"Nikita, don't go. Please." I sobbed and squeeze her hand tighter.

"Tiana, look at me." She said softly and I slowly lift my head up.

Nikita's face was turning paler by the second and I can tell that she's barely holding it together with all the tubes and needles in her.

"You will be okay." A tear rolled down her cheeks.

"I'll never be okay without you." I could barely form a sentence with all the sobbing.

"Adopting you was the best decision I've ever made."

"And you're the best foster mom I could've ever ask for." I sniffled.

"I love you, Tiana. So much." She said weakly.

"I love you too, Nikita."

I wiped my tears and heard a flatline sound on the heart monitor. I looked at Nikita, her eyes were closed and her hand slowly released from mine. I hugged her one last time, not ready let go forever yet.

"Get someone here to bring the body down to the morgue and call someone to get her properties since she doesn't have a next of kin." I heard someone said.

"What about the girl?" Another voice said.

"She's just a foster kid that the patient adopted. Call the foster home and get them to pick her up."

"Noted." I heard footsteps retreating.

I can't stay here. I'll be taken back to foster care and I won't go back to that place as all they do is get you ready for blue collar jobs when you leave there. I want to be better, I want to get a chance to have a normal job. I touch the necklace that I'm wearing which Nikita gave me which has a engraving 'endure till the end'. And that's what I'm going to do.

I kissed her forehead before leaving the hospital and rushing back to the apartment before those people came in and take all her things away. I took a bagpack and just put those things which I need inside the bag, taking the six hundred dollar stash that Nikita had in case of an emergency.

When I was ready to head out of the door, I just realised I had no idea where I was going at all. Where am I going to stay? How long am I able to be on my own before I starve to death? Will I be homeless forever? My body started shaking because of the sudden fear taken over me of being on my own for the next few years.

But I went out anyways and disappear into the busy streets of Moscow, finding a way to fit in.

I was woken up by the banging on the door and slowly opened my eyes. I saw the same two men standing at the door with a blank face.

"It's time, stand up."

I did as he said and stood in front of him. The other guy held out handcuffs and I stretch my arms for him to put the handcuffs on me. We walked to the metal door and I saw him scan his fingerprint which leads us to the interrogation room and one of them put a cloth bag over my head before walking through the door that Luis entered the room. We walked about a minute before we stopped and I heard the lift door opening. I must have been underground.

Once the door opens, I knew that we were in the carpark as all carparks has a certain smell. I heard other footsteps as well and clocking sound of guns. I shiver at the sound and hope that there wouldn't be a gun fight later on. I also hope that Nicandro wouldn't be stupid and be at the exchange point himself.

I heard the men talking in Spanish before I heard the opening sound of the door of a van. One of the men held my shoulder and guided me onto a sit and I sat there in silence to try and listen to anything they might happen to say in English.

"South is ready to go." I heard someone said on the walkie talkie.

"East two is ready as well." Other person said.

"West three is ready, the girl is with us." One of the men sitting in front said.

I felt someone's presence beside me and the person sat beside me. I counted four men in this van with me, two in the front, one behind me and one next to me.

"Let's go." I heard Luis's voice beside me. Of course it had to be him.

I turn my head to face him and rolled my eyes at him then I realised he can't see my face.

"I'm just here to make sure the exchange goes through." He said it near to my ear.

The van started moving and I tried not to move as it did an U-turn.

"North what's your status?"

"They're here. I count ten men, no police."

"Noted, our ETA is four minutes."

"Do you see the prince?" Luis said to the walkie talkie.

"No sign of him."

I heard Luis groaned in frustration as I let out a sigh of relieve.

Minutes later, the van came to a stop and I heard the door opened. Someone grabbed my arm and stepped out of the van. My heart started pounding at a fast rate and sweat started forming on my forehead.

"I don't see the money." Luis grabbed my wrist so tight that it hurts. He's really trying to physically hurt me before the exchange.

"I don't see her face." I heard Efren's voice.

Luis then took off the cloth from my head and my eyes squinted when trying to adjust to the sudden change in light.

"She's here, your highness." Efren said into his comm.

"Now show the money." Luis squeezed my wrist tighter and I winced in pain.

Efren looked at one of the men and he went to the car and get the suitcase. He then laid it down and opened the suitcase, revealing the cash.

"Now give us the girl." Efren took a few steps towards Luis.

"Take the money." Luis said to one of the men and he took it.

"Let. Her. Go." Efren put his hand on the gun and the rest of the men behind him follow suit.

There was a few seconds of total silence when Luis finally let me go and his men got into the vans, driving off. I turned around and saw Efren smiling at me, putting his gun away. The other men got into the cars and drove off, only leaving one car. Without thinking, I ran towards him and hugged him, letting out a breath I didn't know I've been holding.

"Thank you." And I hugged him tighter.

"The person you should be thanking is waiting for you at the hotel."

"For once, just accept the thank you." I rolled my eyes and we let go of each other.

"Your welcome, Miss."

That's when I saw Peter stepped out of the car and waved at me. Efren and I walked towards the car, giving Peter a hug before going in the car with Efren driving. All I can think about now is what I'll say to Nicandro when I see him.

"How's your head?" Efren asked.

"Good, I just hope it doesn't leave a scar."

"Now I can finally have a good night's sleep." Peter sighed and closed his eyes.

Efren yawned, "I don't think I've slept in the last two days."

"Well I was unconscious for two whole days." I said and everyone burst out laughing. It feels good to be back.

Twenty minutes later, Efren dropped Peter and I at the hotel. In the lift, the nerves are getting the better of me and I start to fidget.

"You okay?" Peter must have noticed my fidgeting.

"It's just- do you think he'll be happy to see me since he had to spend half a million dollars for me?"

"If a guy pays half a million to get you back, that means you're very important to him."

Just then, doors opened and we walked towards the suite. It does feel a little weird to be back in the place where I was attacked but all I can think about now is to see him. I saw two men standing in front of the doors to the suite and they both seemed to notice us and opened the door for us.

I saw Nicandro quickly stood up from the couch and turned out to face me. Our eyes meet and I felt my heart glow. Having lost Nikita and Zari, it feels great to have someone who cares so deeply for me and willing to go to extreme lengths to save my life.

We ran towards each other and hugged each other. I lean my forehead on his chest since I'm so much shorter than him and I felt his head resting on mine. I felt his body heat radiating on me and we just stood there in silence for a minute before I heard him sniff me.

I pulled away, "Did you just sniff me?"

"Yeah..." His cheeks started to turn pink.

"I haven't showered in four days." I chuckled.

"You still smell like... you."

"I have a smell?" I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Everyone has a smell." He stated.

"So what's my smell?"

"Marshmallows."

I reached forward and sniffed him, "You smell like vanilla."

"Thanks." He smiled at me with his dimples showing. Oh how I missed seeing the dimples.

"Thanks for saving my life." And I buried myself in his vanilla smell when I hugged him again.