Roses and Guns

Chapter 3 (The Library)

"Shall we?" He asked, his head tilted to the side.

"That man. Who is he?" I asked him while taking his hand.

"Well he used to be like my brother and then something came between us and we haven't talked about anything really but drugs and violence." He said looking straight ahead of him.

"Okay?" I said as a question. I looked at him as we left the parking garage into the apartment building.

"I thought you didn't want anything to do with me after this morning." He said, Pressing the up button on the elevator controls

"I don't but you are somehow comforting to my distress and I need that after the past two days," I said as we entered the elevator and went up.

"I'm sorry about that, I don't even know how I got into your house, to be honest."

"You're a Mafia leader why wouldn't you know how to get into my house," I said to him.

"I feel bad for disturbing your peace though, I know I'm not the best company in the world but I understand what you're going through I used to be you." He said.

"But your parents weren't murdered, you didn't find them, you had a father," I said.

"He never raised me, my mom left me. I was alone at least you had parents most of your life." He said. I looked at him I thought I had it bad but it turns out I still had it better than most. "Can I ask you something?" I nodded my head to him.

"Would you like to live with me, I know we barely know each other but if anyone can find you like today I think it might be safer if you live with me for a while." He said. I thought about it for a minute, my safety over personal space. I want both but I need safety more. It is important to me to be safe after all, it's just me, myself and I.

"Yes, but only if you can promise me that I'll have my own space," I said to him.

"I can do that Bridgit." He said sending shivers down my spine as he said my name.

"Thank you, Dimitri," I said. We exited the elevator and headed to my apartment. I unlocked the door and went him letting him come in behind me.

"Bridgit you know I can help you and protect you every, I know we don't know each other very well but it seems everyone already thinks you're my weakness and I can't have you getting hurt now can I?" He said. He was confident in his words he knew how to get me to comply with him. He knew my behavior better than anyone right now I don't have anyone. I've been alone for so long that its normal to feel like I'm not needed and people don't need to listen to me.

"I know but just the feeling of being wanted or protected is new to me I haven't felt that in so long," I said to him. "Being alone is all I have ever really known. I was left behind so many times." He looked at me, he pulled my chin up as I was looking down.

"You are so beautiful, and you will never be alone when you are with me." He said. "I know me being in a mafia may frighten you but it's not like I'm a worker for the Mafia, I am the mafia and not that there are people who know about you I can risk losing you. I can protect you, Mi Amor."

"But what happens if someone tries to hurt me and you aren't there to help me?" I asked him.

"I will teach you to defend yourself in the line of combat. I will teach you everything you need to know if you let me." I thought for a moment what this means for me. I could do what I love and take care of people or I could live in fear every day.

"I'll go with you but under one condition. I can leave and go anywhere I need to." I looked at him, he thought for a moment.

"If you have a guard with you at all times when you leave the house." He said.

"Agreed," I said and nodded my head. Finally, I have a semi-normal life.

"I will have someone get boxes and a moving truck for us to start packing." I nodded my head to him and walked into my room. I can redecorate now. "Bridgit would you mind sharing a room with me?" I really wouldn't but I don't know this man, but my feelings are stronger than my brain right now.

"I wouldn't as long as we have boundaries," I said to him as he stood at my door.

"Well of course never use a woman to an advantage as she is the best thing that will walk into your life." He said. "I have a wing just for my room its large and has multiple rooms in my room and I'd like you to decorate and bring your books as I have a library nook in there. I'd like you to have some of it it has a big soft couch and the room is full of empty books and my office is in there. You can move everything from this apartment to the house if you wish." I didn't want anything if I could redecorate. I have wanted to change my aesthetic for a while now the colors don't match me anymore. "Thank you but not everything I need anymore, I need to go through what I want and don't want anymore," I told him. There are things I do need though, Like my family photo albums and stuff like that. The important stuff. My books and camera stuff that didn't get to be displayed anywhere re just hidden in the library room I made.