Hi guys! I'm so sorry for inconsistent uploads. I've been stressed with my job but I've also been working on some bonus chapters for Amore Mio which will be coming in the next few weeks.

This is also the last chapter I have edited in this story which is why I've been holding onto it so long 🥹

Oh, and it's my birthday this weekend! So I'm busy with that 🤭

But apart from all of that, I will try to get the next chapters up on time but please bear with me if the chapters don't come every Friday.

Thank you so much ❤️

Enjoy!

"Mr Alvarez, it's nice to see you again. How have you been?"

The blonde waitress smiled seductively at me just as Izzy and Alex came up next to me in the entrance of my busy restaurant.

She was the same waitress who was always floating around me whenever I came here. Every single time I dismissed her advances and this time was no different. I completely ignored her question.

"Table for three." At my request her eyes shifted away from me and towards Alex who gave her a blank stare and then Izzy who was way too busy staring at the luxury decor of the restaurant to notice.

The blonde's eyes lingered on Izzy for a second too long for my liking, distaste shining in her eyes as she wordlessly picked up three menus.

"I'm a little underdressed, Roman." Izzy whispered to me as we followed the waitress to our table, passing by some occupied tables in the bustling restaurant. "Don't worry about that, Dora."

Even with my reassurance she didn't seem convinced, glancing down at her gym attire with a frown.

She told me this was a regular thing in her life. The nature of her work meant she was always wearing gym clothes - even if she did want to wear nicer clothes. It meant if she ever had to go somewhere during the day she was likely to be dressed in the wrong attire.

She said it didn't help her self confidence, not that I understood why. She was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen, it didn't matter what she was wearing. But I hated the thought of her feeling uncomfortable, thinking she didn't fit in somewhere.

So instead of trying to reassure her that her clothes were fine and that no one would say a word to her in one of my restaurants, I decided to do something else.

I grabbed her hand to stop her in her tracks in the middle of the full restaurant. Reaching up to my neck I unclasped my diamond chain which I hardly ever took off. Without a word I put it around her neck, doing the clasp up at the back while she watched me.

"I don't think my watch or my rings will fit you, so you'll just have to settle for my necklace."

"I thought you said I couldn't have it unless I married you." She lifted her hand feeling the thin chain between her fingers with a soft smile on her face.

"You can't. I'm just letting you borrow it."

Taking her hand in mine I ignored some of the looks we received. I guided her over to the table where Alex was sitting, watching us with an amused expression. "Give it a couple of days and you two will be picking out baby names, I guarantee it."

I pulled Izzy's chair out for her and tucked it back in when she sat down, then I took my own seat.

"I'm surprised you haven't had to pick out any names yet with the way you go around screwing anything that moves." My response to Alex had my best friend glaring at me and Izzy laughing to herself as she read the menu.

I already knew what I was going to get since I pretty much had the same thing whenever we came to eat here. I think Alex knew his choice too, but poor Izzy looked so overwhelmed by the long Italian menu.

Her brows were furrowed in concentration and she chewed her bottom lip like she was about to make the most important decision of her life.

"You guys come here a lot right?" Izzy broke the short silence that had settled around us. "Do you know if the lobster ravioli is nice?"

Alex suddenly started laughing although he quickly attempted to cover it with a cough.

"What's funny?" Izzy frowned and I rolled my eyes knowing exactly what was going through his head.

"Out of the whole menu, you just happened to pick Roman's favourite dish. You're a match made in heaven."

Izzy awkwardly cleared her throat at his second mention of our relationship in the last few minutes. I'm not surprised she found it awkward after how we almost kissed yesterday before I stupidly told her I wanted to be friends.

"Shut up Alex." I turned to Izzy. "You should get it, it's really nice."

"But if it's your favourite then you're probably going to choose it, right? You won't mind if I copy you?"

She's so damn cute.

"No I won't mind. Choose whatever you want, Iz."

She sent me a happy smile. She spoke with that sparkle back in her eye now that she'd chosen what she wanted to eat.

"Italian food is my favourite. Roman we have to come back here because there's actually so much I want to try."

"Are you asking me out on a date, Dora?" I grinned at the way her eyes widened, almost as if she didn't realise how her comment could have been perceived.

"N-no, not a date. I'm asking you to dinner. But dinner as friends, not a date. We can pay separately to make sure its a friends thing and there are no mixed signals. I just meant-" Finally I cut her off before she could ramble herself any more into a flustered mess.

"I know what you meant, don't worry. We can come back as many times as you want."

