Vittore's POV

"Sir. He's awake."

My gaze moved from my phone to Maddox. I slid the device in my pocket and walked across my now destroyed lawn, past the crashed car in the side of my building to where my men had tied up one of the survivors of the failed attack.

I stood in front of the man that recently had a bullet wound in his stomach and knee. The sun shine brightly in the sky and there was a stiff breeze that blew past me. The man looked up, his eyes showing nothing but fear. The snake tattoo on the side of his neck was familiar. Sante Di Laura dared to send his men into my home.

"Why were you here?" I asked darkly, glaring at the now trembling man.

"I- I- it was't..."

"I don't understand gibberish so you better speak the fuck up. Now," I commanded.

"It was for revenge! Revenge for stealing from our boss," the coward said and I narrowed my gaze at him before turning to one of my men.

"Bring me the blowtorch," I told him and he went without a word. The coward was now scrambling with his words and speech but we both knew he was lying. "I'm going to give you this one chance before they bring what I asked for. Tell me why you were here and maybe I'll let you live."

"Y-y-you have to believe me. The boss just wanted r-revenge," the coward stuttered but I really didn't like being lied to. It wasn't long until the blowtorch was placed in my hands. I turned it on and placed it on one of the man's bound arms and his scream echoed through my estate.

"Why did you come?" I asked for the last time. The coward's face was red as tears rolled down his cheeks. He could barely get a word out and I sighed, knowing this was useless. I turned the blowtorch on again, placing it on his forehead.

The last of his screams were loud as his face melted and his eyes turned lifeless before me. Once his body slumped in the chair, I held out the blowtorch and it was taken out of my hands.

"Sir we found them," Alexa said walking up to me, a tablet in hand.

"Where?"

"Somewhere at the edge of the town in some hotel I think..." she mumbled, closely looking at her screen, more specifically, the tracker I'd put in my mother. Alexa was sporting a black eye, courtesy of me for not being around when this shit went down. I have no idea where she was and she didn't have to tell me but purple was a good colour on her.

"I'll go get them," I said, walking to the garage to pick out a car.

"I'll arrange a transport team-"

"Alone Alexa," I interrupted, grabbing a keys from the set and clicking the button only for a sleek black ford raptor to light up.

I walked over, opening the door and sliding in. I started the car, making the engine roar to life before I drove out of my estate. Alexa had already sent me the location on my phone so I used that to get to where my mother was. My hands were tightened around the wheel, my mind swimming. I couldn't focus on one thing alone. There was Sante Di Laura, my mother and...

"You have arrived at your destination..."

I parked the car at the entrance of a crappy motel and jumped out. I walked inside, no one really in sight. I walked around the counter and rummaged around until I found a book, memorizing the rooms that had been given out last night. There was only one so I made my way down the disgusting lobby, using the numbers to find the door I hoped my mother was in.

I knocked on it but there was silence on the other side.

"Mamma?" I called and a crashing sound was heard on the other side. The door swung open and my mother crashed into me, holding me tight.

I wrapped my hands around her too and enjoyed the warmth that she excluded. I didn't like having people touch me unless it was absolutely necessary.

"Il mio bambino (My baby)," my mother whispered, giving me a squeeze before pulling back. I looked into her eyes that were eerily similar to mine and noticed something different. Her hair was now a dark ginger.

I pulled on one of the locks and twisted it between my fingers before dropping it. "Ti sta bene (Looks good on you)."

"Grazie (Thank you)," she said, ushering me inside the small crappy apartment. I looked around and noticed she was the only one here, making me frown. Where was Dalia?

I'd avoided every thought of her as long as I could but there was a stir in my chest when I went back to my mansion and she wasn't there nor was my mother. I knew she could take care of herself but...

"Cosa è successo mamma (What happened mamma)?" I asked as I was made to sit down on one of the beds, my mother opposite me. She took my hands in hers and sighed, a frown gracing her features.

