Dear All,

I am very sorry it took so long to post this new chapter. I will concentrate on this story more now because we are about to reach its conclusion, so I'm trying to plan the future remaining few chapters.

I really hope you will enjoy this new one and I will be looking forward to reading your comments :-) Thank you very much for your votes, reads, comments and support: it all means A LOT to me.

I have attached a picture of Anton (--> very handsome Viggo Mortsensen, who's an amazing actor and one of the most handsome and fascinating men in my opinion) and then a song that seemed to fit the chapter.

I would like to dedicate it to all of you as a sincere THANK YOU and in particular to my dear Theo_Quinn as a huge THANKS for your comments and support and because I think you'll like this chapter. Also, please note that our dear Theo is a writer, so let's show him our support!

Now, enjoy the new chapter!

EXTERNAL POV –KIEV, UKRAINE-

Anya sat beside the bed for already four days with breaks due to her working shifts, and she had prayed each day. When she found him on that street of the outskirts of Kiev, he really looked dead and the amount of blood lost had been considerable. He had needed immediate intense care and blood transfusion; he was unconscious for almost two days and she still couldn't believe when he first opened his eyes and smiled at her. Four days passed since that terrible moment and Anya knew that sooner or later the promise made to the doctor would have to be fulfilled.

She shuddered at the idea in pure disgust, but the veiled provocations and menaces were there in each word and look he gave her. If she wasn't going to give in very soon, he would expose her and the man lying on the bed.

Or worse...far worse and she knew he would be capable of. She had heard rumours about him and they weren't only mere, unfounded gossips. Anya had not missed the way he sometimes looked at young interns and nurses. She gulped silently and looked at her hands to find some composure and presence of mind. Panicking would not solve anything; thinking a way out might help.

She looked back at Anton and felt like smiling at seeing him there, breathing and alive. It was a miracle they were able to hospitalize him without anybody asking questions or posing problems, but it had been arranged earlier. Anton had taken precise precautions before the shooting happened and she knew it; he had explained her that his life was in danger and that he was expecting to be backstabbed very soon. It was a matter of acting before hands and creating an escape route. He had somehow arranged everything before he was shot almost to death and, with her help the escape route was successfully made. She shook her head and swallowed down hard, thinking at what had happened.

The bullet proof vest had saved his life, just as he had planned and predicted, but what would have happened if she had arrived too late? Or what would have happened if they would have shot him in the head? He had gambled greatly, but apparently that was his way of living.

She sighed out loud and shook her head. Had she really fallen in love with such man? She was aware that this love would find no fulfilment, for it wouldn't be possible to stay beside him.

Now Anton lay there still sleeping and looking very pale. Anya knew that a different person would have been dead already, but apparently he was very strong and determined. Anton had been determined not to die in such way and he actually told her so. He wasn't going to die like some dog on the street, killed by a rat that betrayed the entire organization.

Anya closed her eyes and sighed out loud once more, resting her hands over her face; silence embraced the entire room for long time and then the bed sheets seemed to move and a tired, weak groan suddenly filled her ears. Her eyes shot open at once and her lips parted in a mute gasp of many emotions. Tears began to blur her vision as she looked at him slowly opening his eyes and carefully moving his hand on hers. She didn't know why she was actually crying right then, after having already seen him alive, but it all suddenly weighted down on her shoulders and the stress poured out without being able to be contained.

"Why are you crying, sweetheart?"

"You are alive," she only whispered, trying not to squeeze his hand and staring at him almost in adoration. He was there talking and breathing and looking at her with that one-sided smile that reflected the playfulness of his eyes. What if he hadn't used the bullet proof vest? Indeed he had prepared and anticipated everything. Indeed he had gambled with his life.

"I'm a tough bastard to kill, believe me," he replied with rather raucous voice, wincing at the sudden moving he did. "But I feel like shit, damn it. I need to get my hands on that motherfucker and I need to do it very soon."

"You need to rest longer; you lost so much blood that you were at the verge of death," she said with worried voice and almost panicked by the idea of him going to face another similar situation.

"But I can't afford it. I will take some time today to get in better shape, because I can't risk the life of other people for my own stupidity, but not longer than that." He then looked at her directly in the eyes and closed his hand on hers more strongly. "Anya, thank you for saving my life. I will keep my promise and I will always remember what you did."

The tone of his voice and the way his eyes suddenly grew serious in a way she had never witnessed made her understand things that hurt her. She wanted to say and ask more, but making him talk was not a good idea. He needed more rest and talking would only tire him. She went to say something, but the door opened and the doctor that helped her in saving him stepped into the room.

Anton didn't miss the way she nervously shifted on the chair and how her face clouded with fear as she got on her feet; he quickly assessed the man that stepped into the room and, by the way his eyes stared at Anya with an evident note of hunger and lust, he understood what the deal was. So this one was to be disposed of; this much he had promised her and he wouldn't let that dickhead touch her. His eyes ran over the nurse as if he felt the owner of her body and he smiled in such lewd way that it made him want to shoot him dead right there. Or better, to open his throat with a knife and let him bleed to death. That's what bastards like him deserved.

