BONUS CHAPTER 3: RULED BY FIRE

HAVEN'S POV

The living room was dark except for the soft light coming from my laptop and the television, where a new chic flick from Netflix was playing, when the door suddenly opened. I quickly closed the tabs open on my laptop, but before I could finish doing it, Allessio, who had just arrived, was already close to me.

"Gattina?" He lean down from the back of the sofa so that he could kiss my temple. "Why are you still awake? It's already past midnight." His gaze went to the screen of my laptop. "Are you shopping?"

"Uhh... yes?"

I was about to close my laptop, but he stopped me. I sighed when he snatched the device from me and circled the sofa so that he could sit beside me. My lips pursed a little when his nosy self went straight to my cart. He browsed through the long list of stuff I added to my basket. "You need a new dress?"

"For my graduation."

He didn't ask why I would need to buy a new one when we have a closet full of dresses because he keeps buying more whenever he feels like it. "They will all look perfect on you." He glanced at me and gave me back the laptop. "Buy them all."

I scrunched up my nose at him. "I don't want to buy them all. I just need one."

It's clear that he doesn't agree, but he didn't push. He glanced at the laptop, then back to me. "I don't understand why you're uncomfortable to let me know that you're shopping for yourself. You have your own money. I won't tell you how you should spend it when it's yours."

Money that came from him, which makes it still technically his. I'm not going to say that out loud to him, though. For him, everything that is his is also mine.

"Is it because shopping is your past addiction, and I once told you that you look like a junkie when you look at a credit card?"

That feels like a million years ago. It was during those times that I was torn between getting scared of him, finding him hot though I was trying not to admit it, and being annoyed the hell out of him.

"You know you don't have to worry about that, right, gattina?"

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Because I'm now a changed woman?"

"No. Because I have the money to put you in a luxury rehab."

I frowned and slightly pushed him, which only made him laugh. He took the laptop from me again and set it down on the table before pulling me closer to him, and then he kissed me on his favorite spot on my neck.

"We'll both go to rehab together," he murmured against my skin.

"That makes sense since you're the one who shops like a woman with a credit card that has no spending limit."

"Not that," he chuckled. "For a different kind of addiction. The one that involves my beautiful wife."

I bit my lower lip as he guided me onto his lap. The years that passed didn't change Allessio's need to have me. In fact, sometimes I feel like it has only intensified. It's as if he relishes at the fact that I have his ring on my finger and his surname is connected to my name for the rest of our lives ahead of us.

Allessio was starting to unbutton my oversize shirt pajamas when the rumble of my stomach ruined the moment.

"I was waiting for you to come home," I said, my lips pursing a little.

"Rosa said you cooked dinner. You haven't eaten yet?" He tapped the tip of my nose gently. "How many times do I have to tell you that you don't have to wait for me? You should be resting. Are you worried about the graduation again?"

It's my graduation in a few days. After a lot of sleepless nights and moments that I'm bawling my eyes out while doing my projects, I'm finally graduating.

I couldn't help but smile as I remembered the times when Allessio caught me crying over my papers and projects because of the combined stress, exhaustion, and lack of sleep. I think it's one of the few moments that Allessio felt helpless because he can't do anything to help me except offer to either kidnap my professors so that the deadline will be extended or buy the school so that I'll pass even if I sleep for a week doing nothing.

"There's nothing to be worried about. You're already graduating. Even if your professor gets into an accident and breaks his hand, he has no choice but to give you your diploma, or I'll break more things than he could imagine."

"I'm not worried. Stop threatening my professor's life." I hooked my arms around his shoulders. "I saved some dinner for you, but I want the food you make. It's been a long time since you last cooked for me."

His eyes roamed around my face, and he smiled. He brushes the tip of his nose with mine. "My baby is feeling neglected. Don't worry. Daddy will make you full tonight."

I narrowed my eyes on him that just made him grin. The double meaning is loud and clear. Whatever. I can handle both.

