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I slept in the entire day yesterday, tired from the morning shenanigans that didn't quite work out how I intended them to. Loss was all Mike and Leo incurred from it and I loathed it. Hate is what I feel towards the one that caused them so much pain.

Tears aren't a frequent guest of mine. They never appear and they haven't appeared in years, but yesterday seeing my brothers in pain just cut my heart right out and broke me. And Arie, only if I can get my hands on her...

My knuckles are still purple from the beating I gave those filthy men. I made sure every one of those bastards were dead after finding the ladies, but the search reaped no fruit. The inevitable still happened and I couldn't help them stop it. We were too late. Too damn late. Now both Mike and Leo are torn inside.

I frustratedly put on a black blazer over my tight peach dress that ends right above my knees. My hair plays with my shoulders in loose waves while my lashes curl up against my glasses.

Since I was the one who brought Roman into the hospital two days ago, I'm the only one who can approve of his discharging in person considering he's situated on one of the criminal floors of the hospital. No patient on those two floors can leave without the consent of the one who brought him or her in because some may be enemies that Leo needs to extract information from after they heal from the possible beating his men gave them. Hopefully, Mr. Azallion is at work right now and not at the hospital so that I don't have to face him and the obvious curiosity that may be tickling him about what happened in my room.

"You okay?" Jackson asks as I slip into the backseat of the Rolls Royce while he slides in behind the wheel.

"I'm fine," I retort without making eye contact with the man, looking over the files and meetings held today.

"No, you're not fine."

My eyes shoot up and narrow at the annoying man. "Jackson, just drive and quit yammering in my damn ear. I'm trying to work here."

          "Athena," he looks at me through the rear view mirror whilst starting up the car and driving out the lot. "Talk to me. I know what happened yesterday was a lot to take in." I roll my eyes and try to block off his voice, but that's impossible considering I can't jump out the moving vehicle to ignore him. "The bloodshed must have..."

          "The bloodshed wasn't the thing that shook me up," I grit my teeth together, my nails shoving themselves into the cream leathered seats. "It was Leo and Mike."

          "I think the bosses can handle themselves. They rule this big ass empire and that's hard. They can get over this."

          "Shut your damn face, idiot!" I spit through my teeth and slap the back of his head. "What happened wasn't a war over the empire, you stupid asswipe. It was their women."

          "Women come and go," he says in his defense, shrugging and maneuvering onto another street. "They are the most powerful men on the planet. I bet they can get any girl they like with their looks, status, and immense wealth. Maybe those two ladies weren't..."

          "Watch it," I warn him and growl at his disrespect. "Say that again and I'll break your neck right here." He zips his mouth immediately and apologizes silently for his words, focusing solely on the road. "If I put you and Arie against each other in an arena, I bet Arie would come out with your balls in her hands and no scratch on her. You saw her yesterday yourself," I add, smirking to myself at his horrified face.

"She was standing on a pile of dead bodies with injuries and a bullet wound to her arm like some wonder woman," he shakes his head in sheer admiration of Arie before speaking up once again. "The king chose a fierce queen."

          I scoff, shaking my head at his statement. Only if he knew what actually happened after he left with Alicio's body. "I don't want to hear anymore. Just drive."

          Pivoting through the endless New York traffic, we finally arrive at our destination. Jackson along with other men that travelled in different cars follow me into the humongous building and to Roman's floor.

          "Athena?" I hear my name bellow through the hallway to my left. Turning to the source of the deep voice, a meek smile tugs on my lips at seeing the man. "It's been a while." He saunters closer, the sleeves of his tightly fitted white shirt rolled up to showcase the protruding veins in his muscled arms that encapsulate me into a warm hug.

(Nick Bateman as Ray Marino)

"Ray!" I peck the cheek of my dear friend and squeeze his hands. "What are you doing here?"

"I own the hospital?" He gives me his 'duh' face and shakes his head before I swat his chest, rolling my eyes at his smart mouth. "Damn," he rubs his chest looking at me. "Leo assigned me to take care of Alicio personally, so I have to follow the king's orders."

