ALESSANDRO'S POV

Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. The secret success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can. It's not really easy doing that especially in this overly judgmental society, but you can always take the best out of every situation.
It was another day, another opportunity, another journey throughout the day, it takes strength to step enthusiastically into each day of our lives. This strength usually comes more readily on some days than others, but every day makes demands on us. Life doesn't get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.

I got up. Eventually leaving my bed, making my way to the shower. The hot water splashed my body, water dripping across my skin, taking every thought that's left in my mind with it. This is why I love showers regardless, they take my mind away and allow me to relax, think straight.

I hopped off and wrapped a towel around my lower waist while I chose what I was going to wear today. I grabbed a pair of black pants along with a white dress shirt, a dark blue tie, on top of it a black waistcoat.

As I made my way to the kitchen for breakfast. I ran into Dante who was already there, eating. He shot his head up and looked at me. I had to tell him what happened "I need to tell you something" we both said at the same time. "What" I asked, wanting him to go first "no you go" he insisted, I hate insistence. Looking straight into his eyes was all it took for him to start talking.

"I noticed a woman dressed in all black keeping her eyes on me. I knew something was up so I decided to flip her game and trap her in. I got up, made my way out and walked away to assure myself that she's one hundred percent onto something. She started following me, she was up to something as I suspected. She tried to keep distance and eventually lost track. So I sneaked up behind her and when I took a quick look, recognizing her. I got her to one of our warehouses and I'm currently holding her there. She also mentioned something about her little sister being alone and I did what I had to do"

He said while fucking shrugging at the last sentence. I was raged in anger, nobody makes decisions without my consent. After all, this is my mafia. I get to know everything that is going on in time. Dante knows I always take care of things before they escalate and think my decisions through while making sure I'm aware of anything that could go wrong. I clenched my jaw and didn't realize how hard I was gripping my glass of water until it broke, my palm slightly cut by the glass along with blood dripping down. My eyes never leaving Dantes, the tension was thick. I was barely holding it in "lead the way"

I walked in front with Dante behind me. If he's having a woman and her sister in one of my houses, then he bet his ass I will meet these people, living under my roof. We reached the garage, I unlocked my dark gray Porsche 911, allowing Dante to get in the passenger seat. I started the engine, driving off to my warehouse. It wasn't far away from this house. Thoughts filled my mind through the whole drive, How could Dante do such a thing without my consent. What if she's some sort of spy, she literally tried to kill him.

I got myself out of these assumptions by the sight of the house. The guards opened the gates as I drove through the long highway, arriving at the parking area at the entrance. I got out of the car, slamming the door shut. Dante was looking at me in worry. I won't hurt this woman nor her little sister, I just needed to make sure she's not some sort of danger because anyone who gets in or out one of my houses, got information, things that could be used against me.

I rushed up the couple stairs, opening the doors wildly. I walked in the house, looking through the living room, searching in the kitchen. I saw Dante on the stairs, looking at me—giving me a sign that she's upstairs. He gave her a room.

I reached the second door, walking through the hallways, waiting for Dante to stop walking. He stood in front of a door and stood a couple inches away from it. I got closer, ready to get in when I felt his gaze on me for a second. I held eye contact, telling him I won't do anything. I twisted the door knob, walking in on a little girl laying on the coach watching Tv while there was the sound of running water coming out of the bathroom. The girl shot up from her old position, standing still in her place.

I've seen her somewhere, I'm sure she did too. I kept looking into the girl's eyes, trying to recognize them from anywhere while she did the same thing.

We were cut off by a long black haired woman walking out of the bathroom, she was wearing black sweatpants with a white tank top. She kept her eyes on me for a few seconds then she threw all her attention on Dante.

I took a seat next to the coach the little girl was sitting on minutes ago. Dante was sitting in front of me while both of them sat on the coach. Dante starts introducing them, the dark haired woman's name is Julia and her little sister is Lia. Julia Romeo, twenty three years old—parents died years ago, she took care and full responsibility of her sister. Lia Romeo, ten years old, lost her parents at a young age leaving her older sister the only source of family left.

Julia started speaking in Italian, explaining her job and why she was after Dante. Apparently, some Russian guy sent her, of course. He sent three other men before her but none of them turned back. He sent her due to her many successful missions and many talents, yet her talents failed when it comes to us.

