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I didn't know what was wrong with her or why she was crying as I thrusted deep into her and stilled, kissing her tears away.

"Does it hurt, angel?" I asked in a worry when she shook her head frantically.

"No, I–" She paused, breathing deep and capturing my eyes with her bright, blazing ones.

"I'm okay, Roman. As long as I have you, I'm okay." She whispered, our hands joined on either side of her head as I pulled myself out of her and grunted as I slammed right back in.

"You feel amazing." She whispered with her eyes closed, that sinful mouth of hers parted as she took in puffs of air, trying to control her rapid breathing as I lowered my lips to hers and kissed her with all the love I could give her.

This was the woman I loved, and something was wrong with her. So I said the two words that had been sitting on the tip of my tongue for a while now.

"Marry me, Heather." I was deep inside her when I said it and her eyes snapped open, looking at me in alarm and disbelief.

"W-What?" She stuttered, eyes moist and heart beating erratically as I stilled and watched her closely.

"You heard me. Marry me. We'll run away together, just the two of us and no one else. No revenge, no enemies, no friends or family conflicts, just us two." I whispered, nuzzling my nose with hers while she tried to form her words together.

"Do you know what you're saying, Roman?" She asked wide eyed when I nodded.

"I'm fucking sure of it, angel. I want– no, need– to marry you. Make you mine permanently. Forever." I pecked her lips twice.

"Only you can say something so serious while you're balls deep inside me." She tried to joke, laughing a bit with tears in her eyes when I grinned.

"Say yes, angel. Say yes to me. To us. To our future. We'll get married, build a home, a family. We'll have kids– we're already practising for that–″ I paused, thrusting into her to get the point across when she gasped, followed by soft laughter that rang in my ears like a melody.

"Sure we are." She muttered, watching me with so much love and adoration I could die a happy man with this view.

"Answer me, angel." I pushed myself inside her completely, driving her to the edge as I increased my pace and made love to her just like she wanted.

I destroyed her, then brought her back together as she repeated my name again and again like a prayer and I loved every fucking second of it, coming deep inside of her and drowning in her eyes as I kissed the living shit out of her.

Collapsing next to her, I pulled her into my chest, taking her left hand and kissing her ring finger while she looked at me with that flush on her face I adored on her.

"Say yes, baby." I touched her forehead with mine and heard her soft sigh as she snuggled deeper into me, our naked bodies pressed together just like I wanted.

"I want two kids. A girl and a boy. A girl first, preferably, because there's already too many boys to deal with already." She said after a while and I smiled, my heart warming at the thought as I pictured her with our baby girl.

"I'd like that." I told her softly and saw her small smile.

"So you're going to have to try really hard to give me a girl." She said and I chuckled, kissing her forehead.

"Consider it done. What else?" I asked, stroking her hair while she thought hard.

"I want a boy after that. And I want to name him Troy. I love that name." She whispered.

"Troy?" I asked her amused and saw her big smile as she nodded.

"You're Roman, and our son will be Troy. Get it?" She waggled her eyebrows and I laughed heartily at her.

"Done, we'll have our little Troy. Then I'll name our daughter." I said and she grinned.

"What did you have in mind?" She teased while I thought.

"Genevieve or Elena." I said and saw her big smile.

"Those are such pretty names, I love them. And I bet she'd be daddy's girl, won't she?" She said with a grin matching my own.

"You're already my girl, aren't you?" I said and she blushed.

"Whatever, daddy." She rolled her eyes jokingly and chuckled with me.

"What else, angel? Name it."

"I want a house with a big garden where our kids can play, and it should have a tree house as well. Oh, and a swimming pool!" She exclaimed and I chuckled.

"And a theatre room?" I asked and saw her nod.

"Yes, definitely, we can't forget that, or a training room either. Or we could live in your house, it's perfect!" She said all excited and I couldn't stop the shit eating grin on my face.

This was my future.

"Sounds good to me, but we can get a new one." I told her and saw her shake her head.

