It was around one in the morning when Ray finally stumbled inside his home. Rico had done well sticking his up but he was high off pain killers and crashing with exhaustion from his adrenaline rush earlier all at the same time.

Ray's body was sore and numb and his mind was buzzing. He smelled of smoke and alcohol, his hair was a mess, and the cuts and bruises all over his face and body didn't do much to help the situation. Ray was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep but, as he kicked his shoes off and tore the soiled shirt from his skin, he figured that wouldn't be the case when he realized his sister was waiting up for him.

Rowan was on the couch in one of his t-shirts and a pair of sweat shorts. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun and she wasn't doing anything more than watching TV. For just a moment, Ray forgot who she really was and thought she looked fairly normal.

"You look like someone dragged you under a bus."

With his muscles creaking like the old wood in a rusty attic, Ray fell into the couch next to Rowan and the woman couldn't help but pay him more attention when she realized just how extensive his wounds were. They were nothing permanent or life threatening, but the bandaged on his shoulder were case for some concern and Rowan paused the movie she was watching.

"Christ Ray did you get shot tonight?"

"Gage got himself into a situation at the casino again and yeah, things got a little heated. I'm fine though," Ray yawned, wincing a little as Rowan messed with his bandages.

"Good luck explaining that to your girl, you know she's here?"

"What?" All it took was a minute-no seconds- and everything Ray had gone through today was forgotten. Like starting a timer for an important exam, that was all the information needed for Ray to completely loose himself in thoughts of the girl who he was rapidly falling in love with. It gave him tike to not only remember how beautiful she was and how terrible he felt for running out on her, but also how stupid she was for coming to this part of town all on her own.

But how could she know just how unsafe it was when Ray never told her?

"Came over soon ass your ass went running with the wind. Ray what the hell is going on with you and her? I ain't never seen you so serious bout nobody. Does she even know who you are? Because she sure as hell seemed clueless when I asked."

"What do you mean 'when you asked?' What the fück did you tell her Row?!" Ray growled, his voice tense and angered but still low.

If you asked anyone else Ray was a man who not only didn't care about what he did or didn't do, but he didn't care who knew. For some reason though the thought of Danny knowing was terrifying. For the first tike he was worried of someone not accepting him. Or even worse, trying to change him.

The deeper he got into this relationship the stronger his feelings got and that was scary too. If Danny did ever find out things could go one of two ways.

She'd hate and fear him, or she'd look down on him and change him.

And he didn't know if he was ready for either scenario.

"Relax Ray I didn't tell her nothing when I realized how clueless she was. Figured there's a reason you kept your life on the low. She knows about me though, and mom and dad and everything."

"Fück Rowan," Ray grumbled, fighting the urge to punch his sister.

Putting on his game face, he tried to sober up some from his medication and pretend the pain was gone. He stood up from the couch and made his way upstairs to his bedroom. Ray pushed the door open and the sight that greeted him made him bite his knuckles.

Danny laid sprawled in his he'd in nothing but a pair of barely there pajama shorts and one of his t-shirts. And believe, Danny in his t-shirt was a lot more appealing than Rowan in one.

Her hair was a mess of its usual dark mane and her cheeks were flushed and pink. Her lips were parted slightly and he could here short wisp of her breath as she clung to his pillow as if it were him.

She wasn't doing anything more than sleeping, but Ray swore she was more beautiful now than she'd ever been before. She had to be the world's eight wonder. There was just something incredibly right about her being in his bed.

He almost regretted all the others who had been there before.

Being as silent as he possibly could, he changed clothes into a pair of cut off sweats and a plain t-shirt. He wanted to sleep shirtless and feel her against his bare skin but he also didn't want her to wake and see his bullet wound.

"Ray?"

"Shhh, it's just me baby girl."

Danny rolled over some in her sleep and as soon as Ray was fitted comfortably into the bed she curled back into his arms.

"You left me," Danny frowned, her hand on his chest as she sat up. She was fully awake now and she tried to reach for the lamp to turn on the light but Ray stopped her, keeping her hand where it was.

"Don't," he whispered, making her pause.

Rowan hadn't told her much, but Danny now knew enough to know Ray didn't come from the friendliest background and he probably still wasn't the most innocent man out there, but whoever he was he was still her man.

"Ray what's going on?" Danny sighed, sitting up all the way and turning the light on despite Ray's wishes. The first thing she noticed was the blackening eye and the busted lip. The scrapes and bruises on his arms weren't as bad but his knuckles were more bruised than shed ever seen them. What looked like the remnants of a fight Danny could handle, but when she saw the bandages on his shoulder that made everything a bit more extreme and she realized how unlikely it was that Ray had run off for just a fight.

