^Such a beautiful song. Play it while you read, you won't regret it. (;

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'People don't change, they just become more of who they really are.'

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When I was little I frequently had the same nightmare.

I would be standing in the middle of a busy street, people moving all around me, but no one would seem to notice me.

It would be as if I wasn't even there.

I would scream and scream, but no one would hear me, no one would even turn to look at me.

It wasn't the situation itself that was so terrifying but the feeling I got when it happened.

Like I didn't have a voice.

Like I was trapped.

Right now, I felt exactly how I had in that nightmare.

Alone.

"It's been three hours." Lorenzo's voice resonated through the lobby. "Enough time for Alberto to reach Carlos Vitale and convey our message."

Sebastian gave a stiff nod. His whole body seemed tense.

I watched as Lucian handed Sebastian a cell phone. "It's time to make the call, brother." He smirked, his black eyes shone with sadistic anticipation.

Sebastian took the phone from Lucian's hand and pressed a single button before bringing it to his ear.

"Remember who he is Sebastian, remember what he did." Lorenzo's voice hissed, making my hands clench in frustration and anger.

I immediately noticed the change in Sebastian's demeanor. His expression hardened till it became formidable. His eyes darkened and his lips drew into a thin line.

The way his shoulder's tensed even further indicated that someone had answered the call.

For a moment he didn't say anything which made me believe that the person on the other end was saying something.

My heart was thudding wildly in my chest. I felt sick to my stomach.

Suddenly, Sebastian's lips twisted into a sneer. "You know exactly who this is Mr. Vitale. No need to pretend otherwise."

My breath hitched.

Mr. Vitale.

My father.

There was a pause and then he let out a cold, humorless chuckle.

"Non sei in grado di minacciarmi (You are in no position to threaten me)."

Then all the mirth vanished from Sebastian's expression and it was replaced by hatred. "The man we released, Antonio, he must have given you all the details already. You know we have your daughter and if you want to see her again you will do as I say."

His eyes cut to me briefly and for a second I saw a hint of emotion in them before it vanished. I noticed that he was clutching the phone so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.

"I will send you a location." Sebastian said quietly. "In twenty-four hours I want you to bring every single one of the men associated with the Alfonsi family, bring every man you've captured and imprisoned over the years, to that location. In exchange for my men I will hand over your daughter to you."

Lorenzo hissed in disdain at Sebastian's words but Sebastian cut him off with a warning look. His harsh glare daring his Uncle to challenge him.

Lorenzo finally backed down but his lips curled in disgust.

I listened to him in utter shock.

This couldn't be happening.

Sebastian didn't look at me when he continued speaking. "I have two conditions. One, you have to come alone to get your daughter so we know it isn't a trap and number two, before the exchange is made all the men that you hand-over will confirm that there aren't any more of my men in your captivity. Once we know for sure that you've kept your end of the bargain we will give you your daughter and we will part ways."

This isn't happening.

I wanted to scream but no words came out.

I felt like my heart was splitting into two.

For a moment there was silence then Sebastian's wild eyes met mine, he held my gaze for a moment.

"Okay." He said quietly before finally ending the call.

As soon as the call was over Lorenzo and Lucian were on him.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Lucian thundered "This is not what we planned! You were supposed to lead him to the ambush like we discussed, we planted the bombs, you just had to tell him and his men to go there!"

My blood ran cold in horror at Lucian's words.

"I changed the plan." Sebastian's voice was calm and detached when he spoke.

Lorenzo chuckled coldly. "You son of a bitch. You're making a deal with the man who killed your father, the man who killed your brother. You're letting a man who's spilled more Alfonsi blood than any other walk away without a scratch, and for what?! Lorenzo's cruel black eyes zeroed on me. "For this filthy Vitale woman? You would choose this bitch over avenging your own blood?" He spat the words out.

White hot rage seeped into my veins at his words.

My spine stiffened and I lifted my chin, looking at him unflinchingly.