"I see our precious patient is doing well," he said with a tone of voice that implied troubles. Anton gave him one of his one-sided smirks and thought that Anya indeed chose well. He never really had much scruples or principles in life, for sure less than his friend Roman, but it didn't mean he just killed for pleasure or such. However, shooting this one would definitely give him great satisfaction; if anything, to free Anya from such motherfucker's perverted intentions. To free any other future prey by his perverted intentions.

"I am well, thank you for your care. I shall repay back."

The doctor did not speak as he checked his values and his clinical file, for then observing him carefully. He had not grasped the second meaning of Anton's words and the only thing he wanted was to get rid of that uncomfortable patient, for he definitely looked like the kind of man that would bring troubles; he previously had given a very generous sum to the hospital and that kept the due mouths shut. But the sooner he was out, the better. The sooner he could finally enjoy that nurse's damn hot body. He had considered actually killing the man in the bed and it would have been relatively, but he was too scared to actually do such things, because men like him always had someone behind that would erase your entire family if you made a wrong move. He liked his life and there was no reason to unnecessarily endanger it; he would still enjoy fucking that girl there.

"I think tomorrow you can be discharged," he declared after having checked the man's file.

"I will leave today," Anton replied without conceding room for debate. "I feel fine and I hate to be in hospitals. It's depressing and it seems bad omen to me," he added with a playful note and the doctor smiled at that. Even better than expected.

"You will have to sign a declaration where you state that you leave under your own responsibility and choice."

"I can sign it now."

The doctor only nodded and then asked a few routine questions, saying a colleague would quickly check on him to guarantee his safe discharge. Then he looked at Anya and with a smile that gave her an unpleasant chill, told her they would meet later on for discussing her new shift as a colleague fell sick. She silently swallowed down and simply nodded, feeling like about to throw up. Anton had not missed her fear and already planned how to take care of that piece of shit. The doctor left the room and after a couple of minutes, Anton spoke to her.

"You promised him sex in exchange for his help and silence?" She said nothing and simply checked on him, so he pressed more with demanding and harder tone. "Anya, answer me."

"It does not matter," she said with quiet and somehow ashamed voice and he swore under his breath.

"Have you already slept with him?"

"No," she urged in replying, looking almost horrified at the idea.

"Good sweetheart, because that man deserves one thing only. You promised him sex because he had tried to get between your long, beautiful legs already, right? I bet he had already forced himself on other nurses here, he looks like that kind of motherfucker." She slightly nodded and then looked at the floor. "Listen to me carefully, sugar. I promised I would take care of everything and that I wouldn't let you get involved in anything painful or dangerous, right?" She nodded another time, simply looking at him. "That's exactly what I will take care of today as first thing. Invite him to your place," her eyes widened at those words and panic crept on her beautiful face, "invite that fucker there and I will take care of it."

"I don't know if I can do that," she said with hesitation, knowing she would probably not be able to lead a man to his own death, not even such horrible man.

"It doesn't matter if you're able or not. I will still take care of him, you have my word. You can have it in the easy way, without having to give yourself to such fucker, or you can have sex with him and then I will still hunt him down." She gulped at those words and realised she had no choice.

"Very well, I will do as you say."

"Very good, my sweet Anya."

"What will happen next?" She asked staring directly at his playful, blue eyes.

"I will take care of my business and inform a dear friend that I'm still alive. Then, I will probably have to let you be, because a sweet and beautiful girl like you surely deserves a better man, even though I'll be fucking jealous of every man touching you." She shivered at those words and she remembered the moments they shared together. She had never experienced such mixture of sexual pleasure and deep emotions.

"Do you really have to leave me?" She asked with still voice, never letting go of his eyes.

"It's better in this way, sweetheart. I don't want to, but I'm going to be involved in a lot of shit from now on and the last thing I need is to worry about my woman. Some people wouldn't think twice about hurting you, even though now I have the advantageous position of being dead. Quite useful I might say." He smiled in a rather sardonic way and motioned her to get closer. "Anya, don't worry about tonight. I'll make it that nobody will ever suspect a thing about you." Anton just needed to lure him out of his place, because he didn't want to kill him right in his house. It was too much of a pain in the ass and for sure he didn't want to have to kill whoever would be there.

She only nodded, feeling a heavy weight on her shoulders and an even heavier one on her heart.

As the evening arrived, Anya sat in her very small flat and stared at her own reflection in the mirror. The man was due to arrive at any time and she had no idea how Anton had planned to deal with that; she had not seen him since he left the hospital, slightly limping and clearly looking not in his best and strongest shape. But he had signed the papers and left without wasting many words, heading for wherever he had to go. She felt her heart almost throb in pain as Anton walked out of the hospital and possibly out of her life, because he had been very clear and she knew it was the most logical choice. She should have never allowed her feelings to get involved.

Before leaving the hospital, Anton had been able to slip inside the rat's main office and he found what he was looking for: his address and main personal details. The fucker was actually married, but he still behaved like the lowest, dirtiest motherfucker. Right, as if marriage would actually stop bastards like him. Whatever: he had limited hours to enjoy as living person.