"I love your house. I think it'd be perfect." She sighed dreamily and I chuckled.

"You're perfect." I pecked her lips when she smiled with glistening eyes.

"And I want an autumn wedding. The weather's not too cold and not too warm either, just perfect. And I want a big, white dress–or ivory, I like ivory too."

"And you could wear a black tux and we could do it in Italy because it's so beautiful there." She played with the chain around my neck while my heart kept beating harder and harder as she spoke.

"And we could make the theme golden, like autumn, and have the reception somewhere magical, with lots of open space so we can have our first dance under the stars. What do you think?" She asked me.

I only smiled, the burning behind my eyes growing stronger the longer I looked at this woman– this woman I called mine.

"Sounds amazing, angel, abso-fucking-lutely perfect." I murmured, pulling her in for a long, searing kiss to seal the deal.

"Yes, Roman. My answer is yes." She whispered against my lips and if I thought I was happy before, I was dead wrong.

"Good girl." I growled before rolling on top of her again.

* * *

"Yes, they're here, and no, I'm still alive." I rolled my eyes as Enzo rambled on the other side.

"Oh. Thought you'd be dead by now because you haven't called us in TWO FUCKING DAYS!" He all but yelled at the end and I scoffed.

"Just because I don't call you every second of the day to notify you that I'm alive does not mean I'm dead. I have a life too." I said and heard his displeased and dramatic huff.

How does his girlfriend even deal with him? I bet he's more dramatic than her.

"Okay, fine. What task did you have for me?" He said with sass when I sighed, leaning back on the chair in the study in my house.

"Dove si trova?" (Where is he?) I asked and got nothing but silence from the other side for a few moments before he spoke again.

"Tuo padre?" (Your father?) He asked and I hummed, my face twisting in distaste.

"Sì. Him." I grunted when he sighed.

"I don't know Roman, Gabe's been looking for so many days now but it's like he's disappeared off the face of the earth. If you're asking if he knows the Russians are here, then yes, he knows. I got a tip from someone I know." He said as I rubbed my jaw in thought.

"He's hiding from them, isn't he?" I asked.

"That much was obvious. He's a clever and conniving man, I'm sure he must have numerous places to hide." He said and I hummed.

"Yes, but you're forgetting the fact that he's my father, unfortunately, so if anyone knows him—"

"It's you. Of course." I heard him say this in realisation.

"So did you narrow down to where he might be?" He asked and I took longer than I should have to respond for no reason at all.

Or maybe, I simply didn't want to tell him. And I had no idea why.

"Sì. I have." I answered with much difficulty and heard his hum.

"So will you tell them? The Russians?" He asked and I paused, trying to think of an answer.

"Non lo so." (don't know) I said in a quiet voice and heard him sigh.

"È comprensibile. Beh, qualunque cosa tu faccia, sono con te." (That's understandable. Well, whatever you do, I'm with you.)

"I know." I cleared my throat and I got up from the chair, moving to the window of my study and looking out.

"Qual era il secondo compito?" (What was the second task?) He asked and thought for a few seconds before answering.

"Ho bisogno di qualcosa." (I need something.) I said.

"Go on, I'm listening."

"A ring." I said and waited for his reply.

"A WHAT?!" He shrieked and I winced at how loud he was, moving the phone away from my right ear and moving it to the other one because he sure did some damage to them.

Besides, I didn't want to lose my hearing just yet. I still had a lifetime left to listen to my girl moaning my name.

"A fucking ring, an engagement ring. I need you to find out where the best will be over here and I'll go there and buy one. Or get one made, whatever works." I said and turned around, leaning against the wall.

"Stai proponendo la proposta a Heather?" (You're proposing to Heather?) He asked in disbelief when I looked at the ceiling, an involuntary smile making its way to my face.

"No, l'ho già fatto." (No. I already did.) I said.

"And?" He waited with baited breath as I took my sweet time in answering, the grin on my face only getting wider.

