Leo placed the box on the nightstand and stood up from his position. Anna's eyes followed him up. "Take a rest. I have to go now. I'll see you later, Mio Coure." 

After spending a good hour of relaxing, Rossanne came running to her room. 

"Anna!" 

"Rossanne dear, come here." Anna squealed and gestured her to come and join her on the bed. "How are you dear?"

"I'm fine. I heard that you've been injured and that you'll be staying here for the weekend."

"Yes! But who told you about it?"

"Nicolo."

"Are you alright now?" Rossanne asked as she glanced over Anna's shoulder.

"I'm totally fine now."

"I'm happy that you're okay and I'm very happy that you're staying here for the weekend. Oh! I forgot to tell you. Actually I came here to call you. Zia was asking for you." Rossanne informed. Both Anna and Rossanne got off from the bed and strolled out. Rossanne led her to the dining hall. Anna scanned around the dining hall and spotted Severina at the far corner end of the bed.

"Zia!" Anna exclaimed playfully. 

"Don't call me that, Anna. You're making me feel old." Severina smiled and said glancing at her. 

"Isn't it too late for dinner now?" Anna pointed out quietly as she took held Rossanne's tiny hand onto hers and strolled towards Severina.

"I know right! This is my third time setting up the table." She chuckled softly. "We waited for Nicolo's return but the situation came up. And now they all rushed out for some works. I don't even know when they'll return." She sighed. 

"Where did they go?" Anna asked.

"Somewhere only they know." She shrugged off with an answer. 

"Aren't you worry about your sons?" Anna couldn't help but ask. "I mean..."

"Of course I get worried about them. I'm their mother." She interrupted and said softly. "But it's not a new thing though. It's like a duty for me to worry and wait for them. And they always return and will always return because they know that their mother is waiting for them, always." She continued and smiled at Anna. "Rossanne, go and call your brother for dinner."

"I called him already but he said that he'll have with Fratelli when they come," Rossanne replied and pouted.

Anna's eyes drifted towards the kitchen when she saw a lady coming out from it. The lady was tall and amazingly beautiful. Slim figure and face were quite similar to Severina.

"Anna, she's Avery. Rossanne's mother." Severina introduced her to Anna.

"Hello ma'am, I'm Anna. Nice to meet you." Anna greeted her genuinely.

"Oh dear, call me Avery. Nice to meet you too. You are so beautiful Anna." Avery complimented her as she gently runs her hand on Anna's cheek. 

"I've heard lots about you. Thank you for saving my families life." 

"Umm—it's okay. By the way, are you both sisters? Because you both resembles so much to each other. 

"She's my sister-in-law," Severina answered amusedly.

"Both of you are just so beautiful and flawless." Anna couldn't help but compliment them. They don't look like the mother four and two.

"Thank you very much, dear." Severina smiled. "You, yourself are so beautiful and flawless or might I add, the most beautiful girl I've seen in my whole life."

"No wonders, my nephews are so fond of you," Avery said in a bright smile.

Soon Marcus De Luca rolled in inside the dining hall and his eyes directly fell on Anna. "Who is this lovely girl here?" He asked. 

Anna turned around and saw the Don on the wheelchair. Marcus smiled at her and she smiled him back.

"Hello Sir, I'm Anastasia Williams." She introduced and bowed down courtly. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing better. So you are the girl who saves my life. I have always wanted to invite you over and thank you properly and personally. Thank you very much for saving me and my grandson, dear." Marcus rolled towards her. "How's your shoulder now?"

"It's fine now, Sir. Severina had treated me well enough." She answered glancing at Severina.

"Good to hear, make yourself comfortable, dear." He said and Anna nodded at him. Then he turned his gazed towards Severina and said, "They'll be here in a minute." He said and right on cue, the gentlemen strolled inside the dining hall. 

"Nonno! I see you've already met Anna." Nicolo said as he strolled in. 

"Yes, I did. She's as beautiful as how you've described her."

"Anna! I'm back." Nicolo came beside her and grinned at her. She couldn't help but chuckle at his innocent baby-like acting. "How're you feeling now."

"I'm doing great."

"Giving so much importance to Anna, your mother is still alive, Nicolo." Severina raised an eyebrow at him, a smile of amusement playing on her lips. "Okay now, the dinner is all set. Settle down, everyone."

"Go and call Dino for dinner." She gestured to one of the maids before looking at Anna. "Anna join us." She offered.

"Oh no, that's—" Anna's voice stopped mid-air when a hand took her by her wrist and dragged. Leo placed her gently on a chair and then he settled beside her.

"Sometimes Learn to say 'yes'." He jerked an eyebrow at her giving her a smirked.

