As Francesco was about to leave, Adele spoke " Don't go. Please. I don't want you to act so quickly. Think about everything before you do anything."

Francesco turned to his beloved who was now laying in her bed looking at him with even more concern. He gave her a worn out smile " Don't worry sweetheart. I know what I am doing. Sleep now." He then without another word turned the handle and opened the door. As he shut the door behind him, he turned and he didn't like the sight.

At the end of the corridor, Angelo and Anna were kissing passionately as Angelo was backed into the wall and Anna was making a show as her skirt was slightly moving up when the air condition from the side was blowing under her dress. Luckily for his guards, they knew to keep their eyes pointed elsewhere otherwise he was going to shoot them dead one by one with no remorse for looking Anna in any inappropriate way. All Francesco's employees knew how protective he was of Anna. She was like the little sister to him.

As Francesco walked closer, he heard Anna whispering to Angelo " Do you want to come to my room now? We can ... watch some TV. I have popcorn."

Francesco cleared his throat as he got close to the couple " No he can't actually. He is not allowed to leave his room. He works for me. He must be at his post in case he is needed. He has pushed his luck by staying up late wondering around. Besides you know your father's rules Anna. Do you intend to break them?". Both Anna and Angelo froze.

Anna slowly untangled herself from Angelo and stood in front of him. " Hello cousin. Why are you out of bed?"

Angelo glanced up at Francesco worriedly. He had no idea how Anna could be so calm and relaxed. Francesco was looking at them with pure displeasure. He stuttered " Hi .... Sorry about this..."

Francesco spoke firmly " Anna, I thought I told you the boundaries. You are only allowed official dates with Angelo in public." He emphasised on the word public. He then turned to Angelo and addressed him in a harsh tone "Leave Angelo. Go to your room. This is the only warning you get. Remember next time, you cant visit Anna in anywhere alone. Only in public, where she wishes to go, then that is allowed. Do you understand?"

Angelo nodded his head vigorously "Yes boss." He then whispered "Good night Anna" and he left. Angelo walked to his room, unlocked the door and closed the door behind him as Anna looked at him disappear. She turned to Francesco and sighed in defeat " I am sorry. I thought I can bypass the rules because he is Adele's brother and most trusted and we were just going to watch a movie. That's all."

Francesco spoke " You can take him to cinema. I don't care. But he cant come to your bedroom. There is no chance of that happening with no consequences. You are not allowed to be alone with any man with no guards around until you are married. That's your father's rule and I respect him for that. You are a Rosario woman. You have to be cautious."

Anna mumbled " But Angelo is different. He is Adele's brother. Should the rules apply to him? Isn't he trusted as a family member?"

Francesco raised an eyebrow " Pardon me? Are you questioning me?"

Anna shook her head " No. I just thought that Angelo is different to others ......."

Francesco spoke " Well, you thought wrong."

Anna spoke "But ...."

Francesco narrowed his eyes " Don't interrupt me next time I speak. You have no manners. To answer your question, Angelo is trusted since he works for me. If I didn't trust him I would not have appointed him as an employee at my mansion. But that doesn't exempt him from punishment if something happens to you when you are alone with him. Then, even if its not his fault, Angelo is held responsible and would be punished by me and your parents. Now go to your room. You can't see Angelo unless its in public eye. I don't want to hear any more. Go to your room."

Anna spoke "Wait... Please... Can I at least see him at your home .... for thanksgiving perhaps." Anna braced herself for a negative answer. Francesco could blow up any moment now.

Francesco looked ay Anna with hardened eyes making Anna look away. He was very scary to Anna when he was in protective mode over her. All her boyfriends in the past had tasted Francesco's interrogations and blackmail letters in the past. Not that Francesco saw her often while they were growing up but at the brief meetings and parties, the Rosarios held, Francesco had affected her love life so much.

Francesco's voice boomed "If you behave yourself, you can come see him Thursday. That I can allow since my home is safe and I can keep an eye on you there. If you keep Georgina quiet, I may even consider inviting you more often to my home........."

Anna looked up and gasped "Really? Georgina is there too. I promise. I would keep her quiet for you. We wont disturb you. I promise. She then walked to Francesco and grabbed his hand " Thank you. Thank you for letting me see him more. Good night". But then as she was about to walk away, Francesco didn't let go of her hand and looked at her with a dark look that made Anna stiffen in fear. Something was the matter

Francesco spoke "I am going to issue you a warning about what you do or say around Adele. I have sent warnings in form of black ribboned flowers and notes for all woman whom were present on the ladies floor today. You probably have one waiting in your room too. I warn you in person as well as in writing to watch what they say around Adele. She is my woman. I know things have been said to her about the past that I don't want her to know about or rather I want her to hear my side of things and not from total strangers what has gone on in the Rosario household. I may forget you are my cousin and treat you like a total stranger if I have to deal with you ignoring my warning. Don't talk to Adele about anything she doesnt need to know. I am watching you Anna." He then squeezed her hand hard "Do we have an understanding."

Anna nodded as she groaned in pain "Yes. We do."

Francesco let go of her hand and spoke "Good. Because you and your circle of friends are my number one suspects always when Adele hears what she shouldn't be. Only you and Georgina with your groupies are crazy enough to mess with me. Don't forget my warning. Good night."

Anna spoke "Good night." She then walked away to her room as she whispered "I miss the old times."

