Matéo Santiago's POV

We are at the Phoenix Headquarters, in the underground part, in a secluded tavern.

It is where we meet up to discuss plans of action and sometimes just relax.

It has been a good 30 minutes.

Where are they?!

I sent Riccardo on a mission to test Adeline personally in the 'unknown attack' test and bring her here to me!

The test is to question one's preparation in any situation.

I just hope that she doesn't realise that it's really Riccardo...

But where could they possibly be?

Nobody who has done this task before has gotten to the point of being this late.

I pace up and down the tavern.

"Cousin, relax! I'm sure Riccardo has this under control" Joshua soothes, rolling his eyes.

He holds a brandy in his left hand and rotates is absent minded, the dark liquid, swirling around the glass, the cubes of ice clinking repetitively against the glass.

"He is one our best men here, and I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation for this" he reasons, taking another sip of his drink.

"They were meant to be here 20 minutes ago!" I fume, grabbing my jacket and getting ready to leave and go and find them.

"Ouu! Looks like the boss is whipped!" I hear someone say.

I turn around to see one of the gang members, Trey, teasing me.

I scowl at him, not daring to admit that maybe I am a little bit whipped.

His eyes are bright with laughter and I feel as if this is another reason for this boy to torture and take the piss out of me.

He already knows that I am completely whipped but is probably just saving my sanity...

His girlfriend and another member of the gang, Ayesha, laughs loudly at Trey's joke and exchanges a knowing look with me.

I'm about to blast them, when there is a knock at the door.

That must be Riccardo, with Adeline.

Sebastian, opens the door and walks up to the door and opens it.

"What the fu-" He starts, but I hear Adeline cut him off.

"Where is Matéo?" She asks.

She sounds pissed.

Everyone suddenly crowds the door and gasps and points at something.

"Woah, is Ric ok?" Someone asks.

"Damn!" Another says.

I walk up to them to see the commotion and my jaw drops.

Is that.... Riccardo?

He looks like shit!

He steps forward a couple of steps and then crumples to the ground with a groan.

"What happened?!" I ask.

I catch sight of Ade, and looks a mess too!

Her jacket is stained with blood and her hair is dishevelled completely.

Her bottom lip is slightly split and she looks like she could kill anyone at that moment.

"This dickhead attacked me while I was on my way here!" She screeches.

I can't help but smirk.

So Ade, did this, to Riccardo?

One of the best and most able fighters in the gang was beaten to pulp, by none other than my wife?!

I can't hold it in much longer. I burst out laughing.

Adeline looks at me, alarmed.

"What the fuck is so funny?" She asks.

She looks so confused and it makes me laugh harder.

"Adeline, did you beat Riccardo up like this?" I ask her once my laugh has subdued a little.

Everyone in the tavern stares at her in shocked.

She nods.

"Is he the one holding the knife, or am I?" She asks, a small flick knife in her hand, the point against Riccardo's neck, making me realise that I have to turn serious.

"Ade, it was a test" I tell her simply.

Her eyes widen.

"What, then do you mean?" She starts, but then it clicks.

"Oh my God, Riccardo, I am so sorry!" She gasps at the crouched Riccardo.

She used the knife and cuts the scarf from around his wrists and helps him stand up right.

Damn, it's even worse than I thought!

The bruises on his face are already turning purple and his left eye is swollen shut.

I think his nose may be broken also.

"It's ok, Ade, you didn't know" he sighs and gives her a chuckle.

Sebastian helps Riccardo up to go and get himself cleaned up.

"Welcome to the gang, amoré" I say.

I move toward her but she steps back.

"I appreciate it, Matéo" she says.

"Where do I clean up?" she asks, indicating to her bruised up hands.

One of the girls, Tatyana, shows her to the kitchen.

I follow them and Ade is already sat down while Tatyana wraps a bandage around her wrist and hand.

I ask Tatyana to leave us alone and she does.

But not without giving a suggestive sly smirk with regards to Ade.

I roll my eyes and hold Adeline's hand and start to wrap the bandage.

"I've got this" she says, pulling her hand away.

She's upset.

"What's wrong, amoré?" I ask.

She looks up at me, eyes blazing with fury.

"What's wrong?!" She asks and continues, before I can carry on.

"You and your brother, just made me look like a first class prick, in front everyone!" She explodes.

I try extremely hard not to laugh at that statement.

"I didn't ask you to beat the crap outta him, did I?" I ask her, rhetorically.

"Wouldn't you respond violently if a man in a black ski mask, grabbed you and hauled you about?!" She asks.

I chuckle.

"Did you let him explain?" I ask.

She shakes her head, no.

"I didn't want to listen, because I thought he had betrayed you..." She whispered.

My heart warms.

She beat up my brother.

For my safety.

For the sake of people important to me even if she hadn't met them yet.

I move closer to her and kiss her gently.

"Thank you" I say in between kissing her.

She runs her good hand through my growing hair and tugs at it a little and she pulls away.

I'll deal with her later...

I hold her hand again and tie up the bandage over her split knuckles.

Thankfully, nothing is broken, just bruised.

I can't say the same for my brother though.

He has a broken nose and a swollen up eye and cuts all over.

Then I clean up the cuts on her face.

It's time to introduce her to our family

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