A/N: Thanks for all the kind words, I hope you enjoy this update! xo

I look at him incredulous, they truly have hands in every pot.

"Why?" I ask.

"She didn't want to work for me, but she was aware of our other business."

"Wait…can we start in the beginning?"

"Sure, well I was born in Seatle-"

"I don't mean your beginning, I mean where this," I motion outside, "began."

"When I ran into you at that café," he says simply, "when you berated me actually, it was pretty sexy."

I roll my eyes at him, obviously he's not really that into answering my questions. "Have you been following me?"

"Just watching over you, but it's been pretty difficult since you've been holed up in that house," he sighs.

"So you are following me."

"I'd like to think that it's protection."

"Semantics," I sigh, "what else? You've been the one calling me incessantly this last week or so."

"Guilty."

"Why?"

He shrugs then quickly changes the subject, "Why were you on house arrest?"

"What, Katherine didn't tell you?" I reply dryly.

"She's not privy to that information."

"I met Danny last weekend, he said that I needed to be married to a man of his choosing," I said as I try to recount the image. "I sort of punched him and he got a bit physical."

"And that's why you have that," Christian growls. "Don't remind me."

"Why did you help me?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

"I already told you-"

"I know," I interrupt him, "but why risk it?"

"Because, you're not safe there."

"And I am here? As far as I know, my family hates yours because you ratted on them."

"That's not true," he says.

"Why's that?" I looked at him pensively.

"Our family was set up."

"What do you mean?" I ask as my interest grows.

"Our two families had been very good friends, even business partners. There had never been any problems or miscommunication between us. Once Daniel rose in the ranks, he became a made man-"

"Isn't he my uncle?"

"Is that what they told you?"

"Yes…"

"He's not, that's just a story that they've come up with, possibly to make you feel safe," he shakes his head. "Your family is one of the purest Italian bloodlines, your father and uncle are both biologically Italian. Unlike, everyone else who have become mixed."

"Like me?" I ask.

"Yeah, your mom isn't Italian is she?"

"I think she's only part, but a very small part."

"Exactly, that was the reason why your dad wanted out, he couldn't marry your mother so they eloped."

"So much for that," I scoff, "they're divorced."

"Yup," he chuckles darkly.

"Okay, go on."

"Anyway, my father and yours were best friends but unlike yours my dad embraced this lifestyle. That's why our families had been so close, so when your family members started getting pinched, all fingers pointed to us. Though Roberto didn't believe it at first, Daniel quickly persuaded him.

"My father tried to reason with your uncle, but he wouldn't hear it. We were in amidst of a war, during the rise of conflict, members from both of our families started getting clipped. This raised the ante, making your family irate and pointing their guns in our direction, but you have to know that we never ordered any hits."

"What does that mean?"

"It was an inside job."

"Like my family killed off some of their own members?"

"Exactly, so they could blame us. The only surviving member of your family is Roberto."

"Aren't we all related?"

"No," he laughs, "none from the upper levels or even part of the original administration. They are Daniel's capos who are just associates of the family,and handle their own crew, but they're not related to you."

"They just call themselves family?"

"Yes, the only blood family you have left is your uncle, its safe to say that you aren't safe with him either."

"And I am with you?"

"Safer."

"You're not very convincing," I huff.

"Listen, I know this is a lot to take in, but you have to understand that the family that you're supposed to align yourself with do not have your best interest in mind."

I cringe. If what he's saying is true, then I was screwed the minute I got off of that plane.

"My father made a promise to yours when you were born and I plan on keeping it."

"What's that?"

"To protect you," he states, "your father knew something like this was brewing. There have been talks, your family became too powerful and there has been some bad blood dating back all the way from Sicily. Just know that I am here to help you out of this."

"You're willing to help me get out of here?"

"Yes, if that's what you wanted."

"It is."

"Okay," he replies a bit sadly.

"How will this go?"

"It will take time, we have to get you a completely new identity, then we need to get you out of here undetected."

"How long?"

"A couple of weeks to settle things over in the city, your uncle is probably losing his mind and Danny will probably be shooting everything and anything to get you back. You're his pawn."

"His pawn?"

"Yes, you serve as pretty penny to them, the sole Luciano."

"Can you stop talking about me like I'm property to be sold." He doesn't say anything for a moment, "I was going to be sold?"

"Not in those specific words…"

My blood boils and my anger returns, "Did you say that Danny wormed his way up there by getting those members arrested and you believe that he wanted to sell me?"

"Yes."

"I want him dead."

"Now who's being irrational," he laughs.

"Can I trust you?"

