At night, after we return from the few warehouses Elio visited alongside Pietro and the Fabris clan's new capo, Ricco, we eat our dinner together in my room. Meanwhile, he explains again why trusting Ricco won't backfire, and I keep pointing out how stupid his reasoning is.

Fear doesn't bring permanent alliance, and the dude's petrified of Elio, which will wane over time. Just like Mario Puzo said in his book The Godfather, 'in this world there comes a time when the most humble of men, if he keeps his eye open, can take his revenge on the most powerful.'

And Ricco is by no means humble.

Elio brushes me off, claiming his problem is solved for now and that's all he cares about. If Ricco dared to oppose him, he'll handle him then.

He'd rather rest it in the hands of luck and chance, instead of coming up with a way to make the guy respect him. Although, I doubt a way exists to make someone respect his father's killer.

Not to mention, I'm starting to doubt my judgment regarding everyone and everything. The worst part is, Elio tried to broaden my view as he'd put it... and I refused to listen.

I thought I don't trust anyone easily, turns out I do, especially based on the title they hold either in my life or their occupation. These factors have been thoroughly influencing my judgment, making it worthless.

Now I see.

A fine line exists between right and wrong, the inevitable grey area... apparently, it's way wider than my initial expectations.

Life isn't a courtroom —even though my father orchestrated the first eighteen years of my life as though it is. I'm not here to judge and cut punishments for people.

From now, I have to learn to accept people's different truths, shaping their lives, building varying perspectives, and respect them, even if I don't personally agree with some of them, instead of projecting the truth I want to hear.

People outside the courtroom aren't my cases. The way I solve cases ought to stay limited to my work and not extend to every person I come across.

Who am I to hold everyone against the bar of right versus wrong?

I must work on changing my view. I won't let tags such as friend, foe, mother, father, prosecutor, and criminal obscure my view of the human being standing in front of me.

If someone hasn't wronged me, I have no right to mistreat them.

I have to change my ways, stop assuming things about people. Instead, I must see and discern their real intentions through time regardless of the titles defining their position.

Giving up Ricco's topic, I thread to another, more interesting one. Marco and Pietro's... situation-ship.

I'm still dead set on giving them a chance of expressing themselves and maybe having a shot at forming a relationship. It's the least I can do to make up for my horrible attitude towards Pietro, and the trouble I caused each time I messed something up and the trio—Elio, Marco, and Pietro—had to clean up.

After about forty-five minutes of arguing, Elio gives in and agrees to go along with my plan.

I'm convinced he pities me, otherwise, no way in hell was he going to agree to this bizarre plan of mine. Though he's really good at concealing his pity.

I'm afraid of considering other possibilities. They are dangerous... for my heart and sanity.

According to our—my—plan, Elio'll arrange a meeting, Pietro and Marco must be present tomorrow night. When they reach the location, he'll bail, and there's no meeting to begin with. The other guests in the restaurant will slowly leave while the mood sets in, creating the perfect private candlelight dinner, as the waiter will ensure the wine keeps flowing.

All through my plan, Elio eyes me like I've lost my mental stability.

For the record, I haven't. I think.

Sure, my plan has flaws, but I'm willing to be optimistic, and I'm counting on that famous Sicilian wine to do its magic.

Matchmaking was Ruby's favorite hobby, aside from me, her hopeless case, the people she used to set up together had a ninety-nine percent chance of success. It feels nice doing something she enjoyed.

Plus, the stakes are high, no I'm not talking about Pietro hating my guts and getting rid of me with the first given chance, rather Elio and I's bet.

The asshole is convinced my plan won't work and is shitty enough he had the audacity to bet ten thousand dollars it won't work.

However, if it works, the money will be mine. I refuse to consider the other way around because I'll faint. My bank balance really can't handle that blow.

I'm not broke, but with my little over six grands salaries per month and not working for about three months, I doubt there's much left in my account. On top of that, I might've lost my post as the prosecutor too, so I might be jobless when I get back. I'm not thinking about that either. It's a problem for another time.

To ensure my plan moves smoothly, in the morning during the few hours Marco and I are in the kitchen, eating and talking, as subtly as possible, I keep hinting at anything regarding love, and confessing your feelings to someone you like, to live with no regrets. I hope it steers his subconscious mind in this direction so once the opportunity arises, he'll take it.

I'm sure Marco will figure out it's my plan when he and Pietro are left alone in the restaurant, but I doubt he'd be too pissed off. He needs an opening to shoot his shot.

The details of the plan keep me occupied enough I don't get to spare a thought about my detestable parents.

When the night arrives, with the plan in motion, I occupy myself with painting to keep my thoughts at bay.

Dwelling on the fact that I've never been good enough for anyone, never been loved or cared for won't benefit me in any way.

