✰ ✰

"𝐇𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬"

I entered my bedroom with a loud sigh.

My room had been untouched for the last month or so, thankfully. Andre wheeled me in further and I smiled as I saw the pink and white balloons in the corner.

A large Welcome Home sign was hung above my bed frame. I grinned further and looked between the two men.

"Aw, you guys are so extra, I love it!" I gushed with a tint of pink coating my cheeks.

Nicolo chuckled and jumped onto my neatly made bed, making me scowl at him. "I did it for you,"

Uncle Dre came beside me now and looked at him with confused eyes. "And Layla, me, Eliot, Vi-

"Okay, we get it." Nicolo huffed, staring at Andre with a glare.

"Where's lover boy?" Nicolo asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Loverboy?"

I jumped in my seat at the sound of my dad's voice. My eyes widened just a fraction as I saw him step into the room and lean against the wall.

"Yeah..." I mumbled and Andre willingly came behind me, moving my chair so I could face my father.

Thanks a lot.

"You're dating someone?" He questioned, looking between myself and Andre behind me.

His cold stare honestly made me shit myself. Not literally, but I felt it coming at some point.

"Who?"

"Oh, look at the time!" Nicolo sprung up from the bed, grinning awkwardly as he managed to scoot past my father—though not completely.

Our father grabbed him by the back of his shirt, making him still and wince as he shut the bedroom door with his foot.

"Nicolo." Dad warned, looking at him with narrowed eyes as my brother dearest slumped down the wall and sat on the ground—refraining eye contact.

"Just take a guess." Andre said, shrugging and placing a hand on my shoulder—some sort of way to comfort me.

Dad looked at me, staring at me and I definitely felt myself pee a little. "I've got a good idea who, I want to hear it from you first."

"You're fucked," Nicolo said, looking at me pointedly and I scowled at him. "You're not helping genius,"

"Wasn't trying to," He shrugged and leant back—obviously amused by this.

Looking back at dad, I sighed and played innocently with the ends of my hair. "Yes, I'm with Roman."

Andre gasped loudly behind me. Making everyone look back at him, I glared at him and he smiled innocently.

"Leave." Dad demanded, and the two left. Leaving me all alone with the big boss himself.

Looks like I'm finally having my death day.

Goodbye, lovely, cruel world. Thank you for the not so many things in life, especially the time you had my P.E teacher make me run a mil—

"Arabella." My father called, pulling me away from my head.

I cleared my throat, switching glances between his eyes and the wall beside his eyes. He took my desk chair, brought it in front of me and sat down.

He leant back, relaxing which only added to my anxiety. He looked oddly calm, usually when this happened, he was just about ready to burst—or he was amused by whatever.

"How long?" He broke the silence, intensely staring into my matching grey eyes. I honestly couldn't look back, it was too much sometimes.

"Uh, for a few months," I muttered, staring at his hands that rested on the armrests. Glancing up, his eyes narrowed into near slits.

"Are you happy?"

Fucking Jesus, what is this? 20 questions?

"Yes." I replied back, my voice above a whisper. I swung my feet back and forth, looking at my manicured toes.

"Bella," His voice softened slightly and I finally looked up—not leaving his eyes. "Only if you're happy," he stated and I understood.

Smiling, I opened my arms for a hug and he shook his head, standing and leaning down to hug me.

"You're lucky I like him," He grunted and patted my back as he hugged me. I giggled and tightened my arms around his neck.

"He's great dad," I stated, I could practically feel the eye roll.

"Mhm," He hummed sarcastically and pulled away. "Are you staying up here or coming back downstairs?"

"Downstairs," I replied and tuck my feet underneath the chair—readying myself for the ride back down.

He nodded, coming behind me and pushing me out of the room.

Thinking of Roman, he mentioned going back to his place to do a few things and then he would be back later.

Honestly, I felt terrible that all his plans had just washed away because of me. The business he had to do, the people he had to meet—it was his job and I stopped him from doing it.

I planned on telling him today that he could just go on without me. We loved each other, I'm sure long distance would work for a few months.