"Jesus Ray," Danny gasped, tucking her hair behind her ears and pulling the collar of his shirt down. Ray hissed and winced in pain and Danny felt bad immediately but instead of apologizing, she decided she wanted some answers.

"Listen, I'm not a super jealous person okay? I feel like I give people all the space they need and I do my best not to pry into other people's business or judge. But there's only so much I can take."

"Danny-"

"No, wait, just let me finish." Shifting her position on the bed, Danny moved so that she was straddling Ray and he had to bite his tongue to keep himself still. The shirt had risen up which left all of her legs and thighs exposed and he couldn't help but rub his fingers across the tempting skin. He didn't think Danny didn't seem to mind and it was true.

For her, each little touch sent trembles to her spine and heat to her cheeks. Despite his bruises and cuts, Ray was still just as attractive as he was the day they first met and now that she knew him and got to know his personality, he was even more attractive.

But she couldn't let that distract her no matter how tempting he was.

"When you ran off like that tonight you really scared me. Even worse with the way you treated Thomas."

"Thomas was asking for what he got. And you are the one who told me to leave," Ray countered, just the thought of Thomas pissing him off. Especially now that he remembered Danny had chosen to comfort Thomas and Ray had been the one she kicked out.

"I meant leave and cool down Ray not leave as if you were about to die if you didn't get out. Look the point I'm trying to make is that I really really like you, but I can only go so long without asking questions. I know you sure, but after seeing you earlier and after everything Rowan said I just......I feel like you're hiding things from me."

"What did Rowan tell you?"

"Where did you go tonight? What happened?"

"I just asked you a question Daniela," Ray grumbled, his voice hard as if he was annoyed she wasn't just leaving things alone and dropping the subject. He didn't want to lie to her but she didn't look to be leaving it alone.

"And I'll answer that later. Seriously Ray, you've got to give me something."

"Fine. Gage is known for getting into trouble a lot. His mouth has no filters and he doesn't know how to stay away from hostile environments. Last night, he got into some trouble and I had to go get him out of it."

Danny swallowed, but nodded. It wasn't as detailed of an answer that she wanted but it was progress.

"And the wound on your shoulder........did you get shot?"

For a while the room was quiet as Ray simply starred up at her. He knew she didn't want to know the truth, at least not all of it. It was in her eyes clear as day that she knew Ray was a bad boy but she didn't, couldn't, believe he was that bad.

But he was. Ray knew he was probably the baddest and worst thing out there and he didn't want to confess to that either.

He used to be proud of his ways. Not only was he completely fine with being bad, but he was proud of how good he was at all the bad he did. He was the best, but now he was starting to feel like the worst.

When Ray didn't answer Danny took that as all the answer she needed and sighed, looking almost defeated. How could this be happening? She felt exhausted almost with the realization that Ray had in fact been shot.

As in with a gun and a bullet.

For Ray that was nothing and he prayed she didn't find out about all the people he'd shot himself. Because for Danny that was everything. How do you grow up in a world where guns are only weapons you see in movies and now not only is it affecting your life and the people you care about, but someone you really really care about. What was Danny supposed to do about a bullet wound? What if he got shot again but this one was a lot worse than a shoulder wound? Then what?

What the hell did a good girl from the northside know about guns?

"Are you okay?" She whispered, her hand cupping Ray's face and gently grazing over one of his bruises. On the inside, she was freaking out, but for his sake she tried not to make a big deal out of it and stress him out more and Ray was grateful. He was worried she'd want to leave but instead she just curled into his side without the wound and let Ray hold her as her mind raced.

"Im fine, baby girl."

"So then Gage is too right? Like, you saved him?"

"Um.....yeah, yeah I guess I did."

Danny seemed to sigh in relief and Ray frowned softly. Gage was nothing to her, yet she was concerned about his well being?

"What do you care about Gage, you've only ever met him once."

"Yeah and when we met he was nice. And on top of that he's your friend, so of course I care."

Ray was silent as he discovered yet another difference between them. Yet another difference he loved.

"I have more questions, so don't fall asleep yet."

"Alright."

"Rowan told me about your dad. About how he was in a gang and was abusive and everything. She also told me about your mother and the way she uses you two. I'm sorry."

"Ita not your fault my parents are shit Danny," Ray chuckled dryly.

"I'm not apologizing on their behalf. I'm apologizing that there was no one there to help you. The fact that you had to go through it all alone. That's what I'm apologizing for."

Once again Danny had rendered Ray speechless. All his life Ray had knew his parents were shit and there was better out there, but he'd never wanted for much more. Not because he thought he couldn't have it or didn't deserve it, but just because he figured there was no point wining and missing something that was never going to be yours. It was nothing more than fairy tales and Ray had never believed in those.

