There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.

-Malcolm X

Enzo Fiorenza's POV

The ride back home was smooth and eventful.

Home? I smiled at the irony. And since when did I thought of Ragusa as my home? For as long as I remember I never thought of that place as my home when I did everything that I can to leave that place that held so many bitter memories of my parents for good since I turned eighteen.

So why the hell I suddenly thought of it as home. There was something wrong with my brain since the helicopter crash.

Right now, I was sitting comfortably—or at least, trying to seat comfortably in Nikos Pallis' private plane as we head to Sicily. They have been good companions to me since the beginning of this trip when they fetch me to Willow's ranch...

What the freaking hell... My heart constricted with pain upon remembering that pretty blonde southern girl who is living in North Carolina. I never meant to hurt her like that...I rubbed my face with my palms due to frustration as I stared at the window looking at the ocean below.

I did not regret seducing her that night before but my only remorse was the fact that I did not remember myself at the time and my realization after my memories came back to me like a series of thunderstorms after our mind-blowing sex was the fact that I cannot give what she deserves to a man.

She deserved a man who will take good care of her and help her managing her ranch and I am not that man. I don't do commitments and certainly, I don't do family. That set-up may work with my cousins and to my best friend Rafe but not for me.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed my cousin, Laila looking at me with worry in her eyes sitting across to me next to her husband. Growing up, I was not closed to her since I favored the company of her mischievous twin sister, Leila. But as we hit teenaged years I started to confide to her about my problems and my desire to leave Ragusa for good. She was also good at keeping secrets.

I gave her a reassuring smile but I knew deep inside she's not buying it for the concern in her eyes was still there. I was really glad that they didn't bombard me with questions the moment I settle inside the plane. They just remain silent or having small conversations with themselves and leave me alone with my thoughts.

"What?" I asked lightly. Giving them the impression that I was fine and there's nothing to worry about and hopefully they would leave me in peace and let my dark thoughts eat me throughout the journey back home...damn it...it wasn't home it's Ragusa.

"Why didn't you contact and inform us that you are okay? Do you know how much Patri worries about your safety?" Typical of Laila to make you feel like a complete ass without her realizing it.

I did everything that I can not roll my eyes at her. My sweet-natured cousin only wants the best for everyone. It surprised me when I learned that she married this powerful Greek man when I knew in the past she has a thing for Rafe.

Looking at them now you could say that they have nothing in common, one was hard and ruthless while the other one was sweet and caring. But I guess that's how they work out on their marriage right? Accepting each other's flaws...

I cursed at myself silently. And since when did I become a love expert? When this plane landed I will come to the hospital directly and have my brain check by the expert since it seems to me that there was something wrong with it.

When I realized that I haven't answered her question and my cousin was waiting for a response from me so I force myself to speak up. "I told you I lost my memories from the accident I only remember everything last night after..."

"After...?" Laila prodded when I trail off.

"Nothing." I shook my head with a slight smile on my face. There's no way in hell I would share how I regain my memories after that mind-blowing sex I have with that feisty southern girl. I shifted in my position banishing the images on my head the last thing I want is an unwanted erection when we landed at Ragusa.

"And here I was thinking that the reason why you didn't bother to call your family is that you are enjoying the simple life in the farmstead with that pretty cowgirl." Nikos joined the conversation with a knowing smile on his face.

I gritted my teeth while giving him a hard look. Trust him to be an ass right this moment I knew he was just teasing me but it irks me to remember Willow and her ranch. There was an unexplainable pain in my chest that I don't understand.

"Yeah, as if," I answered in a monotone. Not giving an inch of emotion is a trait that I learned in the army. One must think and act like a robot following your superiors' command without a question removing any emotion in my heart making it a system that only pumps blood through my body and nothing more that's how I live my life before.

So now why the hell it hurts like it's broken or as if someone put a dagger in it. The ache in my chest was worse than the time they treated my wounds on the battlefield without anesthesia.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Nikos busy giving me a sardonic smile as if reading the thoughts inside my head. "What?"

"Nothing," he replied, but the smile was still fixed on his damn face. Oh, how badly I want to remove it with my fist right now. I don't care if this was his damn plane I will trash the inch of his life so he would realize I am not pining for Willow or something.

