E.W.E.W Copyright © 2012-2021 xXMopelXx All Rights Reserved.

Chapter posted - March 19, 2021

My Queens, I've missed you. It's been a crazy time for all of us, eh? Big, big thank you to all the new readers who flooded over from that one tiktok where Sam and Anna played that spanking game in chapter 45. I had the chance to read some of the comments in the previous chapters, and y'all made my day!! I'm going to try to answer them soon. This story reached 6,000,000 reads two weeks ago. My heart is so full. When I started this novel at 16 years old, I never expected this. Thank you for your dedication to Sam and Anna. You - the readers - make this journey worth everything! I love you. 

Enjoy this installment. Please remember to VOTE and leave me your thoughts. It really helps me out. Happy Reading! 

Playlist Song: Florence + The Machine - Never Let Me Go

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{ Chapter 48 } : Signed, Sealed, Sempre, I'm Yours

Love was priceless.

An abundance of gold and precious gemstones could not replace the feeling of being in love and having that love returned by my lover, my promisor, my Sam.

My fingers roamed over his face, soaking every inch of right now. The sweaty blond strands sticking to his forehead, the hot look in his earthly eyes, the shadowed stubble against my palm and the hard clench of his jaw as he thrust inside me tenderly.

He made love to me.

Then he fucked me hard.

Now he made love to me again, laying me down gently on sheets stained red by rose petals. The candle flames danced around us in their melted stupor like a ring of fire in a mating ritual, where two deities joined for sempre in the late hours of the night. Through my blurry gaze, the mirrored ceiling looked littered with hundred of stars.

My fingers, still damp with my essence from when he made me touch myself, trailed over his kiss-swollen lips. Sam sucked them into his mouth, as he rode me lazily, just like he promised in the Church.

I'm going to have those fingers in my mouth, licking you clean, while I ride your tight little pussy.

That intoxicated look in his eyes drowned me. An excellent swimmer, yet I felt lost in a sea of lust and love, crashing down and under with every roll of his hips against mine. I moaned, feeling utterly complete and so utterly torn. Sam circled his hips, grinding deep, and hitting that spot inside of me. As if anchoring me and saying, 'stay with me, Anna.'

Sam withdrew from me completely and I gasped, arching, wanting him back inside. Between us, his manhood glistened with my juices like a prized trophy. "Beg me," he said gruffly, his sweat dripping on me. "Beg me for more, Tesoro."

"Please, please, please." I clung to his neck, dragging him down for a sloppy kiss. He plunged back inside, the wet sounds of our arousal acting like the perfect melody. "Love me."

He withdrew.

Then slid back inside in a smooth stroke so powerful, I felt him everywhere.

His muscular arms cocooned me, his scent – pure male, and filthy sex – permeating my sense. His forehead rested against my temple and his grunting breaths against the slope of my cheek, which he kept kissing senselessly.

"Rimani. Riposati accanto a me. Non te andare," he hushed. With my eyes closed, my ears registered a love ode that sent my heart fluttering like butterfly wings.

I sighed dreamily, my hands generously caressing his damp back muscles. My fingers held his flexing backside as he continued moving inside of me in soft, shallow thrusts.

Sam's murmur echoed against my neck, where he licked sweat in the hollow of my throat. "Ti amo. Non ho nessun pensiero che non sia tuo."

"I don't understand you, baby," I whispered the same words after our first kiss.

Sam smiled at me in a heartbreaking manner. "Non ho nel sangue nessun desiderio che non sia per te." And continued making love to me the way I always wished had been done the first time. My eyes stung with tears, until one rolled down my cheek. "Non vedo nella mia vita altro compagno, non vedo altra gioia"

Sam kissed it away, before kissing my eyelids. "I love you," I rasped, not knowing how else to complete this moment. I knuckled the hair at the crown of his head. "I love you."

Samuel Rafael Adams loved me harder and faster until he became my teether in this temple. He had me wrapped around his fingers, strumming me like the chords of a beautiful harp. Gentle but deep, summoning my desire out of me until it personified. I came in a myriad of emotions and Sam followed suit, emptying his seed with a beastly groan. "Rimani. Riposati. Non temere di nulla. Dormi stanotte sul mio cuore...I love you, Anna."

Panting, he kissed the underside of my breast. My tattoo. Sink by night, emerge by dawn. Letting his breaths wisp over my tender skin for a second too long.

I sunk by night with him.

And I would emerged by dawn with him too.

* * *

On my stomach, I ate chocolate coated strawberries from the platter Sam prepared for me. I'd already come five times and felt sated and spent.