Now Anton sat inside a car parked in front of the building where that rat lived and where he had gone home probably to get ready for his meeting with Anya; the mere idea of that son of a bitch touching her made his blood boil with fucking anger and made him shiver in the excitement of getting rid of him. His gloved hands tightened against the steering wheel and a lopsided smirk appeared on his lips. He was going to enjoy in fulfilling his promise.

The bastard exited the building and went for his car, so he readied to follow him; once the doctor parked the vehicle, Anton silently slipped behind him as he walked toward a deserted alley, given Anya lived in a rather quiet area of Kiev's periphery. The night was cold and snowy, very dark also and the lights on the main street conveniently did not work properly; he couldn't ask for a better and easier occasion. He approached him from behind and without wasting time, he pressed the knife on his throat, dragging him in the dark corner of the abandoned alley.

"Wh-What d-do you want?" The bastard stuttered out in clear and evident panic as Anton hauled him against a wall, for then slightly revealing his face. "You...you...I-I should have left you die there..."

"Yes, you should have left me die there and mostly, you should have left Anya alone," he spoke each word with increasing amusement, as his eyes sparkled of the same dark delight and his lips curved in a disdainful smile.

Surprise and panic had momentarily rendered the fucker unable to move or think properly and it was the moment to strike, avoiding to waste precious time. A knife on the throat could paralyze a person in fear for a few moments, but soon they would start to fight back and that wasn't what Anton needed. Without giving the time to the man to struggle against him, given he wasn't in his best form and full strength, the knife slid open his throat. Warm blood spilled out and a disturbing sound of gurgling mixed with choking for life filled the silence of the dark and cold night; Anton held him until he was sure the bastard had kicked the bucket. The best thing was that he had opened his throat so suddenly that the piece of shit had no time to actually scream.

He let the corpse drop on the ground and then searched in his pockets. He took the wallet, the rather expensive watch that he couldn't possibly afford with his salary and the mobile phone; this fucker probably had been a corrupted little shit, if he also considered the expensive car he drove. Anton could dispose of the objects later on and he knew how to get rid of unnecessary annoyance. Killing to rob a poor soul was a pretty common crime and no way in hell the police would dig deeper in that; he knew how that shit worked and he knew the police had their hands full with more important things.

Anton left the dead man there, the snow slowly beginning to fall down and dissolving with his spilled blood; he walked away after having checked nobody was around and drove away. He would go back to Anya later and using a different way. He had paid his debt with her and he ought to say his good-byes before he became too involved with that beautiful nurse; she was absolutely amazing in many ways and the pleasure experienced with her in bed had no equals, but he hadn't been fair to her and in order to avoid suspicion or raising annoying questions that could lead to more annoyance, he had slept with a prostitute or two. It was the way he had always been and suddenly changing habits would have rung quite the fucking loud bell.

Anya definitely deserved a better man. He was going to miss those long and sexy legs, those clear blue eyes that reminded him of the cold water of a frozen lake, her long and scented dark hair and her pretty smart mouth. She was fucking amazing in bed, but she was amazing in the way her brain quickly grasped things around her.

Yeah, she definitely deserved a different kind of man.

The doorbell rang after many hours she sat silently and anxiously in her very small and cramped living room, staring out of the window and looking at the snow falling down. The sound started her and she took a deep breath before going to answer the intercom.

"Yes?" She barely said with unsure voice.

"It's me, sweetheart."

Anya let out the breath she had kept and opened the main door of the building by pressing the button at the intercom. Almost a minute passed before Anton appeared in front of her door. He closed it behind his back quickly and without saying anything, he kissed her deeply and for a very long moment, making her moan loudly as he slipped one of his hands under her dress. Her arms crossed around his neck and she pulled him closer, wanting more than a kiss, but he stopped it and pulled back.

"I kept my word and I took care of everything. You won't be involved and you have nothing to worry about that. Nobody knows I'm alive right now and that's good as it is now. Go to work normally and behave normally. If they ask you anything, you had no idea what the man was doing around here. Do you understand? Just say that you heard about a house where some prostitutes work and believe me sugar: that will give enough to think about." She only nodded and waited for him to say more. "This is the last time you will see me, beautiful Anya, because I really don't want to mess your life and I actually already asked too much from you. I'll miss your sexy legs and I'll miss that incredible mouth of yours," he said those last words with a rather suggestive look and his hands had slowly reached the small of her back, slipping lower, way lower.

The man looked at her in a way he had never done before and she felt her heart aching, but she knew this was the logical and right thing to do. His eyes rested on hers for a longer moment and then his lips grazed hers, while his hands were now travelling her sides up with increasing desire, one very slowly moving on her breast, his expression mirroring his excitement.

"Anya, my beautiful and sexy Anya, can I have one last night with you?"

"Yes, Anton," she replied without having to think about it. "I definitely want it and I will never forget about you."

"I also won't forget you, sweetheart." His words were sincere and because of that, her heart ached even more.

She should have not fallen in love with this man, because she knew it was going to be impossible to forget him and to stay away from him.

