Twilight, again. Another ending. No matter how perfect the day is, it always has an end.

             ~Stephenie Meyer~

                             Mia

Romano was handsome. I should have been used to seeing him in a suit by now, but watching him waiting for me by the car gave me a new kind of thrill; maybe it was because he was wearing a tie this time, but whatever it was, he looked dashing.

He opened the car for me, brushing his lips on my forehead, his breath whipping the tendrils of my hair across my cheeks. He smelled wonderful, just like he always did.

I sat beside him, briefing him on the events while he said nothing but nod in agreement. I couldn't stop talking; I was so excited I kept clicking my tongue in annoyance every time we encountered a traffic snarl. Once in a while, when I bashed some motorists under my breath, he would chortle in amusement and say, "It's still early, Bella Mia, we'll get there on time." I would smile at him, but then I would go back to doing the same thing again.

Eventually, we arrived. The parking lot was full; Rom parked ours strategically in a position whereby if we wanted to leave, we would do so without a hitch, without having to wait for anyone to move their car first. It was so meticulously done, such that we would be able to rush into the car if anything untoward was to happen. Everything this man did was calculated.

One of the valets spetted in front of us, but Rom shook his face sying our car was rightfully parked. However, an argument ensured, with the valet pointing out that it took a lot of space and would like to park it right for us. Romano shook his face, holding out his hand out for me. I took it immediately, feeling his big one engulfing mine in a protective gesture.

There are a few times that I have been on the front line of Rom's anger and fierceness, not towards me but to people who seemed to rub him the wrong way. The eyes that were at that moment directed to the valet belonged to a man who lived on his own terms, a man who refused to conform to the dictate of the society if they happened to inconvenience him in any way, big or small.

To give him credit, the valet did not insist again; he caved in, taking a step back as if he was trying not to spook or awaken a sleeping beast, which was apt in this case.

"Don't frighten people like that," I whispered, jolting him out of the glower he had on the valet.

He smiled down at me, his face transforming so much I would have been forgiven for thinking he had multiple personalities, or maybe he did. But as I looked at him, watching his eyes on mine, moving mine around his face, I was glad I wasn't one of his enemies.

"I didn't frighten anyone." he denied, pulling me towards the entrance. I have been coming to such events throughout my career, but this was, without a doubt, one of my favorites.

Romano fit in perfectly; he was proficient in every topic, politics, religion, and thanks to my briefings, fashion. He was sharp; he spoke of the stock market and the economy like someone who owned a fortune 500 company. He was among fashionistas, actors, businessmen, and women, yet he was never at a loss with words.

As time went by, he became a novelty, and curious glances and questions started. He did not evade any; he said he was investor, going ahead to name drop some of the most successful companies in the country and around the world. I didn't think he was lying; I just thought he exaggerated a little to ward off more inquiries into his life, but it turned out he was telling the truth. Romano was complex. I sometimes thought it would take me a lifetime to really understand him. Every day I spent with him felt a discovery, which is what he said about me, but it was how I felt about him.

After a while, he excused himself, taking me with him. We walked around the room with my hand in his, speaking in a low tone even though he had to bend his head down a little to hear me. I was having a wonderful time, a glass of champaign held tightly around my fingers, a smile on my face as I stared at the man I loved.

I noticed Chad did not come near me, although he kept throwing me inconspicuous glances, Bruno must have scared the hell out of him. I liked that he would never bother me again; however, a part of me was afraid of what he might result in as payback.

Most of my colleagues acknowledged me with a nod; some stopped by us to exchange niceties, while some felt the need to hang around us. It was out of curiosity; they wanted to know who Romano was, more so why he was special that I could date him compared to those I had rejected. There was no secret in this business, especially dating among ourselves. Everyone knew I slept with Dave; it spread like wildfire. It was whispered in dressing rooms, clubs, and during photoshoots.

I wasn't close with any of them to the point of knowing each other's business, but we were good acquaintances. I got along quite well with almost all of them except for Marina- Marina was tall, blond, and beautiful. At that moment, her gorgeous, slim hands were placed on Rom's chest. I never thought I could in any way or form suffer from the green-eyed monster. But watching another woman's hands on my man was infuriating.

