"Baby hurry up, before we miss the dinner reservations," I call out waiting at the front door. I watch as Lyla pranced down the stairs, looking as beautiful as ever.

Her pace picked up as she ran over to me and threw her arms around my neck, I spin her around before placing her back on her feet, "there's the birthday girl, you ready to go?" I ask.

Her smile says it all, and it lights up my life.

The yellow dress she chose looks stunning on her, and from her neck, perched the necklace I gave her earlier.

"Of course I am, I just had to grab a few things before we left," she smiled kissing my cheek before bending down putting on her black heels. Her arm interlocks with mine as we walk down the stairs, a black SUV waits for us at the bottom.

I see the driver come out to open the door and I shake my head, him immediately backing off. When we reach the bottom of the stairs I open the door for her, before closing it behind her. I walk around the vehicle and slid in beside her, her cheeky smile still on her face.

He was new, he didn't know that for her, I did everything.

"You know you didn't have to get a vehicle to drive us, East, we could've just driven there ourselves," she whispers as the vehicle pulls out of the driveway in the direction of Romano's.

"Only the best for you Ly," I mumbled, interlocking our hands.

She of course looks mostly out the window the whole car ride, watching the sunset and the clouds roll by. One of the best views was watching her face light up with joy as the clouds turned pink.

I was on edge, I made the reservations but I would have preferred to stay home with her. Word had gotten around quick that Damion's daughter was still alive, and several people had pinpointed Lyla in suspicion of being her.

I squeeze her hand and she squeezes mine back, her reassuring me that she's fine. I told her about it, and she didn't seem worried, she said that she wasn't his daughter and never would be.

She wanted to forgive Damion for what he had done, but she couldn't, even though she had always longed for a father she didn't want one under the circumstances that he had created.

I looked at my watch, as we pulled up to the restaurant. Only a couple of minutes late, I staggered around the car opening her door, "what a gentleman," she laughed hitting my chest.

She holds out her hand and I interlock our fingers, as we walk into the restaurant. I hear her whisper, "Almost like our first date."

Same place, but this time I had more memories with her.

Her words bring a grin across my face. I already see Dante, Megan, and Axel. A high-pitched squeal makes its way out of Lyla when she sees Megan and she runs over, embracing her in a hug.

"Happy Birthday Bitch," Megan practically yells, disrupting the whole restaurant.

Lyla gives a small wave and smiles at Axel and Dante before taking a seat.

I sit beside her and place my hand on her thigh, slowly rubbing up and down, trying to soothe myself. I look around the restaurant, making sure that Lyla would be safe. The thought of losing her again terrified me, she had already been through so much. And I'd be damned if I let anything happen to her again.

She had finally gotten seamlessly back to normal, the nightmares had stopped, and she was openly happy again. Her smile was something I woke up to every day and her laugh was something that had constantly graced my ears. Both were something I longed for months ago.

Her sweet voice whispers into my ear, "Easton, you have to calm down, I want to enjoy my birthday with you, not have you paranoid the whole time. You don't need to worry about anything, I'm fine."

I let out a sigh, she was right.

I conversed in the conversations with everyone, I was truly happy.

"So how was the birthday girl's day?" Axel questioned.

I looked over, and her cheeks were flushed. She held a tight smile before softly replying, "it was good."

She took a sip of her water, giving me a glance which only caused me to smirk, I knew what she was thinking about.

This woman, brought light into my life and showed me the way out of the darkness. She saw a man, that I hadn't seen, she saw past who I was and chose to continue to love me after all the lies and betrayals I had made.

And that was the exact reason why I knew she was the only person, I would be willing to spend the rest of my life with. Those crazy, heartfelt moments, I only ever wanted to experience with her.

I could feel the promise ring in my pocket, it was burning a hole through my jacket. It just had to remain in there until later tonight, when I promised her we would watch the stars.

"So who sent the flowers with the note commenting on me being old?" I hear her question jokingly as she takes another sip of her water.

She hadn't told me about this, so it was new information to me.

They all looked at each other, no one had sent any, which only caused my irritation to heighten, who the fuck sent her flowers?

"Alright fine then, don't tell me," she laughed.

"I'll bring Lily by tomorrow if that's alright?" Axel proposed.

"Yes! I miss her, how was she today?" Lyla nodded.

"She ran around lots and destroyed my fucking condo, but other than that she was fine," Axel grumbled.

The waiter brought our food, and the smell of Italian food surrounded us. I looked over at what Lyla had gotten, which was identical to mine but she had already started eating, not waiting for anyone else. I glanced over again when a moan left her mouth, and she mumbled a sorry.

She drove me fucking crazy.

The conversations were halted during the meal, everyone was too busy enjoying Luca's food to get a word in.

When Lyla was finished she turned her head towards me, "this is my favourite place in the whole fucking world, like holy fuck I'd marry the place, Easton!"

Which only caused me to chuckle, only she would talk about food in such a way.

The love of my life.

I watched as the staff came over with a plate of cake and a sparkler lite, and for the 100th time tonight her face lit up with pure joy.

"Oh, my, fucking god, " she smiled at me.

They set the cake down in front of her, her face was filled with joy, until horror shrieked throughout the restaurants as gunshots were breaking through the glass, of the front.

I stood up fast, to make sure Lyla wouldn't get hurt and felt someone tackle me to the ground, which caught me off guard.

Everything happened in slow motion, Dante tackled me to the ground and Lyla stood straight up in shock.

Her eyes were on me, mine on her.

