~Aria

Faint beeping brought me out of my sleep. I slowly opened my eyes and I was met with white. White walls, white sheets, white door. I was wondering where I was and then it all came back to me.

Park. Rain. Gun. Bullet. Mafia.

Mafia.

Leo, my brother and my only friends were all part of the mafia.

I was shot because of the mafia.

I almost died because of the mafia.

But I'm also in love because of the mafia.

Despite everything that has happened, I still can't find it in me to hate any of these people. They are still some of the most important people to me. I can't imagine what they must have gone through, especially Leo.

Oh my goodness, Leo. Do they know I'm here? Do they still think I'm in my room? Oh my goodness.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. I looked up and all I felt was relief.

Leo.

He's here. He's okay.

"Hey bambina, you probably can't hear me, I'm sorry I was gone for so long. I know I said 5 minutes and I was actually 17 minutes, I just wanted to go and get you a few things, I got you some roses and your pillow from home-" Leo had kept his eyes down, but when he looked up his eyes immediately filled with tears. He placed the things in his hands on the table and rushed over to my side.

"Aria? Aria baby, y-you're awake"

It was now that I realised. I wasn't scared. Leo won't hurt me. He's been nothing but gentle and loving since we met. He won't do anything. None of the guys would.

"Baby? Baby talk to me." Leo snapped me out of my thoughts, stroking the hair out of my face gently.

Tears welled in my eyes. I have put him through so much. "I'm sorry, Leo." I whimpered.

"Sorry? What for baby? You haven't done anything wrong, tesoro." He reassured me.

"I'm s-sorry for running away and overreacting, not hearing you all out, I just wanted to talk to my parents about it, I didn't know I was gonna get sh-shot and I-" By this point I was crying, tears streaming down my face.

Leo climbed onto the bed and gently pulled me onto his lap, carefully avoiding my bandaged stomach. "shh, shh, baby you did nothing wrong. It was the bastard that shot you, it was his fault, not yours. You did absolutely nothing wrong, and you didn't overreact I'm sure all of us would have reacted similarly."

"y-your not breaking up with me?"

"Of course not Aria! I'm surprised you're not breaking up with me." He chuckled nervously.

"I would never! You're mine Leo, and I'm yours. But you have got a lot of explaining to do Mister." I pouted, pushing my index finger into his chest.

"Of course, amore mio."

"Now, explain Mr Romano." I said.

"Okay, so, Enzo was right. We are all part of the mafia. I was hoping to tell in a few days, but more gentle than the way you found out. I was planning on explaining everything to you, but I guess Enzo's big mouth beat me to it." We both laughed at that.

"Your brother, Enzo, Gio, Killian and myself are all part of the italian mafia. We are one of the, if not strongest mafia and we have the most members. Currently, we have multiple bases in Italy, as well as a few in Britain and bases in over 30 states. I am the Don, or Capo, which is the head, or 'Boss'." He paused to make sure I understood. I nodded in response.

He continued "I am in charge of everything and I organise main training, the handling of shipments, prisoners and exchanges with other groups. The guys you have met are my most trusted friends, but they also work for me. They are called 'Caporegimes' and they are basically 'captains' in a way. They help me to run my mafia. I have caporegimes in different bases and states and they are all very loyal and trustworthy. All members of my mafia are willing to lay down their life to protect me and my family, that includes you amore mio."

They're willing to die? for me?

"yes, they are, my love."

"oops. I said that out loud." I smiled sheepishly. Leo kissed my lips before he began to talk again.

"Normally, I stay in Italy, where most of my mafia is based, but I had to come to LA because of a threat, it just so happened that I stumbled across your pretty self at the same time, even though Enzo set it up." He smiled at the memory.

"what threat?" I asked. Hey, I'm curious, so what?

