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MARIA

The next few weeks I had spent with Leonardo were amazing; memories were made that would last a lifetime. Though our time together was shorter than usual, simply being with him had made my life a whole lot better.

Dream was finally mine. I couldn't stop smiling in the office as I was sat in the massive chair behind the computer, my cheeks aching from grinning from ear to ear.

Leonardo had really cleaned up Dream's records for me. As I clicked through the various pages and pages before me, I could find no errors left behind by my uncle. It would be a few weeks before I'd begin leading the company officially, but it was nice to know it was no longer going to be under my uncle's control.

The door opened again, and Iris walked in, tapping through her iPad as she informed me, "You're still being talked about on entertainment outlets, by the way." She had come back from the bathroom.

"Really?" I questioned in surprise, loosening my tight bun a little as I looked up from the screen. I hadn't skimmed online as much as I used to. She nodded as confirmation, briefly showing me one with myself dancing and a few reporters talking in a video. I let out a breath and asked, "In a good or bad way?" Iris hesitated, humming.

"It depends what you define as good or bad," she initially responded before continuing, "but generally they're my version of good." I nodded slowly, accepting the answer.

I exhaled and smiled slightly. "I liked it. A different side to dancing." Iris yawned, covering her mouth as she arched her back to stretch. "Head home," I encouraged, glancing out the window and realising how dark it was outside. The lights in the office were dimmed too. "I'll be finishing up soon anyway."

She chuckled before saying sassily, "I was going to anyway!" I laughed, my eyes taking in the vast room again. "I can't believe it," I gently said, relaxing and appreciating the office. Iris grinned, folding her arms and nodding in agreement. "Me too. You worked hard."

"We did," I corrected, giving her a look. "I couldn't have gotten this far without you." Iris rolled her eyes and gave me a finger. "Shut up. I'm leaving now before you start getting all cheesy." I laughed, and after Iris left, I was in Dream longer than I had expected to be, sorting out files, checking out all sorts. It had been a long day.

When I was finally ready to leave, I had closed my bag and moved around the desk, about to walk towards the door until it opened.

My eyebrows narrowed as I stared at the moving figure in disbelief. "Excuse me, I don't remember hearing a knock or allowing you to come in." I tilted my head as my eyes scanned the female walking in ever so casually, her eyes moving around the room with a relaxed, unemotional look on her face. I scoffed slightly, my eyes studying her from head to toe. "And you are?"

She closed the door behind her. The unfamiliar woman was tall, slightly taller than me. A hard and strong look in her dark eyes that made me question where exactly she'd come from. I had never seen her before. She dressed the part of a ballerina, but for some reason, I immediately knew she wasn't a part of Dream. My mind was already giving me reminders of where the weapons were kept hidden in the office.

I raised an eyebrow at her courage to enter, moving around the office and folding my arms, reciprocating an unwelcoming look. She laughed lightly as she scanned the room, nodding slowly. "Ah," her sarcastic voice began, meeting my eyes again. "So this is the famous Maria Amante. It's true, you really do look like your pretty mother." My hand curled into a fist against me at the mention of her. I sceptically continued to study the strange woman, watching as she began circling the room, her mysterious eyes all over the place.

"Should I call security, or will you make your own way out?" I questioned roughly, sensing that she was wasting my time.

She had a mature face. She looked like someone who looked as though they had been through battles in life that had left permanent scars on the inside. Her exterior looked tough; she looked like a person who was difficult to crack. That hard look on her face had been developed after years and years of brutal experiences.

"Your fiancé," she began again, a careless tone coming from her. I tensed up, questioning why the hell she was before me. She laughed lightly again as if something was actually funny. I pursed my lips; something was clearly wrong with her; how dare she even mention him?

"He's done some terrible things. ."

So the issue had something to do with Leo, nothing to do with me, I thought, recognising that his enemies were now mine as well.

She chuckled again, and it irritated me. I closely followed her with my steel eyes, carefully watching to see what she'd do as she slowly moved across the room like a cautious feline, a vulturous gaze across her small face. "You'd be the perfect trigger to release."

I scoffed, unfolding my arms as I prepared myself, ready to end the small talk. I knew exactly what she wanted, my rolling head. "Looks like you'll have to take the hard way out." She had enough chances from me.

She pulled her hand back to reveal a blade, and as it swiftly moved towards me, my hand reached out and grabbed onto her wrist, yanking her towards me. Her wrist was twisted towards the ceiling; a strained noise escaped her as I snatched the knife from her grip, slicing her palm as it came into my hands.

The woman went for a punch until my foot slammed against her knee just as I had tossed the knife away, far from hurting either of us. As she fell onto the ground, I took complete advantage to pin her against it. She was sure strong, her arms battling against one as she freed herself a few times, punching my torso. I weakened her initial strength by throwing a few rough slaps across her face that had turned crimson red by the time I had had enough.

My hands curled around her throat, my legs tightening around her hips as I held her down, her hands scratching mine as she fought to break free. "Who the fuck are you?" I snapped in slight desperation. It was fast, with one thing after another; she rolled over and punched me; her hands were eager and too excited to finish me. I used her passion as an opportunity to shock her, taking over when she had lost herself in fighting too hard.