ROMAN POV:

The flight was on time and that was very good. I collected my bag and walked to the arrival area after having slightly covered my face with a hat and by pulling the collar of my jacket up; they would soon be aware that Roman with the Stars was back, because I had in mind to hunt down a couple of bastards and make them talk. I wanted to avoid annoyance right now, but I would not hide my presence in Kiev. I planned to strike down those Chechen dogs that crossed the wrong path and then I'd cut the head of the snake and the game would be over.

It seemed to me that we could avoid an unnecessary international war because I doubted that big shot was involved; the dogs I dealt with had no direct relations to such man and someone in that position wouldn't have trusted this delicate operation in the hands of such not capable bastards. Not to mention what those last small fries told me about him; he was way too guarded and smart to get involved in this shit. It was pure instinct mixed with my own experience that made me think so and I was ready to gamble on it. It might be damn risky, but we sure weren't dealing with easy things.

Yet, another issue needed to be solved and that regarded Cillian Flannery. Leaving Enna like that in Dublin left me uneasy, because of what happened during the weekend and because I would not rest in peace until I found more information about that man. Eamon wanted to talk to Enna about him, but honestly speaking I wasn't sure whether it was a good idea or not: both solutions held potential risk. That was why I had to discover how deeply involved that Cillian was and if it was possible to pull him out from it without major complications.

What made me uneasy wasn't the fact that the man was Enna's friend, as for a matter of fact they could do whatever they wanted. What made me uneasy was how that man felt for my angel; I was sure he was in love with him and I was afraid he could involve my angel without realising it. That man gave me an impression of being possessive over Enna and that's what left me restless. That was why I wasn't certain that telling Enna the truth might be a good idea.

He should be aware of the potential danger, yes, but at the same time something left me uneasy on the matter. However, now there wasn't much I could do about it and I had other urgent things in my hands. I had duties and I had responsibilities toward boss Boris and our organization. At least I could rest relatively in peace knowing that other bastard would no longer represent a danger for my angel.

I had dealt with that piece of shit and he was now burning in hell for all I cared, a place where he belonged to. So one was out of the picture and Enna was surely safe now, but something remained in the back of my neck, my instinct whispering to me that my angel wasn't yet completely safe. It was going to be hard to be separated from him for months, probably without being able to be in touch, but I had duties here and I couldn't go back to my Enna before handling everything and cleaning my past. It wasn't going to be easy, but I had thought about the actions to take. I had an idea how boss Boris was going to take it, but I would worry about it when the time called for it.

I called for a taxi and gave a random address, because I had to reach my own place without being noticed immediately. As I stepped into the taxi and the driver drove away, I noticed a car following us. I shook my head and once we reached the given address, I looked around and found the perfect spot where to wait for the visit; the afternoon was already dark and cold and the shadow of the corner hid me as my pursuer stepped into the small alley. My feet moved silently behind and then I grabbed the shoulder of the man, who turned around at first.

"You sneaky son of a bitch!" Anton stood there in front of me rather pale, but alive and in one damn piece.

"You're alive and fine, friend," I said, as we quickly patted each other's backs. "I really thought they shot you down, but when you sent me that message Saturday night, I was happy. You're a tough one to kill."

"For a moment I really thought I'd die like a dog on a street, believe me," he sighed and then pulled the collar of his coat up, to shield from the cold wind. "That motherfucker is behind everything." He meant Ruslan and I had quite the debt to repay him. I was eager to get rid of him, as it would really mean getting rid of most of the problems.

"Let's go somewhere safe and let's talk. I've got many things to discuss and we need to take actions. I need to make some people loosen up their tongues." My friend grinned like the bastard he was and shifted on his feet. No doubts he still felt pain from the shot, judging by how he had adjusted his posture and shifted the weight on the other leg. "How do you feel?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. They still think I'm dead, so I'm sniffing around." I nodded and shook my head. He had gambled and he had done in the right way. We could really use this at our advantage. "Where do you want to go?"

"I know a good place," I said and I checked the surrounding, making sure nobody would pay attention to two persons leaving together on a car.

I closed the small side door behind me and I knew nobody would look for us in here. It was a deconsecrated church in one of the quietest area of Kiev's outskirts; nobody attended this church for obvious reasons and for unknown ones it had never been demolished or closed. We checked the place carefully and after making sure nobody was around, we sat behind one of the main columns and began to talk. The building was completely silent and populated only by soundless shadows following our movements.

While he drove, Anton had quickly explained how he managed to escape death by the hands of that traitor and I must say I was impressed for how he orchestrated everything. We both knew boss Boris didn't want to go directly against Ruslan without real and evident proofs, because the bastard came from a rather powerful family and you couldn't trample on their people like nothing, but now we had what we needed to strike him. I doubted his family would do much to protect him, as I knew how much their respected our boss and how lucrative for them was to share business with him. One hand washes the other and this saying often applied. I had no doubts we could buy their support once we presented them his treacherous betrayal, mostly because Ruslan and that woman seemed two persons that wouldn't share a thing. He was ruthless and held no honour; he would have betrayed his own family if needed and of this I was certain.

