Emanuelle was now checking on his daughter to see if she was alright and sleeping. When he reached her room,  he noticed it was half open and he could hear Vienna talking to his daughter. He entered the room and watched the youngsters get startled at seeing him.

Emanuelle asked " Girls. This is past midnight. I think you should say good night now. Vienna so you mind making your way to your room? I need to speak to my daughter..."

Vienna politely nodded. Vienna gave Clarisa's hand a squeeze and bid her good night. The finality in O'Neils voice didn't leave room for argument.

As Vienna left and closed the door, O'Neil walked to the light switch and dimmed it down " Princess. You need to sleep. You have a long day tomorrow. It's prom night."

Clarisa laid down in her bed and pulled the covers up " I couldn't sleep. I was ... worried..."

Emanuelle walked to his daughter. He sat down on the edge of the bed as he smiled warmly at his daughter " Princess. I overheard you talking to Vienna.... You don't need to worry about Letizia. She gets one last chance..,"

Clarisa took a deep breath. She didn't want Letizia to be punished for a game. Clarisa played fair. Her father had been too harsh. She whispered " Thank you."

Emanuelle thought to himself "Don't thank me... Thank the beast...." He then smiled but kept his tone serious" Princess.... There are matters here to discuss.... I want you to tell me why you kissed the beast. I thought I taught you better princess. The beast doesn't play like other boys. He is different."

Clarisa bit her lip " I am sorry... But he is honourable.... If I had to pick one to kiss then it had to be him. I trust him..."

O'Neil was so glad his daughter was open to him. That was how Sancia had raised her. Clarisa was a daddy's girl in every way. She didn't hide anything from him and she wasn't afraid to talk to him. Emanuelle and sancia were also quite open about their feelings in the house and showed affection openly so their children were more used to discussing their relationships.

Emanuelle spoke softly " You shouldn't have been forced to give away your first kiss because of a game. The next time it happens just say no.... You can say no to whatever crazy suggestion Letizia comes up with the next time even though I know there may not be a next time. I wouldn't hold my breath that you will see Letizia in the next term much.,. Your mother will put her in isolation again for the stunt she pulled with you..,."

Clarisa objected " It was not a stunt... It was a game...."

Emanuelle spoke " Princess. It was a stunt. Now new rules... I forbid you from playing over a kiss again in any game. I know you like playing games but kisses are off limits. You only give away kisses to a boy who you call your boyfriend officially in public. Am I making myself clear?..."

Clarisa frowned " Yes.... But..."

Emanuelle spoke " No buts. No ifs. You and your brothers don't have many rules to live by in your recreation time but I am making this a rule now. No kisses in games until you get yourself a boyfriend, officially who I interrogate thoroughly."

Clarisa nodded " I understand... But it was just an innocent kiss. It was just for fun..."

O'Neil nodded " It was to you princess." He then thought to himself " But it wasn't to the beast... He claimed you without you knowing it..." He then leaned over and kissed Clarisa on the forehead. As he pulled away he smiled at his daughter and he stroked her cheek with his index finger " The boys in our world are different to normal boys..... The sons of criminals are possessive and obsessive.... Men don't share in our world... I can foresee you ending up dating a criminal one day and that criminal will be hunting down any boys who you give kisses to..."

Clarisa nodded " I know father... I had this talk with Vincenzo... He told me that the guy I marry would kill anyone whom I ever touch..."

O'Neil felt like someone threw a bucket of icy water on his face. She had a talk with the beast already about this it seemed. Had she? The beast had already warned his daughter of his rules and expectations by the sounds of it. He was smooth like his father. When Francesco struck you, he did it so smoothly that you never noticed what came down on you and suddenly your world crashed when Francesco unleashed his full force assault... Vincenzo was his father's son.

O'Neil kept his composure and tried not to show concern as he retorted " What's that princess? You had a talk with Vincenzo... When was that?"

Clarisa sighed " When we were staying at the Giovanni hotel before going to church on that Sunday before you set off for the trip again. So I know father what it means... But Vincenzo can handle it... I tell you a secret father... When Letizia set that dare, the first name that came to mind was Vincenzo... He can protect himself. No one is as intelligent and powerful as him... So if my future husband wants to kill him one day, he can try but he can't kill Vincenzo father. No one can..."

O'Neil sighed. His daughter was smart but totally innocent... She still saw the world of boys like a teenager and he didn't want it any other way. To his daughter this was just a teenage fun game. She didn't see it as a dangerous game and serious real world problem like how he did. But he didn't want to break the disturbing news to her that the beast could be after her even though there was no rock solid proof.... Part of him hoped the beast set his sights on another girl. He hoped Letizia stayed with the beast. Maybe it wasn't a bad idea to keep her alive.

