"What the fuck is going on here?" Franco boomed out, his hand hovered upon where his gun rested. He wasn't one to condone violence, since Rio witnessed his anger getting the best of him all those years ago, but he'd like to think he is a changed man after attending many family therapy sessions.

"Ask the love of your life, and my so called mother!" Rio spat, not once taking her eyes of Charlotte.

Franco's eyes flickered back and forth both from Rio and Charlotte, he was utterly confused and that wasn't from the debris that collapsed onto him all those minutes ago.

"Charlie, what is she on about? I don't understa-" Franco was interrupted by Charlotte's sobs and wails.

"It was me! I was the one who put Rio's name on the list all those years ago, it was me alright!" Charlotte frantically wailed. "I intended on removing it, I wanted to kill whoever created the list in the first instance, but every time I got close to discovering who it was and their location, they would relocate and change identity.

It's like they knew exactly what I was doing and how I was doing it!"

Rio lowered her gun from her mother's head in a state of realisation, she had to think about all the possible avenues. Was someone blackmailing and threatening her mother into doing such a disgusting crime? Or worst of all was she doing it in return for a high sum of money?

"No, no raise the gun it was just getting good!" Cassius groaned.

"Shut the fuck up!" Luca raised, aimed his gun at Cassius' thigh and fired with no hesitation. The loud noise made Rio and Carson flinch, their PTSD getting the best of them.

That story would be explained another time.

All three Esposito men turned towards Luca and rolled their eyes at him, Franco held out his hand motioning for Luca to give up his gun to him.

No more blood needed to be shed as much as it already had been, that was for the sake of the family. Handing his father his one and only gun, Luca crossed his arms in front of his chest in a sulk, whilst Franco put the gun into the waistband of his pants.

Suddenly, a swarm of guards who Rio and Carson could clearly identify as Franco's soldiers stormed throughout the remains of the restaurant, almost instantly they made their way towards Cassius, who made a sad attempt of trying to escape.

Even though his thigh was profusely pouring with blood, he tried to escape which led to him being pinned to the far by his head.

Even after removing Cassius from the premises, the Esposito family plus Carson didn't dare move a single inch. All of them very cautious on Rio and Charlotte's next moves.

As much as it would give Rio the satisfaction, she knew she didn't have the mentality or the heart to murder her own mother-it would destroy the Esposito family.

She clenched the gun tightly in her hands until her knuckles were white, however the familiar feeling of Carson's hands overtook her senses as he took the gun from her safely; making sure he put the safety back on.

"Rio, there's been enough drama as it is, just think rationally-I know you're angry but murdering your mother won't give you the closure that you need." Carson murmured in her ear.

Carson was still furious with Riri, but he knew full well she was having an inner battle with the demons that have haunted her for years and he couldn't just not help her.

Riri instantly turned her gaze onto Carson and stared into his eyes, after a couple of moments of silence Rio rolled her eyes and stormed away. "Once we've got Nona and Popo, we are getting the fuck outta here!"

Sorry for the delay, I was in a car crash a couple of weeks ago so I have been having to recover before I started to even think of writing another short chapter.

It's going to start getting juicy don't worry.

Xoxox