Hello dear all, so as the status says, tonight I am updating this story and here it comes. We will have some answers in here. I really hope you'll enjoy the chapter! I don't feel saying much about this.. I'll be hearing from you.

Let me know what you think of it with your lovely comments and messages, which I really enjoy and love reading! THANK YOU!

Dedicated to all of you and in particular to SM1129 as a thank you for your comments and for reading my stories and in the intention to make you smile :-)

On the right, a picture of ROMAN wearing a fancy suit.

Enjoy!

ENNA POV

My body automatically spun around and a radiant smile formed on my face at the thought of Roman. My eyes twinkled in excitement and I went to greet him first, but I froze and my mouth went suddenly dry, impossible to swallow down what I felt in my mouth.

“Michael.” I breathed out with a barely audible sound.

I looked around and saw I was alone on the street, as it was rather late and most of the people residing here might be enjoying dinner in their houses.

It was just Michael and me.

“Enna, we are finally alone.”

“Michael...” I barely breathed out, as my blood froze.

What was he doing here? What did he want? I wasn’t afraid of him, but I came to learn that he had a very twisted obsession for me, for reasons impossible to understand.

We were completely alone and I held my breath as he took a step forward, me taking one backward as instinctive reaction, but I commanded my body to immediately stop. Showing any sort of fear or intimidation, real or not, would only play for his game. I had to stand in front of him and deal with this myself. A chilly shiver crawled down my spine as a devious smile formed on his lips, as a hand moved to catch a strand of my hair, but I stopped it. The idea of being touched by him was unbearable and it triggered a hidden anger I never knew to possess.

“Enna, we are finally alone.” He took another step and my hand rose in front of me as to mark the limit.

“What do you want? I have no time to discuss anything with you. We have nothing to talk about. You hit me two times when we were together and I cannot call that a form of love.”

The smile almost cracked in a sneer and I felt painful cold grasping my body, which had nothing to do with the first flakes of snow silently falling down around us. He recomposed his expression and chuckled.

“I apologized for hitting you, Enna. The first time was an accident, you remember?”

“An accident due to your state of drunkenness.” I icily replied and witnessed how his upper lip twitched and almost curled up in a grimace.

“It was just an accident because you were deceiving me and I felt lonely.”

This was enough. I had to leave and now, because I could see where this conversation was going to lead and there was no way it could be tolerated. Deceiving? He was so obsessed and controlling that he would snap even when my father called. I had been so stupid and naive for thinking he could change; men like him never change, as they can only worsen.

“This is it, I’m going home and you will leave, Michael. Now.” I went to move, but he grabbed my wrist, again with that vicious grip that made my skin irk for the touch, so I jerked free and it worked. My blood pulsed faster in me and I could hear it thundering in my ears, almost choking every other sound down. “I said, leave Michael. Now.” He smirked and again tried to catch my arm, but I walked back and kept distance. “Let go and leave.” I ordered.

“You know what, Enna? I have always loved the way you said my name, especially in bed, while you were mine and nobody else could look at you or even touch you. You moaned my name while I fucked you and it still excites me very much. I tried different partners, but nobody is like you, especially in bed.”

His words stopped everything in me. He had never spoke in that way with such vicious malice and the way his voice sounded made me feel in trap. He wasn’t just obsessed or stalking me; this man here was getting sicker and sicker; and what he had in mind drowned into me like painful realization. I took two steps back and readied myself for even fighting, even though I never even slapped a person in my entire life.

“Leave or I will call the police.”

He let out a humourless and dry laugh and then his face grew serious at once and the polite and fake charming facade had broken.

“Call the police, Enna, why not? And what will you tell them? That your lover is talking to you in the middle of the street?”

“You are NOT my lover. We are over.” I fiercely said, blood thundering so fast it was almost making me dizzy. “Leave, now.”

“Or what? You know, there is nothing to tell the police, unless I touch you.” I cringed at those words. “And I haven’t touched you, right?” I took a step back as he grimaced. “Not yet, anyway.” And in a quick move he had grabbed my arm and I struggled to get it free, not willing to hit first, because I knew where it could lead.