"Fine, but I'm going to have to let you know when I'm free." Alex added those words into the conversation causing Izzy and I to look over at my best friend who was absolutely third wheeling right now.

Before I got the chance to let him know he definitely wasn't invited, Izzy spoke again.

"It's a bit expensive though, maybe we shouldn't come that often."

"Just sell that necklace and you'll be swimming in cash." Alex flashed Izzy a smirk. She actually glanced down at the chain like she was considering the idea.

And I tried to be nice by letting her borrow it. This world is just screwed up.

"Don't even think about it." I shot them both a glare.

"Relax, I would never do that."

Izzy gave me a reassurance smile while Alex scoffed. "I would and I don't even need the money."

Unfortunately before I could kick him under the table, the same blonde waitress from earlier approached our table.

"Are you ready to order Mr Alvarez?" She flashed me a flirty smile, standing way too close to me.

"Lobster ravioli. She'll have the same." I nodded towards Izzy who gave me a grateful smile. She also directed her smile towards the blonde ignored her completely.

"Alex?"

So this bitch is on first name basis with Alex.

To be honest I'm not even surprised. He was the biggest man whore in LA. It would be weirder if she didn't know his name.

It also explained why he hadn't tried to hit on her; he hardly ever went for the same woman twice. He says women become too clingy if you hit it more than once.

"The risotto."

For drinks Alex and I ordered whiskey and Izzy stuck with water.

"You didn't want a real drink?" Alex's question caused Izzy to release a sigh. "I have to go back to work, remember?"

"Did you..." With a glance in my direction, he lowered his voice. "Over the last few days, you didn't...-"

"I didn't drink. Don't worry, I know what happened last year. And also I told Roman, so you don't need to be all secretive."

"You did?" Alex looked over at me as he put the pieces together in his head, understanding that she must have told me last night when I went to see her. "I'm sorry I didn't come yesterday. I thought since Roman was coming, I didn't-"

"It's okay, don't worry about it, Alex. Roman was good enough, I guess." Her teasing grin told me she was only joking, thankfully.

I wasn't good at the mushy shit but I thought I did a good job yesterday when she was crying.

"What happened last year?" I had to ask. It's not like Alex would never tell me anything without her permission.

"It was the first anniversary of his death and I guess it was too much. I got pretty drunk so Alex had to take care of me."

"Izzy isn't easy to be around when she's drunk." Alex smartly added humour to the conversation, stopping it from becoming too heavy.

"I'm not that bad."

I scoffed, earning looks from both of them. On one hand Izzy was glaring at me, on the other Alex seemed confused.

"What was that scoff about?" Alex looked between the two of us.

"Do you remember that night we went to the club, a couple of days after I came home?"

I purposely didn't mention prison but Alex was already smart enough to know that. He'd been friends with Izzy for two years and he'd never let anything about our cartel or our lives slip.

He may be irritating as hell, but he was my future right hand for a reason.

He was just as involved in this as I was. He was just as cold; just as ruthless and cunning as I could be. He had a soft side which he showed Izzy just like I did, but it didn't change the reality. It didn't change who we were and what we did.

"Izzy and I met the first time that night. She was drunk as hell so I helped her find a bathroom."

"What? And you never told me? And you, you didn't tell me you were going to a club." Alex suddenly glare towards Izzy who was looking at her fork as if it was most fascinating thing in the world.

"Isadora." His protective side had her lifting her gaze to meet his. "I don't have to tell you whenever I drink, Alex. Anyway, I went with Maisie so I wasn't alone."

Alex didn't get a chance to say whatever was on his mind when the waitress returned with our drinks. It was probably a good thing since this whole thing was about to blow.

She put down the two glasses of whiskey and the large glass bottle of water for Izzy. Then she tried to walk away, acting as if Izzy wasn't there.

"Do your damn job. Open the bottle and pour her a glass." My cold voice had the waitress stopping dead in her tracks. I sipped on my whiskey barely even sparing her a glance.

Alex also gave her a hard look as she opened the glass bottle. She poured some in Izzy's glass who looked surprised and mildly uncomfortable.

"Thank you." Izzy's murmur went ignored by the waitress who put the bottle down.

"Send a different waiter from now on."

Izzy made an awkward attempt to break the tension. "Um..."

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. The way she was treating you was starting to piss me off."

"That was kinda mean though."

"She deserved it." Alex spoke up before he quickly steered her back to the previous conversation. "So you went to a club and got shit faced?"

