Costanzo was sitting on the bed looking at his brother towering over his sitting form. He knew day of reckoning was coming one these days and here it was greeting the Rosarios with open arms. He feeling a mix of emotions. The atmosphere in the room was different to what he was used to. Francesco had come to fire demanding questions at him not as his boss but as his brother. That was rare. But he wished their talk wasn't about what he feared so much.

Francesco spoke in harder tone " I am waiting. I asked you a question. Silence is not what I am after. I want answers."

Costanzo was weighing the situation. Francesco looked at him with emotions he hadn't directed at him for years. It was as though their bond as brothers had suddenly been strengthened for some reason. The pain and suffering that him and Francesco had gone through when they were younger, had made an impact on their bond. It had reunited them to an extent that nothing could break it. Nothing. Not even Francesco's character as a notorious boss of an underworld criminal organisation hadn't suppressed that part of Francesco that he reserved for his closest family member that he actually cared so immensely for but hardly ever displayed any emotions for.

Costanzo didn't really want to answer Francesco's question. He was afraid to. So he tried to take an approach to divert the topic or dance around it with his words for a while buying himself time to think.

Costanzo thought hard and then when he sensed Francesco was about to lose his patience he finally spoke finally "You are the decider. Why do you ask me to respond to this question you have answers to and you don't really need my input for." He hoped to avoid the topic as long as possible. Whether if was only for seconds or minutes... It didn't matter. It was worth a try.

Francesco spoke "Costanzo. Don't give me that nonsense. I have come to you in the middle of the night for a reason. I am not in the habit of repeating myself. I need to hear your take on this matter. I need it right now. Tonight. I demand it. I want to hear your view so I also know where I am standing and more importantly find out where you are going to stand."

Costanzo knew Francesco meant to convey to him that he had to take a side and he couldn't be neutral but Costanzo was trying to put off the discussion by any means.

Costanzo spoke "You stand where you have stood for years, as a leader, a judge and an executer. I am standing in my rightful place as the observer and administrator of your orders. I have no part in your line of work aside from watching and following orders."

Francesco spoke "Who's fault is that? You chose this pathetic path in your life. Not me. Now I want you to act like a Rosario and stand up for both of us. Speak your mind about this topic"

Costanzo spoke "Why do you bring me into this?.... Why are you doing this? What's the reason you come to ask me about what I feel about this forbidden topic? You do this even though you know how you have drilled into me all these years that I am not to get in your way when you go after your long overdue revenge. It was always a question of "when" rather than " if" for you to settle your score with those whom wronged us. Your vendetta with them is a special quest always envisioned by you. I never had any part in what you envisioned in your mind. You always told me to stay clear of your path if you went after the guilty ones that messed up our lives. Why do you ask me for any opinion right now when you have a crystal clear of what you wish to do already that was formed in your mind years ago and adjusted as time went by. I really don't get why you need to hear how i feel. Why should we have this talk?" He then stood up looking into his brothers eyes.

Francesco spoke "You ask why?...,,,, Costanzo. I ask you about how you feel about this particular revenge mission because you were there with me when father destroyed our childhood years. You suffered just like how I did all those years so how can you say that you don't get why I am having this talk with you. I know why you are trying to keep away from interfering in this matter. You don't think its your place to voice what you feel. You think you don't want to make me furious with your pathetic peaceful suggestions. You think I am the one who has suffered most. You still feel in debt to me since I took many beatings for you. I was your shield against everything that father threw at us on many occasions but you are too forgiving that you don't want to look at your own scars too. It is you who also they hurt. I feel strongly about this and so should you. We need closure Costanzo ...."

Costanzo spoke " But we won't get any closures to the traumas of the past by taking revenge. It's all in the past now. We have moved on. I am trying to forget the past. I choose to forgive but won't forget ...."

Francesco spoke "You have blanked out that part of your life because its so traumatising. You say that all is in the past but you are wrong. Alot of what has happened in the past has been carried over to this day. "

Costanzo spoke " For you mainly. They hurt you most."

Francesco spoke " That's where you are wrong. You had your fair share too Costanzo. We both suffered for the choices father and uncle made. Decisions they made affected us both. I haven't forgotten my anger. I haven't forgotten my fury. But you seemed to have or rather you are trying too hard to do that. Everything was out of our hands back then but not any more. I want you to remember everything and relive those moments instead of blanking them out. Face the past."

Costanzo spoke " Past should stay in the past. I want to move on and forget. Lets not revisit those days."

Francesco spoke " I refuse to let you forget. I refuse to allow you to stand aside like a neutral third party. You were there. You know what they all deserve. You know what should come to them. All those who wronged us deserve what's coming to them. Recall your rage and your fears. Remember how our father threw our mother out of our lives. Remember how he beat us up for just mentioning her name. I was six and you were five back then and we weren't even allowed to mention our mother..... Then it went on.... He forced you to give up painting. He forced you to split up with Sancia pushing Sancia into the arms of O'Neil and changing her forever..... He forced me to give up on Adele and made distance between me and my only source of happiness in my life....... How about how uncle and father split us up. They separated us for ten years. We hardly had contact. We were so occupied with training to be the perfect heirs, we hardly had time to know each other. Think of the lives we could have lead if they hadn't interfered. Think of everything we could have had in our lives...."

