Twenty Five.

I walk out of Castello's office feeling utterly stupid. To be more specific, a failure. Castello's folder, which he gave me a few weeks ago, is still in my bottom drawer, hidden beneath my clothes.

I thought it was a brilliant idea to approach this mission blindly. I was hesitant to study his file in the hopes of judging him based on the facts provided to me only.

For some odd reason, I wanted to judge him objectively, based on my own experience.

I am curious about what makes him tick, and the last thing I want is for him to question how I have gathered so much information about him.

I mean, yeah.

His backstory can be found on any search engine if one is truly committed to doing a deep dive and getting to know him better than he believes he does. However, as my mother always used to say.

'You can't believe everything you read.'

I close the door behind me and walk into a large wall of solid muscle. A sneering sound reverberates through my ears and my body stiffens when I realise who I've just walked into.

"Dimmi perché ti ho appena visto sgattaiolare fuori dall'ufficio di Castello?" (Tell me why did I just see you sneak out of Castello's office?) He mutters as he pushes me up against the door.

"I wasn't sneaking out," I reply with a hint of disdain lacing my words.

He puts his hands against the door above my head, imprisoning me. "Are you calling me a liar, puttana?" (Whore?) He hisses as his lips brush against the shell of my ear.

Fear engulfs me like a wildfire out of control, destroying everything in its path. "No," my voice quivers and I hate how he still affects me in such a frightening way.

He slams his open palm against the large door, it rattles under his touch and I flinch. He is so close, too close that the smell of his whiskey-infused breath overwhelms me.

"Mi prendi davvero per scemo, Mila?" (Do you really take me for a fool, Mila?)

"No, I do not," I respond truthfully. "I believe you are a sick bastard in desperate need of help. And, I hope the Russians skin you alive before agreeing to gift you their princess." I wince as his fingers comb roughly through my hair and he yanks my head back.

I lock my gaze on his eyes, which reflect the devil dancing in his irises. I am tempted to yell. I wish I could tell him what a pitiful piece of shite he is. That I pray he may soon receive what he is due, which is a lingering death choking from his own blood.

"She will be the mother of my children. The Esposito family will continue to expand, and your little Sandro..." He snickers. "Will be nothing more than a beta bitch within the boundaries of my empire,"

"No, not our Sandro." My inner goddess wails.

"Not our sweet, sweet boy!" Her agonised sobs echo in my ears.

"Over my dead body!" I slam my hands against his chest and scream.

He chuckles. He throws his head back and laughs throatily, and despite the fact that my strength is ineffective against him, he does not budge.

"That can be arranged." He replies as his eyes meet mine following his outburst of laughter.

Castello made it abundantly clear that this mission was to remain secret. A well-hidden secret between the two of us.

I initially thought it was strange that he refused to disclose his plans with Trent and Enzo. However, I now see why he is so adamant about keeping things hidden from Trent.

He will fuck everything up just by breathing.

The door behind me swings open. I feel myself falling backwards until a pair of firm hands encircle my hips and I collide with another wall of muscle. I raise my eyes to see a furious and enraged Castello glaring at Trent.

"Qual'è il significato di questo?" (What is the meaning of this?) He grunts as his hands continue to settle on my hips.

The pads of his rough thumbs glide across the flesh of my exposed skin where my top has raised.

Trent hisses as his gaze is drawn to Castello's hands. His face contorts, and he pushes me to the side. I lose my footing and land with a loud thud on my arse.

My elbows ache from colliding with the flooring, and I watch in dread as Trent wraps his hands around Castello's neck, forcing him against the nearest wall.

Castello's lips curl upward in a ghostly smirk, his hands dangle loosely at his sides, his ocean baby blue irises glinting with amusement.

"La stai scopando dopo che hai rivelato che era off-limits?" (Are you fucking her after you disclosed that she was off-limits?) Trent spits out.

His face gradually begins to turn apple red, and veins on the side of his neck begin to protrude. His aura is dark, and I have a suspicion that Castello is enjoying the sight of his cousin outraged a little too much to be concerned about his safety.

"You've lost your damn mind, cousin." Castello chuckles. "Non prendo ciò che non è mio!" (I do not take what is not mine!) His expression becomes more serious as the amusement wears off and a look of impassiveness takes hold.

"Answer the question. You cannot implement laws in the mansion, only for the purpose of you violating them. You have stated categorically that she is off-limits!" He snaps as he tightens his grip around Castello's neck.

I know I should get up and leave. But, I can't. I am paralysed by fear that Trent will take Castello's life based on some implausible assumption on his part.

And if he does, things will go back to the way it was and I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen. I can not let my protector die at the hands of the man I fear wholeheartedly because he seeks the truth to questions that can't be answered.

I slowly move towards Castello's desk. I saw a Royal Selangor Hound Head Letter Opener sitting on top of the desk by his phone and I reach up, discreetly grasping it.

"I also stated that she is not to be harmed nor disrespected and you broke both of my demands." He takes a step forward and lifts his arms. He slams them hard and fast on Trent's arm joints, breaking the hold he has on him.

Trent growls as he staggers back a few steps, and Castello changes their stance in an instant. Trent is now pinned against the wall.

"You have never been particularly adept at following rules. That is why you sit on the throne playing king, while I make all the critical decisions that keep your empire running smoothly."

I stare back at Castello when his eyes land on mine. "Lasciaci!" (Leave us!) He demands in a harsh tone.

"Yup!" I squeak as I drop the letter head opener and exit the room quicker than a buttered bullet.

He didn't need to tell me twice!!