I was only gone for ten minutes while I quickly got dressed. But when I ran back into Rose's old room where I had found her sitting earlier, she was gone. The end of the bed still wet where her hair had been dripping. I slammed the door as I made my way into the kitchen.

"Rose?!" I called, my voice echoing through the empty room. The hair on the back of my neck were standing. She had left without saying anything and for some reason, I felt like it was going to be the last time I saw her.

No. I shook my head. I was just being paranoid. What I said was stupid, so extremely stupid. I had no idea why I had said it and had regretted it even before I saw the look on Roses's face. Rose would come back; I knew she would. We were soul mates. I think that I fell in love with her the moment I saw her walk through my office. Her dark hair and chocolate brown eyes – so kind and bright- her cheeky smile and quick wit. I had never met anyone like her. I was indisputably in love with that wild woman.

I picked up my phone and sent her a message.

Rose, I'm sorry about our fight. I am so sorry for what I said. I'm an idiot. Please come home when you find Lissa. I want to make it up to you any way I can.

I really do love you.

I stared at my phone for what felt like hours. Waiting for her to reply or even to see that she had read it. But nothing happened. I tossed the phone onto the couch and like I always did when I was stressed, I threw my fingers not so gently through my hair, tugging on the strands. I gave up waiting and made myself a drink, I watched as the sky over Manhattan grew darker and darker. The longer I waited to hear from her the more stressed I was becoming. So, when I heard my phone ping my heart nearly exploded out of my chest. I checked the time. It was past midnight.

Everything's fine. I forgive you. Meet me for dinner

5 o'clock. La Parisian, wear something fancy.

Part of me was so relieved to have heard from her and part of me was dreading having to wait that long to see her. It felt like days since I had seen her, even though I knew it had only been 12 hours. So, I decided the sooner I went to bed the sooner I could see her.

It was one of the worst nights sleeps I had had in years. I was plagued all night with nightmares of my father. The same nightmares that had followed me for years. Sometimes I was watching behind the couch t0o helpless to do anything as I watched him attack my mother, and sometimes it was my sisters, but a new addition to this fresh hell was watching him beat Rose. Her beautiful face streaked with tears. I screamed and screamed but he didn't stop until she was lying curled up on the ground, the life leaching from her body. And all I did all I could do was stand there trapped.

I woke up in a cold sweat my heart hammering. I needed to see her. Hold her in my arms, even in the short time we had been a couple I had grown accustomed to waking up next to her or ever reaching out for her in the middle of the night to soothe the visions, but I didn't have her. But I needed to hear her, to kiss every inch of her.

I sent her a message asking if we could meet earlier and all she replied was

'no

So, I occupied myself with menial tasks. I worked out downstairs, being sure to smile at the girl who worked at the front desk like Rose had told me too. I ate a small lunch, I read some of my favourite book, one that Rose had actually brought me as our 1-month work anniversary. I had felt terrible I hadn't gotten her anything. Mostly because I had no idea that was a thing, but she had assured me I had already given her enough. The book was one I had never read but had enjoyed so much I was reading it for the second time. It was a modern western novel when I had read the blurb, I was sure I would hate it but I would just read it for her sake, she said it was the one and only western novel that she had ever read.

It was called the lonesome dove and I felt very connected to the main antagonist. He was in search of the American dream, build an empire, keep himself closed off, he didn't rely on or trust anyone. Until he met and woman and the rest was history. It was like she had written the book for us. But I knew the book had been around for a long time. Maybe I was just that big of a clique.

At 4;30 I was dressed in one of my finest tuxedos. I knew Rose would love this one as the inside of the jackets was embossed with the flower of her namesake. I planned on telling her something corny like I was wearing it so she was always close to my heart or something sweet to make her smile or gag. I never knew how Rose was going to take the sappy stuff.

I arrived 5 minutes early and I could feel my palms sweating. I didn't know why. I felt so comfortable around Rose and it wasn't like we hadn't been to plenty of restaurants alone together, but this was the first time since we were officially together and I guess you could say it was our first date. I stopped before I walked in my hand on the door. I should have brought her flowers or a necklace. But then I took a deep breath. Rose was not like that; expensive gifts made her awkward and uncomfortable.

I walked through and stopped at the check-in.

"I'm meeting a young woman, Rosemarie Hathaway," I said handing the man a tip. He smiled and nodded his head.