"Accidentally, but yeah, I guess." Izzy sipped her water, maintaining eye contact with Alex the entire time.

"And you think that's safe?"

"I'm 23 years old and I can take care of myself, Alex. You saw that today at the gym. Why are you so worried?"

Alex faltered for a moment, clearly not wanting to bare his feelings to her so openly and in public. Just like me he wasn't good at explaining things.

"He just cares about you." She glanced over at me when I decided to try and explain his feelings for him. "Sure you're strong and you can take care of yourself Izzy, but I guess there's just this thing about you that can bring out a guy's soft protective side."

I knew how Alex felt although I'm sure he just saw her as someone who could fill the void his little sister left behind. For me it was the fact that although I never expected to become so attached to another girl, I couldn't help it when she was around.

She was strong and fierce but also had this cute, innocent side that just made you want to protect her from this shitty world.

"I'll tell you next time Alex. But really, you don't have to worry." She gave him a soft smile.

"You're saying that because you don't know what it's like to be around a drunk Isadora Visente."

"Oh please Alex, I'm not that-"

"You offered to pee for me in the office." I cut her off as I lifted my glass to my lips, enjoying her sudden flustered expression. This quickly morphed into a glare when Alex burst out laughing.

"You did what?"

And just like that I spent the next five minutes relaying every sordid detail of that night at the club for Alex. But, instead of mentioning my panic attack, I told him I was just taking a quiet breather when she came in. I told him she tried to hug me, tried to suck my dick and then how she offered to pee for me. I also mentioned how she compared her pee to Niagara Falls which Alex found especially amusing.

By the time the food arrived Izzy had sunk down into her chair and her cheeks were red - either from embarrassment or anger, I couldn't quite tell.

A different waiter put the two raviolis and the risotto down on our table before he left us to finish our lunch in peace.

"You like it?" I watched as she took her first bite of the ravioli, pleasure passing through her eyes at the creamy taste. "Holy shit, it's so good Roman."

Alex and I laughed at the way she spoke with her mouth full, just like she did yesterday when we ate that pizza together in her bed.

Something about the way she didn't give a damn about things like that just made her even more intriguing to me. I mean, most of the time if a girl was in a fancy restaurant having dinner with me or Alex, let alone both of us, she would never talk with her mouth full.

But Izzy was just different.

We spent the rest of our lunch talking about anything and everything. We talked about her little moment in the gym earlier, which definitely affected Little Roman in ways too inappropriate to discuss. Just the sight of her punching those pads was too much.

Izzy told us some stories of people she'd encountered at the gym in the past, some of which were funny and the rest just had me wanting to apologise to her on behalf of the male species. After that, Alex talked about his escapades with different women. Although that was mostly just to annoy Izzy who said sex talk wasn't an appropriate dinner conversation.

Right now he was busy talking about the time he, Elías, and I took a trip to Saint Tropez for to visit some casinos for work.

"I can't imagine how many people get to take business trips to Saint Tropez." Izzy seemed amused and mildly impressed at that fact.

"There's many purposes to these trips, Sugarplum." Alex shrugged, flashing Izzy a smirk as he leaned back in his seat. "Perhaps we're looking to buy a casino, a club, or maybe a bar. To make an informed decision we need to go and test it out to the fullest extent. Or maybe, we just need inspiration for some of the establishments we open up in the US."

"So basically you go on vacation with your best friends and claim that it's for business when actually you just go out partying?" She rose an eyebrow at Alex who only nodded, now sporting a grin on his lips.

"So anyway, on that trip there was one night we went to a casino at the hotel. We three had some business to attend to first and then Elías and Roman disappeared to handle something else. As you can imagine, I had quite a good time being left on my own in a French casino."

Izzy shook her head in disgust just like she'd been doing every time he told her about a sexual experience.

"From what I can remember, after I won big in roulette, I picked up a blonde and a brunette. I think they were friends...or maybe sisters." A thoughtful look passed on his face.

"Anyway, Izzy it was the best threesome I've ever had. They had the best bodies, just so perfectly proportioned and they were so attentive - the French usually are by the way. They're not like the Belgians at all. They both speak French, but Belgian women can be quite selfish. Anyway, these girls started to fight over me which I kind of enjoyed. I mean, it was amusing when they battled for my attention, but at the time I just wanted to fu-"

"Alex." For what felt like the millionth time that day, Izzy cut him off when he was about to say that word. "Fine, I just wanted to make love, happy Princess?"

