*Jackson's P.O.V*

Boom.

The walls tremble from an explosion.

"Boss our hideout has been infiltrated!" A scrawny guy burst into the interrogation room.

"About damn time" I laugh, coughing up blood.

" Careful, Jackson" Vito snarls. "You don't want lose any more blood do you?"

" I would flick you off if my hands weren't chained up"

" Hmph" The guard that's been torturing me for the past three hours snickers.

He is so dead.

I knew it would take longer for Aiden to find me if I left my phone in my car but the first thing these assholes did was search me and destroy anything that could hold a tracking device so I guess I made the right decision. When he found my car, he most likely inspected the location, saw traces of a struggle and sent a drone to look for the nearest structure. A hideout in the middle of nowhere? not a good idea.

"Kill them all! Kill them all! Kill them all!" Vito roared out.

" Careful," I feign worry. " You might have a stroke"

A whip connected to my chest and I cry out in pain.

"Keep your mouth shut" The guard hit me again and raised the whip for another swing.

"Leave him," Vito snapped. " We have bigger things to worry about, let's go!"

" I can literally see the veins trying to escape beneath your neck" I tease.

Vito fires his gun in the ceiling just as another explosion erupted, closer to me this time. What are they doing?

The door slams shut.

*Ashley's P.O.V*

"Ashley I think we should go back to the van" Zara suggests.

" Does this place have a dungeon?" I ask.

Someone from Team A nods.

"Hostages—"

"It's too dangerous!" Zara yells shaking my shoulders. I push her hands off.

So far two rocket launchers has been fired and Aiden is about 20 feet from the mansion fighting in the frontlines and giving commands at the same time. This place looks similar to where I was taken when I was kidnapped and Jackson rescued me. He's helped me alot and everyone is too busy trying not to die so i'm probably the only person thinking of him.

It seems their plan is to destroy the entire building and if Jackson is alive then he's probably tied up, which means he can't get out. I don't know much about combat but I feel like Team A is the strongest team which means Aiden is trusting me to save Jackson or really wants to make sure I stay put. Either way; i've made my choice.

I sprint about ten yards and take cover behind the nearest van —testing the waters. Then run again this time not stopping until I get to the building. I run past everyone good and bad, someone grabbed my hand before falling to my feet coughing up blood. I flinch but keep going. Someone steps out of the mansion and smirks pointing a gun at me, I only had a second to be scared because his head tipped back and he fell to the ground just like the other guy.

"You are badass!" Zara says as we all arrive to the house panting.

" Were you guys—"

" Covering you?, you'd be dead if we weren't" She chuckles.

"Thank you" I sigh, relieved. So Aiden did plan this.

"Now listen carefully," Zara stood up straight. " Once we go inside Demetri here —" she points to an ebony man with deep brown eyes "Will hide a bomb —three actually— which will detonate in twenty minutes whether we escape or not. I'm 22 and I don't plan on dying soon so let's get out alive, okay?"

"Okay" I nod and step inside.

It's been about ten minutes and so far the hideout has mostly been empty except for some guards. Everyone is outside fighting...or in the dungeon. After fighting and threatening a few people —who might just die anyway— we're now on our way to find him. It becomes a little harder to breathe in the dry, humid environment but we proceed to head downstairs anyway.

"Get down!" Zara yelled pushing me to the ground as Team A had a shooting confrontation with a group of men yelling curses in italian.

I somehow managed to slip into an open room to the left then walk through another door leading me behind the enemy which were too busy dodging bullets to notice me. I round a corner and pushed opened a red door marked 'Do Not Disturb'

Deja vu

" Hey" A gentle voice welcomes me when I enter.

I gasp.

"Jackson?"

He was on his knees with his ankles chained together behind him and his arms shackled above his head. His chest was covered in scratches and dried blood. His lips swollen and bruised. I run over to him in tears.

" What did they do to you?" I gently touch his bruised lip.

"You think you can unlock this without a key?" He rattles the chains hopefully.

I gulp and pull out the gun.

He catches his breath.

" Um...maybe we should wait 'till—"

" We don't have time" Tears blur my vision and my hands tremble. OMG what if I kill him? What if I miss and hit his—

" Hey look at me," I reluctantly meet his eyes. " I trust you. you've got this"

I release the safety. Aim for the shackles on his arms, and fire.