My boyfriend, on the other hand, was insatiable.

After filming his cock thrusting in and out of me for a solid minute, with his dirty taunts, his groans and my moans in the background, we called it a time-out. Well, I did. Sam was ready for another round – he liked watching his cum drip out of me a little too much. My pussy said otherwise. It would be a miracle if I could still walk tomorrow.

So after popping open a bottle of champagne and pouring some over my breasts, just so he could lick my puckered nipples like the daredevil he was, I turned to sustenance. If he insisted on making me ride him, I needed to replenish my energy.

Samuel kissed my ass – literally – planting lavish, noisy smooches on the backside he'd gentlemanly spanked. Mwah. Mwah. Mwah. He was so playful. "You doing good there, Beer Boy?" He bit my ass cheek in punishment. I whined, and his tongue snaked out and ran over my spine, collecting my shivers like valued possessions. His big body then covered mine from behind, and he bit my earlobe, speaking rough, "Give me one."

Nimbly, I picked up a strawberry and turned my head enough to feed it to him. He took a big bite, kissed my cheek, then rolled off me. Falling onto his back in the makeshift bed.

I finished his strawberry, sipped some champagne and turned towards him.

Looking drunk, but being completely sober, he traced his fingers over my arm. His tall, strapping body sprawled on his side deserved to be carved in stone, immortalized forever – powerful upper torso with bulging muscles, hair-dusted strong thighs, a prodding cock fit for a warrior, and various tattoos and scars decorating the rest of his canvas. Perfection to me.

I laid my head on the pillow beside him, thumbing the broken rose petals between us. He'd bought me an expensive bouquet of blood red roses. Propped on an elbow facing me, Sam brushed a rose over my body – between the valley of my breasts, over my stomach, and teasingly over my femininity. I wouldn't be surprised if the remnants of my arousal clung to its petals.

"Did it bother you, when I called you my slut, Anna?" Sam's voice had gone hoarse from our nightly activities.

My mind kept replaying the video he made, filing his sex-roughened voice for the next time I laid in bed touching myself.

"You wanted to make a movie, baby?" he'd husked, teasing me. The camera aimed solely where he thrust jarringly inside of me. My pussy lips were stretched obscenely to accommodate his girth. I whimpered, when he rubbed my clit with his thumb. "Such a hungry little pussy. Make it come all over my cock, Tesoro. Show me what a fucking slut you are for me."

"No. It's not degrading to me." I brushed his jaw with my hand. He kissed my palm. "It turns me on, because I am your good girl, your slut, your cocktease. Only you make me feel this way. No one else. I know you respect me and all of this is just bedroom play."

"Good. I never want there to be a doubt in your head." Sam moved closer to me, tucking my head in the crook of his arm. I gazed up at him. His fingers slowly trailed in my hair and massaged my scalped. His other hand kept shifted the rose teasingly over my clit until I squirmed. He smiled naughtily, before sobering up. "You're my equal, always. What we say or do in the bedroom stays in the bedroom. In my arms, you're free to be whatever you chose. Without judgement."

"You're my best friend; You understand me so well. You treat me so well. I think I should buy you a ring, too."

He wiggled his left hand, pretending to pout. I grinned and kissed his chin. "My left hand is beginning to look lonely. Suppose you should put a ring on it before someone else does."

I slapped his chest heartily and he laughed my favorite laugh. He trailed the rose back up my body, between the valleys of my breast, then over my areolas. "You always smell like the most expensive rose, dolcezza." He then brought the rose to his nose and inhaled. I squeaked. "It even smells like you. Did I tell you how much I love the taste of your pussy? I could eat it everyday. Shit, I will be eating your pussy every day until the day I die."

"I think you've lost your mind after a few rounds of sex. You sound delirious."

"You've got a magical pussy. I'm drunk off you."

"You're so corny." I laughed tiredly. Maybe we were both delirious. "What did you say to me earlier? You were reciting something in Italian."

He laid his forehead to mine. "I whispered to you a love poem in my language, bellissima."

Oh, he's so romantic. Who would have thought? Not me, when I initially laid eyes on him. He came off as nothing short of a womanizing bad boy. Not a funny, soul-baring, protective lover who showered his woman with endless praise and honeyed words. Sam always inserted sweet endearments whenever he spoke to me, as if to constantly remind me how adored I was. "My future husband is so charming."

"You know it, Miss Canada."

"I'm running out of words to express how much I love you."