"We were watching a movie, having fun, sharing laughs when Dalia heard someone moving in the house. She told me to hide while she took care of the guy and we were going to escape using the secret door by the painting but there were men in the living room," my mother started to explain.

"She told me that when the coast was clear, I make a run for it then disappeared for a while. There wasn't any opening really but some men left. They knew what she was doing and I felt utterly powerless to help. She returned like she promised and we managed to get in the garage but we got into separate cars. She went first and I followed later, going straight to a meeting point she had picked out."

My mother let go of my hands, leaning back with a breath as she rubbed her thighs. "She got us food, hair dye and this hotel and we just had to play the waiting game."

I absorbed my mother's words, none easing the slight stir in my chest. I hated this feeling but I couldn't exactly make it go away unless I saw her with my own eyes.

"Dov'è lei (Where is she)?" I asked my mother.

"Out. Scouting or something," she replied glancing at the door. "She'll be back in a few moments. She has been doing it all morning."

Just then, the door opened but I didn't turn.

"The coast is clear Faye but I think Vittore's here. I saw his car outsi... why do I even bother?"

I turned to face Dalia and my eyes roamed over her perfect hourglass figure, her smooth brown skin, noticing she cut her hair. The locks that once fell to her slim waist now grazed her shoulders and curls fell on her forehead. I was a man with eyes and what I saw was something worth my attention.

Dalia crossed her arms across her chest, a defiant look in her brown eyes. Her stance held strong and her hip cocked to one side.

"Go to the car," I told my mother, handing her the keys. She nodded, standing up and patting my head like she did when I was child. She gave Dalia a light pat on her cheek before she walked out, leaving us in silence. I stood up and faced her.

"Snake tattoo on the side of the neck. Where does it come from, what does it mean?" she asked, going straight to business.

"The Vipers" I answered honestly. Despite me not completely trusting her, Dalia hadn't shown any signs of treachery. I knew her style of fighting, it was similar to the one I was taught so that meant we had a similar code of conduct.

"They were after me. Not Faye, not money, not you... me," she said like the thought of it was bizarre. I knew it wasn't. As much as she denied it, Dalia was unique, skilled and everyone wanted a piece of her. Including me.

"What are your thoughts on it?" I asked, slowly advancing towards her but she maintained eye contact and held her ground.

"There's someone else at play. The Vipers don't seem like the type to strike on the whim," she said and I had gotten close to her, invading her personal space.

"They aren't."

"So which mafia could it be?" she asked, her voice softer and her stance less tense.

"Dozens. I'm not exactly one to play by the rules," I said, my eyes enjoying the sight before me.

"I noticed that," she sassed, rolling her eyes, her tone changing along with her stance. She pushed past me and I closed my eyes for a second, fighting the urge to pull her back and make her face me like she'd just been doing.

I turned, opening my eyes, my gaze watching Dalia as she walked and a small frown made it's way to my face when I noticed her limping. Usually, her hips would sway in a sensual and hypnotic way that demanded attention but now, she favoured her left leg.

"What happened to your leg?" I asked moving closer to Dalia.

"Nothing I can't handle," she said and my jaw clenched at her defiant tone.

"Sit," I commanded and she glared at me. She opened her mouth to argue again but I returned her glare with a dark one of my own.

"Sit tesoro," I said, my voice having dropped a few octaves.

Dalia didn't like it but she still put her pretty little ass down on the bed. I went on one knee in font of her, lifting her left leg in my hands as my dark eyes roamed over the pants she was wearing, noticing the blood that soaked the side. I kept my attention there and noticed how part of the cloth was torn.

I turned her leg and peeled the torn piece of cloth away only to see a stitched wound. My whole body stopped and tensed.

"It's juts a flesh wound," she whispered.

Just a flesh wound! I set a glare at her, clearly telling her to keep quiet. I inspected the wound and the stitches. They were done well and they didn't look like they'd pop or come loose. I didn't understand the stir in my chest that had come back tenfold. The only thought on my mind was finding who hurt her and making them pay.