Francesca POV

  I wake up to a blinding light. With a groan, I lift myself up with my elbows. My whole body hurts.

"God, it's feels like I got hit by a truck." I mumble, rubbing my overheated body.

"That's understandable, amore." The familiar deep voice that brings pleasured shivers to my spine talks.

I turn my head around to see Vincenzo sitting in a chair by the bed I'm in. His lips are pulled into a small smile. He holds his a thick book in his hands.

He looks effortlessly sexy. While I probably look worse than a hairless rat.

"Go away." I groan, hiding my face in the fluffy pillow. "I look like shit, I know it." My brain gets the best of me. Not a scratch is on his perfect face. I however, know I carry a generous amount.

"No." I feel his hands wrap around my waist. He twists me around and picks me up like I weigh nothing. I'm now sitting in his lap.

"You look breathtakingly gorgeous as always."

"The lies you tell." I mutter, poking his sold chest with my finger.

We stay in this intimate position for a couple of silent minutes. The comfortable silence wraps around the room. That's until my curiosity gets the best of me.

"What happened after I passed out?" My voice comes out muffled, considering my face is smashed against his chest. I have no plans to move from this position.

His breath hitches for a moment before chuckling. "A lot." I snuggle more into his warm embrace. His lovely mouthwatering smell was keeping me at peace.

I wait patiently for him to explain all that's happened. By the time he is done, I'm fucking astonished.

"Maple!?" My mouth pops open, bound to catch a few flies. "We are talking about the same innocent Maple, right? The one who cried a few weeks again because she accidentally stepped on a lady bug?"

Vincenzo chuckles, a deep melodic boom. His voice makes my toes curl. I missed him so much.

"Yes, amore." He sighs, rubbing comforting circles on my lower back. "Ria let her go before she told us anything. Apparently, Dominick held her grandma hostage. He blackmailed her into be an informant."

What an asshole. That's just another reason why I hope Dominick rots in the fiery pits of hell.

"I'm sort of glad Maple got away." I admit, tilting my head up to see Vincenzo's clenched jaw."

"Why's that?"

My tongue swipes over my parched lips as I go deep into thought. As much as I'm upset with Maple, I have to admit, I fucked up too. I kept secrets too.

I kept that stupid letter Dominick wrote me about my parents. I kept it from Vincenzo even though all he wanted to do was help me.

"Dominick is a manipulative bastard. If your loved-one's life was threatened, wouldn't you do anything to say them?" The words leave my parted lips, as soft as a whisper.

I feel Vincenzo's arms tense, his eyes flickering down to me. Those stormy grey eyes, holding mysteries that have been yet to been solved.

"Yeah." He mumbles, locking eyes with me. "I guess I would."

The cumbersome silence after he answers my rhetorical question makes my cheeks warm.

Vincenzo told me I've been out like a light for two days straight. Most of my wounds that Dominick and his gang caused me were not fatal.

"France?" Vincenzo mumbles the nickname he gave me a while back. Each time he says it, it seems to grow on me more and more. I hum in response, not ready to break the silence.

"Why didn't you tell me about all of this? I could have helped you. You didn't have to go through this all that alone. The letter from the red sword, avenging your parents death. I could have helped you."

I let his words sink in. I've always been alone. Sure, I had Gianni who took me in and trained me, before he betrayed me. However, I've never needed anyone. I never had emotional support or the love that was lost after my mom and dad died.

"I-I'm not sure, but I should have told you." I sigh in defeat, knowing a lot could have been avoided. We could have been prepared for that Russian attack.

Vincenzo starts to speak but gets interrupted by the door slamming open. A bruised but shit-eating-grin Lorenzo and a sad looking Ria walk in.

"Hey, no fair! I didn't get any cuddles when I almost died!" Lorenzo playfully scowls, looking directly at his brother.

I'm glad Lorenzo is okay. He worried me to death after taking that fall. He had a cast on his leg and a couple bruises on his face, yet his gleeful personality barley made me notice.

"Shut up and hand me that pain killer bottle." Vincenzo growls, his hand starting to stroke my hair.

Lorenzo hobbles on his crutches, grabbing the white bottle of pain medicine. With a loud grunt, he tosses them in the air and Vinny easily catches them.

Vinny grabs two from the bottle and hands them to me. "Can you swallow dry? Will get you some water and food in a couple minutes."

I smirk, popping the small pills in my mouth with ease. "Of course I can."

After a little while of catching up with Ria and Lorenzo. A big greasy plate of bacon, eggs and sausage is delivered to my room. Or should I say Vincenzo's room.

Vincenzo and Lorenzo excuse themselves with the talk of work. Ria is about to leave, but I stop her.

"Ria. Can we talk a minute?"

She gives me a smile that doesn't quite reach her brown eyes. "Sure."

I pop a piece of bacon in my mouth, savoring the flavorful meat. "How are you holding up? I know this must be really hard for you."

Ria sighs, pushing back her messy hair. I scoot over, offering her to lay beside me.

"I can't believe Maple lied to us all." She lays her head on my shoulder and sobs. "She almost got you and my brother killed. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have trusted her!"

I sit down my plate on the nightstand and immediately envelop Ria in a hug. "Stop that. It's not your fault. How could you have known?"

"I-I just love her so much."

Ria wipes away her tears, her face now expressionless. "I fucking love her and want more than anything to be with her, but I can't."

"Why not? I've heard the story from Vincenzo, but I have a feeling there is more. I don't think Maple would have betrayed us for no reason." My curiosity gets the best of me. Maybe I should stay out of her business, but I know for a fact Lorenzo and Vincenzo are talking about finding Maple. I don't want to see her die yet.

She humorously chuckles. Her hands clenching the fabric of my shirt. "That asshole Dominick took hostage of her grandma. Maple being the stupidly sweet natured women she is, she agreed to become an informant to save her grandma."

I let the news soak in. She was trying to save her family. Probably her only family, I'm guessing. I've never heard her mention parents of siblings.

My thumbs wipe away the tears that are still free falling form Ria's face. "Im so sorry this happened to you."

It's silent between us for a few minutes. Her uneven breathing and soft little sobs suddenly stop.

"I don't want to see her dead, Francesca. I need her in my life. I'm a selfish person for wanting her still. She almost killed the people I love for fucks sake."

"Hey!" My voice is stern as I take her face in my hands. Her eyes are swollen and puffy from crying so much. She looks completely miserable and it breaks my heart. "You're not selfish, and no matter what you do...I will continue to support you."

She sniffles and takes a deep breath. Ria breathes in and out slowly before biting her bottom lip.

"I really want to get Maple back. I don't think she will survive on her own."

I sit up and nod at her words. I pay her back before picking up my plate once again. "Then go for it."

I take a bite of the buttery eggs while Ria gives me a look. She seems to think I'm insane. As if I've grown two heads.

"What do you mean, go for it." She makes air quotes with her fingers. "Vincenzo will eat me alive if I show back up with Maple."

"Well...." I trail off, continuing to munch on my now cold bacon. "Will cross that road when we get there. For now, go save your girl."

She gasps, pulling me into a bone crushing hug. "Thank you, Francesca."