Epilogue (I)

- R O M A N - A N G E L O -

"It's too fucking hot." I pulled at the collar of my shirt and shot Enzo a glare.

"Where the fuck did you take my wife?" I grabbed him by the lapels of his blazer and saw his eyes widen as he raised his hands in surrender.

"I only took her to see Jane, she said you knew, it was all her idea!" He exclaimed and I shoved him back as I paced around my office in my house, my wife all of a sudden gone and nowhere to be found.

"Just leave." I told him as I pinched the bridge of my nose and heard a small snort and huffing from the corner of my office, my ears perking up as Enzo turned to look at me.

"Did you hear that?" He whispered and I nodded, gesturing him to get out of my sight when he mocked me and left the office before I could pull the trigger on him.

Sighing, I leaned against the desk and rubbed my temples as if that would stop the growing headache and smiled a bit.

"I think someone's in here." I spoke a little loudly and heard a small gasp as my eyes caught on to the slightest of movements behind the curtains and I slowly walked around it.

"Maybe there's an intruder... Where did I put my gun?" I wondered out loud and took a few quite steps before yanking open the curtains and hearing a laugh as the little boy whizzed past me but I was quicker and grabbed onto him.

"Not so fast, piccolo principe."(Little prince) I said as I held the squirming boy in my arms and threw him up in the air before catching him, his laughter ringing in my ears.

"Smettila, papà!"(Stop it, papa!)He said as I held him to me and pushed his unruly black hair back from his face.

"What were you doing hiding in there?" I asked as I walked around my desk and sat on the chair and he looked down.

"Being shy all of a sudden?" I teased and he huffed.

"I was going to surprise you." He grumbled when I rubbed his back.

"It's your birthday, why do you want to surprise me, hm?" I asked when he looked away.

"How?" He shrugged to my question when I made him look at me.

"What are you planning, little prince?" I narrowed my eyes at him when he did the same.

"I'm not little anymore." He said and crossed his arms when I huffed out a laugh.

"You're little, not even half my height yet." I told him and saw his face turn red.

"I'll grow taller than you one day and then I'll make fun of you!" He said haughtily and I chuckled at him, patting his back.

"We'll see. Now, where is your mamma?" I raised a brow when he shrugged, playing with the things on my desk.

"I asked you a question, son." I repeated and he looked at me sideways, as if challenging me to go further when I scoffed.

"Spoiled brat." I muttered but he ignored me when I took a deep breath.

"Troy Hael Angelo, where the fuck is my wife?" I took the same tone I had when I was interrogating someone, all warmth disappearing.

He gulped, but I admit that I was impressed when he showed it didn't affect him, but I knew it did.

"She's gone." He suddenly spoke and I reared back from surprise.

"Gone?" I repeated and he nodded once, ice blue eyes narrowing unhappily at me.

"She left you, and said she was never coming back!" He told me and something in me snapped when I took out my phone and dialled my wife's number, putting it to my ear but she never answered.

"The truth, Troy." I repeated as I kept on calling her again and again when he shrugged.

"She said you were mean to her so she left." He provided and I could've sworn my heart stopped beating when I heard the sound of laughter and my shoulders slumped as I visibly relaxed.

"Little shit." I growled at him for lying to me and he grinned at me, aware of the fact that I'd lose my shit if my wife were ever to leave me.

"Looks like they're back." He muttered and jumped off my lap, heading straight out when I stood up, remembering my wife had been gone for three hours, without a note, a message, or a single trace.

Walking down the stairs, I was met with the most beautiful view I still hadn't gotten used to. There she sat, my angel on the floor with our son hugging her and our daughter playing with her mother's hair.

"Angel." I spoke, bringing all their attention on me when my little princess squealed and made her way towards me but then stopped midway, crossing her arms and pouting before turning right back towards her mother.

"Mommy, why is Roman glaring at us?" She asked and both mine and my girl's eyes widened as we stared at our daughter.

"Evie, darling, just because we were out the whole day doesn't mean we get to call daddy by his name." She told our girl with a small smile who frowned.

"Aren't you mad at him?" She asked and Heather frowned.

"No, why would you think that?"

"You were sad." She said and Heather smiled softly, shaking her head.

"I'm fine, princess."

"Okay, then why is daddy glaring at us?" She asked and glared in her own adorable little way while I fought not to smile at how cute she was.

"Princess, come here baby." I opened my arms for her and she looked at Heather once who nodded before she ran up to me and I picked her up in my arms as my wife stood up, holding on to Troy's hand.

"I mished you sho much, daddy." She held my face between her little palms, her emerald green eyes glimmering and her rosy pink lips pulled into a sad pout.

"Then give daddy a kiss, si?" I asked and she nodded, kissing both my cheeks multiple times and I kissed her own once in return.

"Where did you disappear off to?" I asked in a low tone when she grinned.