Michael was sick. Michael had turned into a sadistic stalker and the idea had me drown in dread.

“Don’t touch me, let go.” I hissed, yanking my arm, but without much success. “Let go I said.” His grip was getting more and more painful and it was as if he wished to break my bones. I hated it and so I fought more. “Let go.”

“Listen well, Enna.” He tried to drag me against him, but I resisted and he hissed in annoyance. “You better take me back or I’ll have you do it anyway. You belong to me and to no one else. Once you’ll be back, I will punish you for being such a whore, but do not worry, it is all for your good.”

My eyes widened in panic. What had he become? This man here was nothing of what he used to be. Or did he just pretend that well that I failed to see the depth of his malice and sickness?

“What are you saying? Do you listen to yourself, Michael? How can you call that love? Let me go immediately.” I struggled more and then pushed him away, almost getting my arm free, but in that moment he snapped and I did not see his other hand moving until it violently collided with my mouth.

The taste of blood exploded in my mouth and I gasped shocked. He had slapped me before, but never hit me in this ferocious way and the blow had been so strong that almost knocked me on the ground. Pain burst into me and I pulled my head up just in time to avoid another hit and then everything happened in a blur.

“You are mine and..” Michael hissed, but another voice and figure appeared out of the shadow.

“You are dead.”

ROMAN POV

I patiently waited for that small informer to show his face and give me what I needed. He had contacted those dealers, well, one of them, and last night sent me a message. Yes of course I had given him a different number, as I had two cell phones and one was just to communicate with Anton. The message was clear and the dealers seemed interesting in my idea, which was to invest a huge sum of money in their drug business to exploit through prostitution, usually one of the best ways to spread the use of cocaine and heroine. Some client would get one or two free samples, even three if they were the right one, and then you give them a very good price, because they were “friends” and “good customers” and then, you would totally get them dependent and strike with high prices for smaller quantities.

It was a rotten business, but that’s how it partially worked. Boss Boris wasn’t much into that, because according to him it brought problems and it was an easy target for Interpol and such, in case they decided to target a well known big shot to show people they were actually doing something. He was right and in the past we had some issues, so I had to settle down everything and now it was just acting as third part.

I had to drive up to the North, almost the border with Northern Ireland and meet in some desolated small place on the western coast closed to a city called Donegal. Before the meeting I had tried to crack a couple of websites on the internet, looking for info, because there was this feeling that would not let go of me, as if nailing at something impossible to grasp. The meeting with those dealers better give me what we needed, because time was vital right now and Anton just called me in the morning saying things had reached almost an explosive point. Ah fuck...I had no idea how this might blow and I had no idea how to get out of everything in the end.

I had a bad feeling they were exploiting the Chechens in order to turn them against the other part represented from Ruslan so to create a chaos and gain more from the whole affair. Shit...I had to stop it as soon as possible. Anton said that some clients refused to pay money for the protection because they found better one and said how that completely took that bastard of Ruslan aback; he wasn’t good at masking reactions, for our luck, and if that came out as surprise, then it was true those dogs were playing with fire and planning to take them down later. But who else was behind it? It was just an isolated episode and apparently they took care of it.

Someone else held the leash of everything; someone with considerable power and influence. That was the only explanation; the only way to keep three parts playing in such way. But who?

I sighed as I realized something. I had to leave Ireland sooner than planned and get back to Kiev; the boss needed me. And needed the proofs. Time was ticking away and the idea of drastic measure was caressing my mind and that might be the faster solution if nothing would come out of that meeting.

Something else had me restless and that had to do with Enna. I had a bad feeling since a while ago and felt the necessity to drive back to Dublin and be at his side; my guts said something was wrong and that my angel needed me. Shit...if I had to leave earlier, what would happen? Months could pass before having the chance to see each other again and the idea was about to tear me in two. My eyes closed while that idea painfully drowned in my blood, but then a voice took me back and my face went to its usual professional expression.

No feelings and emotions could be involved. Life was the price to pay for the smallest mistake.

“Mr Vasyl?”

