The fifteen year old Anna Rosario was sitting in a car next to her mother, Patricia Rosario as they were being driven by heavy security. They were heading for an Agostini owned hotel in Las Vegas where there was going to be a wedding reception held for the marriage between a distant cousin of the Augustini head of family and a member of the Marciano family.

The wedding was held in Las Vegas instead of Italy since it was summer time and the Augustinis and the Marcianos stayed in America for the school holidays where their children studied in boarding schools for part of the academic year. In fact, the children of most Italian criminal families studied abroad to learn a new language and make friends with the high class elites.

Anna was so reluctant to attend this wedding. She was kind of hoping the trip they were taking from the airport to the hotel was going to be a long one. She did not look forward to having fun at the wedding at all now that her father wasn't able to attend with her and her mother. He was busy as with work and had to miss this party just like many other times when he wasn't able to accompany his family to weddings and birthday parties. Even at Christmas and thanksgiving sons times he was away. However, no one missed him except Anna and her mother. He was not well liked at all.

Anna turned to her mother and voiced her thoughts " Mum, I wish people didn't hate father so much. I wish people treated him like they treat you and I. Why can't people be nice to him and not be sarcastic about him every chance they get. I am sure all these people at the wedding all will have a shot at trying to say mean things about father."

Patricia smiled " Sweetie. They are just jealous of your father. That's why they are bitter. Ignore them."

Anna spoke " Mum, why would anyone be Jealous of father? He is normal."

Patricia started laughing and started to cough. Her daughter didn't know that much about her fathers past or present. She knew he was a good sniper and a well sought after employee of the Rosarios but she didn't know anything else. She liked to keep it that way. The less Anna knew the better. But when Anna turned eighteen, she was going to tell her their life story in more detail.

Patricia turned to her daughter who looked at her mother with questioning eyes " Sweetie. Your father is far from normal. Your father lives a life that many can't even dream of. He is the most skilled sniper in the Rosario criminal organisation and protected by your uncles. That means he is untouchable..."

Anna spoke " But no one accepts father as a Rosario though. He changed his family name to Rosario for you mum but no one looks at him like a Rosario."

Patricia smiled " What does it matter sweetie? But why do you think they don't accept him as a Rosario? It's all because all these other families are so frustrated with what your father has that they can't have. They are jealous so that is why they call your father still by his family name out of envy and make sarcastic remarks..."

Anna sighed " And what is it that father has achieved that they can't? Don't tell me it's " marrying you." It can't be just that."

Patricia laughed " But sweetie. That's a big part of the reason. Marrying me was something many were after but didn't achieve. So they are jealous of your father. My marriage nearly didn't happen because of how other families alongside my own went after your father."

Anna murmured " I know mum... I suppose so." She then looked out the window. She couldn't argue with her mother. It was hard to understand but she had to accept that was most the reason why her father wasn't liked by many. He was respected but not loved.

Patricia looked at her daughter and reached her hand to her golden Curley hair that resembled her father's. She started stroking her hair and sighed deeply with a smile. It was a miracle how she had been allowed to marry her beloved Roberto and have Anna. When first she was found with Roberto, everyone wanted his blood including her parents since he had dared to fall in love with his boss's daughter who was a well sought after Rosario.

If it wasn't for her brother, Piero then Patricia wasn't going to be able to marry the man she loved. If it wasn't for Piero, she wasn't going to have this bundle of joy sitting next to her in that moment. She was most likely going to end up mourning Bernardo's death at her fathers hands for years and was going to be married to a man of her parents choosing that she didn't love by now. She knew she was lucky to have a love marriage and having a strong family. She was hoping that Anna could end up like her.

Indeed, they were a strong and close family. Patricia and Roberto were the perfect patents who showed Anna nothing but love. They always encouraged her to be herself. She had freedoms that many other girls didn't have. She was allowed to go hunting with her father. She was allowed to go horse riding and was trained to shoot targets at a very young age. She had many unusual hobbies that only boys in her family did. Indeed she got along well with her cousins.

Anna turned to her mother and voiced her thoughts " Mother, why are we even going to this wedding so early? Do we have to be there for breakfast? We are staying the night any ways. Why can't we go see the city?

Patricia spoke " Sweetie we were invited to go there early. It's good for you to get to play with girls your age. Amaranta, Sancia and Georgina are there. Arturo's sister, Alicia is there too. Don't you look forward to see her? You have so much in common with her."

Anna shrugged " She is alright ." But of course she didn't continue her sentence and didn't say anything about how she felt about Alicia's brother, Arturo. The thought of him made her nervous for some reason. There was something about him that made her feel uneasy. He was just ... everywhere that she was whenever there was a party. He kept staring at her when ever she went in a room. He did make small talk with her under Francesco's watchful stare of course. But of course Francesco didn't mind him. He was a close friend of Francesco's.