He grabbed my hand and kissed my ring finger, eyes ablaze. "I know the feeling."

"I'm really scared for what tomorrow holds."

"Don't be."

"Talk to me. Tell me about your fight. I want to know everything. How you're feeling. How your training is going. Don't hide anything from me."

"The absolute truth, Anna?" When I nodded, he exhaled sharply. "I'm terrified. Because the anticipation is killing me. I'm strong. I know I am. But I don't know what to expect from Baxton. I've gone one-on-one with everyone in the cage – every one of Richie's fighters – and came out victorious. I fought a drugged up Baxton in the past. Now? He might as well be a different breed."

"Danny told you," I whispered, horrified.

Sam nodded grimly, dropping the flower. "That he's killed four boys? I know. I may cause my opponents to bleed and have the scars to prove my strength and resilience, but I'm not a monster, Tesoro."

I sensed what he was about to say next, so I held my breath and let him continue.

His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion. "To win this match, however, I may have to be. My end goal is finishing him, Anna, and I will be ruthless. So I'd really wish you didn't come to the fight. I don't want you to witness me at my worst."

"Hey – Hey. Look at me." I cupped his chin and forced him to see me. "I know what I've said about violence in the past, but this is our fight. I'm your pillar. I need to be there and see it with my own eyes. I would never judge you or see you differently, especially if it's for the sake of fighting for a future worth having."

Plus, if you can't handle someone at their worst, then you don't deserve them at their best. That was the saying, right?

Sam closed in and kissed me harshly. "One day I want to give you everything." He used his chin to tilt my face to the side and kissed the underside of my jaw. "A big house and a family and a future worth fighting for."

I added to the vision while he tickled my sides and made me giggle. "I want this house and two beautiful blond babies and a closet that feels more like a store. Oh, and a pink sports car."

"What about me?"

"Yeah. I guess I want you too."

"Done," he teased, licking my earlobe and making me laugh. "But before settling down, I want to travel the world with you. Take you to Italy for a summer. Then Brazil. Bali. Maldives. You name it and I'll take you there, Tesoro."

I would like nothing more than to explore the world with my soul fire. "What else are we going to do?"

"Finish school. Obtain our degrees. Work hard and hustle. Save and invest. Get married. Build our world. Live in happiness." His breath fanned over my lips and he rubbed a callused palm over my taut stomach. "Get you off the pill and then fuck you until you're pregnant with my babies."

I shivered from the heat in his tone. I loved a man with a plan. "I want that so bad. All of it. But only with you. Do you understand? I need you to win this fight. I need you alive."

He released an anguished sound and crushed me in his arms. "I want all that too – but only with you. Don't ever doubt what I feel for you."

The morganite winked in the light, the tangible reminder of everything.

"I know Danny is going to help take down those men the day of your fight. I gathered that much. Because if you win, that means Baxton is dead. And that means you have enemies and you'll get taken away from me. The only way to prevent that is if Danny puts bullets through everybody's head," I said. "I know Danny is more than capable of bloodshed, but I'm wondering...Should your other family be aware of this? Surely if your brothers knew what was actually happening they could help. The Donatelli name has enough power and influence behind it. Maybe this whole fight can be prevented?"

"Even if they got involved, Tesoro, I doubt this fight would stop. You don't mess with the cartel."

"I wish I met you under normal circumstance."

"I did meet you under normal circumstances. I saw you in a student parking lot. I pursued you at Lyla and Nash's wedding. I flirted with you at Danny's Grill and I tried to make a move on you at a party in the North side. All of it was normal, Anna."

"I know." Sam and I weren't supposed to matter, but we got sucked into a dangerous web woven by criminal organizations and the underground fighting world. "What are you thinking about?"

He shifted so I curled into his side, my head on his heavy thumping heart. "That life works in funny ways. If my mom had never ran away from New York, Salvatore would be my actual father figure. I'd be a made man, knives and guns would be my toys, and killing my choice of sport," he whispered with a frown. "And I'd have never met you."

"You would have met me." We were meant to be.

"Ah, Tesoro." He smirked wryly. "I would have found you, yes, but I'd never be able to keep you. You'd be an outsider and I'd be bound by an omertà. I could never marry you or offer you the life I want. I'd have to marry within our circle, and the most I could have offered you is the chance to be my mistress."

I scrunched my nose. "Thank the Lord your mother ran away. Because I'd never, ever settled for being your side chick."

