I hated my father.

But I loved how easy it was to manipulate him.

One call and Avox Rivera was as good as dead.

The problem was, I didn't want him dead. He was tearing the Italian Mafia apart, which meant he was probably on my side but didn't realize it.

Which meant I was left with one choice.

"Shoot him in places that won't kill him quickly, he's in charge of the Italian Mafia, we let Accardo die too quickly. We won't get a chance like this again, let him suffer for a bit before he dies."

All I had to do was send along some men who were loyal to me. He was immediately flown to Spain and cared for here. Jazmin and Carlos agreed to take him in once he was released from the hospital.

But that was all I could do. Now I just had to wait and pray that the Cartel would slip back into my hands.

...
Several months later

I refilled my wine glass.

This was my own personal version of Hell.

I watched Ana gardening outside. I wasn't sure where I would be without her.

I looked at my reflection in the wine glass.

You'd probably be dead on the side of the road.

I looked back at Ana and a smile crept onto my face.

My Aphrodite. My personal version of beauty.

Everything about her was complete perfection.

She disappeared from view for a moment then reappeared with a handful of roses.

The roses she had planted with my mother.

I fixed my eyes on the wine glass again.

It's 8 in the morning, Rosa. You need to stop.

I heard the back door slide open. Ana walked over to the table and placed the fresh roses in a vase.

She sat down beside me. "What did that wine do to you?"

I sighed. "I'm so sorry."

"I don't think it can hear you." She stood up and took the glass.

I rested my elbows on the table and hid my head in my hands. "Ana. You know I'm not talking to the damn wine."

I felt her hands on my shoulders. "How many times do I need to tell you it's alright? I knew something could go wrong, it's not your fault."

"But it is. I keep making you empty promises. You aren't safe, you aren't happy when I'm working, what kind of life is that?"

She pulled my chair out in a way that allowed her to kneel in front of me. "I am happy. I am safe. Your father doesn't like me, but he's not an idiot. He'd kill himself before he killed me."

I shook my head. "I've seen the way you act when I'm working Ana. Don't lie to me."

The softness in her eyes hardened into something I had never seen before. I was a little scared, had I broken her?

"Rosa. I'm not lying. I know you have this thing where you think you don't deserve love, but you do. You deserve everything. I love you, you love me. I'm happy. I get upset when you're working because you're doing too much. I don't care about being safe anymore. I care about my wife. I care about her happiness. Not mine. So what can I do to help you? Because if you're moping about like this for one more day, I might lose my mind."

I stared at her. "Help me?"

"Let me help, with something. Anything. I'm tired of sitting around while you do everything, it's not fair." She stood up.

I leaned back in my chair. "Let's have a baby."

Ana stared at me. "What?"

"The biggest dangers are over, power will fall into my lap or I will never have a chance at it. Either way, we will be safe."

She placed her palms flat on the table. "Are you sure?"

"I'm tired, Ana. I worked my ass off for years and it's amounted to nothing. If something happens and we are put in danger, I will take you to Scotland. We will change our names and live a quiet, happy life under the protection of Ronan."

She pulled out a chair and sat down. "We didn't have any luck last time, we might not have any this time."

I placed my hands over hers. "I don't think everything happens for a reason, but I believe that happened for a reason. But, if it's like last time, I promise I will be there the whole time. No more sleepless nights in my office, no more constant working." I stood up and dumped out my wine glass. "No more drinking my problems away. For the next few days, no drinking at all."

When I turned around she was smiling at me. "You are the woman of my dreams."

I smiled at her. "I didn't realize you counted nightmares as dreams."

She stood up and walked over to me. "You scare all my nightmares away." She wrapped her arms around me.

I ran my fingers through her hair. "Dreams too, I bet."

She kissed my cheek. "I think my dreams would scare you away."

I laughed. "What are you dreaming about, my love, that would scare me away?"

She grinned. "You, being happy the way you are."

I rolled my eyes. "That's just unrealistic."

"Will you take me to pride in America sometime? I know it's June and I don't mean now, just some time. The parades look so fun." She perked up. "Oooh, and we could see Chelsea and Kara in person again, you know they just got engaged."

I brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Ana, I'd love to, but I can't come with you. You know how people would see that. My father would have my head on a pike."

"We can take Ronan and Jesus. We can all wear bi or pan stuff and then write ally across your forehead or something. The world thinks Ronan is bi anyway." Her eyes were pleading.

I sighed. "I will call Ronan."

"Really?" She kissed me. "I love you so much."

I kissed her forehead. "Call your friends and get packed. I know he's going to say yes. I'll book a flight to Cali."

She squealed with delight. "So many good things in one day." She looked up at me. "Am I dying?"

I laughed once. "If you were dying I'd be searching for a way to keep you alive, not taking you to a parade or talking about having a baby."

She kissed my cheek before running out of the room. "Fair point."

I leaned against the counter. I noticed Spice curled up in the corner on one of his beds.

I frowned. "Don't look at me like that."

He stared back at me.

I sighed. "I know, I'm going to regret this."

He stretched in his bed.

I picked up the empty wine glass and looked at it.

I looked back at Spice. "I can't be the only one like this, right?"

He yawned.

I nodded. "Right."

...
happy late pride

g a y s

I've had half of this chapter done for weeks, I thought I should finish it.

also, feast your eyes on the new pov pics. I changed ALL of them.

<3