All The Luck In The World- Settle

Thanks again for reading/voting/commenting, it really does mean a lot to me. I hope you like this chapter :) Let me know what you think,

A. Summers xo

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"Adriano let me get past, I want to go." She tried to step left to right and get past him but he wouldn't move.

"You can't leave." He was freaking out on the inside, although some of it was coming through on the outside. What was he going to do? He couldn't let her go, not with everything that was happening with Alessandro, Adamo and their threats against her.

"Why the hell not?"

"It's- It's not safe out there, not with everything going on with work." He thought she may stop now but his words had only made her become even more frustrated with his behaviour. One day she was nothing but a mere no strings relationship and the next she was something he needed to keep safe.

"I wouldn't know about any of that because you won't tell me. You won't talk to me."

"Please, just let me explain-"

"I don't want an explanation anymore, I want to go. Maybe an explanation would've fixed what already happened before you broke the news to me that I was only someone you could use in a- what did you call it?- 'physical' way."

"Angie I know I shouldn't of said that, I'm sorry okay? I didn't mean it." But she shook her head at his words.

"Why do you care if I stay or go? You shouldn't. Not after the way you've been acting."

"I was angry, I regret all of it. You have to stay, I can't let you go out there. You'd be putting yourself and your friend in danger by just leaving without any guards. You promised you'd stay."

She had remembered the night Adriano had revealed his secret about the Mafia. He had looked so vulnerable, so small and weak after opening up to her. Then, she wouldn't have thought about leaving but things had changed and although she wasn't too sure about leaving either, Adriano shouldn't have brought up what she had promised. It was under different circumstances and he couldn't use that against her. Angela put her box down on the floor next to her and stared up at him. She took a few deep breaths before speaking again.

"That's unfair of you to say that Adriano. I made that promise because you needed me, you even said so yourself. You said you cared about me and wanted me to stay. But I'm not needed anymore, because you can fulfil your physical desires with anyone, it doesn't have to be me." Tears began to form in her eyes again and she really wanted to hold them in this time. Even after everything she wanted to say was said, she felt terrible because all she wanted to do was fix things with Adriano.

"Please, don't cry." He said quietly, bringing both hands to either side of her face and brushing away her tears with his thumb. "I can make it up to you I promise, just forgive me." He brought her close to him and comforted her until she had stopped crying.

They sat down on the couch then, Angela avoiding his stare while he tried to get the words out. She focused her eyes on his shoulder instead of his face. She knew that forgiving him was going to be easier than she was making it out to be, because she liked him, she really liked him. And she had found out she would continue to like him no matter what.

"I was angry the other day- when I said those things."

"You were angry at me?" Angela asked in confusion.

"No-No, not you just... everyone else. My dad's been saying a lot of things to me about us and I guess I believed him. I was angry at everything Angie, except for you. My life's a mess right now and you're one of the only things I know I want. I'm afraid."

"Afraid of what Adriano?"

"Of this and what it will become. I know what I want for us but I'm unsure of whether it's the right thing or not. You're not like me, you're better. I guess that's one of the reasons I like you. I thought that maybe if it was just sex I could pretend to myself that this wasn't as much of a big deal as I thought it was."

"But you don't seem to act like it's a big deal." Angela stated, shocked by what he was saying to her know and the way he was saying it- like he meant it.

"Angie, I know I fucked up. I'm not good at well, showing how I feel. I know I should've talked to you instead of pushing you out too, but I'm stupid. I wish I could go back so we wouldn't be sitting here talking about it now, I wouldn't have upset you or said stupid things."

A silence hit the room after he spoke, Angela was thinking, measuring everything up in her mind. He waited patiently but was nervous for what she was going to say next because he didn't want her to leave; he didn't want her to go. He hated the person he had become, but she was helping him to turn back into the person he once was. He hated the mafia, and how it was involved in every part of his life. One thing he knew, through all of the bad stuff going on, was that Angela was the purest and kindest person he had come across. She was special and he didn't want to lose her.

Angela looked at him properly now, and gave him a slow nod. Her mouth had changed from a thing line into a small and slight smile.

"Okay." She said, still nodding. Her voice was barely above a whisper in the quiet room but Adriano could sense something else in her soft tone- it was forgiveness.

"I'm sorry I said what I said, I'm sorry about everything." He moved a little closer to her before wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace. She moved her arms around him now too. He was comforting to her and she wished it had been harder to forgive him but it wasn't.

******

"I'm off to bed." Angela said quietly. She had been sitting on the couch with Adriano watching TV, his arm draped around her casually. It was past midnight and the two had stayed up to watch a movie.

