I ducked right as the explosion went off. This was supposed to be quiet and easy like our normal missions. This wasn't a normal one. I knew it and Sebastian knew it too. This was loud and out there for everyone to know about. A random guy on our team handed me a gun as mine ran out of bullets.

"I told you to get the fuck out of here if things go south!," Sebastian said loudly to me over the sound of shots firing and explosions. I pretended to not hear him as I aimed my gun and shot. I have no idea if I was actually hitting someone. All the smoke from the explosions and the bullets were coating the air trying to suffocate blind us.

"Promise me if we make it out, we'll have an ice cream date?," I yelled.

He didn't need to think twice as he yelled out the two words. I promise.

It's been almost an hour and most of our enemies have been eliminated. They were either shot or blown in pieces. Disoriented, I slapped my hand on the wall and used it to guide me as I walked. The room spun as the ringing in my ears got louder, deafening me.

I pushed through doors and ran over dead bodies, not daring to look down as I finally made my way outside. The nice cool hair hit my face. It was a change from the stuffy, hot building I was just in. Not even thinking, I removed my hand from the door that was supporting me and fell to the ground, happy to not be breathing in smoke.

Coughs made me sit up slightly. Members from my team were staggering out of the building. When I came to my senses, I realised I hadn't seen Sebastian. I stood up from where I was and rushed to the others asking if they had seen Seb. They looked around groggily before mumbling some incoherent answer.

With the disorienting feeling wearing away, I lurched myself forwards towards the building. "SEB!," I screamed, suddenly feeling panicked.

Just as I was about to enter, Seb appeared in front of me. He didn't seem to feel or look as groggy as the rest of us as he pushed me forcefully out the building without a word before throwing himself on top of me as I hit the hard concrete ground. He yelled something that I didn't catch as he used his body as a shield for mine. His arms protected my head as I heard the building explode

That's what he shouted.

Get down! It's gonna blow!

We stayed like that for a couple of minutes and I was afraid that the explosion took him out. He didn't move an inch. I was thankful that he pushed us both quite far from the building otherwise we would be dead.

"Seb," I groaned out quietly. The dirt and dust on my hands made me realise that the rest of me probably looks the same. "Seb," I repeated more firmly this time.

He moved. He rolled over onto his back, getting off me. He rolled his shoulders and moved his arm around, fearing he may have broken it. He let out a groan. Without a word, I got on my knees and threw my arms around him. "I thought you were dead," I mumbled against him. I pulled back and properly looked at his face. His face and body was covered in debris so was everyone else.

I quickly stood up, not waiting for his response as I glanced around. Some people were moving around while others were lying still on the ground. I rushed to each person that was still on the ground, needing to check if they were still alive. Each person had no pulse. Those that were alive were quickly getting into the vans that arrived for us. Our deceased were picked up by another van and taken somewhere where they will be put to rest.

~

After we got checked out by our medics, we were free to leave the base, not the one back home but another base he has in another city. We were told to not leave for at least a week just in case so we were staying at one of his many apartments here in New York City.

It was huge and beautiful yet so simple at the same time. I have to admit that he has amazing taste.

Sebastian's PoV

I watched her as she stuffed her face with the chocolate ice cream I promised her. She's one of a kind because I've never felt this way about anyone ever. When I realised that she had risked her life to come and look for me in that building, my heart did this random fucking thing that made me think something was fucking wrong with me. It's never happened before.

Don't think I'm fucking turning soft because of some girl.

But she's not some girl.

No one has ever cared enough about me to risk their life but she did. She could've died yet she risked it anyway for me. I've had flings, hookups and relationships that were only for the sex but none of those match up to the relationship I have now with her. I guess you could say she's my first real relationship.

You may think that we're moving too fast in this whole relationship thing but in this lifestyle, you don't hesitate ever because you might not get the same chance again. Every moment we spend together could be our last so that's why things are moving so quickly.

You have to grab this shit with both hands and squeeze the life out of it until you watch it take it's very last breath. Then you know that you did everything you could.

Things have changed for the better. I know that my feeling for her are way stronger than some fucking crush and for some reason, that shits me up.

"What you staring at?," she asked as she swallowed her ice cream. I shrugged my shoulders, not really having an answer since I was just admiring her. I took the spoon out her hand as she watched me with a confused look for a moment. I took a huge spoonful of the ice cream before dropping it in my mouth. She opened her mouth wanting me to feed her but glared at me when I put the empty spoon in.

Wonder what else I could put in there.

My phone rang loudly. I quickly pulled it out of my pocket and answered once I had seen who had called. Lil shot me a worried look as I listened to what was being told to me.

Ten minutes later of me staying silent while the person on the side spoke, I finally cut the call. She put down her spoon and looked at me filled with concern.

"The annual mafia ball is happening and my mothers hosting it," I spoke trying to contain my anger. Every time my mother hosts these she always plays some fucking game for entertainment.

A couple of years ago she hosted it and the game was hide and seek only it wasn't like the game everyone played as a child. When someone is found they are eliminated from the game but when we took part it was eliminated from life. They were killed on the spot and the game continued for two hours. Those that hid and weren't found within those two hours survived.

"I'm already dead," she muttered in shock as she thought back to the past annual balls my mother hosted. We both know that my mother hates her and would do anything to get rid of her but the only thing that I knew was that I wouldn't let any harm come to Lil.

"Over my dead body."