Elio stares at me for a long moment before saying something in Italian. Gia nods and walks away.

"Can we talk?" I tilt my head, my fingers fidgeting as I anxiously watch him, my heart nervously thudding in my chest.

If I were him, I wouldn't want to talk to me after saying those things. All I can hope for is, he won't react like me.

"I believe you've said the things you wanted to say clear enough, don't you think?"

"No," I reply, though my answer sounds more like a question rather than a statement.

He sighs and turns around, climbing the stairs. "Go back, Cerise."

I hurry after him, hesitating at the foot of the staircase before cursing under my breath and following him. "Elio, please."

To no one's surprise, he doesn't stop. "Who even brought you here? The men guarding your door?" he irritably asks as he marches down the hallway.

"Marco," I answer. "Can you please stop ignoring me for like five minutes?"

Humourlessly he chuckles. "Oh, so when you do it is alright, but when I don't want to talk to you, it's not?" He opens a door and enters the room.

I suppress my despaired sigh as I halt at the doorway of his bedroom.

Navy blue walls, with the one across the door being entirely made of glass, providing a beautiful view of the pool and the calm sea. A plush loveseat overlooks the view with a small glass table in front of it. Already a crystal rocks glass along with a bottle of Whiskey is placed on it. The floor is covered with dark grey tiles and the king-size bed is a few feet on the right side of the door.

A step away from the doorway, shuffling my feet, I fidget with my fingers. "I didn't mean the things I said the other day."

He doesn't face me and busies himself with unscrewing the lid of the whiskey.

The alarm jolts my subconscious, shuts off my rational thought process, and before I can stop myself, I blurt, "Can you not."

He halts, his head whirling to me. Confusion and curiosity flash in his features before he presses his mouth to a thin annoyed line and holds up the bottle as he surly puts the lid back on and slams the bottle down on the table. "Happy?" he mutters.

I gulp uncomfortably and avoid looking at him as I nod. "Thank you."

He sighs and sits on the edge of the armrest, crossing his arms and locking his ankles together.

"I'm sorry for everything I said that day. It was wrong and uncalled for... I didn't mean any of it. I'm really sorry." I dare to glance up at him.

His face is blank as he scrutinizes the floor.

When he doesn't make the slightest move indicating he wants to speak, I shove aside my doubts and insecurities and break out into full explanation mode. Even though I hate putting myself in such a vulnerable position, he deserves to know I really didn't mean the shit I said.

"I'm sorry, Elio. I understand if you don't believe me, or can't... I wouldn't believe me either, but I'm really sorry. It's just... I-I had to go through a lot to reach where I am, as a prosecutor, to be in control and have some sort of power in my life and over things happening around me."

I close my eyes and inhale a deep shaky breath. "Ever since this flash drive mess started, I lost all of my gained power and control. Working on the plans for facing the Russians was the only factor left that was giving me a sense of having the slightest awareness and power over my own life. W-when you took it away... I-I just," I pause, words failing me.

I shrug and rub my forehead awkwardly. "It felt like I was losing the last string of having minimum power over my life... I lashed out... a-and I'm sorry. I-it's just... it's out of my hand when I feel like I'm losing control and power over my own life. T-the file on my dad just made everything worse... b-but I don't blame you for preparing that. You're a capo, I understand that. Doing what's best for your mafia is your first priority, I get it. I guess I just wasn't expecting them, that's all."

His brows have squished together as he watches me intently.

I lick my parched bottom lip and gulp noisily as I shift my weight from one foot to another. "I didn't even mean those things I said. I don't even know where they came from... I-I..." I release a slow exhale before regaining my composure and continuing.

"I thought you won't ever blackmail me to keep me out of your mafia's way... I-I guess somewhere along the way, I started trusting you and I wasn't expecting you'd throw me out of a project that has such a huge impact on my life, it literally determines if I get to live or not, and make up some fake evidence to ensure I don't say a word about you guys to anyone."

I inhale sharply, watching the ripples of the calm sea glinting under the sunlight.

"Believe me, I understand, your business comes first, and in the long list of your priorities, I come last, if at all... b-but at that moment, I got so mad at myself for trusting you and not expecting something like this from you... I-I think I just wanted to make you feel as shitty as I felt, which is so terribly wrong. I-I can't apologize enough for it."