After Adriano's apology earlier, he had continued to be pleasant and sweet throughout the day. They had gone out for lunch together and a walk in one of the squares. She wondered if his mood would change sooner or later than the other times he was like this. The mood was lighter; he was more relaxed and carefree.

"Wait." He had called after her once he saw her heading for her door. He had gotten up from the sofa and was already making his way towards her.

"Yes?" she asked, looking up at him now.

"Don't you want to stay with me tonight?" he seemed to be standing awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck to stop himself from fidgeting.

"I'm not sure-"

"Please. I can't sleep without you." He admitted, she thought she could detect a little bit of shyness in his voice but ignored it. She was too busy thinking, trying to decide her answer. It was tempting enough already to sleep in Adriano's room but she wasn't quite sure, and then when he spoke she had made her mind.

"I- Okay, I'll be in now. Just give me a second." Her words caused him to break out in a wide grin which made her laugh.

"Great." He said and kissed her on the cheek before walking back out into the living room to turn off the TV and lock up for the night.

When he entered his room, she was already getting into bed. He got dressed and quickly joined her before switching off his lamp on the bedside table, leaving the room in a weak darkness. He could feel her warmth as he lay there beside her and turned on his side to face her now.

"Hey." She whispered and gave him a small smile; she had turned to look at him too.

"Hey." He replied, moving a little nearer and putting his arm around her to bring her close to him. She exhaled and got comfortable next to him. He nuzzled at her neck and kissed her forehead before speaking again.

"I missed this, and you." He said his thoughts aloud. He had made a decision to ignore what his father was saying about Angela. He wanted what was best for her; he wanted to take care of her. She deserved better than him but he was going to try a lot harder this time. He was going to speak his mind and not keep everything inside all the time.

He heard her laugh sleepily at him, her last thought before she went asleep being that she had missed him too, she only realised the intensity of her feelings a couple of minutes ago.

"I missed you too." she mumbled, half asleep. He almost couldn't hear her but he managed to make her words out.

She woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon cooking. The bed was empty so she figured it was Adriano. She sat up, stretched and let out a loud yawn before getting up and heading towards the kitchen.

"Good morning." He grinned widely at the sight of her- her hair a mess, her eyes still sleepy.

"Morning." She gave him a small smile.

She sat up at the breakfast bar, leaning her head in her hand and looking at the back of him until he turned around again. He had two plates out on the counter and put the contents of the pan on each one, giving her more bacon than himself- he knew she loved bacon. Angela's stomach growled from the sight and smell of the food in the kitchen, causing the pair to laugh.

Adriano placed her plate in front of her while leaving his across from hers. He went to the fridge to get orange juice and grabbed two glasses for them before coming back to the breakfast bar and pouring two glasses of juice.

"How's the food?" he asked through a mouthful of toast and bacon.

"Mmm." She nodded, trying to eat her food quickly so she could speak. "It's good."

"So, you want to go out later?"

"Out where exactly?" Angela asked with hesitation.

"To dinner and a movie." Angela smiled and nodded at him.

"Like a – date?" Angela hesitated. Adriano nodded his head and smiled at her.

"Yes, a date." The word felt alien on his tongue.

"Sounds great." He could see the instant joy on her face, it made him feel better. He felt like just a little bit of his guilt had cleared for a moment but then quickly came back along with his thoughts of her and them being a couple. He didn't deserve her- any of her but he was glad she had accepted his apology. That still didn't allow his feelings to settle about the whole thing.

******

Angela spent some time getting ready for the night ahead. She was excited and happy Adriano's mood had yet to change. She smiled in the mirror at her appearance before she heard Adriano calling her name.

"Angela." He called. It sounded like his voice was coming from the kitchen and when she entered the room her expression changed to one of confusion.

"What's this?" she asked, putting her earrings in as she spoke. They were supposed to eave in a couple of minutes.

"It's a cake dumbass." He replied, causing her to hit him on the arm to which he sniggered.

"But why?" he seemed to Angela that he had put joking aside now. He looked down at the ground and laughed a little nervously.

"It's for you. You never told me it was your birthday." she looked in amusement at him before a shy smile broke out on her lips- she was the one looking away now.

"It doesn't matter. We were arguing after the actual day so I didn't say anything." she brushed it off but he moved closer to her now. His body touching her as he snaked an arm around her while the other went up to hold her neck.

"Of course it matters Angie. Maria told me, I feel horrible, for all the stuff I've done." He seemed to be saying the last of his words to himself but she heard him and saw how he looked off somewhere when he said that. He was ashamed and that came through. She didn't want to see hi m like that anymore so got up on her tippy toes and moved his face a down a little more to her level before placing a quick kiss on his cheek.

