Tiffany's POV

I woke up slowly, opening my eyes and quickly squeezing them shut again as the light from the windows sent shooting pains through my eyelids and into my brain. I quickly roll over and roll into a ball as a wave of nausea hits. I have always had bad migraines and when the hangover hits it usually triggers them and I feel like death. I lay still for a bit until the wave passed and I slowly got up. I look over to my night stand and see a bottle of water and some pain pills with a note.

Note- I am so sorry about last night and everything. I had to leave this morning, because my father wanted me to be with him for some meetings. Please give me a chance to explain. Please, I can't stand you hating me. I have left some pain pills for you. I will wait for as long as it takes.

Love, Armani.

I can't help but smile a little for his thoughtfulness. I quickly take the pills and finish off the water. Falling back onto the bed, I think about last night, not much I remember. It's all sort of fuzzy. I remember Tony, and Armi coming to the rescue. I think I asked him to stay with me last night. Why would he do that? He could get in so much trouble for even being near Tony. Why would he risk everything for me? I lay there until the pounding in my head is gone. I slowly get up and put on my robe as I head into the kitchen. Both Issy and Matty are sitting at the island eating and quickly look my way.

"You look like death, sis." Matteo says as he shoves food into his mouth.

"Thanks, butt head."
"How are you feeling today? I would say good morning but it is one o'clock." Isabella adds.

"Shit! I need to be at work."
"Don't worry I already called mom and she said she could handle it, but don't be late tomorrow."
"Thanks Matty, you're a lifesaver."
"I know, I just couldn't see you miserable at the bakery this morning."

"So, I see Armi coming out of your bedroom this morning?" Issy says, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Nope, not going there. He slept next to me and on top of the covers. He has a lot of explaining and groveling to do."
"You go girl. Don't give into him that easily."
"Don't worry, it's a big if, if he ever gets that chance again. He broke my heart and everything else is his fault."
"You can't blame him for everything." Matteo whispers.

"Yes, I can! If he had never left, it would have never happened."

"If he never left he would have been in hail for probably longer than he was away." he returns angrily.

"He never once tried to contact me! Never explained why!"
"Give him a chance, if nothing else, at least you get closure." Isabella offers.

"I don't want to talk to him right now."
I quickly walk back to my room and curl up on my bed. I just don't understand why he never bothered to even contact me the entire time he was gone. It was like our friendship never meant anything to him. I want him to tell me why. I still blame him for everything that happened to me. I can never tell him. I can't tell anyone, they would hate me. I try to go back to sleep but I just toss and turn.

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Armani's POV

I didn't want to leave her today. We needed to talk things out and this was the first time I was able to get this close to her without her shying away from me, but my dad wanted me to come with him to his meetings today. He said it was time for me to start learning how to handle things. I know he wants me to take the crown soon and I am not sure I am ready for this. I soon arrive at the mansion and head inside. I am greeted by my mother as I walk into the kitchen.

"Good morning, baby. Your father is in his office. Have you had breakfast? I made plenty."
"I am a grown man, momma. Don't call me baby. Yes, I have eaten. I better get in there before he starts yelling for me."
"You will always be my baby, no matter how old you get. Yes, you better go. Your father does not like tardiness."
I give my mother a kiss on the cheek as I head into my father's office, knocking before I enter.

"Come in, son." I walk in and sit in the chair in front of his desk. Sitting down the files he was looking at and looking up at me. "Are you ready for your training?"

"I was born ready, dad. I'm just happy that you are giving me this chance."
"I never thought I would see this day, to be honest son. You really grew up living with your grandfather. I'm proud of you, son."
"Thank you, dad."

"Today we will be meeting with one of our clients."

Dad and I talk for a few minutes before my Uncle Marc walks in with Matteo. They both sit down and dad starts talking to them too.

"Are you two ready? We need to head over to the restaurant to meet everyone."
"Yes, the SUV is out front. Do we need to be alert for this meeting?" Uncle Marc answers.

"No, I don't think so. They wanted to meet with us and introduce the new prez and vp. Axel and Ghost are stepping down and want us to get familiar with their sons." Father replies.

"Well, that will be great. They can get to know Armani too." Uncle Marc adds.

"Don't forget Matteo, too. He will be my right hand." I say.

"Yes, I know. These are our best clients so we don't need to mess this up."
"I got this. Don't worry."
"I'm not, son. I have faith in you. Now let's get moving."

We all head out and over to our restaurant. As we walk in we are greeted by the manger and he immediately takes us to our private room upstairs. Dad has them bring up the good wine and places orders for appetizers. After about ten minutes or so the other men arrive. We stand and shake hands.

"Axel, Ghost, it's good to see you. How is everything going?" My father greets our guests.

"Everything is great. I wanted to meet with you since Ghost and I are stepping down. We both want to step back and relax. It's our time and we have earned it. I wanted to introduce our new prez, my son, Jax." Axel returns.

"And the new vp, my son, Lucifer." Ghost adds.

They both step up and we all shake hands. We sit down at the table and my dad adds.

"Since we are introducing new members, I want to introduce you to my son, Armani. He will be taking over soon for me. So you will be dealing with him when I am ready to step down."
"It's nice to meet you all. My right hand is Matteo, who is my uncle Marc's son. His dad has taught him everything he knows. He will be my enforcer as well, just like his father."