Going with him would probably bring fear back to everyone, and as much as I did want to go—I didn't want to worry everyone around me.

As we entered the living room, everyone was sitting around it—hushed whispers upon them all. And feeling our presence, they fluttered all eyes to us.

It went quiet and I mentally rolled my eyes at their dramatics.

As if you weren't just saying a 'thank you but goodbye' to the world not even a few minutes ago.

"Oh hey!" Nicolo smiled and brought the tension back out of the room. "He's fine guys," I announced and everyone sighed, Uncle Eliot falling dramatically onto Aunt Vi—leading her to smack his shoulder.

"Ouch," He mumbled and rubbed his shoulder. I giggled and was rolled further into the room.

"I wanna sit on the couch, someone needs to help me up."

"Fine, grandma," Nicolo got up and came in front of me. I held my hands out and he lifted me up easily. Limping, I sat in between my mother and Aunt Vi.

"What movie are we watching?" I asked everyone, they all shrugged and my mum quickly grabbed the remote.

"I'm choosing!"

Everyone groaned and she frowned, I giggled and rested my head on her shoulder. "I'll pick,"

"I guess it's only fair," She mumbled and passed it to me. I grinned and started flickering through all the movies, deciding on The HangOver as it was one of our favourites to all watch.

Darkness filled the room after Uncle Eli had closed all the shutters. Blankets and popcorn were thrown around the room and then we were all snuggled up.

I lived for these times, though it would've been perfect if he was here.

And upon that, I stared at the overly large television, thinking of him, once again.

✰

My eyes fluttered open as the weight of someone's arm around my shoulder had woken me up.

I glanced around mindlessly—seeing the empty, dark room ahead of me. It was now dark from the night before me, my lips parted in surprise as I realised I had overslept.

Movement from beside me had brought my attention there. Roman causally sat beside me, arm protectively around my shoulder as my head was unknowingly against his side.

"Roman?" I croaked out, wincing at the sound. His eyes snapped away from the phone he was intensely typing on, they softened slightly but remained lifeless.

"Ella." He greeted, pressing his plump lips to my temple. "When did you get here," I asked, sitting up slightly.

"Ten minutes ago," Replying, he dropped his phone to his side and turned his full attention to me.

I nodded, resting my head back against the couch and closing my eyes. "Are you okay?" I asked him.

"Are you?" He replied, I smiled a little and peeled one eye open. "I am,"

A small smile came to his lips and he leaned down—placing his lips delicately to the corner of my lips. "Good."

As he pulled away, I stared at him as I had many questions to ask him about the previous weeks. "What happened to her?"

His jaw clenched and he pulled my body to his side. I leant my head against his chest as he brought his lips near my ear.

"Killed her before she had the chance to inhale another breath," He whispered darkly into my ear, shivers ran up my spine from the sinister tone.

"And the others?" I whispered back, closing my eyes as his lips pressed against the side of my neck. "Dead, Amore,"

"Good." I mocked, smiling lightly as his warm breath and cool lips tickled my skin. "I have to talk to you," I said seriously and he nodded—digging his head in the crook of my neck.

Blushing, I ran my hand through his soft curls I missed the feeling. "Roman?" I called, trying to get his attention.

"Yes?" He replied in my neck, the sound a deep rumble against my skin—vibrating through my body.

"I want you to go on your business trips," I said confidently. "I'll be fine by myself. We can FaceTime or call, whichever you want—

He chuckled, somehow amused and I frowned because I was being completely serious. "I'm not going anywhere without you," he replied seriously, still resting his head in my neck.

"But—

"No. I'll postpone it until you're better, Ella." I sighed, completely annoyed that he wasn't giving in. Although, besides that, this made me utterly happy. The thought of postponing it for me was somehow mesmerising and heartwarming.

"Roman, you shouldn't have to." I consoled. I was determined on making him go, he shouldn't have to stay with me because I got hurt.

Leaning up, he gripped my chin with his hand, looking down at my lips doing so. "Enough." he stated seriously, the cold stare daring me to argue back—and being a stubborn bitch I knew I wouldn't give up.

