"We need to get up." Matteo whispers into my ear, and I groan in protest, wanting to stay beneath the warm covers where I'm safe in Matteo's arms.

My whole body feels like it's floating upon a very fluffy cloud, where none of the world's problems can reach me. I'm in control.

"We need dinner..." He says.

He doesn't finish his sentence, though I think I can get the main gist of it. 'We need dinner... Because tomorrow is going to be a shit-hole of a day, and we are probably going to die.'

Tomorrow I finally meet Harry, the man who killed my father, Scott and taken hostage both Dante and Alice - As well as tortured and threatened their lives. When I finally get to look the bastard in the eyes, it'll be when I have a gun aimed at his forehead, and a bullet in his skull.

I sit up from the comfortable position I had been lying in, and stare at Matteo in all his beauty. I feel so many different emotions when I look at him, and they all seem to contradict each other. Though I know for sure that I feel strongly for him. I don't know if it's love, but It doesn't need to be... I'm happy with what it is at the moment.

And besides, I have bigger things to worry about besides my feelings regarding him, like what kind of gun I'm going to use to kill Harry, and how many bullets I'm going to put through his body.

I purse my lips, and let them curl into an unforgiving smirk.

"What are you smiling about?" He grins.

I turn to look back down at him, his body still laying on the bed, propped up by a few pillows. His chest is bare, exposing his toned body and I have to look away to hide the red tinge which I can feel creeping over my complexion in embarrassment.

I hadn't slept with Matteo.

As much as I wanted to - I couldn't. Not after what happened with Scott, I couldn't deal with another scare and I didn't want to run the risk. I couldn't put myself through something like that - Not again.

"Nothing." I say as I slide from the bed and head towards my suitcase which is still cramped in the corner of my bedroom. Taking out a simple blue dress, I quickly slide it over my shoulders.

I turn back to Matteo, who looks at me with longing. "You're beautiful." He smiles.

I fight hard to try and hide the smile which desperately wants to form on my lips, but it shows through. "You're not too bad yourself." I mumble as I stalk towards the bathroom, spraying perfume and washing my face with some water.

I can't help but stare at the ugly bruise which is still clearly visible on my neck. I reach to touch it, but a hand stops me from doing so.

I look up at Matteo whose eyes are wide and filled with so much emotion, that I struggle to decipher what he's feeling. He doesn't say anything, but he doesn't need to.

I drop my hand and look back into the mirror, at my mistake. My mistake in trusting a man too blindly, in looking past all the things that made him suspicious, because I was too desperate to believe that not everyone in this world has ulterior motives. I will not make that mistake again, and this bruise will be a reminder until it is not longer visible on either my skin or in my mind.

"We are having guests for dinner." Matteo murmurs.

I look up at his reflection, and cock my head to the side.

"I have called in some favours that friends owe me. Tomorrow we will need all the help we can get. I can guarantee that Harry will not be working alone. He will have recruited others to help him."

I nod my head. Of course Harry has others helping him. He's going to do everything in his power to attain what he wants - Being me, and my death.

"I'm going to go get dressed, meet me outside your room in five minutes." Matteo says, before quickly kissing me on the cheek, leaving me alone.

I decide to put on a bit of makeup since we are having guests, as well as do my hair up in a high bun. I'm not the best at hair - But it'll have to do.

Once I'm ready, I step outside the room and find Matteo waiting patiently. "You took three minutes longer." He says.

"A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do." I retort, smiling.

"Of course." Matteo grins, holding his arm out for me to link mine with. I take it and we begin our journey to the dining room.

Heading down the main entrance stairs, I can't help but notice that the floor is pristine, not a speck of Scott's blood in sight. It's like he's been wiped away from existence, with only the memory of him to exist within my mind.

I bite my lip and hurry my pace through the entrance.

After a few twists and turns, Matteo and I finally make it to two large double doors with beautiful copper handles. Matteo looks down at me before opening the doors and stepping inside, with me following closely behind him.

The first thing I notice is the huge chandelier which hangs above the long mahogany table beneath it. Crystals dangle from the centrepiece decoration and sparkle in the warm light emanating from the buttery sunset outside.

I look down to scan the seats at the table, and the men and women who fill it.

I first notice Antonio; Matteo's father at the head of the table, his fingers wrapped around a wine glass, holding on as if it were his lifeline. He's engaged in conversation with a familiar looking plump man which I am sure I've seen somewhere before, though I can't see to place where.

Scanning further around the room, my eyes land upon a very familiar face.

Luca, one of the men who my father had set as my security detail when he was in New York.

I can't help but feel grateful that he's here - Not with Harry, despite him currently being in possession of my fathers... Everything.

There are two others in the room - A woman and a man. They both look fairly young, maybe in their late twenties or early thirties, and I suspect them to be in some sort of relationship, as I notice them holding hands.

"Good evening everyone." Matteo greets, and everyone's attention drifts towards us. I suddenly feel very small. "Thank you for attending, your help is greatly appreciated, and hopefully after all of this blows off - We'll be able to get back to business as usual."

The couple stand from their seats and walk towards us, the man firmly shaking Matteo's hand. "I'm humbled you were able to put our differences aside, and ask for my help." The man says in almost a mocking tone. I look to Matteo who's jaw seems to be tense - More tenses than usual.

