(Unedited)

Enjoy :D

- Lovetwist

Chapter 27,

Blood and Bruises

Abe

Silent and deadly, that's how he would always hear people describe him and his people. Abe knew what they called him and he knew they were right. He watched his armed men silently making their way to the door of the abandoned house sitting in the middle of nowhere, silently every guard outside was killed, a silent gunshot to the head or a snap of the neck. It didn't matter how they died as long as they died.

Abe walked behind two of his most trusted men and checked the loaded gun in his hand. His daughter was in there and she was coming home. Right now.

A low whistle could be heard from behind the house, the signal telling them that the coast was clear and it was time to get his Rosemarie back.

Signaling to the two men standing at the door Abe counted to three and his men kicked down the door with one hard kick each and all hell broke loose. Guns were blazing and voices shouting.

After he was sure the coast was clear for him, Abe stepped inside the house and made his way towards the basement door. Grabbing one of the wounded men gripping his neck as he growled in his face "How many are down there?"

"Fuck you!" the man choked out as Abe squeezed tighter and gritted his teeth in his face "How many?"

"T-two" Opening the door, Abe threw the man down the stairs until he landed at the feet of Abe's childhood memory.

Pointing his gun at Victor's head, Ibrahim walked slowly down the stairs never taking his eyes off the man in front of him. Victor didn't look away as Abe came closer, walking into his personal space Abe stood a few inches taller and he even saw Victor gulp at the intrusion.

Placing the gun in the middle of Victor's forehead Abe slowly turned his head to the side and the sight in front of him made him see red. Victor's bastard son stood above his unconscious daughter gripping her hair in his fist glaring back at Abe.

"If you don't want your father's brain painting the walls, I recommend you take your hands of my daughter in the next 5 seconds"

Jacob gripped Rose's hair tighter, pulling her body up, looking into her father's eyes he licked the side of her head not knowing that he had just poked the beast. With one flick of his finger the gun went off, taking his ear clean off the side of his head.

Jacobs hold on Rose broke and Abe watched his unconscious daughter fall to the floor and he swore he could hear the moment her skull cracked, he knew what that kind of blow did to a person and he hated it was his daughter.

Jacob screamed and grabbed the side of his face where his ear had been blown straight off. He screamed louder than Abe thought possible. If he knew his daughter right she hadn't screamed until her body gave out on her.

Jacob was a coward, he beat on a woman, beat her unconscious and he dared to scream at a little bullet graze.

Abe signaled his men to grab Victor as he walked towards Jacob tucking his gun into the waistband of his pants. Grabbing the pack of Jacob's neck he pulled the boy closer to his face and growled

"When I tell you to do something, you do it. Get this weakling out of my sight" he threw him at his men who dragged him out of the basement up the stairs behind his father.

Wiping the blood of his hand Abe rushed to his daughter's side as she lay on the floor, her skin was pale and as cold as ice. Her face was all blue and swollen and Abe could make out the line of blood running down her forehead and down her lip.

Gently he stroked the hair out of his daughter's face, her lips were so blue under the line of blood she looked closer to death than she did to life. Her legs were covered in bruises and he saw thin white lines on her thighs and some red ones. Abe had to cover his mouth to stifle the sob in his throat at the sight of his beautiful strong daughter laying so vulnerable on the cold concrete basement floor.

Taking off his jacket Abe draped it over his daughter and pulled her close to his chest cradling her head in his arms like he did when she was a child. He had his little girl in his arms again and he was never letting her go.

"Rose, please honey look at baba. Please look at me. You're safe now Kiz" stroking his daughter's hair he rubbed her arms up and down trying to get heat back into her body.

A small whimper came from Rose as Abe stroked her bruised cheek "Come on baby, look at me. I'm here, i'm taking you home"

Rose's swollen eyes opened a little as she turned her head in her father's direction not really seeing him, her brows furrowed and she squinted at his face whispering in a soft voice

"Baba?" Abe drew her closer to his chest holding her head in the crook of his neck

"I'm here Kizm" at his words a sob broke out from Rose's lips and she grabbed hold of her father's shirt pulling herself closer into his chest with hot tears streaming down her face.

