Tristan was sitting next to Vienna while drinking from his can of soda. They were in the VIP section on the top floor sitting on a two seater sofa. Tristan loved it that she found it comfortable enough to lean onto him. He had one arm wrapped around her waist while drinking with the other while watching the music and dance show on the ground floor. There was international music and dance showcased but Tristan didn't care about any of that. Her closeness was all he needed. If someone even offered him the world he wasn't going to swap it with his rare moments sitting next to Vienna while she willingly accepted his touch. They had been through a lot to get to this stage for Vienna to be so comfortable with him. At the beginning she didn't even acknowledge that he existed always looking away from him in any party. But now luck was on his side and his queen was accepting her king slowly.

Vienna moved closer to Tristan and rested her shoulder on his arm as she whispered " Tristan. I want to ask you a question. Please be honest with me. I really want to know what you think."

Tristan responded softly " I will be honest. What is it."

Vienna hesitated at first but then she managed to say it "Do you think I am too ... naive?"

Tristan frowned as he ran his hand up and down her hip slowly " I think you are innocent Vienna. But not naive. You know the rules. You know what you are doing. You do make good choices. You know right from wrong. You don't put yourself in danger. You learn from your mistakes. So no. I don't think you are naive in the slightest way. But why do you ask this?"

Vienna broke away and sat up straight. She tried to move away but Tristan had a hold on her waist. She looked up at him " Well. I just want to know. But can you answer this also.... Am I too innocent?"

Tristan kissed the top of her forehead as he breathed " Why do you ask me this? You are innocent and I love you. What has brought this on?"

Vienna looked into his eyes seriously " Tristan. You say I am innocent but... Am I too innocent?"

Tristan sighed " Vienna. All I want to say is, you are the most gorgeous girl in the world to me. You are the kindest and you are the most amazing. You are perfect to me. It doesn't matter what the whole world says. To me you are always Vienna. My Vienna. My queen."

Vienna blushed and tried to compose herself as her cheeks felt hot. " Thank you Tristan." She turned to the side and picked up a water bottle. She had nothing to say back. He overwhelmed her with so much love. She took a sip of her water and put away the bottle. She then then turned to Tristan.

Tristan found her innocence so adorable " I am just stating a fact. There is no need to thank me. But if you must thank me then thank me with a kiss."

Vienna found herself closer to Tristan as he squeezed her closer to himself.

Vienna gave him a nervous smile. She couldn't deny him. He was so irresistible. She leaned close and touched his lips to hers. He deepens the kiss and then once he was satisfied, he pulled away as he whispered " Now you were saying... What was the question again? You are innocent Vienna. I love you for it. You have no hate in your heart. No ill feelings. Your heart is pure."

Vienna persisted as she was flattered with his soft tone " Am I too innocent? Answer my question please."

Tristan replied " I will answer your question if you also reply to my question. Tell me, what has brought on this question."

Vienna looked away " Forget it Tristan."

Tristan asked " Why? I want to know why you are so adamant to make me confess that you are too innocent. Has someone said anything to you? I will find out Vienna if anyone has. You either tell me why you suddenly ask me these questions or I find out from those friends of yours you were chatting with earlier on. They must know all the gossip from school."

Vienna was alarmed. There was no mistake. He was now going to go on a hunt to find culprits. She had to fix this. She looked into Tristan's eyes that looked dead serious with determination to find out what was bothering his queen. She spoke quickly hoping he didn't go after her friends " Tristan. There is no need to bother my friends. It's just me. I feel like there is something wrong with me."

Tristan spoke on a hard tone " There is nothing wrong with you Vienna. You are just perfect for me."

Vienna asked " Then why do I feel like other people know a lot more than I do?"

Tristan explained " I dispute that. You are intelligent. You are strong academically. You know a lot."

Vienna whispered " Tristan. You know what I mean. I am not talking about school."

Tristan nodded " Well, school is what matters. You will get good scores, get into college and will make your family proud."

Vienna argued " How can they be proud of me? I am not like other girls in our school."

Tristan smiled and leaned close. He kissed her cheek and stopped her from talking " That's why I love you. You are not like other girls. I love you the way you are Vienna."

Vienna was finding it hard to tell him what was feeling heavy on her heart when he was so close and was looking at her so lovingly.

Vienna gave out a frustrated sigh " But I don't know anything about what goes on around me when others do."

Tristan replied " What do you like to know. I tell you everything you want to know."