"Did you take your pills?" He asked, sitting up and leaving my side. "No, I've been sleeping." I gestured towards the couch with an eye roll.

He clenched his jaw, looking away from me as he walked out of the room. I would follow after him but I literally couldn't stand by myself without taking an hour or so.

A few minutes later, he came back to the living room. A glass of orange juice in one hand and the small yellow bottle with my pills inside—in the other.

Sitting next to me, he wordlessly handed me the orange juice and opened up the bottle—tipping out two white pills.

I took it from him, dropping them into my mouth and swallowing them down with the orange juice.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked him, passing him the empty cup and licking my lips in the process.

"No," He grunted, dropping the glass onto the table along with the bottle of pills. "Well, I'm mad at you."

His amber eyes snapped to me in an instant. I crossed my arms over my chest and refused to look up at his eyes.

"Why's that?" Whispering, he trailed his hand up and down the back of my neck—letting his fingertips glide over my spine.

Goosebumps visibly appeared at the touch and I tried hard to stay focused. "Because you're not leaving,"

"You want me to leave?" He asked, frowning slightly and continuing to relax me with his hand at the back of my neck.

Sighing, I stared longingly at the coffee table.

"Of course not,"

He shrugged and leaned back, removing his hand and keeping them on his thighs. "I don't see the problem then."

I huffed, grabbing his hand and placing it back to its previous position—and he started rubbing again.

"The problem is you not doing things for yourself, because you feel obligated to stay with me." I stated, poking my finger at him in the process.

His eyes darkened and I knew I pissed him off this time. "Obligated?"

Blushing, I looked down at my fumbling hands and traced over my tattoo.

"Don't be stupid, Ella." He scoffed, removing his hand again but instead of bringing it back to himself, he moved it to my chin.

Lifting my head, our eyes meet once again. "I love you, that's not an obligation Ella."

"I'm doing it for myself and for you, I want you to come with me."

Our eyes stared intensely into each other's, like some silent contest we hadn't prepared for. Sighing, I looked away and dropped my head into my lap.

"Fine, I believe you."

"If you want me to leave, I can." Snapping my head up, I frantically shake my head. "No," I mumbled and he smirked, pulling my body onto his lap.

"I was kidding," He kissed my cheek twice and I let out a exhale through my nose and shook my head. "You're unbelievable, Agnello,"

"Mhm," He hummed in my neck, trailing further kisses down the column and I squirmed as he hit a few special spots.

My ass unintentionally rubbed against his cock—causing his hands to tighten around my body. "Sorry," I muttered and glanced at his hardened expression.

"You're not," He husked, his voice deep and raspy, again, unintentionally. I giggled and placed my hand over the covered lump in his sweats.

"Too bad I'm physically unable to do anything about it," I said rather casually, with the slightest slip to my voice.

He smirked, placing a hand over mine and hovering his lips over my own too. "But I can,"

"Roman!" I whispered-squealed as he grabbed onto both my ass cheeks, squeezing them to his liking. He chuckled darkly, dropping his head down on my shoulder, remembering to place a kiss against it.

Both hands rubbed soothingly over the harsh squeeze he made to them and I smiled lightly.

"He knows by the way," I mentioned, he brought his head back in front of me and leaned his forehead against mine.

"Landon?"

I nodded and he nodded once back. "How'd he take it?"

"Oddly, he was okay." I pushed my hands into his hair, concentrating on the ruffled mess.

Carefully, I wrapped my finger around a loose curl and smiled when it looped around my finger perfectly—letting go, I let it bounce off back onto his forehead.

"So cute," I mumbled and fixed the hair. His eyes were on me, I felt them. When I glanced down, I caught onto his gaze and quickly leant up and pecked his lips.

Chuckling, he circled his arms around my body and brought me closer to him—impossibly.

"Ti amo, ragazza mia." He whispered in my ear, his voice deeply enticing.

Translation: "Love you, my girl."

Still focusing on the curls, I mumbled the correct response back.

"Ti amo, Roman."