“Yes, you got what I need?” I would take care of him before meeting those dealers, but he sure did not need to know it.

“Yes, I passed your message and they will discuss it and ask their boss about that.” I said nothing, as it seemed strange to hear that, but whatever. I got what I needed.

“When will they receive me?”

“Not sure; it depends on how things go with the Lord, because they seem to have some problems recently. Well, not problems, but they have some other clients being quite the pain in the ass.” Yes, I would definitely take care of this one here.

“Is it something I should worry about?” He shook his head and scratched his neck. He knew nothing about it, just probably heard something and was now trying to play it cool to get more money. Ha...money was always a good incentive. Or a bad one, in this case. “Your help is precious to me. I want to expand more and only your boss can help me. I will make sure to reward you.”  His eyes sparkled of disgusting greediness. “Are you sure it is not a problem for me? A delay or so would be very bad...” I pressed for more and made sure to add the right dose of intimidation.

“Don’t worry Mr. Vasyl; you won’t lose a penny from this. They just said a client is giving them some hassle because they want things go faster, but it’s risky, if you know what I mean. The Lord wouldn’t like something going wrong...and this deal means a lot of money and new market for different businesses.”

Let’s try something and see if what I thought might be right.

“So why does he not take care of that himself?”

“He trusts his two men and has other to look after.”

There was nothing called trust in such business. You just knew whether someone would betray or fail you at first or not. We were not talking about mafia and family, where at some point you had to trust someone; here we were talking about a well known drug lord that dealt with the entire Europe and probably overseas. There was nothing like called trust. Especially not when that much was at stake.

So I was probably right, yes. And yes, I had to take more drastic measure and somehow the idea pleased me. I have had enough of all of this and it was about time to end it. I pulled out a generous wag of money and handed it to me.

“Call them and convince them to meet in the weekend.” He ogled the money with lustful interest. “Call me and then meet me before the meeting. I will pay the extra then.”

“This is very generous of you Mr. Vasyl...” He licked his lips while staring at my reward. “I’ll call them immediately and then contact you. Consider it done.”

“Very well. You deserve it.” I smirked, but he did not notice the darkness of my smirk. He deserved that and more.

When I drove back to Dublin it was already late evening and I was anxious to be back. That same restless sensation did not set me free for the entire day and right now I could not wait to be with my angel and make sure he was well and safe. I headed to the hotel and left the car there, for then take a bus fairly close to where he lived. The hood of my black coat covered my head, while leather gloves my hands, and with such icy wind, a wind probably bringing white snow here too, nobody would think it as strange.

As soon as I get out of the bus, my feet took a fast pace, as something was right at my neck and I couldn’t wait to see Enna. We had numbered days ahead of us to spend before everything would blow out, because I was not so optimistic to think we would be able to avoid some sort of war. It had already begun; now it was a matter of contain it and eliminate the causes of it.

Yes, only a few days and then I will have to leave earlier.

I moved faster and felt more restlessness slowly crawling in my veins and it was like feeling Enna being in need of me. What was that? I finally reached the street where he lived and I understood why I felt in that way.

Anger suddenly exploded into me like a cold nuclear reaction, as instead of feeling my blood burn, I felt it turning into ice.

That bastard was going to pay. With his own life.

He had dared to touch my angel. He had dared to hit my angel.

That rat was dead meat.

“You are dead.” I said as I approached him and immediately took hold of his arm and shoulder.

Enna silently gasped and when the bruise and fresh bleeding cut on his lips registered in my eyes, murdering instinct took control over me and decided to kill that man right there in one go. But the look in my angel’s beautiful eyes stopped me.

I was not going to dirty and torture him with such view. Not my beautiful and ethereal angel.

ENNA POV

“You are dead.”

It was Roman and he spoke with such cold and ominous voice that Michael froze on the stop and tried to turn around, but he grabbed his arm and twisted behind so much that Michael groaned in pain, dropping on his knees when Roman kicked him down. He bent him lower and bent the arm more and I stood there completely petrified.

“Ask for his forgiveness.” He ordered.

“Who the hell are you? You also fuck this one here?”

