Time Off

Time Off
Tatiana

“So, what do you want to do now?” Angelo asks me as soon as we step out of the building. I’ve just returned the apartment key to the landlord, and even though I didn’t even spend a whole day inside this place, it still feels somewhat bittersweet to say goodbye to it, knowing Lev was the one who rented it in the first place.

The suitcase he left with all the blueprints and documents regarding Oleg had been taken to the Saints' safehouse when we were preparing for our mission, so there wasn’t really anything left for me to take.

I still feel like I’m leaving a part of Lev behind, and it makes my heart shrink in my chest as I stare at Angelo.

“I’m not really sure,” I tell him honestly. “I need to call Guskov and set up a meeting with my men. It can’t wait any longer. Especially if we’re all going to meet with the Saints soon for the merger,” I explain, following him to his car.

“Okay. What about now, though? Are you hungry?” he asks, raising his brows at me over the roof of the car, from the other side.

“Actually, I am,” I answer, realizing I could definitely eat something before I call Guskov.

Angelo drives us to a restaurant in Soho, and I order the most delicious pasta I’ve eaten in a long time. 

Angelo and I share ideas on how I want to decorate the penthouse and when I plan to move in.

“If Guskov has it ready by tomorrow, maybe I could go the day after. I have so much to catch up on, I’m afraid I won’t have much free time this week.” I pout slightly.

Angelo chuckles, reaching for my hand over the table. He squeezes it lightly and smiles at me. 

“Baby, I’m pretty sure that’s going to be your routine from now on,” he points out. There’s a hint of amusement in his voice, but I know him too well by now and notice the sadness behind it. It will definitely be different for us moving forward. “We won’t have that much time together. At least not during the day anyway.”

I nod slowly. “Yeah, I know. But you’re going to sleep with me every night, won’t you?”

“You mean when we’re both not working?” he adds with a grin on his lips.

I grunt, rolling my eyes. “Is it too late for me to give up on everything and just travel around the world with you?” I joke. 

Of course I don’t mean it, but I just want to have a day where I don’t have to worry about anything for a change. And thinking of traveling with Angelo without a care in the world sounds like a dream now.

He looks at me from across the table, his eyes darkening and his expression turning serious. 

“Are you having second thoughts?” he pries, confused.

“No, I was just kidding. I… You know why I did all of this. And I don’t regret it. It’s just… I’m realizing how hard it will be for us to be together moving forward. I am glad we managed to find a way to do it, though.” I squeeze his hand tighter. 

Angelo’s shoulders relax, and he lets go of my hand, leaning back on the chair. 

“Let’s not talk about any of that for now. If you need some time off before hell breaks loose again, I’m giving you that. What do you want to do with the rest of your day?”

“I can’t do anything, baby. I need to meet with the guys, remember?” I remind him.

“You can schedule the meeting for the evening. Let’s just enjoy a few more hours together, and I’ll drop you at the penthouse before I have to go back to Staten Island.” 

I consider his suggestion. Maybe I can spare a few hours before having to formally start my obligations as the new head of the Romina Empire.

“All right,” I finally agree. “Do you have any suggestions? I’m not sure what I want to do. Maybe you could take me around the city so I can properly meet New York? I haven’t really had the chance to have a city tour ever since I got here. And I’ll need to know my way around now that I’ll be living here.”

Excitement washes over me as I realize this is my new home.

I’m staying here for good.

I still need to figure out what I’ll do with my house in Russia, but I can think about that later. One step at a time, so I don’t get overwhelmed, I tell myself.

For now, a walk around New York City on this sunny day with Angelo by my side sounds like everything I need to feel refreshed and ready for a new start.

After he insists on paying for the bill, we step out of the restaurant and start walking around town. He shows me all the nice restaurants he loves, walks me through the cool parks around the city, especially Central Park, which I had been dying to see, and then we stop for an ice cream close to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Observing the view of the river ahead of me, I allow myself a moment to think of everything that happened that led me to this moment with Angelo. My mind turned upside down from the moment I decided to follow Lev and Ilya to the United States. I lost them in the most traumatizing way, was kidnapped and almost forced to marry a man I hate, and, going against everything I believed would happen, I fell in love. I met Angelo and became part of his life in the most unusual way possible. 

I can’t imagine my life without him now. 

“Life can be so unpredictable,” I muse to myself, keeping my focus on the sun setting and casting the most beautiful golden rays on the water and the concrete buildings. But I know Angelo is listening when I see him turning to face me from my peripheral vision. “To imagine all I went through, all you went through, to get to this moment of our lives…”

He considers my words and nods slowly, returning his attention to the landscape before us.

“Would you change any of it?” he asks, his voice low and distant.

I exhale, considering everything this simple question implies. 

Would I change the fact that I lost Lev and Ilya? Yes. 

Would I change the fact that I killed Oleg? No. 

But if anything had gone differently, would I have met Angelo? Would fate find a way to put us on the same path if anything had been different?

“Maybe,” I reply honestly. “If I could, I would prevent my parents from dying, but then would we have met? Is it selfish to want it all?” I chuckle sadly, feeling slightly confused by my feelings and thoughts.

“I know what you mean. I don’t think it’s selfish. I think it’s human of you to want everything that makes you happy,” he reassures, smiling softly at me. 

My eyes fill with tears, and I wrap my arms around his waist, feeling him pull me into a tight embrace. We stay like this for a few more minutes, and I lay my head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat and somehow letting it calm my racing heart.

“We should be grateful for one thing, though,” I say suddenly after a long moment of silence between us. “We both found a partner in each other to share the adventures of this crazy world. It makes me feel less burdened to know you’ll be here with me for this shitty ride,” I point out.

Angelo hums against me, his chest vibrating against me. “I never thought I’d be able to have that, so I never dared to even dream of it. I am so lucky that you found me and decided I was worthy of you. It still seems insane to me when I think about it.”

“You’re more than worthy of it. And technically, you found me,” I tease, getting on my tiptoes and placing a soft kiss on his lips. “Never thought I’d be grateful for being kidnapped.” I pull away from his embrace and adjust my coat, raising my chin and putting on a serious face. “Now, I have a meeting to attend. Can you give me that ride you promised?”

“Sure can, ma’am.” He leans down for another kiss and grabs my hand so we can walk side by side to the car.

As he drives to my new home, I prepare myself for what I’m about to face. 

This will be my first meeting with the Rominas, and I need to make a good impression. They all decided to stay because they believe in me and somehow expect me to follow in my father’s footsteps. 

That’s a lot of responsibility, but I force myself to be confident. 

I can do it.

I am the daughter of Petr Romina after all.

It's in my blood.

And I will make him proud of me.