Two years later...

"I am sorry" Flora's words pierce through Richie's heart as he watches the woman helplessly.

"Please don't" he pleads but she shakes her head refusing to give into him.

"This is for the best Richie, I am sorry" she cries as she holds the baby in her arms and Richie stands helplessly as the woman walks out of the room with his daughter in her arms.

"There must be a way" Richie shouts as he refuses to give up following the woman.

"Please do not fight on this, you know the rule. If I do not take her away, then I will never get to see my own children...

I will protect her as my own, she will never be harmed Richie, if it's not me then someone else will come after her"

"Why?"

"You cannot let the secret out to anyone, and this is the only way I can be assured"

"Don't you trust me?" he demands as he eyes his daughter.

"I do that is why I am saving her, if dad gets hand of her. I know her fate will be far worse than what I can give, so please...

I am sorry" she pleads before getting in the car and driving away with the child.

Richie stands helplessly before slowly turning back to the hospital where his wife just gave birth to their baby girl and they lost it within moments of welcoming her in their life.

*******

"Where were you?" Alana asks as soon as her husband walks in the room before he stares at his wife's hopeful eyes.

"Where's the baby?" she asks staring at his empty hands before eyeing the crib.

"I am sorry" he begs walking towards her.

"No" Alana shakes her head in disbelief.

"We cannot save her" he states as he pulls his wife in his arms while Alana shouts out in pain struggling in his arms.

"You are lying" she sobs not believing his words.

"It was either her or you" he whispers trying to console her.

"Mom" Ricardo's voice makes both of them stay still as their sons walks in the room.

"Where's princess?" the boy grins as he rushes towards the crib to find it empty before staring at his parents in confusion.

*******

Richie walks out of the room and softly closes the door making sure his wife was asleep, before pulling his phone out and calling someone.

"Hey, did you find her?" he asks into the phone walking towards the balcony.

"Yeah, she is fine. Stressed but she is fine"

"How did she take the news?" Arson asks from the other side of the call.

"It's better this way"

"You should not have to, you know"

"It does not matter now, just...just keep an eye on my daughter please" Richie pleads to the man and Arson promises he will.

"Among all the men he hired, Pop always had an immense amount of trust on you. Because he knew the whole world would go against him, but you won't"

"My family has served to him for centuries, we are what we are because of them and I could not betray the trust the family had on us"

"But you did not have to give away your own daughter knowing what goes in that family" Arson points out.

"I trust Flora, I know she will never let anything happen"

"Still, she is the daughter of Salvatore"

"What choice did we have then?"

"Rolfe and I, we will forever be grateful for you for saving our daughters Russo. You saved our daughters and we promise we will look out for yours"

"Thank you" Richie speaks before he puts the phone away and hangs his head down as tears steams down his face, as nothing was same anymore.

He feels defeated as he tries to calm himself before he turns to walk in the room, even if he no longer had a daughter to cherish, he was grateful that his family was still alive and breathing and away from the hands of evil.

*******

Five years later...

"Ricardo" Alana shouts from the kitchen for her son but the full blast of the song coming from his room covers her shouting.

Putting the spatula down she rushes to her son's room and bangs on his door hurrying him to get down as he will miss his class.

"Lessen the volume" she shouts banging on his door before the music stops and his son opens the door while pulling on his t-shirt.

"Mommy dearest" he cheekily grins kissing on her cheek as he makes his way towards the kitchen.

"You are running late" she sighs as she hurries to serve him his breakfast.

"Ricardo is never late, it's just the time running aimlessly" he states as he pours honey on his pancakes.

"Your father called, he will drop you off" she reminds him.

"Oh, come on" he groans as he puts his spoon down.

"It's the first day after you vacation so hush and anyways it's a good time to bond with your brothers, Rustic wants you to walk him to his class"

"Ugh mom"

"Rick" she looks at him pointedly.

"Fine, it's so troublesome to have so many brothers"

"And Ry said to refused him to come see you practice" she scolds the boy who sighs.

"That's because it's embarrassing to watch your brother act like a fucking cheerleader" he groans.