"Baba, my baba. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't do anything I swear I didn't do anything" His daughter sobbed.

Pulling Rose up, Abe carried her up the stairs "Rose, I'm going to make sure you get to the hospital and i'll meet you there as soon as possible" Rose's grip got tighter with every word

"No, please baba. Don't go, please" she was begging her father not to let her go as they stepped out into the cold midnight air and the sound of cars rushing up the driveway coming to a screeching halt and doors slamming shut

"Shh, Dimitri's here, he'll take care of you" he kissed her head and gripped her tighter as he saw Dimitri coming towards them

"Dimitri, he's here? He needs to know I didn't do it, I didn't!" Rose sounded on the verge of another sobbing fit. Abe´s eyebrows drew together as he looked at his daughter's face

"What didn't you do Rose?" he didn't get an answer as she was ripped out of his hands into Dimitri's hold.

Dimitri didn't even wait for the car to come to a complete stop before he ripped open the door and jumped out running towards his woman. He didn't wait for Abe to let go of Rose before Dimitri grabbed hold on her and wrapped her around himself, pulling her legs around his waist and her hands around his neck. Dimitri breathed her in like she was his life force. He sighed in relief as he felt her tighten the grip on his body.

"Моя роза" (My Rose) Rose held on to Dimitri for dear life, breathing him in and running her hands along his neck feeling the heat from his skin on her fingers

"I didn't do it, I wouldn't do It. I wouldn't do it" she whimpered in his arms and curled closer to his heat

"What didn't you do baby?" Dimitri's heart broke at the sound of her small voice when she spoke her next words

"I didn't go on my knees, I didn't. I promise, I didn't do it, I didn't" she was sobbing loudly in his arms never letting go off him. As Rose sobbed, Dimitri rubbed her back and turned to Abe.

"I'm getting her out of here, you can have as many of my men as you want I don't care but i'm taking her to the hospital" Abe gave a curt nod taking his eyes off Dimitri and focused on his daughter.

Seeing how her shaking wasn't as severe when Dimitri held her and It brought him some comfort knowing his daughter was safe in the arms of the man he trusted to take care of his only daughter.

"Take care of my baby Dimitri, she's my youngest and my only daughter. I want you to stay with her every second. I'll take care of everything here, the boys are on their way." Leaving his words hanging between them Abe stepped forward and kissed his daughter on her head before he let Dimitri rush her to the car and take her away from his arms once more.

Standing outside for a few minutes he watched as his daughter was driven away with three other cars following all filled with armed men ready to sacrifice their lives for his daughter.

A few more minutes of breathing in the cold fresh air he saw the bright headlights of a car coming up the driveway. His son's we're here to avenge their little sister.

All of them had inherited his temper but it rarely showed among other people, but since they were young nothing would go past them when it came to Rose, they had to know everything.

They had learned what Abe's main profession was from the age of 12. They knew the risks of the Mafia life and they had sworn to their father that Rose would never be involved.

There was no escaping it now, she was in love with the most dangerous man in the world and she had been kidnapped and held captive by one of both Abe's and Dimitri's top rivals. She was now and would forever be a part of their world.

His son's faces were full of rage, they all looked so alike at that moment and Abe could see that his sons were no longer in control of their own emotions and the little boys were gone. Now he could see the ruthless soldiers he had trained to kill.

All their brows were furrowed, nostrils were flaring, jaws ticking and eyes burning with rage and murder. Abe knew that there was nothing he could do or say to stop them at this point, they were gone.

They had seen their sister get hurt too many times and this time he could see they had had enough.

Cameron was the first to speak to his father, his voice was emotionless but his jaw was ticking in fury "Where is she?"

"On her way to the hospital"

"Alone?!" Aidan barked

"Dimitri is taking care of her. Right now we have a job to do and you need to focus." Looking at his sons he saw they all carried some kind of weapon.

