Xaiden's POV.

Dad smirked and said, "Maybe you should have never trusted me." He then pointed his gun towards where Victor was standing. At once, guns were pointed at him. Victor's men surrounded that little group of our men who were left.

No! I can't let him die. Although he isn't the best person or parent in the world but he did this just to avenge his love. He did this all for mom. He did this all for us, for me. I can't let him die.

I stepped forward. "Dad!" I called him. He looked at me and smirked. "I see you are there too," he said. "You have finally betrayed your own flesh and blood."

"Dad! Let's end this. This won't bring good to anyone." I tried to reason with him. "Dad!"

"Fuck off!" He cut me off. "You are a traitor and I'll kill you too."

"Dad! Listen to me. I..."

"Xaiden!" He barked my name. "Xaiden Emiliano!" He called my full name this time, for the first time. I froze. His eyes blazing with fire, he was having no intention to leave or to end this. I saw hatred in his eyes, the disgust and then the fire of winning. The desire of making it all his.

"You are indeed a son of a traitor," he said with a smirk and I looked at him confused. "You know what I did to that traitor?" He pointed the gun towards me. I stared at him confused, then at his gun.

"I killed her," Dad told me still pointing his gun at me. Fear built inside me and I felt afraid.

He cannot do that. I am his son. He would never hurt his own son. I know, he's just threatening me.

"I'll kill you," he said with hatred and disgust in his voice. "I'll kill you the same way I killed your mother."

At once, a shot was fired followed by many others and I was too numb to move. Everything seemed to fade away, my surroundings seemed to swirl around. My body went numb as those words slowly sink in. My mother? She was killed by... No! How could he do that? He told me he loved her, he told me he tried to save her. He... he told me...

I felt a pain in my left arm as I was hurled to the ground. My body aching now along with my heart. I felt numb.

"Xaiden! Xaiden! Get back to your senses." Somebody shook me I looked bewildered at that person. Victor was shaking me while I was on the ground. I looked at myself to see I wasn't shot but I did hear a gunshot. At once, I looked at him.

Victor? He saved me.

I looked at him to see if he was shot instead of me. "Are you?"

"I'm fine. We missed the shot," he said. "We have him captured."

I nodded. "But why..."

"You saved my daughter and my wife, I saved your life. We are even now," he answered my question. I nodded and got up. His men were holding my dad down and the rest of the men were lying dead. He was the only one alive now. He looked up, a smirk still on his face. He wasn't afraid, he wasn't trembling. Instead, he was quite satisfied with the bloodshed he started. I still couldn't believe what I just heard. This was hard to believe. How could he kill his own wife? His own love?

"I showed you mercy two decades ago, I let you run, I let you hide. You said you would never return. I believed that lie. That was my mistake," Victor said. "But now, I won't make a mistake."

"You are a weakling. Weak ones do not survive."

"I'm not the weak one. You are that weakling, all alone now. No one to protect you, no one to give you strength. All alone blinded by the greed of power," Victor replied. "You lost it all. You did it all by your own hands. I pity you."

"Fuck you!" Dad growled trying to free himself. Victor gestured his men to take him away and they started dragging him along.

"Stop!" I stopped them and they halted. "I'll like to talk to him."

The men looked at Victor and he nodded. I went close to where my so-called dad was. I stooped down and brought my face at the same level to his. "Dad... No, you are not even worthy to be called that," I started. "You are a monster that can go to any heights just to gain what he desires, just to make the world his own. You blinded me, you made me a monster like you." I paused and clenched my fists. "You told me you loved my mom. You told me that they," I pointed at Victor. "They are the reason why my mom is dead, they killed her, they destroyed our family while they are living like one now. You said they are the reason why I had been deprived of love. But now I know, that wasn't their fault." I pointed at him now. "It's all yours. You are that beast that destroyed us, that destroyed me. I hate you." I stood up saying it all.

He started laughing at once and then said, "you foolish weaklings. Love? I never loved your mom. Love is a weakness and it's better to end it as soon as possible." He smirked. "You were just a pawn that I used. I don't do loves. Your those words have no effect on me."

I knew it deep down that my father never loved me but hearing him say it and admit it, was what hurt me the most. At least I had a hope that I might be wrong and maybe he did love me. But now, hearing those words made my heart ache badly.