"She said yes." I said and heard his whoop.

"È fantastico, fratello. Congratulazioni. Sono davvero dannatamente felice per te, sai?" (That's amazing, brother. Congratulations. I'm real fucking happy for you, you know?) He said and I hummed in response.

"Don't tell her friend yet. Let Heather tell her. You can tell Gabe and Maria, but no one else must know anything. Is that clear?" I asked, my voice much colder and authoritative now.

"Hai capito, capo. Le mie labbra sono sigillate." (You got it, boss. My lips are sealed.) He said.

"I'll do my research and send you the best jewellery shops around." He said.

"Do that I'll be waiting." I spoke, wanting to end the call now and call my girl. It had been too fucking long.

"Lo farò. Ciao." (I will. Bye.) He said and I hung up, quickly dialling my girl's number and tapping my foot impatiently as the bell rang a few times before she finally picked up, laughing at something and instantly I felt a big smile form on my face.

Fuck, when did I start smiling so much?

"Hi, Romy." She finally spoke and I chuckled, not able to wipe off that goofy grin from my face.

"Angel. How's my fiancé doing? Bene?" (Good) I asked and heard her giggle.

"You're getting too comfortable with that nickname, aren't you? It's only been a few hours." She said.

"So what? I don't get to assert the fact that you're going to be my wife soon? I will say it proudly, baby, so get used to it." I said with a grunt and heard her laugh.

"Okay, okay, you can call me whatever you like. What are you doing?" She asked when I sighed heavily, hating the fact that she wasn't in my arms, where she should have been.

I've gotten attachment issues at this point, but I fucking love it.

"Working, but I'd rather be with you."

"And do what? Stare at me like a creep all day long?" She joked when I smirked.

"Not a bad idea, but I'd rather bend you over my table and fuck you hard. Or maybe the kitchen counter? What about the bathroom sink?" I wondered out loud and heard her choke slightly.

"Roman!" She chastised and I chuckled.

"What? It's the truth, baby. Wherever you go, I go. And wherever we find ourselves, we fuck." I stated as a matter of fact when she gasped.

"I think that's enough for today." She laughed nervously and I grinned.

"Whatever you say. Who's with you?" I asked when she paused.

"My brothers. And Ivan." She said and I froze for a split moment before clearing my throat.

"Okay. And what are you all doing?" I asked cautiously.

"We were just catching up. I missed them, so I called them over because I felt lonely." She said and I could hear it in her voice. She was afraid. But of what, I had no idea.

"What's wrong, angel? You know you can tell me whatever is bothering you. Who do I need to kill?" I asked, heading to grab my keys when I heard her shaky breath and I knew that instant that something was wrong.

"Baby, talk to me." I urged, remembering the last time this happened, she left me. And that shattered and broke me like nothing else.

"I-It's nothing. I'm just being paranoid, that's all." She said quietly and I frowned, putting on my blazer and heading out.

"Heather." I warned her, "You are not leaving me again, is that clear?" I said sternly and heard her sigh.

"I'm not leaving you Romy, don't worry. And you don't need to come back so quickly, I'm okay. I have these Russian brutes to protect me." She said softly and I sighed once in a little satisfaction, knowing she'd be safe with them.

"Bene. Stay with them until I come back, si?" (Good) I asked her in a firm tone and heard her small giggle.

"You got it, boss. Ciao." She said and I chuckled.

"Ciao, baby, I love you."

"I love you too, Romy, bye." She whispered softly and I waited for her to hang up just as Enzo's text appeared on my screen with information about the best jewellery stores around.

Making up my mind, I drove to the best one among those and went inside the shop, the salesperson inside standing to attention immediately.

"Mr. Angelo." He spoke in disbelief, his face paling as he dialled a number on his phone and not even a second later, a person I assumed was the manager came out flustered.

"Mr. Angelo, what an honour to have you here. How can I help you?" He asked, frantically straightening his tie.