“Do not dare to speak like that to him. Beg for his forgiveness.”

I gasped and then went to stop him, almost saying his name, but I held the voice before uttering even the first letter.

“Don’t...please, stop it.” I was afraid he would get into troubles. Roman could not afford to get into this mess; it was too risky. The promised he made about the possibility of the police tracking him down carved into my mind and I would not allow him to get involved in my troubles.

“Do not interfere.” He ordered with firm and commanding tone, not looking at me.

I had barely caught a sight of his eyes, shining with was calculated and controlled murdering intent. His head was covered by the hood of his jacket, but I did not miss his expression. It was as if standing in front of some mercenary and I was afraid there was little in my power to stop him from whatever he had in mind.

“Who are you?” Michael barked trying to twist himself free.

“I said ask his forgiveness and then leave.”

“Fuck you...arhhghhh....”

Two sounds filled my ears and stopped my breathing; the last sound resonated in my body so deaf and loud at the same time that icy tremors crept my now immobile limbs and blocked me completely. I couldn’t even gasp.

The excruciating shriek of Michael filled with incredible pain and the dry and dull sound of his shoulders and wrist being dislocated in just one brutal pull.

“Please, stop it.” I moved to Roman and I was now shaking with fear.

He could not be involved with this. What if the police would contact him? What if Michael pressed charged? He wasn’t in a position to be interrogated by the police and no matter how much I could lie about this; they would understand the truth at first. “Please, stop...don’t...”

“You fucker, you...arghhh...my arm...” Michael was literally agonizing in pain, sweating cold and his face of a sick pale shadow. He was in excruciating pain, but, as wrong as it might sound, seeing him like that gave me pleasure. I felt nothing for him nor did I feel remorse for witnessing Roman using physical violence on him; what only concerned me was Roman’s safety.

“Another word and I kill you. With my bare hands. It is a promise.” Roman said with calm and cold voice, a voice that resonated entirely of his dangerous authority and deadly intent. He wanted to kill Michael and I believe he did not only because...

“I will report you. You and this slut here... You’re fucked...”

“Do it.” Roman said and I saw how Michael dropped silent at once, finally understanding with what he was playing. He was playing with his own life, because my soul was ready to end it at once, without second thoughts. He grabbed his hair and I noticed he wore leather gloves. He pulled his head back a moment and hissed something with lethal, dry voice. “Do it and I will kill you, before you can call the police.” In a flash Roman slammed Michael completely on the asphalt and he howled in more pain. But no blood was spilled. “Do it. Report who? A stranger that did save a person from aggression? You did hit Enna and you did threat him. I do not kill you now because Enna is here, but watch your back. I will slit open your throat and kill you.”

So I was right...he did not do it because of me. I gulped down at those words and felt cold for the first time in the presence of Roman, of my love and soul. It was not cold made of fear or panic; it was something completely different. He was lethal in such calculated way that made it more dreadful and had me see for the first time the other side of the man I loved, his complete whole. It was just then that I entirely understood his words. Was I afraid of my love? As if feeling that in me, Roman slowly shifted his eyes on me and studied my expression without saying a word. His eyes pierced me and once more made me feel naked and exposed, almost feeling their touch on my skin. Then something crossed his face and my eyes widened when I understood what it was. Roman thought he had scared me and that now I would be terrified of him.

“No...” I barely whispered shaking my head.

No...he didn’t scare me. I was not afraid of him. That was impossible. He didn’t terrify me or anything. No! I had simply understood the entirety and depth of his words.

I shook more my head and he broke the contact.

“Leave.” He stood up and pulled Michael on his feet. “A word about this and you are dead. It is not an empty menace. It is a promise.”

Without showing himself, Roman shoved my ex lover away; Michael tried to turn around and look at his face, but my saviour was faster and grabbed his neck and arm and hissed him something. I watched as Michael petrified on the spot and then walked away. I could not move and I only reacted when I felt Roman’s hand carefully touching my hand.