"We went shopping and got sho many things and pretty dresses. Do you want to see?" She asked in excitement and I nodded and let her down, watching her run on her little legs to retrieve her bags and pull them to me.

"We used your black card, daddy!" She exclaimed proudly when my eyebrows shot up and I looked at Heather who was biting her lip guiltily, but I couldn't care less about the money because it was all hers anyway.

"Oh, really?" I feigned surprise and Evie nodded.

"Why don't you both go to your room and we'll look at your new dresses later, hm?" I told them and they both ran upstairs.

I stood with my hands in my pockets, staring at the silky satin red dress on Heather, hugging her curves beautifully, the same ones which I had kissed so many times.

Her dark brown hair was left open, falling in soft waves over her shoulders and down her back all the way to her waist, red lipstick staining those beautiful lips and her eyes bright and lively as she looked back a me unwavering.

Even after all this time, she took my breath away like she did when we first met, and for some strange reason, it was as if she grew more beautiful with every passing day and made me think of how lucky I was to have her in life, my love growing for her with each day of our lives.

"Roman." She spoke and I smiled subtly.

"Heather." I nodded once and walked over to her, taking a strand of her hair between my fingertips and feeling how soft it was.

"Where have you been?" I asked and she shrugged, biting her lip to contain the mischievous smile I just knew was about to appear.

"You had me worried, angel." I murmured as I pulled her closer to me and her eyelashes fluttered as I leaned down to her lips.

"You've given me a headache." I told her and saw the little smile before I kissed her, tasting her just how I wanted to when she sighed into my mouth.

But before I could go any further, the doorbell had rung and our kids were running down to see who it was.

"Genevieve, stop running!" I yelled after them as Heather leaned into my embrace.

"I have to tell you something." She spoke in a small voice when I looked down at her worried features and nodded.

"Anything, baby. Is everything alright?" I asked as I caressed her face but she shrugged.

"Depends." She said and I frowned, about to say something when loud voices caught my attention and I groaned when I saw who had come in.

"Where's the birthday boy?" Anton walked in smugly as Troy sauntered over to him while I tried to keep my hands off my gun so I wouldn't shoot the Russian.

"He's there uncle Anton, hurry up!" Evie pulled at his hand and brought him to Troy while his wife trailed behind him with their one year old son in her arms.

"Happy birthday, Mr. Angelo." Anton shook hands with my son who seemed more than pleased with the title as a small grin overtook his features.

"Thank you, uncle. Where's Damien?" Troy asked, looking up to him when said boy walked in grumbling with Alex.

"Behave, young man." Alex chastised Damien, Anton and Ana's first son who rolled his eyes, grinning when he saw Troy.

"Trojan, happy birthday." He high fived him and Troy smirked.

"Thanks, Russian." Troy mocked him and they both started to walk away when Anton muttered something under his breath.

"If you both do anything stupid I'm coming for your heads!" He warned but they both ignored him and went off.

"Ana!" Heather left me for the woman, hugging her and then kissing their little one, Arthur, on the cheek.

"So good to see you after so long," Ana said and she smiled wide when I looked at Anton who raised a questioning brow at me.

"Where's my hug?" I asked Anton teasingly and he cursed me in Russian, pushing past me.

"I'll give you a hug in your grave, that's for sure." He muttered and took Arthur from Ana before kissing Heather's forehead.

"I will always applaud you for living so long with this one." Alex hugged her next and she laughed as her eyes met mine.

"Go fuck yourselves." I told both the Russians who smirked before heading towards the drawing room.

"Rome, language!" Heather smacked my arm when I noticed Evie clinging onto my legs and sighed heavily.

"I didn't mean it." I told her and she shook her head before going to Ana when I saw Gabriel walk in with Maria and their daughter who squealed when she saw Evie.

"Evie!"

"Chiara!"

Both girls hooked their arms together and ran off towards the backyard where the other kids were when Enzo walked down from upstairs.

"Is Jane here yet?" He asked Heather who shook her head and he nodded.

"I'll go get her then." He announced, waving us goodbye before he left to get his wife. Yes, he had gotten married to Jane who was now five months pregnant with their first child.

"Come on, I'm hungry." Heather pulled me along with her and into the drawing room where everyone sat and I saw Lily there too who beamed when she saw me.

"Roman!" She hugged me tightly and I smiled, patting her back before she pulled away and I looked around for my kids.

"Where is Troy?" Alex asked the same time he burst in through the door and looked at me wide eyed.

"Papa, there was a man—" He didn't have to say anything else before I had whipped out my gun and so had Alex and Anton and Gabe, all of them following me outside to the backyard when my eyes widened.

"Who the fuck is that?" Gabriel asked as he neared the man who was now lying on his stomach with blood pooling out of various places.

"We beat him up." Damien stated proudly and nodded towards Troy who shrugged.

"It was nothing." He mumbled when Heather crouched down to his level and checked him for any injuries.