I sucked in a deep breath and looked at Victor then I gave him a slight nod. He gestured his men to take that monster - whom once I called dad - away. Finally, this was the end. The end which I thought of thousands of times but never expected it to turn out like this.

Ella's POV.

I was wandering in the hallway of the hospital waiting for them to come. A helicopter brought us to the hospital where my mom was being treated now but I haven't heard a word from dad nor Xaiden. I was worried sick. The blood, those dead bodies and then imagining them like that...

No! They can't be dead. They are all fine. I know.

I was all agitated and I cannot seem to put my mind at ease. My ears would perk up with every ding of the elevator door and my eyes hoping for them to come out of it but every time, it was someone else.

"Where are you?" I muttered.

"Princess!" I turned my head at once and saw dad walking towards me. His clothes were covered in blood but he was smiling at me. I ran towards him and hugged him. "Dad!" I cried.

"I am fine. Don't worry." He hugged me tighter and then kissed me on my head. I sobbed drawing back. "I was so worried."

"It's all fine now. How's your mom?" Dad asked.

"She had an operation and now she's fine. Doctors said she'll be awake in an hour or so," I told him and he nodded. I looked around to see for him.

"Looking for someone?" Dad asked.

"Dad! Where's Xaiden?"

"Well...."

"He's alive. Tell me, he's alive. He can't die." I stared at dad in fear. "He can't die..."

"Ella sweetheart,"

"Dad! Where is he?" I was panicking right now. He can't die. He can't leave me, not like this. I looked around frantically in search of him. He didn't even promise me that he'll return back. He didn't say wait for me or I'll be back. He just said I love you as if telling me for the last time. No! That can't be the last words. He can't die.

"Dad!"

"Ellen! Relax. He's fine."

"Then where is he?"

"Here." I heard his voice as the elevator doors opened. His white shirt now of red colour covered with blood, his jeans and his shoes all having blood splattered on them. He was taking small steps and with every step of his towards me, my heart accelerated and eyes again filling with tears.

"Xaiden!" I called his name not moving. I was just looking at him. His face was wet and it felt like he had just recently washed it, his hair all a mess and were glistening with water. His eyes, those grey eyes, looking in mine, not wandering for even a second. His lips smiling the same way they did when we first met, the smile that stole me away.

"Ella!" He called my name. "Ella!" He called my name again while coming towards me. "Ellen!" He called my birth name this time and then his speed fastened. In a blink of an eye, I was in his arms. He hugged me tight and buried his face in my neck. His arms encircling my body while mine around his.

"I... I was so..."

"Afraid?" Xaiden completed my sentence and I nodded. He chuckled. I drew back and glared at him. "I was scared thinking you might never return and here you are laughing."

"How could I not return? You said not to die without your permission." He gently tapped my nose, still smiling. He rested his forehead against mine and my lips curled up in a smile. "Glad you listened." We both stood there smiling, enjoying the presence of each other. I hugged him again, resting my head on his chest. I heard him wince and I drew back. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. just the old wounds," he winced. "We need to show you to the doctor." I grabbed his hand and went to see a doctor. His wounds that dad gave him, weren't treated and now all that fighting had them re-opened. The doctor tended them and bandaged them. 

"Are you okay?" I asked again. "I'm fine, don't worry," he replied back. I nodded.

"Princess!" I saw dad as we came out of the doctor's room. "Your mom's up."

I looked at Xaiden, smiling. Thank God! Everything was getting back to normal. Thank God! Everyone was fine. I went to her room and saw her smiling at me. "Mom!" I hugged her and she hugged me back. "I am glad you are okay," she said and I sniffled. 

I was glad that everything was fine now. My family and my love. I have them all.

2 weeks later.

"So you are telling us that all of that happened and that Xaiden and you are those evil mafia gang offsprings?" 

"Nice wording to my story," I said while Jessica and Sara looked at me shocked. "Yes. It's true."

"So, you were leaving America for god knows how many years and you didn't even think of even telling us?" Sara asked and I nodded. "Yes! I am sorry. I had no choice. My life was at stake."

"Damn girl! How can you hide this from us and for all those years?" Jessica snapped. 

"I was afraid. I was afraid that you might leave me, that I might lose you. I didn't want to lose you guys." I tried to reason. 