"Right this way sir." he led me through the crowded bustling centre and showed me to the quieter section. There she was sitting with her back to me her hair braided into a bun on the top of her head. In the lighting of the restaurant, her hair looked almost black. I could see that she was wearing a long dress it was a dark purple material and I smiled. Coming up behind her I placed my hands on her shoulders and went to bend to place a kiss on her cheek but froze snatching my hands back.

As soon as I touched her bare skin, I knew it wasn't her. Every time I touched Rose my skin jumped with electricity. I had become an addict to the feeling. My stomach dropped as the woman turned in her seat and I realized it wasn't the love of my life but the opposite.

"Dimitri" Tasha said standing from her seat and offering me a smile. I felt the blood run from my face. She lifted her arms like she was going to embrace me but somehow before I even realized my hand was out in front of me warning her off.

"What are you doing here? Where is Rose?" I asked taking a step back. Tasha shook her head with a roll of her eyes and sat back down.

"You might as well sit down," she said gesturing to the chair opposite her. I looked at the offending chair then back at Tasha, I didn't want to sit I wanted to find Rose. It had been well over 24 hours now since I had spoken to her. "oh, come on don't be ridiculous. Just sit for god sakes." Tasha's quick-tempered flared but before she continued, she took a deep breath and when she looked back at me, she was smiling sweetly. "please Dimitri. I just want to talk."

I cautiously made my way to over to the chair and sat, I was perched on the very edge. I wasn't going to get comfortable because I wasn't staying long.

"Did you message me from Roses phone?" I asked as the waiter approached and filled Tasha's glass with more wine. He went to pour some in the glass in front of me but I shook my head. Tasha waited for him to leave before sighing loudly again.

"Yes, I invited you here. But it wasn't to just talk about her the whole night. "Tasha was practically pouting, on Rose, I found it endearing, on a grown woman like Tasha it made me feel sick.

"Why?" I asked through gritted teeth. "and how did you get her phone.

"Because," she said like it was obvious. "Rose interrupted us last time, and now I had it under good authority that she won't be interrupting this time." Tasha smiled, and I felt my heart race. It was not a happy smile it was filled with mischief.

"No, I said everything I wanted to say to you," I said my knee bouncing. I was itching to leave and to go find Rose, I bet she was at Lissa's apartment. Probably stressing that she had lost her phone.

"Well I didn't" she seethed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Again Tasha, I'm not interested in what you have to say," I said this time it was my turn to sigh.

"But I love you Dimitri," she said her eyes large and sad. I couldn't tell if she was serious or just trying to make me feel bad.

"You're incapable," I said looking away.

"Look at me," Tasha yelled slapping her hands down on the table. Everything on the table shook for a moment. I turned my head and noticed some of the dinners on the other side of the restaurant looking over at us. I growled and looked right into Tasha's eyes. I couldn't see what I used to, maybe she hadn't changed but I sure as hell had. Rose had taught me what true love felt like and looked like. And it wasn't this, this weird possession Tasha felt over me. "I love you. I want to marry you. I'm ready now. We're soul mates." she tilted her head her bright blue eyes bright in the dim room. She reached her hand out across the table palm up, expectantly.

"This is crazy," I said pressing the palms of my hands into my brow bone. "I can't do this Tasha. All these years and I barely hear from you, then the moment I find happiness, you come matching in here demanding I forgive you and forget and just move on?"

Tasha left her hand still on the table. "Don't overthink this Dimitri. This is love, I am your first and only love. I have loved you more than anyone ever has and will. We are meant to be. Don't you see that."

"I Don't I'm sorry." I put my hand on Tash's but only to fold up her fingers, I held her hand lightly for a moment before she yanked it away.

"This is all because of her." She growled. "she's somehow brainwashed you. What is she doing to you?" I stood up and shook my head. I wasn't going to sit here and let Tasha bash my sweet Roza.

"I've had enough. I think you should go back to Washington. I'm happy with Rose and I don't see that changing anytime soon." I said taking a couple of bills out of my wallet and dropping them onto the table. Even though I hadn't eaten or drank anything.

"For now," Tasha said rising. I couldn't believe I had thought that Tasha had been Rose, even for a second. Were Tasha being pale with dark almost black hair, Rose had sun-warmed skin and hair the colour of melted chocolate, her hair was full and long, nobody would ever look the same as her. she was perfection, every single part of her and I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that Rose had allowed me to be one of the very few people in the world who had or got to see just how beautiful every single inch of her was.

"Can I call you an Uber?"I asked Tasha to be polite.

"It's the least you could do." she frowned. "you know I'm not giving up this easy Dimitri. You will change your mind. But it will be on your terms. You will come crawling back." she purred touching her long fingers to the side of my face scratching her fingertips through my stubble before giving it a not so gentle pat.