“Enna, my angel...” My eyes travelled on his face hidden by the shadow of the hood and saw the caution on it. He was studying me and silently asking permission for touching me, for getting closer and it all broke me. How could he think I was afraid of him? How? “Enna..”

I shook my head and something passed on his face, but before he could produce another sound, I was hugging him for dear like.

“Roman...Roman...” I simply murmured in a whisper as my arms tightened more around him. I so needed to be feel him, to be with him. “Roman...thank you...thank you..”

“Enna, let’s go inside, yes?”

He wasn’t touching me and so I shook my head more and held him with more desperate need and strength.

“Hold me, Roman, please...I need to feel you.” I felt his body imperceptibly shift at my words and after a moment of hesitation, his arms wrapped my shaking body and held me almost crushing me. “Thank you, my love..thank you for stopping...I was afraid you would get into troubles and..”

“Shh..it is over. Now let us go inside.” I nodded and when I pulled back, his hand stopped on my face. “That bastard...he dared to hit you..” Now he was simmering in ferocious rage and his eyes had no more cold murdering light, but a burning fire.

“It’s nothing, my love, only a minor cut..” He took a couple of long and deep breaths and then closed his eyes a moment.

“Let us go.”

He took my hand in his and led the way, asking for the keys and my bag and once we were inside my apartment, he walked me to the bathroom.

“I will take care of this, do not worry.” Roman gave me a soft smile and went to turn to the sink, in order to rinse his hands, but I stopped him.

“Roman, please don’t go after Michael, please.”

He said nothing and simply washed his hands, searching for patches, cotton and disinfectant lotion, which he found in the cabinet below the sink; without saying a word, his hands cleaned the cut on my lip and then disinfected it, applying a balm to help close scratches and cuts that I didn’t even know to have in here. His touch was so delicate and careful that felt like a caress and my eyes closed while he worked on that. I peered at the mirror and felt a sudden rush of anger as I spotted the bruise on my mouth. Why didn’t I prevent it?

“You could not stop it, my angel.” I gasped surprised and he softly chuckled, sinking his hands in my hair and pulling my forehead on his. “I know what you think about now, but Enna, that man is out of control. You could not stop it.” His emeralds closed and he sighed, for then taking my wrist in his hand with extreme gentleness, examining the purple bruise Michael had left. “Does it hurt much?” I shook my head; it hurt yes, but nothing unbearable and it wasn’t broken or anything. “It has nothing wrong, only this,” he meant the bruise” but you need ice. Also for your lip.”

“Thank you, Roman.” I slipped closer and softly caressed his face, because he seemed lost in some dark thoughts and all I wanted was to be in his arms. “Please my love, look at me. My wrist doesn’t hurt and I have ice in the freezer, so we use it and then..” Roman silenced me placing a finger on my lips, so gently and delicately that it seemed he was dealing with fragile porcelain.

“Please forgive me, Enna. Please forgive me if you can.”

“What?” I breathed out in complete shock. What was he talking about? “What do you mean? There is nothing to forgive you, Roman. You just saved me. I am pathetic for not being able to fight back.”

“Do not say that.” He almost growled and I shut up at once. “Forgive me because I was not there with you to stop it. Because you saw that part of me. Because I did make a promise and then broke it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I did say he would never touch you again, yes? But he hit you. That bastard hit you, Enna.” Roman was now shaking and it was because of the rage he felt for what happened. He felt responsible. And that was completely insane; it was irrational, absurd.

“Roman, stop it at once.” I ordered and that took him aback, because he tilted his head back and stared at me as if trying to read my eyes. “You didn’t break any promise, because you promised me not to kill him, not to go after him and you did it. Roman, it is a problem I need to solve myself and it’s me that should be able to stop him, not you. But I am not used to fight and such...” I lowered my eyes and sighed, feeling suddenly very tired. “Tonight he really scared me, Roman. I don’t know what is in his mind, but he scared me.”

“Let me kill him.” He said with that same cold and controlled voice, a voice that seemed to belong to another Roman.

“No...please don’t. I don’t want you to dirty your hands for someone like him. Please, try to understand me.”

There was no reply and silence fell between us for a long moment; his arms went around my waist and caged me in a protective hug.