Costanzo spoke in a sad tone " What about the lives that you and I could lead right now and we don't. We still can change the path they set us on. How many times have I begged you to make this business legitimate?...."

Francesco shook his head " Making this business legitimate? Of course. That's your dream. Not mine. You don't want to be part of this illegal underworld. Well tough luck. You are part of it. But that's irrelevant. Don't change the subject. I don't refer to their influence on our careers. I am referring to them ripping up our personal lives. Nothing more. Nothing less. You know full well what I am referring to. Now ..... Nothing is between us and our revenge. Not anymore. Now mother is free from our uncles grasp and has betrayed us by taking sides with our father by agreeing to marry him. This is unforgivable in my eyes and it should be to you too. Don't you think? There is no excuse for what she is doing. She has none. She witnessed fathers brutality towards us and she still has taken his side. He is nursing him to health and willingly entering a marriage with him."

Costanzo whispered " What if ... she is forced?"

Francesco growled " She is not. Damn it. I wish she was so it made everything simple. But she is definitely willingly by our fathers side. I have witness accounts. Plenty of testimonies. I spent the past hour just phoning up contacts in Sicily and taking my rage out on a punch bag at the gym. You really think I would have showed up in your room at this hour talking to you about this if things didn't look so messed up? Do you? She has betrayed us. Her own sons. We wasted out tears on a mother all these years who doesn't love us enough to fight for us. He verdict is guilty now just like her sisters verdict. Neither one of them should forgive and forget. Unless they sympathise with what they did. So what's it going to be. I am not going to let you take a neutral stance on this."

Costanzo spoke carefully " Wait .... But you must wait. Don't give them a verdict now unless we find out everything. How about that?"

Francesco spoke bitterly " No. Now that mothers betrayal is evident and she is not in danger .... Not only that .... She has taken sides with our father, Nothing wouldn't change the fact our revenge has to be taken. I hope the wait makes it worthwhile when we attack them in Sicily. Revenge is a dish better served cold."

Costanzo gasped " Attack them... in Sicily? That's too risky. We can't risk going off US soil. We need protection."

Francesco spoke in a menacing tone " You actually think if I didn't have protection, I would have suggested this route? I have plans. Well thought plans. Are you insulting my intelligence by questioning me about what I specialise in Costanzo? It sounds like you are."

Costanzo took a step backwards as Francesco took a step towards him and entered his personal space. Costanzo swallowed hard " No insult was intended. I was just wondering...."

Francesco spoke " Next time don't. Next time only answer the question that has been asked of you."

Francesco then took a step closer to Costanzo and grabbed his collar " I have lost patience with you, answer my question or you will regret playing with your words and wasting time. Don't you think I know your tactics by now? You are buying yourself thinking time. Well, your time is up. Speak now. How do you wish to take revenge?"

Costanzo spoke " Look. I think you are going too fast. We should find out more before going after anybody for revenge."

Francesco let go of Costanzo's collar " I am not hearing what I came here for Costanzo. You know what that means. Don't you? Last chance. Tell me something that I want to hear. I asked you what kind of revenge you are thinking of. I didn't ask you to tell me whether a revenge should be taken and when. Now that's clarified. I am going to ask you one more time. Tell me what you want to be done to them."

Costanzo could feel the danger. The dark glare Francesco was giving him was convincing him that he was seconds away from getting the beating of his life. Getting Francesco angry was not his intention.

Francesco sighed and spoke " I am not used to repeating myself. You asked for it." Then before Costanzo could react, Francesco punched him in the stomach and grabbed his collar as he bent over to recover. He then threw him towards his bed with great force and breaking the bed in the process as Costanzo groaned in pain at the same time as the bed broke with a crunch sound.

Francesco growled " When I ask a question, I am not used to waiting. The only reason I don't bash your face up is because I don't want Adele to see your bruises at breakfast tomorrow morning. I got engaged tonight. There maybe parties from now on and there is thanksgiving. I can't see her upset. I know she would be unhappy to see her future brother in law with a broken face but having said that I might lose control if you push me too far Costanzo."

Costanzo took a deep breath and got up from the broken bed and stood in front of his brother. Ironically the self defense classes his father had sent him to had helped him become immune to pain beyond what other people could endure. He got back his concentration.

Costanzo knew he had to say something. He spoke reluctantly and painfully " Give me time to think. I don't know the answer.....Don't hurt mother. Don't hurt our aunt. But father and uncle have to pay. But I really don't want us to make them suffer like how you believe. We must make them see what they did wrong. At least just make them suffer just like how they made us suffer."

Francesco raised an eyebrow " I am not convinced......" He then paused and looked thoughtful.

Costanzo was getting ready for more punches to be thrown at him. But he was shocked to see Francesco not reacting further.

Francesco spoke "The mention of Adele just reminded me, I have a date tomorrow with her. A swimming date. I need to sleep long enough to be ready on time for our day together to start and end well. Because of that and also since its my engagement night I am willing to give you more time to consider this. Think about it and be ready to give me a descent answer next time or you will regret it. You are so lucky I am in generous mood tonight."