- 9 1 -

When I tried to open my eyes, they wouldn't open, feeling so heavy and a searing pain shot through my body that made me whimper slightly.

"Angel."

Angel.

The word repeated over and over in my mind as I tried to match the voice with a face, my eyes fluttering open and adjusting slowly to the dull light around me, my blurry vision clearing to see the first thing they longed for— bright, emerald green eyes.

"Roman." I whispered, my lips dry when I licked them and my throat parched as he helped me drink some water and elevated my head a bit.

He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at me intensely while I frowned as the memories came rushing back to me.

A tear rolled down my cheek, followed by another one, and then another as I sniffled softly and looked down.

"Fuck, baby." He reached for me, wiping my tears away with his hands while I held onto his wrists, our foreheads touching.

"Don't do that to me again. Don't—" He choked on his words, shaking his head.

"Don't leave me, I can't live without you, baby." He whispered when I looked up at him and saw a lone tone roll down his cheek and I wiped my thumbs under his eyes as he cried, for me. For my life, and for us.

"Please don't cry." I hugged him, his face buried in the crook of my neck while I sniffled and he tried to take in deep breaths.

"I thought I lost you." He whispered, pulling away to look in my eyes while I gazed into his wet ones.

"I'm right here." I reassured him and he reached forward, kissing the tears on my cheeks and then my forehead, holding me close to him.

"I love you, so fucking much, and I'm so sorry for everything that happened, I—"

"It wasn't your fault." I stopped him from speaking, squeezing his hand as his fingers laced with mine.

"He's my father. This is all my fucking fault." He whispered in a small, weak voice when I sighed.

"It's not your fault, Roman. I love you, never doubt that." I told him and he nodded slowly, cupping my cheek.

"You know I was pretending, right? That it all was part of my plan to save you? It was the only way, angel, I never used you, I swear to—"

"I know, and it's okay. I was shocked, but... I know what we had was never fake. You could never pretend to love me like that. I believed it only because when you've been betrayed so many times, you learn to expect it." I told him when he nodded once.

"I could never." He agreed, making me smile weakly.

"What happened to...?" I trailed off and he pursed his lips, looking away with a slight frown.

"Later, angel. We'll talk about this later. For now, let's call the doctor, si?" He said and I nodded slowly.

"What about my family? Can I see them, at least?" I asked in a hopeful voice

"You can see them in the morning, it's the middle of the night and I sent them all home." He told me and I nodded in understanding.

He got up and called for the doctor from his phone and immediately two doctors came running in, out of breath as they entered.

"Mrs. Angelo, glad to have you back." One of them smiled at me while I froze at the name he called me, glancing briefly at Roman who only squeezed my hand once with a smug grin, not bothering to correct the doctor as heat flooded my cheeks.

Mrs. Angelo.

I bet he loves that. Because I sure do...

"How are you feeling?" The other asked as they both checked my vitals while Roman watched them like a hawk, making their hands shake slightly.

"Rome, you're making them nervous." I stated and he looked at me with a frown.

"Go outside." I told him and his frown only deepened as he stepped towards me.

"Fuck no, I'm not taking any chances when it comes to you." He said when I smiled, shaking my head.

"I'm fine, you big teddy bear, now go!" I smiled at him while he scowled but the doctors only gaped at our exchange, probably confused as to why I called such a scary and fearsome man a 'teddy bear'.

What? He was totally one.

He still didn't leave and after much arguing back and forth, I made him leave when the doctors finally seemed to relax and smiled gratefully at me, getting on with their work in peace.

After they left, Roman came back in quickly, throwing them a look that had the two practically running out for their lives as he stalked over to me and kissed the top of my head.

"I'm tired." I said and yawned right after, since the doctors had given me some relaxants when Roman nodded, tuning off the lights, the light coming in from the window of the moon enough to see.

"Come here." I patted the space beside me as the bed was quite big and comfy for a hospital bed but he shook his head.

"I don't wan to hurt you." He said and I pouted.

"You'll hurt me if you don't come here. Please?" I looked at him with puppy eyes when he sighed, giving in.

He took off his blazer and set it aside, rolling up his sleeves before getting in bed next to me while I moved a bit to make more space for him.

"Comfortable?" He asked as I lay my head on his chest while his arm wrapped around me and nodded with a happy smile, kissing his chest.

"Very. Thank you." I whispered, looking up at him when he smiled softly, the moonlight making him look like an actual god as it fell on him.

"For what?" He asked, even thought he already knew the answer.

"Everything."

The next few days passed by in a blur of doctors, medicines, bandages, and Roman.

My family was upset, to put it lightly. Actually, they were downright furious. But not at Roman, no.

In fact, they were actually getting along, for once. I was surprised at first when dad hugged Roman and then his sister and even Lilac, talking as if they were old friends. Even Alex and Anton were chatting with Lilac easily.

Roman and Ivan were also less hostile towards each other as well as my brothers.

They talked as if they were knew each other for a long time, which they probably did, but they weren't trying to kill each other anymore and I was really happy about that.