“Forgive me. I should not say such things with you. Call your father, angel. I probably will be away for two days and you cannot be alone. Call your father now and explain what did happen before.” Roman cupped my face with his warm hands. “Enna, you cannot be alone. That man is dangerous and..”

A cell phone rang and I saw how Roman stopped there and then closed his eyes. He let go of my face and took a couple of steps back before answering the call.

“Yes?” He replied with distant and hard voice. “Yes it is me.” Another short pause. “When?” In that moment his eyes darted on me and I held my breath. There was no need to explain what the call was about; I knew Roman had to leave and even though he said it was only a matter of two days, there was that sensation deep hidden into me that ... I shook it away and held his piercing stare. No need for words, we understood at first. “Yes, I will be there.”

My love had to go for reasons he could not explain to me and I silently prayed for his safety. I had this feeling that...

Please, let him come back to me.

ROMAN POV

I should have killed that piece of shit with my own hands when I had the chance. I should go and hunt him down right now. I shouldn’t have made that promise to Enna, because right now the only thing I wanted was to reach that bastard and make him pay with his own life. It was not just because he dared to hit my angel, but I felt the sickness of his thoughts, and when Enna confessed he had been scared by his words, I knew that man would not give up on my love. It was not just obsession or stalking tendency, but some worse sick mental perversion.

I was waiting for a phone call from that informer, as he was about to meet with one of those dealers, and my thoughts were not focused on my task. The worry to leave Enna alone was threatening to cloud my vision and I was aware it was not something I could possibly afford. I needed to stay focused and alerted. No matter what. One small mistake and we would all die. I had to stay focused for my love; he wanted me back and I sure wanted to be back to him. But what to do about that bastard? What? I considered reporting the vermin to the police, but knowing how it worked and after hearing what he said about his past complains it was clear that man would be out after probably just paying a high fee. And then what would happen? Men like him would not give up. He was sickly obsessed with Enna and that was pretty clear.

There was one and only solution; and that was to eliminate the bastard.

For a moment I felt responsible for what happened, but rationally I knew it that there was nothing I could have done. I could have killed him before, yes, but to what end? And what if the police involved Enna? So yes, the solution was one and only one.

“Call your father, angel. I probably will be away for two days and you cannot be alone. Call your father now and explain what did happen before.” I took his beautiful face in my hands and repressed the savage and lethal fury burning in me. How dared that vermin touch my angel? Yes, he had to call his father and stay safe while I was away, as it would be only two or three days, and then, before returning to Ukraine, I would eliminate the bastard from my angel’s life. “Enna, you cannot be alone. That man is dangerous and..”

My cell phone rang and I halted a moment, closing my eyes as I knew who was calling me. I pulled back from Enna and answered the call.

“Yes?”

“This is me, is it Mr. Vasyl? We spoke today and have news you wanted to hear.”

So it was already set.

“Yes it is me.”

“We are lucky, because he said he has time to meet you soon this weekend and they’re interested in expanding more.”

I am sure he did; the money threw on the table were a considerable amount. But they would get none of it.

“When?” I asked.

“Sunday at 3 pm at..” I mentally took note of everything and while he spoke I shifted my eyes on Enna and we needed no explanation. My angel understood immediately what this was about and asked no question; he simply stared at me with his breathtaking eyes and slowly breathed. He was worried, I knew it, but he did not want to show it. He was such incredible creature...how could a man like me deserve such angel? “Can I confirm?”

“Yes, I will be there.”

I ended the conversation and put the phone away, walking back to my soul.

“Enna, I have to go tomorrow.” I had to prepare the best tactic and study the territory before the meeting, as I could not afford to step there unprepared. “But I will go only if I know you are safe. So call your father, yes? Do you understand? Call him now.”

He said nothing, but simply nodded and then suddenly stood up and laced his slender arms over my neck, our lips almost whispering to each other.

“When will you be back?”

“I think on Monday or Tuesday.”

Before getting back, I had to deal with them and take care of this small informer. The less involved the better. It was a simple rule of the game.