I meet his eyes, boring into me.

With the setting sun visible through the glass wall behind him, it paints an ethereal picture. The sun showers him in soft orange and yellow light, while the sky is a spectrum of vibrant orange, to delicate pink against the vast blueness.

Elio in his dark attire against the vivid colors of the sunset is a sight to behold.

His head is tilted to the side as he studies me.

I rub my forearm nervously. "I'm sorry. I know first-hand how hard you've been trying to keep everything in check and keep me alive... I had no right to say those things to you. In fact, I don't even believe them. And I know I screw up a lot, I say a lot of stupid stuff way too frequently and constantly mess things up, and I probably don't even deserve it but... can you please try to forgive me?"

His lips stay parted as he opens and closes his mouth; I quickly add, "Please. If you don't want to forgive me it's fine, but please don't ignore me... you're the only person I have left-" My voice wavers and I stop to suck in a sharp breath to steady my breathing. "I'm truly sorry... and I really miss you," I whisper.

At last, the mask of blankness slips from his face, showing off astonishment before his sharp features soften. He holds out his arm. "Come here."

Hesitantly, I enter his room and gingerly walk up to him, grabbing his warm palm. He pulls me to his chest, tightly wrapping his arms around me.

The burst of relief is staggering as it washes over me. My heart squeezes and skips a beat, as the butterflies flutter in my chest and stomach. His intoxicating woody cologne scent invades my senses, making my already hyper-aware senses buzz.

Flushed against the hard muscles of his chest, nestling my head in the crook of his neck, it dawns on me how insanely I've missed him.

It's not right—not one bit—but I can't bring myself to care about it.

He lifts my chin with his index finger, leaving a chaste kiss on my forehead before locking our eyes. "I missed you too, tesorino," he murmurs.

His deep voice seeps into me like burning lava, bringing every single cell in my body to life. His thumb brushes my cheek, as our noses nuzzle.

"Più di quanto tu possa mai immaginare," [More than you can ever imagine] he breathes out.

The sense of being wrapped in his arms is so elating that I can't even bring myself to be annoyed at him for talking in Italian.

It's like he wants to say these things out loud, but at the same time, he doesn't want me to know what he's actually saying. But I'm not complaining. At least I won't today.

For long moments, I stay enfolded in his arms, relishing the safety, serenity, and felicity coursing through me.

"I didn't mean to ignore you per se... I needed time to think and clear my head because you were right."

"What?" I draw away to meet his gaze. I open my mouth to object and argue but he shakes his head.

Sighing, Elio shifts, sitting better on the armrest of the loveseat and leans to the side of the backrest, pulling me between his legs. "It's the truth, Cerise. I'm not a good a capo... in fact, I'm doing really shitty work at it."

"I don't agree!"

A sad smile tugs the corner of his full lips. "You almost lost your life because of me and my poor choices... more than once."

"Everyone makes mistakes." I shrug, interlacing his free hand's fingers with mine.

"I'm not supposed to make mistakes and you know that too." His arm around my waist keeps me close to him even though his gaze darts away from me, his shoulders slouching.

"You're just learning. Every other capo I've seen during my time around here is at least twice your age. You're fighting an unfair battle. You're competing with their years of experience."

"The cost of my mistakes is human life," he quietly says.

Hesitantly I move a lock of his curl away from his forehead. His eyes jump up to me, locking with mine, staring so deeply it smolders me from within.

"In three years, you've managed to gain control over entire Europe and North America's organized criminal activities. You're fighting a war against the four of the strongest mobs and you've lasted for so long. Sure, there were errors, but technically looking at it, the outcomes could've been way worse. I'm sorry I led you to believe otherwise, I really think you're doing great, please don't let my stupid words make you doubt yourself."

At last, a playful gleam sparks up in his beautiful chestnut eyes. "Are you saying all these things because you think this is what I need to hear, or do you actually mean them?" He arches an eyebrow.

I offer a sheepish smile. "Both."

A tentative smile spreads across his lips and he pulls me closer to himself, his eyes drinking in my face. My heart flutters and beats faster as I hold his gaze, my insides turning all warm and mushy.

Trying to overlook the groundbreaking effect he's having on me, I add, "Plus, I should really be the last person you listen to. I just know all the things mafiosos shouldn't do, that also when it comes to leaving behind evidence and anything related to legal actions."