Vienna sighed " I have missed out on years and years. My father let my mother raise me and she doesn't like criminals. It was their wedding arrangement that if they had a daughter my mother made all the choices."

Tristan held his hand up as Vienna was about to interrupt. " It's the same with Clarisa. My mother makes a lot of decisions about her. Vienna. You are not involved in the crime life like your brothers but you don't need worry."

Vienna stared at him " I am worried Tristan. I am not prepared for anything. I can't even protect myself."

Tristan's expression hardened as he pulled away slightly " So is this what this is about? You don't feel safe? You don't need to protect yourself. Your family and I will protect you. Vienna, you are right when you say you are not like other girls. It's true in many ways. You are a formidable girl. But most importantly Vienna, you are not just anyone. You are Francesco Rosario's daughter. You have no idea who your father is truly. Do you? If you did, then you wouldn't be questioning your safety. When you think you don't know enough about the crime life around you, it's true. But you don't need to know anything unless you wish it. I suggest the only thing you need to know right now is your family history. That way you will feel more at ease... Vienna. Your father is not ordinary. He is one of the most dangerous criminals in the country. He is the most influential. He has brought so much fear to his rivals and enemies that no one dares come within miles of his territory. Your father has put the fear of god in all men he has ever met and also men he hasn't met who have heard of his reputation. The most wanted criminals don't want to deal with your father. You are safe. You are a Rosario. Once we get together you will get my family's protection too. O'Neils and Giovannis would die for you."

Vienna took a deep breath and looked down. He was giving her good arguments. But she had to find away to get her message across. She hesitated and then looked back at Tristan. She tried to reason with him argued "Tristan. I know, I am lucky I have a family to protect me. But..."

Tristan replied "But what? Come on Vienna. No one on this earth is fully untouchable. Even the president himself is not untouchable. I am not saying you dont need no protection but you have enough for now. I have no concerns for you to have extra safety. Its not your priority..."

Vienna asked "So What is my priority?"

Tristan replied "Your happiness. All I want for you to be happy. There is not much longer left from our teenage years. We have to chrish it. I have to have training because I am a first born heir. I have to be invinsible. I have to be strong. I have to be able to protect so much. But I still get the time to appreciate the small things that you dont sometimes... Like right now. All I care about is to hold you. Thats all I want. We have a life time to think of matters you are think about right now. Just let me hold you knowing you are at peace."

Vienna was feeling guilty about what she was about to say. But she ahd to find a way. She breathed "I understand Tristan. But there is something you need to know. Its not easy to say this. I have made a decision today. I need to test myself Tristan. I really need that. I need some space. I need some time away." As she noticed his narrowed eyes, she felt alarmed to speak quickly." I am ... going to Italy. I am going with Clarisa. I am coming back end of July for my birthday."

Tristan was taken back. For a second he had thought she was breaking up with him. He was relived. But still he had a hard time registering what he had just heard. He wanted her so much in his life. He had so much going on in his personal life. He had so much weight of expectation on him and so much responsibility. Now was the time he really wanted her in his life to brighten up her days but of course it sounded like he had months of darkness to look forward to. But of course he didnt want to hold her back. But he didnt know why she truly wanted to do this. She never showed any signs of unhappiness. She was confident and happy. What had changed? He needed to know why.

Since Tristan took long to reply, Vienna got worried and asked desperately "Talk to me Tristan. I am sorry. I have to go." She was looking at his hardened expression with concern. She had no idea how she was going to react. Was he going to get angry?

He asked in a demanding tone "You are going? To Italy? Vienna... I dont question you going. But why? You have to give me a good reason why. Why now? If you want to challenge yourself you can do it on American soil too. Why do you want to get away?"

Vienna was caught now. How could she tell him it was her mother's idea. Her mother just wanted to get away from Tristan to consider other options. She liked the idea because it was a good excuse to be alone and be challenged. So without Tristan around she could see the world differently without his protection. Of course, her cousins were her bodyguards but still she was going to have some space.

Tristan let go of her and stood up towering over her seated form "Vienna. Answer my question. This is unexpected."

Vienna replied quickly "I just want to go, sorry." She then stood up and looked for a escape route "I have to go. Sorry. We can talk about this later. Its time to go. I am going home."

Tristan shook his head "But Vincenzo is staying..."

Vienna explained " Viggo and I are going home earlier than Vincenzo. I will talk to you in school tomorrow." She then stood up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his cheek. She then pulled away as she smiled "Bye." She then turned and walked away. She knew this was not over. She didnt want to bring her mother's name into this. Tristan was not going to forget this if his mother was blamed by him for her leaving.