Izzy rolled her eyes at his mockery, but nodded nonetheless. This allowed Alex to continue with the story which I already knew the ending to.

"One of the girls was screaming so loud in my bed at 4am that some prudish, selfish little son of a bitch in the hotel sent security to my room to put an end to it."

"That was me."

"What?" Alex frowned when I flashed him a smirk while waiting for him to process what I just said. "Are you forgetting my room was next door to yours, Alex?"

It still took him a second until finally a cold glare settled onto his face.

"It was you? Why the fu-"

"Alex."

"-Why the hell would you do that to me? You're supposed to be my best friend."

"You were too loud, I was trying to sleep." I shrugged my shoulders taking a sip of the second whiskey I'd ordered while Izzy just watched on in amusement.

"You could have done anything but that. You could have texted or called, you could have come to the freaking door to tell me or you could have just joined me. But no, you decide to be that bitch and spoil my party."

"Do you invite all your friends to join you for sex?" Izzy flashed Alex an amused smile causing him to turn his glare towards her instead. "Yeah, because I'm a freaking nice guy and I like to share the gift I was given. But apparently my friends aren't the same."

Now he was back to glaring at me.

"Bro, it was four years ago."

"I don't give a damn if it was twenty years ago. You're a dick. Just you wait Roman, next time you think you're about the get some, I'll be there."

"That's just weird." I knew my response would annoy him, but Izzy's little giggle which she quickly tried to cover with her hand just made it even worse.

"You're both bitches." With that he knocked back the last of his drink, choosing to pout. Izzy let out another laugh which she didn't bother to hide this time.

"Roman I think we should go, I have to go and pick up my car and then get back to-"

"Roman? Roman Alvarez?"

I swear my heart stopped in my chest when I saw the familiar smirk and the wicked look in his eyes that I knew all too well. He approached our table with the woman on his arm.

He was someone I had no intention of ever seeing again after what happened. He was someone I wanted to leave behind in my past. He was someone I wanted to keep the hell away from Izzy.

I noticed the same panic flash through Alex's eyes before it was replaced with a cold, hard glare.

"Evander Kordas." Alex said his name in acknowledgement to give me time to gather myself. Just his  name sent bad shivers down my spine, but then he spoke again in his Greek accent and all those memories came flooding back.

"I thought it was you. It's been a long time, no?"

He was the youngest son of the Kordas crime family in Greece. He was around the same age as me and he was an absolute psycho.

As the youngest son of such a powerful crime family he went completely off the rails, letting the power get to his head. He didn't do anything to cover up his tracks when he killed, he just did whatever the hell he wanted out in the open and left the mess for his father to clean up. Not to mention his reputation for being a drug addict and a rapist.

"It has, but unfortunately we were just leaving." With a cold tone I pushed back my seat, making my intentions clear.

"You don't have time to catch up with an old friend? Maybe we could get a bottle of your finest whiskey for old times' sake."

"Maybe another time." When I made the move to get up, he took a step forward so that I couldn't push my chair out any further. "Oh come on. You remember how much fun we used to have, right?"

Flashes of the parties came back to me as he smirked.

Alcohol, music, gambling, marijuana, cocaine, women.

"That was a long time ago Evander." I tried to keep any emotion out of my voice, looking past him and towards the door where my security were stationed like always.

It would only take a nod from me and they would come to forcefully get me away out of the situation.

But that would mean drawing even more attention to the whole thing in my restaurant and in front of Izzy.

"Five years, right? Damn time flies. And Alex, you're looking well."

Alex chose not to reply. Evander laughed at the silence although the irritation in his eyes suggested anything but amusement. He didn't like being ignored or shut down, that much I was absolutely sure of.

"And who's this?" His eyes moved over to Izzy who was busy on her phone. She was clearly trying not to get involved in the tense moment, so instead she resorted to scrolling through Instagram.

I knew underneath she was curious, but she played it off as if she didn't give a shit.

"No one special." My words had Evander glancing over at me and then towards Izzy again. He surveyed her gym clothes and make up free appearance with distaste.

"I can tell."

Her body stilled as did her scrolling, but she still refused to look up at him. I could see the way her brows furrowed and her jaw clenched, almost as if she was trying to keep whatever retort she'd no doubt come up with to herself.

The stupidest thing for Alex or I to do at that time would be to defend her. It would just make it obvious we cared about her and then she would become a weakness.

That's what Evander preyed on - weaknesses.