She kept talking about her life, where she lived, Lia's middle school along with a lot of information I didn't care about. Her Italian wasn't bad after all, seconds later she mentioned one of her parents were Italian which explains it all.

When she was finished with her story and how she got where we are. I looked at both of them, focusing on Lia, her eyes, her figure, I've seen it.

I kept looking at her deeply, titling my head to the side, fixing my eyes on her when it finally hit me. "You" I said lifting my right hand, pointing my index finger at Lia "I saved you" I saw Julia's head shot up at my words, her eyes widened with an opened mouth. I looked at her, feeling my lips form into a smirk, now she can't try anything.

I got up from my seat, I was done here. You can see through Julia, her little sister's safety was everything she wanted in life and I once saved her when she wasn't around. She owns me, which was enough to know she won't try to play games around.

"Take them to the house" I said before grabbing the door knob. Right when I was getting out of the door I heard Julia call my name "Mr Santoro" I turned around facing her, waiting for the words I already knew she was going to say "grazie" I kept my gaze on her for a second. Her sister would have been dead if I wasn't there that night. I looked back at the hallway, taking the door in my hand while closing it. I walked down the hallways, ready to leave this place when I heard footsteps behind me, Dante.

We walked back to the car in silence. We got in as I could feel Dante preparing his words. "Save it" I started the engine and drove off.

We arrived at the house in a matter of couple minutes. Right when I walked in I got a call from my father. I walked to the kitchen and picked up the call. We didn't talk much, he told me that he'll come over to meet Lydia. Me and my father never really had quality conversations. It was either business or asking me to come over to a family reunion which didn't happen frequently.

I guided two guards into informing Lydia to get ready and come downstairs since my father was already on his way here. I went to my office and drowned into my thoughts again. That night, that night barely left my mind. Before I let my thoughts get the best of me, although if I'm being honest I enjoyed that, as long as they included her.

After about twenty minutes, I heard a knock on the door. "Come in" It was one of my men informing me that my father had arrived.

I made my way downstairs quickly, knowing him along with what he would instantly do and as I had assumed, he was already accusing Lydia of being a spy. I doubt that he even got to know her in the first place. She was trying to explain it to him but my father being the stubborn person he is, he kept insisting and raising his voice at her higher and higher each time she spoke. Empathy and worry combined into one when I saw tears roaming down her cheeks and her nose slightly turning into a shade of red.

I couldn't stay still, this middle aged man was making a teenager cry. I stood against my father, sticking to Lydia's side. I pushed her gently behind my back, protecting her from the shit she was hearing. It was different coming from me and different from Lydia. I knew which buttons to press with my father and how to talk to him, but she didn't. I kept hearing Lydia quietly sniffle behind me which made my blood boil. I might have thought she was a danger and a spy just as my father assumed but I would never hurt a child this way. My father doesn't care about kids, and how things can affect them for the rest of their lives which led us to where I am, mentally. I looked back at her, ending this conversation as soon as possible.

I held her in my arms, taking her back to her room. I gently laid her down on the bed, covering her with sheets. She had already slept, so I went to the kitchen and made food for when she wakes up, two sandwiches and a drink. Left it beside her on the nightstand along with a bottle of water in case she wanted water instead and made my way out.

Today went by fast. I was caught up in work all day, signing contracts and making shipments. Everything is going so well, business, the mafia but one thought never left my mind, Venom. Why is she on my head so fucking much, day by day the thoughts of her keep increasing along with my curiosity, my urge to know everything about this woman.

The sky got darker, it was a deep and lovely dark we'd never see the stars without. I heard a knock from the door drawing my attention, taking me back after I had been lost into my thoughts as usual. Ever since she entered my head. "Come in" Dante and Emilion walked in. I kept my eyes focused on Emilion, not looking at Dante for what he had done. However he started apologizing for it and earned a nod from me. "Take a seat both of you, I need to tell you something" They sat comfortably on their seats, full attention on me.

