.

"Clear out this part of the manor. No one in their right mind is going to try and infiltrate the estate through the backyard. We don't need any security here", Silvano ordered.

"But sir, our chief head of security has ordered us to patrol this part of the compound",the guard said, bowing slightly in apology.

Silvano narrowed his eyes in contemplation, he needed to draw out bigger guns, "I will be sure to inform my brother that his orders are being overridden by that of one of his commander's."

Fear flashed across the faces of the guards present there, before one of them spoke out,"We'll clear out immediately, sir."

Silvano watched passively as the last corridor was also left without the security guards, having already taken care of a few guards stationed near the windows and had a direct view of outside. Valerio's name was enough to seal their mouths shut of any protests that they had. It worked in Silvano's favour that no one would try and double check with Valerio if he had really given those orders.

"I've committed a major security breach for you Damien so it better be important", Silvano muttered in frustration.

Silvano had been surprised to get a call from Damien asking him to meet him. Given the present situation, he couldn't understand what Damien wanted from him. Things were very tensed between their organisations right now, especially after the ambush that the Giovanni's had carried out a few hours ago. An attack which had injured quite a few Riccardi soldier.... and his cousin.

Silvano cringed as his thoughts drifted towards him.

Everyone present in the estate knew that Valerio was in a murderous rage right now. He wanted the Giovanni blood and Silvano knew that nothing short of a miracle would change his mind right now, infact almost all of their allies were calling for a joint war against the Giovanni's for this stunt. But there was one thing stopping them, the Romero's.

Georgio Giovanni maybe a coward, but self preservation was an admirable quality as well. That man had instantly taken shelter behind the Romero's, instead of burning in the fires of the Valentini rage for hurting their heir.

Silvano could only hope that this would sort out without much blood involved. There was a small possibility that negotiations could solve this problem, but it could definitely happen if they willed it or to be specific, if Valerio willed it. His cousin was going to get a major say in the future events and there was very little chances of Valerio demanding anything short of Georgio Giovanni's head on a silver platter.

Silvano checked his watch, impatiently waiting for Damien to show up at the back gate of the manor. He was already late than the time he had given. Silvano would have been worried about him being in danger if he didn't know any better. All the forces were on standby, waiting for orders and none would initiate an attack without one. It was a situation of a complete lock down until either Don Vitiello returned or if a war was officially declared.

Silvano was worried that if Damien was found here by anyone other than him, it would really complicate the matters. "Damien you better show up quickly", he muttered to himself.

Just as he uttered the words, Silvano saw a figure jogging towards him from behind the line of trees.

Silvano waited until Damien was before him before venting out, "Are you fucking crazy? Inspite of knowing what's going on, you still insisted on meeting? If Valerio comes to know about this he's going to skin us alive!"

"You owe me Silvano",Damien replied back coolly.

"Oh for fuck sake, this is not the time for it. We are on a complete lock down right now", Silvano exclaimed.

Damien ignored him.

"There's no security around here, is there?", he asked, looking around with keen eyes.

"Off course not", Silvano snapped at his friend. "I don't want to be responsible for catching a Romero hostage."

Damien didn't reply back making Silvano calm down slightly and look at him properly. He looked tensed and stiff which really didn't surprise Silvano, standing in the territory of someone who could very well become your greatest enemy was not easy.

But besides that, there was something else, something which he couldn't put a finger on.

Silvano rolled his eyes ,"I owe you Damien. I'm not about to hand you over to the Riccardi's or my family for that matter, relax. You're safe with me."

Damien nodded, looking slightly relieved.

"How did you even come here?", Silvano asked, impressed by Damien's sneaking abilities.

"Along with the two Riccardi guard's who were sent to my house as messengers", Damien replied back. It was off course Allister's own way of warning the Riccardi's by sending the two half tortured guards back.

"We hid in one of the cars that was coming here and sneaked out as soon as the car stopped some distance away from the back gate for the security check",he continued.

"Impres-",Silvano stopped short as what Damien had said struck him.

"We?", he asked, dread pooling in his gut.

Damien hesitated for a moment before he turned to look back at the alcove within the tree line and Silvano's heart jumped in his throat when he saw the figure that stepped forward.

"Amara?!", he breathed out in shock.

Turning back to Damien he stepped towards him, making to grab him by his collar, but Damien blocked his attack.

"You brought her here? Do you have any clue about what you've done?", Silvano spat furiously. "Valerio is going to slaughter you for this", Silvano couldn't believe this. Damien had brought Amara out without any security detail at a time when tension was running high within the mafia families. Anything could've gone wrong.

"You weren't attacked were you?", Silvano demanded. If she was harmed in any way then there would be no limit to the destruction that Valerio would unleash.

"No",Amara answered him as she came to stand beside her brother.

Silvano took in her appearance carefully. She had a scarf wrapped around her distinct golden hair which also covered half of her face, making her unrecognisable to people who had never seen her.