"Oh wow, I have seen you fight, Matteo. You are lethal. I saw your last match, it was awesome!" Jax says with a huge grin.

"Thanks man, my next fight is in a month, you should all come. I'll get you all tickets."
"Thanks, man. That would be great."

"Thanks," Lucifer adds.

"Everything going well on your end? How are your supplies? Do you need anything?" My father asks.

"We are doing well at the moment. We wanted to also talk about the DeLuca gang. They have been pretty low for a long time until Tony took over. Now they have been causing trouble for a lot of people." Axel says gritting his teeth.

"That son of a bitch. I knew he was dirty before. I never trusted him." I clench my fists as my jaw tightens.

"That's the crew that you ran with when you got into trouble?" My father asks.

"Yeah, but they were just drugs and small time then." I return.

"Apparently they have gotten heavily into the sex trade and a lot of women and girls have disappeared. They can't seem to pin it on them, but I know they have something to do with it." Ghost pipes in.

"I want to kill that waste of flesh. How can he do that?" Uncle Marc says and I can see the anger in his eyes.

"You used to hang with him?" Jax asks.

"Yes, when we were teenagers. He is the reason I went away for ten years." I return.

"I always wondered what happened to you." Lucifer adds.

"It was that or spend the time in jail. Dad convinced me to go. I never would have made it in prison."

"Damn, that's rough." Jax says, shaking his head.

"Turns out it was the best thing for me. I was sent to live with my grandfather in Italy and he gave me a lot of tough love and taught me everything I know."
"We are glad you are back though. Time to take that punk down." Lucifer says with anger.

"Calm down boy, don't be going off half cocked. That's when you get people hurt." Ghost warns.

"I apologize, dad. He just makes me so angry."

"Alright, back to the original discussion. Ghost and I will step down in two weeks and my son, Jax will step up as the new prez and will name Lucifer as the new vp. We would like you to come to the party."
"I think that would be great. My family will be there." Dad answers.

"Mine will too. Us old timers may not be able to hang for a long time but we will be there." Uncle Marc adds.

"Thank you, it's a big occasion for us and I am honored that you will be with us." Axel says with a smile.

"I value our friendship, it's an honor for us that you have invited us. Now let's eat."

They bring in the food that dad had ordered and we all dig in. We talk about anything and everything. It was a good afternoon, the food was amazing as always and it was great to get to know Jax and Lucifer. I was glad to be able to make some new contacts and maybe some good friends. I had lost contact with all my so-called friends when I had left. We had been conversing for a while when I heard a voice I never wanted to hear again.

"Well, well, well look what we have here. Looks like a party and I wasn't invited. How rude, Armani. I thought we were tight. I see you finally bring your sorry tail back and don't even come see me." Tony sneers.

I sit gripping the glass in front of me tightly. Why is he here? I am seething as he walks up and slams his hand on my shoulder.

"Remove your hand from my shoulder, before I remove it myself." I say through clenched teeth.

"Come on, bro. We were good together. We were the best in this town. Why don't you come back to me. We own this town now."

"You are the reason I had to leave this town. I took the fall for you and you let me do it. I want nothing to do with you or your little gang."

"You think you will be the boss of your little mafia? Don't you get it? We are the new bosses in town. Your family is over. Just ask your Uncle Alex. Oh wait, you can't, because I killed him." He whispers in my ear. My face turns red as my temper begins to flair. I quickly jump out of my seat as it flies back at him. He stumbles back as I quickly turn around, grabbing him by the throat as I back him into the wall, shoving my gun into his temple.

"You killed him? I should shoot you right here and now. You don't deserve to breathe the same air as we do. You low life piece of shit!"

He just laughs in my face. He is not afraid. This used to be my friend and we had each other's backs. What happened between us and him to make him like this? My chest rises and falls rapidly as my anger increases as I look this man in the eyes and he has no remorse.

"He was fun to watch as I tortured him and he begged for his life. I watched him breathe his last breath as I carved the skin from his body and eventually dropped his lifeless body on your front doorstep."
"What did he ever do to you?"

He took my prize away from me and he had to pay."
"What did he take?"
"Something you loved."
I felt a hand on my shoulder and a calm voice speak.

"Don't son, he is not worth it. Let him go. He will get his when the time comes. Not here, there will be too many witnesses, and too much mess."

I slowly take my hands away from him and he quickly starts rubbing his neck as he rushes for the doorway. As he is about to disappear, he turns to me and says.

"Tell that sweet piece of ass that I will see here soo. She can't get away again."
I go to run after him and dad grabs me by the arm. I try to escape his grasp but he doesn't let me go, and I stop, my head drops, and I have to ask.

"What does he mean?"

"Yes, he killed your uncle. We could never prove it. The rest, you will have to hear from Tiffany. It's her story to tell."
"Why is it that no one will tell me? I need to know what happened."
"All we can tell you is she went through a lot while you were gone. She won't even tell us everything." Uncle Marc adds.

"It had to do with Tony, didn't it?"
"Yes, it does. It took a long time to find her. Everytime we got close, he would move her."
"I am so gonna kill him. Dad, I need to go. It was nice to meet everyone and I will see you at the big party."
"See you then." Jax says.

"Nice to meet you too. I think this will be a good friendship." Lucifer adds.

"I do too. I have to go talk to her. I am sorry I have to leave."
I quickly head out, not waiting for my dad and speed off to talk to Tiffany. I hope she will talk to me. I need answers.