A knife in Cameron´s hand, a gun strapped to Aidan´s hip but the thing that scared him the most was the baseball bat in Ian's hand.

Abe wasn't scared of much, but seeing his second son standing so still and focused on one thing with his narrowed eyes towards the house and his knuckles white around the bat in his hand, that scared him.

Shaking his head Abe tried to focus on what had to be done. Turning he slowly headed in the up the driveway to the front door with his sons trailing behind him. Clearing his throat he looked up and saw three of his men standing by the basement door nodding in his direction in both a greeting to his son´s and a confirmation that the plan was in full swing.

"It's time. Don't kill them yet, other than that you can do whatever you want. But you need to know that he threatened your sister's life, he threatened to slice her throat, beat her, rape her and leave her on mine and your mother's doorsteps," he gave his son's a stern look before he continued

"None of you will hold back, you use everything I have thought you and make sure your sister is safe she has been through far too much"

Looking each and every one of them in the eye he made sure they got the message loud and clear. When he was confident in their understanding of his words he nodded in the direction of the stairs.

Cameron pushed his brothers aside as he purposely strode to the basement followed by Aidan, when Ian walked past his father Abe grabbed him by the arm and made sure he looked right into his eyes

"I know what I´ve told you about keeping it all in, all these years but this here, is an exception. Let it all out for your sister, I know your brothers will do everything they can to hurt them. But I need you to put everything you have in it when you have your turn. You hear me boy? All of it!"

Nodding Ian squared his shoulders and cracked his head to the side and headed down the stairs. Abe knew what he had asked his son was unfair but they both needed it, Ian was the quiet one never did anything out of the ordinary and followed as many rules as he could, but when he was angry it was like something in his head turned off along with most of his control and he went mad.

Nothing and no one could stop him in his angered rampage besides his father. If Ian went too far without control he would black out and what little of the control he had left would disappear until his target was eliminated.

Dimitri

Dimitri closed the car door and told Vlad to step on it. Rose was shivering in his arms when he placed her on his lap and ripped her father's jacket off her shoulders replacing it with his bigger one which engulfed her entirely making her small body disappear in it. Dimitri grabbed her legs and tucked them under her body on his lap trying to get her as warm as he could, rubbing his hands up and down her body and placed her head on his chest keeping it as steady as he could with the car flying down the road under Vlad´s control.

Vlad looked at them in the rearview mirror, for the first time in all his life Dimitri saw fear in Vlad's eyes. Focusing back on the road he stepped on the gas and made it to the hospital in 7 minutes.

Rushing out the door with Rose in his arms he made it through the door into the hospital he ran straight to the front desk and without even realising he bellowed so loud that the entire room and the hallways went completely silent

"I need a doctor right now!" When no one moved he bellowed again "Now!"

With that the room was brought to life again and three nurses came running in his direction with two doctors behind them, one of the nurses brought a hospital bed forward telling Dimitri to lay her down on it so they could examine her properly.

After a few seconds of hesitation he did as told but he never let go of Rose's hand when they wheeled her down, they were going to slow for him but he kept his mouth shut and squeezed her tiny hand in both of his.

"Sir we're taking her to get X-rays, only family can go through are you a family member?" one of the nurses asked him and without hesitation Dimitri nodded his head forcefully answering

"She's my wife"

Any thoughts ? :D

Please leave a review, I love knowing what you guys think and it motivates me to write more :D

I have been having some trouble with the site. I I've been trying to update now for two days. so this is the only thing I can think of doing to get the chapter out until the problem is fixed.

Bit of a POV change here so... be kind.

- Lovetwist

Chapter 28,

Hit

The sound of the long flat line beeping made Dimitri's heart stop for a beat. Cold sweat slid down his back and temple, as he watched the nurses rush into the room and to his woman´s bedside taking her pulse trying to get her heart rate back up.

His breath was erratic, his palms were clammy, his head was throbbing and his eyes were burning with tears. His woman was dying. Dying right in front of him and there wasn't a thing he could do about it. Nothing.