"Don't you dare speak to me like that." My voice rang loud and for a brief second I could see Lorenzo's eyes widen in shock at my defiance.

My lips curved into a taunting smile. "What? You think I'm still scared of you, Lorenzo? Do you think I'm the same little girl who cowered before you thirteen years ago?" I shook my head, my smile vanishing. "I might have been scared of you at first but that was before I remembered everything, you were the black eyed monster from my nightmares for so long, but not anymore. I remember everything that happened that day, thirteen years ago. I remember how you killed my brother, an unarmed teenage boy half your size, you killed him because he saw you for what you really are, a coward, and now I see it too."

"Shut up!" I could see Lorenzo's enraged expression as he charged towards me but I was beyond caring at this point.

I let out a humorless chuckle. "Here you stand lecturing Sebastian about family and blood but I remember how you fled like a coward when my father's men finally broke in. You left your brother and nephew for dead and saved your own neck. I remember everything." I spat the words out at Lorenzo. He was standing right in front of me now.

"Stop lying you bitch." He roared. I saw his hand lash out in my direction but I didn't flinch.

Just as he was about to strike me, he stopped.

It took me a moment to realize that he hadn't stopped on his own accord but because Sebastian had his hand in a death grip.

Lorenzo's disbelieving gaze turned to Sebastian. "You're choosing her over me."

Sebastian let go of his uncle's hand and shoved him backwards. "I'm choosing our moral code over you." He growled. "I will never tolerate a man raising his hand on a woman regardless of the blood running through his veins."

"Fratello (Brother)" It was Lucian who spoke up this time. "We've been dreaming about getting back at Carlos Vitale since thirteen years. You can't-"

Sebastian cut him off. "I know exactly what I am doing. Do not question me." Sebastian's loud voice boomed. His tone and expression left no room for discussion.

Lorenzo shook his head in disgust before turning to leave, Lucian following closely behind.

The silence that ensued was suffocating.

I couldn't take it anymore.

"So you're just going to trade me like a piece of property? Is that how little I mean to you?" I couldn't keep my voice from wavering.

His head snapped back in surprise, eyes widening in disbelief and anger.

He turned to face me slowly, "Instead of killing your father and getting my revenge I'm making a deal with him. I'm letting you go. Isn't this what you wanted?"

I gave him a disbelieving look. "You think being pawned off like an object is what I want? Do you actually believe that leaving you and never seeing you again is what I want?!"

Sebastian chuckled bitterly. "What were you expecting Angelica? That you would stay here with me and we would have a happily ever after? I'm an Alfonsi and you're a Vitale. My family would never accept you. My uncle, my brother, every Alfonsi, they will never stop trying to hurt you. To them you will always be the enemy. Don't you understand? This is the only way! This is the only way you'll be safe." His eyes dimmed and his expression became defeated. "There's no way out of this. What do you want me to do?"

Tears started to well up in my eyes and my lips started to tremble.

"I want you to stop pretending that you're doing this for me and accept that you're doing this because you're too scared to admit to yourself that what you feel for me means more to you than this stupid family feud!"

I wiped my eyes furiously with the back of my hand.

"I want you to end this! Making a deal with my father changes nothing! Our families will continue to hate each other and the blood shed will never end." I fought the sob that threatened to break through my lips. "How many more brothers like Matteo and Declan have to die? How many more children like Adrian have to grow up without their fathers? How many more women like Ellie have to be widowed? All this death and suffering, and for what? A decades old vendetta between two families?"

I walked up to him and clasped his hand in both of mine, bringing it close to my heart.

"You are the head of the Alfonsi family Sebastian, not Lorenzo, not Lucian, not any other Alfonsi. You. And right now you have the power to end this. Make peace. Put all this hatred to rest once and for all." I let go of his hand and stroked his face gently. "We are a living breathing example of how an Alfonsi and a Vitale can be more than enemies, so much more." I whispered.