Amusement flashes in his features bringing a smile to my face.

"You're the Luigi Mariano's son, you'll get a hang of it, don't worry. I'm sure you'll become one of the best boss of bosses of the mafia."

He sighs and nods. "I hope you're right," he mumbles, pulling me to his lap and tucking a strand of my auburn hair behind my ear.

"I'm sure I am. You were always supposed to become the capo, you were literally born for this, you'll do fine."

It happens in a heartbeat. An emotion—pain, loss, longing, or perhaps all of them combined—flashes in his eyes before he hides it entirely and masks it with a small smile that doesn't even reach his eyes, kissing my temple.

Suspicion tickles my senses and I frown at him.

"What?" he hesitantly asks.

"You were always supposed to be the capo, right?"

His body tenses, his features turning blank and unreadable.

"No?" I ask in surprise.

"Cerise," he sighs, a mixture of exasperation and desperation.

My eyes widen in horror and I sit on the armrest to see him better.

Oh my God!

What did I do!

Is this why he's so insecure about being a capo? The reason behind getting irritated whenever I question his choices?

Is that why my words hurt him so badly?

"Was your sister supposed to take over the business?" I wonder quietly, studying him closely.

"It's a long story," he says after a lengthy pause.

Despite dying to unravel the mystery, I reply, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

He chuckles, shaking his head. "You don't mean that."

I roll my eyes as he pulls me closer to himself. "I'm trying to respect your choice and not force you... you don't owe an explanation to me," I admit begrudgingly.

"Thank you, tesorino," he whispers before laying a soft kiss on my neck, making my breath hitch. "Do you really want to know?"

His question surprises me, and I nod eagerly making him chuckle lightly again.

"Fine, tell me what you know about my father," Elio starts.

Regardless of being confused, I recite the things I know.

"He ran the Fenice business and every other illegal business across Europe, North America, and over half of Asia, including some legal businesses too. He had one son... and he was taken into custody ten years ago, with a twenty-year sentence, I think. About four years into his imprisonment, he was killed... someone inside the prison attacked him. And I found out from you about your sister, his daughter."

A thoughtful look settles over Elio's features as his eyebrows pucker.

"Why are you behaving like you're hearing these for the first time?" I ask once he stays quiet for too long.

"Is this what official papers say?"

"Pretty much... yeah," I answer hesitantly, growing more confused. I open my mouth to find out what he means by that but he's quicker to speak.

"According to the information everyone gathered about my father, he only had one son. Kira was wiped out of every document by the same man who ordered killing her."

I gasp and cover my mouth. Holy shit! "That guy is..." my voice trails down as I try to find the right word.

"Powerful and influential."

"Is that why you haven't killed him yet?" I tilt my head as I watch him.

His lips stay parted for a long beat before he nods. "Partially."

"I still think a legal course of action might be a better way for getting back at him," I mumble and glance at the darkening sky. It's hard to tell where the sea ends and meets the sky now.

He grasps one of my hands, snapping my gaze back to himself as he raises my hand and presses a long searing kiss to the back of my hand. "I doubt you'd say that if you knew who we were talking about, but I really appreciate it."

I'm about to ask who but he shakes his head.

"Don't, I'm not telling you."

I purse my lips and give in reluctantly.

"Anyway... Kira was two years older than me, being a Mariano and a Morozov meant she'd have no problem running both families. No one would dare to oppose Luigi Mariano's daughter. Our parents ensured she'd have allies and strong footing in both Sicily and Russia because she came before me when it came down to the order of who will be taking over this empire." He sucks in his bottom lip and his gaze strays to the dark peaceful sea.

I gently squeeze his hand, still holding mine in a firm grip.

"But that wasn't the only thing. The son everyone knew about... it was never me."

"W-what!"

Nodding, he slowly faces me. "On paper, and what everyone around us knew and were led to believe was Luigi Mariano has one son, Ciro Mariano."

❈ ☯︎ ❈

For some reason, this chapter took me forever to write :')

I hope you enjoyed it though, vote if you did and comment your thoughts. I'd love to hear what you guys think about Cerise's apology and this new piece of information =) Did anyone see it coming? :D

Thank you so much for reading this chapter ^^

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading ♡♡♡