He would be alone again. Dimitri knew he would never survive living without her, he didn't want to. She was his life, he wanted to start a family with her, he wanted to marry her, make her his wife and live out their lives together.

She was dying.

The four Mazur men stood in the basement Rose had been tortured in for weeks, beaten, whipped and almost forced to injure the unthinkable. Ibrahim had his men chain Jacob to the ceiling and stripped naked.

Jacob glared at the four men he had only seen in pictures he had found in his father's files. He didn't like the situation he was in, he was naked and even though he wouldn't admit it he was very afraid. The brothers were scary bastards, they were all tall and well built, stronger than him for sure he knew that with one look at them. Yet seeing them all together almost made him wet himself.

Aidan took a step forward with the intention of confronting Jacob as he hung in front of him, but before he could take another step he felt the baseball bat in his brother's hand come across his chest halting him in his steps.

Looking sideways at his little brother he knew there was no way Ian would let him pass if he already had a plan in mind. Nodding to his brother he stepped back and waved in the man´s direction telling Ian to proceed.

Jacob looked from one brother to the next, his pulse became more rapid as they stared back. Their faces were blank but their postures were hostile and ready to pounce. They were young but Jacob knew they were well trained, he'd heard stories of the Merciless Mazur brothers, they never did a job on their own, always together all three of them.

Most stories were very much the same, Aidan and Cameron always made the kill but Ian he was the most ruthless of the three, he specialized in getting the answers he wanted and he had many ways to get those answers. He played with people's minds and he broke their bodies.

Slowly Ian circled the men with the baseball-bat in his hands like an animal stalking its prey.

"You think that just because you are a man, you can treat a woman any way you please?" His steps and movements were slow and his voice was flat, no change whatsoever. "You think you can keep them chained and beat them like animals" Ian came to a halt in front of Jacob, cocking an eyebrow at him while he spoke

"How do you feel, being treated like an animal?"

"That bitch deserved it" Jacob hissed through clenched teeth as he glared daggers at the man in front of him and spit in his face

Ian took a handkerchief out of his back pocket and wiped the spit of in his face before sighing deeply and placing it back in his pocket

"Manners is clearly something you weren't taught. However there is something you should know"

Jacob made an unattractive snorting noise making him sound more like the pig he was as he spoke "oh yeah?! And what's that though guy?"

Ian smirked and leaned forward and grabbed a hold of the struggling man´s face and he spoke into Jacob´s ear in an excited tone of voice

"When I'm through with you, you'll beg me to kill you." There was a small pause before Ian continued his voice growing harsher with every word

"You'll promise to do anything and everything I ask and then you'll really wish you had listened to your father and kept your mouth shut. Because when you spit in my face and insult my little sister, after you torture and torment her! You won't like what comes next."

Ian stepped back and looked Jacob right in the eye "Don't worry though, you'll live" Ian thought he saw relief and triumph flash in Jacob's eyes, Ian smirked before continuing

"You remember the saying 'what doesn't kill you makes you wish you were dead' don't you Jacob? " Ian raised the bat as he spoke and swung it with so much force Jacob flew back when it slammed into his body, breaking at least two of the bones in his ribcage.

Jacob swayed in the air still chained to the ceiling by his arms, and not surprisingly too the four Mazur men, Jacob screamed in agony lailing in the air trying to get rid of all the pain radiating through his body.

"You son of a b…"

Crack. Another hit for the bat on the other side of his body.

"Aaahhh"

"Insulting my mother won't help you either" Ian growled

"You'll regret th…"

Smack. Ian hit him even harder now his anger was getting the best of him

"My" hit. "Little" crack. "Sister" smack. "Is" hit. "Not" smack. "a whore" crack.

With every hit off the bat a cry burst out of Jacob's throat. He was weak, he could beat a woman to the brink of life and listen to her cries but he, a full grown man could take one himself without bawling like a baby.