"But I already had my dinner." 

"It's not a crime to have twice." 

"Anna, let's eat together," Severina said softly.

"Okay, just a little," Anna said and her eyes landed on the boy kid who just entered the dining hall. He went and settled between Roberto and Alesso. And opposite to her. "Okay, now everyone is here. Let's hold hand and pray." Severina said and everyone held each other hand and rested on the table. Anna held Nicolo's hand who was on her right and to her left was Leo. He stretched his hand outward towards Anna. As Anna was about to place her hand onto his, he bent down closer to her.

"Think twice before keeping yours onto mine. Because If you do, I'm never letting go of you." He whispered. 

 "Do you think I'll listen to you?" Anna smirked and whispered back at him.

"Try me!" he deadpanned.

"Ah, What is going on between you two?" Alesso asked darting between them.

"Anna, are you alright?" Severina asked.

"Yup, we're fine," Leo answered as he held Anna's hand. They did a short silent prayer and Severina did the closing with an 'Amen'. 

After the prayer, they begin their dinner. Everyone was enjoying their dinners with two hands except Leo and Anna. Leo was still holding onto her hand. Anna tried her best to escape but the gripped only get tighter but firm.

"Son, is your right hand alright?" Antonio asked looking at Leo and he nodded at his father. "Then why are you eating with your left hand?"

"Because they're still holding hands." Dino stood between them and held their hands up, showing to the others. Leo quickly removed his hand away and his hand reached for his hair and slide through. Everyone at the table looked at them amusedly. 

"Hi! I'm Dinotteo. You can call me Dino." He introduced himself to Anna in a huge grin.

"Hello Dino, I'm Anastasia. You can call me Anna." Anna smiled at him.

"Anastasia!" The four brothers echoed together.

"That's a very beautiful name," Nicolo said.

 "I feel like I'm seeing a live version of Fifty Shades." Roberto and Alesso laughed and exchange amused glance at each other before giving Leo a teasing smile.

"Roberto! Alessandro! Don't talk like that in front of your younger siblings." Severina chided quietly. 

"Dinotteo, go back to your place." She voiced softly and gestured him to go.

After dinner, The ladies did the dishes and organized the dining hall and kitchen. Anna helps them in washing the dishes. Severina insisted her to go and take rest but Anna didn't listen to her and offered to help them. As they were cleaning the kitchen, Leo appeared and stood at the kitchen door, leaning against it and stared at Anna.

"Yes, Leo! What do you want?" Severina took notice of him and asked. Anna gave a one glanced at him before continuing to do the dishes.

"Ah. Zia, Rossanne and Dino are waiting for you." Leo said to Avery.

"Oh yes, I'm going now." Avery shrieked softly rubbing her wet hands on the dry hand towel. "Buna notte, sister. Goodnight Anna." She wished them before strolling out of the kitchen.

"Momma, Papa was asking for you." He informed his mother. Severina simply shook her head and smiled at him. "I'll clean that, just go before he gets angry," Leo added taking the microfibre from his mother's hand. Severina crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Vuoi passare il tempo da solo con lei?" Severina said in Italian, raising an eyebrow at him. 

"I'm just helping you." Leo rolled his eyes.

"Clean it properly." Severina gave him an amused smile. 

"Goodnight, dear." She said as she placed a hand on her back.

"Goodnight, Severina." Anna smiled at her. Before Severina strolled out of the kitchen, she glanced at Leo and pointed him to clean properly.

Once Severina disappeared from the place, he strolled towards Anna and stood behind her. Anna felt him closer from behind and turned around to face him. But as she turned around, her face crashed on his hard chest. She didn't know that he was so close to her.

"What are you doing?" Anna looked up at him. Leo simply smiled down at her and curved down to her level. He rested his hands on either side of her on the countertop and stared at her. Anna was now sandwiched between him and the countertop.

"Let me do the dishes. You need to rest." He said.

"No thanks, I'll do it." She rejected.

"Don't trouble your shoulder too much, bleeding might start again." He said softly.

"I'm okay, you don't need to worry about it." Leo didn't listen to her. He lifted her up and placed her on top of the countertop beside the basin. Anna glared at him and was about to step down but Leo came between her legs and dared her to move.

"Sit here and watch me do the dishes." He said as he tugged some strand of hair behind her ear. Anna stay quietly and watched him doing the dishes.

"Leo!"

"I don't know why but for the first time in my life I am actually liking my name. It sounds really soothe from you." 

"You're being dramatic, Giant." Anna scowled and then looked away. 

"How many people have you killed till now?" she asked not looking at him. Leo's face turned serious and he stopped doing the dishes.

