"Because saving the people you love isn't stupid. It isn't even a choice."

~~

My eyes opened groggily. The persistent knocking at the door had woken me up.

I bolted up in bed, my heart thudded with excitement.

Could Sebastian be back already?

The door flung open the next second and my mood darkened instantly.

"Get the hell out of my room Lucian!" I hissed.

He chuckled in response. "I don't think so Angelica, this isn't your room, this is one of my family's safe houses."

"What do you want?" I gritted out.

"Watch your tone." His voice boomed, his eyes shone with threat.

"You're here because you need something from me. I don't know what it is but let me give you my answer anyway . . . No." I sneered.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

He clapped his hands together and as soon as he did men started barging into the room.

I was about to demand what he was trying to do when my eyes widened in horror. The last two men to enter the room were dragging Warren's limp, bleeding body with them.

"What did you do?!" I screamed as I jumped off the bed and started running towards the unconscious man.

Lucian's hand wrapped around my bicep, halting me. "He's alive, for now. But he won't be if you don't do as I say."

My chest rose and fell with barely contained rage.

"What's it going to be Angelica? Do you want this man's death on your shoulders?"

I eyed Warren's unconscious body in front of me.

"What do you want?" I finally whispered.

He smirked sadistically. His hands tucked into the pockets of his slacks as he sat down on the bed.

"I want you to go undercover again." He chuckled like he was enjoying this whole situation. "Only this time you'll be going without Sebastian."

~~

"Let's go over this once more." Lucian drawled from the front seat of the car as we drove to the location. "What's the name of the target?"

"Tommaso De Luca." I muttered.

"And you are?"

"Martina Lombardi!" I snapped.

"Stop acting like a bitch." Lucian growled.

"Stop forcing me to do shit for you." I countered back.

He chuckled coldly. "You know what, I am going to tell you something that will make you a lot more willing to do this." He tilted his head back to look at me. "Tommaso works for the man who killed Sebastian's brother. If we get Tommaso there is a chance that he will lead us right to his boss."

My breath stuttered.

Lucian's lips twisted into a sly smirk. "I'm sure you're aware of how desperate Sebastian is for revenge. So just think you are doing this for him and not me."

"Why me?" I finally managed to find my voice.

"Because we need a woman to get him alone long enough for us to get him." He responded casually.

My eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Yes, but it could have been any other woman. Why me?"

He chuckled again. "No other woman happens to be in love with an Alfonsi." He raised his eyebrow pointedly. "If you get caught you won't give us up because ratting on us means ratting on-"

"Sebastian" I finished for him.

The next couple of minutes are spent in complete silence.

"We're here." Lucian finally announced.

I took a look outside. We were parked outside the gates of a posh looking club.

"He flies here every month for a few hours to discuss business with his buddies, they always sit at the corner table beside the window and when he leaves this club it's usually with a woman, alone. He doesn't have a place on this city so they go to the woman's house." Lucian drawled out. "Do you know how to drive?" He suddenly asked.

"Yes." I responded.

"Good. There will be a red Chevy with the number plate UXS-899 in the parking-lot waiting for you when you come out with Tommaso. The location you're supposed to bring him to has already been fed into the GPS, you just need follow the directions. We'll be waiting for you when you get there."

He dangled the car key in front of me.

I swallowed the nervous lump that had lodged itself in my throat.

"How exactly am I supposed to convince him to come with me?" I finally asked.

His eyes trailed over my body making me want to punch him.

"Be creative." He drawled, his lips twisted into an ugly smirk. His black eyes flashed with mirth. "And remember who you are doing this for, Warren and Sebastian."

I clenched my jaw giving the despicable man in front of me the most hate filled glare I could muster and snatched the key he was still dangling in front of my face angrily.

I stepped out of the car and ran a hand through the blonde wig I was wearing, making sure it was still intact. Without sparing Lucian another glance I walked inside the huge double doors.

I schooled my expression to look bored. As soon as I entered I scanned the place. Sure enough there were five men seated on the table beside the window and one of them was Tommaso, just like Lucian had said.

I studied the man. He seemed to be in his mid-thirties, conventionally handsome with curly brown hair and blue eyes, he looked almost innocent sitting there with his friends laughing. But I knew otherwise and as soon as his icy blue eyes met mine I knew I was right to assume the worst about him.

This man was far from innocent.

I held his gaze and made a show of giving him a once-over and then looked away showing my complete disinterest in him.

I knew men like him and men like him had no interest in women as plain-looking as me but I also knew that the one thing men like him couldn't stand was a woman not being interested in them, their huge egos wouldn't allow them to accept it. They liked a challenge. And I was going to give him one.

Now that I'd set the bait, I took a seat at the other end of the room and hoped to god that it had worked.

