Rick's POV

It was a disaster. My father had probably seen it. Moreover, now everyone knew I was here. Shit!

"It is a disaster. All my efforts to run away went to the dustbin. Fuck it!" I commented, frustrated.                 

"What? Are you just thinking about yourself and your mysterious fears? From whom are you hiding Rick? It should be me who has to freak out. My father, Jack and his father... My life is going to ruin, but you just think about yourself and afraid of unwanted attention," she shouted as her eyes welled up.

I sighed and gave her an apologetic look. "I am sorry, amore mio," I said regretfully, approaching her, and pulled her into my arms. Firstly, she tried to push me away, but I didn't let her, and I hugged her tightly, placing a soft kiss on her hair. "I... Nevermind! I just don't want our situation to get worse for us," I added sadly, stroking her silky hair, still holding her in my arms.

"What might happen worse than my family, that dumbass Jack and his family trying to separate us? My father knows you, Rick," she asked, puzzled as she pulled back and frowned.

... My father demanding me to go back to Sicily. Or.... the enemies who won't miss the opportunity that I am here alone.

I breathed deeply.  "Yes, you are right," I mumbled and ran my hand through my hair, lost in my thoughts.

After Vanessa had left, I went to work. There was going to be a private party at Stardust; so my boss ordered the employees to come early to prepare everything for the event.

When I left the apartment building, three men in black suits approached me. I remembered one of them; it was Vanessa's father's henchman, Tyler.

"You are coming with us," he demanded firmly and gestured to the other two men to bring me to the black SUV waiting in front of my apartment building.

"Don't touch me," I stated in an authoritative tone, giving them a death glare, and walked towards the car.

I was gritting my teeth in frustration while the driver was driving somewhere I didn't know.

"Get out!" Tyler demanded as the car stopped.

I gritted my teeth angrily and got out of the car. I looked around, trying to find out where they brought me. There was just an abandoned warehouse here.

When they wanted to drag me towards the warehouse, I pulled my arms away, giving them a murderous glare, and went towards the entrance.

"Well, well, well." Vanessa's father, Vincent gave me an arrogant smirk as we approached him. "Who are you Rick Adams?" he asked firmly, placing his hand in his pocket while two armed men were standing behind him.

"Rick Adams as you said yourself," I replied nonchalantly.

Vincent raised his eyebrow. "Don't try to fool me, boy!" he warned me, giving me a death glare. "You don't have any past. Two years ago a man named Rick Adams suddenly appeared. Nothing more. No information about your family, education and so on. Who are you?" he asked in a bossy tone, narrowing his eyebrows.

"Believe me you wouldn't want to know," I answered arrogantly and gave him a cocky look.

His jaw clenched instantly, and he gave me a black look. "How dare you, you fucking bastard!" he exclaimed, approaching me while his men grabbed my arms. "Tell me! Who has sent you to seduce my daughter?" Vincent asked between gritted teeth.

"No one," I replied firmly, looking him in the eyes, showing him that I wasn't afraid of him. "I love Vanessa," I confessed confidently.

He burst out laughing and suddenly punched me in the face.

"My daughter is engaged. Even if she wasn't, I wouldn't let some bartender to fool around with my daughter. Especially you. Someone without any past. A man who doesn't exist," he declared, grabbing my collar.

"Let go of me!" I snapped angrily, trying to pull my arms away, but the men didn't let me.

"Tell me! Who are you?" Vincent asked in an authoritative tone, emphasizing each word, and hit my stomach.

When he pulled his gun and pointed it at me, we heard police sirens.

"Fuck!" he cursed furiously and hid his gun instantly. "We are leaving," he told his men in panic.

When they wanted to drag me with them, I kicked one of them, catching him off guard. Then I punched the other man who was holding me while the others were running towards the back door.

"Leave the bastard! We know where he lives." Vincent ordered before disappearing in the darkness.

The man pushed me back roughly and kicked my stomach when I grabbed his arm for not letting him run away. Then both of them followed his boss.

I grimaced, resting my hand on my stomach, and got up barely. Then I rushed towards the door where Vincent and their men went before the police saw me here.

***

When I walked into my apartment and switched on the lights, I saw my father sitting in the armchair in my living room. I heaved a loud sigh in annoyance and walked towards him slowly.

He stood up and shook his head, looking at my face. "You got yourself into mess again," he commented, grabbing my chin, and looked at my bleeding lips.

"Dad!" I pulled my head back and walked towards the window.

My father sighed. "I will not let anything happen to my other son too," my father stated firmly.

I closed my eyes as grief filled my heart. He rested his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently.

"I don't need your help. I will handle it myself," I said, determined.

"It seems when you ran away, you forgot how the families like us gets rid of their problems. You can't stand against them like a random guy," he commented firmly.

"Dad, I don't need your intervention. This random guy can handle his problem himself," I stated confidently.

He grabbed my arm angrily and rolled up my sleeve. Then he pointed to my tattoo and stated in an authoritative tone. "Look at it! You aren't a random guy, Riccardo! You are my heir. You are a Castelli."

My father, Antonio Castelli was the most powerful and intimidating man in Sicily. He was a well-known businessman and the leader of the most powerful mafia in the world. This tattoo was the emblem of the mafia he headed. All our men had a skull with wings tattoo, but I, my brother and father had a crown on top of the skull, showing we were the Castellis, distinguishing us from our henchmen.

"I will not take over your business, Dad," I stated firmly and pulled my arm away.

My father raised his eyebrow, astonished. "Why? You were so eager to do it before. You even got angry when I and your brother tried to keep you away from... some events."

I pursed my lips together, averting my gaze as pain gripped my chest. "It was in the past. I don't want anything to do with that life anymore. I don't want anyone else suffer because of me. Every time I close my eyes, that day appears in front of me. Because of my recklessness and hotheadedness, he..." I ran my hand through my hair angrily without finishing my sentence as my eyes welled up.

Flashback

"Did you do what I told you?" I asked Mario, my best friend, as he walked into my room.

"Yes, the guys are waiting for us a far away from the mansion," he replied firmly.

"Great! That bastard will understand that he shouldn't have to mess up with the Castellis," I stated devilishly and tucked my gun into my waistband from behind.

Suddenly, the door opened and my brother walked into my room.

"Where are you going, Riccardo?" Domenico asked me in an authoritative tone while resting his hand in his pocket.

"Umm... Mario and I are going to have fun tonight. There is a party," I lied and gave him a slight smile.

He frowned and approached me while looking me in the eyes.

"You are lying. I know what you planned. You won't go anywhere," he stated firmly.

"Dome..."

"Riccardo, I won't repeat. You aren't going anywhere. It could be a trap," he warned me.

"I am not a child, Nico. I know what I am going to do. Don't intervene," I said, annoyed. I was so bored with my father and brother acting like I was a child.

"Then stop acting like a child," Domenico stated angrily. "If you won't me to inform my father, forget what you planned," he added in a bossy tone and turned toward Mario. "Leave now. You aren't going anywhere."

"But..." Mario mumbled and looked at me.

"I told you leave now. Did you forget who I am?" My brother told Mario, giving him an intimidating look.

Mario bit his lower lip nervously and nodded before leaving my room quickly.

"Domenico!" I exclaimed, irritated and clenched my fist.

***

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