Francesco pretended he didn't hear her last sentence. After all, she was like his sister. She got away with many things that others didn't. He really should have punished her for inviting Angelo to her bedroom but something stopped him. Maybe it was now that he had Adele by his side, he understood a pull between two lovers was hard to resist and besides, he had more important things to do.

Francesco took out his master key and unlocked Costanzo's door and entered without knocking. The room was dark. He quickly switched on the light and almost choked as he saw Amaranta in the room sitting on a chair at a nicely decorated table in the balcony laughing out loud as Costanzo was leaning to the balcony wall and looking thoughtful.

Amaranta was the first one to notice Francesco. She stopped laughing and stood up. Costanzo was next looking shocked as he looked at his brother. Amaranta rushed inside and walked to Francesco "I am so sorry. I can explain.... I wasn't trying to run away or anything...."

Costanzo was now standing next to her. He held her hand as he interrupted "Look. She didn't do anything wrong. Its all my fault...."

Amaranta spoke "No its my fault. I felt lonely so, I jumped across balconies until i found this room and found Costanzo sitting here alone so I stayed and we caught up talking about our life after we left college. Now I am going back to my room. Sorry to be a bother. I didn't mean to disappear from my room or anything. It was just lonely there..." She then went quiet and started breathing hard. She had spoken too fast, she was out of breath now waiting for Francesco to say something.

Francesco looked past her at Costanzo who was standing behind her now "You didn't have to force her to tell me a long story just to cover up fancying her. You should have just told me you are attracted to her. You didn't have to bring her to your room secretly."

Costanzo and Amaranta looked at each other and then back at Francesco.

Amaranta spoke sounding confused "But Costanzo and I are .... just friends. We always were. There is nothing going on between us. We were just talking. Everything I said is the truth."

Cosatnzo nodded "We are just friends...."

Francesco shook his head "Sure you are. I think the candles and the champagne and the balloons say differently. You have set up all this for just a friend. have you? That is hard to believe. Now Costanzo ...you don't need to lie about it. You are allowed to be associated with Amaranta if she wishes it. She is the only woman you have chosen who is not forbidden. But next time you want to see her, you will ask me first. She is a hostage. A valuable hostage. You just cant grab her out of her room whenever you please. She is also a Voltolini. I don't know her fathers rules for her regarding dating but I assume romantic dining like how you have set up for her is alright as long as some guards are around. I don't care how you set up this romantic setting. Now its getting late." he then walked to the door and opened the door shouting orders "Pablo. Take Amaranta back to her room and lock up her balcony door as well as her front door. Set a guard outside all night watching her room from the street too."

Pablo who was one of the senior guards came in and spoke "Yes sir." he then walked Amaranta and bowed slightly "Ma'am. please follow me."

Amaranta looked at Costanzo with a sad smile "See you around."

Costanzo nodded "See you later."

As Amaranta left the room walking behind Pablo and the door shut, Francesco walked to Costanzo and pulled his fist and punched him in his stomach making him bend over clutching where he was hit.

Francesco spoke "That was for lying to me. Next time don't try to cover up the truth. If you have chosen a girl, I need to know. I don't care who you choose. I don't care Amaranta is the enemy. Its fine to date her. But you don't try to make up some story and make the girl utter it. No one goes through so much trouble buying flowers from hollywood designers and buying jewellery from Tiffany just for their friend."

Costanzo recovered and stood up. He couldnt believe how it looked like this was all for Amaranta. The necklace Anna had bought was from Tiffany and was supposed to be a goodbye present for Elize but he hadn't given the chance to give it to her, since Anna had sent people to retrieve her as her superiors had sent a taxi to take her to the army air base to leave early. When she had left, he had sat on her table looking at the untouched set up of the romanctic table. Amaranta had indeed spotted him on his balcony looking miserable and had jumped over the gaps in between various balconies to reach her. She was a good gymnast. Costanzo liked how they had a heart to heart just like old times in college. They were truly just good friends. They had one major thing common. Neither one wanted anything to do with their family's illegal businesses and that had them bond so well. But of course, it looked all so wrong when Francesco had walked in without knocking and busted them. He was glad at least he hadn't showed up when Elize was there. He shivered at the thought from fear.

Francesco spoke "Well. Have you lost your voice or you cant use your tongue to give me more excuses. Good choice. Because if you lie again, I will floor you. Now sit down. We need to talk."

Costanzo nodded and sat on his bed as Francesco started walking around the room pacing the floor in front of him as he spoke "Did Amaranta tell you about the situation in Sicily? Don't try to lie? Amaranta is your woman for now it seems. I don't mind if she shared that information with you without my permission since its about our mother and since you have the right as a Rosario to interrogate her."

Costanzo nodded reluctantly "Yes. She did tell me."

Francesco stopped pacing the floor and looked into Costanzo's eyes "Good. So lets cut to the point. How do you want to make them pay?"

Costanzo spoke "I don't think its my place to decide. You are the head of the organisation."

Francesco spoke "I wouldn't have asked you if your opinion didn't matter to me. It matters now just like how your word is valued for anything else always. You are my brother. You are meant to take my side and be involved in my business duties with me. But you refuse to. You are the one who choose to take a step back when you should be leading besides me. But this time, you cant hide behind your admin work. You must take a stand. Now answer the question. How do you think we should make them pay to bring us peace and closure? I have a pretty good idea. But I want to know your thoughts. They matter to me."