Anton had well studied that bastard's movements and he risked a lot to get what we needed and to save his ass. He had been helped in that, but he didn't share the identity of the person that assisted him in the matter and I knew he didn't do it because he wanted to keep that person, possibly a woman, safe. Anton was sentimentally involved apparently and I understood him; he trusted me of course, but he must have given his word to that woman. I respected his choice and didn't press for further details; I would do the same for my angel, which reminded me that I had to communicate to Anton my future decision, as he would be the one going to receive the stars. If everything worked out well, of course.

"Ruslan shot you, right? Where is the rat hiding now? What about boss Boris, who's watching his back now?" I immediately inquired as I studied his face that contracted in evident anger.

"Yes my friend, the fucker betrayed us openly and now he's hiding somewhere ready to strike. I have heard that he became the leader of the antagonist faction, but not sure about his family. I think they are scared that if it works badly, the boss will wipe them out completely." I nodded in agreement because that was very true. The boss had already done something similar in the past and I also knew they were scared of me, given I had taken care of a business for them in the past and they had a touch of my methods. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't find him yet. And don't worry about the boss: he's staying in a very safe place and nobody suspects of his whereabouts."

I thought about it a moment and then I guessed where he was staying. Boss Boris had a sort of mistress that he actually loved or that he was really attached to. Somehow he always kept it very quiet and discreet, only Anton and I knowing about that for obvious reasons. He was safe there for now, but he wasn't going to be safe in a long term.

"He called me from a number I didn't know and told me about your death," I said, wanting to get more details of that. "He told me that line was safe, but we still kept it very vague and quiet."

"I told him to call you and talk about the corpse found at the river's shore."

"I thought so after I received your message, but why?"

"Well, I believed someone might have intercepted his call and you can never be too careful. And second, because my body disappeared from that place where they shot me, so I had to craft something out."

"You don't trust that woman completely?" I asked, studying his expression and face and he just sighed.

"Do you? I can tell he's safe now, but who knows in a couple of weeks or less? I met her two times only and she seemed fine and quite the sexy one, but we have seen enough to hardly trust people." I chuckled at his words, because his brain really worked in one direction only when it concerned women. However, he must have met some special one, given how he was protecting her identity even with me.

"I trust nobody, exception made for you and the boss. You know this already, as you know I have a healthy habit of watching my back," I replied, smirking as I observed the shadows slowly moving around us. Anton had proved several times that he could be trusted and there was something in him that always put me at ease. He might have been a playboy and held little to none morals, but he had a deep sense of honour and a few principles he would never betray. "Well, it was good to craft your death and no doubt the corpse resembled you. You are quit the expert in that," I said, remembering the times he had arranged dead bodies to leave given messages. He really had a talent for that. He made a very good choice indeed. "So they think you are done and out, we can use it to strike them and to follow Boris's wife."

"That bitch is abroad now. I think in London or something like that; I couldn't get too much into details for obvious reasons. So she's really involved, hmm? Two timer bitch," he snorted, shaking his head. "Do you think she's actually fucking with Ruslan? It wouldn't surprise me."

"I'm sure she's and that's what made her get all the information she needed. Ruslan is ruthless, but he's not a strategist and he needs her for now. She's pulling the strings of everything and got that new oligarch involved, but just you wait till I get to exchange a few words with that man. He'll be ready to listen to us, believe me."

"I never doubted you, Roman," he said with an amused expression, as he massaged his leg. He was probably still feeling pain and he saw me looking at that. "I'm not as lucky as you: I feel fucking pain, friend."

"I'm glad you made it, Anton. It'd be a pain in the ass without you and you will have to take my place once everything is over." His expression changed from his usual sardonic and playful smile to a very serious one, his eyes immediately stopping on mine and narrowing as he understood what I meant.

"Are you kidding me, Roman? What the fuck are you talking about?" His voice didn't sound upset or angry, only very surprised.

"I need to leave this life and the organization," I only replied and he looked at me for a long moment in complete silence, weighting my words, trying to guess what made me change.

"Just tell me why," he demanded, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You met someone?"

"I met an angel and I need to leave this life."

"Oh fuck...you know that the boss won't let you go easily, right? Actually, he won't let you go at all and do us both a favour: don't tell me anything about this person. Not that I would ever betray because I'd rather be tortured for days than sell you out, but because...because this person obviously means the world to you and the less involved, the better. You understand me friend, right?" I nodded and yes, I completely understood him.

"I am aware that the boss will not let me go easily, but I made a promise and I cannot live without my angel." He swore under his breath at my words and then chuckled out quietly.

"I never thought I'd see this day, Roman," he said with a smile and he shook his head still not entirely believing my words. "I know how you feel," he confessed and I said nothing, simply giving him a quick nod.

"I don't want to discuss it now, but it was right to tell you, so you'll watch your back more. Now, we must concentrate on what to do and I have an idea already."

"What's your plan? When we strike?" He asked giving me quite the dark smile.