I didn't let go of him as he moved to stand up, clutching on to him like a baby koala. It didn't bother Allessio, though, and he just carried me until we reached the kitchen. He set me down on the nearest chair before heading to the fridge to take out the food container I left for him. He smiled and looked at me when he saw his name written in big letters on it. There's even written threats on the side saying that I'm going to poison anyone who's going to eat it except Allessio.

I don't cook a lot, what with being so busy in school. There's also the fact that the kitchen is Rosa's territory, which she doesn't mind sharing with me. But I do since I love her cooking.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Piadina?" I asked hopefully.

It's an Italian flatbread stuffed with meat, cheese, and vegetables. It's one of my favorite midnight snacks.

I watched Allessio move around the kitchen effortlessly. From time to time, he steals a quick kiss when he passes by me. If you can even call it stealing when I like it anyway.

"You'll come to my graduation?"

His smile turned playful. "I can come right now."

"Ang harot mo." It was a Tagalog phrase that says something about him being flirtatious.

"Kaya bagay tayo."

I snickered at his attempt to speak in Tagalog to tell me that him being flirty makes us perfect for each other, insinuating that I am the same way too. He's far flirtier than me that he could make a living out of it.

I've been teaching Allessio some words and phrases the way he's helping me learn Italian. The difference between us is that he understands Tagalog but can't speak it, while I both can't understand and speak Italian. But we still depend on English when we're conversing. It's something we've gotten used to, as well as the people around us.

He placed on the center island the freshly heated Adobo, a Filipino dish, that I made earlier for dinner and set the piadina in front of me.

"The food looks like us," I said, giggling.

He put a finger on my chin to touch his lips on mine. "Yeah. It looks delicious."

I snickered with a shake of my head. We were both busy eating when I suddenly remembered something. "You didn't answer my question. Will you be there? In my graduation?"

"Isn't it obvious, gattina. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Good. Because I have a surprise for you."

IT'S A MIRACLE that I didn't slip as I climbed the stairs of the Odeon Firenze, a historic amphitheater here in Florence where the graduation ceremony is taking place. My knees are shaking from the combination of nervousness and anticipation. Especially when I saw the varying intensity of surprise on Allessio and his men's faces when the "110 e lode" was called.

I thanked the head of the program who handed me out the mic, and then I walked up the lectern to face the crowd in front of me.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth to begin with the speech I was asked to prepare for this moment. It's the standard inspirational speech that revolves around the university, how I grew with them, and how me and the other graduates should face the future.

My gaze went to my husband and his men, who could only be described as my family. Idalion is exactly that for me. A strange, dangerous, and powerful family.

"If someone had told me years ago that I would be standing here today to tell all of these to you, I would have laughed. I was the complete opposite of what most of the graduates here knew me for. I would be more likely to be seen at a party than in a library. I would be more likely holding a glass of wine than a book. But life has its way of waking us up, and mine delivered a rough awakening for me. It made me notice how disorderly and full of clutter my life is. Which is why life proved to me that it has a sense of humor because I found myself wanting a career in a profession that demands organization. Changing wasn't easy, and growth comes with growing pains. I could stand here and tell you that everything was just a breeze and I barely notice the time passing by, but I would be lying. We all know it wasn't easy, right? And admit or not, most of us here shed such a great amount of tears that we can create our own ocean."

There was laughter coming from the graduates as well as the faculties.

"I was lucky enough to be surrounded by people who are not threatened by my tears, even though I could cry on cue just at the mention of my thesis. My classmates who contributed to making learning here a great experience... and my friends who give me time to decompress even just through something as simple as acting silly to divert my attention." I glance at the Idalion members, and Fierro who put a hand on top of his chest. Though I couldn't hear him, he probably let out an exaggerated "aww" to tease me. Shaking my head, I look at Allessio's way. He's gazing at me as if I'm the most incredible sight he has ever seen. "And of course my husband, who doesn't even know that I will receive an academic award today, and yet he still celebrates everything I do as the greatest achievement. He has been my rock and my constant through out all of this. He often pretends to have something to work on just to stay with me through the night while I'm studying, he supplies me with snacks, he lets me talk his ear out about ideas I have even though he probably has no clue what I'm talking about, and he lets me sleep when I doze off while printing countless of my outputs, and when I wake up everything is compiled neatly."

