46

For the next few days, Stefano and I have grown closer. He still refuses to tell me more about his past, but I don't blame him. However, there is one question that has been bothering me day and night.

Why did he kill his step-father?

He doesn't strike me as the murdering type, then again, neither did my father. I didn't ask him though, I know he hates talking about it.

I finished making my coffee before sitting outside. It was a warm and sunny day, the perfect day to work on my tan. Of course, sitting in the sun while in a bikini and drinking coffee, isn't exactly normal. But who cares? Definitely not me.

"You're drinking coffee while tanning?"

Well, guess I got my answer on who cares.

I sighed and looked up, "Yes."

He raised an eyebrow before chuckling, "Oh, Miss. Lace, you are quite the unique character."

I chuckled, "Why, thank you, Mr. De Rege."

Stefano grinned at me before walking over to the pool. I tried not to stare at him when he took his shirt off, but I failed. Why do abs have to be so attractive?

"Like what you see?" An amused Stefano asked.

I smirked, "Matter of fact, I do. That pool is just so blue. The waterfall is a nice touch."

He laughed, his eyes shined with joy, and a smile lit up his face. I smiled at the sight of a finally, happy Stefano.

He suddenly had a mischievous look in his eyes as he walked over. I gave him a cautious look, one he ignored.

"Do you have your phone?" He asked.

I frowned, "No, it's on the table by my coffee."

"Good."

I shrieked as he picked me up, my arms immediately wrapped around his neck. My eyes widened when I found myself in the air.

Suddenly, water surrounded me and I was swimming to the surface. I gasped for air once I broke through the water, splashing around like an idiotic fish.

"Stefano! You ass!" I growled, glaring at his laughing form.

"That was hilarious! Your face was priceless!" He continued.

I narrowed my eyes, "You're gonna pay for that!"

"Oh, really? How so?"

"I....have to think about it."

He looked at me with amusement before jumping into the water. For a while we splashed each other and I tried dunking him several times. Each time I failed miserably and I was the one being dunked.

I sighed and sat on the side of the pool with my feet in the water. I watched as Stefano laid on the raft, his eyes hidden by his sunglasses.

"You know, you're going to have a weird tanline on your face, right?" I chuckled.

He smiled and took the glasses off, "Better?"

"Yes."

We stayed in a peaceful silence for a bit until my bladder decided to ruin it. I excused myself and got up. I sighed when my phone started to ring, I quickly grabbed it as I made my way inside.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Vienna."

I froze in front of the bathroom, "D-dad?"

"Why are you calling me?" I demanded.

He sighed, "Oh, Vi, you're not the brightest girl. I've decided to take back the mafia."

"Great, do you want a cookie?" I asked sarcastically.

"No, but I found something interesting out. You've been getting...cozy with Stefano De Rege."

I gulped, "What?"

"He has a traitor who has been telling me everything. Now, I'm willing to make a deal with you. For his safety."

"His safety?" I whispered.

"If you leave tonight and return to your apartment, then I won't kill him. However, I want you to make sure he never speaks to you again. You may have to emotionally hurt him."

"And if I don't?"

"Then, I will torture him and force you to watch. It's your choice, daughter." He sneered.

I clenched my jaw, "You're a sick person."

"Welcome to the mafia, Vienna. This happens every day. You have until tomorrow. And if you tell him about this conversation, his punishment will be worse."

With that, he hung up, leaving me in shock. I blinked, I can't believe I called this man my father. What has Stefano done to him? Doesn't he know it was Angelo who technically killed Vincent?

I took a shaky breath, I have to leave tonight. I bit my lip, I can't hurt him though. I love him.

When I walked back outside, I noticed him wrapping his towel around himself. He looked up as I walked over to the table and grabbed my coffee.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

I looked up and forced a smile, "I'm fine, just saw a spider...I hate those bugs."

He chuckled, "I'll make sure that evil spider is gone."

I watched as he walked inside, causing my heart to hurt more. It only took me two months to fall in love with this crazy Italian man. Now, I have to destroy everything that had happened.

You're doing it to keep him alive. Some day, he'll understand. I told myself.

I sighed and walked back inside, dreading the moment I have to hurt him.

I sighed as I sat on my bed, I spent almost all noon thinking over my choices. I could either tell Stefano about it anyway and risk it, I could make him hate me and run away, or I could find the traitor and end them.

I'm not a murderer and making him hate me would be far too painful, but telling him would risk his health. I know he can be killed no matter what, but if I told him, then my father won't just kill him. He'll torture him until he dies, that's worse than death.

I groaned, why is my father suddenly wanting me back? He abandoned me, him and my oh so wonderful mother. Unless I tell Hank, he's the only man I trust besides Stefano.

I grinned, my father never said anything about not telling anyone else in this house.

