I stuck the dirt with my trowel, loosening the soil just as Florence showed me. I dug a hole large enough for the roots before grabbing my watering can beside me and delicately sprinkling water across the flower bed that rested against the wall of the Vino estate.

I grabbed my gardening gloves from my jacket pocket and quickly slid them onto my hands before grabbing the tiny bougainvillea plant beside me. A small smile came to my face as I lifted the plant by the base and gently positioned it into the hole I dug. I used the trowel to push the dirt over the maze of roots before tenderly evening out the soil with my gloved hands.

Roughly nine months have passed since that fateful day in New York, a day that I would never forget thanks to my photographic memory. 

I'll never forget how I ran to her, and how my mother took her last breath in my arms as her blood seeped through the fabric of my clothes. How I sat there, in that damp cell underneath the Russian Mafia's hideout, rocking back and forth as I wailed in anguish while clutching onto her still-warm body.

How Dante ran to my side, stroking my hair and comforting me until the reinforcements Angelo called for arrived. It's as if I can still feel the way my body went into shock, and how my heart was racing as if it was trying to burst through my chest. I shuddered as I remembered the way my body shut down entirely, forcing Dante to gingerly carry me out of the hideout while his men delicately transported Damon and my mother's bodies.

But after the dust settled, there was still one question that loomed over the world of organized crime: Who will take over the Russian Mafia? 

Apparently, I was the rightful heir. And according to their simple-minded rules it technically belonged to me, the hacker with zero operational expierence. 

And I welcomed the challenge with open arms. 

Over the past few months, I dove into the new challenges that came with running a Mafia. I embraced the fourteen-hour workdays, grateful for something to distract my mind from the grief that haunted my mind. 

But Dante was with me every step of the way. He wasn't just there for me emotionally but was also there to guide me. He was teaching me everything he knew and was helping me not only lead the Russian Mafia, but to also morph me into the leader I didn't even know I was.

I sighed as I admired the bright red hue of the bracts, reminiscing on how this was one of my mother's favorite plants in the Vino's garden. She would always look up at the vining leaves, admiring their vibrant colors. 

"It's beautiful." A deep voice spoke from behind me. I turned my head over my shoulder to see Dante standing in the center of the courtyard. The string lights above us illuminated the night sky, making his blonde hair glow. 

"Thanks." I said as I gave him a small smile. The soft sound of water splashing from a nearby fountain filled the air, creating an atmosphere of tranquility around us. 

I took a deep breath as I heard his soft footsteps draw near. He walked beside me and gently grabbed my hand within his before we both stood there and admired one of the many new additions I planted in the Vino garden. I squeezed his hand tightly but was slightly taken aback at the clamminess of his palm. 

Florence was right, there was something liberating about planting life into the soil and watching it grow. 

My mother I spent hours within the gardens, admiring the roses in bloom, the hummingbirds drifting between different flowers, and sitting under the Bouginevillas as we ate breakfast every morning. Whenever I walk through the estate's gardens, I will always think of her. But now, when I walk through the new section I planted, I'll always remember her and cherish the memories I was able to create with her while she was still here. 

"She would have loved it." He said softly as he looked over at me. A small smile stretched across my lips at his words. 

"She would have loved all of it." Dante stated with a smirk as he turned his head and admired the area around us, raising his free hand up as he motioned to the flowers that surrounded us. 

With Florence's permission, I was able to do whatever I wanted with the East Wing's courtyard. Before I started working on it, it was plain, and just homed a simple pathway that led to the other end. 

I added in pavers, creating a hexagonal centerpiece, and ordered a magnificent marble statue to tie it together. The fountain was decorated with an angel sitting on a pillar with her legs crossed. Her face was peaceful, and her cheeks were full and barely covered by her short hair. Her eyes were closed, and a gentle smile graced her lips. In her hands was an imperfect rose, with some withering leaves and a bloom large enough to cover the palm of her hand. 

Rosebushes surrounded the pavers, creating an ocean of red petals that flowed gracefully in the breeze. Bougainvilleas lined the walls of the courtyard, pinned to the wall so that over the years it will eventually vine up and cover the walls completely. 

"I hope so." I said before I took a deep breath. 

"You look stressed my love, what's wrong?" Dante asked with knitted brows as his smirk faded. 

"Well, the casinos in Moscow are under investigation, the shipment that was promised to be sent last week suddenly disappeared, I still have to type a new conteingency algorithm for the security systems, all while someone is trying to hack into the Russian bank accounts," I said with a slight chuckle at the end as I shook my head. He looked down at me with a devilish grin before letting go of my hand and wrapping his arms around my waist. 

"So a usual day then?" Dante said with amusement lacing his words. 

"A usual day." I repeated with a smile on my lips as I wrapped my arms around his neck. I went up on my toes and pressed my lips against his, exhaling sharply as the stubble from his beard grazed my skin. 

His body stiffened as he barely returned my kiss, making me pull back quickly and stare at his with a raised eyebrow. 

"You're acting awfully strange today." I asked suspiciously, making him break eye contact and gaze to the side and take a deep breath. 

"I'm going to- I need to... I mean I have to... what I mean to say is that I want... with your permission I - fucking hell." Dante stammered, making me stare at him in disbelief. 

"I would have never thought I'd live to see the day you, of all people, were at a loss for words." I smirked, making his jaw clench. 

"COME ON SON, DON'T BE A BITCH." I heard Florence's voice scream from above us. 

I looked up to see Florence, Giana, Harry, the twins, Stephan, and Angelo standing on the second story patio overlooking the courtyard. 

"On with it!" Natalia yelled as she leaned against the black railing. Isa was standing next to her, digging her hand into a bowl of popcorn as she nodded in agreement. 