"Russians. The Russian Mafia is essentially the opposite of mine. Yes, the Italians sell and ship weapons and drugs, but the Russian Mafia do all of that but 10 times worse. They are involved in human trafficking and all sorts of horrible things. They kill innocent people. I can promise you, Aria, My mafia have never killed an innocent person. Every life we have had to end has been a horrible person and a danger to innocent people, I assure you."

"Damn." I whispered.

"That's not everything, Aria baby. Because of me, the Russians know about you. They know that you are my weakness and they are sending threats and trying to harm you. It was a member of the Russian mafia that shot you."

"W-what?"

"Don't worry, my love, I am doing everything I can to keep you safe, everyone is on high alert and I have men looking for them as we speak. However, there is something I need to talk to you about."

"Um yeah, what?"

"We're going to Italy."

"Erm, sorry, what?"

"We need to go to Italy to keep you safe and so I can make more plans and heighten security. Because the majority of my mafia are in Italy, we need to go there."

"Ooo. Okay, as long as I'm with you, I'll be okay.. I think."

"Of course you will, amore mio, you will be with me or one of the guys at all times, if not you'll have guards." He smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Which part of Italy are we going to?"

"We're going to Verona, the house there is very well hidden, the Russians shouldn't find it."

"Verona? THATS WHERE ROMEO AND JULIET IS SET!" I yelled.

"Oops." I smiled. "I love that play."

He smiled back, pecking my lips. "Me too, let's just hope our story doesn't end the same way." He chuckled.

He was about to say something else when we were interrupted by all of the guys barging into the room. Theo was the first to embrace me.

"Oh my god, Aria. Are you okay? You scared us all shitless. I'm sorry you didn't know about the mafia I was trying to protect you-"

I slapped my hand over his mouth before he could talk anymore.

Huh. I guess rambling runs in the family.

"Don't worry, Leo has explained it all to me, besides, it's kinda cool to be honest, I'm Leo's sidekick." I grinned.

I mean, I'm not very athletic, guns scare me, I've only slapped Theo once when he stole my cake when I was 9... yeah I'm a pretty bad sidekick. Oh well.

"Of course you are, bambina." Leo chuckled, kissing my forehead.

"Yay! Happy Leo is back! We missed you!" Enzo grinned. Leo glared at him which made him shut up.

Enzo laughed sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck "I'm sorry for freaking you out, Aria."

"no hard feelings, you're still my bestie" I smiled. At this, Enzo turned around and stuck his tongue out at Killian, who was standing behind him, a small smirk on his face.

Gio and Killian came up and wished me well, they didn't give me a hug because of the possessive man who I was currently sitting on. It was then that I became aware of the other two people in the room.

The woman smiled brightly at me and waved enthusiastically. "Hi! I'm Bria! I'm Leo's sister, and this is my husband Sebastian."

"Oh my goodness, this is not how I expected to meet some of your family for the first time." I mumbled to Leo, trying to fix my hair.

"Well, I mean, technically we've already met, it was me, Seb, Killian and Gio that found you in the park, so we've already met, you were just half-conscious." She laughed.

"Oh. Erm,"

"Anyway! I don't have any proper girlfriends."

"Me neither" I chuckled dryly. I never made friends, no one wanted to talk to the weird British orphan when I moved to LA.

"Great! So we are now besties!" Bria smiled. I smiled back. It felt good to have another girl to talk to.

"Hey! What about me?" Enzo pouted.

"Don't worry Enzo, you're my guy best friend." I smiled and he smiled back.

We spoke for another hour or so and then everyone left to pack for Italy. Leo told me we would be leaving tomorrow and that the doctor said I can be discharged as long as I take it easy.

I was still lying on Leo's chest, watching a film on the tv in my hospital room. I felt myself getting tired and I snuggled deeper into his chest.

Just before I fell asleep, I swear I heard Leo mumble

"I love you Aria Remington. You're going to have my last name, I'm sure of it. Goodnight Mrs Romano."

~~~

Author's Note:

actually feeling motivated to write now, writer's block is a b!tch

Vote pretty pls <3