"Ew." I heard the voice of a pissed off, spoilt brat.

Claire.

The blanket lifted off and I covered my eyes as she flung open the curtains. "Is it really your place to wake us up every day?" I whined.

"No," she stood with hands on her hips, "But I'm the only one that's going to do it."

I rolled my eyes. I realised that Amara was sleeping on top of me again, we'd been spooning but the position we were in now must've happened whilst we were asleep. One of us moves in their sleep.

I felt a vibration before the familiar ringtone of my phone filled the room, Amara began waking as I felt around for it. I'd thrown it onto the bed...

"Here." Amara held it up whilst wiping her eyes. I smiled then answered the phone.

"Ciao." I glanced at Claire who sat in an armchair with her arms crossed and Amara who now sat across from me wearing barely anything.

"Well," a chuckle sounded, "Sorry to wake you."

It was Vince.

"What do you want?"

"Oh," he sounded hysterical, "I heard you proposed yesterday. Not to my sister." He ended in a menacing tone, so I returned the favour.

"I'm sorry," I snorted, "Did I give you the impression that I cared for her? There are few things in the world I care about, your opinion and your sister are nowhere near close to being a part of those few things."

"You are a sick twisted bastard."

"Maybe I am."

"There will be killing till the score is paid."

"Quoting 'The Odyssey'," I chuckled, "Didn't peg you for a big reader."

"I'm not." And the line went dead.

"Bastard." I mumbled.

"What's going on?" Claire was now sitting at the end of the bed, I frowned at the phone before smiling up at her.

"Vince is coming."

-----------

"You've started something." My father sighed watching the men moving around the front parameter of the estate, checking for signs of Vince.

"I'm aware." I sat in the chair looking out also, I'd left Amara with Claire and the pair were now downstairs with the others – having breakfast.

"What are we going to do?" Leo stood near the door, my father practically raised him so he often got treated the same as I did. His father passed away in a massacre a little while back, my father is his father now too – though I wouldn't say that's such a positive thing.

"Nothing." He turned and returned to his desk, "We'll wait."

"For what?" I looked straight at him.

"He will attack. He can't be seen just accepting the fact that the man promised of his sister has... turned her down." My father pulled out some folder and started unpacking it, "It would be a sign of weakness, a display of the fear the Russian mafia has of us and worst of all, a traitorous act by a brother to a sister."

"If someone broke Claire's heart wouldn't you do something?" Leo questioned.

"I would kill the one person, not target his entire family." I stood.

"Let's not let the familia know until just before, having an anxious environment will not work in our favour." My father addressed me, I nodded then exited with Leo behind me.

"Claire won't be happy." Leo rubbed his temple.

"I'll let Claire down easy," I eyed him, "Is Clarissa still here?"

"No, she left after the party last night," Leo looked out the window, "Packed suitcases and all."

"That's not the last we'll see of her."

"Or her brother."

I spotted Dominic and Leo standing around the foyer but let it slide, I'm sure if something were wrong they'd let us know. The fact that Dominic was doing his bleeding nose routine again worried me though, he was leaning on the wall and pinching his nose with his head tilted back. Leo continued to speak but also looked stressed with his head tilted down, leaning on the wall opposite. Men were going in and out of the house, in the front yard and back, probably doing an inspection of the area but still they treated us like idiots. Everyone in the kitchen had taken notice but I figured they were used to not being told a word of what was happening unless it directly involved them.

"Sweetie," Donna placed a hand on my shoulder, "You shouldn't worry and let them do all the worrying for you."

"Oh," I breathed a laugh, "I was..."

"Staring at the same spot for five minutes?" she smiled.

"Yes." I admitted defeat.

"It sucks to feel helpless but it's better than jeopardising the plan by being a nuisance." Claire said pouring vodka into a tall glass.

"Claire!" Donna swiped the glass, "You can't drink alcohol in the morning."

"Mom," she whined, "I'm an adult!"

I watched with wide eyes, laughter sounded from the doorway where Dominic and Leo now stood. Dominic swiped the glass from his mom then started chugging it, she watched mouth agape then Leo swiped it from Dominic and chugged the last half.

"Problem solved." Dominic smirked.

"A genius solution I'd say." Leo smirked.

"Idiots." Claire was fuming. Donna just looked defeated. I giggled, they all turned to look at me.

A loud sound much like a cannon being fired rang, Claire jumped. I turned to face the hallway, men were running in and out this time they were coming in with nothing and leaving with weapons.

"Shit." Dominic mumbled.

Both men ran out. Donna grabbed both me and Claire and began leading us upstairs, she held our hands tightly though I could see hers were shaking. She'd probably been in this position for many years and still she was not used to it.

We entered what I believed was the master bedroom of the house, she went to the back of her walk in robe which mind you was bigger than I believe any wardrobe in the world to be. Even Dominic's. She typed on a pin pad that was at the very back, it opened the wall and we entered what looked to be a basement type of space. One wall was completely glass.

"That wall is one way class, it's also the strongest bulletproof glass anyone can get a hold of. We can watch from here." She informed me. Claire seemed to know exactly what was happening.