"How's Alicio doing anyways?" I inquire while motioning my men to leave.

"He's still very critical. Barely hanging on. When he gets stable, we are going to ship him back to Ireland." He sighs, weary clinging onto his features. "I can't believe this happened." I nod my head and look away. "Nonna has been informed about the entire ordeal and she's causing a damn ruckus back in Italy. Thankfully, she's not causing the same ruckus throughout the entire empire. Leo is too occupied to calm her down, so Zio (Uncle) Federigo is taking one for the team."

"And Belle?"

"I was actually going to update her on Alicio's condition right now." He smiles meekly, tapping lightly on my arm. "I'll see you around."

          We part ways as I head into Roman's room to find Mr. Azallion sitting by his brother. All eyes in the room focus on me in an instant, including Jackson's who was already in the room chatting with the brothers.

          "Aren't you supposed to be at work, Mr. Azallion?" I cock my brow in annoyance at discovering his presence here.

          His brows are drawn in a form of pity upon seeing me, however a sweet smile still manages to pepper his sculpted face. Those blue pools of his rake up and down my figure before they abruptly stop at my bruised knuckles.

          "Holy mother of sweat balls fuckness!" Roman's gasp attains everyone's attention as his jaw drops, his twinkling blue eyes trained on me. "I thought you were just a figment of my imagination." His widened mouth slowly turns into a smirk which resembles his brother's. "You are even sexier in glasses."

"Rome, cut it off." Mr. Azallion warns his brother as Jackson snickers to himself.

          "Shut up, Eros." He quips back at his older brother and looks at me. "Want to hear a joke?" My eyes narrow at the boy before I agree and walk closer to his bed that he's propped on in a hospital gown. "What do you call a white man with a big dick?"

          "Big Willy?" Jackson suggests while Mr. Azallion shoves his face in his hands.

"No," Roman smirks wickedly. "Michael Jackson."

"Yo!" Jackson's laugh booms through the room as Mr. Azallion hides and shakes his head further in embarrassment. A laugh escapes my mouth as it flows freely like a natural water stream, but it has been a while since I actually laughed and it feels good.

          Mr. Azallion's head snaps up, a smile clinging onto those smooth lips of his. His face lights up in glee and amusement at my unexpected reaction which takes me by surprise too.

          "Looked like you were having a bad morning, so I thought I'd brighten your day up," Roman smiles sweetly at me.

          "Thank you!" I chuckle. "You and your brother both like lighting up my day."

"Wow! She can speak Spanish. Also a badass who knocked mom out, sexy nurse and businesswoman, looks better than any Greek Goddess, an amazing kisser and she also got an amazing laugh." Roman sighs in admiration with a hand on his chest. "She can't get any more perfect."

"Jesus!" I mutter under my breath and sit on the stool near the bed. "Did your brother tell you about your living situation?"

          "No," he says, scooting closer to me on his bed with a smirk plastered on his face. "Am I going to live with you?"

"In fact, yes," I smile at the boy.

"What?" He looks at his brother who shrugs and confirms my statement. "I really am psychic."

"You'll be living in one of the rooms in my penthouse. I won't be able to show you around today, but I have a head maid whose name is Mandy and two other ones, Deena and Jordania. There're a couple more, but they don't stay around a lot. When you get there, they'll get you settled into your new room and see to your needs."

          "You and Eros are not coming?"

          "No." I glance down at my phone for a brief second before looking back at him. "It's nine. Mr. Azallion should have been at work an hour ago and I have to be there soon myself."

"You can call him Mr. Azallion, but you can call me Rome," he says with a hint of notable flirtation in his voice and his hand put forth.

I shake it and smile. "Rome, you may call me Athena then."

"It's a pleasure to officially have your introduction, m'lady," he lightly pecks the back of my hand as a frustrated grunt bellows in Mr. Azallion's throat. "Ignore him. He's jealous."

          "Shut up!" Mr. Azallion rises from his seat and crosses his arms over his hard, muscular chest.

          "Knock! Knock!" Rome's eyes light up at me. "C'mon! Play along, Athena."