I'm postponing it until after this fiasco is over. If I make out of this mafia shitshow alive, I'll find a psychiatrist and go to therapy. However, if I didn't make out of it alive, well thank God, the misery will be over.

I might be judging my mom too harshly. Dad used to beat her up horrendously aside from verbal abuse, yet I can't bring myself to forgive her for faking her death and leaving me with him.

Whatever her reasons may be... I doubt I deserved to be left behind, thinking my mom's dead while she was building a new life, far away from my father's toxic lifestyle.

No matter how hard I try to hate her and stay mad at her, or better even, feel nothing at all, a corner of my heart is shattered; it hurts like hell and it weeps in agony.

I didn't deserve what they did to me... right?

Well past midnight, when Pietro doesn't barge in with a pistol, it's safe to say the plan might've not gone that bad.

I spend a few restless hours of sleep until the morning sunlight flooding inside the room wakes me up. After a quick shower, I put on a floral skirt and a light green off-shoulder button-down shirt.

As I stare at my reflection, the v-neckline is highlighting the space my mother's discarded necklace used to take. My fingertips graze the spot the pendant usually rested at and the back of my throat painfully tightens from the sting of betrayal.

I shake my head and tie up my hair in a ponytail before leaving the room. Just as I step out, Elio walks out, stopping when he sees me.

I flash him a sheepish smile and he narrows his eyes.

The first three buttons of his navy shirt are undone, the tip of his crown tattoo visible along with the outer edge of the butterfly on his chest. Why does he always look so hot? Ugh.

"Any news?" I ask, my smile widening.

"No," he mutters as he slams his door shut.

"That's good."

He waves his index finger at me. "If they come in for my head, I'm throwing you to them and pulling back entirely."

I purse my lips and roll my eyes as we set down the hallway together. "I know. You've said that over a hundred times."

"Just reminding." He shoves his hands into his black trousers pockets. "I can't believe I agreed to help you. I shouldn't have. If my consigliere and underboss end up becoming hostile towards each other, I swear I'll-"

"Yes, I know, you'll kill me," I interrupt him with a huff. "You really need to get more creative with your threats, they're really repetitive."

"And you need to take your life more seriously."

"Had been doing that all my life, and look where it got me." I flash him a sarcastic smile and he shakes his head.

As we reach the staircase, hushed masculine voices halt us. I glance at Elio with a confused frown before we quietly descend the stairs, ensuring our footsteps make next to no noise. A few stairs down, I recognize the voices. Marco and Pietro.

I grab the railing and lean over to see what's happening. Hanging from my waist, I spot Marco and Pietro at the far end of the hallway. Elio's hand wraps around my waist protectively as I feel his chest brushing my bare shoulder.

That's when it happens.

Pietro grabs Marco's face and they kiss!

Oh. My. God! It worked! My plan worked!

I cover my mouth to not accidentally squeal as I spin to Elio's gaping face, mouthing, "It worked!" With a beam, I grab Elio's arm and bounce on the step.

Joy flits through me, making my body feel weightless. Grinning, I skip the stairs back up, pulling Elio along with myself to give them privacy.

"It worked!" I rave as we get farther away from the staircase and stop. "I told you it was a good plan! It worked!" I gleefully exclaim, moving my hands around wildly. My cheeks hurt from how wide I'm grinning.

The elation is so damn refreshing.

Finally, I did something good. Sure, serving justice is nice, but it's always the mafia on the opposing side, no one technically gets happy from the result.

But this! The setup I came up with made them confess their feelings! I made two lovebirds reach each other and maybe have a shot at a happily ever after!

I giggle and point at Elio. "Told you it was a good plan."

He's trying hard to keep his face blank but a corner of his mouth twitches upwards, giving him away. "Unbelievable," he says under his breath. "You just got lucky."

I lightly slap his arm. "No, it was a good plan."

He presses his mouth to a thin line, but it seems like it's more for suppressing his smile rather than showing annoyance.

I gasp as I remember our bet, and titter, holding up my index finger as I meet his shining dark eyes, fixated on me, sparkling with an emotion I can't distinguish. "You owe me ten grand."

His eyes flutter shut as he shakes his head chuckling. He leans to the wall of the corridor, a mischievous smile curling his lips as his eyes glint. "No, I don't."

My grin falters as I eye him with confusion.

"The clothes in your wardrobe cost way more than ten grand, tesorino." He smirks.

My mouth falls open. "You cheater! That was never the deal!" I slap his chest turning his smirk into a grin. "I'll become homeless if you make me pay for all the expenses! That's not fair!"

Elio throws his head back, laughing in the same soft deep voice making my heart flutter as he straightens himself and strides toward me. "You forgot who you were making a deal with, ciliegia mia."

I pout and cross my arms as he draws closer to me. "Asshole."

