I'll Guard Your Body You Guard My Heart ch19

Chapter 19
RPOV
“Roza,” Dimitri says, shaking me gently, “We have to get up. There’s a meeting in an hour.” I make a grumpy noise and roll over to face him. I open my eyes and stare into his.
“I don’t want you to go,” I whisper, “Tonight I mean. I’m fine with the meeting.” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“Baby, you know I have to,” he says softly.
“I have a bad feeling about it,” I tell him. He looks down at me and kisses me gently on the lips.
“Everything’s going to be fine,” he says, pulling me closer and kissing my temple. I sigh and kiss his jaw. I break away from him gently.
“We should get dressed,” I state, walking to my closet. I start sifting through my clothes. Dimitri wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses me again.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he says and leaves my room to get dressed. I pull on a pair of jeans and a Big Bang Theory t-shirt. I slip a pair of socks then sneakers on and meet Dimitri outside my room. We go downstairs and eat breakfast with my parents. It’s a silent meal and I can tell Baba was up all night planning. I walk over to him and sit in his lap.
“I’ll be fine, Baba,” I tell him. He hugs me tight.
“Not with Victor still breathing,” he growls, setting me on my feet and standing up, “I need to go set up. Belikov, come help me.”
“Yes, sir,” Dimitri says and hugs me. He kisses my forehead, “I love you.” He follows my father out of the room.
“I love you too,” I call after him. I lean against the counter and feel a tear slid down my cheek. My mom wraps her arms around me and holds on tight.
“It’s all going to be fine, honey,” she tells me.
“No, it’s not,” I cry, “Someone’s going to get hurt or killed or go missing and we’re never going to see or hear from them ever again and I just can’t-”
“Rose,” my mom snaps, catching my attention, “Deep breaths, love.” I do as I’m told and take a few deep breaths.
“It’s just that everything was finally falling into place and now it’s falling apart. What do I do, mommy?” I plead.
“You let it roll, baby,” she says, “When I got pregnant with you and found out you were a girl, I was thrilled, thinking you wouldn't be so involved with all the mafia business but I was so wrong. I love you more than anything, you know that, but I think bringing a child into this at all was a mistake. A beautiful, incredible mistake.”
“Momma,” I say, squeezing her and tearing up. She hugs me back and then we go to the hotel. Almost everyone is already here so Abe calls the room to attention.
“Now, I know a few people aren't here yet but we have a lot to go over,” he says, jumping into the plan. The people staying behind are to stay in this room until the others get back. If we have to leave for any reason, we go in groups. It’s all pretty basic for those staying behind. For those going, it’s a different story. There’s a lot of strategy to remember.
“Okay, take this time to say good-bye to everyone. We might not all be coming back,” Abe dismisses us and I whimper slightly. Lissa squeezes my hand and I smile slightly at her. Dimitri comes over to me and just holds me. I bury my face in his chest and close my eyes. I try to memorize his scent and how good it feels when he holds me. A few tears escape my eyes and he tilts my head up.
“Roza,” he says, “Open your eyes. Look at me,” I do, “If I don’t come back, promise me you’ll move on.” I start crying harder than before.
“How can you ask me to move on?” I whisper, brokenly, “How could I ever move on when I've been with you? You’re so perfect for me. I love you. I need you.”
“I love you too, my dear,” he tells me, “That’s how I can ask you to move on. I don’t just want you to be happy, I need you to be happy.”
“Don’t leave me,” I beg, “I can’t, I just, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I’ll do what I can, Roza,” he says, “But I’m not making any promises I’m not positive I can keep.” I hold on tighter to him. The rest of the day passes in a blur of good-byes and a short lunch. When it comes time for the guys to leave, I cling to Dimitri and my father.
“You two need to come back to me,” I tell them. Dimitri kisses me softly and Baba kisses my forehead and then my mother. I run over to Lissa.
“I’m so worried,” I say to my best friend.
“So am I, Rose,” she says back. And I know she is, Christian, Andre, and Eric went too, along with Eddie and Adrian. Mason really wanted to go too but couldn't because of his injury. He’s currently sulking in the corner of the room. Mia is trying to comfort him and it seems to be working. I lean against Lissa and she leans against me. After what seems like hours, the team comes into the room. My mom goes straight to Abe and I do too. Lissa goes to Christian.
“Daddy, where’s Dimitri?” I ask. He looks down at me with sympathy in his eyes.
“Go sit down,” he tells me, I nod, feeling numb and sit.
“Attention everyone!” he yells from the front of the room, “Tonight was a success. Victor and Robert are dead. Several other Strigoi are as well and all the others have surrendered. And unfortunately and fortunately at the same time we only had one serious injury. Dimitri has been shot and is currently on the way to the hospital. He was barely conscious last I heard.” I hear a scream and barely realize it’s my own. I feel my heart break into a million pieces and I just sob.