Tristan watched her walk away and didnt stop her. He was going to catch up with her tomorrow in the labs. Tristan carried on drinking soda and watching the show until it was time to catch up with his grandpa Giovanni. He made his way outside the club and found his grandfathers line of cars waiting for him. He was lead to the main vehicle and got in. His grandfather greeted him warmly as usual. When they arrived at their destination, he welcomed the crispy air as he got off the car. They all entered a casino. He was instructed to walk around the deserted place. The place was already cleaned out. This was a special casino for members only. All customers most likely were either on the roof or under the ground, wherever his grandpa was going to put them on trial. He walked around until he got to the bar. There were no customers inside the casino as he walked in. Now the only ones inside were his grandfather's men and some men who worked with the Giovannis that he didn't recognise. They were all Italian. They spoke in Sicilain accent.

Tristan walked to the direction of bar and he froze as he saw the last person he expected to see. Vincenzo was sitting alone at the deserted bar drinking from his can of soda. As he glanced up and saw Tristan he coughed.

Tristan gestured to the guards to stand back and give him some privacy with Vincenzo. he walked to him and asked "What the hell? What are you doing here?"

Vincenzo put the drink on the table "So he is meeting one of your people up there? It cant be an O'Neil up there. Impossible. "

Tristan replied "No there is no O'Neil up there. I am here with my grandpa. Who are you here with?"

Vincenzo stated "Same as you."

As Tristan looked at him with questioning eyes and was about to respond, he heard a voice from behind him "So this is Tristan, your grandson."

Tristan turned sharply to the voice. He sucked in a breath as he faced the man. He didnt need to be introduced to him. Those pair of blue eyes and his posture resembled Francesco Rosario's. He was not meant to be in that room with him. What was his grandfather thinking.

Gabriel Giovanni spoke proudly "He is my heir. A true Giovanni. He is no O'Neil"

Paulo Rosario looked at him up and down "That remains to be seen. He resembles you Gabriel but we will see if his actions show he is an O'Neil or Giovanni." He then walked upto Tristan who was frozen on the spot. Paulo patted him on his shoulder "Speak son."

Tristan prefered to keep it inside. So he politely nodded "Greetings."

Paulo rolled his eyes "You sound like your father. You dont say much but enough to know you are not pleased to meet me. Likewise son. I dont want my granddaughter to marry an Irish."

Gabriel Giovanni walked to the bar and picked up a bottle of wine "Paulo. My grandson is more Italian than all these men you have shipped here."

Tristan registered that. It made sense. Paulo Rosario couldnt enter the country through air. Francesco Rosario monitored airport arrival data. Paulo Rosario must have entered through sea. But why now? And why he had dared to come?

Paulo walked to Gabriel and grabbed the bottle of wine "That remains to be seen as I have been telling you. We will see. Time to get back to work. We will leave some left overs for the kids." He then walked away to the way he had come from and Gabriel Giovanni followed after he stopped inf ront of his grandson and kissed him on the forehead.

As Gabriel and Paulo walked away, Tristan growled "I need a word. A private word." He then walked away and Vincenzo followed. Tristan entered a rest room and kicked all the doors open inside. Once he made sure no one was inside, he walked back to Vincenzo as he shook his head "How can this be? You tell me how on earth has he come into touch with you and what in the world are you doing here with him? Has he threatened you? Has he done anything to force you be here?"

Vincenzo replied "What do you want me to say? He is my blood."

Tristan punched the wall behind Vincenzo as he stood within inches of Vincenzo "Answer my question. Has he threatened you? I am trying to find a reason how you can be sitting here instead of calling your fathers men to escort him out of this territory."

Vincenzo stated "Look. I have my reasons. They are valid reasons. I am not here for fun. One day I will tell you but now is not the time to ask me questions..."

Tristan put his hands on his hips "You are right. Now is not the time to question you. Now is the time for me to think about what on earth I am going to tell my father tonight when I get home to stop him from killing my grandpa and yours. The man has a prize on his head. If my father finds out that I was in the same room with your grandpa and my grandpa arranged it, there is going to be blood. Plenty of it."

Vincenzo sighed "Of course. Typical Irish temper like yours. I should have known. Your grandpa can contact mine in Italy but not here. Oops. But my grandpa is a phantom. He would not be caught. I can say with confidence my grandpa would survive a chase from your father. Can you say that with confidence about yours."