"We strike now and we begin from those dogs, by killing their leader and then ending every possible legacy. They'll be lost like rabid beasts and it'll be very easy to get rid of all of them. I told you before what I believe: that big shot in Ireland is not involved in this shit, but I need further proves. I'll see to get a quick chat with the right people and once I'm sure about this, we can proceed in hunting for the main snake. We cut its head off and the game is over."

"The boss won't be happy about his bitch wife, because he's a proud old man and because you know how he is, but I guess it'll be quite the good excuse to get rid of her."

"Yes, you're right," I agreed as I observed the shadows dancing on the walls of the church. "And I want that bastard's head."

"He'll get out from his hiding hole as soon as he'll know you're back," Anton suggested and that was very true.

"He'll be notified tomorrow, when I'll start to deliver the first message," I replied, as I mentally planned how to attack those bastards. "I have a favour to return and I can't wait to send a bullet straight to his head."

"That makes two of us, friend, believe me," he groaned as he massaged his leg once more. "And I know who the hell their leader is, as I haven't lain around doing nothing while you were away and I was supposed to be dead."

"Tricky bastard you are," I joked and he chuckled quietly, but then he grew serious and silent. "What is it, Anton?"

"How do you plan to leave such life and this world? How do you plan to keep your angel out of this and safe?" He looked concerned, not much for me, but for the whole situation. "You joined this life and world when? More than twelve years ago or even more, and don't know, I don't think I could leave it."

"I thought the same at first, imagining it impossible to leave everything behind my back. But I realized that the real impossible thing is to leave that angel. I am aware of my position and of my responsibilities, as I'm aware that it'll be difficult a lot. But first, we have to handle this mess and then I'll act accordingly. I gave my word and I intend to keep it, for I cannot do otherwise. I won't hesitate to eliminate anybody that might represent a menace for my angel and I will make no exceptions."

If for any fucked-up reason the boss would pose a threat or somehow tried to sniff around too much trying to use whatever he might find out to keep me tied at his side, I had already considered my actions. I would kill him if he would dare to endanger my Enna and I would not regret it nor hesitate to pull the trigger. Anton grasped the meaning of my words at first and then sighed out.

"It won't be easy and you know it, but I'll do what I can for you. I've always considered you like a younger brother and you're the only motherfucker I can trust."

"I know it won't be easy, but it's not the main issue now. I want to get Ruslan out and then we will deal with him. Can you stay dead for another few days?" I asked, smiling at the thought of what I had to do the following day.

"For as long as you need it. I'll sniff more around and I'll strike when you'll open the dances."

"You're looking forward to it, aren't you?" I knew he was and he had all the reasons. Anton obviously wanted to pay back for the bullets he received and we were going to have our own entertainment.

"You bet I look forward to open their throats and stick a bullet in their backs, because that's where they deserved to be shot." Then he considered something and looked straight into my eyes. "How do you plan to deal with the oligarch? He's a big shot here in Kiev and you know that. It won't be easy to approach him and he has quite the connections in the city."

"I saw one of his men back in Ireland and I will hunt him down. I'll make him talk and then I'm sure I can find the way to have a private chat with him. He might have connections, but without doubts he has heard of Roman with the Stars and the fact he's somehow still keeping behind everything speaks clearly. A man in his position, so corrupted and well connected, shouldn't have reasons to stay behind. He's studying things and he's hoping to keep his throat intact, just as his balls. Do you think Ruslan and that woman are ready to actually share power? Do you think they trust each other?"

"I bet my nuts they'll get at each other's throat at the first occasion. Ruslan is a cold-blooded and honourless son of a bitch and his word means shit. That woman is a manipulating bitch and she's ready to sleep with whoever will guarantee her enough power and money. She's too ambitious for her own good."

"Yes my friend and that I plan to use." I smirked and then pulled the collar of my jacket up, getting on my feet. "Do you have a safe hideout?" He nodded and he also got up. "Let's get some sleep, because tomorrow we'll drag that piece of shit out by delivering the first message."

"I like the sound of it, Roman with the Stars."

Anton mirrored my expression and then we walked out of the deconsecrated church, letting the freezing and harsh wind caress our faces as flakes of snow fell from the dark sky. I stared up at it and for a very brief moment, my thoughts ran to my angel and at his red, glossy lips. For a moment his arms were around me and his voice whispered sweet words in my ear...yes, I also had to go a hospital and get a complete blood test. I wanted to kiss Enna deeply and love him without having to worry about anything, but before I had to make sure I could really do it. I never engaged in irresponsible sex, but I had been in prison and I hadn't had a clean and normal life.

He was my beautiful and ethereal angel and I could kiss him for hours and deeply, drinking from his soul and getting drunk from his tempting lips only after having made sure I was clean and after having placed everything behind me.

Yes, once this was over and settled, I had to leave this life and clean my record and I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but one thing was damn sure: nothing and nobody could separate me from my Enna.