"CAZZO." Dante screamed as his hands dropped from around my waist. In the blink of an eye he grabbed his black glock from the his waistband and aimed it directly at his family. He pursed his lips as he glared at his unphased relatives. 

"Dante, what did we talk about last month." I said in a calming voice as I stared at him. 

"It isn't polite to aim a gun at your family." He mumbled as his jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed, but his grip on the glock never faltered. 

"But you didn't say anything about a warning shot." He said quickly before firing his glock. A bullet hit the wall above the balcony, startling everyone. Isa's arms jolted up, sending the bowl of popcorn flying through the air. 

I shook my head at Dante as popcorn rained down on us. He muttered some curse words under his breath before finally putting the glock back in its rightful place and facing me once more. 

"As I was saying." He said as he turned his attention back to me, making me tilt my head in curiousity. He stared at me for a moment, his features melting into a soft expression before he chuckled slightly. 

"You know, I had this entire speech planned out, with eliquoent words that couldn't even begin to describe how I feel about you." Dante said as he pulled out a small piece of paper from his pocket. He looked at it for a moment before carelessly tossing it over his shoulder and grabbing both of my hands within his. 

"The day I met your mother, she pointed a loaded pistol at me. I was trained to look death in the face. My entire life, I was never afraid to die. But for the first time, I felt afraid. I was afraid that she was going to take away the only thing that gave my life any meaning: being with you. Never in my life have I felt that kind of fear from a woman in a hospital gown." Dante said with knitted brows before looking down at the ground. I held my breath, hanging on his every word. 

"But I made her a promise that day. I promised that I would love you, care for you, and be with you for as long as I live. I promised her that I would keep you out of harms way, and give you the life that you deserved. To protect you from everything this lifestyle comes along with." Dante said as I heard a soft coo of "awws" from the balcony. I watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black, long rectangular box. 

My heart began to flutter uncontrollably as he stepped backwards, getting on one knee and gently pulling my left hand forward. 

"My love, I can't even begin to describe how I feel about you. I fell in love with you the moment I laid my eyes upon you, but my dumbass was so numb and broken that I didn't know how to process my own emotions. I treated you, and everyone around me, like shit because that was the only way I knew how to cope with emotions. But you," He said as his lips stretched into a smile. 

"You helped shape me into the man I didn't even know I wanted to be. You were patient with my attitudes, and didn't leave even when I was unbearable. You make me want to be a better man, Rebel. And I know I'm not perfect, but I'll spend the rest of my life making sure that I'll treat you the way you deserve to be treated: like a motherfucking queen. So Rebel Simmons," Dante began as he gripped the lid of the long rectangular box as tears began to slid down my face. 

"Will you marry me?" He asked, a slight hint of nervousness present in his voice. He popped open the lid of the suade box, revealing five different engagement rings. 

Each ring was unique, extradinory, and brillant in their own way. Each diamond was shaped different, from a halo cut to an oval. 

"Fuck yes I'll marry you." I said between sobs as Dante quickly stood up. He wrapped his arms around my waist as he planted a passionate kiss on my lips. I grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer as my other hand weaved into his hair. 

"I HAVE ANOTHER SISTER!" I heard Angelo scream enthusastically from from the balcony, making us pull out of our kiss and look up at them. 

I heard Florence and Gianas giggles from above us as Harry was clapping uncontrollably, tears pouring out of his eyes like a waterfall. Stephan patted his back before grabbing his pocket square and hesitantly handing it to him. He flinched when Harry used it as a tissue, blowing his nose loudly before attempting to hand it back to him. 

"Fucking finally!" The twins said in unison before high fiving. Isa pulled out a device from her pocket as she looked at her sister with her eyebrow raised. Natalia smiled as she pressed the small red button, sending dozens of fireworks into the sky above us. 

Dante held me as we watched the extravegent show above us, dazzled by the different colored hues. 

"So why are there so many rings?" I asked over the thundering blasts of the fireworks. 

"I didn't know which one you'd want so I thought I'd give you options..." Dante said cautiously as he stared down at me. 

"I don't care what the ring looks like, as long as its you that's waiting for me at the end of the isle." I said as I began to lean forward. Our lips grazed as I felt my phone vibrate. 

I sighed as I pulled away and reached into my pocket, making Dante groan impatiently. 

"Someone better be dead." He said as he raised an eyebrow while I checked my phone. 

"No but they will be soon." I said with playfully as I looked up at him. "My program just got the location of the hacker that tried to access the Russian bank accounts." I said with a smirk. 

"Well what are we waiting for?" He said as looked down at me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. 

"Better be careful, last time someone tried to do that my brother fell in love with them." Angelo teased as he leaned on the railing in front of him. He hopped over the rail, but didn't jump high enough to clear it. His chest began falling at an angle as his arms flailed. He landed on the pavers next to us on his shoulder before groaning loudly in pain. 

"Actually," I said as I looked up at Dante, ignoring the moaning Angelo beside us. I put on the best puppy dog eyes I could muster before pouting my lip out. "I was thinking this mystery hacker could be a potential recruit? I have a lot on my plate, and having another hacker would leave me with more free time." I said suggestively as I ran my finger down his chest slowly. 

"Whatever you want, my darling fiance." Dante stated before planting a gentle kiss on my forehead. 

"So where is this mystery hacker anyway?" Isa called out from above us before she jumped over the railing, landing gracefully on her feet. Natalia followed quickly behind her, rolling as she landed before stepping over Angelo and standing next to me. 

"Let's find out." I said as I began to rapidly type on my phone. We all watched anxiously as my code began working, filling my screen with lines of code. A wide smile stretched across my face as I read the location.

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