He threw his head back and laughed boyishly, his whole face lighting up. So cute. "I guess we have my mom to thank, eh?" After quiet laughter, we both settled again. "She thinks I should meet Tor. She has the same idea as you, that they can somehow help me. But I don't want to."

I caressed his face. "And why not – why not just meet them for the sake of it?"

"Because then it all makes it real: my mom having lied to me for years, David Adams not being my biological father, the fear of Salvatore Donatelli being one of the reasons why my dad stays away from me, and the fact that Ravenna and I would have been viewed as mafia royalty when really we were just two normal Canadian-Italian kids being raised in a normal environment," he said. "And I'm just Sam. A cage fighter in the underground circuit, a football player with half a business degree, and a guy who cares about protecting the people he loves. I'm no principe della mafia – not like my half-brothers – and nor do I want to be."

"And what do you want to be, Sam?"

He gazed down at me, like I created the universe once again. "All I want to be is my Tesoro's coração."

* * *

I woke up to the sunlight streaming through the French doors and Samuel pecking my bare shoulder. "Good afternoon," he whispered, framing my face and kissing the tip of my nose. "It's almost one. You need to get up."

I blinked the sleep out of my eyes. Sam crouched on the ground in front of me. He'd just showered, his hair wet and a towel wrapped around his waist. He looked decadent. "Danny is coming to pick you up at three for your first lesson."

"Oh, God," I grumbled, through my cotton mouth. "I forgot about that. Why didn't you wake me up before?"

"We went to bed at the break of dawn." He arched an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure I worked you hard. I tried to wake you earlier, but you hit me and buried your head under the pillow."

"Sorry, meu amor. I'm cranky when I'm sleepy."

"All good, Anna." He thumbed my cheek. "You barely rest as is, so figured I'd let you sleep in."

"Thank you." I yawned and stretched my muscles.

The sheets fell past my breasts and Sam eyed me hungrily. A twinge between my legs reminded me that I was sore beyond words and would probably have a field day if I tried to run. Last night, Sam carried me bridal style from the gazebo and back to the house around three am. Where, once we reached the top staircase of the west wing, he proceeded to throw me down and fuck me all over again. After returning to my room, we washed up and I stumbled over to the bed, thinking I would sleep. But Sam had other ideas as he laid back, sat me on his lap and filled me up in one brutal thrust. He made me ride him with my hair fisted in his rough hands and my head titled back so I could watch us fucking in the mirrored ceiling. He promised me once I got used to being on top, it would be my favorite position.

I lost count of how many times I came.

"Don't go there," I warned him with a joking look. "I don't even think I can walk."

He licked his lips, concern flickering over his face. "Was I that rough?"

"No. Not at all. You just pounded years worth of sexual frustration into my pussy last night. I'm doing spectacular."

Sam's breath hitched. "I'm sorry, dolcezza. I – I was caught up in the moment and I've wanted you for so long that I–"

I got up with a wince and reassured him quickly. "I'm okay. I was just playing with you." The breath he held escaped him slowly, his tension ebbing away. "I loved last night. Even though you were gentle for the most part, my body's not used to having that much sex."

I sensed even if he were going slow – which he tried to, on his part – it would still hurt this much. His size alone spoke volumes. My body was still getting accustomed to this kind of intimacy.

"We'll wait till you're not sore anymore." He said in all seriousness, rubbing my thighs from where the sheets had fallen off. "Want me to lick your pussy as an apology?"

He lunged for me and I pushed him away, laughing. "No!" I bellowed, crawling to the other side of the bed. God, I was sore. "You'll lick it, then you'll beg to put just the tip. Next thing you know, we'll be at it again and then I really won't be able to walk."

Sam smiled, shaking his head, as I got out of bed. "Go take a shower and get ready. I'll be downstairs making you breakfast." He canted his head towards the nightstand. "I brought you some water and Advil just in case..."

I couldn't kiss his mouth because I had morning breath, so I pecked his shoulder. "Thank you."

"Twenty five minutes and you better be downstairs." He followed me into the gorgeous, palace-worthy bathroom. "Or else I'm coming back up to drag you to the kitchen."

I flinched when I saw my reflection. My mouth was so kiss (and cock) swollen, I had hickeys all over me, and even two bite marks because my boyfriend was apparently an animal. But I looked thoroughly loved and that's all that mattered to me.

"I can barely do my hair and makeup in twenty five minutes."

"Which is fine, because your glamorous ass is not looking to impress the likes of Danny. Only me. You don't need to get all dolled up for him," he deadpanned.

"Jealous?" I turned on the shower water.

He slapped my ass before leaving. "Always."