"Goodbye, Natasha," I said after quickly ordering her a uber. "Your ride is 5 minutes away. I would wait, but I have other things to do." I said with a quick wave as I quickly made my escape as she was putting on her coat.

"Dimitri" I heard her gasp as the door closed between us. I made a beeline for my car, I sure as hell didn't want to run into her out here by myself.

I drove to Lissa and Christians apartment, hitting every red light and little old lady crossing the street. I was tapping impatiently on the steering wheel as I waited for the light to turn green when I realized I didn't really remember where I was going. I had only been here once but I didn't have time to stop and GPS it. I wanted to see Rose. No, I needed physically to see her.

I knew I was in the right place when I saw Lissa's little Kia parked in the small apartment carpark. I pulled in beside it and made my way to the elevator. When at the door I pounded loudly, bouncing on the balls of my feet. The door flung open sooner than I had expected my hand was still hanging in the air from knocking. It was Christian. His face visibly dropped as he realized it was me.

"Dimitri?" Christian croaked. His eyes looked red-rimmed and his hair was all over the place.

"are you okay?" I asked looking him over. Not only did he look terrible but it looked like he hadn't changed his clothes in days, they were dirty and crumpled. Christian was about to answer when I noticed all the people standing behind him. Two police officers, Adrian and Sydney and Roses Mother. I shook my head and looked again. "Wait. What's going on?" I asked my stomach suddenly dropping.

Christian silently ushered me in. Every face turned to me and the door closed. "You haven't seen Lissa or Rose Friday night, have you?"

"I-I yeah, I saw Rose Saturday morning," I said looking at the faces. What were they all doing here? Where was Rose?

"What about Lissa?" Christian repeated clearly anxious.

"No."I shook my head. "I haven't seen her since the party." I said still confused. "what's going on?" I asked even though I think I already knew.

"The girls are missing." Roses mom said from the living room. Missing. Rose was missing. Nobody here but me had been here since Friday morning. I suddenly remembered her talking to someone on the phone, she was talking about Lissa, going to find her.

"Rose was going to find Lissa on Saturday morning," I said to the group. The police seemed to be taking notes.

"Who are you?" one of the offices asked.

"I'm Rosemarie's boyfriend Dimitri Belikov." I said quickly. "she works for me and she's been staying with me." I suddenly realized what I had just revealed and turned my head to Roses mother, she did not look happy. Her arms were crossed and her mouth was set in a line. I couldn't believe how much Rose took after her mother even with the small amount of time the two had spent together.

"Yes, I talked to Rose, I told her that Lissa never came home from the party. She didn't leave me a message letting me know where she was going, she didn't answer any of my calls and that's not like Lissa, even when we fight, she would never let me worry like this." Christian said pulling at his hair.

"Is it possible that the two girls ran off together?" one of the officers asked.

"No!" we all yelled in unison. If the situation hadn't been so dire, I might have laughed.

"Rose and Lissa aren't like that," Adrian said, he had his arm wrapped around Sydney. She looked so small and out of place, but she looked as worried as the rest of us. She probably knew how much the girls meant to Adrian.

"Says here on their file they ran away from boarding school for almost 6 months." the same officer said.

"They were just kids then, testing the boundaries. Acting out because they felt their parents wouldn't care." Roses mother said turning her face away from the rest of the group. It was obvious that she was talking about herself and Rose and not Lissa and her loving parents.

"This isn't helping." Christian groaned. "we need to find them!"

"have they tried contacting any of you, or have you tried tracking their phones?" the officer asked.

Christian shook his head. "Lissa didn't take her phone to the party, she says it's not etiquette to the host to be sitting around you head stuck in your phone the whole night, shes probably left it in her car or her handbag."

"What about you?" the officer asked. But I couldn't speak. Rose had contacted me; she had sent me those texts. But I hadn't found her at the other end of the line but Tasha. I suddenly had the urge to punch something but I shook my head. I didn't trust myself to speak. I made my way to the door.

"Where are you going?" Christian called.

"I just need some air." I gasped closing the door behind me and slumping against it. Tasha had Rose's phone; Tasha knew Lissa. What if she had done something to them... no. She would do that; she was a little odd but she wasn't crazy. It was probably all just a misunderstanding and they were all hanging out together and didn't realized how worried everyone was.

I pulled out my own phone and clicked into my Uber app. It had only just dropped her off 5 minutes ago. I clicked on the address and my brain froze trying to think of how and when I had heard that same address. Suddenly it dawned on me.

