Chapter 2

Rose Walked into the café with a grin on her face and went straight to the counter. A couple that she passed gave each other knowing looks but she didn't notice. She was completely oblivious to the world. Not the best thing to be when you're a guardian but rose figured that it didn't matter as they were in the safety of court. She suddenly felt eyes on her and even before looking up knew who it was. Dimitri.

She gave a small smile and turned back to the counter. The memory of his words ringing in her head.

Love Fades. Mine Has.

Pushing him out of mind she looked up to see that her cashier was none other than Mia Rinaldi. She leaned over the table to giving Rose a hug. It was a little bit awkward because Rose could still remember what Mia had done to Lisa when they first got back.

"Hey Rose. Let me guess...two cream éclairs?" She asked giving Rose a cheeky wink.

"Correct. How do you do it?" Rose joked with a smile even though shed come down for a drink, the sound of éclairs sounded nice to. "And I also want a coffee and a coke. No ice."

"Sure" she said giving Rose a look that clearly said what are you up to. While rose was waiting for her and Adrian's order. She wanted to enjoy her éclairs without Adrian trying to steal it so decided to stick around for a bit while she drank her coffee. Sometime join her musing she realised that she could still feel eyes on her. Those beautiful-don't Rose! She wondered what he was doing, what he wanted, what he was waiting for. Despite everything, despite their fight in the church . . . he still thought Rose would pursue and make some pledge of her love. Why? Did he just expect me to be that unreasonable? Or was it possible . . . was it possible he wanted me to approach him?

Well, whatever the reason, she decided she wouldn't give it to him. He'd hurt Rose too many times already. He'd told her to stay away, and if that was all part of some elaborate game to toy with her feelings, She wasn't going to play.

Seeing that it was raining outside she was going to go straight back to her room and let Adrian steal her cake but then decided she wasn't going to let Dimitri scare her off. Spying a table far from him, she headed toward it, going out of her way not to look at or acknowledge him.

"Hey Rose. Are you going to the Council today?" Rose came to a halt. One of Dimitri's guardians had spoken, giving me a friendly smile as he did. She couldn't recall the guy's name, but he'd seemed nice whenever they passed each other. Rose didn't want to be rude, and so, reluctantly, answered back-even though it meant staying near Dimitri.

"Yup," she said, making sure her attention was only on the guardian. "Just grabbing a bite before I get ready."

"Are they going to let you in?" asked another of the guardians. He too was smiling.
For a moment, rose thought they were mocking her last outburst. But no . . . that wasn't it. Their faces showed approval.

"That's an excellent question," she admitted smiling and took a bite of her éclair. "But I figure I should give it a try. I'll also try to be on good behaviour."

A Laugh from across the room caught her attention. It wasn't hard considering there were only a few people left in the café. She recognised that laugh; it was a flirtatious laugh. Turning around she saw it was Daniella Ivashkov. But it wasn't that, that surprised her. What shocked her was the company she was flirting with. It wasn't her husband.

"Watch out for him. He's trouble." Dimitri said seeing where her eyes landed. One thing rose didn't need to be told. "His name is Abe Mazur and back in Russia he has an unholy reputation" Rose chanced a sideways glance at Dimitri. "I mean it stay away from him. He's bad news."

If only he knew..

"Oh Rose. Have you seen Adrian? I've been looking all over for him. He's not answering at his room. Any ideas?" Daniella called across the café after spying rose looking her way. Abe turned round to look at her with one of his eyebrows raised. Why can everyone do that but me? Rose cast a guilty look at her half drank coffee and his coke.

"Daniella! Hi. No I haven't seen him. You know what a heavy sleeper he is maybe he just couldn't here you? I haven't seen him since yesterday morning. If I see Him, I'll Let him know you're looking for him..." She tried of uncertainly.

"Oh thank you Rose" she said buying into rose's lie. "Right, Well I have to be off. Goodbye Rose, Abe." And with that she left the café. Leaving silence in her wake. She watched Abe get up off his seat he was walking her way. The Guardians became more alert.

"Rose. I hope You Don't Know where he is. Because if I know his reputation he's in your room right now and If he is I'll-" he started making Dimitri look at me accusingly.

"Old Man. Don't Be such a hypocrite! We've spoke before about your womanizing ways. Have Tasha. Have any woman. But whatever you do don't go for her. That's Adrian's mom and I don't need more reasons for his dad to hate m-"

"I trust you got my...package" he said cutting rose off. She looked around biting her tounge.

"Yes I Did." She said shortly. She picked up her coffee and finished off the last bit. He waited. "If you're asking if I did it. No I didn't."

He looked at her as if assessing whether she was lying. "Well I wouldn't put it past you. After All your only 18, and already you've broken out of highly protected areas, twice, aided felons, and acquired a death count higher than most guardians will ever see. I couldn't be prouder."

Roses didn't bother to ask him about the 'felons' part. Abe wasn't stupid. After I'd asked him about a prison that had later been breeched, he probably figured out who was behind Victor Dashkov's escape.

"Hold the tears old man. Speaking of breaking rules. How did you manage get Sydney back into the U.S?"

He just gave her a look.

"Ohh Right. Top Mafia stuff, how could I forget?" She asked sarcastically earning herself a half smile from Abe. "So what are you doing here? Can you answer that one? Is it allowed?"

After a small chuckle he said "I just had to make sure you were staying out of trouble." Out of the Corner of rose's eye she saw Dimitri's lip twitch slightly before his mask came back on. "I need to speak to Janine and I have something for you. Not here." His eyes went to Dimitri and back again. "We'll go to your room." With that he took the last of her éclair and walked away expecting rose to follow.

With a role of her eyes she picked up Adrian's now slightly warm coke and said a hurried good bye. Before shed even taken two steps Dimitri called out. "Roza."

She turned around looking as board as she could to show she wasn't interested in him even though that name had caught her off guard. I've moved on she reminded herself. She waited. Abe also turned his securitizing eyes on him. "Be careful. He's ...Dangerous."

A Laugh came from the door.

Everyone looked up to see Adrian. He just kept laughing.

"And why should she be afraid of him?" he asked a twinkle in his eye. He walked forward and took the coke from rose's hand. Taking a quick swig.

Dimitri looked a little startled by his sudden appearance but that didn't stop his reply. "I should have known you had something to do with this. Figures." And Dimitri turned his eyes to Rose as if trying to re-enforce his message.

Adrian laughed a bit more before slugging his arm around rose. "Trust me beilkov she's got nothing to worry about." And he led her out but not before looking back at him. Gloating.

"Did I ever tell you I like this kid, rose?" Abe said still glaring at Dimitri. Abe didn't think Dimitri should be around anymore. Not now that rose was safe. Not after everything that happened. Abe wanted Rose with Adrian no matter his reputation. If it meant she was safe.

The reply came from outside the door.

"Really? Did you discover this before or after you threatened his life?"

Abe just smiled before walking away leaving Dimitri to wonder if rose had truly moved on.