"I don't know. Never cared to count the dead." He said coldly. Anna snapped her head towards him, he was not looking at her. He was staring right at the front. 

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you about it," Anna said and went silent. "I'm sorry if I made you angry."

Leo came and stood between her legs again. "I'm not angry." He said softly. "I was trying to count the killing I did inside my head." He joked and move closer to her. "If it's not for the promised earlier, I would've kissed you already." He teased. 

"I hate you," Anna said playfully as she gently pushes him away. 

"Anastasia, go now and take rest before I'm done with the dishes." He said smiling at her but Anna furrowed her eyebrows at him. "Once I'm done with the dishes, I'm afraid that I won't be able to stop myself from taking you to my bed." He teased and smirked at her. Anna stared at him in horror expression, her cheeks starting to turn red like a tomato and quickly stepped down on the floor.

"Pervert!" She scoffed before quickly turning on her heels. 

Once she was out of sight, Leo frowned over and stared at the kitchen door.

"Alesso! Come out!" He shouted and soon Alesso appeared from the side of the door and smiled sheepishly at him. Leo gestured him to come near. "I know you took our picture—"

"No, I didn't!" Alesso interjected.

"Really!" Leo made a face. "Send me the pictures through via SNS including the pictures that you took that day when I was doing her shoelace." He said.

"How did you know—"

"You think I didn't notice you that day." Leo interrupted and smirked at him. "Send me the pictures or hand over your phone right now." He urged him extending his hand towards his brother.

"I'll send you the pictures!"

 ***

Anna was sleeping peacefully when someone came inside her room and sat beside her. She felt the mattress sinking down beside her and involuntarily smelt the freshly icy menthol scent beside her.

"You smell like a boy, Jasmine!" She remarked half asleep, her eyes still close. "But I like the scent. It's so alluring."

"Good Morning, Anastasia." Anna eyes shut open at the voice of male and quickly straightened up from the bed and came face to face with Leo. She stared at him wide eyes opened for some seconds before coming back to sense.

"Good morning!" She said turning away. Leo gave her an amused smile before going around to draw the curtains of her room. Anna involuntarily clenched her eyes at the morning light beaming through the room. She took some seconds to adjust with the brightness and opened her eyes. Shirtless, wet hair, towel hung from the back of his neck and with his grey night pyjama hung from his low waist, he was looking really hot and sexy. It took some seconds before Anna noticed him in his half-naked body and her eyes involuntarily stared at his bared masculine chest.

God! This is too much. 

She quickly looked away to the other side before her imagination goes wild. Leo knew that his current appearance was effecting her and softly chuckled staring at her.

"How is your shoulder now?" He asked as he made his way to her and stood right beside the bed.

Anna glanced over her shoulder and made a gentle move. "It's better now. Not hurting anymore." She answered and made a mistake looking at him. Her eyes betraying her to move away. She sucked a sharp breathe when she noticed his body closely. She noticed the scars imprinted on his abdomen and left chest, right above his heart. The scars she didn't noticed when she treated his wound. 

"How did you get those?" Anna couldn't help but ask and her hand involuntarily reach for his scars and gently ran through. She felt tingles running through inside her as her hand came in contact with his body and controlled her best not to hugged him. Leo kept his hand onto hers and sat next to her.

"Earned it from my enemy." He simply shrugged off and smiled wolfishly at her.

"This is not a joke." She chided quietly and looked at him seriously.

"I was held captive by the Sylvester's when I was ten. I fight my way to escape and that's when they put the knife through me—" he pointed at his abdomen. "That day was the first-ever day I killed a man. I put a bullet right through the person's head who stabbed me." Anna couldn't help but feel terrible for him.

"What about this?" She reached for his bare chest and touch his scar.

"I see you don't hesitate to touch me but restrict me to kiss you." He narrowed his eyes at her and pointed out, grabbing onto her hand into his. Anna bite her bottom lips and smiled slyly staring down at the duvet. Leo simply chuckled at her when she didn't reply and he continued. "This one here, I got it from the Harondale when we were at war, two years ago."

"Harondale!" Anna creased her eyebrows in deep thought.

Oh! The enemy that killed their one and only sister. 

Anna thought as she recollects Nicolo's words inside her head.

"An American-Italian Mafia." He briefed. "Joshua Carlo Harondale shot me right here." He pointed at his left chest. "But he was such a noob. Didn't even get close to the target." He shrugged off and joked.

"Didn't even get closed to the target!" Anna crossed her arms over her chest and reiterated his words. "You're lucky that the man missed his target. You're hit just an inch above your heart. You could've died." Anna chided, her voice clearly worried for him. 

