"How long do we have?" Alianna looked up at Jax.

Never in a million years had she thought she would be walking down the stairs with her once-victim on her arm. She smiled as another wave of freedom washed over her. She was free from her boss; she never had to kill again. She looked into his dark eyes that were filled with adoration and a playful fire.

Jax Boveri, head of the Boveri family looked down at the tanned, long haired beauty that was Alianna Rose. His heart leapt at the sight of the happiness in Alianna's brown eyes. He was not sure if she would kill him tonight but given the fact he had her by his side; he was more than ecstatic with her decision tonight. He stopped at the bottom of the stairway and pulled her closer. He was surprised when her arms wrapped around his waist. He smiled down at her and cupped her cheek.

Alianna closed her eyes as she felt the pad of Jax's thumb stroke the apple of her cheek. She knew that he wanted them to enjoy the party, to relish in the fact that they could actually be together but she knew it would not be long before word of Marino's death reached her former mafia family members and they would soon have to face the wrath of a legion of trained killers. She felt Jax press a kiss to her forehead and she opened her eyes.

"About an hour," Jax replied softly. 

He had his men, and a plan, already in place. His eyes drifted to her lips. He fought the urge to kiss her; he didn't want to overwhelm her with his affection just yet. Alianna nodded and released her hold on him before intertwining their fingers together. He chuckled before raising their joined hands and pressing a kiss to hers. Alianna blushed and smiled at him as Jax opened the concealed door and led her out, joining the New Year celebration.

Alianna held Jax's hand tightly as they weaved through the packed dance floor of Libertà, Jax's club. They were surrounded by countless patrons, some of them were fellow Libertà employees who were given the night off, and others were customers who were willing to pay the price to experience Jax's party. She kept looking around her, half expecting to see Marino's men, ready to kill her.

Jax greeted some of his elite clients as they came up to him, congratulating him and thanking him for hosting a great party. He continued talking amicably to his clients when he felt Alianna's hand tighten in his. He smiled before pulling her to his side and snaking a hand around her waist. Alianna smiled gratefully and placed her arm around his waist in return. 

She looked up at Jax, admiring him as he talked. What was it that made her fall for him? Was it his chiselled jawline or his dark hair? Her heart stopped as their dark eyes connected, that was it. Those eyes that pierced through the façade she had and saw the real her. She blushed before looking down.

Jax smiled and took two flutes of champagne from a waiter's tray and offered it to Alianna, which she accepted. "To freedom," he said lowly.

"To freedom," she echoed before they touched their glasses gently and sipped their champagne. 

Jax kept them moving around the room, greeting and talking to guests. Jax was clever, he never had them in one spot for too long. Just in case Marino's men were present, he didn't want Alianna to be a sitting duck.

Alianna smiled as Kayla, Emily and Alan, her fellow co-workers approached. Their eyes widened as they saw her and Jax together but they broke out in smiles. Alianna laughed, guessing that the chemistry between the two was not a secret. They began talking, all of them making loud, good natured comments about Alianna and the boss finally hooking up. She never had friends before and did not know to react to their comments, nor how Jax, who was well within earshot, would take it. 

She peeked at him from the curtain of hair that hid her embarrassment. To her relief and confusion, Jax was grinning from ear to ear at her discomfort. She shot him glare, annoyed that he was enjoying this.

Jax laughed as Alianna glared at him, "That's what friends are for." 

He excused them from her friends before moving around the room again. He placed their empty glasses on a passing serving tray before pulling her close to him. Alianna looked up at Jax, her eyes resting on his lips. She never kissed anyone but she wanted to kiss Jax, maybe it will express the multitude of emotions she had bubbling inside of her better.

 Jax snaked one arm around her waist and held her hand in his. "Shall we dance?"

Alianna's eyes lit up. "We shall."

 She smiled as a slow tune poured out of the speakers. Jax led them out into the mass of couples on the dance floor. Their eyes connected again, the flame evident between them. They glided in perfect harmony across the dance floor, their bodies totally in tuned with each other. Their eyes never broke their contact and soft smiles tilted their lips. They were soon in the middle of the dance floor, the crowd giving them their own space.

Alianna blushed; she loved how Jax made her feel so safe, even when she was a danger to him. He'd shown her a different side to the world they live in, he made her realise that there was more to life than being an assassin. She squashed her feelings for Jax at first. She could not get involved; it was her number one rule. She could not fall in love, especially with someone she had to kill. But she fell for him. From his gestures, to the way he treated her, placing her under his mafia's protection. Alianna had never experienced something like this, and she was happy that Jax was her first.