ENNA POV – IRELAND, DAYS LATER

More than ten days passed since that terrible Saturday night and I had tried in every possible way to avoid my friends, with the excuse that dad had seriously fallen ill with high temperature, needing of course my help. Thank God Ciara helped me and covered the lie, for there was no way I could go to work in these conditions. Some bruises were still slightly visible and it would take another few days before I could conceal them perfectly with some make up. I could not stay in Dublin because I would have surely met someone I knew. If Priya or Cillian would see my face, they would understand what happened and I'd rather die than expose Roman and what he did to save me from Michael.

Lying was something that made me feel guilty, but it was the only solution. At work there were facing hectic and terrible days and I felt bad for it, but there was no way of going to work with such face. No excuse could possibly explain it in a credible manner and so I had to hide here for a while.

Many days passed since that Saturday and I missed my love very much. I thought about him every single moment and I prayed for him every day.

Roman had left on Monday and for obvious reasons I could not be at the airport with him. Letting him go had been hard to a painful point and I had not heard from him since then. He didn't have to explain the reason behind that, for I understood it. Yet, it was excruciatingly hard to be here in Ireland while he was there and possibly in danger. Of course I knew what kind of man my Roman was, especially after having witnessed how he took care of Michael, but the distance and the lack of contact made reality suddenly very heavy. It deformed reality into paranoia and it was slowly crawling up my nerves and rationality. I realized how every day and then every hour became longer than expected. Roman had stayed at my place that Sunday and slept beside me, cradling me in his shielding arms. It was the only night I had slept decently, lulled by the soothing heat of his body and by his strong, yet caring embrace.

The moment he left, everything that happened somehow collapsed on me and almost suffocated me. I hated to feel in such way, so fragile and shivering in fears. But in the past nights I hadn't slept much and a couple of times I had fallen asleep, I woke up almost in panic and drenched in sweat; fear woke me up from a nightmare where I was strapped on a chair in a very dark room and nobody was there for me. I had to slowly get over this panic and constant state of edginess, feeling as if something would lurk out of a dark corner to ensnare me somewhere forgotten.

I hadn't realized how what happened that night deeply affected me, not until Roman left. Rationally speaking I knew Michael was dead, but my mind began to follow the path of the very dangerous and twisted "what if" ... What if Roman would have already left for Kiev? The answer was always the same: I would have killed myself or Michael, if I had the chance, rather than let him put his hands on me.

I shuddered strongly at the thought and once more those sick and vicious eyes danced in front me, feeling the stench of that alcohol-filled breath, the harshness and cruelty of those hits. After Roman took me home, I had a very long shower and rubbed my skin and hair almost furiously, wanting to remove every possible trace of Michael. I was obsessed with that and I believe my love understood me, because he kept touching me, kissing me very softly, caressing my hair and when he left, I could smell him on me, his smell and cologne were on my hair and I loved it.

At first he had wanted to take a lock of my hair with him, but he decided not to, concerned it would represent a possible threat for me and a weak point for him. I wondered who were the people gravitating around his life in Kiev and I tried to comprehend how bad the situation in his organization was, but it was beyond me. My imagination could attempt to it as much as it wished to, but I simply could not entirely understand that world. I just hoped one day Roman will want to tell me everything about that.

I gazed out of the window of my father's house and then a warm, strong hand stopped on my shoulder. I didn't flinch only because the reflection of my dad appeared in the glass. I really had to get over what happened, as I couldn't live in this state, nor I could expose it in front of my friends. It would take time and there was no denying this fact, but I didn't like it. It made me feel weak and vulnerable, something that always left me uneasy.

"How are you, son?" dad asked as he handed me a cup of steamy tea.

"I'm good, dad, really. I received a message from Priya, wishing you a fast recovery. I feel bad for lying about this, but what else can I do?"

"Nothing else, Enna, and you know it. What would they say about your face?" His face hardened as he mentioned that and his eyes lingered on that, clearly tensing at the memory. "I will never forget what Roman did for you. I sincerely hope he's doing well, but don't worry too much over him, son. That man clearly knows how to handle some situations."

"I know, dad."

"I just feel somewhat fecking useless, Enna." He stared outside the window and for a moment his gaze was lost there. A deep and long sigh left his mouth and a tired smiled appeared on his face.

"What?" I gasped out. "What are you talking about, dad?"

"Enna, I'm your father and yet I couldn't do anything to help you. Roman did it, he..." I halted my father, because I might have somehow comprehended his feelings, but all he said was very wrong.

"Dad, you always helped me and supported me. Now you are here beside me and I see what you are doing for me. Roman is someone very uncommon and he has completely different methods...he is Roman. Dad I felt like a connection with him when I was there and I think he also felt it...I'm not sure how I can explain you this without sounding crazy or dear me, unstable, but that's what I sensed."

Dad only smiled at me in his usual warm way and squeezed my shoulder with his hand.

"I know what you mean, Enna. I saw the two of you together. Your sister saw the two of you together and she immediately thought of soul mates. You know her well."