"You beat her. and knowing my sister she didn't cry until the end didn't she?!" No reply only a glare

"Didn't she?!" Ian growled in slamming the bat into his hip

"No! She didn't cry" Jacob screamed out in pain

"That's because she's not a weak and pathetic little baby like you, who needs to beat on someone to feel like a man"

Her body felt like it was falling apart even though she could barely move, Rose knew she was in the hospital by the constant beeping sound in her ear. She remembered everything. All the pain and the look on her tormentors faces. Rose tried to open her eyes but the bright light of the hospital made it almost impossible.

Dimitri was stroking her hair as he spoke softly to her, his head close to hers, she knew his cologne anywhere and she knew the way his touch felt on her.

All she could think was that He was here, he was with her and she could feel her heart slowly mend the scars he'd left behind when he left her alone sat her apartment to go too his wife.

"Please baby wake up, I need you to wake up. I never should have let you leave without me. I should have gone with you." Dimitri's voice was for the first time so weak it could barely heard, he sounded so broken it made Rose fight her body's reaction to her wanting to wake up.

"I can't keep doing this without you Roza, this life, it takes away all the humanity in a person. When I met you I got mine back. Please Rose, come back to me. You are my life and I want to spend the rest of it with you and I promise you I won't take no for an answer."

Slowly she turned her head, startling Dimitri who whipped his head up and looked at her face with tears in his eyes "That's it baby, open those beautiful brown eyes for me"

Slowly she opened her eyes even though the light was bright Dimitri's body shielded her face much to her relief. As she opened her eyes she saw Dimitri smiling at her not even bothering to wipe away the tears running down his cheeks and jaw.

"You came for me" The words came out as a sob when Rose spoke, her face was contorted in both pain and relief. It broke Dimitri's heart seeing the look on his woman's face. How could she think he wouldn't come for her, she was his life and he was never letting her go again.

Stroking away Rose's tears he could help the huge smile that broke out on us face

"Of course I came for you кароtska, I never should have left you in the first place. I promise you I will never leave you again. I'm all yours if you'll have me" Rose didn't hesitate as she reached out for him, pulled him weakly towards her and sobbed into the crook of his neck. She couldn't speak. She just cried because he was here and he came for her.

"Yes" hiccup "y-yes" she was clawing for him to come closer until he was almost laying on top of her. Slowly he pulled away to look into her eyes and stroke her tear stained cheek

"I'm so sorry Roza, this is all my fault I should have gone with you. I'm so sorry kapotska."

He sounded so broken to Rose, she could hear the sob in his throat. Dimitri had never cried in front of her or anyone as far as she knew. Rose placed her palm on Dimitri's cheek and stroked her thumb over his cheekbones shaking her head

"No Dimitri, this is not your fault and it doesn't matter anymore. You're here and you promise you won't leave me ever again" Rose spoke in a broken voice looking straight into Dimitri's eyes who shook his head with force and placed his and over Rose's on his cheek

"I won't ever leave you again even if you ask me too" Nodding Rose's lips turned up for a fraction of a second before her lips started to quiver and she broke down in sobs once more

"I was so scared, I didn't do anything wrong I swear." Rose clutched Dimitri's jacket between her fingers in a tight hold as she kept stammering " I-I didn't know they knew you. Jacob made it seem like you hated me. He's hurt me for so long"

Rose's breathing became harsher and her sight was becoming fuzzy with all the shed and unshed tears in her eyes which she'd kept at bay in her time of capture.

Quickly Dimitri let her go and took a step back only making Rose panic even more and she blinked her eyes in order to see him clearly. Dimitri didn't like seeing his Roza breaking down in front of him and there was only one thing he could think of that would calm her down and let her rest her mind and feel some semblance of safety.

In fast movements Dimitri ripped off his suit jacket, shoes and socks and then he made sure all IV wasn't in the way as he lifted the covers and held her to his chest laying down beside her on the hospital bed.