A fistful of her short hair managed to fit into my hand, in which I dragged her by, towards the desk, ready for some more. She was screaming in frustration, punching my arm away as she took control, pushing away all the clutter on the desk loudly across the floor, and throwing a punch at me. I lost my balance and fell against the desk, my back colliding with the glass, causing me to yelp, losing my breath, which gave her the chance to go for the vase that survived the attack. As it was flung towards me, I dodged, kicking her strongly again so she doubled over. The glass shattered against the wall; I shoved her away to keep her from using it as a weapon.

Immediately, I threw her against the chair, my arm around her throat again as her head was trapped, pushed upwards. She choked, writhing beneath me before she twisted herself so violently that the chair toppled over and I was on the floor beside her again. That earned her a few more forceful throws, one so intense that she began to bleed from her nose.

"I guess a ballerina can fight," she breathlessly said, unable to continue to mock me. I shrugged, brushing back my hair, which had fallen out of its bun, off my shoulder and smirking. "I try." Contessa had taught me well.

She lunged for me again, but I turned, moving behind her quickly and pushing her away, unable to see an end to her willpower. I breathed out, "I'm guessing you were punished bad enough to be this angry." She scoffed at me, her fury growing across her bloodied face, the liquid running down from her nose and temple.

"Why don't you just give up?" I suggested with a playful tone that my hand had smoothly and discreetly gotten a hold of that knife again, sliding it beneath my clothes. It was time to end the fight; I had no more patience. "Because when my dear fiancé comes after I've finished with you," I chuckled darkly, mentioning him since she so eagerly wanted to get back at him. Her ferocious and steady eyes fixed upon me, ready to attack as she clenched her jaw in anger.

I cocked my head to the side and lowered my smile. "You will regret even considering touching me," I warned in a deadly and dark tone, as she laughed, insulting me, insulting the Don, and insulting the mafia. That woman had no idea what was coming for her.

"In your dreams," she pathetically responded, and I laughed, finding amusement simply staring at her. "You're right," I brightly replied as I caught my breath before glancing around the messy room again.

"This is my Dream," I harshly retorted through tight lips, without wasting another second before going for her again. I slammed her against the wall, simultaneously giving her a punch and a slice against her arm. She cried out, and I didn't give her a chance to talk, punching her square on the nose again. I hid the knife just before she spun us around, gripping onto my wrist. I fought to release myself until I was dragged towards the glass door.

She pressed me against it, but it was still open; the two of us struggled and stumbled backwards until my back was crushed against the balcony. That was when I became aware of where I was: outside, in the dark, floors and floors above the ground being strangled so close to a possible place of death.

Initially, I panicked; my hands were shaking as I tried to pry hers off me, but I became significantly weaker. I was coughing, choking ridiculously under her power and unable to move as my eyes darted between the ground so far away from me and her. "Who knew you were afraid of heights?" She poked fun at, laughing sadistically as the blood continued to pour out her nose.

I couldn't let her gain the satisfaction, and there was no way I was dying the exact way as my mother in my own office. My hands lifted themselves, and my arms slammed against her wrists, breaking myself free. I pushed her off me, punching her back into the office and managing to shut the door behind us.

The knife came into contact with her thigh next; she stumbled backwards, yelling in pain as the deep sear tore through her and began to soak her tights. I had no more time for playing games. As she continued to fall backwards, I went for her other arm next, her shin, and once she was flat on the ground, wriggling away from me, I asked, "Will you give up now?" She scoffed at my words, so I had no choice but to climb right on top of her and dig the knife deep into her abdomen. Twice.

Her screams were enough for her to realise she was the loser. My head snapped towards the door that had opened, and Marco rushed in, Leonardo in tow and Vincenzo right behind him with a whole squad of men wearing black.

I breathlessly stared at the men before me, my eyes landing on each of them as I climbed off her, letting the stranger bleed out on the ground.

"Maria!"

"Donna!"

I tossed the knife onto the cracked table and began to feel the pain soaring across my torso and especially my lower back. My body was unconsciously trembling, my head had started to spin, and I was feeling slightly nauseous. I had been injured, and I knew it. I fought away the dizziness and maintained a steady look.

My eyes met Leonardo's as the men surrounded the stranger. They looked somewhat shocked that she was on the ground and I was perfectly standing with smears and splatters of blood across me.

I folded my arms as the Greek God came towards me, his eyes filled with concern but his face covered in vengeance. "Who was that?" I practically demanded to know, moving my arms slightly away as he went to touch me. His eyes expanded slightly at my coldness, matching my serious ones.

"Ria, are you—"

"You didn't answer my question," I sharply interrupted, my eyes flickering over to her as her wrists were bound. She looked completely unfamiliar. He exhaled, realising my unwillingness.

"Javier's woman."

My eyes narrowed as I looked at her. She suddenly exclaimed, "You fucking bastards—the whole bunch of you fucking Italians—" She was about to continue her pathetic rant until I turned to her and questioned, "You actually loved him?" I stifled a chuckle as she glared at me.

