Livia Ximena Di Vittorio

"Keep your thumb on the outside of your hand," I instruct staring at the figure who is obliterating the punching bag with a ferocity I haven't seen many use. "You don't want to break your thumb; it's a huge inconvenience to daily life."

"You've broken your thumb before?" There was amusement in his tone as he stepped back from the bag and looked at me. Romeo's hair was soaking with sweat and his muscles looked tight. His hands weren't wrapped properly so his knuckles were split. I grab his t-shirt and lead him to sit on a bench and grab the first-aid kit. I start adding disinfectant to the wound and wrapping his hands in bandages, split knuckles ached but an affected wound was so much worse.

"I've broken a lot of bones before, but my thumb I broke once and I never risked it again, it took so long to heal and when you hurt your hand, you are so limited on what you can do with it." After I finish bandaging his hand, I wrap it. "Look here, wrap it like this so when you punch the bag you don't tear your knuckles."

"Your knuckles look like you don't wrap them." Romeo laughs softly. I glance at my hand and see all the white lines that are crossed over one another many times from all the times that it's healed, and then I've gone out and split them again.

"Those aren't from a punching bag, Rome." I laugh. "In the real world, when you want to punch someone, then you don't normally have the time to go and wrap your hands."

"Have you gotten into a lot of fights, Liv?" Romeo asks, amused.

"Honestly, since I've left high school, they have significantly decreased if you must know." I shake my head. Who knew that I would get into more fights with angry teenagers than actual criminals who I encounter on a weekly basis? "Dad used to get so fed up with Vincenzo and me when we were in school together, we were in one fight a week on the minimum. I think he's just glad he only had Allegra and Luciano in school since they don't cause a tenth of the ruckus we did."

"They don't seem like the type to be getting involved in fights." Romeo agreed. He looked like he wanted to ask me something but was scared to pry, but with the look I gave him, he spat it out. "What's the deal with you and Vincenzo?"

"What do you mean?" Truthfully, my relationship with my step-brother is complicated. Not that many people realise it.

"I think you know what I mean," Romeo scoffs. He leans back in his seat and I roll my eyes but take a seat opposite him. Who knew going to the gym at two in the morning would result in a heart-to-heart with a biological brother I had just met?

"Enzo is my brother, by everything but blood. I've known him since I was four and he was six. Our childhood was good. I think I was happy to not be an only child and have children around me and Enzo liked that I was up for anything, unlike Allegra, who felt so much younger and couldn't keep up with him. We both loved when Luciano came into the picture. He finally got a brother, and I got a baby, someone to protect because I still wasn't close to Allegra. Vincenzo and I were playmates more than anything; he was closer with Uncle Massimo's son, Diego, if you remember him. And unlike me who always knew the life I was born in, Vincenzo and Allegra, and even Luciano weren't told about the mafia until just after their thirteenth birthday."

"Wait why?" Romeo interrupts my story with curiosity.

"There are laws in a mafia as I've mentioned before. That includes training heirs, who will be hairs, what people can and can't do and all of that. Because Vincenzo and Allegra aren't my father's blood children they aren't permitted to learn about it before their teens, Luciano could have been raised with the knowledge but Carina was against it and my father agreed since he didn't have to train Luciano as heir since he had me."

"Okay, that makes sense." Romeo agreed.

"Well, safe to say Vincenzo was a little hurt to find out I knew even though I was only eleven, yet it was kept a secret from him. We drew closer while he was training to work in the business and were still pretty close as we work together all the time, but there is still one issue." I reply. Romeo is taking in my words with genuine curiosity, no malice is in his expression.

"He is best friends with our cousin, Diego," I tell him with a shrug.

"Why is that an issue?" Romeo questions.

"Because Diego has been vying for my job forever." I roll my eyes. "I'm probably not supposed to tell you this, but he thinks he's more suitable since he's the oldest male born that was raised here. keywords being older and male."

"That's absurd. Anyone with eyes can tell you're better suited for the job than he is. You are extremely hardworking and honestly, you terrify me so that's perfect for your position."|

That makes me roll my eyes, but a laugh escapes me. "I scare you, Rome. Why?"

"You just do. It isn't like I'm scared to interact with you, but just because I can tell by the way you hold yourself and just observe and interact with certain situations. You're a scary person to some people, Livia."

"But not to you," I tell him truthfully. "As you've probably heard around here, family is everything around here."

"I know you're not a threat to me." He says, and I can hear the truth in his words, making me feel satisfied. Romeo was the most comfortable here, but that didn't mean I was certain he was as settled down as he looked. He then scoffs, looking lost in his thoughts. "I don't think I can say the same for Dante, though."

"Unless Dante betrays this family, then I won't be a danger to him. I have no interest in hurting him, you or the twins."

"Do you think he wants to betray you?" He asks thoughtfully. "He's never behaved like this, Liv. I don't even know what's happening to him anymore."

"Dante might be ballsy and doesn't think before he acts, but he is one of the most loyal people I have ever seen, and that is a massive compliment. But unfortunately, his loyalty lies in the hands of your mother, who isn't the best person to hold it, but there isn't anything I can do about it." I tell Romeo, truthfully I held Dante in high regard. He was a worthy opponent, not someone like Diego who is all bark and no bite. They aren't much fun to play with. "But I don't think your brother intends to go against me. He's just scared."

"Yeah, so scared that he just can't keep his mouth shut," Romeo grumbles, and I shake my head in exasperation.

Honestly, I was tired of people wanting to discuss Dante with me; I knew what was going on and what I was going to do about it, but there were only two people I had discussed it with. And one was now safely on Russian soil, not due to return anytime soon.

"Be easier on your brother, Rome. You don't know what's going on in his head."

"And you do?" Romeo scoffs and I ignore him, my attention now on my phone.

"Well, this has been nice and all, but I need to get back to work." I click my phone off, feeling a little grumpy. I had come in here for a quick workout but got distracted and didn't have the time anymore.

"It's two o'clock in the morning, Livia. You disappeared after you talked to us and haven't been home for two days." Romeo looked at me worriedly. A small smile crept onto my face. This had been the first time he had referred to the estate as home even if he hadn't meant it."

"There is no rest for the wicked, Romeo." I tease. "I'm not doing much. I just need to meet Ricardo to get some papers. I'll probably chill at his penthouse for a bit." I pause. I knew I wasn't doing much and Rico wouldn't care if I brought Romeo with me, after all, he had mentioned 'wanting to get to know his new cousins' in his words. "You can come if you'd like to. It'll be boring though and I might sleep over there since it is late and I don't want to drive back from the city."

"Will that be fine with him?" Romeo looked cautious.

"Of course, I wouldn't have invited you if it wasn't." Still a little wary, Romeo followed me out of the gym. I wait until the rows of lights had switched off before leading him to my car.

Ready to start the second half of my night.

First of all, this book has hit 100k reads like honestly that's insane. I don't even know how to thank you for all the love this book has received.

Romeo and Livia's bond is starting to turn out so cute, and if you've read my other book Perilous Intelligence they remind me so much of Auriella and Grayson.

I kind of have half an idea on where this book is headed but I also have no idea at the same time due to me changing things all the time just to make life harder for myself.

Anyway thank you for reading, I appreciate every single one of you. Please vote and comment and I'll see you next chapter

Ara <3