The audience echoed Fierro's reaction awhile ago by awwing as well.

"Knowledge doesn't grow in isolation. We learn from each other and for each other. The journeys ahead of us are not meant to be taken alone. Surround yourself with the right people because with them, the worst moments won't break you, and your success will be more fulfilling and meaningful."

I continued on with my closing statement, which didn't take much long. When I finished and got off the stage, instead of going back to my seat, I went up to where Allessio and the others were. I did my part and received my award. This time I want my reward—my husband and the pride I see in his eyes while he looks at me.

My pace quickened into a run, and at the next second, I was up in his arms. When he put me down on my feet, he held my face between his hands and gave me a quick kiss. "Fucking proud of you, gattina."

"Were you surprised?"

"I am, but I shouldn't have." He rested his forehead against mine. "You're the best, baby."

He gave me a tight hug again, but he grudgingly let me go when the others closed in on us. Lorenzo shook my hand to congratulate me, Adriano fist bumped me, and Fierro high-fived me.

The latter looked around before leaning toward us with a hand on his mouth. "How much did you pay the school?"

I glared at him, then I turned to Allessio, "Do you have your gun with you?"

"Yes, but let's do it when we're at the parking lot so we can dump him somewhere easily."

Fierro, who's used to having his life threatened, just rolled his eyes at us. He's probably one of the few people on the planet who believes Allessio has a sense of humor.

We stayed awhile to wait for the ceremony to end, and then I said my goodbyes to the people in my class. Soon enough, we were in the car, heading back home. Allessio wants to take me out to dinner, but I wanted to change my clothes first.

When we got inside the house, I was about to head up to our room when I saw a box in the living room. I gasped loudly, and without thinking, I just threw my bag and diploma that Allessio managed to catch before they hit the floor.

"What are you..." Allessio trailed off when I knelt on the floor, and I began tearing through the box. "What's happening?"

When I didn't answer right away, he placed my things on the sofa and gently pulled my hand away from the box to take it from me.

My eyes widened. You're giving it away because of your excitement! I tried to move the box away from him. "It's okay. Let's go to dinner first—"

Starting to get suspicious, Allessio took the box from me again. He fish out a pocket knife from his pocket, then he slid the blade on the box's surface to open it. His eyes glinted in something close to disgust when the content of the box was revealed. He turned to me, a look of betrayal spreading on his face.

"How could you do this to me, gattina?" I hugged the medium-size back to me as if to protect it, and his nostrils flared. "Why?"

"I just... I want it."

"Am I not enough?"

If there were other people who could hear us, they might have assumed something entirely different base on our conversation.

"Daddy, it isn't a big deal—"

"Of course it is! I can make you a pasta—a real pasta—from scratch, and you..." He jabbed his finger on the box. "And you bought that abomination!" He made a move as if he wanted to grab the box and set it on fire. "Throw that away!"

"No! Do you know how many Filipino stores all over Italy that I contacted and yet I still couldn't find this? I paid a lot to have this shipped from Philippines!"

I'm holding a box full of Curly Spaghetti. An instant spaghetti from the Philippines that Allessio loathes with a passion. I've been craving it for weeks, but no one sells it here. I just had it shipped from the Philippines, but the shipping was so expensive, and it took forever to arrive.

"Throw it! I'll cook for you!"

"The baby wants this!"

The look on Allessio's face is something that I wouldn't forget for a long time. Different emotions flicker in his eyes at a blinding speed. Fear, astonishment, shock, worry, and most of all, pure happiness.

"You're... you're pregnant?" he whispered.

