"I'm so happy to meet you finally, Anna," Maggie said warmly as she cupped her cheek. They were at the Del Rosario residents for the dinner. Anna smiled at her and held on her hand over her cheek.

"Does he usually talk about me?" Anna asked diverting her gaze towards the beach where the boys were relaxing on the beach bench, staring at the dark night over the ocean. Yes, the resident was located near the seashore.

"Every time when he visits," Maggie smiled at her. "When he first came here, it was five years ago—the month of September—I found him being drunk right there sitting on the chair—" She pointed her finger towards the bar on her left at some distance. "That's our bar—he was very drunk that day so my husband and I took care of him for the night. That when we got to know each other," She continued. "He was so much in pain—that night he cried a lot—and the one thing he said over and over again was your name." She said softly.

Anna was filled with unshed tears. She couldn't imagine how much he has suffered because of what she did five years ago. She was suffering too but he was suffering more. He was broken, bruised and left alone. Then she was reminded of the words Rebecca told her when she was in California. She couldn't contend anymore and let her tears fall freely.

"There, there," Maggie said softly and rubbed her tears gently. "Everything is fine now that you are with him." she engulfed her into a warm hug.

"I left him that day," Anna cried and hugged her tightly. "If I hadn't left him that day, he wouldn't have gone through a lot—all alone," she sniffled.

"Doesn't matter now, it's all in the past." Maggie comforted her as she rubbed her back gently. "What matter is now—the present—and I'm very-very-very glad that you both are together now. Don't ever let go of him," she said and pulled away. "You got the most handsome man in the world,"

Anna rubbed her cheek and chuckled at her, "That I agree, he's the most handsome man in the world and I'm one lucky girl to have him." She smiled looking at the back of Leo.

"You both are lucky to have each other," Maggie uttered softly.

Once they were done with dinner, they spend some time chatting before deciding to exchange their goodbyes.

Anna stared at Leo as he drove. Val was sleeping on the backseat. It was already dark.

"I love you, Leo," Anna said softly staring at him. Leo creased his brows and glanced at her before slowly pulling the car at one corner.

"You're doing it again," Leo faced her and leaned his head on the seat. "I've seen that look before, you wore that same emotion after we came back from Rebecca's home back in California and you're doing the same after you talked with Maggie." He said. "What did she say?" He asked softly. Anna simply smiled and shook her head. "I saw everything, you were crying," he sighed sadly and took her hand onto his. "The women I'm closed with always end up making my love cry." He chuckled softly. She simply stared at him and smiled.

"Mio coure," He whispered softly and cupped her cheek, "Promise me you'll never cry over the past." Anna leaned closer to his touch and nodded at him. "I love you," he said and pulled her into a kissed. After placing a lingering kiss on her lips, he pulled away. "Don't be sad okay," he said softly and kissed her forehead. He straightened up in his seat and started the engine and drive off.

After some minutes of the drive, they finally reached their beach home. Leo gently shifted Val on his arms and strolled towards the house. Anna walked closely beside him. Once they were inside, he placed Val on the bed and strolled out while Anna made her way to the bathroom for a shower.

After a warm shower, Anna walked out of the bathroom. She spent some minutes in drying her damped hair. Then she strolled out from the room and looked for Leo. Her eyes landed on the exit door and saw him sitting on the sand, staring at the night sky. Wearing a beautiful smile on her face, she walked towards him.

"Hey," Anna greeted him and sat beside him on the sand. "What are you thinking about?" she asked looking at him.

"You," He answered softly and looked at her. Anna chuckled at him before shifting herself on his laps, her thighs resting on either side of him. Leo smiled at her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"What were you thinking about me?" Anna asked looking into his eyes. There was a tad of slyness in her voice and in her smile. And she knows what she is doing. The moment she landed her eyes on him again at the hospital, she wanted nothing more but to be with him forever—but circumstances had her over and over again for her ever-changing mind.

Leo jerked a mischief brow at her, "Do you really wanna know what I was thinking about you? –will you be able to survive my thoughts?" he challenged and tugged some of her no-so-wet hair at the back of her ear.

"Try me," Anna cocked her head to one side. Then she ran her fingers down his handsome face and stopped at his lips. She took him by his chin and softly rubbed her thumb over his lips.

"I'll tell you next time—" Leo was interrupted when Anna leaned down and crashed her lips into him. He instantly reacted and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Anna intertwined her fingers on his hair while Leo ran his hands all over her body.

"I want you, Leo." Anna broke for a second and panted under her breath.

Leo creased his brows as surprise and confusion formed in his feature. "Are you drunk, Anna?" He asked in concerned and cupped her both cheeks. He knows she wasn't as he has tasted her just some seconds ago but what she said had him thinking. It's not that he doesn't want to make love with her—he wants to and very badly. He's just taking things slow for the both of them.