Yes, my dear little flea had expressed her thoughts to me when she helped to shower after what happened. She waited outside the shower box and then combed my hair for me, her eyes clearly full of questions. But she restrained herself and, while she arranged my hair, her fingers trembled visibly. On Monday evening she stayed over my dad's place and insisted to sleep with me. I did not mind it, because we often did it when we were kids. Ciara said she liked Roman and that she would never say a word about what happened; the way she hugged him before he left for the airport indicated how sincere her feelings were. I was surprised by her reaction, but she had later confessed how happy she was I found my soul mate. She was slightly scared of him and I couldn't blame her, because Roman indeed wasn't a normal and common man; but she went over that and tried to see his qualities.

"Yes, she likes Roman," I said smiling and twirling a strand of loose hair around my finger, a gesture that immediately brought my love into my thoughts.

"She sure does and Roman confessed to me how bad he felt for having involved her in this. However time for him was too short to act differently and truth been told, I doubt it could have been any different, with what happened. She was so worried, Enna...so was I. Believe me son, I also would have killed that bloody bastard."

"Dad..."

"No, I mean it. I know why Roman did that and he probably thought he was the right person to take the burden of it, but I would have gladly done it. Nobody can touch my children."

I understood from his words that all of this also affected my father. In those hours he feared to lose me and now he wasn't over thinking about that, feeling guilty for not having acted earlier. But what could he have done? Roman was right. He was the only one that could have done it, and not because of who or what he was; he was the only because of our bond. I doubted he felt guilty and I shared that same feeling. Rationally and morally speaking it was wrong, but I couldn't bring my heart to wholly agree with that. Roman was the only that could do it because this would not crush his soul. He called his soul tainted and dark, but I believed he had a beautiful and very strong soul.

If his soul was dark as he said, so was mine, and it was right in this way.

I said nothing of this to my father or to my sister, as nobody would understand me. People would probably think I was exaggerating on my love or would look at me thinking me crazy. But my Roman comprehended my feelings and emotions entirely.

I stared back at my father and hugged me tightly, my mind leaving the path of my former thoughts and coming back to present time.

"Thank you dad, I know how much you love Ciara and I," I murmured as my slender arms tightened around his sturdy back. He only caressed my hair and gave me a quick hug, for then releasing me.

"I will have to buy dinner to your friends, once I'm better," he joked and I was glad he had changed subject, because I didn't like to hear him talking about killing Michael. That man had done enough harm and I just wanted to put everything behind me.

"I feel bad for lying to them in this way, but what can I do?"

"Nothing, so stop thinking about that. Ciara will be here soon and I think she wants us to cook something all together, so I better prepare myself." He rubbed his forehead and then asked me something else, looking directly into my eyes. "How's Cillian? I haven't heard from him in these days."

Cillian...I sighed. I didn't understand what was happening with him and he said nothing was going on, but he was different. He had called me twice only and that was already very strange for him, considering how close he was to my father. Once he was in London I believe, saying he had to do some research and assist a colleague in university; yet he felt strange. His voice sounded distant and troubled. But maybe I was reading into things, simply because recently I had been involved with horrible facts. However, something was odd with my friend and I couldn't help worrying about him.

"He's fine I guess and I believe he is busy with an article he is writing. I suppose it's good that he did not barge in here in his usual way," I said, twisting the lock of hair more around my finger and shaking my head. "I haven't seen him much recently and I hope he's fine. He said we'll probably meet once he's less busy."

My dad said nothing for moment, as he kept staring out of the window and then he sighed out loudly, rubbing his forehead.

"Are you OK, dad?" I asked slightly concerned.

"Yes Enna, I'm grand, don't worry. I was just thinking about what happened and at the fact I don't want you or Ciara to be in danger anymore."

"We won't, dad. Michael is really gone and there is nobody else that will be dangerous or that will pose a threat to us. The only person now facing a dangerous situation is Roman."

Dad turned his head and his eyes concentrated on mine, looking at me silently as if lost in some distant thoughts. He seemed to ponder my words and probably he was still brooding over what happened with Michael, given how uneasy and worried he looked. His eyes shifted away from my face and he nodded.

"I guess you're right, son," he commented. "Yes, what you said it's true: he is the one in quite the bloody situation and I hope he'll watch his back."

"He is Roman with the Stars," I said, almost feeling my love's arms tightly secured around me. "He's Roman with the Stars," I repeated once more, almost like a sweet spell to cast away my paranoia and fears. "I know he'll be back safe."

Author's chit-chat:

What are your thoughts, reactions, emotions after reading this chapter?

Are you happy our Anton is alive? Who imagined that?

Did you expect Roman telling that to Anton or not? I think it had to be said because it won't be easy for him and he had to make things clear with the only person he completely trusts.

Now, Eamon hasn't said anything to his son about Cillian and let us see what will happen in the next chapter...we are reaching the end and so do expect more actions and stronger, adrenaline-filled, emotional chapters. It won't be easy for our Roman and Enna.

This time I won't let pass so long before posting and I'm really sorry for the wait. I'm working on a new chapter of "Loving You is Forbidden" and it should be posted in a few days. I'll notify you of course, but stay tuned just in case :-)

I'll be looking forward to reading your comments: they are always very precious for me! THANK YOU!

Lots of Love, Magic and Meows,
-TheWitchAndTheCat-