* * *

I walked down the stairs thirty minutes later, the twinge between my legs a constant reminder of last night. The Advil and a nice hot shower had done me good.

Today's mood: sated and thoroughly fucked. Which meant I dressed comfortably in a white ribbed tank, skinny jeans and grey cardigan. I had enough time for mascara, and lipstick, but my hair was left open to air dry. An anomaly for me, considering the fact that I usually blow-dried or put rollers in my hair.

Sam stood in the golden-marbled kitchen, making breakfast. Wearing only black boxer brief that did nothing to hide how well-endowed he was. I still couldn't believe that had been inside me. "You're late," he said without turning around.

I went to hug him from behind, mashing my face against his shoulder blades. "Only five minutes." My voice was muffled. "Happy birthday, honey. I should be the one making you breakfast."

He turned around sideways and fitted me under his arm, as he continued flipping pancakes. "Why? You cook for me all the time. Plus, I already got my present last night."

I did cook for him all the time, but that's because I enjoyed it. My eyes moved over the island counter where a spread of eggs, potatoes, toast and fresh fruit awaited. "You're spoiling me."

Sam rarely cooked around me, even though I knew he could.

He kissed my forehead. "You spoiled me last night. Only fair I return the favor."

I tipped his face my way and kissed him softly, sipping from his mouth. "Thank you, Sam."

He nuzzled his nose with mine. "Start eating. You better finish all of it."

He knew I couldn't eat all of this, but I was hungry so I did dive in right away without waiting for him. Sam took a seat beside me and glared me into eating the pancakes. I wolfed down two toast, two eggs and two pancakes until I had a food baby. Sam even prepped a bowl of persimmons for me – my favorite – and I ate those too.

Pleased, he hid his smile behind his coffee mug. "I should fuck you like last night more often if it gets you to eat like this."

"I eat enough calories for my body." I waved my spoon at him. Sam thought I didn't eat enough. But he was a giant who ate for three; he wouldn't understand.

He took my dishes from me. "I'm making you another treat. Sit tight."

"Dessert?"

"Mhm. What do you prefer – chocolate or vanilla?"

"Vanilla."

Sam laughed. "Ain't nothing vanilla about you, baby. You suck cock like it's an Olympic sport and my cum down your throat is your gold medal."

"That was one of your worst jokes. I'm going to pretend I didn't hear it."

I watched his sinewy body move around the kitchen. He pulled out a tub from the freezer, then went on to make espresso. While he stared pensively at the machine on the counter, I snapped pictures of him, deciding to make us social media official. He angled his head my way, catching me in the act, and gave me a soft, toe-curling smile. I snapped that one too. Sam placed two scoops of vanilla gelato in a tall glass and dolloped salted caramel all over it. When he doused the whole thing with a shot of expresso, my mouth watered.

"What are you making?"

"Affogato. It's an Italian dessert. I promise this will become your favorite thing in the world."

"I doubt it."

"Oh yeah? What's your favorite dessert? Guarantee this will top it." Sam placed the concoction of drowned gelato in front of me.

My favorite was Pasteis de Nata. "It's this six foot four tall Italian pastry. I think it's called a Rafael? Total indulgence. Rare to come by and you only find them in this city."

"Oh, I love you." Sam burst out laughing, coming around to cup my face and kissing me. He grinned against my mouth. "Affogato doesn't taste as good as me, but it'll do."

I snagged him around the waist and he tried to sit in my lap. A difficult feat, but he perched his bottom on my thighs regardless like a big baby. I took a spoonful of Affogato and moaned like I was having an orgasm, because what. The. Hell. "This is divine. I was not expecting it to be that good."

"Told you." He clicked his tongue, snatching the spoon from me and taking a bite. "If I didn't love my abs, I would eat this everyday."

I patted his abs in silent thank-you.

Eventually we switched positions so I was the one sitting in his lap. I finished the dessert while Sam busied himself with my phone. "Are you excited for your lessons?"

"More nervous." I leaned back against him. Danny should be here in half an hour. "You said last night meeting Tor would make this all real for you. Well, Daniel teaching me how to pull the trigger makes this real. You teaching me how to fight makes this real."

Sam was quiet with his chin resting against my shoulder. After a minute, he said, "Last night, you mentioned your family is leaving for Scotland soon. Do you think you should go too–"

I hopped off his lap and glared at him. I recognized that tone. He exhaled and reached for me again.

"No. Stop right there." I pointed a threatening finger at him. "I'm not having this conversation with you. You asked me last night if I was leaving you and I told you no. You were okay with it."