"How comes we've never crossed path?" she asked in a sultry voice, her long red painted nails straightening his collar even though it was in place.

"I don't think you fraternize my world." Rom curtly replied, his brown eyes rooted on Marina's face.

"You sound like you live in a different world from this." She said, using her hands to demonstrate then returning them to his chest.

"It is different." He stated, taking a step back from her.

"Are you by any chance speaking of Mars?" Rom looked at her in confusion, "You know...men are from Mars women are from Venus." She clarified, giggling at her own joke.

"What?"  Marina asked sweetly, ignoring the smoldering embers that were about to burst out of Romano's eyes.

"I was wishing she was the one touching me the exact same way you're doing instead of you," Rom's sounded like he was about to lose control, and I was afraid of what he might do if he did only to remember this was Rom, he never lost control.

Marina flushed with embarrassment moving her hands when Rom gestured towards me with his head.

He said it in a lazy drawl as if he had all the time in the world to talk to her, his action contrary to the tone of his voice; it was deliberately done with a smirk playing across his mouth.

Marina threw a vicious glare at me right before sauntering away until she got lost in the crowd, but not before she saw me covering my mouth, trying to stop from bursting out in laughter.

I pulled Rom to a corner, surreptitiously checking whether we could be seen from all the four corners of the room. I was still laughing, with my head on his chest, my muffled convulsions getting lost in his coat.

" You're mean, Bella Mia, " he stated, chuckling a little with his hand on top of my head.

"You're the mean one," I retorted, wiping the tears off my eyes with his tie.

"I thought I should say something because you were fuming with jealousy." I could hear the laughter in his voice, which bugged me more than I wanted to admit. It was as if he'd enjoyed my frustrations and the urge to kill Marina, not literally, of course, but figuratively.

"I wasn't fuming, " I denied, lifting my head from his chest to his face.

"So you were jealous?" He asked, sotto voce as if he was telling me a secret, the excitement on his voice evident and revealing with the way he leaned forward, waiting to hear my answer.

"Yes, I was, " admitting that didn't feel weird as I had thought; neither was I embarrassed by it because he kissed my neck then, letting his lips on my skin for a heartbeat or so.

It was as if he didn't expect me to admit it; the kiss on my neck felt more like appreciation for telling him the truth.

It was past midnight when we got into the car ready to go home. I was full, but even if I were hungry, I wouldn't have been able to eat; the excitement I felt left no room for food. I didn't want the night to end. I wanted to dance with Rom forever.

It was the perfect night, one I will remember until the end of time. But as they say, good things must come to an end; our day had come to an end.

He opened the passenger's door for me before he slid in on the driver's side. I didn't ask to drive us home; I had learned the hard way why he should always be the driver.

"Ready to return home, " he asked, with his face turned towards me.

"No, but the night is over, we should as well go home, " I replied, pulling my seat belt with my head bent looking for the buckle; Rom saw it first. He pulled the belt and helped me buckle up.

I sat quietly as we speed off home, thinking of the night and imagining others like this in our future. But as it happened, every time I thought of a future with him, I felt sad because he had not spoken of one with me, and I was afraid to ask in case the answer made me want to walk away. It was dangerous out there for me until Stefano was taken care of, it was imperative I remained under Rom's protection.

"Look Rom; it's raining, " the thrill I felt watching and staring at raindrops hitting our windscreen threw me out of my distressing mood to an exhilarating feeling that whispered in my being that our night may not be over.

Romano gave me a soft chuckle as the only acknowledgment that he'd heard me.

"kiss me in the rain, Rom," I said softly with my face turned to him.

He jerked towards me for a second but kept driving, "What?" There was a surprise in his tone, even though our speed remained the same.

"Kiss me in the rain, " I repeated, but this time my voice held a degree of pleading in it.

"Bella Mia..." I knew he was about to say no, and before he could, I said please.  He was silent for a few minutes, but then he stopped the car in the middle of the road; lucky for us, it was a private road.

Opening my door in a whirl of pleasure; we met at the front of the car, headlights providing us with the much-needed light. I knew we would be drenched in a matter of minutes.