Jax spun Alianna around gracefully. He was ecstatic, he wanted her from the moment he saw her, that day his underboss, Evan Rossi, brought her to the bar to test her abilities as a bartender. He knew she was hiding beneath a cover up; he blew away that smokescreen and spent countless nights, watching her, figuring out who she was underneath. He saw the pain, the suffering, and the burdens she carried. He wanted nothing more to take them away and to give her the life she deserved. Now that she was in his arms, he could finally do so.

They slowed to a halt as the song ended. Their happiness apparent as a small round of applause made it was around the room. They laughed and Jax brought Alianna closer, marvelling slightly how she fit against his frame. He looked up as a hand rest on his shoulder.

Evan grinned at his boss, no, his brother and his best friend. He knew from day one that Alianna and Jax were meant to be and he was happy for the two. He was gunning for the pairing from the start. His smile dropped however, when he remembered the reason he was here. As much as he wanted to Jax and Alianna to be happy, business came in the way. Jax pulled away from Alianna slightly, the look on Evan's face told him that their reprieve was over.

"How many?" Jax asked lowly. Alianna looked around, she didn't know the newest additions to the Marino ranks but she didn't see any familiar faces around.

"Three Jeeps are parked opposite the club entrance," Evan answered. The trio were still in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by oblivious patrons. "I've got the entrance covered but I suggest you take your leave now."

Jax nodded before looking at Alianna. Alianna had already slipped back into her old persona; she focused on how they were going to make their exit and what to do, just in case they were stopped. Jax studied her face briefly, sad to see her like this already, before taking her hand and nodding to Evan. Together, they wove in and out of the crowd until they reached the concealed door that lead to the VIP section of the club. They slipped away, the door sealing out the noise of the party.

Alianna released Jax's hand as she assembled her gun again. Jax laughed at Evan's dumbstruck expression. He nudged Evan to lead the way as he drew his gun from his holster. He glanced over his shoulder at Alianna. She smiled and nodded before falling in step behind him, her gun in her right hand. She smiled at Adam and Jamie, the bartenders she worked alongside when she was needed in the VIP section. She noted that the section was mostly empty, only occupied by those who didn't have a wife, girlfriend or a friend for the night. Alianna chuckled before following Jax out of the building through a back door into a garage.

She looked around as the lights flickered on revealing a black BMW i8. She grinned.

"I love your choice in cars," she grinned standing next to Jax.

Jax grinned as he caught the keys Evan tossed him. "I have exquisite taste," he said with a hint of pride in his voice.

Alianna rolled her eyes and traced her fingers lightly over the bonnet as Jax opened the passenger door for her. She smiled as she stepped in. She marvelled at the interior as Jax got in. Evan rest his arms on the open driver's window as he peered into the car.

"You should have no difficulty getting to the penthouse," he told Jax. "Rex is at Alianna's apartment gathering her stuff."

Alianna frowned before looking at Evan, "Make sure he gets everything."

Evan smiled his megawatt smile, "Everything?" He had learnt one year ago that didn't have its usual swooning effect on Alianna.

Alianna smiled her megawatt smile. Jax chuckled as Evan's elbow slipped off the window. "Everything." 

Evan stood back as Jax closed the window. Alianna noted the boyish joy on Jax's face as he started the engine. He smirked as he revved the engine once, the resulting snarl raised goose bumps on Alianna's skin. Jax drove off, exiting the garage and leaving the club using a back route.

"So we're going to a penthouse?" Alianna settled into her seat and turned her body towards Jax. Her heart skipped at seeing how majestic the dim lights made him look.

"My penthouse," Jax answered. He placed his hand on her knee. "I live at a hotel one of my business clients owns." Alianna nodded. 

Jax knew where she lived and when he found out, he had moved her to one of the buildings where some of his men slept but she did not know and never have been to his place. She smiled and placed her hand on top of his, relaxed but ready to pull her gun if necessary.

They were silent for the rest of the journey, each taking comfort in the other's presence. Alianna looked out of the window as they sped pass. She could not believe where she was right now. She looked up at the hotel as Jax pulled alongside it. He rolled down the window as the valet approached. 

He nodded in greeting before heading over to open Alianna's door. She looked up in awe at the exquisite hotel. Jax chuckled before taking her hand and leading her inside. Alianna was in a state of awe as her eyes drank in all the details around her. The ding of the elevator jolted her out of it. Jax chuckled before leading her inside and pressing the button for the penthouse.

"Going up," he said pulling Alianna closer. She grinned and rest her head on his shoulder. Things were going up indeed.