"Jodanna." He got up and scrubbed a hand over his face. "You're scared of what tomorrow holds. I get it. I am too. But you won't be scared if you're there. I can handle myself over here."

I shook my head, gathering my purse and keys from the counter. "Last night, you gave me this." The morganite shone right at him. "Last night, we concluded that I was staying here because we're in love with each other. Being apart will be too painful."

I'd drive myself crazy if he were here and I was there. Not to mention that I'd have to drop out of this semester with a bullshit excuse.

"Being apart from your family will too," he argued with me, getting angry now. "Last night I wasn't thinking straight. We were both in an emotional state and shit, think of your mom and Michael and–"

"You're my family too!" I finally yelled, my voice cracking. "What are you not understanding? You're just as important to me as they are!"

He faltered back a step, not expecting my outburst. Speechless. Now he chose to be speechless.

Maybe Sam didn't understand the depth of his importance in my life. Maybe he did, but his brain just stopped temporarily working after having hours of sex with me.

My argument with my mom came rushing back.

"Everyone wants me to leave you. I keep fighting with everyone to stay. Now you're telling me I should go too? Nobody is listening to what I want!" I hissed. "I want to be here with you. The only way I get on the plane is if you tell me point blank that you don't want me or love me anymore."

Sam closed his eyes and shoved his fingers into his hair, tugging at his strands.

"And we both know that's not true," I scoffed. Danny's text came. He was outside. "I'm leaving."

I marched away like fire lit my heels. Sam trailed behind me. His hand wrapped around my wrist and I jerked it off. "Anna–"

"If you believe I'm your family too, then you're going to drop this Scotland fiasco," I murmured, raising my gaze to meet his pained one. "This is not easy for me. I'm choosing you because you're my future. But we're a team and we make decisions together. I need to be here and I need you to back me up on this."

Sam said nothing more as I left.

* * *

Daniel Ivanov languidly leaned against a black Audi R8 with tinted windows (I only knew this because of Nico's obsession). No bodyguards were in sight, as if he held himself above the need to have protection.

He was casual in aviators and a leatherjacket, his black hair slicked back almost messily. A strand fell over his forehead. No suit today. He cocked his head to the side, evaluating me as I neared. "I would say trouble in paradise judging by your expression, but considering the big rock on your finger, I'm going to assume you and Rafael got hitched behind everyone's back. Congratulations to the young couple."

"It's just a fucking promise ring," I spat. Even though I knew it was more than that.

Daniel arched an eyebrow, as if he found my rudeness amusing. I was never anything but respectful around him because well, he kind of scared me. And he kept guns and knives stored in every corner of his life. So not someone whose bad side I wanted to get on. The only reason why I wasn't as terrified was because Sam and Tiffany trusted him, and I'd seen his gentleness around them.

I also saw him murder someone, but semantics, right? My post-coital bliss had disappeared and now I was all business. "Where to?"

"Get in the car," he ordered quietly.

I did and then proceeded to fawn over the interior because wow. Daniel got in and donned his leather gloves. Sam watched us from the front-porch, but I stared out my window to purposefully avoid him.

Danny gave Sam a chin-tip. The car purred to life and he backed out. I did a quick mental-check to see if I could see any hidden weapons. Apparently, they were well concealed.

"How are you?" I asked after a few stretching seconds of silence. He smoothly drove out of the gated community.

Daniel inched his head my way a little. "Good. How are you?"

Annoyed at my boyfriend, walking with a sore pussy, and now a little bit terrified that your Russian-mob affiliated self is about to teach me how to shoot a gun. "Peachy."

"I'll bet," he replied monotone, then gave me a teasing eyebrow.

Oh, yeah. Everyone knew Sam and I fucked last night. It was all over us.

"I got you coffee."

"Thank you, Danny."

That was so nice of him. I reached into the console and saw two cups. The one marked latte was obviously mine. When I saw the familiar golden lettering of Le Petit Moulin, I couldn't contain my shit-eating grin. I figured the first step of not being scared of Daniel began through joking with him. Sam did it all the time and it worked for him. Maybe it would work for me as well.

"Do you go to this coffee shop often?"

He barely glanced at me. "No."

"So why did you go this time?"

He attempted to keep an impassive mask, but I saw the twitch behind his composure. "Because we were there last time and you seemed to like their coffee."

My fucking Brazilian ass it was because I 'like their coffee'. "What a coincidence, you seemed to also like the owner as well."