The tortured look in his eyes made my heart ache.

"I wish I was the man you wanted me to be, mia cara." He said quietly. "But I'm not. I can't make peace with the man who killed Matteo. There is a selfish part of me that doesn't want to let you go but I can't endanger your life now that everyone knows your identity. I'm sorry but as painful as it is, this is what is best for you."

My shoulders slumped in defeat. The feeling of complete and utter devastation and despair settled in my chest.

"Stop saying that. Stop saying that this is what is best for me." I snapped. "The only person who knows what's best for me is me and I know this isn't what's best for me, or you for that matter."

Suddenly a buzzing sound interrupted the moment. It was coming from the phone still clutched in Sebastian's hand.

He checked the screen before holding out the phone to me.

"It's your father." He murmured. "I told him that I'd let him talk to you."

My eyes widened in surprise as I took the phone from him with trembling hands. I slowly brought it to my ear.

"H-hello?" I choked out the word, my throat closing up.

"Angelica, is that you?" An eerily familiar voice rasped from the other end.

"It's me." I whispered.

"Oh God. I can't believe this is really happening. I searched for you and Rita for years. I thought you were gone forever. I'm so sorry I gave up searching mio piccola angelo? (My little angel)."

Mio piccola angelo

He used to call me that.

Memories flashed before my eyes.

Me, not more than six years, squealing with delight as he flung me around in his arms.

Me, Papa, mama and Declan sitting on a blanket spread over lush green grass enjoying a picnic completely oblivious to the world.

Him comforting me in the middle of the night when I had nightmares. Telling me that he would always love me and keep me safe.

"It's okay papa." Tears pricked my eyes. "I'm here now, that's all that matters."

His breathing suddenly became shallow. "Rita, your mother, is she-?"

I couldn't stop the tears from trailing down my cheeks this time.

"She- she passed away a couple of months ago." I managed to say the words out loud.

I heard his muffled sob. A sound filled with pure agony.

He finally spoke after a few painful minutes of silence.

"Please tell me that she lived a good life at least."

I remembered all the hungry nights the two of us had endured. The fleeting moment of relief we'd had when she had married Riko but then he'd turned abusive and she'd gotten sick. I remembered the pain she had suffered because of her sickness.

I swallowed thickly. "She regretted leaving you." I murmured.

There was a pause.

"How are you? How did you end up there, with them? Did they hurt you?" My father's frantic voice questioned.

"No papa, I'm fine." I said softly.

"I'm coming to get you, Angelica. Don't you worry."

The call ended and I handed the phone back to Sebastian and wiped my wet cheeks. I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

"It's really happening, isn't it?" I spoke softly to him.

"Tomorrow I'm going to be reunited with my father and I'm going to lose you forever."

His face crumpled, eyes squeezing shut, like the mere thought of it caused him excruciating pain.

"I wish there was another way, Angelica." He whispered the words brokenly.

His eyes opened, hollow and filled with torment. "Mi dispiace (I'm sorry)"

I was assaulted with another memory. One from the day both Sebastian and I lost everything-

Matteo's eyes connect with mine. "Mi dispiace (I'm sorry)" He chokes out before going completely still.

I gave Sebastian a sad smile.

"You know, that's exactly what Matteo said to me that day. He told me that he was sorry. Those were the last words your brother ever spoke."

I turned and walked away from him, taking the pieces of my broken heart with me.

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A/N: Hello loves!

Firstly, I wanted to thank you all for 55K views and 2K votes! OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Just wanted to apologize for the late update. I know I promised to update sooner but I can explain!
My cat gave birth to four adorable little kittens and I was too preoccupied with being a full-time cat-mom to take time out to write.

Anyway, sorry once again guys. Thank you so much for being so damn patient and for all the support.

Honestly the people who support you and encourage you while you're in the process of writing a book are so important!

You guys inspire me to write and honestly, without you all I'd probably have given up already so THANK YOU.

Love you all. x