"Shh it's okay milaya, you're safe I've got you. Try to rest now I'll be here when you wake up" Dimitri softly spoke into her ear hugging her tightly and pulling her closer into his body

"Don't go!" Rose hiccuped into his chest as he stroked her hip with his thumb and kisses her hair

"I'll stay right here until you wake up, now close your eyes and try to get some sleep"

Slowly Rose began to calm down in Dimitri's embrace listening to his heart beating inside his chest in a slow calming rhythm. She didn't want to sleep. She wanted to hold on to Dimitri to make sure this wasn't a dream and that he was really here and that he wouldn't let her go again.

"I didn't do it" Rose mumbled into his chest playing with a button on his shirt. Still stroking her hip Dimitri asked her

"What baby?"

"Go down on my knees" her tone was dry but her fingers tightened on his shirt

"I know kapotska I know, and I'm so proud of you. You're so strong and brave my beautiful Roza"

Rose's mouth started quivering again and she buried her head further into Dimitri's chest where she could feel the vibrations in his chest as he spoke on his deep voice "He told me to go down on my knees and I heard him when he undid his belt, he wanted me to… to"

Dimitri tightened his hold on her as she cried in his arms holding onto him for dear life. Dimitri clenched his eyes and kissed her hair again wanting her to know just how sorry he was for what had happened.

"I know it's stupid, but I thought no one was coming they told me you were still with Tasha and had had enough of me."

"I'll never have enough of you, I thought I'd give you some time before I…" Dimitri stopped himself in mid sentence and looked down at Rose who couldn't meet his eyes, she felt so dirty and used she knew her body was scarred and bruised and she just wanted to take a long bath and sleep without seeing their faces.

"Before what?" She asked in a small voice, finally looking up at him with a questioning gaze. Taking a deep breath Dimitri touched his forehead with hers and kissed her nose

"Before I took your hand.." Dimitri did just that and pulled up to his lips and kissed her knuckles before he placed it over his heart and looked at her again

"And asked you to hopefully let me call myself your husband" Dimitri couldn't hide the anxiety in his voice or his face as he spoke to her and waited for her reaction.

Rose's eyes widened and her jaw went a little slack as she searched his eyes for something he didn't know. Clearing his throats Dimitri looked down at their hands and tried to mask the worry in his voice "I understand if this is too soon or not the right time but I just wanted you to know how serious I am and how much you mean to me. So I thought if I'd just…"

"Yes" that one word spoken in a small voice made Dimitri stop his ranting and meet her eyes before he asked "Yes?"

Nodding Rose placed a hand on the back of his head and pulled his lips to hers, and as their lips touched Dimitri felt it, he felt like he finally had a home. It wasn't a place it was her, his Roza was his home and as long as she was with him he finally had a home.

Pulling away Rose pulled her fingers through his hair with her eyes closed and nodding "Yes Dimitri, I'll marry you"

Rose snuggled closer into his chest with a small smile tugging at her lips before she spoke out again in a sigh "Now hold me"

Dimitri was beaming and he chuckled at her command and slipped his hand underneath her hospital robe placing it on her bare hip "As you wish Roza, sleep now kapotska I'll be here when you awake."

Silence took over the room only their breathing could be heard and just as Rose was about to fall asleep she heard Dimitri whisper into her ear "Thank you Roza, I love you Milaya more than you know"

Rose woke up screaming and sweating, her heart beat fast and she felt nauseous. Dimitri was still beside her as she kicked her feet and moved her arms in the air as if she was fighting someone off.

Quickly Dimitri turned her to face him by placing one hand behind her head and the other on her hip. "It's okay, I'm here. I've got you baby" Dimitri murmured into her ear making soothing circles on her hip with his thumb and dragged his fingers through her tangled hair.

Rose tried to calm her breathing and clutched Dimitri's shirt tightly in her dusts and took a few deep breaths

"Better?" Dimitri asked kissing her forehead

"Yeah, thank you for staying"

"Always baby, how do you feel? Want me to get the doctor ?"

"I Don't want you to go, isn't there a button you can just push and a doctor or a nurse magically appears?!" Rose grumbled not wanting to let go of Dimitri for one minute, Dimitri chuckled then he looked around for a button to press when the small knock was heard from the door

"Come in," Dimitri said loud enough for the person on the other side to hear.