I looked around the store once, my eyes catching on to a glimmering diamond jewellery set before I looked away.

"Engagement rings." I said and saw his surprised expression before he nodded.

"O-Of course, who would you like it for?" He asked, leading me to a secluded room and giving orders out to someone who brought in the rings.

"My fiancé." I answered, loving the way it felt to say that as I peered at all the shiny jewels but none of them seemed to stand out to me.

"Oh, congratulations! Do you have any preferences?" He asked, a bead of sweat rolling down his brow as his hands shook subtly but I noticed it, knowing he was afraid of me.

"I want it to be special, like her. Not too big or small, bright or dull. It has to be perfect. Nothing too simple or too extravagant." I said and he nodded with a nervous smile.

"Of course, I think these might suit her. Her age might also help us in determining what she would like keeping in mind what's in fashion these days." He said.

"She's nineteen." I said and saw everyone pause for a split second, looking at me with surprise before regaining composure.

"Oh, she's young then. Would you like something modern or old fashioned?" He asked and I huffed in frustration.

Was getting a ring supposed to be this hard?

"I have no fucking clue. She's an assassin and an angel both, what should I get her? You tell me." I said and saw his eyes widen.

"A-Assassin?" He squeaked and I ignored him as he rounded the table and pulled out a few options in front of me, pale as a ghost.

"Since she's nineteen, I think she might like these based on your– erm, description." He coughed awkwardly and I ignored him once again as I leaned forward to get a better look at the several rings placed in front of me, my eyes quickly scanning them before my eye fell on one that stood out the most.

"Which one is that?" I asked, pointing to it when the manager smiled nervously and took it out for me to inspect.

"One of our best, this one." He said and I squinted my eyes.

"Diamond?" I asked and he nodded frantically.

"How much? Actually, I'll take it. Pack it up properly." I said and the manager gave the worker a look who scurried off, coming back with a black velvet box and carefully putting the ring inside and disappearing around the corner with it.

I signed the cheque, paying an insane amount of money for the ring, none of which meant anything when it came to my girl as I stared at the box long and hard as they put it in a bag and handed it to me, my eyes involuntarily drifting off to the diamond set for the tenth time now.

"Do you like that one, sir? Would you like to see it?" He asked.

I didn't answer him as I got up from my place and headed towards the jewellery, looking at it long enough to imagine my girl wearing it with a beautiful dress on my birthday, with my ring on her finger.

And then the next thought was of me fucking her in it and nothing else. And I fucking loved the idea as a small smirk spread across my face.

"Pack this one too." I said and saw delight cross the manager's features as he ordered men around to do his bidding.

Looking around while I waited, I also bought a small locket for Lily, my sister, and earrings for my mother before heading out and towards a high end boutique.

I was met with many stares and desired looks by the women there, many of whom approached me but I wasn't swayed in the least by their efforts.

"Would you like my help with something, sir? Anything at all?" A woman working there purred and I looked at her bored and nodded once.

"I need a dress for a birthday party." I said and saw her lick her lips and nod, none of which appealed to me, rather, it disgusted me.

"Oh, for whom would you like it?" She asked and I faced the rack of dresses again before answering.

"My wife." I drawled with a smug smirk, not a stranger to her disappointed look which only deepened when she saw the ring on my left hand's ring finger.

Yes, I bought a plain silver band for myself when I was buying jewellery for my mother and sister to keep leeches like these away– not that they cared if I was married or not– but also because I belonged to Heather, and Heather only. No one else.

"Of course. What colour would you like?" She asked in a disappointed tone, one which I enjoyed too much, and the fact that I referred to my angel as my wife. It felt too fucking good.

"Any would do. Show me the best ones you've got." I said and waited for them to show me all of them, and I was done getting a dress and a pair of matching heels for her in half an hour, putting all the bags in my car before driving to her place.

And now, I couldn't wait for her to walk down the aisle and say 'I do' to me and promise me that she'd be mine till death.

And even after, preferably.