Tears filled my eyes, and I nodded. "I was waiting after our dinner tonight to tell you. I even have a diploma customized that says that you had successfully completed the requirements for fatherhood." A lone tear cascaded down my cheeks. I know what he's feeling because it's the same thing I felt when I first found out. It was the only time that I couldn't attend my class because I felt so sick that I went to the university's health clinic. "You ruined the surprise by hating on my spaghetti!"

"That's not spaghetti." He pressed his lips together when he saw me give him a sharp look. "Come here, gattina."

My lips trembled. "I'll go get the diploma I have made for you."

"Come here first."

"But—"

He didn't let me finish my sentence. Before I knew it, he was by my side, gathering me in his arms. The tears I had been holding back burst out off me. Allessio kissed the tears away, raining kisses on the lids of my eyes and my cheeks, until he reached my lips.

"You're really pregnant?" he whispered against my lips.

"I-I am. I haven't been to the doctor to get checked up because I want to tell you first, but I took a pregnancy test twice in FIDI's health clinic, and both pregnancy tests came back positive."

I watched his face, and my heart squeezed at what I saw. Allessio never conceals his emotions when it comes to me. He doesn't need to be the capo who can't let anything get through him. He doesn't need to be someone who can fix everything for everyone or someone who's feared by all. With me, he doesn't need to be anything.

So right now, I could see everything. Every raw and unguarded emotion he has is now bare for me to see.

"How can you get more perfect, gattina?"

"I don't know, Daddy." I put a hand on his cheek. "How do you do it?"

He swallowed hard, but he didn't say anything. He touched his lips to mine again, this time longer than the last. When our lips parted, his hand moved toward my stomach. He hesitated for a moment, as if he feared that his touch would hurt the baby inside me.

I reached for his hand and placed it on my stomach myself. He inhaled a sharp intake of breath, and to my surprise that brought fresh tears to my eyes, he lowered himself to the floor.

I gently brush my fingers through his hair when he leans his head on my stomach. He looked up and whispered, "I don't deserve you. I don't deserve both of you. But you're mine and this baby, and I promise that I will lay my life for the both of you. No one will touch you. No one will hurt you. They have to go through me first. They have to break every bone I have in my body before they can take any of you from me."

I lean forward, intending to kneel just like him. But Allessio straightened, carrying me in his arms. He sat on the sofa while I was in his lap, and I immediately wrapped my arms around his shoulders.

"You're mine too, remember? So don't give away your life just like that even if it's for us. Because what me and this baby need is to have you with us." I put his hand on my stomach again. "We're not going anywhere. We're staying with you for a long time."

Forever is an abstract concept. But it doesn't matter if we only have today or tomorrow, as long as I have him, as long as we have each other, that's enough for me.

"I really thought that the surprise you were talking about was you being an e lode." He tucked my hair behind my ear. "Fucking hell. I'll eat all that abomination with you if that's what the baby wants."

I chuckled despite my misty eyes. "Even if it kills you to do so?"

"Who cares about my pride as an Italian? I'm going to be a father." His gaze dropped to my still flat stomach. "I'll even eat that instant risotto—" He let out a groan. "No, I can't."

My laughter bounced around the room. He really looks like he's being tortured just by the thought.

"It's okay, Daddy. This is between me and this little one." I gently caress my still flat stomach. "When the baby's born, then you can teach him what real spaghetti is."

"I sure will." He put a hand on top of mine. It would take a couple of months, but it wouldn't be that long before we'll be in this position again, only by then the baby would be making his presence known. "You're full of surprises today, aren't you?"

"So are you, Daddy. Every day."

A life with Allessio is like waking up each morning with a surprise gift. Everything feels new, like all of it is just like the first time. The bliss of being together, the passion, the love we share... none of it changed, and I doubt it will ever be. The fire between us is far from being fully consumed. It was as if each time that passes fuels it more to ignite. With Allessio, everything will always be ruled by fire.

Life proved that to us again when, a few months later, sending the whole hospital and the medical staff into chaos with his loud and fiery entrance, Allessandro Cascella was born.

Two years after that, Ellisseo Cascella became the newest addition to our family.

FIN