"Yes, I'm drunk, Leo," Anna said huskily staring into his eyes. "I'm drunk for your love. I want you to have your way with me." She blushed but there was so much intensity in her voice.

Leo eyes grew dark with desire and lust and crashed his lips against her. After some seconds, he lifted both of them from the sand and made his way inside the house, never breaking the kiss. He led them to the other bedroom and placed her gently on the bed. He hauled on top of her and stared at her intensely. Anna blushed harder. She wanted him and she's ready to give in.

"Mio coure, if you're not ready then—"

Anna placed a soft and quick peck on his lips and interrupted him. "I'm ready," she blushed and started to unbutton his shirt to which he willingly let her do it. Anna slid off his shirt and threw aside. She traces her fingers over his bared chest then down to his six-pack abs and looked up to him with a shy smile, biting her bottom lips.

Leo leaned closer and came near her ear, "Now, my turn," He whispered lowly and grabbed the hem of her top and sliding it off from her body. Then without wasting a second he pulled her shorts down and threw it on the floor. His eyes grew more intense as he peered down at her in only bra and underwear.

Anna blushed a thousand times harder as Leo stared at her with dark intense eyes. She kept her eyes fixed at him as he leaned closer placed himself between her legs. He took her hands and pinned them against the mattress on either side of her head and claimed her lips. His one hand left hers and traced down over her neck then down to her chest. Anna felt shivers and tingles perking into her body as his fingers ran over her exposed body. She can feel him hard-pressed under her.

Leo cupped her breast and he could feel her nipple getting hard under his palm. Then he trails his hand over her stomach then under her panty and cupped it gently. Anna arched towards him and moaned under their kiss as she squirmed under him. She was so fucking wet for him and he was already hard to be inside her.

"I love you,"

"I love you."

***

Anna shuffled over the bed and opened her eyes slowly. It was already morning. She turned to her side only to find it empty. She straightened up in a sitting position, holding the sheet over her chest, covering her naked body. She glanced down at her body and blushed as the thought from last night replay inside her head. This was the first-ever love she makes with anyone—, not anyone, it's only him and always him and she was glad that she lost her virginity to the man she loves. Then she wondered if she was his first too. Anything would have happened within those five years—maybe he slept with whores. She quickly shook off the thought and decided not to ruin the perfect morning—she overthinks too much. The past doesn't matter anyway—all that matter is now. And she is very happy to be with him. He was hers and she's never leaving him again. She will protect him and fight for him.

After freshening up, Anna made her way to the kitchen and found her two beloved boys. Val was already having breakfast while Leo was cooking.

"Buongiorno," She glanced at both of them and entered inside.

"Buongiorno, Momma," Val looked up from his breakfast and greeted her cheerfully. She curved down and placed a soft kiss on his forehead before strolling towards Leo.

"Buongiorno, Mio coure," Leo smiled at him before shutting off the stove. He pulled her into him and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "You were amazing last night." He whispered huskily near her ear before straightening up. Anna blushed and covered her face with both her hands. Leo chuckled softly before removing her hands and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"That was my first time ever—" She blushed and couldn't continue her words any further as she ducked her head under his chest, too shy to meet his eyes. Leo chuckled heartily and wrapped his arms around her gently.

"That was my first time too," He said softly over her head. Anna lifted her head and looked up at him in fake suspicious eyes. She was glad to know that she was his first too. "I never lay a hand on women other than you." He defended and she believed.

"But the things you did to me last night doesn't seem like your first—" Anna whispered, trying to get playful with him. She glanced towards Val who was busy enjoying his breakfast.

"Honey, men know how to do things with women; we are born with it naturally," Leo smirked in a mischievous tone. Then he leaned closer near her ear, "And the things I did last night is nothing compare to the things I'm going to do with you in more nights to come." He whispered huskily making her gasp out loud. He chuckled heartily in his little victory. His dirty talks always affect her hard.

"I'll be waiting excitedly for the more nights to come," Anna gave him a sly smile and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. She knows what he was doing to her and she's playing along too. Leo raised both his eyebrows slowly as surprised took into his feature but quickly drifted in amusement as he stared into her. He is loving the way she was trying to flirt along but he knows she won't last long.

"I think I should do things during the day too," He smirked and gripped gently on her waist making her jerked closer to him. "You know I can make love with you the whole day and night and never get enough of you." He whispered darkly. Anna's eyes went wide in shock and her mouth fell open. He got her. She released herself from him and took a step back. He simply chuckled and pulled her gently towards him. Damn! She's too innocent to play games—dirty talks. "Just kidding," he placed a kiss on her forehead. "What do you want for breakfast?" he asked as he gazed at her tenderly.

