Tristan was holding Vienna in his arms as he was standing on the rooftop of his father's house. He had lost count of the minutes how long she had her back to his chest while watching stars using his new telescope. He was rubbing her tummy from time to time getting chuckles from her as she was ticklish.

Vienna wished these moments could last longer. It was rare. She hadn't spent time with him at his father's home in a while. Tonight her father had allowed her to come with her mother while he took care of business. Viggo and Vincenzo were gone too. She had asked Viggo what was the emergency that her mother and her had to go to the O'Neil mansion. He had said it was about Vincenzo and what he had planned. She wasn't sure what that meant.

Tristan whispered to her "Are you done now? I am waiting to kiss you."

Vienna teased "You can kiss me."

It made Tristan sigh in frustration "I want to kiss your lips."

Vienna said "Well, I am busy right now..."

Tristan said "Is this how you want to play? You do know I can tickle you much harder... Right?"

Vienna pretended to be worried as she gasped "I am scared..."

Tristan said "You have 3 seconds... 1,..."

Vienna sighed and turned around as Tristan loosened his hold. She stared into his eyes "You always make me turn around... If I didn't know I would say you are jealous of the stars when I look at them."

Tristan gently wrapped his arms around her... "Of course. I get jealous when you don't look at me and I am right next to you." He then leaned close and attached his lips to hers.

Vienna was feeling his love. She was feeling the full force of it. His kiss was urgent. It was not painful or forceful. It was gentle but Tristan had the skill to make his feelings known with his kisses. He was giving her his jealous kisses. He was devouring her lips. She found herself totally at his mercy as his hands went around her waist. He was holding her possessively but not forcefully. He was telling her she was his and only his. Her heart was beating faster now as she was feeling the closeness getting to her. Just when she was about to pull away and push Tristan to get a breather, Tristan stopped. He timed it well. He knew when to stop. She was finding it fascinating how he knew her so well.

Tristan was now staring into her eyes intensely as his eyes wandered to her lips at times. She was breathing hard and the movement of her lips as her breath hit his face made him want to make out with her even more. He leaned close not being able to resist as he kissed her cheek. He then pulled away as he took a deep breath knowing he had to stop or he was going to make out with her until her mother called her down stairs to have tea with the ladies "Vienna ... I wish to discuss something with you. I don't know if you are aware but ... there is so much happening in my life... You know ... As days go by I get closer to the date... There is a day ... when I will need to... I don't know how to tell you this..."

Vienna was looking at him confused "What is it? You are worrying me? Why can't you tell me straight away?"

Tristan said "It's not that simple. You know how you have heard of the Irish and Italian tensions rising? It is going beyond what you can imagine... What do you know about the Italian Irish rivalry?"

Vienna said "I know as much as Viggo. He has told me there are talks to keep peace whenever tensions rise because of FBI closing on crime lords and those who serve them..."

Tristan nodded "That is correct but ... it is much deeper than that. You know who I am now. I know you don't like to be reminded of it but I am a symbol. I am an O'Kane heir. The Irish families gather together in a syndicate in secret. Italians have their own world and we have ours."

Vienna whispered "Your Mother is Italian American."

Tristan nodded "She is..."

Vienna asked "Then why do you only mention the Irish? You are on both sides..."

Tristan shook his head "No Vienna. I am not just on the Irish side ... I am leading it..."

Vienna was confused "But there are other families who are your equal ... The O'Reilys or the O'Learys..."

Tristan declared "In terms of wealth yes... But in terms of power and influence the O'Kanes rule. We have the full control over a big network of intelligence and resources in various forms. We have contacts no one can even imagine. There is so much about the O'Kanes that I don't even know. They are not an ordinary family."

Vienna was trying to grasp the hidden meaning in his words "So ... what are you trying to say? That you are even more deadly than everyone thinks or scarier?"

Tristan said "It's not about that Vienna. We are not talking about high school. Try to understand... No matter what happens I love you and my loyalty is to your safety... meaning if anyone ever becomes a threat to you I will have to act... Anyone means anyone... There are no exceptions... even those you care about..."

Vienna gasped "What does that mean? Are you threatening my family?"

Tristan nodded "That's exactly what I am doing."

Vienna pushed on his chest and he let her go. She took a few steps back as she pointed a finger towards him "You can't ... You can't ever hurt my family."

Tristan said "I won't ever hurt you. Isn't that enough assurance?"

Vienna said "I want your word."

Tristan said "You have my love."

