Its funny how much of my life changed. He went from a mere stranger to a man who was the embodiment of sin itself who pulverized the very temple in which I prayed.

After that episode in the tub that resulted in us cleaning up giving a few kisses here and there we ended up in bed with me lying on his chest. He hadn't kept his eyes nor hands off of me, it had made me feel special.

With the fire crackling in the fireplace I could feel myself being lulled to sleep after listening to the light sound of the rain until he finally spoke making me look up at him. "You asked me why I can't just leave that life," he breathed staring up at the ceiling. "Truth is baby, I'm trying to," he replied releasing a heavy sigh that held within it the frustration of a man attempting to cut off any ties, "that's part of what I've been doing lately. But it's not easy to just walk away once you take the oath ." The oath he was referring to was a blood oath that was a part of a ritual that originated from Roman-Catholic and Masonic Lodges in mid-19th century Sicily that was used to initiate members.

The process involved the person making a cut into their hand with a knife only to have a picture of a saint being placed in their hands which will then be set alight. One will then be asked whether they accept the fact they are being born into a new life, a life one can't leave.

"The only way one can ever leave is..." his Adam's apple bobbed as he gulped making me grow concerned as each second passed and once he said, "death." I sat up not bothered that the duvet fell away to reveal my upper body. "Isn't there someone to talk to, to help you just get out?" I muttered, he sat up leaning against the headboard frowning. "Even if I did, the chances of being allowed to leave are rare. I thought I could be happy with this life when it began and I managed to be doing well until..." he hesitated darting his eyes all over the room making me grab his chin forcing him to look at me. "Don't hide from me, love," I cooed playfully causing a blush to creep up on his cheeks and he cleared his throat.

"I was fine up until I met you. And I-I don't know..." he chucked running a hand through his hair looking unsure as he tugged on the strands, "maybe I'm getting carried away with thoughts on the future but the more I allow myself to think about it the more I don't particularly feel willing to put you through the constant worry and sleepless nights my mother experienced when waiting up for my dad."

"Hey," I took his hand, the same one that had probably held more guns and wrung men's necks yet I had no issue kissing gently, "I accepted those rainy storms and thorns, remember?"

"So would you accept that bullets often make up those storms because I won't lie to you if I can't just leave, can you picture a life of seeing me covered in blood that's often my own?" he questioned placing his hand on my cheek.

I took in slow, steady breaths processing the pain that was awaiting him and knowing there was a high chance I'd see him nearly on the edge of death terrified me. Staring down at his chest, the ink managed to cover up some of his scars that stood as proof of a man who had been through so much and was far from perfect only to be a flawless specimen for me.

I leaned forward laying a gentle kiss on a particular scar located slightly below his collar bone, "As long as you promise to fight and not allow death to consume you then we have a deal," I mumbled pecking his lips. He smiled wrapping his arms around my waist prohibiting me from shifting back, pointing towards his lap. I rolled my eyes settling on his lap. "Some things are out of my hands, baby."

"That may be the case but I guess I'll have to learn how to offer you shelter from those bad days," I replied running my hands through his hair that felt so soft to the touch. He closed his eyes allowing me to continue massaging his scalp gently. "So does this mean you'll stay?" he questioned keeping his eyes closed. Without him looking I observed his features and took in the slight stubble forming on his jaw.

It was probably in that moment where I was presented with another chance to walk away. But I couldn't bring myself to say it. Maybe if he had asked a lot earlier before I had gotten to know him it would have been easier to leave but it was too late. He had marked my body and mind as his. I had been reborn with the passion aligned in those sheets.

And once I said, "I'll stay," that was it.

***

More dinner dates mixed in with roses and wine. More nights spent at either his place or mine,

I quickly grew used to falling asleep and waking up in his arms. On the days he came late I didn't particularly like it, but that was all part of the routine involved in what he did and who he was.

Another thing I had to get used to was often times waking up in the middle of the night to find him wide awake standing by the window looking out at the daunting world. Sometimes I would find him in his office going over paperwork nearly working himself to death.

As the days turned into weeks the fall out with Donovan became a distant memory once I saw just how serious he really was on not wanting anything to do with me. But in as much as I still cared and worried about him, it was truly Marcie who deserved a bit more attention given her recent behaviour. More of her phone calls and actions were whispered in a veil of secrecy. She had been acting a lot more strangely coming across as aloof sometimes.