" Did you seriously close your eyes?," He asks in disbelief. " I could have died!"

" I thought you trusted me?" I hand him the gun and he effortlessly shoots the chains off his feet and stands up.

" I thought you died, you jerk!" I sob in his arms. He plants a kiss on my forehead.

" I'm sorry. They just tranquilized me" He takes my hand and grabbed a vest from a dead body before leading me back upstairs.

"There they are!" Vito chirped as soon as we got to the main room. Zara and everyone from Team A —minus Demetri— were on their knees with a gun behind their heads. Jackson pushed me behind him.

"Let them go" Jackson grit his teeth.

I look at the clock behind Vito's head. Five minutes.

" How about you give me the girl. Better yet, why don't you kill her?" He challenged.

" How about you kill yourself?" Zara spat.

"Marco" Vito nodded towards one of the guys holding a gun.

Just like that a member of Team A was killed.

"Get up and fight me, coward!" Jackson balled his fists.

" Ha! You really think you can fight me in your condition?" He pulled out his gun and pointed it towards Jackson. "It's time for you to join your Mom son"

Everything after that happened in slow motion.

"NO!" I screamed diving in front of Jackson just as a shot fired. Commotion erupted around me and suddenly someone had my hand in theirs and we began running at full speed towards the front door. The adrenaline finally started to decline and I stumbled on the damp ground. An explosion went off behind us, my ears rang and we crashed into the ground full force.

~

" She's awake!" A familiar voice yelled.

" Good," A familiar voice responded —Demetri?. "She must've passed out from the shock"

" Well he's dead now, thanks to you... that's all that matters"

" What's...?"

" No time to explain," Zara threw a black duffel bag next to me. "Put this on"

The Bianchi mansion has now turned to rubble and I am standing in front of it in a wedding dress. It's a long fairytale gown with lace trailing the sleeves off my shoulders and a small train outstretched behind me. My hair —now dry— was accessorized with a white flower. Zara threw a veil over my head and led me a couple yards to where the vans that we came in were parked. New vehicles were there and a crowd of people were arguing.

" Sully had a daughter not a son! there's no way the new york Mafia is taking orders from you just because your close" A rough voice yelled followed by a roar in the crowd.

" Is this why....?" I mutter as we approach the crowd.

" Yeah," Zara nodded. "He's definitely a leader but not by blood...yet"

I wasn't wearing makeup or shoes but when the crowd parted and I saw the look of awe on Jackson's face; nothing could stop me from feeling beautiful. His vest was replaced with a white polo and the swelling on his lip went down. Aiden stood next to him with a goofy grin.

"You look..." He lifted the veil and his eyes traveled over my body. " Phenomenal"

I blush.

Zara cleared her throat.

" Good evening gentlemen, the sun is setting so let's make this quick shall we?"

"What the hell is going on here?" A man dressed in all purple stepped forward.

" As of yesterday i'm a licensed wedding officiant and you are all here to witness the holy matrimony of Ashley Sulliano and Jackson Miller...now shut up and wait until I ask for Objections" Zara placed herself between the two of us with a brown envelope in her hand.

"Do you Jackson Miller take Ashley as your lawfully wedded wife...to have and to hold until death do you part?"

Jackson clasped my hands in his. "I do"

" And do you Ashley—"

" I do" I say quickly, staring deep into his eyes.

" Rings please" Zara looked at Aiden who handed Jackson a box.

He placed a white emerald engagement ring on my finger —vanilla— and then a silver wedding band. I took his silver band from the box and placed it on his finger.

" Now, through the power of marriage Jackson will officially be Sully's son-in-law and therefore his position as Mafia Boss cannot be challenged. Any objections, speak now or forever hold your peace"

No one spoke.

" By the power vested in me —and the internet, I now pronounce you Man and Wife...you may now kiss the bride"

" About time" Jackson wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his arms in a sweeping motion before gentle pressing his lips against mine in a kiss. It was soft and gentle at first, then the passion rose and we had to force ourselves to seperate.

" I love you" I say.

" I love you too" He responds.

" Is there a reason you decided to marry this man at 18?" Aiden teased.

I smiled pretending to think about it. " Because," I wrapped my arms around Jackson's neck. " You're my Badboy"

He grinned. " And you're my good girl"

His lips pressed against mine again and I closed my eyes enjoying the moment.

~

La Fine

--------------------------------------------------------------------