"Let's go." This time Alex was the one to make a move to get up, successfully forcing Evander to step aside. This time I didn't pull Izzy's chair out for her, hoping to keep up my facade that she was nothing special and no one important to me.

She got up and for a moment Evander's eyes lingered on Isadora when she bent down to pick up her purse. Even with a woman on his arm he didn't bother to hide the fact he was checking out her ass.

Even just seeing his eyes on her made me want to throw him up against the wall and drive my fist into his face, but I couldn't. For her sake I had to keep my mouth shut and my hands to myself.

Izzy and I followed Alex, only managing to take a few steps before the Greek spoke again.

"Roman, stay - we should talk. I've got a couple of deals I wanted to discuss with you. I was hoping we could do some business together."

"I'm not discussing business with you now Evander." I wasn't planning on ever discussing business with him. I didn't mind working with his father or his brothers, but not him.

"Perhaps another time then. I'll be sure to let you know how I feel about this restaurant of yours Roman." Evander flashed me a smirk to which I just nodded, waiting for Izzy to follow behind Alex.

I stayed close behind her effectively hiding her from Evander's sight. It was silent between us as we headed back over to the Range Rover, until Alex spoke. "Sorry about that Izzy."

"It's okay." She smiled at him then turned to look at me when I spoke.

"Izzy what I said in there about you not being specia-"

"Don't worry Roman, I get it. I'm not stupid. He was someone you didn't want to be around and I guess you didn't want me to be around him either. I didn't take what you said personally."

The smile she gave me had relief washing over me. She didn't take offence to my words but I also didn't have to explain that she was in fact special to me, even though I hadn't known her for very long.

"That guy was an asshole by the way. If you do end up going into business with him then I'd just like to say you're both idiots - regardless of what it is. No amount of money could ever be worth having to see that guy again. Not to mention the fact he just seemed slimy as hell, I doubt he'd be good as a business partner. He'd probably steal all your money."

Even though she was just rambling as we walked, I think out of the entire time I'd known her, that was the moment that I realised just how well she could fit into my life.

I never wanted a wife who would sit on the sidelines and let me do my own thing while she spent my money and enjoyed the lifestyle I could give her. That's exactly what Azura would have done.

Izzy...I could just imagine her having a hell of a lot to say about every deal I did, or about the people I went into business with. She seemed like she'd give the best advice she could but then she'd just be there to support me either way. That was just her character, I'd seen it with the way she supported her siblings.

And despite my recent past with Azura and prison, I wanted her to be that person for me. I wanted her to be my other half.

But it was just too damn soon.

"Don't worry, I don't intend on doing any business with him." She seemed satisfied with that, nodding as we came to a stop by the car. Everything seemed fine on a nice sunny afternoon in LA after a very nice lunch, until she suddenly reached out to slap the bare skin of my arm.

Rather freaking hard.

"Ow! What the fu-"

"Why the hell didn't you tell me you owned that restaurant? You let me talk about money and that entire time I was thinking about how I was going to have to pay you back for the food and then we walked out without even paying because according to that foreign son of a bitch, you own it!"

I was too stunned to say anything when Alex let out a laugh, earning him a glare and smack over the head.

"Don't laugh Alex. You almost got me in trouble when you suggested I sell Roman's necklace." His laughter cut off and he rubbed the back of his head, now glaring back at her.

"Now let's go, I'm already late." She gave us each another glare before she got into the passenger seat of the Range Rover.

"That bitch took my seat." Alex murmured those words as we stood there stunned, just staring at Izzy through the window.

Yeah she was the perfect fit for my life.

It didn't take long until we reached the garage where her Audi was already waiting, the black paint glistening under the Californian sun.

"You know, I'm actually really considering marrying you Roman." Izzy reached behind her neck to undo the clasp of the necklace I gave her.

"It hurts me that you only want to marry me for my diamonds Izzy."

"Well its not like I'm going to marry you for your looks." I couldn't help but smile when she reached across the console to put the chain back around my neck.

The soft skin of her fingers brushed against the skin at the nape of my neck, leaving a tingle behind while I took the chance to inhale her sweet vanilla scent.

"I think it looks better on you Roman." She was still leaning across the console when she gave me a smile, her fingers tracing along the metal chain that was now back around my neck where it belonged.

"Thanks for lunch and for dropping me off here." She gave me another smile, holding her fist out for me to fist bump her.

It was cute how she wanted to do that, but honestly all it did was put me further and further into the friend zone. I know I was the one who said let's be friends, but I didn't exactly want to be in the friend zone.

