I have been having some trouble with the site. I I've been trying to update now for two days.

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.

"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 ?