"How're you now?" Lily asked me as she sat on the edge of my bed.

We had returned home just yesterday after a week in Milan and I was finally home after such a long time.

"Better, thanks." I said and she nodded, glancing at Roman sitting on the couch with his eyes solely on me before grinning.

"I kept your little boyfriend in line. You know, making sure he wouldn't stray." She smiled slyly and I grinned.

"And now I owe you my life." I put a hand on my heart jokingly when Roman scoffed and walked over to us, sitting down next to me and glaring at Lily.

"I did no such questionable thing in the first place." Roman justified and I smiled, rubbing his chest.

"I know Rome, she was just looking out for you." I said and he rolled his eyes.

"Looking out for me, my ass." He muttered ad both Lily and I laughed just as Ivan entered my room after a brief knock.

"—kotenok, have you seen Aleksan—" He froze when he saw the three of us and his eyes glanced at Lily briefly before he cleared his throat.

"Aleksander?" He asked and I shrugged.

"He was here a while ago but his assistant called his ass back to work." I said and he chuckled, walking over to us.

"She's still giving him hell?" He murmured as he brushed a kiss on my forehead, making Roman glare at him while Ivan smirked.

"Yup. We all know he'd do anything she'd say. He's head over heels for her and he doesn't even know it." I said and he smiled faintly with a nod before looking at Lily again before averting his gaze just as quick.

Smooth idiot.

I looked at Lily whose cheeks were slightly pink and a smile lit up my face as I gestured towards her with my head and Ivan frowned, mouthing a 'what?'

Men can be so clueless sometimes.

"Lily, you told me you wanted to check out the mall here, yes?" I asked her and she nodded with a smile.

"Yeah, I wanted to get some things, and a dress for Roman's birthday." She looked towards said man who wa glaring daggers at Ivan, making me laugh.

"Well, Ivan was also heading to the mall because he had to get me some stuff, so why dont you go with him? It'll save you a trip and give you an opinion on things too. He's got great taste." I said.

Her mouth fell open while Ivan looked at me with wide eyes that clearly said 'what the fuck are you trying to do?'

Trying to play matchmaker, duh.

"No. I'll get you whatever you want. And she can go with someone else." Roman said suddenly and I pinched his arm, glaring at him to get him to shut up but he glared right back.

"No, I want Ivan to go, and Lily can just choose for me because I need some girl stuff. Right, Lily?" I said with raised brows and Ivan probably got the hint and so did she because both of them nodded at the same time.

"S-Sure." She stumbled over her words as she secretly glanced at Ivan who was still glaring at me.

"Go on, lapdog, make yourself useful." I shooed him away and he scowled.

"Don't make me change my mind." He warned and I pouted.

"I'm sorry, my darling, could you please go now?" I asked with a big smile when he sighed, looking at Lily, then me, and then a murderous Roman before smirking.

"Sure, let's go." He said and left the room, whistling as he went, trying to get on Roman's nerves and clearly, it was working.

"Well, guess that's my cue to leave. Bye." She hugged me and then listened to Roman warn her to stay at last twenty feet away from Ivan if not more and stay safe before I had to make her leave.

"What the fuck are you trying to do?" Roman glared at me the moment Lily closed the door behind her when shrugged.

"Nothing." I said innocently when he scoffed.

"Nothing? You call that nothing? What are you trying to get at?" He narrowed his eyes at me when I grinned.

"Oh, come on, Romy! They both like each other!" I said and he frowned, crossing his arms as he stared me down.

"No, they don't." He stated with confidence when I mimicked him, crossing my arms as well and stared up at him unwaveringly.

"Yes, they do, you're just blind, like every other clueless man." I said and he frowned even more, slumping down next to me.

"They do?" He whispered stupefied after a few seconds and I nodded with a smile, biting my lip to contain my laugh while he sat there utterly helpless.

"Fuck, I think now know what Anton went through with us." He groaned, running a hand over his face when I laughed out loud, clutching my stomach while he looked at me incredulously.

"This isn't funny." He grunted and I grinned at him.

"It really is, you should've seen your face when you realised it. This is what my brother went through, You're basically getting a taste of your own medicine." I said cockily and he looked at me with a raised brow before pushing me down on the bed and climbing on top of me.

"A taste of my own medicine, huh?" He ran his thumb over my cheek and then pulled my lip from between my teeth.

Oh my.

"What if I want a taste of you?" He murmured and I smiled, hooking my arms around his neck.

"I'd like that very much." I said and he didn't waste a moment to latch his mouth to mine, our lips moving together before he swiped his tongue over them and I granted him access to my mouth.

His tongue tangled with mine, my hands burying themselves into his hair and tugging at them slightly, eliciting a small groan from him that made wetness pool between my legs.

One of his hands moved towards my chest, brushing over my breast as he cupped it in his palm and massaged it gently, making me moan into his mouth.

Holy mother of Jesus.

His lips moved to my jaw, placing open mouthed kisses and I tilted my head to give him better access as he traced a path to my neck, moving to my sweet spot and sucking on it.