"C'mon, let's go soon." It was her way of showing him she was beginning to forgive.

"Don't you want some cake first?" he sounded a little disappointed.

"Yes, I'll have some while you go get ready."

"Okay, just give me a minute." He mumbled before heading to his room to quickly get ready.

When he came back out, he saw a slice of cake cut and walked over to find Angela eating some at the breakfast bar. She smiled and ate her last bit before he wrapped his arm around her in a side hug and kissed her on the head.

"This cake is amazing." She said excitedly.

"Thank you."

They both left soon after for dinner. Adriano took her hand and pressed the button to lock his car before they walked into one the restaurants he owned. They were immediately greeted and brought to their seats. The nervous waiter told them both about the wine they had today while giving them their menus.

It wasn't until a couple minutes after getting settled in that Angela decided to ask Adriano the questions she had brewing over the past hour or two. Her hand was tucked under her chin as she sighed and looked at him. He was looking at the menu, trying to decide what to order when he noticed her stare and looked up.

"Why?" she asked, her eyes looked dazed and full of content.

"Why what?" he went back to what he was doing before.

"Why are you being so nice? Why dinner? Or the movie?" he pursed his lips together tightly before moving his eyes to stop at hers.

"I feel really shitty about everything I've done- not just a couple of days ago. This isn't going to be a once off thing, I really want to try and be better. Even then it wouldn't be enough for what you've put up with." He spoke from the bottom of his heart, it made her feel fuzzy and warm.

"You promise you'll stay in this mood you're on now?" she asked, smilling at him.

"I have been a little more cheerful compared to my usual self... I'm just happy you're willing to give me another chance you know?"

"It's because you're not in work either." Angela added. He had almost forgotten about work- until now. He didn't want to have to think about work and all the stresses that came along with it. Work was a full time thing, it was his life and he hated that. Especially now when he wanted to spend more time with Angela and less time working.

"I guess you could say that too." He said a little quieter.

"Did you ever want to become something else? Instead of your job now, I mean, you don't seem to be happy with it." There was a pause for a moment until he replied.

"I guess I always knew it would come to this."

"This?"

"Yes. Me taking over, it's not an option. Not now." She didn't ask about what he had meant by 'not now', just nodded and decided what she would like to eat. It wasn't until a while into their dinner that Adriano brought up what she had asked earlier. He had lied and for some reason, it was eating away at him. Maybe it was because she had told him about Derek, about her terrible past, that he decided he needed to come clean.

"I-I- No. I wanted to get away from this life once. I had dreams, aspirations, but they never came true." The pain was visible in his voice and expression. "I wanted to cook, it was what I loved to do, it was what I enjoyed."

"I can tell you love it, you're brilliant at it Adriano." She was unsure as to ask or not ask why his dreams hadn't come true. She wanted to learn more about it and get the full story but not if he wasn't ready to share. He gave her a sad smile that caused her heart to contract. He looked like a young boy who's dreams had been crushed.

"My father wouldn't allow it." He took a drink and focused his eyes on her shoulder, unable to look at her properly. "But I had plans, I was going to do what I wanted to do with or without his support."

"And then what happened?" she asked quietly.

"Tommas died. He was going to take over after my father, he would've been good in charge. After he died, I was forced to stay in this life."

"Why didn't you just leave like you had planned before? I'm sure there could be someone else to take over-"

"I couldn't do that to Mike. The kid has his head in the clouds half the time- and that's not a bad thing- I wish I was more like him. But I'm not, I guess I had to grow up and get my priorities straight. No more dreaming, no more cooking. My father didn't want me to make a mockery of him. He never wanted me to go to culinary school. He didn't care if I was happy or not. But I wasn't set out for this life Angie. I had to change myself, adjust to what my life would become. It's something you have to do. You have to forget all moral code, you have to be careful with every step you take. You have to sleep with one eye open if you sleep at all. That's why I invested my money in restaurants, it was the closest I could get. Sure, I have money, I have luxuries and nice things, but I'd give it all up to just get away from all this shit happening around me in my life. I just can't get away from it. And I know you're good. You're good and I'm bad. You're the most sweetest, forgiving, caring person I've ever met. You deserve better. I can't help what I've become now, I wish it could be changed but I just can't. Even if every part of me wants to- for you and for me- there's no way of getting out of the Mafia, not one that I've figured out just yet." He was getting more upset the longer he spoke.

Angela didn't know what to say, if she could say anything. So she reached out and took his hand over the table, looking into his dark coffee eyes and gave him a look that showed she understood- because she did, she always would.