Arturo was so persistent and didn't take no for an answer and it bothered Anna. It worried her. It was hard to get rid of him especially when there was a dance at parties. Arturo was the only boy who even dared to ask her to dance in parties. She always said no. Her mother had taught her to not feel pressured to say yes to boys. Her mother had taught her that if a boy really wanted to dance with only her he was going to be willing to wait a life time for her. She had taught her to test boys loyalty this way. If they didn't move on to another girl in the same party after she said no, they were worth her time. Arturo never danced ever. The only girl he asked to dance with was her. Actually the only girl he even had any conversations with was her. Not that girls fell over each other to talk to him. He was very intimidating just like how Francesco was. That was why Anna tried to avoid him even though he had proven he was worth her time. Those eyes made her feel strange. As though he looked right through her . It was like he knew her already.

Patricia spoke " We are getting close. Tell me sweetie, how would you act?"

Anna smiled " I will be respectful mum. But if they say nasty things about dad, I will answer back to kids or I will tell you if adults do it."

Patricia nodded " You can tell your uncles too to defend you. They always do when you ask. Your uncle Piero and uncle Paulo are there right now."

Anna spoke " Are my cousins going to be there too? All of them?"

Patricia spoke " Yes sweetie. They will. But be careful and don't tell anyone about who Antonio is. No one except us, your uncle Piero and your cousins know. We don't want your uncle Paulo to find out."

Anna laughed " I won't tell mum. Antonio is just introduced as some kid uncle Piero is adopting. He looks like his mother luckily so uncle Paulo can't tell. When will uncle Piero make it official he has a son from auntie Martha?"

Patricia sighed " As later as possible. Hopefully when he is all grown up."

The car then stopped in front of the massive hotel. The guards surrounded their car as the chauffeur opened the door for the two ladies to get off.

Patricia and Anna got off the car and walked up the steps to reception and were lead to their rooms.

Anna sat down on her bed and spoke " Mum. I am going to be bored out of my mind by one thirty even the wedding service is. Can I go find Georgina maybe?"

Patricia nodded " Go ahead sweetie. I will be down in the gardens after I get changed. That's where the service is sweetie. Don't be late."

Anna rolled her eyes " As if I could be. Guards are swarming this place. They will find me and accompany me there when the hour arrives even if I tried missing the service."

As she walked towards the door, her mother spoke " Be respectful but take no nonsense. They are our equals down there."

Anna sighed as she turned around " Don't worry mum. I know. See you at the service." She then opened the door and walked out. As Anna walked down corridors she asked in a bored tone from guards who followed her " Where are the children at?"

One of the guards who followed her spoke " Miss Rosario, they are in the youth reception where there are game stands available. It's located in the lobby just next to reception."

Anna nodded and walked down stairs. She saw the heavily guarded room and opened the door but of course no guards were allowed in. As she opened the door, she smiled as she saw her best friends sitting on the floor in the corner playing cards. She then rolled her eyes as she saw the boys in the other corner playing billiard and arguing. They were just showing off and trying to score high even in a game as unimportant as billiard. Her smile faded as she saw Arturo's stare being zeroed on her. She looked away quickly. Her cousins were here but of course they weren't much help if he started talking to her. That boy made her nervous. She couldn't control it. She just wanted to avoid him.

Georgina stood up and embraced her " You made it girl." She then turned to others " Now that Anna is here, lets do something more fun." She then turned to Anna " Sit down."

Alicia and Amaranta nodded but Sancia looked indifferent as Georgina and Anna sat down.

Sancia spoke " Something fun? There is a wedding happening. That's the fun. I say we could go see some of the wedding designers upstairs. I really want them to make me some dresses."

Georgina spoke " I don't know. My mum is doing that already so is your mum. I like it that they have left us alone. I think we should go exploring the hotel."

Alicia laughed " Oh I like that. But you should take on the guards. They won't let us go anywhere alone. So it's a guided your rather than exploring. Maybe another time."

Georgina rolled her eyes " Fine then. Lets gossip then. Hm, but Alicia, I think your people are crazy. What's with the guards."

Alicia frowned " It's also the Marcianos. Look at Roberto there. He has been nothing but bossy today alongside Arturo. It's an Augustini-Marciano wedding but it doesn't mean, they rule the place."

Sancia spoke " Emanuelle is the only one worth talking about amongst them. I don't like none of them."

Amaranta raised an eyebrow " What about Costanzo. He is alright. He is an angel."

Sancia spoke " Exactly. He is too angelic. He is my second choice to dance with tonight. If Emanuelle doesn't ask me to dance I would say yes to Costanzo."

Georgina spoke " I think I would totally dance with Costanzo. Anyone he asks to dance with is real lucky tonight. He is the exact opposite of that scary brother of his. I don't think anyone would want to dance with Francesco. Not that he ever even looks at any girls unless its just hateful glares. Seriously, I feel sorry for Costanzo being related to him. He is a dream and Francesco is a nightmare."

Alicia spoke " A dream? Come on. You like Antonio though."

