the forbidden romance of the norm

After dispensing brutal justice to the Real Madrid ultras, Dimitri seamlessly transitioned back to his usual demeanor. He began signing autographs for his fans, his expression calm and almost cheerful, as if the violent altercation had been a mere trifle. Anya watched him, a mixture of awe and horror churning within her. The casual ease with which he'd dealt with the aggressive fans was terrifying; the contrast between his innocent appearance and his brutal efficiency was jarring. She couldn't reconcile the childishly naive look in his eyes with the cold brutality she'd just witnessed.

Once he'd finished signing autographs, Dimitri noticed the troubled expression on Anya's face. "What's wrong?" he asked, his tone gentle.

Anya hesitated, then recounted the events, her voice trembling slightly.

Dimitri listened patiently, then explained, his voice low and serious, "It was necessary, Anya. A necessary evil. If I hadn't dealt with those ultras swiftly and decisively, others would have been emboldened to invade the pitch, putting myself and the team at greater risk. It's a calculated risk. The more forceful I am, the less likely I am to need to use force again.""So," Anya said, a playful smile on her face, "I guess I have no more secrets to tell… except for maybe two rather significant ones. First, I was previously married. And second… my father was a member of the Mafia."After a moment of thoughtful silence, Dimitri asked gently, "You mentioned you were married before. Tell me about it."

Anya's face paled slightly. "I loved him very much," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "but he cheated on me repeatedly. When I confronted him, he abused me. He hit me. Eventually, he divorced me. I thought I'd never find anyone better. But then you came into my life, and… you're better than him in every way. I'm glad I left that relationship."

Dimitri reached out, taking her hand in his. His touch was gentle, reassuring. "You're safe now, Anya," he said softly. "I will never hurt you. You are special to me, and I will always cherish you and protect you "Thank you," Anya whispered, her eyes welling up slightly. Then, a thoughtful expression crossed her face. "Dimitri," she began, "aren't you worried about being connected to someone with a Mafia background?"

Dimitri waved off her concerns with a casual shrug. "My best friend growing up was Figland Ross. His father was a big-time Mafia boss, one of the biggest in Italy. So, a Mafia connection doesn't faze me. It's normal for me."

"How can you be so casual about it?" Anya asked, still struggling to reconcile Dimitri's nonchalance with the gravity of a Mafia connection.

Dimitri shrugged. "Just because someone has a Mafia background doesn't mean they're bad. It's a complex situation. People are individuals, not simply defined by their family history. They have their own paths, their own choices. Figland's father may have been a mob boss, but Figland himself is a good person—one of my best friends."

Anya considered his words, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I suppose you're right," she conceded. "I just… I never thought anyone would be so accepting of my past. I've always worried about people judging me based on my father's actions. It means a lot that you don't."

"I'm so glad someone like you is in my life," Anya said, leaning in to kiss Dimitri on the cheek. "Tell me more about your past. You're far more interesting than I am. I don't have much of a past to share, but you… you seem to have a lot of stories."

Dimitri chuckled. "Okay, fine. I'll tell you about my past. But I'll only share the most interesting parts. I don't want to bore you on this trip. We'll save the rest for later."

Anya smiled, a playful glint in her eyes. "That's not fair," she teased, "but okay, I'll let you decide what to tell me."

"Okay," Dimitri began, "I mentioned Figland Rossi, my childhood best friend. One day, some bullies at school started picking on him. Figland was kind, despite his family background, and he never used his connections to get them in trouble. I stepped in, of course. I was reckless when I was younger, but I was also strong, bigger than most of the kids. I'd been hitting the gym, trying to be like my father. Those bullies didn't stand a chance. My father had also taught me martial arts. From that day on, Figland's been there for me. Whenever I needed money, I'd text him, and he'd send it without question. I once asked him why he never asked for a reason, and he simply said, 'You wouldn't ask unless you had a good reason.' I'm grateful to have him as a friend."

Anya smiled. "Wow, that's a great story," she said.

Dimitri chuckled. "That's only half the truth," he admitted. "The other half… well, that's a darker part of my past."

"What's this darker side you don't want to talk about?" Anya asked, her curiosity piqued.

Dimitri hesitated. "I'll tell you eventually," he said, "but I don't want to spoil the mood. It's… complicated." He paused, sensing her slight disappointment. "I understand you want to know everything about me, but some things are better revealed at the right time." He sensed her thoughts correctly; she suspected it had something to do with his connection to the criminal underworld.

"We have a whole day left before we land in Bangladesh," Anya said, changing the subject. "How about we talk about our favorite things? I know practically everything about you already, so I'll ask the questions this time. Deal?"

Dimitri chuckled. "Deal. But I'm demanding a kiss later."

Anya blushed. "Stop joking," she playfully scolded.

"Why not?" Dimitri teased. "Don't I have the right to joke?"

"You do," Anya replied softly, "but… you shouldn't use that right all the time."

"Besides being a ridiculously good singer," Anya teased, "what are your hobbies, young man?"

Dimitri smiled. "I write poetry," he confessed.

Anya's eyes widened. "Seriously? A poet? I never would have guessed!"

Dimitri grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, you'll have a poet for a husband—and someday, perhaps, the father of your children."

Anya's blush deepened. "You're incorrigible!" she exclaimed, though a smile played on her lips. "You have the right to joke, you childish idiot, but don't push it. It makes me uncomfortable."

Dimitri, clearly enjoying her reaction, feigned innocence. "Oh, I wouldn't want to face reality too soon. I'm simply enjoying the playful aspects of our relationship, for now."