juan, my neighbor whom I just met today, and Juan, this is Roman, my-..." I stop short, thinking about what I am to say.
Friend? Boyfriend? A friend who is a boy whom I left because his dad killed my mom?
Okay, no.
"Boyfriend." Roman completely ignored my thought process when my eyes snapped to his, Juan's widening.
"Boyfriend?" He asked wide eyed.
"R-Right, of course. Have a good afternoon Mr. Angelo. Ciao, Heather." He looked at me nervously before practically sprinting out of my place and towards his own.
"What was that about?" I muttered confused as his arms tightened around me.
"I leave you for an hour and I come back to find you with another man. Do I need to chain you to my bed?" Roman says with venom in his tone when I frown.
The bed part sounds kinda hot though.
"I'm going to ignore you just said that. I went for grocery shopping, for the dinner today, remember?" I tap his forehead when he frowns.
"You could have told me, I would have brought you everything." He says when I smile and shake my head.
"You already had work to do, and I didn't want to be a burden. Besides, Juan only helped me out with the bags since they were heavy." I said shrugging when he sighed heavily and nuzzled his face in my neck.
"If you say so, baby. But you are not and will never be a burden to me, baby. If you need anything, you tell me. I love you, remember that." He said and I nodded with a smile on my face.
"Okay Romy. I love you too." I say and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss.
"Now, could you help in cooking with me?" I asked with a small pout when he chuckled lightly, nuzzling his nose with mine.
"Anything for you, angel." He whispered before pecking my lips a few times while I sigh in content.
If things could stay like this forever.