Jesus. Can you hear yourself, Enzo? What's wrong with you? I demanded to myself silently. Do you hear yourself spouting nonsense like a fool? Sex with a girl would not change the way you view your life, you bastard. Get a life.

Now I was fully convinced that I was crazy and that accident and my stay at that ranch made me more stupid than I already have with having such thought now inside my head. 

Then I realized that Nikos was still looking at me with a secretive smile on his face as if he was enjoying a private joke for my benefit. "What?" I repeated, starting to get irritated with this plane ride. "Can you just spill whatever you are about to say than just looking at me like I am plain stupid?"

"I don't know what you mean."

I grunted giving him a dark look but the man merely grin at me as if telling me he's been here than that kind of thing. I saw Laila elbowed her husband. "Stop baiting Enzo, dear. He's been through a lot lately."

He gave his wife an affectionate smile while I was rewarded with those goading smirks. "Yes, I can tell, agape mou. He's been through a lot lately. Poor him."

I glared at him darkly. "And what does it mean, again? Care to enlighten me, Pallis?"

"It means that..." He trailed off his sentence and stared at me with amusement in his icy blue eyes. "...nope. I will not say it. It will be fun if you discover it yourself."

I cursed at him but the bastard merely shrugged casually while Laila only shook her head in resignation. Before this plane lands, I promised myself. I will reward myself with a straight punch in his annoying face.

"Rest now," The Greek bastard cheerfully stated, his eyes dance with delight at the thought. "Once we arrive in Ragusa expect a teary-eyed reunion from your beloved Cesare since the Fiorenza heir is finally home."

And that was the problem, wasn't it? For all my life I was labeled nothing more than the Fiorenza heir that's one of the reasons why I choose a different career path and find my true identity. I am more than just a Fiorenza heir, damn it.

I eyed the man sitting across to me who never stop giving me verbal jabs since this conversation started it's time for me to shot back and what better way to do that than prick his damn ego. I gave him a condensing stare. "I like Rafe more to be Laila's husband."

The changed in his was instant when I saw the way his eyes darkened and become deadly in my direction. "Dare you to say that again and you will have your last breath in my bare hands."

"Why don't you try?"

"Oh, I bet I will." He promised and then he gave an evil smile. "Oh, you don't have any idea what awaits you in Ragusa, Enzo Fiorenza."

I knew he was just playing with me but I couldn't help but to feel slightly worried—just a bit since deep inside me somehow knew what kind of fate is waiting for me in Ragusa. I just pointedly ignore him throughout the journey and stared sightlessly at my plane window.

*********

It was already night when we arrived in Ragusa and as expected the welcome committee that was waiting for us at the airport was out of this world. Why does Cesare like to create such embarrassing scenes from the people at the airport? They were probably thinking that we're some sort of a member of the mafia community with this convoy.

When a few moments later I finally saw the imposing castle at the top of the hill with a sense of dread inside me as we took the private road that leads us to the palace. But my mind was still wandering back to the lush green meadows in the ranch in North Carolina and how peaceful I felt with those short days I spent there.

The motorcade finally pulled in front of the imposing citadel the place where I stay when I was on vacation in the army.

Before we even had the chance to ring the doorbell the double heavy wooden door they were magically open wide and Leila was there to greet us. "About time you return home, cousin."

I gave her a big fake smile. "It's not my idea to return here."

"But this is where you belong."

"Nope."

"Oh, it is. Trust me." She gave me a mischievous smile, as she eyed me from head to toe. "I'm surprised to see you in one piece and alive. Do you think Cesare will take off his eyes from you again after your running away stunt you pulled in?"

I scowled in her direction while Laila and Nikos watch from the side-line with amusement on their faces. "Nobody can keep me from leaving this place. I repeat nobody."

"Want to bet?" Leila merely raised an eyebrow in my direction that made me grind my teeth together. I will not let their meddlesome attitude affect me. I knew how to control my emotion like a switch I can turn them off and on according to my will. I mastered this trait before and I will not let my rebellious cousin make me reassess my confidence.

"Nobody will leave this place until I say so." The booming voice of Cesare sounded on the top of the grand staircase and we all turn around to face him with a collective expression on our faces. But the way my blood runs cold in my veins at his sudden announcement made the most potent feeling I have had in a long time.

"Uncle." I greeted coolly, brushing off the uneasiness that runs down my spine.

"Welcome home, Vicenzo."