Five days later
Life…
Sometimes it’s silent.
At times it’s brilliant with every color of the rainbow.
Sometimes it’s a long, windy road with bumps, curves, and straight roadways.
Parts of it are long. And at times, so very short.
Sometimes it’s agonizing. Yet it can be glorious and hope filled.
It develops who you are. But never defines the complete you.
I remind myself each day that I had the courage to change how my life will continue. Wrestling with my mind to forget the torture and sadness. Replaying in my mind each day since we left the makeshift hospital, where Alex lain recovering, that I am safe, I am protected, and I am loved by my family, friends, and the most patient and captivating man I know.
Lying together in his opulent apartment for five days together has been nothing short of perfect. This continuous time together, time that we needed, has only drawn us closer. If that is possible? It’s been only a short time that I have known Alex. Some would say it’s impossible to know if you truly love someone in that time, especially given my past six years of turmoil, pain, and sacrifice.
I know you can…
I have lived it…
I had hoped with every cell in my body that one day I would be saved. That someone would really see me against all of the ugliness.
And he did…
And eventually, I embraced him and took my life by the reins.
We may be still learning about each other’s lives, but without hesitation, we know we are meant to be together.
“Do we ever have to leave your apartment?” Cuddling into his athletic side, his muscular bare arm wraps me against him. Strong fingers play with my Tiffany necklace secured around my neck. It hasn’t come off since the day he placed it there.
“Our apartment,” Alex corrects me each time I mention his apartment, his bed, and his friends.
“Whoops. I don’t deserve all of this. I don’t deserve you.” Lifting my eyelids up to meet his, I know his thoughts on this matter. But how can a person like me be worthy of his comfort and love. I’m still struggling internally with it.
He shifts his body so I can see his strong, determined, smiling face. “You are the most deserving person I know. You have conquered and overcome personal atrocities that people wouldn’t know exist. It’s not about what you have done in your past. I like to think it’s how you survived. How your strength, your fortitude, and steely determination to do what was best for your family led you to me. And now that I have you, I’m not letting you go, Sweetness. Ever.” A kiss swipes over my nose, then against the tears leaking from my eyes.
“Each day I’m grateful to Jules for making me go to that darn speed dating hell.”
“So am I.”
“Speaking of Jules, I wonder if I can get my old job back someday. Since I can’t imagine your work will let you sit around with me much longer. I know Seth, Jared, and Liam are keen to talk to you.”
“For now. It can wait. But, I will have to go to the office soon. Las Vegas is powering ahead. Which reminds me,” his eyebrows knit together in thought, “you still have to decide about the interior for the hotel. I think all of your time is going to be split between that project and me, for the foreseeable future.” Smirking and pulling me tighter to him, I actually want this new phase of my life to hurry up and start. I haven’t heard if Dimitri Sokolov is alive or dead. Each day, at some point, I think about this fact. Wondering if I should turn a corner and be taken again. But Alex assures me I am safe from this evil man’s clutches and widespread enemies. I won’t doubt him.
There’s no more looking back. Only forward.
Not with the prince charming I had replayed in my head a million times.
No…
I have something real.
A driven, protective, trusting, obstinate, sensual, and impassioned man, who wants every part, including the naughty, the ruined, shattered, wistful, determined sections of me.
2 months later
Plainly put… Isla trusted me solely with her heart. And I took it greedily without looking back.
Bursting into my existence that fateful night, Isla was bright and blazing, like the most unforgettable meteor in amongst a meteor shower.
Moving faster than anything else ever in my life, she took me unexpectedly and completely. I honestly can say, I don’t know how I survived life before she came into mine. Sure, I did everything I wanted. I’m successful, working hard, and taking women when I desired. Being part of a mafia family has its complications but being one to be feared of, I never worry about anything. I could say Isla makes me weak, because I now have something very real that would kill me if anything was to happen to her. But she also makes me stronger, because I know I will fight to the end of my life to protect her from any evil in this world.
Knowing that Isla wanted to get back to a normal life before the last few months took a hold of us both, she decided she would like to use some of her inheritance to expand Jules and her event management business. Jules was so excited to have her back and the smile on my Sweetness’ face each morning as she gets ready for work with no inhibitions still melts my heart momentarily.
“What are you guys working on this week?” Dressing in my dark charcoal suit, I am eager to hear her carefree voice.
“We’re meeting with some big-time advertising agency to work out our campaign. And, we have a few clients coming in to discuss events.” Brushing her dark hair straight, it falls over her lavender blouse.
“Sounds interesting. A company I might know?”
“Nope, don’t think so. Jules has organized it.” Arching her eyebrows up, “But the client coming in today is someone famous.”
“More famous than me?” I laugh, feigning fake exasperation.
“Yep. Sorry to say, it is.”
Zipping up my pants, I move behind her. “Well, then, who is it?”
Placing her brush down, “I can’t tell you. Client’s privacy and all that.” Her violet eyes twinkle with mischief.
My fingers latch around her midriff and I start to tickle her. “You will tell me.” I try not to laugh too hard, but she is squirming and chuckling at the same time.
“Alex… Stop…” Laughing and bending over trying to stop my onslaught, she snorts. “Stop, no more.”
“I know how to get answers from you.” Lightening my fingers, I reach up and place one hand around her shoulder and hold her chin from behind, so she has to extend her neck back. I precisely place swift kisses on her sensitive spots.
“Umm… Oh how you torture me…” Her hand reaches back and squeezes my package. “I really can’t tell you.” Light on her feet, she spins her heels, reaching up, devouring my mouth in a split second, rendering me powerless.
“I have to go.” Breaking from my hold, she lifts her bag up, swinging it over her delicate shoulder leaving our bedroom. “I’ll call you later. Think of me.”
Fuck… There’s not a minute that goes past where I don’t think about her.
The outside door shuts. I haven’t moved. Shaking my head, gaining some perspective, I’m glad I decided to put a man on Isla. I can’t contain her. She needs to be free after so many years of confinement. I couldn’t take that away from her.
Meeting with uncle and Benito the day after Isla and I came back to our apartment, I knew I couldn’t put the inevitable off any longer. Seth, Jared, and Liam met with us in my kitchen to discuss me taking over the family business. I knew it was to happen. And I was thankful to Stefano for allowing me the next few months to prepare, if you can actually ever prepare for something like this, before I take over the role in the new year.
My main concern is Dimitri Sokolov…
We still hadn’t heard from him.
There are no leads.
Kolton couldn’t find him anywhere on the planet. We decided that we had to believe he was still alive, taking precautions with the family and everyone associated with it. Hence the protection on Isla. Security was overhauled in the apartment, at the resorts worldwide, in Isla’s office and with all our families’ homes and work places. Kolton was strengthening our cyber security to the best money could buy. Nothing would be left to chance. If the Russian was alive, plotting revenge, we would be ready.
The past month, I haven’t wanted to shroud Isla in darkness, so The Family decided to keep things close to our chest for a while longer.
Walking to the kitchen, a smile erupts over my face. I take my phone in my hands, typing a quick message to Isla.
You still enthrall me and enchant me.
You are mine…
Forever…
A xx
Next, I dial a number I usually dial each week, but have neglected due to unforeseen circumstances, I wait for the dial tone to stop.
“Hello.”
My heart beats loudly in my chest. “Hey, Mother! I’m bringing someone over for tea tonight to meet all of the family…”
The End.