When the door opened a very pissed off Olena stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips scowling at her son. She took quick steps towards the bed and grabbed the back of Dimitri's shirt pulling him of the bed as his eyes widened in shock

"You didn't think of calling your mother to tell me that my daughter was safe, you ungrateful boy I thought you were better than this. Now get up and go get the damn doctor"

Dimitri gaped at his mother not knowing what to say to her scolding him. Rose had to put a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh as she watched Olena point a finger at her shocked son.

"Don't you make me tell you again Dimitri Alexander Belikov, or my shoe will be so far up your behind you'll smell it." Dimitri looked at Rose for any sign for him to stay, but she just smiled and nodded at the door. Dimitri grumbled something under his breath as he turned and left the room.

When the door closed with a soft click Olena's whole demeanor changed as she rushed to Rose's side and made herself comfortable beside her in the bed and hugging her in a tight embrace smudging Rose's face into her well proportioned bosom.

"Oh my poor baby, all alone, you must have been so frightened"

Rose smiled, loving how Olena treated her like a part of the family already and she couldn't wait to tell her she was marrying her son.

"I'm okay Olena, I promise"

"You don't fool me child, you were and are still afraid to death. You may be able to fool Dimitri but I'm not so gullible. It is okay to be frightened you know and there is no shame in crying my dear" Rose felt so safe in Olena's arms they were so much like her own mothers she couldn't help but snuggle further into Olena and sniffled

"It hurt so much. I can still feel his hands on me, touching me. Beating and whipping me. I see him when I close my eyes but I'm not as afraid as I used to be now that Dimitri a-and you are here. - Rose choked out "I don't want to tell him how I feel because I know he'll only blame himself and I don't want that" Olena ran her fingers through Rose's hair and started singing to her a russian lullaby.

They had both fallen asleep when Dimitri came back with three cups of coffee in hand. He couldn't help the smile that crept into his face seeing his mother cradling his fiancée, fiancée. He smiled even brighter at the thought of her in a white dress walking down the aisle on her way to be his, legally.

A thump on Dimitri's shoulder made his smile vanish and his reflexes kick in. The hand free coffee cups shot out grabbing the person around the throat squeezing tightly blocking the air supply. No one was harming her again, no one.

Dimitri glared at the person who was currently choking under his grip. Of all people it had to be Ivan. Growling Dimitri loosened his grip and glared at the man

"Do not sneak up on me like that Ivan, I could have killed you!"

"I'll try to remember that next time I come to offer my services" Ivan grumbled, messaging his tender throat, looking into the room where his 'mother' lay holding Rose in her arms sound asleep. "I wanted to tell you that they have been moved and are waiting for you. I thought you would want to take care of this yourself"

"Yes" Dimitri nodded "I want you to keep your eyes on them, I have to stay with her for a while. She comes first. They can wait"

"I thought as much" Ivan nodded " how is our Rose doing, Dimka ? The men are feeling rather anxious"

"She's...scared. She woke up earlier sweating and hyperventilating, I calmed her down until Mama came in and ordered me out of the room"

Ivan smiled "ahh, that's mama for you. In her mind we're still her five year old little boys"

"Yeah, well, I´d like to be the one sleeping next to my wife" Dimitri mumbled in an annoyed tone

"Wife?" Ivan raised a brow at his brother in question smiling to himself

"Soon to be anyway, I asked her and she said yes. I'm going to be calling her my wife in a few days and might as well start now!"

"Have you told her father? Her brothers?"

"No."

"Well, this is as good as time as any since all of the remaining Mazurs are heading this way as we speak" Ivan gestured with his chin behind Dimitri who looked over his shoulder then back at his friend pointing a finger at his chest

"Not a word or I will kill you" Dimitri threatened preparing himself for the talk he was going to be having with his future wife's family

Ivan's hands flew up into a backing gesture taking a step back in defeat, nodding at Dimitri's words smirking like a cat at his brother who seemed a bit nervous for the first time.

Ever.

well ?