— x.ᴅ.ʀ.

My eyes followed the cars as they started leaving the property towards the gates. I couldn't shake the feeling of wrongness that Dante put in my head as I turned to enter the house only to bump into my dad.

"Calmati, ragazzo. Dov'è la fretta?" He questioned chuckling while gazing at me with a questioning look. ("Calm down, boy. Where is the rush?")

"Scusi, I was about to get in."

"I can see that." He said moving to the side but before I could make a move to step inside he put a hand on my shoulder. "Dante can do it. Don't worry yourself."

"I know, but I can't shake the feeling that something will happen to him if I'm not there with him."

"Xavier, he is not a kid anymore. He can take care of himself." His words even though we're meant to be reassuring didn't help me one bit.

"I know, but-" "No buts. You are protecting him way too much since he was a kid. He can do this without you. I know that it's dangerous, but it needs to be done. Someone needs to end this story. And if that needs to be him so be it."

Sighing I turned stepped into the house but before I fully entered I turned on my heel to face dad. "You know, he once told me that he never wanted to be in this type of work environment."

Smirking he looked at me "I know. He was always Mama's boy... But joke on the side, I know. You all are my kids, it's my job to know your likes and dislikes. And I also know that the only thing he enjoys in this life is the fact that he owns those clubs in Italy. He is not a fan of blood until it's needed to be spiled."

"Si-" I started but got cut by him again.

"I know I dragged all of you in this lifestyle with me, and for that I'm sorry. But I hope I gave all of you at least somehow normal childhood. And I sincerely hope I was a good father, if not then learn from my mistakes and do a better job." He said stepping closer to me "Now, instead of talking nonsense you should go see if your future wife is okay, see if she needs something, and then how would Dante say 'pop the question'."

Smiling at him I extended my arm for a handshake which he gladly accepted. "I will... Thank you. And for that father thing you mentioned.." I started as I pulled away and turned to enter the house "I hope I'm half of a father like you have been to us." With that, I entered.

. . .

The Guys still didn't arrive it's been longer than two hours since they left and I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Shaking my head I looked around. 'I need to stop. Remember what dad said. They will be fine. Aleksei's men at outnumbered and everything is going to our advantage.'

Opening my eyes I looked at my mother who was putting a bouquet of light blue crisantemos on the table next to me. Taking the bouquet I smelled it making a disgusting face.

"This doesn't smell good at all. Why does she love them so much?" I mumbled most to myself looking at flowers in my hands not having an idea why would Antea loved them more than roses.

"Just because it's beautiful doesn't mean that it smells good, but that is fun, you never know what you will get. You know the crisantemos have meaning.." she trailed off looking at me causing me to nod my head encouraging her to continue. "They mean fidelity." Was the last thing she said before she turned around and left towards the house.

Leaning against the table I looked at flowers in my hand, Antea's favorite flowers in my favorite color. The color of her eyes.

I didn't wait long for her to appear and slowly make her way towards me. I looked at how her curious eyes swam over the yard and finally stop on me.

"What is all this?" Her voice came out small while her eyes scanned my face for some kind of answer.

Swirling a blueish bouquet in my hands I locked my eyes with hers. "You know.. The first time I saw you, when we bumped into each other I was in bad mood... I had some problems back then but that's not what's important now. What's important now is that the moment we collided I wanted to walk away but something stopped me. Some kind of pull, it pulled me to get down and help you with those papers. And when I did.." I stopped looking at how her eyes look at me curiously.

"When you looked at me that day my whole world stopped." Extending my hand to her, she placed her delicate hand in mine.

Slowly pulling her towards me I lifted the bouquet to her eye level. "Your eyes were the first thing of which I fell in love with you. They quite literally took my breath away." I chuckled gazing at her eyes "Those are the eyes I would like to woke up every damn day till I die." Adding that I gently placed the bouquet in her hands.

"Xavier, what are you-" not being able to control myself, I didn't let her finish her sentence as I connected our lips silencing her with a kiss. She didn't wait long to start kissing me back, letting our lips dance together.

Pulling away leaned my forehead on hers "Let me finish, amore." Taking a deep breath I pulled my head locking my eyes with her dreamy ones. "The second thing I fell in love with you was your tender touch, your care, and the commitment you show when you do something. I fell in love with the way you raised a child that even wasn't yours but instead became. The child that now calls you mama." I looked at how her eyes started becoming pools of unshielded tears ready to spill any moment.

"I fell for you with your words, the way you would talk about your day during our dinners, with the fact that you were there listening about my day even though I lied about it mostly because you didn't know anything about this lifestyle back then." I chuckled looking at how tears made their way down her cheek.

"I fell in love with the way you fixed my wounds, the physical and mental ones." Bringing my hand I wiped a tear that trailed down her cheek. "I fell in love with the small things you did. And I freely let you steal my heart with that first kiss of ours." I added getting a box from my pocket and getting down on my knee.

Lifting my eyes I looked her wide eyes stare at me with shock while tears rolled down her cheeks like a waterfall.

Her hand found its way on her mouth hiding gasps that escaped her lips just a moment ago.

Opening the box, I looked at her till she didn't lock eyes with mine "So, knowing everything, knowing that you are the one that my heart is belonging to, that you are one caring our child,.. there is really no other way than to ask you one question on which only you can give me answer."

Slowly she took a small step closer to me "Will you make me the happiest man alive and take my last name when you already took my heart?"

She stood frozen on the spot and fear that I didn't even know was inside me started to creep within me. My heart pounded on a highly risky level causing me to feel like it's gonna jump out of my rib cage any moment.

With a small barely visible nod she slowly moved her hand from her face letting me see her red cheeks and nose, along with pinkish plump lips that are inviting me to kiss them till I lose my breath.

"Yes." Her voice was high pitched yet soft and gentle causing a big grin to spread across my face. Jumping on my legs I looked at her while cradling her face in my hands.

"Can you say that again?" I asked letting my tears pool in my eyes.

"Yes," she said louder "yes, and yes, and hundred times ye-" crashing my lips on hers I let all my emotions in the kiss. The whole world stopped the second when our lips touched.



Swiping my tongue over her lower lip, I ask for entrance which she gladly gave me letting our tongues swirled together. Her sweet taste invaded my mouth causing me to have an addiction to her like she is some kind of drug. And she is, she is my drug, a drug that keeps me on life.

Pulling away we breathlessly watched each other with stupid grins attached to our faces. "Let me make it right." I said getting down on my knee again and taking a ring out of the box. "Will you marry me?" I asked again even though I knew the answer already.

Though when I lifted my eyes to lock them with hers, I found her watching behind me with her face pale, as white snow, from fear. Before I could turn around to see what caused such distress on her face I felt a metal object pressing on my head.