TWO

Gio remained quiet and listened how they conversed.Loyalty and respect is everything in this business without it your whole organization will crumble and fall.His men knows the meaning of lealta and rispetto.That's why his organization is the strongest and the biggest,it cannot be infiltrated unless he has a mole working for him.”You're dismissed.Except for Marco.”

He watched as they exit his office leaving him alone with his brother,another shipment is coming in tomorrow.”Something wrong brother?”

“Is everything set for tomorrow.”

“Yes I'll be overseeing the shipment since Marcelo will be on guard duty.”Marco didn't want to tell his brother he wanted to be the one to watch them,it will give Gio cause for suspicion especially since he likes Arielle and today isn't the first time he's seen her.

“Where?”He heard Gio asked.“Brielle’s sister.You've seen her before.Where.”He sipped on his shot.

“Nothing gets past you.”Marco mumbled under his breath.”I saw her in the club a few weeks back with whom I assume is her asshole of a boyfriend,he's a bit heavy handed.”

“And you know this how?”Gio asked.

“We bumped into each other on the way to the toilet.A dark bruise was on her face and strangulation marks around her neck,she was probably going to cover them again with her make up in the restroom and I was right because a few minutes later she came out with them covered.”Gio handed him a shot,he gulped it down.”To top it all of that fucker is cheating on her.A new puttana every night at the club,he's a regular too and using.”

“It's not your place to get involve right?”Gio lifted a brow.”Stay out of it Marco,I know you and I can see what's running in your head I will not have you jeopardizing the plan.”

“Once we go for Brielle,she's coming too.No questions asked.”He had a stare off with his brother he's the first one to look away.”Tell me one thing brother.”

“What?”Giovanni has a feeling he won't like the question.

“That you wouldn't kill the fucker who put his hands on Brielle.” Silence filled the room.”You'd crave his blood and more.”When Gio still didn't answer he headed for the door.”Goodnight and I can't wait to finally meet the new regina after all a king is only complete when he's found his queen and it seems you've already found her.”Smile on his face he watched Marco quietly close the door and leaving him with his thoughts.If he wasn't his brother he would've put a bullet in his head for over stepping his boundaries and telling him the shit he did.He doesn't need anyone,this organization is his life and it will forever remain so,he has no place for emotions in his life,the last person he had loved was taken away from him,so cruelly.From there he made a vow.Never again.....

Brielle gently pushed the door to their apartment open with her shoulder since her hands are occupied with all the grocery bags. ”Arielle!”She shouted from the doorway.”A little help please.” Arielle is her sister,adoptive sister the two of them live together and split all the bills equally.Paying for an apartment here in Manhattan doesn't come cheap.Their relationship is the best and got only stronger after the passing of their mother a few years back,as for their father he's a drunk who only cares about a bottle of whiskey more than his own daughters or grandchildren. ”Thanks.”She said when Ari took two of the bags.

“You do know it was my turn to buy groceries this month.”Ari told her,as she set the bags on the kitchen counter.

“And I do remember telling you I'll cover it after that asshole maxed out your card.”Brielle despises Brad,he's a dick and is only using Arielle as a punching bag and for her money.The bastard doesn't even work all he does is sponge of her sister and taking advantage of her generosity.”When are

you leaving him Ari.He isn't good for you.”

“Did you forget what happened the last time I talked to him.”How can she forget she'd been here when he had broken her ribs and arm.”He isn't so bad if I listen to him and do what he says.”

Brielle gaped at her sister.”Are you kidding me Arielle!”She pointed to the bruises on her neck and arms.”You always covered in bruises,you can't go out or have friends.When is the last time you enjoyed yourself with your friends... oh I forget he drove them all away.”

“Brie please...”She begged.”Not now.”

“Get a restraining order I don't want to bury my sister.You all I have Ari.”Brielle went over to give her a hug.”Promise me you'll leave him.”

“Promise.He's coming over tomorrow hopefully I'll talk to him.”

“I don't want him around the twins.Speaking of twins.Where are they?”Brie asked.”I got a call from Alessio’s school again he got into another fight.”

“I guess it's safe to say the anger management classes isn't working.”Brie nodded at her question.”That boy is six years old and gets angry so fast it's frightening.One minute he is happy as joker, the next minute the slightest thing ticks him off.Especially where his sister is concerned somehow she

calms him down.”

“Yip they are polar opposites.Ava is the quiet one..more reserved, controlled and calm.Alessio on the other hand is like a ticking time bomb I'm at my wits end with that boy.I talked to him,taken him to see someone but he clamps up and expresses his angry side.”

“Do you think it has something to do with his father.”Ari asked.

She shrugged.”I don't know Ari.Giovanni and I had a fling,mutual sex between two adults.He made it clear after we sleep together it's done.He doesn't sleep with the same woman twice.”

“Yet you ended up spending more than a few days in his bed”She sighed.”Have you considered reaching out to him and telling him about the twins.”

She nodded.”I did but the number I had was out of service,I guess he changed numbers after our brief hook up.”

“I can't believe you lost your virginity to a hot Italian man,I hear they are good in bed.How was it to be his whore.”Brielle gasped aloud.”What?”Ari asked innocently.”I wouldn't mind spending a few nights with one of them,the things I'll let him do to me.Did he go all kinky on you.”

Brie gasped again,her cheeks turning red.”NO!”She continued to put the groceries away.”What's wrong with you.”

“I wouldn't mind being dominated in the bedroom.And from that blush on your face I'd say you wouldn't either.Don't we all get tired of plain old vanilla sex.”

“Vanilla sex.”She heard Ava say in the kitchen door way,Brie’s eyes turned large as saucers.”Is that a new ice cream flavor.”

“Yes it is sweetie.”Brie said going over to her daughter while glaring at her sister.

“Can I have some too.”She asked in her innocent little voice.”I love vanilla ice cream.”Ari burst out laughing,while Brie could only stare at her daughter.

“Sweetie you wouldn't like that at all.Why don't you go to your room and call your brother.”

“I'm right here.”He answered.”And I'm hungry.What's for lunch aunt Ari and why are you laughing.”

“Oh it's nothing honey.Sit down while I rummage through the fridge for something to eat.”

Brie got up and straighten her skirt,she still hasn't changed out of her work clothes.”You young man has some explaining to do.”She told Alessio.”The school called again.”

“Arggh..”He groaned.”Will I ever get a day's peace around here.I already got a lecture from Miss Williams mom.”

“Don't give me that stinking attitude and we wouldn't be having this conversation if you would stop going around beating up other kids.”

“I will once they will stop calling me a bastardo!”

“Basta-...”She stopped.”What are you talking about?And since when can you speak Italian that isn't one of your subjects.”