"I went to Igor Volkov's house to kill him. Everything was going well, as I had planned. I took out the guards already making my way upstairs to get what I went there for. Firstly I heard men, a lot of them rambling, and in a matter of seconds, they all went silent. I didn't let curiosity take over, I had to finish my job. I continued my way, arriving at a door leaning my head over for any sounds. I tried looking through the hole, left with nothing. I decided to walk in. Secondly, Igor Volkov was lying dead on the floor, in a pool of his own blood. Someone was there, but that wasn't the first thing I noticed. Three men bleeding down—dead while the vault was opened. The person behind this had known the passcode. I was a little hesitant, a part of me was thinking this was a trap. Deciding to reach my hand into the vault, grabbing a beige file. I opened it and found all the paper information Adriano mentioned I would find. And lastly, I heard Footsteps. I followed them, and rushed out of the room. They kept getting further, more noises coming from upstairs that got my attention again. I didn't give up, following them till I reached a large dark red door and pushed it instantly arriving at the rooftop. I had no idea what was going on. I was confused, not able to wrap what was going on around my head and it didn't become any better when I saw a car parked right next to mine. Something flashed from the back of my eyes. I turned around just as fast, nothing was there. I looked back at the streets, searching for anything. I had lost my attention until I heard someone approach me, she stood right next to me. I kept my eyes on the road, it was her, Venom Antonio. We stood there in silence for half an hour. I decided to turn my head on the side, looking at her. We held eye contact, for a good long time, no words, nothing. I left her gaze for a second, but when I looked back up, she wasn't there. I thought of the car, securing myself that she had left. When I reached back to the edge, it was gone. The car parked next to mine wasn't there anymore, taking her with it"

It was almost two in the morning. The three of us sat in my office, trying to figure out what we should do next. I had many questions going through my mind. Should I even bring them with me. Is it the address of the house she lives in. But why would she give it to me. Each time we come up with an idea, it gets fucked somehow. She is so confusing, she literally could have simply handed me the paper while explaining and everyone would be happy.

I covered my face with both my hands, sighing in frustration. "You could have seduced her a long time ago Alessandro" He has been saying this since she came into our lives and I had it. "You think she's dumb Emilion? she went in a house full of men, killed them all without leaving a hair behind, without my own notice. She killed millions of men all around the world. She is able to hide from us, from seven other mafias along with assassins, spies, even normal people that wanted her dead and you're telling me to seduce her"

"Alessandro is right Emilion, she probably seduced more people than you, she would know if anyone's trying to play games" Dante tried to prove a point, but only Emilion kept arguing "Pfft, are we forgetting that she's a woman. Women could be dumb" and before he could finish that little sentence of his, I cut him off "You're not smart enough"

"What?" His face slightly fell, unsure if he caused damage he won't be able to fix "You always had this thing Emilion, saying women, women and women. They're the one who makes you beg for sex when you're a horny dog and the ones who could play you with just one movement. Assuming she's dumb yeah? Why aren't you the best assassin in the world Emilion? Why are you the second. What if she is the first. You will be behind her, behind a woman, you once called dumb when you can't even reach her place"

I saw Emilion's body tense, starting to fill with rage, good. It was a big deal for him, he was talented no doubt in that but there was someone out there better, the best.

It started at the ball, three years ago in Paris when they announced—giving awards for the best assassin, hacker, leader and fighter. He walked into that room thinking he was the best and he was, but only in that room.

The best assassin was never announced. No name, no information, nothing. After that day, he would work out everyday, go on tons of missions, killing, stealing, kidnapping and seducing. He kept trying each year to be on top, to be the best. Yet, each year left him disappointed like the one before. He never gave up, that's not the person who he is. But it sure was his weakness. If you want to be his friend, never bring it up unless you want to see him blow up your head. I was sick of his words, his ways. He took a second to calm down "scusa capo"
[translate: sorry boss].

I nodded at his words, looking back at Dante. He didn't know what we should do either "Maybe we should just go Alessandro, there's not much we could do. We can't reach her or even get close other than going there" He was right, the three of us knew it,  that was the only way to solve all this confusion, yet something felt off and we all felt it. She wouldn't give her address to the man who kidnapped her, the one his father wanted her dead. It didn't make sense, but nothing ever did.

I stood up from my chair "Be ready at nine in the morning" I said while making my way towards the door. "why''

"WE'RE GOING TO VISIT SOMEONE"

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