I quickly ran from my room, dogding shocked men and women as I sprinted towards Hank's room. However, halfway down the stairs, I stopped. I slowly turned around with a confused look.

Why does he have so many people living in his house? Damn. With how much I tend to hate people, I would have kicked them out by now.

I shook my head and continued my way to Hank's room. I started knocking on the door like crazy, desperate for him to answer.

As he opened the door, I accidentally hit him in the face. I clapped my hand over my mouth as he fell over.

"Fuck! What the hell, Vi?" He grumbled.

"Sorry! I didn't see your face there!" I gasped, helping him up.

"Didn't see my face? Well, what the fuck do you think you were knocking on when the door suddenly opened?"

I blushed, "Don't know."

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "What do you need? I'm not having se-

"Whoah! Not that! I need to tell you something im-

I groaned as my phone started ringing, I quickly answered it.

"What?" I snapped.

"If you tell him, Stefano will die a slow and extremely painful death." My father growled.

I blanched, "How...?"

"I have eyes in there, Vienna. My men are aiming a gun at him right now. I'm not a fool."

If you keep this shit up, you are. I thought to myself.

I may become a murderer in one night. Whether he's my father or not.

"Fuck you." I snarled.

"That would be incest, which is disgusting. I'm not that type of man."

I sighed, "I hate you. You sick bastard."

"The feeling is mutal."

Ouch.

I hung up and ran my hand through my hair, "Did you hear any of that?"

"Only what you said. Who was that? Are you in trouble?" He asked.

I swallowed, "No....I just....tell Stefano that I love him."

I quickly ran back up to my room and finished packing a bag. With the speed of light, I jumped out my window and landed in the bushes. I winced as my ankle made a sick cracking sound.

"Vienna!"

I snapped my head up to see Stefano at my window. I gave him a sorrowful look before grabbing my bag and making a run for it. By the time I reached the road, my ankle was killing me.

I looked up when I saw a car driving down the road, quickly, I started waving my hands. Of course they passed me.

"Get her!" A man shouted from the woods.

Shit.

I waved my hands at a truck, sighing in relief when they stopped. I quickly hopped in.

"Step on it." I ordered.

The man gave me a cautious look, refusing to move. I sighed and grabbed the gun from my bag.

"Go." I growled, pointing it just past his head.

He didn't see that though.

I sighed in relief when he slammed on the gas pedal. Gun shots sounded, but I disappeared in the night.

When I reached the beginning if the city, I put my gun away and thanked him.

"Here. Sorry about the gun." I said, handing him forty bucks.

I quickly hopped out of the truck and started walking through the dark city. I silently hoped someone would just pop out of the shadows and kill me now, but hell isn't ready for me yet. Apparently.

It took me an hour to reach my apartment, to say I was relieved would be an understatement.

I slowly opened the door, stunned when I saw the lights were on. I stood at the entrance, looking at the man sitting in my kitchen.

"Hello, Vienna."

I gulped, "Angelo."

He flashed me a smile before getting up. I sighed and closed the door, not caring if he kills me or not.

When my phone suddenly went off, I froze. Angelo raised a brow, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at the device in my coat pocket.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" He teased.

I gulped. Why did I leave the gun in my bag?

I slowly grabbed my phone and answered it.

"H-hello?"

"Vienna, where the fuck are you?" Stefano growled.

I swallowed, my eyes never leaving Angelo's.

He grinned, "Tell him that you hate him. Make him hate you. It'll only take five seconds for him to die."

I took a shaky breath, "That's none of your concern."

"None of my concern? The fuck kind of answer is that? Get back here, now. You're in danger if you're alone!"

"Stefano, I don't want to come back."

"What?"

"I...I can't stand being near you anymore."

Don't cry, Vienna.

"I don't understand...you stayed when you could have left. Is everything alright?"

My heart started to race as an idea formed in my head. Hopefully he'll figure it out, even though this is going to he extremely confusing.

"No. I...I...I can't be near you."

"Vienna..."

"Can't be near you."

"I get it, what the fuck is your problem?"

"My problem is everything! You! You are the main one!" I yelled.

"You're a mistake."

He was silent for a while before taking a shaky breath.

"I..."

His voice was cracking, causing my heart to break.

"For proof of how much of a mistake you are, check your video cameras." I continued.

"What?"

I closed my eyes, "Make sure the audio is on."

"I-I don't understand."

Angelo's eyes shined with rage as he stormed towards me. Clicking a button on his phone.

"One last thing...duck."

"What?"

"Duck you idiot!"

Angelo grabbed me by my hair as I heard gun shots over the phone. He smashed my phone before grabbing me by my throat.

"You bitch!" He snarled.

"H-he saved you." I choked out.

I fell to the ground as his fist collided with my face.