But Silvano had almost grown up together with the Romero children, he had recognised Amara from the moment that she had stepped forward.

"Silvano.... I'm really sorry for the trouble that you must have gone through because of us ",Amara told him sincerely.

Silvano shook his head at her. He was still furious but he couldn't yell at her. He turned towards Damien instead, "What were you even thinking bringing her along? Did you think that this was a night time stroll in the Romero backyard?", he asked, borderline hysterical.

"It's not him who brought me here. I did. I asked him to bring me here ", Amara objected on Damien's behalf.

"Why would you want to come here though?", he asked, baffled.

"I want to see Valerio",she replied back softly.

Silvano's eyes met Damien's over the top of her head and Damien nodded his head, acceptance and understanding shining in his eyes making Silvano's own eye widen infinitesimally.

"He knows", Silvano thought to himself. Damien knew about Valerio's feelings for Amara. "Does it mean that she knows too?"

Silvano glanced back at Amara, worry and nervousness clear on her face. His intuition told him that not letting her meet Valerio would be a grave mistake,one that he would regret later on..... Maybe, just maybe, Amara would be the balm that would heal the starving beast that his cousin was right now, snapping at the cage, frothing and snarling with it for his enemies blood.

Decision taken, he replied "I'll help you."

*****

Amara stood inside the silent dark room, waiting for Valerio to show up.

Amara's heart was racing with nervousness. Now that she was here, she didn't know what she would say to Valerio. The ride to the Valentini manor had not been easy for them, there were quite a few close calls where Amara had feared being caught but luck had been on her side.

Now though, she was terrified of Valerio's reaction because there would definitely be one.

She glanced around the dark room that she had been left in. It was quite large, but bare of anything except for a beautiful piano and a comfortable bench in the middle of the room. Silvano had intentionally left the lights switched off, so that her presence in their home could be hidden from the guards patrolling the large estate.

Amara walked towards the large glass window, not daring to go very close in case she was seen by the guards on the grounds, and glanced at the starry night sky. The only source of light in the room was coming from the moon, it's bright light lighting up the room beautifully.

"Please, let everything become alright", she whispered softly in prayer as she looked up at the twinkling stars.

Amara jumped, startled, when she heard loud steps coming towards the room before the door was thrown open.

"Silvano", she heard Valerio snarl.

She did not dare turn around and face him when he sounded like that.

"What is so important that you couldn't have waited until morning?" He sounded quite furious making Amara cringe. "Now, why are you quite? Speak", he commanded, and Amara finally turned around to announce her presence.

Now, that she had finally turned to look at him Amara understood why he had addressed her as Silvano.

Valerio's eyes were fixed on his own wounded arm as yanked open the blood stained gauze on his bicep, not even attempting to be gentle with it.

"I give you three seconds to talk, if you don't, then I will beat you up so badly that you won't be able to walk for days", he growled, his head still bowed down as he gave the gauze another rough tug.

Amara couldn't control herself when she saw his rough handling and a gasp left her mouth involuntarily making Valerio's head whip up instantly at sound.

He looked completely and utterly stumped to see her standing there.

"Amara",he breathed out, stunned.

Before Amara could even contemplate her answer Valerio was upon her, covering the distance between them with a few long strides, his hands encircling her waist as he backed her up into a corner. Amara squeaked as she felt the wall hit her back gently.

"What are you doing here Amara?", Valerio demanded, his voice coated with barely suppressed rage.

Amara opened her mouth to respond but her eyes fell on his arm which was on the side of her head, resting on the wall.

"Y-You are b..bleeding",she stuttered softly.

"A small scrap", he replied back impatiently. His eyes roaming over her face as his hands cupped her cheek, turning her head to look at him. "Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you? Answer me! What are you doing here?"

With each question he lost a small part of his patience.

Amara shook her head as she looked up at his towering form, biting her lip nervously.

"No! Nothing is wrong with me",she murmured softly.

"Don't lie to me", his reply was sharp as he let go of her and took a step back. "How did you come here?"

"I can go back", Amara blurted out. She had of course expected a reaction from Valerio but not this extreme.

"You are going nowhere until I get some answers",he retorted."You sought me out for a reason, and now I want to know why."

Amara bit her lip as she glanced at his arm again. "Does it hurt alot?",she asked in a small voice.

The half exposed wound looked painful to her. Very slowly, she extended her arm, her fingertips grazing the skin around his wound making Valerio stiffen. She quickly retracted her hand.

"I'm sorry", she apologised profusely, panicked at the thought of having hurt him.

"Is that why you're here? To see me?", his voice sounded strained.

"Yes", Amara whispered truthfully, before her eyes widened and she hastily amended, " I.. uh....I mean there's one another reason."

"And what's the other reason?",he sounded quite displeased now.

"You remember that you made me promise to tell you if I ever needed any help then I could come to you?", Amara questioned him.

Valerio gave a short nod, motioning for her to go on.

"I -I need your help now. Allister —"

"What did Allister do?", Valerio interjected furiously. "Has he hurt you?".