Emanuelle smiled sadly at his daughter " I agree... Vincenzo can handle anyone but ... why didn't you choose Andreas?"

Clarisa replied "Lucianos are not our allies..."

Emanuelle's tone turned slightly harsh as he was losing patience " Lucianos don't dare mess with the Irish. It's in their family history. Our Irish allies will wipe them out if they come at us... So tell me why you didn't choose Andreas? It cant be just because of Lucianos..." I am just curious... I wish you hadn't kissed any boy but why Vincenzo and not him. Andreas ticked all the boxes..."

The question made Clarisa think. She shrugged " I told you father... I trust Vincenzo... he is honourable..."

Emanuelle pressed on "So is Andreas... He is well brought up...So why Vincenzo?"

Clarisa replied quickly "I really don't know..."

Emanuelle asked " Really? I am sure there is a reason..." It was important to hear his daughter's reasoning. It was life or death for him. Did she love him back?

Clarisa sighed and rubbed her forehead " Letizia set the bet so I thought she wouldn't mind if I kiss her boyfriend...,"

O'Neil asked " Is that the only other reason?"

Clarisa looked into her father's eyes "I don't know...I am not sure.... I had little time to decide and make a choice ...."

O'Neil wasn't convinced " I want the truth... I know you... If you don't want to touch a boy, you won't no matter what a bet says..."

Clarisa sighed. " I don't know why... Maybe it was because .... Andreas is blonde ....  I guess I don't like blondes .... "She had to be blunt " I am sorry but Vincenzo is ..... I guess he is  handsome ...." She then saw his father's narrowed eyes. Complimenting Vincenzo wasn't helping. But she couldnt deny how good looking Vincenzo was... Everyone knew that. At their school, to Vincenzo's frustration he had been voted the best looking student a few times at charity parties alongside Tristan. Girls loved him even thought they didn't dare go near the wolf because of his hostility that Clarisa didnt mind. For some reason his hostility to screaming girls was appealing to her. It did show his honour that she liked to see.

O'Neil spoke firmly " I am not convinced. You made this decision and you don't even know why. You can't tell me with certainty why you did this... But you won't be put in this situation again because I make it a rule... No kissing until you are spoken for and have an official boyfriend who comes see me. Do you understand princess?"

Clarisa nodded " Yes I do..."

O'Neil stood up "Sleep tight. Have fun tomorrow morning if I don't see you. I am busy in the morning ...,"

Clarisa smiled " I do look forward to the morning .... I am so excited for paint balling air soft gun fighting games..."

Emanuelle stood up " I know. That's why I arranged for it...Because you like it princess.... Now, don't forget ... No kissing unless it's your boyfriend"

Clarisa nodded " I understand."

Emanuelle smiled warmly at his daughter and then walked away towards the door as he whispered " Good night princess..." He then left the room and closed the door behind him as he took a deep breath. As a father this was one of the hardest talks he ever had to have with his daughter. He was never concerned about her. Sancia had taught their daughter enough and maybe even too much but Clarisa really didn't see the danger that the beast posed to her. The thought didn't even cross her mind that she could be the beast's target. She was a claimed one. It hurt Emanuelle to think that his daughter could be loved by the beast. Part of him hoped he was wrong. Maybe this fling Vincenzo had with the Marciano girl could get somewhere. Maybe the beast was going to look elsewhere. He couldn't imagine his princess with the beast not because he doubted his capability or his honourable intentions. It was quite the opposite. The Rosarios were the most honourable and most loyal to those they were meant to protect and care for. There was no loyalty like Rosario loyalty.

Vincenzo was perfect from far but what bothered him was the fact that Emanuelle didn't know anything about Vincenzo. He thought he did but as the time went on and he got more glimpses of Vincenzo's actions, O'Neil realised more and more how much he didn't know about Vincenzo. This kid was so hard to figure out and he was just s teenager. O'Neil observed him so closely over the years and just when he thought he had him figured out, Vincenzo surprised him time and time again with his actions. Vincenzo sometimes reminded him of Paulo Rosario which Francesco did not like to hear. But that wasn't it. Vincenzo was his own person with a distinct personality independent from his father and grandfather. It was impossible to read his mind. It was frustrating. O'Neil was wary of Vincenzo because he couldn't figure him out. But even Francesco didn't know him that well. If Francesco even couldn't claim to know everything about his son, what chance did he have. This boy carried a tangled web of secrets in his heart. O'Neil could see Vincenzo's secretive personally as his survival instinct. Vincenzo was going to be hard to catch. He was unpredictable and every day you learnt something new about him and also you could throw the old theories out the window.