Vienna was touched by the sincerity in his words. How could she reply to his love declaration?

Tristan took a step closer to her "I can't guarantee there won't be a clash Vienna. It is not looking good. The Irish retaliate and eliminate any threats before they become threats. I have some meetings coming up. I just want you to know that I love you more than my life. My first reason for existing is you. So you must always believe that I love you no matter what happens in terms of the relationship between your brothers and I..."

Vienna sighed "Viggo did warn me ... She did say you have to do what's best for the Irish ... So in your meetings you get to talk about the tensions? Will you be voting for war or peace?"

Tristan didn't know how to tell her this "There is no vote... Vienna ... That will be me... I am the vote... I lead... I oversee. I protect. I am everything... I am the leader of the Irish underground crime lords in one of the biggest circles of crime. I am the decider, prosecutor and executor, just like how my father always raised me to be..."

Vienna was looking into his eyes as she swallowed hard while feeling his words. Just then she was brought out of her thoughts as she heard Viggo "Vienna."

Tristan looked past Vienna at Viggo with almost a dissatisfied look "What do you want?"

Viggo knew he wasn't welcome in interrupting Tristan's time with Vienna so he didn't mind his harshness. He stated "My mother wants Vienna down there with the ladies."

Vienna didn't waste time and thoughtfully walked past him.

Tristan asked "Goodbye kiss? Vienna."

Vienna turned around. She decided to tease him. "Sure." She then blew a kiss towards him "Goodbye."  She then walked away chuckling.

Tristan was frustrated "You will pay for that."

Vienna turned "In what currency."

Tristan said "You will find out."

Viggo was shaking his head "Cut it out you two."

Vienna walked past him. "I didn't kiss him so you don't get annoyed."

Viggo looked into Tristan's eyes as he said "Sure Vienna. That's nice of you outing me to the raging bull as the one trying to get you to be modest in public."

Vienna was well aware of it that she had left his brother with Tristan alone as she walked away but she trusted Tristan. She just did. They were past the stage to lack trust between them.

Viggo put his hands in his pockets "It's a fine night." He was well aware of the tension in the air. There was plenty of it.

Tristan walked towards him "You come up here breaking us apart and make sure she denies me a goodbye kiss knowing not to push it."

Viggo said "She is always here. This is your father's home."

Tristan nodded "She is. Now tell me. How come you came back early?"

Viggo said "I was meant to come back here to keep an eye on Vienna and my mother. Vincenzo is my father's problem to solve."

Tristan said "What has he done?"

Viggo said "Well. It's complicated. Basically ironically he did what you should have done."

Tristan said "Which is..."

Viggo replied "Defending Vienna."

Tristan suddenly became livid. He closed the distance between them and stood in front of Viggo "What do you mean?"

Viggo looked into Tristan's eyes but kept himself calm. Tristan could snap. "You won't be able to see it the way we do... You don't know the truth because ... your father has hidden the truth from you and to make matters more complicated even your own father doesn't know the whole truth."

Tristan objected "Hold on..."

Viggo shook his head and turned to walk away to the railings on top of the building "You look around you and you see the world in the ways your father taught you to see Tristan. You see what your father wants you to see. I don't see nothing wrong with it. He wants you to be safe. He doesn't think you can take on one of those who wronged Vienna and lead to her accident. There is a master mind who is alive. My brother is after him...."

Tristan walked to stand in front of Viggo "Who? I want a name."

Viggo said "It's best if you don't know. If you find out the truth too soon then you may act. You may do something you will regret. Then Vienna maybe in danger before you can protect her. Leave it to my father. He will tell you the truth when the time comes. Just know that things are not what they seem. If it was within my sister's interests I would have told you all I know but it is not Tristan. My sister's life matters more than your fist landing on my cheek that I am sure maybe coming next because you want names. I am sorry Tristan."

Tristan was looking at him with bewilderment "How can you look into my eyes and hide the truth that you know I need to know badly? How can you deny me? Do you think I will ever endanger Vienna with my decisions? I won't. Can you give me your trust?"

Viggo sighed "Right now Tristan you can't win against this enemy and you don't need to unless it catches up to you. When you are skiing on a mountain you don't need to take shelter from a landslide unless it reaches you. You don't need to fight it because you can't. A skier can't fight the mountain... It will be a losing battle. You can only fight a landslide if you become part of the mountain yourself. You can only beat an Avalanche if you become part of the mountain and create your own Avalanche."