“Will you be careful?” He whispered on my lips, as his fingers dipped in my hair and fisted it with what was a mixture of possession, worry and tenderness.

“I will be careful, my angel. I promise you.” I lingered my lips on his and closing my eyes, I tested my limits by pressing them harder, feeling the softness of his and almost tasting the blood from his cut. At that awareness, my hands grabbed his clothes and hauled him completely pressed on me. “I will be back, Enna.” He shivered at my harsher and more demanding touch, at how my lips craved to have more of his, but could not, and then nodded. “Now please, call your father.”

I would take care of that soon to be dead vermin once I would come back and then, nothing could hold me back from giving him what he deserved.

Enna decided the best solution was to call his father early in the morning, because knowing how he reacted, my angel was afraid he could barge to Michael right now and shoot him. The idea was very tempting and while my soul slept peacefully in my arms, I debated whether leave and hunt him down right then or not several times, for then giving up and simply concentrating on guarding my angel’s sleep.

I left when Eamon O’Kelley reached Enna’s apartment and that took almost no time after the phone call and it was clear in which state he was; his face was red with rage and he swore every two words, threatening to beat that bastard to death, but then he stopped and sent me a rather meaningful glare. I silently inclined my head and asked for forgiveness; he studied me with that severe and scrutinizing eyes and then sighed and shook his head. While Enna went to make coffee, he approached me.

“I have nothing against you, Roman. I know it was not your fault; it is my fault that I never did anything serious before and listened to my stubborn son. He should not stay here alone right now and don’t worry, me and his friends, especially that Cillian lad, will keep an eye on him. I will report that bastard to the police and mention a stranger stopped by to help my son.” He thought about something and placed a firm hand on my shoulder. “You want to kill him, right?”

“Yes.” I simply said, because it was the truth.

“Don’t. That animal will be judged and sent to prison.”

“You know the police will do nothing about that, Eamon.”

“I will make sure he will pay for what he did.”

I said nothing, but I knew it was not the solution, as only one was the right solution. We exchanged a look and then I walked to my angel.

“Enna, I have to go. Remember what I did say last night. No work today and stay with your father. Understood?”

His face paled down at my first words and colour left his glossy lips. I took his face delicately in my hands and pressed our foreheads together.

“Enna...”

“Yes, I understand Roman.” He took deep and long breaths and then clearly forced a smile on his face and my heart sank and shattered.

Why we had to meet in such place and time? Why didn’t we meet in different lives and time?

“Roman, please..”

“I know and I will. It is a promise, my angel.” I locked his eyes with mine and deeply breathed his sweet scent, letting it deepen into my mind. His slender arms wrapped around me and his head rested on my shoulder for a moment.

“I love you.” He whispered on my neck and while I caressed his hair, I murmured him the same.

“I love you, too. You are my angel.” I exhaled to let go of what was beginning to crawl inside of me, and then pulled back, but Enna stopped me and surprised me with a sudden fierce kiss, as if intended to break through my lips. I grabbed his arms and went to push away, and he tried to resist, but I was more determined in stopping this. “Please Enna..”

“I know..” He simply said and the way his eyes stared at me was so...

I closed my eyes and pressed my lips on his the most I could, hearing a soft moan coming from his mouth. We kept there for a long moment and then I broke it.

I had to go.

“You will be back in three days, right?” I nodded. “I will wait for you, Roman.”

I smiled, pulled my love in my arms once more, my lips on his for longer seconds, let his sweet scent fill me, while he murmured me his love, and then I left the apartment.

I had changed clothes and wore another elegant and branded suit bought for this occasion, showing off an expensive watch and branded glasses. I looked like a client wanting to spend money, but as well gain some, but a small gun was hidden inside the blazer. It was better to study the territory and try to anticipate any possible issue, so I spent the Saturday afternoon planning everything and Sunday morning I took care of that informer. One person less in the game.

Anton had called me and things were really getting out of hand. Igor was dead and if they were after me, as I think they were, it meant that Mikhail might be in trouble or worse, he might give out some information. Better go and check on him later on. I checked the time and decided to move; that dead small fry told me where they usually met and he had been right. After what my friend told me, I had another reason for taking extra precautions and I was glad I had already decided to follow those men from their hideout to the agreed meeting point without getting noticed.