"Language. They adore you"

"Yes mom"

"Good, now go be a good big brother and make sure no one bullies them"

"No one does it's just Richard getting in to trouble"

"Richard?" she pauses as she stares at her son.

"No idea what his problem is but he has been beating kids around"

"And you have done nothing?"

"I tried to talk but he won't listen, and I do have other ways, but you won't like it" he shrugs his shoulders before pushing the plate away.

"Okay dad's here" he states grabbing his lunch as he carries his bag running out.

"Slow down" she shouts running behind him as she grabs lunch for her sons waiting on the car.

*******

"Hey" Alana greets as she hands them their lunch bag.

"How was the sleepover at the gramps?" she asks the boys as she walks around kissing on each of their head.

"It was awesome, grandpa got us a big airplane, but dad refused to let us bring home" Rustic pouts as he gets his body half out of the window hugging his mother.

"Okay, we will chat after you all are back from school, be good" she smiles as she kisses Rustic on the forehead before she walks to the driver side of the car and kisses on her husband's lips.

"Hey" she smiles before she hands him the paper bag.

"It's chicken sandwich" she states as she glances towards Richard who sits quietly staring out of the window ignoring her.

"I will see you in a bit" Richie smiles as he starts the car asking everyone to buckle up as he passes the bag to Richard who quietly takes it.

"Have fun" Alana waves her hand as she steps aside.

"Are you practicing today?" Ryman asks his brother.

"I will fucking break your legs if you stepped in the field" Ricardo warns Ryman who groans.

"Dad" he complains.

"Rick" he glances at his son through rear-view mirror.

"Fuck me" Ricardo curses under his breath before he stares out of the window.

"Fuck me, fuck me" Rustic starts to chant as he puts his head on his brother's chest making Ricardo laugh while Richie shouts at him.

*******

"Mom some of my friends are coming over" Ricardo shouts as he runs towards the room.

"The doors will stay open Rick" she shouts.

"I am not bringing girls" he groans as he shouts from his door.

"Oh good, then you won't mind if your brothers join you" she grins making him groan.

"Hey Mrs. Russo" Ricardo's friends start to walk in the house and towards the living room where Rustic was playing.

"Mom" Rustic screams making her sigh and walk in the room to find him glaring at the boy.

"Be nice Rust"

"He stepped in my car" he pouts as he tries to grab as much as toys as his little hands can.

"You should not scatter it all around" she states as she apologizes to the boys and picks Rustic up.

"Come on you are helping mom" she grumbles taking him away.

"Will you hear a rhyme I learned today?" Rustic asks as she puts him on his chair.

"Sure honey"

"Okay, you are honey-bunny, sugarplump...

Pumby yummy pumpkin, you are my..." he keeps on singing clapping his hands as she sets the chips and drinks out for her son.

"Thanks mom, hey pumpkin" Ricardo kisses on his mother's cheek as he ruffles his brother's hair who grumbles before starting to sing from the beginning.

*******

"What are you doing here?" Richie asks his son who was standing at the window staring towards the house where Alana was.

"Is there party or something?" he asks pointing towards the house as he could hear some loud music.

"It must be your brother"

"But I saw few people going in"

"If you want you can go check" he suggests with a knowing smile.

"Is she in?" he asks making Richie shrugs his shoulder.

"You will have to go and find out" Richie smiles as he walks away and Richard sighs before he too makes his way out.

Sneaking towards the house, Richard glances from the window to find few people sitting at the living room before he slowly makes his way towards the kitchen door before stopping as he watches his mother and Rustic singing a song and dancing clapping their hands.

With a sigh, he turns around to go back to his house, but Ryman's calls his name making him stiffen.

"Hey Rich, get in let's go sit with Rick's friend. He will not kick me out if you are there as well" Ryman grins as he opens the door for him and Richard glances towards Alana who pretends she did not see him.

*******

"Get off the couch" Ricardo warns Ryman who keeps on jumping up and down to get his brother's friends attention.

"No, it's fun you all should do it as well" he encourages while he grins.

"Ignore him" Ricardo grumbles as he takes a handful of chips and munches on it.

