Damon was soon asleep, snoring tired. James decided not to joke anymore in fear he'll wake him up and just let him rest. He chuckled and pushed a blanket over his friend's body before leaving the bed. James opened the door and walked out. He was ready to close it when Lazaro appeared in front of him out of nowhere, scaring him.

"Jesus!"

The man yelled to himself before hearing Lazaro laugh softly. He closed the door and glared at him.

"Where's Damon?"

"He's asleep; he's been working a lot lately."

"Oh, poor him."

James nodded and turned his head. He took a step away before feeling Lazaro's arm across his stomach, stopping him from walking more. The hitman gulped and glared at Lazaro, who smiled politely.

"So, James, Deetra had mentioned that your parents are Italian, isn't that correct?"

James' neck felt dry out of a sudden as Lazaro's stare was piercing his soul. His eyes were a different colour than James', his had an ice blue hue. That's why James was finding Deetra's uncle's stare cold as ice.

"Yes, sir."

"I never got your last name."

Lazaro spoke with a heavy Italian accent and a stupid smile on his lips. He wanted to find a way to trap James, and the hitman was aware of it.

"Vitale, sir."

James answered back with a severe tone. A slight growl escaped from the Italian's lips, but he tried to hide it, not wanting to end up in conclusions quickly. Lazaro raised his eyebrow and glanced away for a sec before biting his tongue in anger.

"How did they end up in London?"

"You ask a lot of questions, uncle Lazaro."

James laughed, soon receiving the same reaction back. Lazaro's laugh was more bitter, though, than the hitman's.

"I just want to get to know you, James! You've been so long with my niece that I think it's a shame that I know nothing about you except a name and a face!"

Lazaro smiled wide as James chuckled, almost rolling his eyes.

"My father moved there with his mother when he was five."

"And what about your mother?"

"She went to London to study economics."

James answered in seconds with confidence. Lazaro rubbed his chin, glaring down and nodding slowly. He moved his arm, and soon James started walking away whistling lowly with his hands in the pockets of his dark pants.

"Do you know any stories about your family, James?"

Lazaro's question caught him off guard as he turned around and stared at him. He took a few steps closer to him.

"What kind of stories, uncle?"

"Don't you know?"

Lazaro titled his head, whispering to him. James moved his chin "no" before shrugging, acting confused. The Italian man narrowed his eyebrows, not knowing if he should believe Deetra's boyfriend or not.

"Not really. If you're referring to my father's side, my grandparents are dead, and my dad never visited Italy, so yes."

"When I was young, a team filled with rebellious teens and adults decided it would be a good idea to try and harm powerful men."

"And what happened next?"

James asked, being really into the story even if he knew the middle and ending part. Lazaro ground his pearly white teeth as flames were burning in his eyes. His fingers curled into fists as he spoke with hate.

"There was a teenager among all these people who invaded my family's mansion. He was the reason my father isn't breathing right now."

"Oh... uh, I am sorry for your loss, Lazaro...."

James turned his chin, ready to leave before Lazaro grabbed his arm with strength. He gulped and turned to look at him. The fires in his eyes seemed more extensive than before, burning everything on their way. He hadn't seen so much anger and hatred in a person before.

"I saw him shoot my father. I later found out his last name was Vitale. I'll never forget that pair of light blue eyes. His face was... quite similar to yours, you know."

"O-Oh! U-Uh...."

James pushed his palms in front of his chest as a defence before laughing awkwardly. He was sweating badly as he saw Lazaro fiddling with his fingers' rings.

"Maybe it's some kind of curse that every man who has the surname Vitale looks alike!"

"Maybe."

Lazaro growled as the young man took a step back, still giggling in awkwardness, trying to find a way to escape the situation.

"I think I should go and check Deetra! Some of her dresses are in my suitcase because they weren't fitting in hers! Women, am I right!?"

James continued laughing as Lazaro grinned back abroad. The hitman had already noticed the gun on his belt along with the pocketknife beside it. He gulped and continued starring at his eyes.

"I guess so, James. Yes, go and see your girlfriend. We'll talk later."

James nodded, rushing to Deetra, soon finding her in Luca's room along with Isabella. The boy was playing with Deetra as Isabella sat at an armchair in the corner of a room, enjoying a book. They all raised their heads, glaring at him when he stepped into the room.

"James, dear? Are you okay?"

Isabella asked, leaving the book by her side. James nodded and looked at Deetra, panting.

"Y-Yes, Mrs Isabella...! Can I talk to... miss Deetra for a second?"

"Oh, of course! You don't have to call her "miss" in here, though, James!"

Isabella smiled, winking at him as James smiled awkwardly, signing with his fingers to Deetra. She stood up and fixed her dress before following him outside and to her room. James closed the door behind and leaned against it breathing heavily and wiping away the sweat from his forehead. Deetra stood there looking at him crossing her arms, confused.

"James, darling, are you alright? You're sweating like you have a fever! Are you sick?"

"Sick!? I'm gonna be dead soon!"