"oh no. Fuck me," I growled as I began to run to my car.

It felt like I had been driving for hours when I pulled up to Victors house. I tried tracing Roses phone and I wasn't surprised when it pinged that it was inside the very building, I was in front of. I pulled of down the driveway and saw a flash of metal. I parked the car and jumped out. There it was, the little red Mazda convertible I had brought when I made my first big deal.

I followed the path and stood in front of the front door. Unsure of what to do. Did I knock, did I just walk in. I was frozen in thought when I heard the unmistakable sound of gunshots, and not just one. The blood drained from my face. It had come from the back yard. I started sprinting towards the garden. I slowed as I rounded the corner. I couldn't believe I had been here just a few nights ago. So happy to be attending an event on Roses arm.

Rose. I couldn't see her anywhere. I noticed the bushes beside me had been flattened, but I thought nothing much of it. Probably a rowdy party-goer had fallen into it on Friday night. But it was then I heard voices. Shouting, and it was a voice I would know anywhere. My Roza. It took everything I had not to run towards her, but I needed to know what I was walking into. I mean, for all I know Rose and Lissa could be holding Tasha captive. But I doubted that strongly.

"Is that true?" I heard Tasha say. Her voice sounded so cruel but even from my place hiding behind the bushes I could hear her curiosity. "I will give you this once chance, do you love Dimitri? Or don't you?"

There was a deafening silence, part of me wanted to wait to see what Rose would say but when I tilted my head, I saw that Tasha was holding a gun pointed at my beautiful Roza and I couldn't just stand here. Even if it meant putting myself in the path of the bullet.

"Natasha" I called rounding the corner, I beelined for her not setting my gaze on her and nothing else. I saw her stash the gun behind her back, her face alight with surprise. Holding my breath, I walked straight into her body wrapping her in my arms.

I touched my lips to her ear and whispered just low enough for her. I realized then that she hadn't been alone. A man I didn't know was standing beside her, he was tucking the aforementioned gun into his holster. I wondered briefly who he was, her bodyguard. Her friend. "I'm sorry Tash, I don't know why I was being so stupid. Of course, I love you. I always had." my throat ached at the pressure of getting the words out. In my head I was picturing saying this to Rose. Not this evil woman beside me. When I looked up and saw the man beside us's face I knew why he was here. He was very clearly in love with Tasha.

I saw Lissa and Rose whispering to each other out of the corner of my eyes. I held Tasha a moment longer. Not because I wanted to but because I was bracing myself to look into Roses eyes. I knew they would hold betrayal.

When I turned to face the girls, it took everything I had not to fall to my knees. The two girls usually dressed impeccably were dirty their clothing torn, blood was seeping through a cut in Roses hairline and Lissa had bloodstains on the arms of her sleeves. I bit the inside of my cheek and forced myself to keep a blank face. I didn't really know what I was doing, but placating the madwoman with a gun seemed like the best idea for now.

"So, you were saying Rose?" Natasha pipped up beside me as she looped her arms around mine. She took me by surprise as I was so focused on not looking bothered by this situation. I felt sick as her fingers stroked up and down my inner arm. I looked over and saw Roses eyes trained on those fingers making their way up my shoulder and back down again. "Come on." she purred. "were all dying to hear what you have to say. "she said putting an unnecessary emphasis on 'dying' I'm not sure what was going through Tasha's head at this moment but it wasn't sane.

Lissa was looking at her best friend with a sad expression and had no idea what was going to come out of Rose's mouth.

"Natasha." Rose bit out. "I know what you want to hear. But I just can't say it. I don't lie." she took a deep breath and looked straight at me. "I love Dimitri Belikov with my whole being. I have never felt this kind of love, but with him. I want to spend the rest of my life with Dimitri, showing him how much I adore him, I want to grow old together. Have his beautiful children together, raise them to be strong and smart like him. And I will always rile the business world by his side. Forever. If that's what he wants." I could hear her voice wavering, tears filling her eyes.

my heartfelt like it was bursting in my chest. I had heard Rose say I love you, but never like that. Never so raw and open and pure. Even with a gun pointed at her demanding she say the opposite she stood there stronger than anyone I had ever met. She was a goddess among commoners. I would do everything and anything to keep this woman alive. Tasha fingernails dug into my shoulder so when I looked and saw Tasha's look of pure hatred I sobered. I needed to defuse this but I didn't know-how.