"His life was mine to take," she darkly responded, trying to break free from the cuffs. I rolled my eyes at her. "So you took it upon yourself to fight one of the biggest mafias in the world just because you wanted to kill him? We did you a fucking favour, you idiot." I looked up at one of the guys holding her, "Take her away." I was already sick of seeing her face.

She began to laugh hysterically, my face scrunched up at her psychotic sound. "You think your little ballerina will be alive after—" I pushed my fist against her wound, immediately halting her words as I twisted it around her open skin. "You talk too much for someone who won't see tomorrow."

After she was taken away with Marco following the men, I looked around and scoffed, "What a fucking mess." My desk was on its last legs, its contents all over the floor, chairs turned over, blood on the walls, scratches against the laminate floor, broken pieces of art. A complete turnover. The only thing that seemed to stand stable was the massive picture of my mother conveniently.

"Maria," Vincenzo looked at me with a genuinely concerned expression on his face. "Are you okay?"

I couldn't be mad at him. I nodded and gave him a small, weak smile. Then Leonardo repeated the same question again. I sighed, wrapping my arms around myself. "I'm fine," I replied emotionlessly, our eyes meeting.

"Vincenzo, take her home," Leonardo seriously told him before he could start his next sentence. My eyebrows furrowed as I turned to look at Leonardo better. "Me? Where are you going?" He lost eye contact with me again.

He was already starting to move, "I'm—"

"Wait," I said, feeling slightly annoyed. I took his arm and led him towards the bathroom, shutting the door behind us and locking it. It was just the two of us alone to freely speak.

"Leonardo, what the hell just happened?" His large hand reached out for my slightly bruised face, but I moved my head backwards, sternly looking at him.

"She went missing. I ran over the moment we tracked her here. I'm sorry, this should never have happened," Leonardo explained, his worried eyes all over me.

I sighed again, wincing slightly as the pain shot up my back. "I know what kind of lives we are in. I know. You don't tell me much about yours, which I wish you would, but I know," I said, shaking my head at him. "Dream is not to be touched. I never want anything like this to ever happen again at Dream."

"This isn't your fault, I know. But you didn't think she'd come for me, and you didn't expect it to be at Dream," I continued seriously, "expect the unexpected and avoid the consequences. I will not let Dream be used as a hunting field. Too much shit is going on for this to be added in the mix."

I allowed Leonardo to come close to me again and wrap his arms around me, holding me to his warm body. "Are you okay? You don't usually. . ." He didn't finish. He was right; I didn't usually get involved in violence. But when I did, it was almost always fatal for the other person. My arms slowly lifted and hugged him back as he kissed my temple. I nodded against him, "I'm okay. I've done worse before, Leo. You know what I'm capable of." In the life that I had, countless people regretted even looking at me in the past.

He pulled away and grabbed a wipe, gently cleaning up my face. Thankfully I wasn't bleeding, besides a slight busted lip. He ran his fingers through my hair and fixed up the frizz, making me look somewhat more presentable. When we left the bathroom, he was back to his darker self; an emotionless look masked his handsome face.


I left with Vincenzo, and on the ride back, he was cracking a few jokes to lighten up the atmosphere.

"-tripped like a deer in headlights. It was hilarious!" He laughed, making fun of his brother in his younger days. I couldn't help but join him, imagining a funny moment. "Cris had all the photos. I wish I knew where his camera is."

My eyebrows lowered slightly as I realised that there was an opportunity that I had almost missed. I was alone in a car with Vincenzo, someone a whole lot easier to get information out of. I turned to him, and with my words, the atmosphere had changed. "Have you spoken to Cris since...?" I held back from mentioning the incident just in case.

Vincenzo shook his head, shifting a little in his seat. "No. I knew what he was up to a few years after, but I stopped caring to find out. Maybe it really was him." He gave me a brief smile to lighten the mood a little before focusing back onto the road. I nodded slowly. "Maybe not, though," I quietly suggested, defending him as I felt my heart race fast in my chest. "I know Leo has some strong feelings against him. Do you?"

Vincenzo hesitated; as we passed the bright traffic lights, he really looked like Leonardo for a split second. "I don't know," he sighed. "Everything points to him. But I have a feeling it's not." His lighter hazel eyes met mine again. "I just live my life," he simply added. He really was a carefree guy.

"Get some jets here and there, some ass somewhere in the middle—" I pushed his shoulder as he laughed, his playful words making me roll my eyes. "Man whore," I scolded, giving him a joking look of disgust as he chortled. If there's one thing Vincenzo couldn't live without, it was sex. He was a flirt and a natural seducer since high school.

We were getting closer to home when my phone started ringing. It was Iris, and when I answered, another unexpected thing had occurred.

"Ria—Rosa! She's—she's—

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~ Author's Note ~

Well. That was something. At least now the talk of Javier has finally ended.

Maria has finally gotten to show her fighting skills from being taught by Contessa, and we seem to have gotten a little more information about their oldest brother Cristiano.

As for Rosa, what fate has she met in the next chapter?

Keep reading to find out!

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