His arm snakes around my waist, pulling me to him. "It's a force of habit," he says in a deep, amused voice, his chestnut eyes glinting and never leaving mine.

"Has no one told you how dangerous it is to swindle a prosecutor, Don Emiliano?" I arch an eyebrow, failing at suppressing my smirk.

He leans down to me, his eyes lighting up with mischief. "Enlighten me on how to lessen my serving sentence, mia cara." His deep voice seeps into me as his hot breath falls on my face.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach as my insides turn warm and mushy, and my core clenches with blazing need.

His nose brushes mine and my hands latch onto his shoulders. "Maybe if you defend your case satisfactorily, there still might be hope," I breathlessly reply.

His gaze bores into me, darkening with staggering intensity. I get lost in the pools of his chestnut eyes, so warm and calming.

Elio's lips find mine in a searing kiss, his hand lays on the back of my head, bending my head back as he deepens the kiss, flushing me against himself, enfolding me. His soft lips move with a mixture of tenderness and roughness.

Every nerve ending in my body buzzes, electrifying my body, electrocuting my doubts, fears, and every care in the world.

I cling to him, letting go of everything, losing myself to his sensual lips and gentle caresses.

A sense of calmness midst my racing heart and exhilarated body settle in me. Pain and trouble seem so far away like they can never touch me as long as I'm in his arms.

Something in him has shifted, I can feel it from the way his lips move in sync with mine. Surprisingly, it doesn't scare me.

We break the kiss, breathing heavily.

"Dio, sei così fottutamente irresistibile," [God, you're so fucking irresistible] he pants, resting his forehead on mine.

I want to ask him to translate, but no phrases align in my head. I don't want the moment to be over. Why does he make me feel this way?

Am I stuck in a losing battle?

No one has ever held me the way he does. No one has even looked at me the way he does... all of these though, might be his usual ways, the way he's with everyone.

I'm scared of my affection-deprived brain reading into the lines and getting the wrong impression, misunderstanding the situation.

The pad of his thumb grazes my bottom lip. "Perché devi essere così perfetto?" [Why you gotta be so perfect?] he murmurs before gently laying a kiss on my parted lips.

My fingers tighten around his neck, sinking deeper into the soft curls of his hair.

"Cosa mi stai facendo?" [What are you doing to me?] he breathes out before locking our lips in another kiss, but more desperate, moving slower, savoring and memorizing.

How's it humanly possible to kiss so perfectly?

I don't want him to let me go I realize once he breaks the kiss.

"Elio-" I start in a whisper.

"Don't ask, I can't tell you." His arms tighten around me, his nose nuzzling mine as he plants his forehead atop mine, our breathings mingling.

"Elio!" Slava's thundering voice snaps us out of our illicit bubble.

I jump away from him, his hand falling away from me the further I retreat. I stare with wide eyes at Slava's fuming form. Rage, disgust, disbelief flash across her features, twisting them.

Elio protectively steps in front of me, as though trying to shield me from his mother's fury.

Her flattened lips curl up in a snarl. "Eto dolzhen byl byt' ty, Elio, a ne Ciro," she spits. [It should have been you, Elio, not Ciro]

Elio's face turns ashen, as he clenches his jaw, flickering a muscle, and looks her dead in the eyes, his shoulders tensing. I study the side of his face, noting the pain flashing in his eyes before he instantly conceals it.

"Ma-"

She raises her palm, her mouth tugging in revulsion. Curtly, she shakes her head before spinning and storming off.

Elio curses under his breath, shoving his hands through his hair before turning to me, his hand touching my bare shoulder as his features soften. "Don't worry, okay?"

My mouth stays agape.

"Be around Marco, alright?"

"What did she say?" I ask, my voice shaken and uneven. She's going to kill me. I could see it in her eyes. If she doesn't shoot me now, she'll do it while I'm asleep.

His features tighten as he shakes his head. "Nothing you need to worry about," he firmly says, his face becoming devoid of emotions again.

What did she tell him?

So many things whirl around my head that I want to tell him, but they falter on my tongue. I want to ask him if he's okay, if there's anything I can do to fix this mess... after all, it's equally my fault too, but before I can express anything, he strides down the hallway, leaving me alone, and brimming with regret.

❈ ☯︎ ❈

By now you should know I'm a sucker for drama lol

I'm sorry the beginning of the chapter was slow, but it was necessary for Cerise's character arch. I don't know what you guys think of her, but I'm guessing most of you hate her, but, we're progressing in her character arch and the improvement should hopefully make you like her.

Comment your thoughts about her feelings towards Elio, and of course her decision about changing her ways.

Any thoughts on Slava catching them? =)))

Thank you so so so much for reading this chapter, and this story honestly :') Drop a vote if you enjoyed it.

I love and appreciate every single one of you <3

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading ♡♡♡