So he took his child hood and he took his parents and he owned the life he lived and the things he did.

But that hadn't meant none of it didn't hurt. Of course he hated his parents, of course he would have preferred to be raised differently. But who could you tell that too in the Mafia? Who in his world would understand and take the time to acknowledge that it was bad and feel something for him?

Besides Danny, no one had ever shown him this much comfort. No one had ever made him feel so strong and still give him the safety and understanding to be vulnerable and weak.

"What else did Rowan tell you?"

"That you're in a gang and I should be careful. That you and me, are not supposed to be together."

"Don't listen to her," Ray said, his blue green orbs latching onto Danny's deep brown ones in the dim lighting of the room.

"About which part, the gang or us as a couple?"

Ray clenched his jaw and tried to hold back a groan.

"I'm not a bad person Danny, that's all you need to know."

"It's not all I need to know it's just all your willing to give," Danny grumbled, shifting her position and throwing her arms across his stomach and entangling their legs together. She was annoyed with him but at the same time she couldn't get enough of him.

What a toxic combination.

"Rowan also told me you have a thing for prostitutes."

This time Ray did cuss and groan. What the fück was wrong with his sister?! Was she trying to ruin this?!

"Are you cheating on me with any of them?"

"Of course not!"

"Do you have any diseases from them?"

"Danny you make it sound like I'm just in and out of whores."

"Are you?"

"No. Danny, since the moment I saw you it's only been about you. Have I done things in my past? Yeah. But that's before you. I haven't even touched another whore or girl or anything since the day we met at the mechanics shop. Everything else either going on or that has gone on in my life is irrelevant. It's all about you. I want you Daniela."

"And I want you too Ray," Danny sighed, sitting up and pushing her lips against his. "I want you so bad Ray but I can't deal with all the secrets and questions and doubts."

"What doubts?"

"Look at me Ray! I'm not anything like a prostitute or a bad girl o-or Rowan or whatever your taste is. If you leave me now if always gonna be freaked out that you're gonna come back shot or worse, in a body bag. But even knowing that, even knowing your past and knowing you're more than likely in a gang just like your dad was, I still want you. All the danger and mystery that comes with you I want. You're still good enough for me. But what if it not good enough for you? I can't wear anything that shows too much of my skin or else I'm embarrassed and insecure. I don't swear, I don't do drugs or drink, and I definitely don't know anything about guns or what I'm supposed to do as your girlfriend. Like seriously, do I have to start saying 'what up dawg? I like you a lot, ya dig?"

It wasn't meant to be a joke but Ray couldn't help but laugh out loud as Danny did her impression of what she thought was street talk. She even tried to purse her lips and thrown up little gang signs.

"Don't laugh at me," she pouted, making Ray just laugh more. He rolled over so that she was beneath him and Ray smiled softly, gently caressing the hair out of her face and leaning forward to kiss her.

It was meant to be a sweet, gentle kiss, but when she responded he couldn't help but sink into her and she moaned in response when she felt his tongue meet hers.

"Daniela," Ray whispered, his sweats a little tighter and his lips swollen when he finally pulled away. They were tangled up in each others arms now and he had a finger under her chin to keep her eyes up and on him.

"You don't ever need to change who you are for anyone. Especially not me baby girl, don't ever try to change to impress a low life like me."

"You're not a low life Ray."

"Yeah I am. I didn't think so before, but I'm starting to realize I am. But that's okay, because I'm pretty confident I can be better with you. I can be somebody worthy of you."

"Ray you're-"

"I love you Daniela Grant. I've never said that to anyone before in my life, not even my parents, but I love you. With everything in me I love you."

Ray could see the tears in her eyes and he just chuckled softly as she tried to wipe them away quickly before they fell. She realized it was a loosing game though and instead just smiled as she threw her arms around him and pressed their lips together.

"You too," she grinned, still kissing him, "I love you too."

Laughing at each other, Ray slid his arms around her waist as she turned her back into his chest and they turned off the lights. Ray was nearly asleep when Danny turned around and kissed the corner of his mouth.

"Babe?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't think Rowan told me all that stuff to try and break us up. I think she wants us to last and she was just preparing me for this. For how hard im gonna have to fight to keep you by my side."

"Danny I ain't going no where."

"That's what you say now, but I know just enough about your lifestyle -or what I'm assuming is your lifestyle- to know it's full of temptation and risk. So in gonna protect you."

Ray simply smiled into the night and curled into Danny more, kissing the back of her neck as he chuckled softly.

"My hero."

"I love you, ya dig?"

Still chuckling, Ray nodded.

"I dig it."

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It took me like three days to write this chapter lol so I hope you like it. Thanks for all the support!