Two minutes passed.

Then five.

My heart thudded wildly in my chest.

"Ciao bellissima. (Hello beautiful)" A masculine voice drawled from above me.

I lifted my head slowly taking in Tommaso's blue eyes and sly grin.

Keeping my expression stoic I raised an eyebrow at him questioningly.

He chuckled. His eyes studied my face and I resisted the urge to shudder.

Human beings have the ability to sense danger, a sixth sense, and mine was telling me to run as fast as I could away from this man.

"Mi stavo solo chiedendo cosa facesse una donna adorabile come te seduta qui tutta sola? (I was just wondering what a lovely woman like you was doing sitting here all alone?)"

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Preferisco stare da solo piuttosto che avere una compagnia indegna. (I prefer being alone over having unworthy company.)"

"Hai un accento. (You have an accent)" He said, sounding surprised.

"Sì, sono cresciuto in America. (Yes, I was raised in America.)." I twisted my lips into a tiny smirk.

Sebastian had told me not long ago that the best way to fool a person into believing you're someone else was making sure that not everything you told them was a lie.

His lips broke into a grin. "Parla inglese? (You speak English?)"

I gave him a challenging grin. "Do you understand English?"

"I do." His accent was thick, his eyes scanned over me as he leaned forward. "Tell me, bellissima, what would I have to do to prove that I am worthy company?" He said using what I'd earlier to him on me.

I gave a smirk. "You can start by buying me a drink."

He signaled to the waiter, wasting no time in occupying the empty seat across from mine.

"Tommaso De Luca." He extended his hand towards me.

"Martina Lombardi." I responded, taking his hand.

~~

My hands were clammy as I led Tommaso to the parking lot.

He'd instantly agreed when I told him that we should get out of the club and go somewhere more private.

I spotted the red Chevy immediately and double checked the license plate just to be sure.

UXS-899. Just like Lucian had said.

I took my keys out from my purse and started heading towards the car but Tommaso's grip on my arm stopped me.

"Where are you going?" His voice was casual but for some reason my heart leapt in panic.

"My car, you see the red Chevy over there?" I waved my hand towards the car.

He chuckled. "That won't be necessary, we'll be taking my car."

I swallowed down the dread I was feeling.

"You expect me to come back here for my car?" I spoke pointedly.

Something wasn't right. I could feel it.

Tommaso gave me a grin. "No, of course not."

I almost sighed in relief but his next words had my heart plummeting.

"One of my men will bring your car."

Men?

Lucian hadn't said anything about him having his men with him.

As if on cue three burly men stepped out from the shadows.

I felt like my heart would jump out of my chest any second. It took everything in me to keep the panic I was feeling on the inside from showing on my face.

One of the men stretched his hand towards me, asking for the key to the car.

I hesitated.

Tommaso's hand on my bicep flexed ever so slightly. "Is there a problem, bellissima?"

"No, of course not." I responded quickly. I handed the key to the man and gave him a cool look. "If there's a single scratch on my baby there will be hell to pay." I drawled, satisfied when the man actually looked nervous.

"Don't worry Miccah will take good care of your car." Tommaso said as he guided me towards the black SUV parked a few feet away. He held the door open for me, waiting for me to get in. I tilted my chin up looking at him directly.

"I'm not particularly good with directions but the GPS of my car will lead you right to my apartment so ask Miccah to drive ahead and we will follow." My voice was steady as I got into the car.

Tommaso got in after me and closed the door. The automatic locks clicked into place.

His steely eyes trained on me once again.

"That won't be necessary because we aren't going to your apartment, we're going to my house."

His house.

Lucian had told me that he didn't live here. That he would be willing to go wherever I asked him to.

My shoulders tensed and I knew my stoic mask had slipped.

"What's the matter, you look shocked?" He cocked his head to the side, studying me.

I tried to get my racing heart under control. My hands were starting to tremble so I clenched them into fists. I schooled my face to a cold mask once again.

"I admit, I'm a little surprised. I've never seen you before so I figured you didn't live here in this city." I forced my voice to come out steady.

I couldn't mess this up.

One slip up and I would be dead.

He leaned back against the seat and tilted his head to look at me. "I don't live in this city." He said coolly, his lips twisting into a smirk. "But fortunately for me I just bought a house here."

~~

I had to get out of here.

Fast.

That was the only thing racing through my mind as we stepped out of the car. Tommaso unlocked the door of the average looking brick house and held it open for me. The street was dark and completely silent making me wonder whether all the other houses were empty.

Every cell in my body was telling me to run but the way Tommaso's eyes followed my every more made me believe that I'd be dead the second I tried to get away.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

I blinked when the lights were suddenly switched on, illuminating the dark house.