          Rolling my eyes at him, I pull my hand away from his hold and give in. "Who's there?"

          "You."

          "You who?"

          "You gorgeous." He smirks at me and raises his hand for a high five. Shaking my head, I refuse to give him props for that, but Jackson doesn't waste a second to high five him.

          "Nice one, little man." Jackson chuckles and steps back.

          "Please!" Mr. Azallion sighs in annoyance and starts a battle. "I got better ones."

          "Come at me, bro." Rome challenges his brother and takes a boxing stance on the bed.

          Mr. Azallion clears his throat and looks at me with a smile. His blue eyes begin drowning me very slowly into their oceanic depths that somehow seems to always entrap me in them. His perfect teeth flash from the slight tug on those sensual lips that I'm tempted to kiss, but can't for some reason.

          "They say Disneyland is the happiest place to be on Earth," he starts tilting his head to the side, his smile widening. "Apparently, none of them have ever been in your arms."

          A sweet, yet mischievous essence swirls in his orbs as my cheeks strain from the stupid little smile on my face. Our eyes hold each other's utmost attention, refusing to stir away at any cost. All of a sudden, my heart kicks up a notch with the rhythmic, now slightly erratic beats. My body can't help but be drawn to the man who admires me in a trance while I do the same.

          "That was just hella cheesy, bruh!" Rome shakes us out of the entrancement and gags in disgust. "I can get her to fall for me."

          "Hah!" Jackson scoffs and then coughs when I glare at him, rising from my seat, ready to leave.

          "Babe, this bathroom is better than any hospital bathroom I've ever been in before." A young petite woman saunters out of the bathroom in the far corner, rummaging through her purse. "Where the hell is my sanitizer?"

(She's so gorgeous!)

          "Cornhog Alert." Rome mutters under his breath and rolls his eyes. "You've been in my bathroom for half an hour, homegirl. Don't tell me you were taking a shit in there. Holy shit!" He looks around frantically before speaking up again. "We need to quarantine that bathroom right away."

          "Watch it, Rome!" Mr. Azallion scowls at his brother.

          "Shut the hell up, slender man." The woman fires back and throws daggers at him through her dark eyes. "Despite being shot, you sure as hell talk shit way too much. Your mouth is the thing that needs to be quarantined."

          "Cornhog, listen to this," Rome leans forward and clears his throat. "What's the difference between a joke and three dicks?" She rolls her eyes and turns away from the boy, refusing to play his game. "You can't take no joke, but you can take three dicks."

          "Roman, what the fuck is wrong with you?" Mr. Azallion immediately defends the girl and glowers at his brother who smirks to himself in victory of riling those two up. "As soon as you get better, I'm going to whoop your ass. Watch what you say, shithead!"

          "I'm going to kill you someday, slender man. Mark my words." The girl threatens before her eyes finally acknowledge me. "Athena Estle, right? The CEO of the prestigious Estle magazine and brand." She walks toward me in slow steps and puts her hand forth. "I'm Cornelia D'Angelo."

          My eyes look down at her hand and then back up at her face as I arch my brow at her gesture. "Okay," she pulls her hand back and exchanges a quick glance with Mr. Azallion. "Well... umm, your brand has amazing stuff like my purse here. It cost a fortune, but it was worth it." I arch my brow further at the irrelevant woman as she narrows her eyes at me. "I think you may know my father. Zachariah D'Angelo, the CEO of D'Angelo Enterprises."

"And I'm supposed to care?" I tilt my head, my arms crossing over my chest.

She furrows her brows in irritation and shakes her head at me. "I'm going to leave." Turning to Mr. Azallion, she interlocks her fingers with his and smiles. "Daddy called and asked me to pick my sister, Sophie and her husband up from the airport. He wants me to mend my relation with her because I couldn't make it to her wedding. Little siblings are a real pain in the ass." Her eyes slowly turn to Rome, implying that last comment to him too.