"I beg your pardon?" Sounded like he growled under his breath.

I should be cowering, but I held my ground. He didn't seem tense or mad. Just caught off guard. "The owner of Le Petit Moulin – I saw you checking her out." More like eye-fucking her. He cast me a dark look and I threw my hands up in surrender. "I'm not blaming you, she's beautiful. I talked to her once. Really sweet woman. Her name's Elisa, by the way."

"I know every soul in this city, Anna." Danny's knuckles tightened on the steering wheel. He put his flasher and sped onto the highway. "Maybe you should ask her out; clearly you're fascinated with her."

"Nah. Wouldn't want to take your chance away." I sipped my coffee, hiding my smile. "So you find her pretty or what? Do you have a girlfriend I don't know about?"

"Anna?"

"Hm."

"Drink your coffee, keep your mouth shut, and stay out of my business."

Stay out of my love life, he meant. I rolled my eyes. He caught it but didn't say anything.

Companiable silence filled the space of his car as we drove to our destination – I didn't ask again, because he didn't tell me the first time. Had to go with my gut instinct and trust him.

"Just one more question."

"Yes, Krasivaya?"

"Can I keep my Benz?"

At that, for the first time ever, Danny cracked a big grin as a small throaty chuckle escaped him. "We'll see about that."

* * *

By the time Daniel parked his car in a deserted lot housing a small industrial warehouse, I could tell he'd warmed up to me.

I wasn't a fool; I understood the depth of his corruptness. His true nature. He was unapologetically himself – stoic and calculating – and approached me with quiet respect, so that had to be enough to let the fear ease away. Moreover, he'd given me protection when he had no reason to. Simply because he had loyalty to Sam and Tiffany. I was grateful he'd extended it to me.

Yet the writing was on the wall.

Daniel Ivanov was a wolf hiding in expensive clothing and luxury cars. With bloodshed as his legacy, he was one of the many monsters lurking in this city's underworld.

But he was no worse than the motherfucking Donalds.

He was also a gentleman, surprisingly, as he came around to open my door. We walked side by side and surveyed the surroundings, until we arrived in front of a vaulted door. He put a code in and it beeped, before the bulletproof door crept open.

"Welcome to our private shooting range," Daniel mussed. "Let's teach you how to shoot a gun."

* * *

"Rule one: always act like your gun is loaded. Doesn't matter if the chamber's empty. If you play the part, it's enough to threaten your enemy. You have a front to wear, so always assume a strong one. If you show fear, you might as well be dead. Understood?"

If you pretended like you had a backbone when dealing with men like Danny, you proved you had guts and value. Otherwise it's bang, bang, your enemy shot you down and you hit the ground.

So fake it till you make it, right? "Yes."

"Rule two: in your case, don't keep your finger on the trigger unless you're ready to shoot. We wouldn't want any mistakes now, would we?"

"No, sir."

"Rule three: aim for the head and the heart. Unless you're looking to simply slow them down or torture them," he laughed low. I didn't find it funny, but I smiled, nonetheless. I looked constipated for sure. "You can shoot their legs or hands. That'll do the job."

Then Daniel showed me how to load and clear the gun. I had to give it to him, he was a patient teacher. Even though I seemed minutes away from passing out – a rush of excitement and nerves – he handled my tension with ease, instructing me in his smooth baritone.

Resuming a confident stance of a man who'd shot more bullets in his life than your average animal hunter, he fired three successive shots at the target, barely flinching. I shook a little as the sound ricocheted. He'd hit bullseye with every aim.

"Wow," I said.

"Exhilarating?"

"Something like that." I let out a half-laugh and he stepped behind me, his tall frame overshadowing me. He handed me the gun.

"Learn to be one with the gun. Treat it like an extension of you."

The Glock felt weighty in my hands, but smooth to the touch. There was something intimidating in handing such a lethal weapon. My skin broke out in goosebumps, but I swallowed down my nerves.

Danny handed me a pair of electronic earmuffs. They amplified quieter sounds, so I could hear him giving me instructions. He helped straighten my posture and kept a hand on my back as he leaned next to my head. "First we're going to get comfortable with handling the gun. Then we'll perfect your aim – this may take time, but we'll do our best. Sound good?"

I nodded and he helped me get in position.

The first shot was scary. I jumped back, gasping. He said, "Try again."

The next few minutes were filled with me firing shots at the target and Daniel instructing me quietly. I got more comfortable with time. When I pictured Joey, I hit a bullseye and squealed.

Daniel chuckled beside me. The sound was so off-putting, I gave him wide eyes. "You're a natural."

