In Too Deep: An Anti-Hero Mafia Romance

Madrid Bound

The day for me to leave soon arrives - even though two weeks ago it felt like it was going to take forever to get here. All the arrangements have been made. Xander has sorted out the permits for me that I need at his end, the same way he seems to do everything - with ease.

I’ve had my leaving party from the club, which was a night out last Sunday. The Solicitors organised a meal last night to say goodbye to them all.

Everyone seems happy for me. Xander flew in last night late so that he can help me – he’ll fly back with me tomorrow. I was happy to fly on my own but he said he wants to be there for the start of my new life with him, right from the very beginning. I'm secretly glad that he insisted. I’m terrified. I'm changing my life to be with him – him being by my side makes it a lot easier to handle.

I finish work at three to go to the home to see my dad, Xander wants to come with me. I'm a little nervous about going to see my dad with him - it’s always upsetting and a little intense. Some days he’s a lot better than others, recognising me and talking to me – but sometimes he has no idea who I am. Today is a bad day. He doesn’t know who I am . . . so I just sit and chat with him for a while. I don’t hold his hand, hug him or anything, because when he isn’t lucid it just confuses him if I touch him. I come away from the care home upset . . . but I’ll see him again soon – looking on the bright side, at least he isn’t pining for me to visit - as he has no concept of time.

Xander puts his arms around me to comfort me when we get outside. It will always be upsetting but it’s something that I just have to live with.

As we’re walking to the car he turns to me and puts both hands on my shoulders. “You are so strong mi amor, you are fantastic with your father - I cannot comprehend how upsetting it must be to see your father like that.”

“I'm not strong,” I shrug, “You just have to deal with whatever life throws your way, there’s nothing you can do about it.” I look up at him, my eyes probably reflecting the sadness I feel. Truth is, it breaks my heart every time I go and see him.

It was nice having him there with me. I didn’t feel so alone anymore.

I plan on spending my last evening with Hayley and Ryan, her boyfriend - just the four of us with a takeaway. I’ve already said my goodbyes to Kelly, promising to see her soon. It’s harder leaving Hayley than it is leaving anyone. I’ll miss her so much . . . but she’s only a text away.

My last night is perfect, Hayley and I stay close and keep hugging. Xander’s so attentive, he makes sure that I'm ok all the time and keeps watching me to check I'm not going off in a world of my own. I'm surprisingly ok about leaving . . . maybe it’ll be different when I get there and I’ll get homesick then, but right now I'm just deliriously happy - I know I’ll be back visiting soon, it’s only a two-hour flight. It’ll be worth it, I get to spend my days in sunny Madrid with the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met – inside and out. I feel pretty lucky.

When the morning arrives I get up, shower and get dressed. Xander is still asleep, he’s such a heavy sleeper, he can sleep through anything, I make my way downstairs - Hayley is down there having a coffee, sat at the kitchen table.

“Morning,” I say

She looks up and gives me a sad smile. “Hey hun, you all set?”

I sit next to her, putting my arm around her and rest my head against hers. “Yeah, everything’s packed . . . we go in an hour or so. I’ll miss you so much, Hayley. I love you, you know? You’re my family.”

She gives a half-sob half-laugh, “God, don’t start me off again! I love you too, hun - we will see each other more than you think, I bet you.”

“I hope so. Everything I’ve been through, growing up without a mum - then my dad taking ill - you’ve been there for me through everything . . . I’ll never forget that. You are the best friend a girl could ever wish for.” A tear escapes, running down my cheek and I kiss her. “I promise I’ll be home soon to see you all. In the meantime, we can text . . . email . . . Skype – we’ll stay in touch.”

She nods, “You get to be as happy as you deserve with that gorgeous man upstairs - I am so happy for you.”

I hear a cough – we look around to find Xander stood in the doorway looking half asleep. “Everything ok?” he asks

I nod “Fine Xander, just saying our goodbyes.”

He walks over, putting his arm around me, and kisses me on the cheek, I’m wrapped in my new home right there.

I don’t want Hayley to come to the airport, I say my goodbyes at the house. We cry. . . then laugh, because I’ll be seeing her again soon, then Xander and I leave.

Off to start my new life in a new place. Scary.

***

We’re soon touching down in Madrid. Baggage claim goes by without a problem.

We’re just about to step outside the airport when Xander stops me and turns to me. “Mi amor, I love you so much for doing this. I am so happy that I get to be with you every day now. I feel like the happiest man on the earth. My family will wonder what has gotten into me . . . I do not usually smile as much as this.” He said beaming at me, his eyes sparkling.

I put my arms around his neck. “I can't wait to start my life here with you Xander. Now come on, I want to see where I live.”

He laughs, steering me outside, as soon as I step outside the heat hits me. I'm glad I wore my denim cropped leggings and a vest top. There’s a car waiting for us with a driver - when we’re both settled in the back seat Xander takes hold of my hand as the driver takes us through the streets of Madrid. I take in the sights . . . of where I'm going to live.

It takes about thirty minutes before we pull up in front of big gates. Xander punches a code in and the gates swing open. Wow . . . this is huge, Skype was deceiving – it didn’t look this big, We drive up to the front, it’s stone, painted light pink, with an archway leading to a porch. It has gorgeous lilac flowers growing all up the walls, it looks like paradise.

My home.

Xander gets out, walks over to my side to open the door, he takes my hand while I get out, it’s the little things like that he does that makes me feel so special.

