The three of them noticed Zasha sitting on the steps of the Melana home with an envelope in her hand.

Vera swallowed her pride as she prepared herself to be heartbroken by Zasha, Tommy and Tony both stayed quiet knowing this wasn't their place to speak.

Tony stopped the car out the front of the Melana House, Vera was the first to step out of the car.

Vera took two steps forward as Zasha raised to her feet, she reached out the envelope.

"This came for you while you were gone." Zasha didn't move from the porch; Vera lowered her gaze to the blank envelope.

Vera had a sinking feeling that Zasha opened it and found more heartbreaking news. She stepped forward and placed her fingers on the envelope.

"I didn't open it." Zasha softly spoke "After the dress..." She trailed off.

Neither of the woman had noticed that Tony and Tommy had stepped out of the car.

"It's from a bike messenger who was adamant that you be given this." Zasha released her grip from the envelope.

Vera looked at the envelope in her hand. Without reading the note inside, Vera's eyes widen as she looked up at Zasha "Inside now."

"Vera?"

"Inside. Now. Zasha." Vera raised her voice at her potential heartbreak.

"Vera, I'm not a child! Tell me what's going on." Zasha let her frustration be heard.

Vera gently pushed and forced Zasha inside the house, she slammed the door on Zasha's face.

"VERA!"

Vera held the door handle as Zasha tried to open the door.

Tommy and Tony were both confused by the act.

Vera used her free hand to open the envelope, she pulled out a blank page. She looked up at Tommy with tears in her eyes.

Tommy rushed up to Vera's side, he snatched the page from Vera's hands. He swallowed hard as they both shared the same thought.

Vera was going to be killed. Mr Tonio had found a way to seek his revenge.

Vera felt Zasha give up on trying to open the door, she heard the house go quiet. She looked at Tony as she let go of the door handle "Tony, have you ever killed someone?" Vera convinced herself to sound like she knew what she was doing as she stepped to the edge of the porch.

"Sorry? What?" Tony had never heard Vera ask him that question before.

"Let me rephrase. Have you ever fired a gun?"

Tony felt uncomfortable with her questions.

Vera didn't hate Tony for his lack of response, she had forced him to only drive her around for five years, she had never dared to ask him to do anything against his will let alone kill or maim someone for her; that was Tommy's job but today, Vera needed all the manpower she could get and that meant having Tony do something he would be against.

"Tommy, Take Tony to your house. Prepare him." She fixated her gaze on Tommy as she felt her tears roll down her cheeks.

"Vera?" Tony didn't understand what was going on.

Vera shook her head as she slowly returned her gaze to Tony "Tony, I know I'm asking you to do more than just drive. Please just do this for me." She almost sounded like she was begging for him to do something he wished he hadn't been asked.

Tommy silently excused himself from the porch as Tony nodded, Tommy led Tony to his house.

Vera turned her attention to the front door. She looked at the discarded envelope and the blank page on the patio.

Vera took a deep breath before slowly exhaling, she wiped the tears from her face before reaching for the door handle "You're not behind the door are you, Zasha?"

"No."

Vera pushed open the door seeing Zasha sitting on bottom of the stairs.

"You can't leave me out of the loop." Zasha stood up "We learnt that with Antonio. I'm sick of the three of you acting like I need protection. I can protect myself."

"I'm sorry Zasha." Vera wasn't even going to explain what was happening, she needed to hear Zasha's pain.

"Enough with the I'm sorry. If you were really sorry you would've done something to prove it."

"Zasha."

"No, Vera."

Vera took courage in her words "I want you to pack your things and leave."

Confusion ran over Zasha's face; she wasn't sure if this was a genuine break up or not. "I am home."

"I want you to pack your things and go to your parents' house."

Zasha didn't understand what was going on.

"I've failed at protecting you. I've pushed you aside because I thought it was the right thing. I've pretended I didn't know you than told you I love you in the same breath. Zasha, I want you safe. The only way I can do that is telling you to go be with your family. I wouldn't cope knowing that I got you killed." Vera rethought her words "Antonio was a mess, I said that because I knew he couldn't do it. He wouldn't of even hurt a fly." She couldn't stop her eyes from watering as she tried to push Zasha away for the final time.

"Vera"

Vera shook her head "I love you, Zasha. I really do. Right now, I need you to pack your things and leave."

Before Zasha had time to fully process what was happening, before she even had a chance to speak. The two of them heard a car pull up in the gravel driveway.

Vera didn't hesitate to step outside; she forced the front door shut. She tried to proudly stand in front of her door as she watched the police car stop behind the SUV.