Georgina put a finger on her lips " Shh. Keep it down. He may hear though. I am trying to make him jealous. But he is a womaniser or so they say."

Anna spoke " Oh, Antonio is just careless just like Georgio. Don't care about anything. Most boys are like that."

Sancia spoke " But what are you complaining about. Your guy is not careless. He is far from it. All Arturo has done ever since this morning is warning off the guards about how they treat you when you come here. The guy just sees you even if a room is filled with women. So count your blessings."

Anna spoke " Thats exactly wrong. When a guy is too pushy then it makes you wonder what they want and if they mean it."

Georgina spoke " Oh, that's your mother talking. Not you. Oh, by the way did your father manage to make it to this wedding this time?"

Anna looked saddened and shook her head " No. He is busy."

Alicia tried to change the subject " Oh look Sergio seems unhappy. Did he just hit no ball? He seems to be pointing a finger at Arturo. He is trying to cheat."

Sancia narrowed her eyes " Giovannis are no cheats."

The argument stopped eventallu as the girls looked on and game went on. Then it was Ambrogio and then Alessio whom were now arguing and shouting at Arturo."

Sancia spoke " Now. They are cheaters. They are Voltolinis."

Amaranta frowned "Voltolinis are no cheats. They are fighters."

Then suddenly the girls froze as what Amaranta said happened exactly. Ambrogio Voltolini threw a punch at Arturo Augostini and Arturo blocked him. A fight broke out and boys somehow ended up wrestling on the floor as the boys were shouting for who they wanted to win.

The girls looked at each other and stood up. They walked to where they were fighting and looked on worriedly.

It was Georgina who was panicking " Someone break them up. If Arturo gets hurt, we are all locked up for duration of the wedding. You can't insult the host."

It was Roberto Marciano who chucked " Stay out of it. No one will lock us up unless Arturo complains. Besides Marcianos are the co-hosts. I won't let them punish us for a fight."

Amaranta was cringing as she saw her brother on the floor " Someone do something."

Alicia was also covering her mouth watching Arturo fighting.

The boys seemed unmoved.

As Arturo managed to get on top of Ambrigio and blow done good punches, Amaranta screamed.

It was Sancia who spoke " I am getting bored of this."

That was when Emanuelle ONeil spoke " Enough. My princess is getting bored. Do this some other time. Ladies have a fragile heart." He then walked to Sancia and took her chin in his hand and planted a possessive kiss on her lips.

The girls knew it was all over now. If Emanuelle said something, the boys hardly argued. He was the neutral Irish. The fact that he was not of Italian blood made him the peace keeper. He was actually the reason there was any friendship at all between the boys. He kept them together since they accepted his word when he was reasonable since he had no interests in what they did in ways that their Italian counterparts did. He was competitive but just was different.

Arturo stopped and got up. He looked at the disappointed look on Anna's face as Amaranta walked to her brother and knelt next to him checking if he was alright.

Anna turned around " I need some fresh air in the gardens. Anyone who wants to join me, come along."

She then walked away out of the room but she heard distinct heavy footsteps behind her that she didn't like hearing. She also heard her name being shouted. She almost sprinted towards the gardens aftear hearing how close he was and not looking behind her. As she found her favourite spot on a swing in a desolated part of the gardens, he heard him " Why do you look at me that way?"

Anna sat on the swing and looked at Arturo trying to keep a straight face even though she felt nervous " In what way?"

Arturo walked to her and towered over her as he stood in front of her. His piercing blue eyes were intimidating her. She wanted to look away but tried not to. He spoke in a low tone " You know like what. Like I have done something wrong. It doesn't work. It's you who is doing wrong. You run away from me again, I chase you."

Anna spoke " I wasn't running away from you. I just needed some fresh air from that room. I don't like it when a room is filled with high egos. The is no room to move."

Arturo bent over Anna and put his hands on either side of her on the swings arm rests. Now his face was close to Anna's and their lips were inches apart. He spoke in a low tone " You have no idea how you drive me crazy when you make me chase you. The more you try to avoid me, the more I would chase you."

Anna swallowed hard. It was now in the open now. Suddenly Arturo had decided to speak about how he felt she avoided him. He put it in words that made Anna feel hot too. She was blushing now.

Arturo smirked " Oh, I like how you came to this spot. It's just you and me now. I knew you liked the swing. So this place is off limits in the gardens except for you and I. We have it to ourselves now. Do you want to avoid me again. You are trapped Anna. You have to face it."

Anna spoke " Step away from me. I am going back."

Arturo spoke " No. You have to hear me out first. Now that I have you alone, you are going to explain to me why you don't want to dance with me. Is there someone else that you like?"

Anna burst out laughing.

Arturo's eyes hardened " Don't mock me."

Anna spoke as she breathed hard " I wasn't. I don't have time for this. Get out of the way or I will make you."

Arturo raised an eyebrow " Try it."