Twenty Six.

I reach halfway up the stairwell, praying like fuck that there will be no bloodshed tonight. If either of them gets their hands covered in blood.

There will be an uproar within the family.

And if Trent survives, it is a certain conclusion that he will also have my head. He will make it clear that I was the catalyst for their falling out. And that is not a possibility for me. Prior to Sandro's birth, I would have looked death in the eye like a lovestruck teenager.

However, my greatest fear at the moment is dying, abandoning little Sandro. I want more for him; I do not want him to believe that being an Esposito family member is all he is capable of.

Beyond these kingly-sized iron gates. There is a world full of wonderment and I want, no. I need him to work towards a future that will not tarnish his beautiful hands.

"Tesoro," (Treasure.)

I come to a halt and turn around to see Ace at the bottom of the steps, holding Sandro in his arms. If only our circumstances were different. The sight of him holding Sandro would have turned me on.

Making me completely weak in the knees.

Unfortunately, I do not feel that way about him, I never will. The way he treated me is unforgivable and I am well aware that he is attempting to be a good father.

However, our perspectives on what we want for Sandro as he grows are ideologically opposed.

He wishes to mould our son into a strong mobster.

I gradually descend the stairwell. When I reach the bottom I take Sandro from his grasp who is giggling and blowing raspberries.

I move him about in my arms. "How long have you been up, Mr?" I murmur as I kiss his small head. "I am afraid I will never become accustomed to your wonderful infant scent, my boy." I smile as I tap my finger against the tip of his nose.

"Com'è stata la tua giornata?" (How was your day?) Ace asks as he leans in and kisses me on the cheek.

"It was good, thanks," I reply as I look up at him.

He sighs, running his hand through his hair and he suddenly looks uncomfortable.

"What is it?"

"The men are talking, Mila." He replies.

"What do you mean by talking? I sigh.

I think I know what they are talking about. But I want him to confirm my hunch.

"You and Castello have been seen together a lot lately. Some refer to it as 'sneaking' around." Fine lines etch along his forehead.

I scoff. "Me and Castello?"

I had the distinct impression that someone was following me down the corridor from my room tonight.

Additionally, I have felt someone watching me from a distance as I walk to work in the mornings.

"Si, you and Castello. You know how thin the walls can be within the mansion. If word gets back to Trent, perderà la sua fottuta testa!" (He'll lose his fucking head!) He hisses, trying to keep his voice down when some of Trent's goons run past us.

We stand there, watching as other men race past us. They draw their weapons, yelling at one another in Italian while one person calls for the doctor.

As Sandro begins to wail, I cradle him against my chest, shielding him from the turmoil that surrounds us. Ace envelops us in his embrace and shouts

"Attento a mio figlio!" (Watch out for my son!)

Ace reaches out and pulls Jacob aside as Jacob rushes through. "Cosa sta succedendo?" (What is happening?)

"Trent and Castello are at odds. If we do not intervene immediately, we will lose one or both of them." He says hastily as his eyes scan the crowd.

Ace releases him. "Go, take care of what needs to be taken care of." He expresses encouragement and Jacob nods his head in agreement before he follows his fellow mobsters.

"Come on," he says as he turns us around and begins escorting us up the stairwell. "I need both you and Sandro to go upstairs. I cannot risk putting you both in harm's way if they leave the office."

I come to a halt at the top of the steps and face Ace. I cast a short glance down the stairwell and then meet Ace's gaze. "I know why they're fighting." I blurt out.

When his face comes closer to mine, my throat constricts. "And how would you know, Mila?" He says in hushed tones that send shivers down my spine.

Not in a good way either.

"The walls are thin, but they don't always speak the truth."

"Lo stai fottendo?" (Are you fucking him?) He hisses.

"Gods, no!" I exclaim. "Why is that the first assumption you men jump to?" I say with frustration as I make my way towards Sandros room.

I hear the sound of his shoes tapping against the floor as he catches up to me. He places his hand on my arm, just above my elbow and stops me.

"Dimmi cosa sai allora." (Tell me what you know then.) He says softly this time.

"Look, I can't tell you everything. But what I can tell you is that I am working with Castello. The job I've been assigned to wasn't by choice." I begin to explain to him as I proceed towards Sandros room.

"We have been meeting in private so I can report back to him and when I left his room not long ago I walked into Trent. He believes I was sneaking out, he caged me against the door and started questioning me." I couldn't keep the tremble out of my voice. "If Castello didn't open the door when he did, I don't know what he would have done to me."

"Wait, your working with Castello and didn't bother to tell me?" I can see the hurt that flashes in his eyes.

"I didn't have a choice. It was by Castello's order that no one and I mean, no one is meant to know."

"But, why you?" He asks looking nonplussed.

"Because I am a woman and before you let your mind wander down a pointless road. Let me clarify that it has nothing to with my body." I mentally picture myself rolling my eyes.

"I wasn't-"

"You were." I cut him off. "Look, it's not safe for me to stay here for a few nights. I need Castello well and alive to keep me safe and if he's in bad shape..." The words fall from my lips.

I don't want to imagine what Trent will do to me.

"You can go, but you can't take Sandro with you." He declares.

"What do you mean I can't take him? I can't leave him here, Ace. He won't be safe." Tears start to pool in my eyes.

"And if I let him go with you, how do I know that you won't run away with him? He looks at me coldly.

"And how do I know that if I leave he will be safe in your care?"

"You're just going to have to trust me, tesoro." (Treasure) He steps in front of me and gives me a challenging look.

And it is at this point I have to make an executive decision. Do I stay and pray like fuck that it's Castello that walks out well and alive.

Or,

Do I leave for a few days and try to stay alive long enough to find a way out of this prison.