At 3:40 pm, I pull my car in front of a mansion that has a brick wall surrounding the gates with barb wire on top so people won't be able to get onto the property. An iron gate with a tiger stands on the gate with the letter M on it. A couple of camera's are facing the driveway and an intercom on the driver's side of the driveway.

Pressing the button I wait for someone to answer.

Eliana unbuckles her seat belt and she climbs on top me. She presses the button.

The box is quiet for a moment before a female voice comes over the intercom.

Eliana doesn't respond to what her cousin says and she moves back to her seat. She puts her seatbelt on and we wait for the gate to open.

Irina's phone starts to ring and she shows me the screen. "It's Riker. Should I answer it now or call him back?"

"Answer it. If you ignore his call he'll just call mine and I'll have to listen to him as he curses me out for his girl not answering her phone." the gates open and I drive through the property.

Lining the driveway are palm trees and different types of flowers. There's blue, red, pink, black, yellow and purples. Leaves are falling from the trees, littering the ground close to the driveway. Sprinklers are turned on.

A few kids are running around under the sprinklers and a few have water guns, spraying each other.

Coming to a stop in front of a Victorian-style house I see that it's been freshly painted, with a wrap-around porch and a table sitting on it. There's a door knocker with a tiger on it with the letter M engraved in it.

The front door opens and a beautiful woman with dark hair, blue eyes and tanned skin walks out. She holding a gun in her hand and she doesn't look too happy at all. Her eyes scan the group until she looks at Eliana. She walks down the stairs. "I'm glad you made it in one piece. So, who did you bring with you today?"

She points at Riley. "That's my younger sister, Riley. Standing next to her is Riley's best friend, Irina. She's with my brother, Riker. So, if anything happens to her you'll have to deal with my big brother and standing next to her is my good friend, Jai Marshall."

A smile spreads across her face as she recognises my name. She moves towards me and holds her hand out for me take. I place my hand in hers. She says. "Amalia Marino, it's good to see the right-hand man of Riker. I've heard good things about you. If you're in need of a change you can join me."

Taking my hand out hers. "I'm sorry, Amara. I'm not looking into getting involved with another family. I got out of the one with Riker and now I'm on my own."

She laughs. "You may be out of the one from New York, but I don't think you're completely out with my cousin Knox living in the same city as you."

She's right. I'm not completely out of the mafia family especially when I am in contact with the one in the city I reside in.

She walks over to Irina. "You're very beautiful. I'm glad that Riker found you. I just wish that he would move on from the things his father drilled into his."

Irina looks at the ground and not into her eyes.

Amara lifts her head. "You don't need to do that with me. I'm family." She drops her hand from Irina's face. "Besides, a woman that stands beside the head of the family needs to show people that she's not afraid of things to come. I know you're not afraid of me, Irina. It's just a respect thing that you're boyfriend taught you and I'm pleased that he did that."

Riley walks over to Eliana and she whispers something to her sister. The sister's start laughing.

Amara turns her attention to her other cousin. "Riley, I'm glad you decided to come on this trip too. I know you've been told terrible things about my family and me, but they're not true." She takes a step back. "He's the one responsible for my family's downfall, but at least our empire isn't crumbling like the Mesi's."

That's a cruel thing to say. Though it shouldn't be surprising to me, since they're family treats her badly.

My phone goes off and I pull it out of my pocket to see a message from Chloe.

She beat me to messaging her today.

Opening the message, I read it.

Amara looks at me. "Was that you're girlfriend?"

"I don't have a girlfriend. I'm just talking to one of my employees."

Riley moves over to me. "Are you still speaking to that Chloe girl?"

"Yes, I am." I slip my phone into my pocket. "She's a great girl and I like talking to her a lot. Is there a crime against messaging a beautiful woman?"

Amara walks over to the stairs and she sits down. "Why is it that all the great guys are taken? When am I going to have a break and meet someone of my mine?"

Walking over to her I take a seat. I place my hand on her shoulder. "You'll find him, Amara. He'll have to be a strong guy that can be accustomed to the way you live. You're the head of the Marino Family. The guy needs to know how to handle himself and he can't be weak."

She looks at me. "You're everything I need, but the way you talk about the woman from Los Angeles I know she's the one that you want to be with. When you get home ask her out for a coffee and get to know her."

"I will, Amara." I stand up and hold my hand out for her to take. "Can you show me to my room? I need to have a rest from all the driving I've done."

"Sure," she places her hand in mine and I help her stand. "How long are you staying, Jai?"

"I'll be here for the night. Is that alright?"

"That's perfect. Are you taking the car with you?"

"No, I was going to get an Uber to the airport."

She shakes her head. "My guests aren't going to take an Uber to the airport. I'll arrange a ride for you." she leads the way into the house and the girls follow us inside. Amara takes me to my room first. "This is yours."

"Thanks, Miss Marino."

"Just call me Amara. I really don't like this formality from family." she walks away with the girls and I close my door. Walking over to the king-sized bed I lie on it. Pulling my phone out of my pocket I Facetime with Chloe.

She puts the phone down and I slightly hear the conversation on the other side. "Yes, that's fine. I just need to organise some time off work, but I'm sure that won't be a problem." Chloe picks up the phone and she looks at me.

Chloe and I go quiet for a moment and it's a comfortable silence between us. I smile at her.

I put my phone on the nightstand before I fall asleep.