"But I didn't die, I'm right in front of you now." He said softly and his hand reached for her cheek. "Well, I admit that I was lucky enough to be alive right now or else I would have never get the chance to meet you, Mio Coure." He leaned closer to her. Anna gasped softly at the closeness and stared right into his eyes. Her heart thumping rapidly like a car race and all she could think right at the moment was his lips on her lips and she involuntarily close her eyes. But soon she groaned in pain when Leo softly cupped her cheek between his fingers.

"Ah—" She squealed and shoved his hand away from her cheek.

"You're so cute, Anastasia." He reached for her cheek again but Anna quickly shoved it away and pouted at him. He couldn't help but chuckled at her cuteness. "By the way, why did you close your eyes?" He asked amusedly. "Were you expecting something?" He teased and jerked an eyebrow at her.

"I-I—" Anna stuttered and was finding difficult to bring out words but right on cue, Rossanne came running inside the room.

"Anna!"

Thank God, you're my lifesaver, little one.

"Good morning, dear." Anna greeted her cheerfully.

"Good morning, Anna." She greeted her back with the same gesture and turned her attention to her brother. "Fratello, what are you doing here and why are you shirtless?" She pointed out. "Are you trying to seduce Anna?" She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him. Anna bit back a laugh. "Shameless." She shook her head dramatically.

"I know right, dear. Your brother is very shameless." She playfully taunted at him. "Such an indecent man!" She remarked and shook her head, scrunching her nose.

"What! An indecent man!" Leo scoffed. "Wait, I'll get to you later." He jerked an eyebrow and smirked wickedly at her. Anna looked away and regretted teasing him.

"What brings you here, doll?" Leo turned his attention to Rossanne and asked.

"Momma's sent me to call Anna for breakfast. Everyone is waiting for you." She answered. "Anna, get freshen up, I'll wait for you. And you—" She turned her gazed to her brother and pointed her tiny little finger towards him. "You're still here. Go and put on your shirt." She crossed her arms over her chest. 

"Okay, m'lady. I'm going now." Leo said amusedly and glanced at Anna and winked at her before strolling out from the room.

After the breakfast, Severina did a quick check on Anna's wound. Though the wound was still fresh, the chance of bleeding was nil. Anna was totally fine now. The aching was no more. "All done. Do you feel any pain?" Severina asked.

"Nope, the pain is no more."

"If you feel any pain, don't forget to take the painkiller, okay!" Severina smiled at her and cupped her cheek gently.

"Sure." Anna smiled back a her. "Thank you so much, Severina."

"It was my pleasure, dear." Amused! Severina rolled her eyes over and snapped her head towards the door as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I was expecting you all but a bit later."

"How're you feeling now, Anna?" Alesso asked as he strolled inside the room along with Nicolo and Roberto.

"Much better!" Anna said lively.

"Well, that's good to know." Alesso smiled and winked at her.

"Okay, children! Have fun. I've go some stuffs to do." Severina stood up from the bed and glanced at her sons. Then she drifted her attention down to Anna who was sitting besides her. "I'll see you later, Anna." She said.

Anna nodded at her. "Thank you so much."

"No problem." Severina strolled out of the room.

"Anna, are you really feeling better?" Nicolo asked concernly as he sat next to her on the bed.

"Yes, Nicolo. I'm really-really-really fine now."

"What about one-on-one combat now then, Anna?" Roberto jerked an eyebrow and asked amusedly.

"Someone is really asking for a death wish." Alesso shook his head slow-mo. 

"Sure! Game on!" Anna agreed readily. She didn't have the idea that Roberto was just trying to play on her.

"I was just kidding, Bella. Some other day, when you're all fit and well."

"By the way, what are you guys doing here? And I see only three of you." Anna glanced at them and said.

"Missing him already." Alesso teased and jerk an eyebrow.

Anna simply rolled her eyes over and looked away from them.

"She's no denying it. She's really missing him." Roberto said amusedly.

"No! I'm not. I was just asking. You know the four of you always stick together—" She defended.

"He's with Nonno," Nicolo answered. 

"Anna!" Rossanne came running in and stood infront of Anna. "How're you feeling now?" She asked glancing at Anna's shoulder.

"All better now." Anna smiled at her. Soon Roberto phone rings snapping all their attentions towards him. He received the call and after listening some few seconds over the phone, he hung the call and glanced at Nicolo and Alesso.

"We have to go now. It's time." He informed as he nod at his brothers. Then he turned his gazed towards the ladies and smile at them.

 "We take our leave, m'ladies. See you later." He bowed down courtly doing an imitation of the royalty dramas. Alesso and Nicolo mirrored him and they left the room together.

Always Smile,

Happy Virus,