"Did he hurt you anywhere, little prince?" She asked but he smiled and shook his head, taking her hands gently.

"I'm alright, mamma, don't worry, we beat him up for you." He told her and she smiled, hugging him to her when Anton ruffled Damien's hair.

"Good job, son. Both of you boys." He told them both before looking at me and I nodded, putting my gun back.

"He's alive, but they sure did a number on him." Gabriel chuckled as he kicked the man with his foot to see if he was awake but he was unconscious.

"I'll have him taken to the basement." He assured me and I nodded, heaving a breath of relief hen my eyes searched for my daughter who was hiding behind a swing with Chiara.

"Principessa, vieni qui piccola."(Princess, come here, baby.) I called for her and she ran towards me quickly, letting me scoop her in my arms while Chiara went to her mother.

"I was sho scared, daddy." She mumbled, hiding her face in my neck when I held her tight to me and Heather rubbed her back softly.

"Mommy." She whimpered and reached for her mother who took her immediately, a worried frown on her face.

"Roman, who was that?" She asked me in a quiet voice when I pursed my lips, narrowing my eyes at the place from where he had most probably gotten in.

"Someone with a death wish, that's for sure." I grunted and when she pressed her face into my chest and I held her close to me.

"Mamma, I'll protect you, don't worry." Troy grabbed her hand and she smiled and leaned down to him.

"Of course you will, little prince. We'll all protect each other." She kissed the top of his head and he nodded, stroking Evie's hair.

"Don't be scared, Evie, I kicked the bad guy where the sun don't shine. I'll always protect you, si?" He cared for his sister, we could all see that and Heather looked up at me with a proud smile, knowing we had raised them right.

"Si, princey." She said and giggled when he made faces at her to make her laugh.

"Come now, let's cut the cake." I held my hand out for my son who took it eagerly and we all went back to the drawing room which had been decorated with blue and white balloons for Troy's eighth birthday.

"Happy birthday, our little prince." Heather kissed his face multiple times and he laughed as he shrugged her off before we all took our places behind the table that had the cake on it.

"You started without me?" A loud and deep voice spoke before Zavid entered with his men behind him carrying several wrapped presents and both our children ran over to him as he leaned down to hug them.

"I missed you, grandpa!" Evie latched onto his neck and he kissed her head and then hugged Troy.

"Happy birthday young man, how old are you now? Four?" He teased and Troy stood straighter.

"Eight, sir." He spoke formally, trying to show off how old he was when Heather chuckled and placed her left hand on my chest, her wedding band glinting when the light hit it, evoking a feeling of possessiveness and pride in me.

This woman was all mine.

"Cut the cake!" Chiara shouted and both our kids came back to us, Evie climbing into my arms.

Troy stood between me and my angel, holding the knife steady in his hands before blowing out the candles, everyone cheered when he cut the cake, singing the birthday song for him while he grinned.

After the cake was cut, the food was brought out and both Troy and Damien had taken the responsibility of pissing off their uncle Alex who had nothing better to do than mope around because his girlfriend had broken up with him.

"Katy hasn't answered yet?" Heather asked him when he shook his head, smacking the back of Troy's head who laughed deviously before running off with Damien.

"She'll come around, just be patient with her." She reassured him and he nodded, both of them talking quietly while the children ravaged the presents while Heather walked to me with a nervous smile.

"What's wrong, angel?" I asked, cupping her cheek when she smiled, although tensely as she chewed on her lip.

"Come with me." She took my hand and led me out of the room and upstairs up to ours, closing the door softy behind her.

"Angel." I spoke in a firmer tone when she walked out the balcony.

I followed her, watching as she leaned against the railing and took a few deep breaths. I put my hand on her shoulder gently, rubbing softly as my brows furrowed.

"Tell me what's wrong, and I'll fix it." I told her, turning her to face me and saw her misty eyes, one hand on her stomach and I instantly knew what was bothering her as my own heart raced in my chest ad she looked away.

"Angel, are you— Are you—"

"I'm pregnant, Roman." She whispered, watery eyes meeting my own.

"Wha—"

"I know we didn't plan this but I— I'm keeping the baby, Roman," She looked up at me with a firmness and determination I knew only she had, "I want to."

"Say something, please." She urged in a broken voice when I shook my head and kissed her forehead.

"I love you." I whispered, "And Troy, and Genevieve—" I leaned down and kissed her flat stomach, "And this little one too, with my life and everything in me."

She smiled at that, sniffling lightly when I stood up and smiled, wiping away the lone tear that slid down her face.

"I'm so happy right now, you have no fucking idea." I said and she giggled, pressing her lips to mine and I kissed her back, holding her steady against me before pulling away, our foreheads resting against each other.

"Thank you." Heather whispered and even though I knew the answer, I still asked her the same thing I always did.

"For what?" She grinned knowingly at that, clutching on to me as if I were her lifeline, much like she was mine.

"Everything."