✧

Angel takes a seat on the single chair and pulls me down with him, pushing me into his lap.

I adjust myself and place my head on his chest.

My head tilts upwards as I look up at the countless dazzling stars in the sky.

"They're pretty aren't they?" I say.

I divert my focus away from the stars and look up at Angel, who was looking down at me already.

My hand creeps up to his cheek, as I trail my fingertips over his silky skin.

His eyes follow my every move, his powerful stare watching me.

The startling sound of his phone blares through our ears, and I look away from him, closing my eyes as he puts his phone to his ear.

"Si?"

The other person on the line could be heard on the other end of the phone, and their voice

sounded strained and frantic.

As soon as the person spoke, Angel's body stiffened up.

He hung up after a minute and ran his hand through his silky hair.

"Are you all right?" I ask as I run my thumb over his cheek.

He nods and places his lips to my temple, looking down at me.

"We have to leave." He informs me.

With a sigh and a nod, I attempt to get up.

Angel had beaten me to it and pulled me into his arms as he brought me back inside with him.

My arms wrapped around his neck and laid my head on his shoulder.

"Drake." Angel's voice rang out.

I peaked my eyes over Angel's shoulder, my eyes connected with Drakes but he looked away instantly as he walked in front of Angel and me.

"Slavics are causing shít." Angel informs.

I snicker at his terms.

"They're holding a meeting now to update us on everything."

Drake nods and looks at me.

"Is she coming?" Drake asks, his tone critical.

Angel stares at him with dark eyes.

"She is. Got a problem Greyson?" Angel says in a daring tone.

Drake shakes his head and turns around to leave.

"If it's a problem Angel, I don't have to come." I whisper in his ear.

"I want you there." Angel says as he walks up to his car.

Angel opened the passenger side door and led me in.

He shut the door after placing me in, and I fastened my belt.

He sped away as soon as he got in, with Drake's car following close after.

"Where are we going?" I ask him.

"Empire." He answers shortly.

I nod my head and look outside the window.

After a short drive we had finally arrived at the familiar mansion.

The enormous round driveway was surrounded by Black Mercedes and other Black and Silver Sedans.

Angel exited his side and, as routine, opened my door for me.

As we stepped inside, he wrapped his arm around my waist.

Carlos and Marina Romano were waiting for us when we entered the living room.

Marina stood at Carlos' side as he listened intently to the enormous man in front of him.

Marnia's head perked up at the sound of our footsteps, and when she saw me, her face lit up with a smile.

"Daisy, darling!" She exclaims as she wraps her arms around me.

I smile and I wrap my arms around her slender figure.

"Hi, Mrs Romano," I say.

She gives me a little slap on the shoulder and pulls away.

"Call me Marina, silly." I giggle and nod.

She shifted her gaze to Angel, who wore an emotionless expression on his face as he stood beside me.

Marina placed her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, she smiled warmly at him.

"You better be treating that gorgeous girl well, son." She says sternly, her stare fixed on him.

Angel takes her hands away and rolls his eyes at her.

"He is," I let her know.

She smiles and puts my hand in hers.

"Come on, while the men speak, we can do some baking."

I smile at her and nod my head.

Just before I could leave Angel grabs me by the waist.

"Kiss." He says pointing to his cheek.

I give him a stupid smile and motion for him to lower his head for me.

He leans down and I place my lips on his cheek.

His hand pats my hip, indicating that I was able to leave.

I turn around and proceed into the kitchen with Marina, turning my head back behind my shoulder and making eye contact with Angel just before entering.

A smirk touches his lips as I wave at him once more.

With that, I turned around and walked over to a cheerful Marina.

✧

✧

"There's been threats on our Empire." Carlos Romano, the leader, announces.

"We know that the Sluvics leader has currently moved into town, which means the whole gang will be moving as well." He announces, lacing his hands together he looks up at his men.

"As a result of this, our Empire must be on high alert. They'll be lurking, eyes will be everywhere, and we'll all need to be on high alert if we find out we're dealing with Russians as well."

"In all places, I will have men monitoring who comes in and out. I will not let everything we've worked for to be thrown away because of a little gang and our newly formed alliance with our adversary."

"So I want every single one of you to train hard because I'll have men out every day and night running shifts. I'll send a few of my most trusted men to pick up and distribute shipments."

Carlos looks away from his men and turns to his only son.

"Finally, I don't want any distractions." He says as he looks across at Angel.

Angel's head was bowed as he gave his father a dark expression.

"During this time, we all require a clean mind and the ability to think clearly." He says and looks back at his men.

"If I discover that any of you have lied, betrayed, or just cannot do your job well, you, your family, and all loved ones will all be dead before sunrise." Carlos reminded them darkly.

"Sono chiaro?"

Translation; Am I clear?

"Si." All of the males say this at the same time.

Translation; Yes.

"Good. Everyone knows their parts for tonight, meanwhile, myself and some others will be sorting out arrangments for the rest of the week."

"Siete tutti licenziati."

Translation; You are all dismissed.

All of the men discreetly nod and leave the room.

The few remaining men watched their distraught leader gaze at them all with disdain.

Angel, the Italian/British Mafia's hire, rose from his seat and strolled stealthily over to the whisky on the table in the room's far corner.

He grabbed the clear glass from the rack and poured himself a drink gradually.

He took the dark liquid to his lips, his tongue glided across his bottom lip and he drank the contents.

The boy's gaze went to his father, patiently waiting for the wrath.

"No doubt there will be rats lurking around in our Empire, so I want you all to be aware." He starts.

"Money and weaponry will be sought by the Sluvics. That is one of their primary problems, and we are most definitely on the top of their list to steal from." Carlos states moving around the room.

"The Russians are very likely to be working with them; they want money, men, power, and everything in between, and they will attempt to steal it." He says bluntly.

"So everything will be held in high regard, and I'd like you all to keep a tight eye on your locations when on missions." He finishes.

Carlos turns to his most trusted men and looks at his son.

"Angel will be in charge, while I take care of arrangements."

Angel nods and looks over at his three friends, giving them the look to talk later.

"For the time being, that's all there is to it." Carlos says dismissing them.

Angel was the first to depart, wanting to be free of his father's critical space.

Angel felt compelled to stay close to Daisy at all times.

That was why he was so agitated because he was in the same place as her but not in her company at the same moment.

The menacing boy made his way through the mansion's dark corridors, eager to see his girl.

He made it to the brightly illuminated living room, where his gaze fell on his mother.

She looked up at him and then over to the couch, which was now occupied by Daisy, who was fast asleep.

"She fell asleep in the middle of preparing the cookies." Marina tells her son about it.

Angel gives her a nod and reaches out to Daisy.

His gaze was drawn to the sleeping beauty, and he wondered how someone with such a cruel heart could obtain someone with such a pure one.