The hitman started ranting to himself while holding his head between his hands and walking up and down the bedroom. Deetra narrowed her eyebrows before holding her boyfriend's shoulders and shaking them gently, wanting to make him come back to reality.

"Lazaro asked me about my last name, and I said a looot of lies!"

"What kind of lies?"

"Well, that my father moved to London with his mother when he was a small boy and that my mother went to the UK to study economics!"

Deetra saw her lover puff and rub his face distressed. She massaged his shoulders, slowly trying to calm him down before kissing his cheek gently.

"James, I am here; calm down. Where's Damon?"

"He's asleep in our bedroom...."

"Okay, okay, look -"

"And it's not just that!"

He pushed her away and continued walking around, stressing out. The woman raised her hands in the air, trying to make him talk.

"More happened?"

"The person that killed Lazaro's father was my dad! He says he remembers his face and all, and apparently, I look a lot like his parent's murderer!"

James pressed his hands together, shouting with anxiety covering his face. It was the first time that Deetra saw her partner so stressed and anxious, scared that his loved ones are in danger.

"James...."

"I messed up everything! Why couldn't I say a fake surname or something!?"

James sat down, leaning his elbows on his thighs with his head between his palms inhaling and exhaling all the time. Deetra sat by his side, rubbing his shoulder softly, not knowing what to say or do. Her boyfriend glanced at her with tears rolling down his cheeks, sobbing softly. James was barely found crying or sobbing, but this time Deetra knew it was serious. She sighed and hugged him as she felt him crush against her chest, holding onto her, crying.

"If anything happens to my family because of my stupidity, I'll die!"

"Nothing's gonna happen to your people, I reassure you, James...."

"You're not controlling Lazaro, Deetra...!"

James screamed, still crying, when the bedroom door opened abruptly. Deetra turned to see her brother standing there yawning and rubbing his eyes, still looking tired. The black circles under his eyes were visible as he growled, lifting his arms in the air.

"What's going on? What's all this noise!? James! Are you crying!?"

Deetra nodded as James pulled away, hiding his face and wiping away his tears.

"What happened!?"

"Lazaro learned James' surname, and James said a bunch of lies about his family because apparently, his father killed Lazaro's father."

"Oh. That's a bit serious, mate...."

Damon mumbled under his breath while yawning. He wanted to go back to bed and sleep more.

"W-What am I gonna do!? He will murder my father in cold blood with his bare hands!"

"Oh, shut up, I won't let him do it, idiot."

Damon said back as Deetra spoke.

"I said the same!"

"Are you for real going to hold back Lazaro for me, mate!?"

The hitman continued sobbing standing up and glaring at Damon with puppy eyes. Damon growled and rolled his eyes before nodding. An abroad smile took over James' lips as he cheered, opening his arms for a hug.

He rushed to his friend and hugged him with all his strength, clenching his body between his strong arms. Damon groaned in pain, trying to push him away.

"James, dammit!"

"I-I'm sorry! I just got thrilled!"

He pulled away, clearing his neck with a grin on his face. The drug baron sighed and tried to walk away only to find Lazaro waiting at the room entrance. He jumped back with a stupid smirk in fear he had heard what they were talking about.

"H-Hello, uncle Lazaro!"

Damon stuttered as Deetra's and James' eyes were on the old man now. They gulped and looked at each other for a split second, thinking they had fucked up everything.

"I see you're awake, Damon. That's amazing. Oh, and James' here too!"

The man smiled, glaring at James as James nodded and looked at his phone.

"The meeting will be tomorrow, so today is a free day, and I was wondering, Deetra, if I can take your boyfriend away for the night."

Lazaro smirked as Deetra laughed, mumbling, "yes, sure". James gulped and glanced at Damon for a few seconds fearing what Lazaro had in mind.

"I was thinking of taking my nephew and my niece's lovely boyfriend to the casino. What do you say, boys?"

Lazaro starred at Damon for a bit and then at James with his hands in the pockets of his pants. Damon's eyes widened, and his face shined when he heard the word "casino". On the other hand, James chuckled and rolled his eyes before looking away. He wanted to spend the night with his girlfriend as the following days he will be acting as a bodyguard towards her.

"Yes, let's do it!"

Damon shouted in excitement as Lazaro laughed before turning to James with a half-disgusted glare.

"What are you saying, James?"

"Yeah, why not...."

He shrugged with a small smile. Lazaro laughed, panting both of their shoulders before exiting the bedroom. He turned around and glared at both of them.

"We'll leave at nine pm. You two better be ready!"

Lazaro's steps echoed as he walked away from them. Damon clapped his hands together with a big smile like a small child while James puffed.

"It's been a while since I went to a casino!"

"I don't like casinos...."

James groaned, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms across his chest. Damon raised his eyebrow and looked at him, confused.

"Why?"

"The smell of alcohol and tobacco and all this gambling around - I hate it!"

"Why are you coming along then?"

Damon question as James giggled before rubbing his face. He wasn't as sweaty as before. The sweat on his forehead was shining under the room's lights, though.

"I need to impress someone's uncle before he chops off my head...!"

Deetra laughed and leaned back against the wall staring at her boyfriend with a grin.