"With my life," he says with such intensity that it almost pulls me back.

"What are your plans with my family?"

"Well, they're being led by an egotistical, maniac who is out for everyone's head. We have to cut the appendage off before the virus spreads."

"You want to take Genovese down?"

"Just Danny."

"Then, what will happen to my uncle and what about the underboss, wouldn't they just replace him with someone else."

"Yes, but the underboss really wouldn't have as much bite, I know him. He's Danny's brother."

"They don't share the same last name."

"They're snakes," he shrugs.

My head was reeling, too much information. The fact that he planned to sell me to the highest bidder and reap all the benefits.

"Let's have dinner," Christian says trying to change the subject.

I gave him a small smile and a nod.

"Gloria the woman who runs this household made it; I hope you don't mind. I can't actually cook."

I laugh softly, "It's okay, at least it's sort of home-cooked."

"Do you cook?"

"Actually, yes and I've been known to bake, too."

"Show me sometime?"

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Sure, sounds like fun."

He gives me a large smile, "Let me get everything out."

Once I'm seated alone in the room, I'm left with nothing but silence and my thoughts. If it weren't for Christian I would have been sold. I cringe.

"Here you go," Christian interrupts my thoughts.

"Thanks, this smells delicious," I say as he puts my plate down in front of me and pops open a bottle of wine. It was a filet mignon with garlic mash potatoes, and asparagus, my stomach grumbled happily. When was the last time I ate?

The first few bites were silent, "Is it good?" he asks.

"Delicious," I give him a large smile, "Christian?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you do all of that 'protecting' as a request from my father?"

His eyes grow intense, "No, Anastasia, it isn't. I know you don't have reason to believe me and your life has only become more complicated because of all of this, but I really do feel protective of you. I've never felt this way about anyone, but my sister and mother, and even then it's amplified with you." I give him a quizzical look prodding him to go on, he sighs, "I really don't know, but the moment I looked into your eyes it's like I knew you. I immediately needed to get to know you."

"I'm attracted to you," I blurt out, then almost immediately I cover my face with my hands, I can feel all my blood rushing up.

"Don't cover your face, please, it's much too beautiful," he says with mirth. I can hear his steps coming towards me and within seconds his arms are around my body. Making me feel comforted, I couldn't help but fall into him; we fit perfectly. "Ana, it's okay, I am too."

"You are?"

"Of course," he laughs, taking my hands away from my face. "Don't you feel this between us? It's like you are a magnet drawing me into you and I feel more alive right now than any other time in my life. You do this to me."

"You're suppose to be a big bad mafia boss," I laugh.

"Then it'll be our little secret, okay? Promise to keep mine?"

"Yes," I smile, finally lifting my head to face him.

"There you are," he laughs, "that shade on your face is gorgeous."

I sigh, trying not to get ahead of myself, "We haven't even been on a date and I think that this is the longest conversation we've had."

"That doesn't matter, we have plenty of time to do all of that," he teases.

I roll my eyes at him, but as my face fills my head with all this new information my face clouds.

"What's wrong?" he asks expectantly.

"Ugh, I just thought about my family."

Dinner passed a bit awkwardly after that, Christian looked tense and pensive, but every now and again he would give me a small smile then look back down at his food. Once we had finished we cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher silently.

"This is mine, I don't usually do a lot of work here," he explains.

"But probably comes in handy."

"It has its moments, so what did you want to talk about?"

"Do you know for sure that Danny was behind this?"

"Yes, undoubtedly."

I think for a moment, "If I leave what happens then?"

"Your uncle will probably be pinched or worse… I have reason to believe that he is next on the list, but he is being very cautious."

"Why? Why doesn't Danny just order the hit and get it over with?"

"Because, he needs more time to pass so people wouldn't connect the string of murders and incarcerations of the Luciano's back to him."

"He wants to get rid of us?"

"That's what we believe."

"Who are you?"

"Christian-"

"No, I mean in your family."

He shifts in his seat, but then sighs, "I'm the head of the Gambino family, my father Carrick is my consigliere; he stepped down after an attempted assassination."

I gasp in shock, but he quickly replies, "He's okay, but he was bedridden for about six months. He's never been the same so it only made sense for him to step down. At the time I didn't want to be part of family and I was content with my businesses."

"Grey Enterprise and Holdings?"

"Yes."

"It rivals my father's."

"I've heard," he smiles at me.

"Tell me more?"

"Do you really want to?"

"I already took the red pill." He laughs and it's this full, boisterous laugh. I would pay to hear it again, maybe everyday? I shake my feelings out of my head, "It's too late I guess."

