Sixteen.

"Posso essere il tuo angelo che ti protegge dai tuoi incubi" (I can be your Angel that protects you from your nightmares.)  He mutters in my ear and his silky voice causes my eyes to seal themselves shut as I focus solely on the words he is saying, not the heat that emanates off his body. "O il bastardo che trasformerà quegli incubi in realtà." (Or the bastard that will make those nightmares a reality.)

I slowly turn around in his embrace. I look up into his ocean baby blue eyes and I feel myself drifting away. The fear. The torture. All of the broken promises sworn to me leaves a tangled web of turmoil for me to get lost in.

I don't want any of it.

He is meant to be my enemy. And yet, the only person I want to trust. His eyes flicker, mirroring the moon that illuminates off the dark walls in the room.

"I want to believe in you. However, it is the fear of what could happen if you are not around to protect me that scares me." I confide in him.

My gaze lingers, highlighting his 5 o'clock stubble that travels up his throat, spreading across his chiselled jawline.

"We can assist one another; tell me your greatest desire and I'll see if I can act as your favourable genie and grant you your wish." He speaks in a serious tone, but his eyes sparkle with amusement.

"What is my greatest desire?" I murmur as I avert my gaze from his.

My greatest wish is to make Trent pay for all the nightmares he has inflicted on others with his life. I desire that he suffer. I want my hazel green eyes to be the final set he gazes into before the light in his eyes is lost forever.

"What I desire cannot be granted, at least not by you."

The air between us becomes thinner as he continues to stand in front of me, his eyes suspiciously fixed on me. "Se non chiedi non lo saprai mail." (If you don't ask, you'll never know.)

I establish silence, focusing exclusively on my breathing. Fearful that he is attempting to dupe me. "Screw it; my most primal and darkest yearning is to witness Trent's demise," I sigh.

He takes a step away from me, the quietness enveloping us, and then he turns on his heel and stands behind his desk. I lean against the large oak door and watch him pick up his tumbler and finish the remainder of the amber-coloured liquor.

"I have been aware of your desires for some time now and I share your ambition. Which is why I believe we would form an excellent partnership." He reopens the top drawer of his desk and extracts a little vial with a silver chain attached. "This will be sufficient to kill him," he adds as he watches me, holding it between his fingers. "Did you know the Inland Taipan is one of the world's most venomous snakes?"

I shake my head with my eyes drawn to the vial wedged between his large fingers, and I find myself drifting towards him in an attempt to get a better look.

"Uno (one) bite can yield up to 110mg of poison, which is sufficient to kill at least 100 humans." He begins.

"Taipoxin is the active ingredient in the venom; it is a complex mixture of neurotoxins, procoagulants, and myotoxins. Its bite paralyses muscles and ruptures blood vessels and tissues, resulting in muscular injury. It is primarily found in Australia." He speaks with a smattering of fascination before gently placing the vial on his desk, his gaze fixed on the exquisite gold watch on his wrist.

I lean forward, my pulse quickening as I pick up the vial and bring it closer towards my eyes, examining it.

"If you slip it into his drink it will kill him." He sets his glass on a paper towel, upside down. "la scelta è tua." (The choice is yours) A light gust of breeze whips past me as he leaves the room, pressing his phone to his ear.

I tuck the small vial inside my gown, nestling between my breasts and I exit the room. I possess the power and desire to slay Trent with his most faithful confidants blessing.

The big question remains.

Am I capable of doing so and will I be successful?

I re-enter the restaurants' arena, sliding myself back into my chair between Ace and Jacob. Ace looks at me with a disapproving scowl colouring his face and I know he is furious with me.

"Where the fuck did you go off to?" He hisses as he leans in towards me.

"I wanted some fresh air," I say, linking my fingers with his and he shrugs my handoff.

"Si (yes), you exited through the front doors only to return via the back exit minutes later with Castello." His words are overshadowed by his aggressive demeanour and accent. "Everyone observed him pursue you; he is the one man with whom no one dares to cross. Not even Trent and you should know this already, Tesoro (treasure)."

I attempt to be subtle when I raise my gaze to where Castello stands, my breath hitches when our eyes lock and I find it very difficult to avert my attention elsewhere. "I have never spoken to him before, according to everyone in the mansion I am nothing but a cunt or a puttana (whore)." I snarl with scorn, my eyes still set on Castellos'.

"Guardami," (look at me) a pang of pain creeps across my jawline as Ace roughly forces me to look him in the eyes. "I will be powerless to save you-"

"Togli le mani dal suo viso!" (Remove your hands from her face!) Ace is cut short by Castellos's commanding voice. "cioè se desideri tenerli." (That is if you wish to keep them.) His voice is threatening and I slump further into my chair when I notice Trent glaring at me.

He storms across the restaurant floor, ignoring everyone who is trying to get his attention as he approaches us.

"Cosa ha fatto questa volta?" (What did she do this time?) He growls as he stands next to Castello, placing his hands on the table and looms over it with his eyes penetrating me.

"Nothing, but let this be a warning to you all," Castello says firmly as everyone's attention around the table is on him. "No one and I mean no one." He waits for Trent to crane his neck towards him giving him his undivided attention. "È mettere un dito su di lei da questo momento in poi! (Is to lay a finger on her from this moment forward.) "Senza consultarmi, prima.o dovrai rispondere a me!" (Without consulting me, first. Or you will have me to answer to!)

No one replies as they are all just as shocked as I am with his new command. "Soprattutto tu cugino." (Especially you, cousin.) His silky voice drops as he addresses Trent.

I'm sitting at the table, acutely conscious of everyone's heightened interest in Castello and me. My flesh crawls at the probing looks. I'm not sure what Castello has required of them, but it's very evident that they are unimpressed by his wishes.

"Tell me this tesoro (treasure). Why has Trent's consigliere demanded that you are not to be harmed by anyone including Trent?" Ace hisses at me as he, like the rest of the table and now the restaurant, is fixated on Trent and Castello.