We stood at the wall watching, the machine that had been fired had not been a cannon – for obvious reasons – it was a very large missile shooter. Which I believe to be much worse. The missile seemed to have only shot a 'warning shot', it completely destroyed the front garden.

That garden was beautiful.

Claire gasped as Leo and Dominic walked out from beneath us. Leo wore a leather jacket, with leather fingerless gloves that held a large machine gun in them. Dominic on the other hand had on a black coat that reached his ankles, without any weapons visible from where we stood. I watched with annoyance as Vince emerged from his 'line of defence' and approached Dominic.

He laughed evilly. "I feel bad," he paused, "I loved that garden."

"I was thinking about landscaping anyway." My eyes narrowed.

"Look," he held his arms out, "You brought this upon yourself."

"I did, did I?" I smirked.

"Talking is for tea, ladies," Leo spoke up, "I want to get back inside. Let's finish this."

"Is she inside?" Vince's smile broadened. "I'd like to meet her please."

"Well," I smiled, "Since you asked nicely. Why don't you just call her out here?"

Vince narrowed his eyes at me, he rolled his eyes before speaking, "I met her before you did."

"And what does that mean?"

"She should belong to me."

"She's her own person," I growled, "She doesn't belong to anybody."

"She belongs to her husband." Vince growled, "That will be me."

My eyes went wide as I recalled the memory.

She stared at me then cleared her throat. Was she crying?

"Fine," she croaked, "Maybe I'll marry Vince instead!" she sniffed. "He's my friend."

I snapped out of it. "No it won't," I growled, "You won't be alive by then."

"You believe so?"

Leo groaned, "Enough talking?"

"Impatient sidekick." Vince mumbled.

"I am not a sidekick pal." Leo frowned his eyes narrowing.

I watched as Vince's expression brightened. It didn't take long to pinpoint the source of his sudden happiness.

"Geez," she sighed, "You talk an awful lot." The click of the safety switch made me turn to face her, the nerve she had coming out here. I didn't stay mad for long, she looked hot. She was wearing a black skin-tight full body suit with a coat that was a similar design to mine, I smiled to myself as I realised Claire had lent her one of my coats.

"Why are you outside Amara?" I groaned.

"I want to play." She smiled.

"Perfect." Vince whispered. She turned to face him with a blank look, I turned to frown at him.

"Excuse me?" she raised a brow.

"You're perfect."

"Oh," she looked down, "Thanks."

Leo looked from Amara to Vince and then lastly to me, I was so close to ending his life right here and right now but unfortunately my father had advised me against it. By advised, I mean demanded.

I grabbed his collar and lifted him up, pressing a sharp knife to his neck. "You are a stupidly lucky man Vince," I laughed, "My father has spared your life today," I changed to a darker tone, "Next time you won't be so lucky."

"Oh," he sang.

I threw him and he stumbled back, Amara watched with a blank look on her face. "I have a question," she began, "Is my apartment still open? Or did they give it to someone else?" She brought a finger to her chin, "Little old me forgot to cancel the contract."

Vince watched with admiration then smiled as he answered, "I'm sorry," he began using a completely different voice from the one I was accustomed with, "Unfortunately I haven't been back."

"Oh," she shrugged, "It's cool." Then she began walking back to the house, she waved behind her, "Bye."

"That's my cue." Vince announced before walking back out the gate, fire immediately stopped and all his men retreated with him.

"Looks like our friend has developed an unhealthy obsession with la nostra regina." Leo commented, watching the Russians retreat.

"I am not happy."

"Noted." He patted my back.

--------------

"Looks to me like you boys dealt with that responsibly," my father praised, "If I wasn't who I was I'd say you deserved a reward."

"Grazie padre." I thanked him.

"Bad mood?" he addressed as he sat at his desk once more.

"Pessimo umore."

"Who is in a terrible mood?" my mother's voice drifted from the hallway before she became visible, I sighed.

"Dominic is in a bad mood." My father replied as if this was on some note, amusing.

"Why should you be?" my mother now stood in front of me, "Nobody died."

"That is not what I care about."

"There is few things you care about. Why don't you enlighten us?" she frowned.

"I'd prefer not to." I replied getting up and exiting through the oak doors. I heard my mother complaining to my father as I walked further down the hall. I hesitated momentarily as I turned the door knob to my room, there was a high chance Amara was in there. Claire had gone to the airport, a plane to California for a new project. Abrielle still hadn't returned so now she was staying until Claire was returning. VS models sure had a lot of commitments.

"Hi." Amara greeted me as I flopped onto the bed. "Are you okay?"

"Nein." I made a sad attempt at German.

She chuckled, "What did Vince say to you?"

"Awful things. He's so mean."

She laughed, "I agree."

"Do you?"

"Seems like it."

"Seems like you're not sure."

"Why does that matter."

"It doesn't."

"Then why are we talking about it?"

"We're not."

Her eyes narrowed. I was still stuffing my face into a pillow. "You say you're not okay but I think you're just angry."

"Do you really?"

"Are you angry?"

"And if I am?"

"Then you're angry at me."

"I'm not angry at you."

"It seems like it."

"A lot of things seem a certain way to you, don't they?"

"So you are angry."

"Maybe I am."