"Still, you should have trusted us. I am hurt," Jessica said. "Me too," Sara replied.

"Guys! That's the reason. I knew you would be mad or even would start to get scared of my hard life. I was afraid that it would draw us apart," I paused. "I have told you today because the recent experience made me realize, how short of a life we have. I wanted to tell you now because I am afraid that someday, I might disappear without even letting you guys know."

"El!"

"I am sorry, please." I apologized. I really wanted to tell them but the fear of losing them always made me weak.

"Ella! We don't care if you are a cruel mafia's daughter or some gangster's child. The only thing we care is about your life. We can never lose you," Jessica said pulling me in a hug. 

"Yes, Jess is right. We care for you, we love you. Don't you dare hide anything from us again," Sara said and joined in our hug.

"I promise you, I won't ever hide anything from you." I smiled.

A knock came from my door and we drew back from our group hug. "Yes, come in, " I said.

"Madam, sir is calling you," she informed.

"Dad? Where?" I asked.

"Yes ma'am. He's in the garden."

"Okay, I am coming," I told her and she left. "I'll back in a bit," I told my friends and went out to meet dad. 

I went into the garden. The garden dimly lit due to the sun setting. I looked around. "Dad?" I called but no one responded. At once, I felt a pair of warm hands around my waist and my back hit a rock chest. I gasped. 

"Missed me?" His voice fanned against my ear. My heart accelerated and my cheeks warmed up. 

"Xaiden!" I called his name as I turned around to face him, still in his arms. "What are you-"

"Looking for you," he answered before I could even question him.

"Dad called me. He'll be here somewhere."

"Nope. I told the maid to call you. Your friends didn't seem to have the mind to let you go soon," he said resting his forehead on mine. I couldn't help but smile. 

"But... what if..." 

"Your dad is not home and your mom is resting in her room so, no what-ifs."

"Xaiden!"

"Hush! Or I'm gonna kiss you so badly that you won't be able to say another word." He teases and warm crept up my neck and to my ears and cheeks. "Stop!" I said holding my burning red face. He chuckled. "I love your blushing face. " 

"Stop..." I said again, hiding my burning face in his chest as he hugged me tighter. He placed her chin above my head. "Shouldn't we get married?" He asked and I drew back to see his face if he's joking or not. "I mean we already live together and I want to spend every day and night with you but I had to behave in front of your parents. I mean, come on, I want you." He pouted. The smile on my lips widened. 

"So are you proposing to me?" I inquired. 

"Only if you say yes."

"What if I say no?"

"Nope. Not in the option. The only word you can say is yes." 

I chuckled. The thought of Xaiden as my husband made me happy, my heart to get all excited and the nerves in my body to wake up. Of course, whenever he'd ask me, my answer would be always yes.

"Ellen!" He whispered after a few minutes. still resting his forehead against mine.

"Hmm?"

"Ellen Austin, my Ella Anderson," he whispered both my names and I loved hearing him call my name. I loved how he makes me feel. I love him.

"I'm not a gentleman, I'm not a perfect being and I'm all messed up. My life has been a mess and I don't know whether I even deserve you or not," he paused and then held my face. "But I promise you to always protect you. I promise you to never leave you." His face inched closer. "I promise you, I'll always love you. Will you accept me?"

I bit my lower lip and then smiled. I whispered back, "I don't need a gentleman, I need a man who loves me. I don't need a perfect being, I need the one who's perfect to me. I don't need anyone, I need the mess with whom I fell in love so deeply. I want," I paused closing the distance between our lips, "only you." I whispered and in the second moment, his lips crashed on mine. I kissed him back with the same passion that he was feeling for me.

Here we were, holding each other once again with a promise of not letting go. Our love wasn't a perfect one, our lives weren't the normal ones and we weren't the good ones. Our story wasn't a simple fairytale with a happily ever after, it was a reality, a harsh one but, the story that our love wrote under the shade of mafia was beautiful enough.

*******

And..... The End.

Lemme hear your thoughts. They are the doze of my motivation. Lemme know, how was the story and whether you loved it or not.

~ Who was your favourites character?
~ What was your favourite moment?
~ What scared you the most?
~ Any suggestions?

Let me hear it all. ❣

Check out my new romance novel.

Available on my profile.

Lots of love.
Anna.