"No" Ryman cries as he jumps off the couch.

"Your brother is funny" one of Ricardo's friend laughs.

"Hey Rich, heard you beat that Malcom twins last week, is that true?" Ricardo's friend asks the boy.

"Man, you are being such an asshole, Rick you should tell your brother to stop getting in trouble" his friend suggests and Richard glances at his brother's reaction.

"Shut the fuck off, those twins have been idiots anyways" Ricardo speaks as he changes the channel.

"I will be in my room if you boys need anything and Rick please look after your brother" Alana smiles as she puts Rustic in his lap.

"Oh mom, come on" he whines but Alana just walks away.

"Rick let's play house, house" Rustic pleads as he grabs onto his brother's hair and pulls a bit.

"Rust drop it" Ricardo grumbles as he puts his brother down and hands him a car.

"Damn your mom's hot man and so cool" one of Ricardo's friend comments watching the way Alana walked to.

"Dude fuck off" Ricardo hits on his friend's arm.

"Oh, come on, I was just pointing it out" the boy grins before cursing as something hits on his head.

"What the..."

"Get the fuck out of the house" Richard growls as he gets up from the chair.

"Your fucking little"

"Hey" Ricardo shouts grabbing his friend before he reaches his brother.

"Your brother is crazy man, what the fuck" his friends start to shout making Ricardo groan.

"Okay, fuck off everyone" Ricardo asks getting up.

"What? Are you serious?" his friends ask.

"Listen I just wanted a chill evening, but you all are just being assholes now fuck off, next time we are hanging somewhere else" Ricardo asks as he picks Rustic up as the boy starts to pull on Ricardo's pant.

"You know what Russo, fuck it. How about we do not hang out anymore. See you in the field, asshole" one of his friend spats pushing Ricardo away as they start to walk out of the house.

"Great" Ricardo rolls his eyes.

"You don't need to hang out with friend who don't respect your mom" Richard makes the comment.

"In that case, you will be the one getting kicked out first, now cleanup" he orders as he throws Rustic up in the air before grabbing the boy.

"Again, Rick again" the boy laughs.

*******

"I am exhausted" Richie groans as he lies on the bed next to his wife.

"Are the boys asleep?" Alana asks as she moves to lie on his chest.

"No, they are watching T.V"

"Richard is downstairs" Richie informs making her nod her head.

"Hmm, he has been with his brothers all day long"

"There is this party tomorrow night, would you join?" he asks making her sigh.

"You know I don't want to go anywhere" she grumbles as she puts her chin on his chest and stares at his face.

"It's been a while you have dolled up to party" he smiles caressing her cheek but she just sighs.

"I don't want to go out in public anymore"

"Don't you feel bored staying inside all day long?" he questions, and she smiles.

"You know, the boys and this house keeps me busy all day long"

"Still, it will be good to get out sometimes and just be yourself"

"I am me, when I am with you all. So, don't feel guilty" she smiles nuzzling his jaw with her nose.

"Yet, the last time you joined a party"

"Don't" she puts her finger on his lip to shut him up.

"Please don't remind me" she pleads as she puts her head on his chest and Richie sighs in understanding as the last, they all of them were in a party, Alana had lost her parents.

"Richard is coming around, he has been trying to spend more time with his brothers and I don't want to ruin it"

"He will have to come around someday" he whispers.

"Yes, but it's okay as long as his relationship with his brothers is not strained, I am happy" she confesses, and Richie nods his head as he holds his wife in his arms.

Note: I know you all are curious about the gaps in this chapter, but I am sorry to say it will be explained in the book Legacy as if I put few scenes in here, then the suspense in that book will be all gone.

Yes, call it willing or unwilling but Richie's daughter was sent away to Lucero's with Flora's promise of protecting the girl. I know you all may be confused which I make you all a lot but some of the things should stay hidden for me to make it flourish.

Now only two chapters are remained which I plan to make all about Alana, Richie and the boys growing up.

Hope this book has been justified but if not do share you views because everything is not done. There are still two chapters that can bring justice to this couple.

Thank you!