A scream formed in the back of my throat as the gunman looked over the glass of the booth and watched her stand up, "Got you now bitch," he yelled, aiming his gun at her.

I felt so weak, so useless. Dante held me down on the ground under the table. All I could do was watch as she stood there completely in shock until Megan tackled her across the seat onto the ground.

Axel had taken cover on the other side, before anything else could happen the gunman fell on the floor screaming in pain.

Dante looked at me, I knew what he was thinking without him saying anything, he stood up giving me a hand helping me up, practically dragging me to the back exit. He was doing what he needed to keep me alive when all I need was for Lyla to be okay.

I watched as Megan and Lyla got off the ground running behind us and Axel closely following with his gun drawn.

People were still screaming.

When we got into the alleyway it felt as if time had sped up once again, I ran over to Lyla and held her face in my hands, "are you okay, please tell me you aren't hurt, baby I'm so sorry," I say in a hushed tone pulling her into me.

I can feel her crying as her chest rises and falls fastly, she's terrified. I take my jacket off and put it around her, I'm pulled out of the embrace when the sound of gunfire starts again.

And then we are once again running, I watch as the two SUVs pull up at the end of the alley. "Split up, Easton let's go," Dante says dragging me away from Lyla as she's rushed into the first vehicle with Megan.

I catch a glimpse of her face, her lips mouthing out the words, 'I love you.'

Dante shoves me into the other vehicle and sits beside me while Axel is in the front seat. I can barely see Lyla's car as it sped off before I got in.

"What the actual fuck Dante, I need to be with her," I practically scream, feeling the SUV go into motion.

"She's with Megan, she is going to be alright Easton." He spoke calmly.

I continue screaming at him and he takes it, not caring what's coming out of my mouth.

"Listen the fuck here, two fucking heirs in the same vehicle doesn't work, you both die. Then it's down to no blood line for either of your fucking families. I'm doing what i'm supposed to do." He yelled.

He was right, but that didn't matter at the moment. I needed to be with her.

I felt myself jerk to the side as our vehicle swerves to the side of the road.

I look forward, their SUV is stopped in the middle of the road.

I climb out, hearing Dante and Axel both telling me to stay put. I watch as Lyla rolls down her window and smiles at me, giving me a small wave, but behind her eyes is utter fear.

"Why the fuck are you stopped in the middle of the road?" I question making my way towards her.

"New guy said the engine just cut, he can't get it started again," she spoke softly.

"Are you both okay?" I question holding her face in my hands, both she and Megan give me a nod.

"Okay, come on, let's get you both in the car and home," I smiled kissing her cheek, turning on my heel back to the vehicle.

When I reach the Dante and Axel I turn around, to find her still in the car, "East, wait," Her voice yells.

I look over at the vehicle questioning what is wrong, "Wait my seatbelt is stuck, give me a second!"

I see Megan emerge from the other side of the vehicle, before blocking my view of Lyla. I feel my phone buzz in my pant pocket which draws my attention away from their conversation.

unknown: Weaknesses doesn't look good on you. It's time to take that all away. Grieve but not for long, you have learned a lesson. Love doesn't belong in a game full of bloodshed.

I stand there questioning, who the fuck is this. Until a realization hit me, and I start yelling, "Get the fuck out of the car Lyla."

I felt my feet carry me towards the vehicle, I couldn't see her face, Megan was walking away from the car a questioning face formed as she watched me. Within seconds, before the realization hits me,  I felt myself being thrown back onto the ground.

Everything went black.

The sound of a distorted car alarm filled my ears, my head hurt, and my vision was blurry.

"Easton, Easton, can you hear me?" A voice questioned, waving a hand in front of my face.

I roll over on my side, the ringing in my ears isn't stopping, what the fuck happened.

Everything stops spinning, allowing me to slowly sit up. The smell of fire and gasoline catches me off guard, and then I see it.

I scramble to get off of the ground to run towards the burning vehicle in front of me.

I fall to my knees screaming, watching the flames obstruct the vehicle.

"Lyla," I scream repeatedly at the burning vehicle hoping that there was some part that this was all a dream and she would wake up next to me. As if time would revert and the fire would stop allowing her to walk out unharmed.

"Ly, please don't do this to me," I whisper, letting the liquid fall from my eyes.

I can see Dante closer to the vehicle, searching, for anything. Megan is sitting on the ground, her sobs loud and fierce.

I attempt to get up once again yet I'm held down. I look over, Axel has a hand on my shoulder holding me in place, "Easton, your head is bleeding, you can't."

"Don't fucking tell me what I can do," I yell standing up, everything around me is spinning.

"Easton." He warned from behind me.

I staggered towards the vehicle, I needed to get to her, I need to make sure she was okay.

"Come on we need to get you to the hospital," Axel spoke grabbing my shoulder.

"Where is she!?" I turned to yell at him, my eyes were welling and spilling liquid down my face.

"Easton," His face was full of concern, what was wrong with him?

"I'm sorry, Easton." Why were his eyes watering?

"Where is she, Axel?"

"She was still in the car, she didn't get out," he spoke looking down at the ground.

"Don't fucking lie to me!"

I hold the side of my head and pull my hand away, blood covering my hand. And then the realization hit me again, the text, the seatbelt, Lyla, the car, and the explosion.

Sobs finally leaving my throat, tears burning as they graced the skin of my face.

No this couldn't be.

My head felt light, I couldn't focus, I needed her.

The black spots started to blur my vision, causing me to stumble until everything went completely black.

Without her.