After that she turned to say goodbye to Alex who was still pouting in the back seat.

Since Alex was planning on getting in the front anyway, he got out with her which gave the son of a bitch the chance to hug her while I had to sit there and watch him through the window.

He didn't deserve her hugs.

"I think you're in love Roman." Alex was now sitting next to me as we watched Izzy head inside the garage to collect the keys to her Audi.

"Yeah? And I think you're an idiot."

"Why do you have to try to hurt my feelings all the time?" He gave me the puppy dog eyes, pulling out his phone when it started ringing in his pocket. He took one glance at the caller ID before he hit answer using a much colder voice. "What?"

And just like that our previous lunch was forgotten and he was back in business mode. I spent most of the drive listening to the heated conversation he was having when he put the phone on speaker for me.

"They can't do that. They know if they cross us or try to intercept our deals we'll put them down."

He was sitting up straight in his seat, all but shouting at our guy on the phone, barely even letting him speak before he continued.

"I don't give a shit how confident they are. Those are our clients, the Italians can go and find their own."

The Italians liked to think they owned the East coast, they believed everything stretching from Miami to Boston was theirs.

The thing they failed to understand is that everything belonged to Los Ángeles del Armagedón. Everything belonged to us.

Everything belonged to me.

"Get me a list of who is involved. I want all the names and get it to me in five minutes." With that Alex cut the call, leaning his head back against the leather headrest. He released a long sigh. "It's just one problem after another Roman."

"We'll get it sorted. The Italians are always so damn sure of themselves, but loyalty can't be stolen. Our clients are loyal to us."

At this Alex shook his head.

"It's getting worse Roman. You know that. First they were just making noise, but now they're actively trying to take our clients. It's only a matter of time before they do something else and we have to retaliate. Once that happens-"

"We're not going to do that Alex, not yet. I can't afford it this year. I just got out, the last thing I need is a freaking war with the Italians while I'm trying to convince my father I'm still on track to take over."

A war with the Italians didn't mean what it sounded. We wouldn't actually be going to 'battle' with guns and violence and shit. Maybe if it came to it someone would end up dead, but that wasn't what it entailed.

A war with them meant everything we'd built was at risk of crumbling down because they would do their absolute best to infiltrate it all.

All our drugs and weapons manufacturing. All our shipments, supplies and sales. Any deals we have going on with governments and government agencies in the USA and South America. Any alliances we had with crime families and syndicates across the world.

They'd target everything.

It would be a Cold War until someone shot the first bullet. It was something we couldn't afford to get into. They'd come after our business, our alliances and relationships and since the Italians like to play dirty, it's no doubt they'd come after family.

"You know what this means Roman." It was like he was reading my mind. He already knew. "You can't tell her."

My grip on the steering wheel tightened and I could feel my jaw clench involuntarily at the anger spiking inside me.

"She deserves to know."

"I know, you don't think I know that Roman? It makes me sick to lie to her. But I haven't kept her out of this whole thing for two years just to tell her now when she could get caught up in all of this."

I knew he was right. It wasn't even the rational side of me thinking because I knew I couldn't tell her right now, even if the Italians weren't becoming a bigger and bigger threat. I wasn't ready to tell her yet because of my own shit.

"That's not to mention Evander lurking around. Roman, if she finds out what happened with him and about your past with him, she'll never get over it."

That much I was sure of. I still wasn't even over it. We just didn't mention it after it happened. I lost myself in drugs and alcohol for as long as I could remember after it happened. Then I was arrested.

"Just keep her out of it for now Roman. We'll calm this down, but you can't tell her. If you do your relationship will change and it'll become way too serious and we both know you're not ready for that Roman. What she doesn't know can't hurt her. We can protect her from a distance like I've been doing for the last two years."

I guess the universe wasn't done screwing with me then.

Now, instead of telling her at the right time, I had to wait for the freaking Italians to learn their damn place.

I couldn't risk her safety. But I also couldn't lose her. So for now I just had to keep it to myself.

But there was no way I was going to let her go. Some other idiots in my position would run away from her or treat her like shit - maybe decide to try and sleep with her and then leave once they got what they wanted.

But I was going to play the long game. I knew I wanted her, I wanted her to be mine in every way possible. So I was going to keep her by my side until I was sure I could tell her.

But for now it was just friends.

So frustrating 🥺 Do you think they'll ever be together? Every chapter makes me die for them to finally be together.

What did you guys think of Evander? Don't forget him, he'll be coming back at the end of the story.