"It is."

"What do you want to know?"

"Whatever your comfortable with."

"Alright-" he stops and takes his phone out of his pocket, "sorry I have to take this."

I nod, "It's okay."

"Thanks," he straightens his body and answers. "Grey… How are you?... No it's fine. Yeah I'll let her know, relax it'll be okay. Keep me posted." Then he hung up without saying goodbye.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, it was Kate."

"Oh? What did she want?"

"If you were all right."

"How do you know Katherine?"

"She's dating to my older brother Elliot."

"You have an older brother? Why isn't he the head of your family?"

"It's not his cup of tea, he's the head of my security, kind of my muscle. Kate's brother Ethan is my oldest friend and is wicked smart. So, it made sense to make him my intelligence guy."

"Why does she work for my uncle?"

"Before Kate and Elliot got together she had already been working for him a couple months. At first Elliot threw a fit and demanded she quit, but she dropped the law," he laughs at the memory. "In the end we used it to our advantage. She definitely faces a lot more danger than the usual girlfriend, but she's okay with it. Katherine would do anything for the family." Wow. I didn't think that she had this other side of her; maybe she isn't the brownnoser I believed her to be. "Then there's Mia, my younger sister, she's probably the farthest from the business. She's in Paris at the moment studying at the Le Cordon Bleu."

"What about your mom?"

"Grace is a doctor. My parents met when her best friend set them up, my mom was 19 attending Yale when she met my father who was already the head of the family and a few years older. Both claim it was love at first sight."

"She patches you guys up?"

"Yeah, but she always gets a bit emotional even if it's just a paper cut."

I laugh, "She just loves you."

"Of course, I love her too, but she freaks out whenever something small happens."

I pat his hand and we both lock eyes. For a split second there was a rush of electricity, but reflexively I broke eye contact and our moment was lost. Was that sexual tension? Ugh the last thing I need is for sex to cloud my judgement even further. The way he smells is already enough.

"What about you?" he asked, breaking me out of my musings.

"Hmm?"

"Your family."

"Ugh, or lack there of."

"Family troubles?"

"You have a lot more of a normal family dynamic than I do, ironic, huh?

"Why's that?"

I regale him with my childhood and my parents' presence; he rubbed my back when I told him about my favourite nanny. He was incredibly sweet and caring the entire time.

"It's okay," I tell him, "I got over it when I was a kid."

"You'll never be alone again," he murmurs.

"Sorry?"

"Nothing," he said quickly, "let's go to bed."

"Together?" I ask, nervously.

"Shit, no Ana, I meant... in our separate rooms."

"Oh sure," I said disappointed, disappointed? What's wrong with me, I've only just started to get to know him. Keep it in your pants, Steele!

We walk to our respective rooms and say goodnight.

"Goodnight beautiful, sweet dreams."

"You too."

Once my door closes, I have an overwhelming feeling of loneliness now that Christian wasn't around. What a weird feeling. I think this was the most interaction I have had with another human being.

My brain is running a hundred miles a minute with all of my growing problems. If Christian's right, then my uncle is not safe, but how can I save him? I wonder what he thinks happened to me? Is he worried? And Katherine, she's risking her life to work for my uncle, what will happen if she gets caught?

As I crawl into bed with my book there was a quiet knock on my door.

"Hey," Christian peeks in.

"Hey, what's up?" I ask, putting my book on the side table.

"I haven't been completely honest with you."

"What do you mean?"

"When you asked when this started I told you it was when I accidentally ran into you and spilled your coffee, but I actually met you seven years ago."

"What?" I looked at him my eyes going wild.

"I was twenty-one and you were eighteen at the time, I believe-"

"Where?"

"At your father's house-warming in Los Angeles, seven years ago?

"When's your birthday?"

"June 18th."

"That would make you 28."

"Yes, and you're turning 25 this weekend."

"How do you know?"

"I've always known."

"This is a lot to take in Christian," I confess as I tuck my knees to my chest.

"I know," he runs his hands through his hair, "I should have been honest with you."

"Let me get this straight we met seven years ago... I think I would have remembered you."

"You were pretty distraught at the time," he shrugs, "you had just gotten some bad news and you were trying to get to your dad, but he had disappeared."

I furrow my eyebrows, "My mom just got remarried to a guy who was practically the same age as me." I roll my eyes in remembrance, "She called me and told me that I had to immediately get on a plane to go to her wedding… her third one after my dad. The boy was 21 fucking years old," I groan. "God, he was such a prick."

"I'm sorry about that."