"Valentino," Matteo acknowledges, then turning to the girl. "Angelina, it's always a pleasure to see you."

I look up to her face and stare into her auburn gaze, rippling with fire. Her skin is tan - A rich caramel, with straight dark brown hair, similar to mine, looking effortlessly beautiful. "You too, though under the circumstances, I would say it's unfortunate." She says with a thick Italian accent.

"Yes, indeed. But with your aid, I'm sure everything will go smoothly." Matteo assures, looking back down at me. "Mia, this is Angelina and Valentino, they are past clients of mine."

"It's nice to meet you Mia." Angelina says, holding out her hand.

"It's nice to meet you too." I say, taking her hand in mine.

Valentino only gives me a strange look before heading back to the table and taking a seat. "Come, sit with me." Angelina beckons.

Taking a seat at her side, I look over to Luca who sits opposite me, and he gives me a warm smile. "It's nice to see you alive and well." He says.

I give him a genuine smile. "Thank you for helping."

"Anything for Roman."

Just hearing his name, makes me want to tear up, but I somehow refrain.

"Well, we best get started." Matteo claps his hands and the discussion begins.

The night progresses fast, as we are served dinner and everyone discusses the rough plan of attack. It seems that this is not the first discussion that has occurred between them, as it appears they already know what is going to happen.

I listen to as much as I can take in, but even then, I find myself getting lost in the complexity of it.

The only thing that I have so far drawn from the night is that the large old man is one of the people Matteo had spoken to that night at the ball in Japan: Stefano. I recall trying to guess what he did within the underworld, and from what I heard, it sounds like he works with production and distribution of weapons of all sorts.

"And what about the girl... What will she be doing during all of this?" I watch Valentino as he eyes me.

"Mia will not be anywhere close to the funeral." Matteo states, and my head instantly snaps towards him.

"What?" I question.

Matteo taps the table absentmindedly with his index finger, his eyes looking down at the table. "I have no doubt that after the funeral has concluded, Harry will not hesitate to kill you."

"Then I'll wear a disguise, I don't care! There is no way I'm not going to my fathers funeral!" I yell, feeling the heat of anger rise within my cheeks.

I watch Matteo open his mouth to retort something back, but Angelina beats him to it. "What if Mia goes as Val's plus one?" She suggests.

Everyone's gaze turns to her, waiting for an explanation, including Valentino who looks highly disgusted. Angelina seems to ignore his exaggerated look.

"What if Mia goes with Valentino, in my place? Harry wouldn't suspect Val to be working with Matteo due to your volatile relationship, so why would he bat an eye at his plus one? And then, I can take Mia's place, we already look similar as it is, so who would notice the difference? We could just wear a veil to hide any of the differences."

The room is silent as everyone tries to wrap their minds around Angelina's plan.

"So what? You suggest that you go and pretend to be Mia, putting yourself in danger instead of her?" Valentino question, his composed nature being quite unsettling.

Angelina nods her head. "I have more experience and training, I'll be capable of handling myself."

"Seems plausible." Luca states.

I turn to Matteo whose face is unreadable. And then he looks up at me, his eyes meeting mine. "Okay," He says. "Mia will go with Valentino and Angelina will accompany me... From there, we'll continue with the plan as discussed."

I give Matteo a curt nod, it may not look like much, but I hope he understands that I am conveying the utmost gratitude.

"Domani mattina farò recapitare le scatole qui." (Tomorrow morning I will have the boxes delivered here.) Stefano says, distracting from the unaddressed tension within the room.

"And what if this doesn't work?" Antonio finally speaks after having remained silent throughout the whole dinner. "What if at the end of the day, we have nothing but a large mess to clean up, what then?" He scoffs.

"That won't happen." Matteo grits.

"I think you overestimate your power, Matteo." He growls, standing from the table and storming out of the room. "It will be your funeral."

I look back to Matteo, who stares at the seat where his father had just occupied. He looks as if he's about to snap at any moment, but before he does, he stands abruptly.

"Thank you for attending dinner, I expect everyone to be here nine o'clock tomorrow morning." And then he storms out leaving me behind.

I take in a shaky breath.

"I hope you are ready for tomorrow, Mia." Angelina says, placing a hand on my shoulder. " A lot of people are going to die."

My nails dig into the palm of my hands until I feel blood draw.

"I know." I whisper.

"We'll see you tomorrow." She says, and she stands from her chair, Valentino at her side. The link hands and depart without another word.

"Don't listen to anyone Mia. No one is sure of how tomorrow will turn out. Within our occupation, everyone learns to expect the worst." Luca says. And despite their intended comforting nature, they only make me feel worse.

"Luca, can I ask you for something?" I question, looking up from my plate, towards the man opposite me.

"Of course." He says.

"I need a gun."

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Hey Guys!

I hate this chapter so much with every fibre of my being, I despise it and there are no words to describe my distaste for what I have just wrote. And I feel so awful for not having updated for soooooo long, literally after I promised I would update every two days.

Anyway, enough of my apologising... Random question of the day: How do you want the story to end?

Love ya'll!

-FoggyCloudyWords