She was hardly available often not coming home at the times she should. I had been meaning to talk to her about what's been going on. And when I saw her on campus I was quite shocked considering I hadn't been seeing her around as much.

Pausing slightly in confusion at the sight of the same man I had seen her talking to at the shop I decided to approach her to see if she was fine. "Hey, M?" I said calling her, she smiled my way, the corners of her lips shaky leading me to see the bags around her eyes. "How are you?" I asked briefly switching my gaze onto the other individual who hadn't said a thing. Though I didn't want to jump to conclusions about someone, his face remained cold, void of any emotions as he stood watching us intensely to the point it made me uncomfortable.

"I'm good – look can we talk later?" she rushed out walking away from me without giving me a chance to answer as she practically bolted off with her "friend" following close behind her. Unsure of what to do now that she left I had a crippling feeling that something was wrong with her and there was something pretty off about the company she was keeping. It was hard to brush off her actions as I sauntered towards the car where Leo was patiently waiting for me.

As of late Nicky had grown more insistent I get picked up and dropped off by his men. I had to negotiate from having Leo with me everywhere I went, to him just picking me up from school and work.

Although I appreciated his overprotective nature and concern for my wellbeing it was annoying at the time. I felt like he was treating me like a child but as I paused briefly and turned to look around for Marcie only to find the eyes of that man watching me, conveying nothing at all I was suddenly weary of him a bit more to the point I was secretly glad Leo was there.

Swallowing nervously past the ring of the alarm bells I entered the vehicle trying to forget that strange moment altogether. Unfortunately I would never be able to forget it for it grew to be part of the reason I stopped complaining about Nicholas' overprotective tendencies.

Greeting the giant I settled into the seat already planning to tell Nicky about what happened when I interacted with Marcie. He was equally worried about her when Ms Friedman spoke to him about it.

Staring outside the window there was a comfortable silence that settled between us. Though Leo was a man of few words in the times we did manage to talk he told me about the fact his grandparents had migrated to the States in sought of a new world and life.

He grew up in the Bronx in a family with three other siblings. It was in high school where he met Nicky who happened to beat up a bully harassing him when he was just a mere lanky teenage boy. They had been inseparable since with Daniel joining the group when he came to their school a bit late in their sophomore year. Unlike the others, Daniel had been a foster child who didn't have anyone to call family but from their friendship he managed to gain a level of support he never had. Their loyalty for each other was unquestionable and it would only be a matter of time till they became family to me.

Jumping slightly at the sound of my phone ringing, I was a bit surprised when I saw Nicky's name flash across my screen. He had mentioned earlier that day he'd be busy with a meeting that afternoon meaning I'd probably see him back at his place later on but I answered nonetheless glad to hear his voice. "Well isn't this a pleasant surprise," I mumbled only to hear a groan on the other end. "I take it work is going well," I continued holding back a snicker at the myriad of complaints that will come on his end in relation to the legitimate businesses he ran. "I swear it's impossible to find work with people these days," the second he said that I could already picture him running his hand through his hair an excessive amount of times.

It was a miracle it hadn't fallen out from the way he tugged it when he was frustrated. But I liked it when he was frustrated; it meant he would take it out onto me in the most pleasurable way possible. "But enough about me; how was school?"

And then it was my turn to groan resulting in the man chuckling on the other end, "It was okay I saw Marcie." As soon as the words came out I heard him release a sigh that could only mean he knew where I was going with this mere mention of his relative, "I've been trying to call her and see her but it's like she's literally blocked everyone out." Frowning at the very truth I feared to hear out loud I began to wonder what to do. "I know, she practically ran away when I saw her on campus today."

"Hmmm... her mom actually wanted us to come over for brunch and have a little intervention," he mumbled and for the first time I was relieved that instead of tip toeing around this obvious situation we were addressing the issue head on. But given how he was grumbling on the other end, Nicky didn't share the same sentiment. Till this day he didn't relish sitting down and talking about problems. He was the type to just sweep things under the rug which was still infuriating for me. "You can't just push things off. The sooner we sit down and talk to her, we reduce the chances of things escalating."

"I know but I must warn you, Liyah," he breathed, "the root of all this is one filled with pain. Pain I wouldn't wish upon most due to the severity that involves a matter of the heart." It was that admission of truth from him that only made me grow curious and even more worried about her.

As we continued conversing with the hope alive that the intervention would work. All the concern and answers I yearned to know would be revealed in time the more I became apart of this family.