I knew my instinct never lied to me and it was damn right that time, too.

I studied the faces of those two men from where I stood and then saw another one joining them with someone else, which meant it was four of them and not simply two as stipulated. I groaned realizing what that meant and silently cheered on having killed that small rat; he had probably sold me off, but when the third man showed his face, I froze on the spot.

What was he doing here?

Talking with those two dealers was that man I had seen at Enna’s place that night I wanted to go back to my angel, but I didn’t. It was that Cillian guy and so what I had found out about him proved to be right. But why? He came from a wealthy family and the debts he had should not be a problem, he had the money to pay them and already dealt with the matter...but then I froze and closed my eyes a moment.

It was not anymore about paying debt or such. He got himself involved and liked the job.

That could not be possible, he was Enna’s best friend; that man could not be involved into this...not him. How dared he... Damn. What to do now? Should I show up there, even knowing it was probably a trap, and get something out of them? I took a couple of deep breaths and commanded myself to regain the necessary calm and coldness of mind, but I could not. Seeing that Cillian man there was something of unexpected and I had no idea how deeply involved he was or if he knew the menace that represented for my angel. He was no professional and that was damn evident in the way he moved around, so what if anything would take the wrong direction?

I looked more and yes, it was no mistake. That man was Cillian Flannery, a person that my angel considered like a brother. I trailed my eyes on the other men, as the fourth person kept giving me his back, so I could not see the face. I waited more, my blood pulsing faster, me debating on what to do, which solution was the best, and then...then the fourth man showed his face.

I knew that man.

He was the right hand of one of the new oligarchs rising in Ukraine, especially in Kiev, and connected to one of the main political party.

Fuck.

This was way deeper than we thought and I realized that only one person could possibly link Ruslan to such man and for sure it was not Maksym. But another thought pierced my mind and hit me with sudden realization.

They knew I was in Ireland and that was a set up to take me down. Or to lead me to a certain point and...

I suddenly looked around and felt something rasping my neck, crawling up and hissing at me to keep alerted. My friend was right; I was targeted and so they had already dealt with Mikhail, of course. I had been framed. It was all done so to get me, which meant Anton was in deep shit, too. I pulled out my phone and quickly spoke as he answered.

“I cannot talk now. You were right; they are after me and they know where I am.”

“Fuck.” He hissed. “That means that..”

“That means that we have been fooled and that we are in deep shit. They’ll come after you, so keep your eyes open and never leave the boss. This is bigger than we thought.”

“Understood, and take care.”

“Oh, I will.” I ended the conversation and silently leaved.

Yes I would take care. Of many things. No doubts.

They would soon realize the trap didn’t work and everything would be set in motion. I had just to wait for the right moment to lure whoever they sent after me out and then deal with the matter.

The hunt had begun. Take or be taken. Kill or be killed.

Then my blood turned into complete ice when another thought crossed my mind and had my heart sink in dread.

My angel.

Enna, my angel and soul, was in danger.

I had to eliminate whoever was after me before it was too late and then think about how to deal with that Cillian man. He had to stay away from my angel and...damn. I remembered what his father told me. I went to pull my cell phone out and call him, but stopped. It was not the time to be impulsive. It was not the time to let my personal feelings cloud my vision and rationality.

One wrong move and we were all dead.

Now it was time to deal with the person after me and then I would take care of those dealers. So it was decided: drastic and more effective measures. I could not ask for better.

The hunt had begun.

Author's chit-chat:

So, who was honestly expecting this? I know some of you guessed about Cillian, some other bet on Michael, but as we see, Michael is not involved into this. Now, what are your thoughts? What do you think will happen? And Enna, is he in more danger?

Roman now has many things to deal with and a promise to fulfil: go back to his angel. How will he manage everything?

In the next chapter we'll see how the threads of this story might get even more tangled, but not saying anything now. Updating soon, no worries.

Until next time!