Small whimpers and moans left me and I unintentionally rubbed myself onto him, making him suck in a sharp breath.

"Fuck, I'm losing control." He rasped as he pressed his body into mine.

I felt the hard ridges of his muscles and his erection pressing into me when I pulled his mouth back to mine and he kissed me like a man starved.

He dominated me, our breathing heavy but air wasn't a priority, or at least until we heard a shrill scream, making me push Roman away from me suddenly.

"What the fuck?" Roman growled, glaring at the person at the door when we saw none other than Zephyr and Enzo, and behind them Anton who looked absolutely horrified.

"I saw nothing." Anton said with wide eyes and swiftly turned around, walking out of the room while Enzo and Zephyr snickered but when Roman threw them each a deadly glare, they both had straightened up and averted their gazes as my man helped me sit up.

"What do you fuckers want?" He snapped at them, obviously frustrated while I tried to contain my smile.

"Well, we came here to check on Thea, but I guess you were a bit... busy." Zephyr smirked at me and I rolled my eyes, shaking my head when Roman looked at Enzo.

"And you?" He questioned with a raised brow, pissed at the two when Enzo came forward.

"Guest list for your birthday, boss." He said and waved his phone in the air when Roman huffed.

"I thought I said I didn't want to celebrate." He said in annoyance when I took his hand, making him look down at me.

"I want to celebrate it, please." I said and something in my face must have convinced him the longer he gazed at me.

I knew he cracked when he sighed heavily and shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Fine, send it me." He said exasperated and Enzo gave me a thumbs up before both boys left and Dad popped his head in, smiling when he saw me and Roman cuddled up together.

"Am I disturbing anything?" He asked when I shook my head and Roman got up, giving my father space to sit beside me.

"Roman, son, what about your work? You're not missing on anything, are you?" Dad asked him.

"No, sir. I have Gabriel taking care of things for me when I'm here. This is more important." He looked at me lovingly, tucking my hair behind my ear when I smiled up at him before remembering my dad was here.

Whoops?

"Good, good. Would you mind if I talked to my daughter for a few minutes?" He looked expectantly at Roman who looked at me once and when I nodded, so did he.

He kissed my forehead before leaving the room, closing the door softly behind him.

"How's my sweet girl?" Dad asked, rubbing my hand when I smiled.

"I'm doing better. How are you, with everything going on?" I asked when he sighed.

"I'm doing alright, I think." He said and I nodded.

"Your mom would have been proud of you." He said after a few moments and I looked up into his misty eyes and smiled.

"I know, daddy. She's proud of you too, you know?" I squeezed his hand when he smiled, wiping at his eye.

"I know, sweetheart. I'm proud of all my children. My sons have grown into the men I wanted, and my daughter, just as exceptional as her mother. Maybe even better." He winked at me and I laughed through the tears as he wiped them for me.

"You're going to have a beautiful life ahead of you, filled with love and laughter, and your family. There will be ups and downs, because what's life without some problems. But at every corner, there'd be happiness." He said.

"You have someone who loves you more than himself, someone who's willing to kill for you, someone who'd do anything to see you smile. Cherish that, sweetheart, always cherish it because you never know what might happen in the next moment." He said and I playfully glared at him.

"Not that anything's going to happen, I hope to god not, because then I'd have to go all papa-bear on somebody." He said and I laughed, wiping the last of my tears.

"Thanks dad, I needed that." I hugged my father and he held me tightly, pulling away to smile softly at me.

"My baby's all grown up, isn't she?" He whispered and I smiled.

"I'll always be your little girl, dad. No matter what happens." I said and he smiled, patting my head.

"Of course, sweetheart. Now we better call back your man before he gets a heart attack. He tends to get one every now and then when you're not near." He said playfully and giggled as my dad looked at his watch before grinning at me.

"In exactly 3... 2... 1...—"

"Angel, everything alright?" Roman burst into the room and I burst out laughing with my father as Roman looked at us both in confusion.

"See? I told you." Dad winked at me and I giggled.

"Come here, son, sit with us." Roman looked at us with guarded eyes before sitting next to me, both of us facing my father when dad took Roman's hand with his free one and placed mine in his.

"I trust you to keep my daughter safe, and happy." He said and Roman looked at me, wrapping his free arm around me and smiling softly as he kissed my forehead.

"With my life and everything in me." He whispered and my eyes glossed all over again as I leaned into him.

"I guess the way you two look at each other says enough." Dad stood up and shook Roman's hand and kissed the top of my head.

"I'll see you later, sweetheart." He said and I nodded but just before he left, he turned to us and smiled.

"When is the wedding?" He asked, rendering me speechless when Roman smirked.

"Soon." He squeezed my waist and dad smiled softly, nodding before leaving us alone while I sat there gaping at Roman.

"Soon, baby, soon." He stared at me now, looking at me with those eyes. Those eyes that said so much and nothing at all at the same time.

But with enough love to drown me all over again.