That Bad Boy & That Bad Man Duet (Completed)

That Bad Boy - 13. Leo

Dom letting the dogs free had been genius, they had taken over and broken the ice.  I had watched as Maude has petted the spoilt little monsters my mother had replaced us with, with a smile on my face. When Dom had caught my eye, I knew there was something he wanted to share with me, Mum had caught the exchange and taken Maude off with her to put the dogs away and I had followed Dom and Dad to the office.

"Well?" I ask impatient to hear what he had to say.
"All clear, your girl is good" Dom tells me and I raise my eyes at him.
"Then why?"
"Her brother" Dom pauses and grins at me, knowing he's pissing me off.
"Dom!" Dad butts in, sending him a look, that we both know too well.
"Alright, the brother is getting into problems, he's got involved with people he really shouldn't"
"Who and how?" I ask knowing he would have an answer for me.
"The new wife has Mexican roots, her cousin and uncle are now working for the company and they are being investigated, a job they did, someone reported foul play and a body was found"
"Cartel?"
"Looks that way, I am investigating more, there is something else... Maude is listed as a director of the company and there are shares in her name.  I've got someone picking up a copy of the will, we will know more soon"

"This cannot touch her" I look between them and they both nod.
"There's nothing more we can do tonight, let's go and join them, your mothers probably got baby albums out by now, Dom can update us tomorrow"
I felt a smile tip my lips up and even Dom laughed and Dad led the way back to Mum, Dom teasing him as he kisses mum and Maude blushes as I lift her into my lap.

I realise except for Dom and of course Maude, I hadn't shared my news. I lift Maude's hand to my lips and say out loud "Mum, Dad, she said yes"
"Oh that's so wonderful" mum was on her feet and over to embrace is, her gaze looking for Maudes hand "Where is her ring?"  Mum turns to Dad, "Luca take Leo to the vault, great grandma has some wonderful pieces from Cartier"

"I can't wear a Cartier ring, I work in a library for goodness sake!" Maude squeaks and we all grin at her, I drop a kiss on her head and leave her with Dom and Mum as I go with Dad.  He takes his time to pull out the trays of jewellery but I know the instant I see the ring I want for her.
'This one" I breath out reaching for it, holding it up to the light as I admire the cut and sparkle of the single diamond, as Dad chuckles, reaching back into the vault and pulling out a red velvet case and passing it to me.
"This is the matching set, your grandmother gave it to your mother at your birth, I know she would want you to give it to your betrothed"
I pull him into a hug, excitement fizzing through me at the thought of sliding the ring on her finger, letting the whole world see she was mine. "Thank you"

"'Go, I will lock this up" he tells me and I rush back to find Maude.  I pause in the doorway, the atmosphere feeling a little tense and I see the serious look on both mum and Don's face as they talk quietly and I move forward silently wondering what was going on. My gut clenching as I hear Dom and Mum talking about her job...
"Dom!" I bark out making Mum and Maude jump but not my brother, he had know I was there.
"What are you doing?"

"I was explaining to Maude that she will need to think carefully about work, as your wife, she will need protection..."
"You have no right! That was for me to talk to her about, not you, damn it Dom"
I look down into Maude's eyes, I can see anger, fear and helplessness and I hate it, she should be happy, not thinking about this shit, I could kill my brother.
"She had to know" Dom persists and I shoot him a glare.

"'Is it true?" She whispers up at me and I hold her gaze as I nod.
"Being with me, it come with a set of rules we have to follow to stay safe... we cannot be expected to be anywhere, our lives are a carefully planned random, whilst we are a much cleaner operation that we used to be, there are still those who want to take us down, including the government, our enemies.  If we go to something like the charity event then security is doubled or more, everyone is screened, weapons detected well in advance of anyone getting close enough to use them" I pause, gathering my words, knowing not matter what I would be keeping her but wanting her to stay, because she wants to, not because I make her. 

"Working at the library, it would be difficult to keep you safe, to make sure no threat reached you" I dropped to my knees in front of her and held up the ring I had picked out for her.
"I know it fast, I know I am asking you to give up everything for me, but I love you.  If I could walk away and know you would be safe, I would... maybe" I shrug, knowing I'm lying to her and myself , "Actually I lie, I can't let you go, not now, not now you are mine" and I slide the ring onto her finger.

I know my brother is watching from behind me and Dad is holding mum  but it's her I am focused on. I watch a single tear track down her cheek as she looks at the ring on her finger, then up to me, her gaze holding mine as she thinks and I see the moment she decides, "I can't do nothing for the rest of my life, I love working, we have to find a way for me to do something"

I gasp as my mind takes in her words and I work out what this means, she is choosing me. I haul her into my arms and wrap myself around her, her tears mixing with mine but I don't care who see's... She Is Mine!
"God, I love you" I praise her between kisses, pulling back to lift her hand up, so she can see the ring "Do you like it?"
"'it's beautiful, but..." she starts but mum steps forward.

"It was my great grandmothers, she would have loved to see it on you finger, as am I and I would like to help you with your wedding, if you will let me"
I watch more tears fall as Maude nods her agreement and I smile as my fiancée and my mother hug, my brother, father and I looking on.