          "I'll see you later then," Mr. Azallion smiles down at her before she tiptoes up to his lips and plants a passionate kiss which he returns without hesitation. A certain fire arises within me as I watch them disgustingly make out. I don't know what it is, but it sure as hell doesn't feel pleasing. More like raging.

          "I'm about to fucking hurl," Rome comments, slamming his head on his pillow.

          "Bye, babe!" She finally pulls away, fixing her nude lipstick and propping the purse on her arm before flipping her black hair and walking past me with a quick roll of her brown eyes at me.

          "That rich brat!" Rome sneers when she leaves.

          "Shut up for once," Mr. Azallion quips at his brother as he wipes the lipstick from his lips. His eyes meet my slightly raging ones for a quick second before I look away in repulsion. What the hell is wrong with me? I shouldn't feel like this, yet I can't help the bubbling of my blood in my veins.

          "Athena," a woman in a white coat strides in with paperwork in her hands.

          "Dr. Reynolds," I acknowledge the middle aged woman and grab the paperwork from her, signing it quickly and dismissing her before turning back to the new houseguest. "Rome, your injury is not completely healed, but I've signed your release papers. You need to take it easy when you get to your temporary home. Most important rule, no guests without my permission. It goes for both of you." My eye dart between the handsome brothers before I step back and wink at Rome. "I'll see you at home, Rome."

          Turning around, I leave the room with Jackson and Mr. Azallion right behind me. "Ruiz, take the boy home." I order one of my men and continue towards the elevator.

"Can I talk to you, Ms. Estle?" Mr. Azallion asks as we get into the metallic confinement.

"You all take the other elevator," I command the men and look at the man who doesn't move an inch. "You too, Jackson." He studies me for a second too long before nodding and leaving with the rest. The doors close and trap us in all alone.

"So, you have a girlfriend," I comment without making eye contact with the man.

"I thought you knew that." His statement lure my eyes to him in confusion. "Considering you knew about my escorting life, I thought you knew this little detail too."

"You kiss and sleep with other women despite having a girlfriend?"

"It's only business," he says in his defense, explaining himself. "I've never slept with any woman outside the escorting firm. I only do my job and take in the money that I receive from it. Rocco fucks them, not Eros."

"Hmph." I release a breath and train my eyes ahead waiting for the doors to open.

"What happened to your hand?" He queries, a slight hint of worry in his tone.

"Mind your own business, Mr.
Azallion." I turn to him and grit my teeth together. "Don't stick your damn nose in mine."

          "Okay." He says slowly and swallows hard. "About what happened in your room..."

          "I have no idea what you're talking about." I act naive and strut down the lobby when the elevator doors open.

          "You know exactly what I'm talking about," he chuckles softly at my denial of the truth before I stop in my track and give him my complete attention.

          "Mr. Azallion, I don't know what you're talking about. If I did, we'd also have to acknowledge the fact that you entered my room without my permission." I close the distance between us until we are merely inches apart. The pad of my thumb brushes over the wound I inflicted on his tatted neck during the unknowing act that I'm denying here. My fingers rake against his smooth jaw before I inch a little more closer, my lips almost touching his. "If we acknowledge that then I'd have to kill you."

He shifts uncomfortably, rather aroused at my words. Clearing his throat and stepping back, his hands dive into his pockets trying to hide the sudden bulge in his pants that doesn't go unnoticed by my eyes. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He takes the hint and smiles at me.

"I don't either," I smirk and walk right past him.

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Sorry! I know it has been quite a few days since I last posted. College has started back up and I'm stressed already 😭😭😭 beside that life is good so far.

One last chapter of Irresistible Love to go and the book ends. Sadly, but yeah. I don't want it to end, but it has to in order for me to write the second book on Leo and Arie's irrevocable love and then the third. Yup! Lmao. They have a long ass way to go. I'll be focusing on Escort Me Baby after Irresistible Love is finished and then after Escort Me Baby is completed, the second book in the Mafia Love Trilogy will be written.

Enough of that! I know this chapter was a little boring, but yay or nay?

Who likes Roman? I think he may become my fav character just like Wendy in the other one.

Much love ❤️
~Reet