Zasha quietly snuck open the door and peered from behind Vera.

The two woman watched as two male police officers stepped out of the car. Zasha and Vera both recognised Police Officer Zephan Baker while only Vera recognised the white male that was partnered with Mr Baker, the white male police officer was under Mr Tonio's payroll, Police Officer Geno Rival.

"We've had reports of domestic abuse." Office Geno Rival peered through the windows of the SUV.

"Zasha?" Zephan called out as he stepped to the porch.

Vera kept her eyes on Geno.

Zasha stepped by Vera's side; Vera finally flicked her attention to Zasha.

"Dad, everything is fine. Vera only just got home."

Zephan tried to believe his daughter's words, but he could see Vera had been crying.

"Dad, I promise. I know you raised me to leave if I was under attack."

"Mr Baker. I don't know who called you or why they falsely reported but I do know that you and I don't see eye to eye but when have I ever hurt Zasha? We can both agree that we'd do anything to protect her." Vera moved her gaze to Zephan as he stepped up the stairs of the porch.

Vera kept eye contact with Zephan.

Zephan leaned closer to the two woman "Something's happening, isn't it?"

Vera nodded.

"Identify yourself!" Geno shouted as he pulled his gun from its holster and pointed it towards Tommy and Tony who had calmly without weapons made their way towards the Melana house.

Tommy and Tony both stopped near the police car, they both raised their hands.

"Their my family." Vera shot her gaze at Geno.

Zephan looked at Tommy and Tony "Lower your weapon, Officer."

"But sir.." Geno tried to protest.

"I said down." Zephan turned his attention to Geno, who hadn't moved away from the Melana car.

Geno lowered his gun to his side.

Zephan turned his attention to Vera.

"I'm trying to convince Zasha to leave me."

Zephan struggled to understand. He thought he knew that Vera loved his daughter against his wishes, he knew that Vera had proposed to his daughter against his daughter. Now the young female crime boss was forcing Zasha out.

Zephan looked at Zasha.

Zasha lowered her gaze to the patio floor.

Zephan turned his attention to Vera "Do you know what's happening?"

"The less you know, the better the report." Vera admitted "I just don't want your daughter to be here when it happens." Vera felt Zasha's fingers intertwine with her's.

Vera and Zephan both looked down at the woman's hands touching.

"I've made it this far by Vera's side, I will survive by her side."

Zephan wanted to threaten Vera but could see Vera wasn't in the mood for any threats, he could see Vera was conflicted on what to do. He could tell Vera was trying to distance herself from Zasha, he could see that Zasha wanted to stay by Vera's side. The three of them knew that Vera and Zephan just wanted Zasha safe.

"Your mother and your brother are at home, Zasha. Your mother could use your help." Zephan slowly lifted his gaze to his daughter's face as Zasha looked up at her father. She wanted to protest but held her tongue instead.

Vera slipped her hand out of Zasha's grip.

Zasha let heartbreak wash over her face.

"I will see you at home, Zasha." He almost made it sound like a threat but in his way of wanting to protect his daughter.

Zasha sighed as she watched her father turn his back on his daughter and step towards the police car.

Geno watched Tommy and Tony; he was waiting for the two males to start something just to give him the satisfaction. "Oi, Melana."

Vera turned her attention to Geno as he looked at her.

"Your wanted at the mines." Geno took pride in his words "Two p.m." He smiled as if he took pride in knowing Vera's fate.

"Geno." Zephan called out as he opened the driver's door.

Geno hide his scowl as he kept his gaze on Vera as he paced back to the police car and sat in the passenger seat.

The four of them watched as the police car drove out of the Melana property.

"Tony. Take Zasha to her parents' home. NOW!" Vera instructed.

Zasha felt like a child who just had their favourite toy snatched from them, she rushed inside and up the stairs.

Vera stayed on the porch. "Get her." She instructed Tony.

Tony reluctantly followed his orders as silently stepped away from Tommy, stepped up the patio stairs and past Vera.

Moments later, Zasha carried her carry bag as she silently walked past Vera, Zasha didn't even bother looking at Vera, neither woman bothered saying anything to each other as Tony followed behind Zasha.

Tony didn't have a chance to open the car door as Zasha pulled it open and chucked her bag inside, she silently sat in the car.

Tony slowly closed the car door as Vera stood assertively on her patio.

Vera kept her assertive stance as she watched Tony drive Zasha away, she watched as the SUV drove out of sight before she lowered her head, she couldn't help the tears fall.

Tommy rushed to Vera's aid; they wrapped their arms around each other as Vera leant her weight of her body in Tommy's arms.