"It's okay, they got divorced soon after," I blew out a breath. "Did we talk?"

"Yes, only briefly, but it was enough. Your presence has followed me through all of these years; I knew I wanted to get to know you immediately," he replies sheepishly. "So, when we somehow met again last week, it was like my life just fell in to place. At first, I didn't know who you were, but when I finally realized it you were already gone. I checked on you every once in a while, throughout the years. Fuck, I sound like a psycho stalker."

"Don't worry, I kind of like it," I tease. "But if I'm being honest this is a lot to take in."

"I understand, I should go. Have a goodnight."

"No," I grab his hand, "stay?"

"You'll never have to ask me twice," he sits back down with a crooked grin.

"Here, lay down with me, I want to rest my frazzled brain."

"I'm sorry, beautiful, I know it's a lot to take in," he kisses my forehead.

I scoot to the side and made room for him, "No funny business."

"I promise," he kisses my hand gently. His lips left a shocking warmth on my hand. My body felt ignited and his close proximity made my whole body feel heat all over.

As we both lean on the headboard and talk freely, he tells me all about how long he had waited to run into me. Apparently he had tried to visit and introduce himself a few times in the past, but he never felt that it was right. Thus he left me alone, but when we ran into each other he took it as a sign. It was kind of sweet of him in a twisted, stalker-ish way.

We talked into the wee hours of the night; I felt like I unloaded my entire life, but he seemed so enthralled. In turn he tells me about the funny hijinks he and his brother had gotten into. When he was younger they loved teasing their little sister, but one day they had gone too far. As a joke they hid all of her dolls in the various places in their home, they even went as far as beheading some of them in her bed. I couldn't believe that they had done that, if I had siblings like that, I would absolutely go crazy. The two brothers apparently were grounded for a month but felt that the punishment was worth it.

I don't know when I felt asleep, but all too soon I felt colder than I had when I had fallen asleep. My dreams had been filled with images of Christian, there was no concrete storyline, but it felt like a montage of random scenes that I was too afraid to say out loud.

When I finally woke up from my deep slumber, I looked at the beautiful backyard and was reminded of everything that happened yesterday. I quickly showered and got ready for my day, slipping on a pair of shorts and a plain white V-neck t-shirt. I made my way down to the kitchen, when I heard a few voices. Did Christian have people over?

"Hey, Ana," he smiles warmly. I take in his appearance, he was wearing a pair of gray slacks, black belt, a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and shiny black shoes. He looked absolutely delectable. "How did you sleep?"

"Really well," I give him a large smile.

"Come meet my brother."

I smile at him brightly and let him lead me to his brother who was in practically the same outfit.

"Elliot, this is my Ana," he replies. His Ana?

I looked at him incredulously, but he has the decency to look a little sheepish. How do I feel about this?

"Pleased to meet you," the man with blonde curly hair who was a good few inches taller than Christian. And that was saying a lot, since Christian had to be at least 6'3". This guy really towered over me, "You are as beautiful as they say."

I laugh a little, "It's nice to meet you too, so what are you guys doing?"

"Just planning," Christian answers.

"Okay, I'll leave you to it, I'm going to the dock."

"Alright, I'll get you when we're done."

"Sounds good," I said, trying to hide my disappointment, but really what should I expect. He's the Boss. He kisses my hand and gets back to his work. I quickly grab my book, and then head back downstairs to grab a quick breakfast.

"Guys?" I asked before I entered the kitchen.

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to know if you knew what's up with my uncle? I mean I've been gone for a full twenty-four hours, and I heard from Danny that they knew that you were interested in me."

"When did you hear that?" Christian said with mirth.

"Last weekend."

Even Elliot laughed, "That wasn't too difficult."

"You planned it that way?" I asked in disbelief, "Are you trying to start a war?"

"Of course not, beautiful," he walks up to me. "We just needed to light a fire under his ass."

I just nod my head at him and turn around.

"What did you do to your phone?" Elliot asked.

"I took my SIM out and broke the phone."

"Smart girl," Elliot smiled at me.

"You are," Christian smiles at me. "We'll be out soon, beautiful."

I made my way to the docks and let my feet dangle free over. After what seemed like a minute, I was interrupted.

"Ans, let's have lunch," he bends down to my side.

"Sure," I quickly grab my things and stand up.

"Was it a good read?"

"Yes," I reply empathically. "I really love this place, Christian."

"Me too," he smiled, "I'm sorry that your birthday will probably only be the three of us."

"It's okay, I don't really like birthdays anyway."

"You'll like this one, I promise that this one will be the best you've ever had," he smiles at me.