As we stand in the hall I take in the place. Stone walls . . . marble floors, it's really elegant but needs a woman's touch. He guides me around the house showing me each room, the living room, dining room, games room with a bar and pool table, kitchen with a dining area – outside at the back there’s an inviting swimming pool with steps graduating into it at one side, patio area and gardens. It’s stunning.

I look at him, shaking my head in awe. I can't believe this is my new home.

He smiles at me so softly, a look that’s filled with love. I slide my arms around his waist and reach up to kiss him, then I see something fire up in his eyes that I know so well, his eyes darken as he rakes his gaze over me, then his eyes meet mine. They have changed to a dark shade of blue. “I shall show you our bedroom now?” I definitely want to go to the bedroom, especially as he has just said ‘our’ bedroom. I let him lead the way.

He takes me into a huge room with a queen-sized bed. It one huge window and patio doors, which leads onto a balcony.

I turn to him. “The view is breath-taking!”

“My view is breath-taking.” He says, his eyes on me. “I think it is time we christen this bed . . . do you agree?” he smirks at me and puts one arm around my waist to pull me towards him.

“I do agree.” I look down at the bed, suddenly having a terrible thought. “Do you promise that I'm the only girl that will be in this bed Xander?”

He nods. “I promise, mi amor, only you – always only you.”

He leans in to kiss me. “I’m going to f**k you in every room of the house.”

He gets to that right away, we tick off the bedroom.

We lay wrapped around each other for a while, sleepy in our afterglow. I murmur “I love your bedroom.” He corrects me, “Our bedroom.”

We must doze off, when we wake we’re both starving, so Xander calls out for Chinese and we eat it in front of his TV, thank goodness he has satellite TV with English channels. I love the novelty of just hanging out with him here, doing normal couple stuff. Tomorrow he’s going to show me around. He has to go into work to one of the clubs tomorrow night - but, I have him all to myself for tonight and during the day tomorrow.

***

I settle in so easily here in Madrid - it’s like I was meant to be here. I don’t feel like I have been here two weeks already, the time has flown by. Xander’s been great, he’s shown me around. He knows I wanted to go to a gym, so he enrolled me in his gym. I know where all the shops are that I need. We’re together most of the time, I know it won't always be like this – that he has work to do - but for now, I have him most of the time. I have no money, but he’s gotten me a debit card for his account and insists that I use it whenever I need, I don’t have a choice but to take it, I need to find a job soon so that I have my own money- I don’t want to be reliant on him. I haven’t talked to him about that yet, it’s such early days, but I will.

I start to get ready for some big party that he wants to take me to tonight . . . I'm so nervous. I'm going to meet his mother, step-dad and brothers. After what Xander has said – how’s warned me - I'm scared to death of meeting them.

He’s nervous too I can tell - he doesn’t say anything, but he’s been on edge the last couple of days. I'm nervous that he’s nervous, I’ve never seen him get this stressed about anything before. The only other time I’ve ever seen him nervous is when he was asking me to move to Madrid. He’s told me about his family, so I know what to expect - even though he insists I won't get it until I meet them how powerful they are. He has bought me a gorgeous dress – it’s long, to the floor, a shimmery emerald green, which Xander says makes my green eyes stand out so much, that they take his breath away – the man knows how to work me. I’ve clipped my hair up in an updo and Xander also bought me some silver Manolo Blahnik's. I can't believe I now own a pair of Manolo Blahniks. Whether I want him to or not, he loves to spoil me.

He strides into our room. “I'm going to take a shower – join me?”

“No way, I’ve done my hair.”

He laughs “You are no fun.”

While he’s in the shower I start to get ready. I put on my new matching sexy cream lace underwear, with a gorgeous push-up lace bra, with pink satin on the cups. I sit down and start to put my makeup on.

Xander walks out of the en-suite with a towel wrapped around his waist looking gorgeous and wet from the shower. He eyes me sat down in my underwear and heels. His expression changes into one I know only so well.

I shake my head, “Don’t even think about it, I'm getting ready plus you are not messing my hair up.”

He comes close standing over me. He rakes his gaze up and down me, appreciating my new underwear. “I promise I will not mess your hair up. We do not have to lie on the bed. I can be more inventive than that - stand up.” He unhooks the towel from around his waist and lets it fall to the floor. I look at him, stood there, magnificent and erect. How the hell am I supposed to say no to that?

I relent. “Ok . . . but you better be quick.” I stand up grinning.

“You are so romantic mi amor.” he says with a smirk.

We have s*x up against the wall in the bedroom with him supporting me, my legs wrapped around his waist. He always seems to get his own way when he wants me – I never want to say no.

When we’ve finished I go to clean up but he stops me. “No, I want me to still be on you tonight when we are at the party.”

Is he kidding? “Ew . . . why? Don’t be gross.”

He shakes his head. “Please Elsa, it makes me feel like you are all mine. That I have possessed you, my seed is in you.” He sees my doubtful expression. “Please do this for me,” he says putting his arms around my waist and drawing me close to his chest.

I reluctantly agree. “Ok . . . but you know this makes you a little weird right?”

He laughs his deep sexy throaty laugh and releases me smiling . . . glad that he’s got his way.

I slip the dress on, Xander turns me “You are exquisite.” He kisses me gently. He’s wearing a light grey suit with a blue shirt, slightly open at the collar and it makes his eyes look so blue that I could drown in them. If he let me I could look into his eyes all day.

“You’re kinda exquisite yourself!” I say to him quietly. “I'm so lucky I'm here with you.”

He scoffs, “Let us see if you still say that after tonight is over.”

I frown. There he goes again with his warnings. I just want to get it over with now.