"And your thoughts on this Dimka?" she sang, smirking at me then over at the girls. I didn't know what I was going to say. I wanted to profess my love like Rose had. But I had to be smart. I didn't know if I could come back from this. But I would rather Rose hate me than her being dead.

I stared a hole in the ground before I mustered up the courage to look up into her beautiful eyes. Lissa was gripping her friends' hand and it was nice to see Lissa holding strong for Rose. She would need her.

"Rose," I whispered. The words were fighting to stay in. My stomach-churning. "I'm sorry." I cringed.

"Sorry for what?" she asked. Her thick lashes batting against her cheek. I just wanted to swoop her up and kiss the little worry line between her brows away.

"I'm sorry for stringing you along Rosemarie. I'm sorry that I never actually loved you,"i said in a rush. The words burned on their way out and I was glad. The look on Roses face was something I would never forget. I felt like I had just kicked a puppy.

Tasha clapped her hands and giggled, but Rose looked broken. Her chest heaving with sobs. Lissa looked terrified her eyes bouncing from me to Rose to Tasha.

"You can't mean that."Lissa suddenly yelled rushing forward. Tasha baulked but didn't have time to react before Rose was pulling Lissa back.

"No." she cried. "there not worth it." She spat. My heart flipped and dived and I truly felt like I was going to be sick.

"Should I take them away and deal with them?" the man who had been standing there so silently I forgot he was even there said to Tasha. She tilted her head thinking, looking over at the girls. Lissa had begun to cry. Her bravado gone in a puff of air. Rose was leaning heavily on the statue beside her, her eyes cast upward blinking back tears. I looked her up and down and saw how purple and swollen her knee looked. If it wasn't broken it was surely dislocated or sprained.

"Whatever you want Christof," she said flicking her hand in the girl's directions. The man she called Christof moved forwards towards the girls and without much thought I moved out in front of him.

"No." i said with more force than I needed to. Tasha looked shocked.

"Dimka?" She said putting her hands on her hips. "What are you doing move," she said with a fake laugh. I saw Rose turn her head to watch our little confutation. She looked almost bored.

"You don't need to kill them," I said trying for nonchalant.

"Kill them?" Tasha said raising her eyebrows. "I'm not a lunatic Dimka, I don't kill people," she said rolling her eyes.

"Then what is that for?" I asked pointing to the gun I knew she had been brandishing earlier.

"Self-defence Dimitri," Tasha said. I could see she was getting upset again. "that little bitch attacked me." she said glaring at Rose.

"I absolutely did fucking not." Rose growled. "you pointed a gun in my face and you helped Victor try to kill Lissa." I turned my head to her voice. Lissa was beyond terrified. I could swear her hair had gotten lighter from terror.

"All you do is lie lie lie lie. Even when you're told the truth you just lie." Tasha groaned. "don't you get sick of this. I know I am, and I think Lisa got what she deserved." Tasha grabbed the gun from Christof's holster and pointed it at the girls over my shoulder. I was stuck in the middle; I quickly raised my hands.

"Tasha, no. You don't need to do this. Just let them go. You have what you wanted. You have me now." I said slowly trying to calm her, but she didn't look at me. Her eyes were locked with Roses.

"Yeah listen to him Tasha, you have your precious Dimka now. You can go be a psycho wherever you like you ugly heartless bitch." Rose said glaring daggers at Natasha, before lifting her hand to flip her the bird. I cringed. I was doing everything I could to calm Tasha and Rose was really not helping, I felt a pit in my stomach.

"Rose" I heard Lissa gasp. "so not the time for that." Tashas head flicked to Lissa and she arched her brow.

"No, you know what, it is the perfect time for that Vasilisssa. And I have changed my mind. You're so right Rose. I do have what I want now, I have Dimitri all to myself. So, I'm not going to shoot you." Tasha slowly lowered her gun, but something in her face kept me standing there in the middle cautiously waiting her next move. So, when she quickly lifted her arm and fired towards Lissa I was already moving to block it. I saw something else whip past me before I fell to the hard dirt floor.

Okay, so you know what the first thing I'm going to say is!

I AM SO SORRY FOR MAKING YOU ALL WAIT THIS LONG.

I hadn't intended on this long hiatus. back I will try to finish the story in the new year. one more chapter. maybe two if you're lucky.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter in Dimitri's POV. I love him.

thank you for all your kind words about my family situation. unfortunately, since then it hasn't gotten better but worse. this will be an interesting Christmas without him and my little niece. but I am looking forward to it none the less. Christmas is my favourite time of year!

so I hope you all have a happy safe and love-filled holiday and I will see you in the new year with a new chapter.