Amara's eyes widened in shock as she shouted, "No, why would you think that? He didn't do anything to me."

Valerio's eyed her contemplatively, assessing her answer."Then someone else did something to upset you? Tell me who! Give me a name!"

Amara shook her head frantically. She felt tongue tied in his presence, he was so intimidating that she couldn't get out the words that she wanted to speak.

Gathering her courage under his calculating eyes, Amara whispered softly, "It has nothing to do with me, not directly. I need to talk to you about the Giovanni -Riccardi feud."

Valerio's eyes flashed lethally at her answer, his jaw clenching. "There's going to be no discussion about them Amara. Is that why you're here?", Valerio asked her sharply.

He felt raw anger at the thought alone. His girl was standing in support of his enemies!

Amara shook her head desperately, her eyes locking onto his cold ones.

"No... There were... I saw two Riccardi guard's at home, they came with a message for Allister....."

Valerio nodded. "I know. This is the only warning that Georgio Giovanni is going to get. If by tomorrow dawn, he does not release the Riccardi hostages then it will be war."

Amara could sense the truth in his voice. The Valentini's would declare a war if their demands were not met in a few hours.

"......And Amara my help extends to you and you alone. I will not tolerate you being used to pursue me to change my decision in anyway", Valerio spoke coldly. "So I will ask you this once and I want an honest answer."

Amara nodded slowly.

"Who asked you to come here? Allister is out of question. I know it! Even Damien won't ever dare suggest this to you.... Then who is it? Was it one of the Giovanni's pressuring you? I know that they are hiding in the Romero estate. Did Emma put you upto this? To save her family from what's coming to them?", he asked darkly.

"No one asked me to do anything", Amara told him truthfully.

Valerio looked at her like he couldn't believe her.

Amara in turn did not know what to do to calm him down. She had only wanted to ask him to wait for sometime before he declared for a war. But more importantly, she had only wanted to see for herself that Valerio was indeed well! Just like he always made sure that she was safe!

"So you know about their threats as well?", she asked him instead.

"Yes", he answered resolutely.

This was all that Amara needed to hear and she turned around to leave but Valerio's hand slammed on the wall besides her head, blocking her from leaving.

"Let me go",she whispered in a small voice, her eyes downcast.

"No",Valerio replied back. "Not until I get some answers."

"Let me go Valerio!", she declared in a much stronger voice.

"It is something that I've said that has upset you. Tell me what I said wrong", he demanded. "You shouldn't think about the Giovanni's welfare Amara, this is the kind of world that we live in, we are constantly at war with each other. This shouldn't affect you. Even seeing you stand here, for their sake ", he spat the last sentence hatefully, "the very thought is making my blood boil with so much anger right now that I can't even —"

He broke off, closing his eyes, his knuckles turning white beside Amara's head.

"I'm standing here not for their sake but mine", she cried out finally, "Because it is my family that has been dragged into this."

"Your family got involved the very moment they decided to give refuge to the Giovanni's",Valerio stated simply.

"Yes, and for that you are going to declare a war on my family", she replied back, slightly bitter.

Amara didn't understand why, but it really hurt that it was Valerio who was threatening to hurt her family.

"I...I was so worried when Damien told me how you got hurt in the attack... I would never want to see you hurt Val", she confessed emotionally, her eyes wet with unshed tears. "But I know that for every drop of the Valentini blood that was spilled, you will require a payment in kind..... And I couldn't stand back and let you hurt my family either",she implored to him. His eyes turning a shade darker with Amara's every sentence.

"Blood of one heir for the other, right?", she quoted the words from earlier."Hurt me if you want then but––",

Amara was cutoff as Valerio grabbed her chin gently and made her look up at him.

His actions were the complete opposite of the emotions that played in his eyes. Blatant and utter rage. There was no other way to describe what she saw.

"Do you think so little of me Amara?", he asked in an eerily composed tone that sounded all the more dangerous.

"No I don't! I wouldn't be standing before you if I did", Amara answered back truthfully."But the message was clear —"

"I will never let any harm come to you Amara. Not you, never you. You are..... of great importance to me", he interjected sternly. Hid words, ambiguous.

"Oh", she squeaked , as if this could possibly encompass all the emotions rattling inside her."...Why? "

A stretch of silence followed her question.

Amara and Valerio stood there in the night, two perfectly still figures illuminated only by the soft glow of the moon. Amara's heart was pounding so loudly that she feared that even Valerio might be able to hear it in the silence of room. Her eyes though were locked onto Valerio's, which were, in turn, locked onto her's - alluring innocence wrapped up in amethyst staring up at smoldering hellfire.

Valerio tucked a few golden strands behind Amara's ears almost...... lovingly.

"Why?", Amara dared to ask again, making Valerio smirk.

"Are you ready to hear it Amara? Because If I say the words out loud then there's no going back. I will not pretend otherwise. If you cannot accept this, you need to walk away right now",Valerio warned her truthfully.