" Aren't you cold?" I shook my head, smiling up at him even when I felt the impact of heavy rain on my bare shoulders.

He smiled back, pulling me into his body before touching my lips with his. My body reacted to his kiss as it always does, like feeding a craving. It was magical, his fingers on my hair, mine around his neck, my body arching towards his.

Suddenly, he yelped. A pandemonium ensured in the next couple of seconds. Rom shoved me to the ground, but he remained standing shooting at an unknown assailant. I heard him groan again, cussing when he reached out for me, pulling me towards the driver's side.

I thought he wanted me to drive, but he unceremoniously threw me to the passengers. That's when I saw he had been shot. His arm was bleeding profusely; his face was sweating like he had a fever.

Damn my need for romance and risking our lives so that I could prolong our night.

"seat belt, Bella Mia." his voice was strained, the muscles on his temple protruding as if they were about to pop out.

He called me Bella Mia; I guessed he wasn't mas or blaming me.

Pulling my seatbelt in trembling fingers, I involuntary screamed when I was suddenly shoved to the front when Rom speed off the car.

"What can I do?"

" We are almost home... And please wear my coat, you're wet all over," he replied evenly.

How could he still think of me while he bred so much?

Leaning down, I ripped off the hem of my dress, then tying the strap tightly around his breeding arm. I wasn't sure I did it correctly, but he didn't say anything, so I figured if it wasn't useful, it wasn't harmful either.

He protected me; I knew he took the second one for me by how he shoved me down.

"Someone is following us, " I said, starting to panic, my heart beginning to beat unevenly to potential doom.

" That's Devonni, " Rom said as he took a corner that would lead us home.

"How do you know?"

"I saw the number plate."  I didn't ask how he could see it in the dark, but I vowed not to speak until we got home."

We were met by Bruno and Raphael, who seemed anxious and impatient with their hands in their pocket. They looked murderous, but they still maintained their aura of mystery.

"How bad is it?" Ralph asked, coming to stand by the driver's side.

"Im alive, " Rom retorted, standing between the two men with his eyes following me as I moved to him.

"Charlie will be here in a few minutes, " Bruno remarked while we all went inside the house.

As soon as Rom sat on the couch, an older man carrying a beat-up bag came through. I assumed it was Charlie. He was tall, with grey hair and a ready smile that was comforting and relaxing. The irony was none of these three men needed to be made to feel either of those emotions.

"You need a new bag, Charlie," Rom said as the doctor cut the sleeve of his shirt with scissors while Bruno placed a bottle of whiskey in his left hand.

"Why? This one works fine."

"Where the hell do you take all the money you make?"  The way Bruno asked that question was so comical; if the situation were different, I would have laughed, but watching the doctor pull out bullets from the arm of the man I love was gut-wrenching.

"I keep it in a safe place, " Rom snorted, gulping his drink. He was now switched, his arm wrapped up in a bandage.

"You know the drill, no water on that arm for the time being, "

"This is not the first time I've been shot, Charlie, I doubt it'll be the last," he answered, glaring scornfully at the tablets the doctor was holding up to him.

"How many times have I told you not to give me painkillers, Charlie?"

" every time I stitch you up,"

"Then why do you always insist?"

" Because It's my solemn duty as a doctor to offer you something to relieve your pain." he was about to return the medication to his bag when I said he'll take them.

Charlie stood uncertain, staring at me. "I'll bring him a glass of water."

I head Rom say there was no need, but I kept going.

"He can take them with the whiskey, " Bruno called out, and I wasn't sure whether he was serious or not.

"Give him the pills, Dr. Charlie," I said, gently handing out the glass of water to Rom.

"Its a breath of fresh air to be called Dr. Thank you, young lady. I heard Raph chuckle from where he sat, but Rom doesn't take painkillers."

"He will give him."

Charlie did not do as I said; instead, he looked at Rom for guidance. I knew he wouldn't give him the pills just because I told him to.

"Rom, " I snapped in frustration.

"Fine, give me the damn pills." He swallowed them both at a go and threw everyone out.

"Can I be left alone with my girl now?"