As Emanuelle left the hotel, he saw his son waiting for him outside. He sighed "Son, go back to your hotel room...." He then carried on walking towards the main building.

Tristan followed his father " You cant do this... you cant let Letizia get away with this outrage..."

Oneil turned around. How could he tell his son that the beast was the reason and he was willing to take his chances on Vincenzo. he couldnt believe himself. He was actually affected by how the beast had spoken to him. He had spoken true words and with so much meaning behind each word as though his life had depended on it. But why? He had no idea why Letizia had to stay alive... But again why was he complaining? He wanted the beast to fall for the Marciano and stop saying his daughter's name like he worshiped her. That was it. When he spoke of his daughter and said her name it was as though he was mentioning a holy word with so much respect.

O'Neil instructed "I said, go back to your hotel room. Now Tristan." He was daring his son to defy him.

Tristan sighed and swallowed his words that he was about to say as guards came into view. He didnt wish to argue in front of his father's men. He knew he was going to regret it if he tried. His father was not strict but he was a brutal disciplinarian if Tristan gave his father a reason to discipline him which Tristan hardly ever did. His father's effective discipline had taught him not to break the rules.

Tristan whispered "Can I talk to you inside?"

Emanuelle replied "Of course not... I am busy son..." He was going to be busy doing some damage. He was livid. He was rageful from encountring the beast and getting a glimpse of his possible feelings for his daughter which he hoped was not as deep as he feared. Teenagers could change but adults couldnt change.

Tristan took a deep frustrated sigh and nodded " I will see you tomorrow... Can I at least come see you tomorrow in your hotel room."

Emanuelle chuckled darkly "No son. I said I am busy... You enjoy your prom... I will summon you if I feel you need to be spoken to... Son. Leave now." Emanuelle could not see his son in his hotel room tomorrow. He was not sure what was going to be left of his room in the morning... He was going to destroy it tonight from his activities or if not, then most likely tomorrow when he met with Francesco for early breakfast, he was going to destroy it by challneging him to a sword fighting duel that Francesco hated since O'Neil was the more skilled one in fencing.

Tristan sighed. He hated it that his father wasnt allowing him to speak his mind and have a say. He obediently nodded and bid his father good night as he walked to the hotel where the boys were staying. He walked up the stairs and towards his hotel room but then he saw none other than VIncenzo standing at the door waiting for him. His eyes narrowed "Isnt it past your bed time?"

Vincenzo retorted "it is certainly past yours. Your father just sent you to bed.... But I want to talk to you..."

Tristan narrowed his eyes on him as he turned the key into the lock... He then opened the door "Come in..."

Vincenzo came in and as Tristan shut the door, Tristan stood in front of Vincenzo in his personal space looking into his eyes. The boys stared each other down and then Tristan whispered darkly "Would you like to tell me what the heck you are doing in my room? You just took my sister's first kiss."

Vincenzo objected "You took my sister's first kiss... You don't see me angry at you. It was a kiss. Thats all..."

Tristan rased an eyebrow "You kissed her back... Why?"

Vincenzo replied "Ask your father..."

Tristan asked "What? Are you real?"

Vincenzo stated "Your father asked me the same question... Let's say my answer convinced him enough to let Letizia walk free. Ask him what I said..."

Tristan shook his head " You know... If you werent my girl's brother I would have punched you senseless for kissing my sister when you have no right to..."

Vincenzo retorted "You have no idea what you are talking about. You dont know what you just accused me of... One day you will realise and you will be forced to apologise to me.... I can say I would have punched you up too for touching my baby sister when she has just met you. But I wont. My sister kissed you first and your sister kissed me first... But you deserve a punch for also for speaking to me like how you do.... But I can't punch you...." He then finished the sentence in his mind "For the exact same reasons that you have.... You are my girl's brother."

Tristan replied "Anything esle you want to say or you are finished..."

Vincenzo offered his hand to Tristan "Lets put this behind us and shake on it."

Tristan looked at his hand offered to him and then took it "You know what? Lets do that." But then as he let his hand go he continued "I should be more considerate with you... After all I bet you will be quite apologetic in paintballing tomorrow. You can count on that."

Vincenzo replied " I am on your team.... Its American School Vs. Italian School."

Tristan shook his head "Well, Letizia is on the other team... She was in our school for less number of months than she was in her Italian School... Good luck protecting her... She cant smuggle pepper sprays this time. Its tight security and no where to run but... she may be allowed to smuggle some painkiller pills if she wants to... Its open season on the rebellious Marciano and you are going to watch..."

Vincenzo replied "Oh dont count on it... Andreas, the shooting maniac is on the opposite team... Good luck catching him... His grandpa is an assassin who has taught him all he knows..."