"Thanks, my aspirations in life have always been to perfect my gunshot," I said dryly, to which he laughed, deep and husky.

Daniel Ivanov laughing was a sight to see. It transformed his whole face. The harsh lines on his face ebbed away until his expression swam with a hint of youthfulness much more akin to his twenty-eight years.

The next hour flew by in the snap of a finger. Eventually I took off the earmuffs. Daniel wanted me to get accustomed to the sound of gunfire. I even, dare I say, perfected my killing shot. We switched guns and I used one with a silencer for the rest of the session.

By the time we were done, I felt like a certified badass. Between Danny teaching me how to wield a gun and Sam teaching me how to fight, for the first time in my life, I began feeling invincible regardless of what awaited us.

Yet I knew that fighting skills and shooting a gun were just safety nets. True power came from your inner strength.

My confidence had waned a little and my strength had been depleted after my father's tragedy, but I'd found my backbone again, after all these years. It's time I showed it.

As we wrapped up, Danny explained the various guns he had laid out in front of us. I teased him that I wanted a pink gun. He told me that would be difficult to conceal, but he'd consider it as a 'wedding gift'.

"What exactly is your issue with the Donalds? Sam never fully explained to me what happened, just that you had a personal vendetta with Joey."

I could lie, but what was the point in sugar-coating the truth? "Joey and I dated when I was sixteen. He, kind of, well, basically raped me while his father was outside putting bullets through my dad's body."

Danny hardened, in the midst of tucking his gun back in it's chest holster. Murderous glint surfaced in his eyes. "Anna–"

"I'm over it, I swear. I've healed," I reassured quickly, not wanting his pity. My past morphed me into my current version and I liked this me – this strong woman whose shoes I was finally stepping into. "Of course if the opportunity arises, I would love to shoot him. Literally."

His gaze never wavered. "And where will you aim your kill shot?"

"His dick?" I supplied helpfully. "I mean, his brain. Yes. Sorry, I was thinking of the wrong head."

Daniel's mouth twitched. He handed me a gun. "This one is yours to keep. It's not pink, but it'll do for now."

I didn't know what overcame me, but I squeezed his hand in gratitude. "Thank you, Danny. For taking the time out of your day to teach me."

Daniel stared at me strangely, before nodding. Maybe he was weirded out by what I said. The angry edge hadn't left him.

Then I remembered that Samantha Ravenna Adams – his ex-girlfriend – had been gang raped.

And my heart broke a little for Danny, seeing him in another light. A young man who'd been in love with a no-doubt angel of a girl, only for her to meet her end way too soon.

"Learning how to shoot a gun is just the first step. Doing so fearlessly is what will get you places," he said. "And when the opportunity arises, you'll shoot down the motherfucker who thought he had a right to touch you."

We shared a brief smile, before closing shop and strolling out of the warehouse.

"Anna?"

"Yes?"

"You can keep the Benz."

I resisted the urge to grin all-crazy.

We'd discuss a payment plan later, I assumed.

He surveyed his surroundings, before pinning me with a strange look. "You don't look as breakable as when I first met you." A smirk barely flirted with his mouth. "But, I suspect you always had a backbone. You just didn't know what to do with it."

"I guess it's your turn to grow a backbone and ask the pretty woman from the café for a date."

"Did I say you can keep the Benz? I meant–"

"Ha-ha-ha, just kidding."

Something was off the second we neared his car. The atmosphere was tainted dark, like poison wafting in the air. Danny faltered and held me back by an arm, his other hand going to his gun holster.

Anger rolled off of him in waves.

The hood of his black Audi was defiled – stark white paint dripping down the sides like melted candles. A message was written in big lettering. 11.

"Oh, God," I said. The hairs at the back of my neck rose. What was the meaning of this?

Daniel scanned around the car, before backing away with a curse.

"Eleven," he growled. "Sam's fight is in eleven days." 

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A/N: Sam's fight is in eleven days? Anna learning how to fight and shoot a gun? Danny and Elisa (Elsie) lol?! Sam and Anna's sexathon?? What were your overall thoughts? What do you think will happen next? I've got a crazy month ahead of me but come join me on social media to know whenever I'm posting next, and see my aesthetics/teasers! I'm also casually dropping hints on Cade and Ella's rewritten published story coming in Fall 2021 on Amazon ;)

1k votes before the next update? xo

PS: My Pinterest board for Everything We Ever Wanted is now open. Took a few months to curate along with the help of my friend Nic <3!