"Bread and egg fry?" she prompted, still blushing hard.

"Bread and egg fry on the way. Please, have a sit, M'lady." Leo bowed down courteously and gestured her to sit. Anna chuckled at him before sitting next to Val.

After breakfast, they spend their lovely time at the beach. Leo and Anna sat on the sand and watched Val building a sandcastle five feet away from them.

"I saw her—Tatiana," Anna spoke up breaking the peaceful silence. Leo snapped and stared at her as worry took over him. "She came to visit me in the hospital and—" she stopped in the middle of her words and got lost in her own thought. Leo placed his hands on her arms and turned her towards him so that they are face to face. Though Vernon told him about the incident, he didn't fill him with detailed and he wanted to hear it from her.

"Did she do anything?" He asked looking into her eyes.

Anna diverted her gaze down her lap, "She didn't do anything," She lied. She regretted saying those words from the start. She shouldn't have brought up the topic. She didn't want to make him worry.

"Don't lie to me. We promised not to hide anything from each other." Leo said firmly with concern eyes.

"She tried to kill me," Anna said quietly and she felt tight but firm grip on her arms. Leo was filled with rage. "Sabrina helped her to get away." She added with a tad of bitterness in her voice and rolled her eyes over. The way she said that made him wonder in amusement. He knows that she is a fighter and a survivor but that doesn't help him for not worrying about her. Every bit of him will worry about her always because she is his world—and he will protect her no matter what. If anything happens to her, he will die too.

"I didn't know that it was Tatiana at first but then I overheard Vernon and some men talking and that's when I got to know it was her." she gazed up and looked at him. Worried and anger was clearly written in his face.

"I should have been there for you. I'm so—"

"Shut up," Anna chided at him and gave him a pointed look. She knew that he will blame it all on himself for not being there for her. "I'm alright and I'm with you right now, am I not?" she cupped his cheeks and pulled him closer to her. "You don't need to worry about me, I can protect myself." She said softly and placed a soft peck on his lips. "Leo, I'm a mafia woman too, don't forget that." She smirked at him.

"I know," He sighed and pulled her into a hug. "Once we get back, I'll settle everything." There was so much competence in his voice. Anna noticed that but she didn't say anything.

***

Joshua and Vernon have been very busy dealing with their clients. Vernon thought of talking to Joshua on certain occasion but couldn't get the chance to. They moved place to place dealing with their clients. It was on Sunday morning, they stayed home.

Vernon was having his breakfast while Joshua walked inside the kitchen. "I can't find Tessa in her room or Val," he drawled and strolled towards the counter to make himself a coffee. Vernon has never lied to his brother and now was the time to tell him. "We haven't been home the last two days, I missed them dearly," He said and leaned against the counter, swirling the spoon into his coffee.

"They went for the weekend," Vernon said and turned sideways about his chair to face his brother.

"What!" Joshua exclaimed, a slow rage surfacing his feature. He stopped twirling his coffee and kept it aside before straightening up from the counter. "Where did they go?"

"The Philippines," Vernon answered shortly.

"Without any securities! And you're telling me only now." He said in a chided tone. As the Don, he knows each and every security being commanded for and where. Matteo informs him everything. But he was never informed about The Philippines because there was none.

"She's with Leo," Vernon said honestly and he knows that Joshua was not happy with his reply. His face was a mask with raged as he took heavy steps towards him.

"How can you entrust our sister with our enemy?" Joshua shouted at him.

"He's not an enemy and he will never harm Tessa—you know that too." Vernon stood up and came face to face to his brother. "I wanted her to take a break and none of us was free at the moment for her so I ask Leo to do that for her," he explained. "They'll be back tomorrow morning." He added before sitting back in his position.

"I hate to see how quickly you have grown towards Leo," Joshua said bitterly before going back to grab his cup of coffee.

"He is not as bad as you think if you fight beside him," Vernon said amusedly.

"The fuck you're saying,"

"I have some matters to discuss with you," Vernon said over his shoulder and gestured his brother to take a seat. Joshua came around and set on the chair opposite to him. Vernon filled in him about the incident happened in Italy and also about the incident happened in the hospital two days ago.

Joshua banged on the table angrily and looked at Vernon, "Why are you telling me only now?" he looked at Vernon in accusation.

"You were fucking busy," Vernon snapped and defended. Joshua raked his hand over his hair in annoyance.

"We have to do something about those bastards." Joshua gritted out and balled his one fist over the table.

"We could use an alliance," Vernon suggested as he leaned against his chair, looking for approval in his brother's feature. "De Luca and we have enemies in common. Since those bastards have joined forces—why not we join force too and take a step closer to abolish The Absolute." 

Always Smile, 

Happy Virus,