"Take a seat." Tommaso motioned towards the couch sitting in the middle of the living room. It was the only piece of furniture besides the television and coffee table with a small china vase.

I placed my purse on the table and settled down and Tommaso made himself comfortable beside me.

Uneasiness clawed at my stomach.

This man was sinister. He couldn't be trusted.

I had to do something.

No one even knew I was here.

"Apologies for the state of the house." Tommaso spoke suddenly. "I just bought it recently, haven't gotten the time to furnish it."

I gave him a stiff nod, making a show of eyeing the place with distaste.

"My apartment is much nicer. We'd be a lot more comfortable there." I drawled, hoping that he'd take the bait.

He pursed his lips together, his cool eyes studying me. Suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed.

"They have trained you well, I'll give them that much." He said still chuckling.

My heart leaped to my throat as the feeling of dread started consuming my senses.

"What are you talking about?" I asked trying to sound casual.

He ignored my question, instead he tilted his head to the side, his gaze was still fixated on me when he started to speak. "You know, a few days back a tragedy took place, a close friend of mine was murdered in his own casino."

My throat ran dry.

"Tragedy indeed." I managed to speak.

His eyes hardened. "Giovanni Russo. Name sound familiar?"

I kept my eyes locked on his. "No."

His teeth gleamed as his smile widened. "You see I was so concerned about my friend that I went through his casino's security footage of the night he was murdered. The last people to be seen with him were a man and woman accompanying him to his private room."

My hands clenched into fists.

He chuckled again. "You think just because you're wearing a wig I wouldn't recognize you?"

I leaned forward my eyes fixated on his face so I had his complete attention. "I have no idea what you're talking about." I said calmly.

His eyes were still focused on me when I grabbed the china vase on the coffee table and smashed it against his head. He groaned in pain.

I sprung to my feet, making a run for the door. I yanked at the handle.

It didn't budge. It was locked.

I started for the window but a hand suddenly grabbed the back of my neck, my head was slammed against the wall.

Everything faded into darkness.

~~

My head throbbed painfully. Black dots danced in front of my vision as I opened my eyes. The first thing I noticed was that I was sitting on a wooden chair with my hands and feet bound to it.

"Oh good, you're awake." Tommaso's cold voice broke in.

My head jerked up. He was leaning against a wooden table placed in the center of the room.

The room was small and compact, dimly lit by a florescent bulb, there was only one door at the far end and now windows.

I focused my attention back on Tommaso, my jaw locked.

"It will be a lot easier for you if you cooperate with me, bellissima." His voice was almost gentle. But he wasn't fooling me.

When I didn't respond he pushed off the table and stalked towards me. He leaned down so he was at eye-level with me.

"Who do you work for?" His voice was eerily calm.

His fingers dug brutally into the sensitive spot between my shoulder and neck. I had to bite my lip from crying out.

"Who do you work for?" He repeated.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I hissed.

My face stung as he back handed me.

"You know that I already know the answer. I just wanted to see how difficult you were going to be." His lips twisted into a sadistic smile.

He sauntered back to the table.

"You know I was surprised that the Alfonsi's decided to send a scrawny woman like you after me. I didn't quite get it." He chuckled. "But now I understand why, you're not easy to break, you won't give them up and there's only one logical explanation behind it," he paused his cold eyes gleaming "you're in love with one of them."

My whole body stiffened.

Tommaso shook his head in amusement. "Foolish girl, falling in love with an Alfonsi. Tragic really." He folded his arms in front of his chest. "But I'll make you a deal, you tell me where their safe-house is and the name of their current don, I'll let you and your boyfriend live when we take them down."

I looked at the man standing in front of me.

I shook my head at him. "I may be foolish but I'm smart enough to know that you're a scumbag and that I shouldn't believe a word coming out of your mouth. If you want to kill me then go ahead but I'm not going to tell you anything." I spat out.

Tommaso sighed. "You know when you've been doing what I do for so long you start to read people very well." His eyes studied me intently. "Usually how this goes is that I torture you until you tell me everything I want to know and then I kill you. But the thing is I've studied you enough to know that you won't be telling me anything. So I will just save my time and do you the favor of killing you right now to send a message to your beloved Alfonsi's."

I straightened my back against the hard wood of the chair and tilted my chin up.

If this was how I was supposed to die then so be it.

But there was no way in hell I was betraying Sebastian.

If I believed I actually had a fighting chance I would have made up some story to stall but the truth was that no one even knew I was here. Sebastian wasn't even in the country as far as I knew and Lucian didn't give a shit about my life.

My heart gave an involuntary leap when Tommaso retracted a revolver from under his shirt.

"Any last words?" He smirked as he pointed the revolver at my head.

"Va' a farti fottere. (Go screw yourself)." I gritted out.

His expression darkened his fingers tightened around the weapon.

And then suddenly the door burst open.

"What is it Miccah?" Tommaso practically shouted.

"The phone-" Miccah started to say but Tommaso cut him off.

"I don't have time to answer my phone right now!"

"It's not yours." Miccah's eyes trained on me. "It's hers. It was in her car."

My heart plummeted to my stomach.

Tommaso's lips twisted into a sadistic smirk as he held out his hand for the still ringing phone.

He brought the sleek black device to his ear. His cruel blue eyes were fixated on me when he answered.

"You know I was starting to get curious about who her boyfriend was."

His expression grew hard. "You're in no position to threaten me."

He was silent for a moment.

"I will send you a text telling you the exact amount I want. And if you're not here in person with the money in two hours, I will kill her."

He ended the call.

"Guess who's coming to rescue you." Tommaso drawled.

I knew the answer even before he answered.

"Sebastian Alfonsi."

~~

My whole body was shaking as I waited for Sebastian with Tommaso and his men. I had no idea where we were but it looked like an abandoned plot in the middle of nowhere.

Finally the sound of screeching tires sounded in a distance and soon enough ten or so black SUV's skidded to a stop several feet away from us.

My knees nearly gave out when I saw Sebastian getting out of the one in front. He was carrying a brief-case with him.

For a moment there was complete silence.

"Bring the briefcase to me, slowly." Tommaso spoke up finally.

"First you let her go." Sebastian's voice sounded almost guttural.

Tommaso chuckled. "I'm not letting her go anywhere till I get my money."

"Don't play games with me Tommaso. The cars you see behind me, they're filled with men, my men. They will not hesitate to kill you." Sebastian gritted out. His whole body was tense.

"Just like my men will not hesitate to kill her." Tommaso said calmly, and as if on cue one by one his men started training his guns in my direction.

Tommaso jerked me forward so I was standing in front of him.

Sebastian chuckled coldly. "No they won't because you know that if you as much as touch her you won't get the one thing in this world you love most, money." He held up the briefcase in his hands. "Here in this briefcase is double the amount you asked for. Let her go and it will be all yours."

I tilted my head up to see Tommaso nodding his head. "Let's make a deal, every step you take towards me with the briefcase, she takes one towards you."

Uneasiness stabbed at my stomach. The same feeling I'd gotten when he'd offered me a deal saying he'd let Sebastian live if I gave him information on the Alfonsi family.

He was lying.

"Okay." Sebastian responded. He took a step closer and Tommaso pushed me forward.

"Go to him, puttana." He whispered in my ear. "But I'll tell you something as a parting gift. When your boyfriend said money was the thing I loved the most, he was wrong. There's something I love even more than I love money-" His eyes flitted to something else for a split second before focusing on me again.  "Power."

I felt like my heart had stopped. My eyes flitted in the direction his had wandered to.

And then I caught the small movement. Miccah hidden in the shadows.

Miccah pulling out his gun. Him taking aim.

I started running as fast as my legs could carry me.

"Sebastian!" I screamed. His eyes widened in shock.

I lunged forward just as the sound of gunfire pierced the air.

I saw Sebastian reaching for his gun.

I saw him shooting at Tommaso's men.

The sound of car doors slamming as Sebastian's men joined in.

Everything happened in slow motion.

I could see Sebastian running towards me, his lips calling out my name again and again.

But I couldn't breathe.

And then there was pain, excruciating pain.

My legs gave out. I was falling.

I couldn't breathe.

I was drowning.

My chest felt like it was going to explode.

I saw Sebastian's panicked face looking down at me. He was saying something but I couldn't hear him.

I reached my hand out to him but my hand was coated crimson.

Blood.

Was it my blood?

Was it Sebastian's?

I wanted to ask him but everything was fading away.

The pain in my chest was only a dull throb now.

Maybe I was the one who was fading away.

I tried to keep my eyes open.

But I couldn't.

Not anymore.

~~

A/N:

Hello to all my beautiful readers. I know it's been a while and I'm sorry. The reason I haven't been writing since the past month is because I was dealing with some personal issues. Don't worry everything is okay now.

I just want to thank you all for being so patient and supportive.

I know these are some really dark times. The Corona Virus outbreak has been absolutely devastating.

But I just want to tell you all that we will get through this and no matter who you are and where you live you should know that we are all in this together.

Few Pointers:

•    Wash your hands constantly for a minimum of 20 seconds.

•    Social distancing is the best thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and your friends.

•    Carry a sanitizer with you at all times

•    Do not share utensils

•    Avoid public places and gatherings at all costs

•    Do not panic