Francesco and Adele were sitting in a well guarded corner of the breakfast hall of the hotel. The breakfast was self service and a variety of morning refreshments with various selection of drinks were laid out on different tables. There was also dance and music which was part of a reason Francesco had brought Adele to the public hall rather than having breakfast in bed with her. He needed to keep her occupied for long enough while he was going to attend to business. They had been at the breakfast hall for half an hour now and Adele had eaten so slowly avoiding getting forced to eat too much.

Francesco passed the syrup bottle to Adele " Sweetheart have some maple syrup with your waffles."

Adele spoke " But I already have chocolate sauce on it. Then it would be mess on the waffle."

Francesco put the maple syrup next to Adele's plate " You don't know the true meaning of a mess sweetheart." He then thought to himself " But your brother knows the meaning really well." He then gave Adele a smile " I think maple syrup makes waffles tastier. Try some."

Adele sighed and complied, pouring maple syrup on her waffles " Would you tell me what's going on? You said if I am " good" as you call it you will tell me."

Francesco spoke " I will tell you after our date. Don't worry about it. It concerns me not you. Not in ways you might think...... " his eyes then caught Antonio's figure approaching their table. Francesco spoke in a serious tone " Sweetheart we may need to delay our date for a little bit. I can't take you swimming right now. I need to attend some business meetings. It would take a while but this breakfast room is occupied all day with dance and music. You can also invite people to come sit on your table as long as they are female but you can't leave this table while I am gone. I will be back
Soon. Is that ok?"

Adele looked concerned " What's happened? You must tell me. Why do you delay our date for a meeting? It must be bad."

Francesco thought silently to himself "You have no idea sweetheart." He then spoke " Tsk Tsk. Sweetheart. You didn't answer my question. I asked if it was ok if I leave you now?"

Adele spoke " I think I will manage. But ...."

Francesco stood up, and leaned over kissing her lips gently. He then pulled away " I won't be long. I promise. See you shortly." He then walked away as he heard Adele whispering bye.

Francesco bumped into Antonio's approaching figure. " Follow me." He ordered harshly.

Antonio followed Francesco silently. Francesco stopped at his bedroom door and unlocked the door.

As Antonio entered and Francesco closed the door behind him, his firm voice boomed " You must have some news otherwise you wouldn't be back so soon." Francesco then walked to Antonio and towered over him " Speak. Tell me everything."

Antonio tried to compose himself under his boss's intense stare. He cleared his throat " Boss. I am back early because I didn't leave the hotel to grab hold of Sapphire. She was hiding on the rooftop. When I sent Costanzo on your orders to check for irregularities, he inspected the rooftop first because he taught the most secluded areas posed the most dangers. He found sapphire hiding up there and dragged her down to my room just as I was about to depart to go to her brother's house. So I sent some men to bring me her brother to me, just in case she refused to talk. While they were gone I interrogated her. She wasn't co-operative until my men called from her brother's house and she heard her brother's devastated voice. She told me everything within five minutes. You see, she didn't think I would locate her brother's home because she used alot of contacts to use a different name for him on the official records. She was shocked to see her brother was caught...."

Francesco was losing patience as he folded his arms over his chest "I am not interested about how you got information out of her. Tell me what she knows."

Antonio looked down " Boss.... it's not good news. Angelo is on a ship. A ship in O'Neil's territory right now is housing the men who are working for Ambrogio Voltolini in America. There aren't many of them but they have picked a very strategic point for their base. If we ambush them, they can easily slip away. So we need alot of expertise and especially trained men who know how to deal with unfamiliar settings and know how a ship works. That ship is huge. It's like yacht but longer and more powerful but armed with some deadly weapons. So getting Angelo out is a tough mission."

Francesco spoke " You make no sense. What do you mean getting Angelo out? The mission is to capture and kill my enemies who dare work for Ambrogio Voltolini. This is simple as that. Angelo is part of the enemy now."

Antonio spoke carefully as he looked up into his bosses eyes " But boss... Sapphire said that Angelo is there against his will. If we attack that ship, then we could possibly hurt or kill Angelo in the process. I thought we must get him out with our commandos and then we could strike them hard."

Francesco spoke " You are wrong. Angelo made his own bed choosing the enemy over his sister's fiancé. It's his own fault. Actions have consequences. We will come up with a plan and hit them hard. But now that's clear, did sapphire tell you anything about how Angelo became attracted to Ambrogio's organisation? When did it start and how did Angelo leave without being spotted by our men outside the hotel and at the night casinos and bars surrounding this hotel."

Antonio spoke reluctantly " I actually asked that question. I was wondering the same thing...., I am sorry to deliver the bad news but Angelo's sympathy with Ambrogio runs deep. When Adele was working in Milan for their European based work experience at the same hospital where Ambrogio was undergoing intensive care, it all started. Angelo and .... O'Connor worked there too. I never thought much of it but sapphire said they formed a friendship with Ambrogio. Well Ambrogio believes in keeping friends close and keeping enemies closer so he kept them close even though he despised both for their protectiveness over Adele. He wanted to take Adele away there and then but he didn't succeed because the work experience ended without his knowledge and Adele, Angelo and O'Connor came back to America on a plane. He planned bringing Adele to him. And now this is his first real plan he has managed to execute in America. He sent a note to Angelo that he wants to help Angelo, Adele and O'Connor move to somewhere safe. He asked Angelo to come to the bar and leave that note you saw behind for you. Even now Angelo doesn't know that he is simply a hostage and he thinks he is working for Ambrogio Voltolini to save Adele and he can ..."

Francesco finished his sentence with gritted teeth " He can reunite her with Michael somewhere far away from me. I think I have heard enough. So Angelo is held hostage. They want Amaranta in exchange. Then they hand over that traitor Angelo over. This would mean that, Ambrogio would have nothing to hold him back from striking and taking Adele away. Tell me. When does he want the hostage exchange?"

Antonio spoke reluctantly " Maybe tomorrow. Sapphire wasn't sure. She said it will happen after Ambrogio's men will get all the information they want out of Angelo. Angelo trusts those people so he is going to give them all he knows about the Rosarios, our security, our thanksgiving plans even, everything from our weekly meeting details. Ambrogio would make him believe that this will help get Adele out. Boss, the worse part of it all is, Angelo sounds like he doesn't believe that Ambrogio is after Adele. He has become convinced that Ambrogio has no interest in Adele and these are just rumours. The reasons Angelo has been given about Ambrogio's motives are basically the facts that point to Voltolinis wanting to weaken another mob and taking Adele away helps weaken the Rosarios and destroys them. Sapphire said he had pretty much believed it."

Francesco closed his eyes and took a deep breath " Where is Ambrogio?"

Antonio spoke " Apparently he is on that ship with Angelo in that port on O'Neil controlled territory. Sapphire said Ambrogio is a skilled mastermind of this plan and managed to convince Angelo of this whole show he has put on for him. Once he gets what he wants out of him which I know will be soon even in matter of hours, then he would be told the truth that he is just a hostage to replace Amaranta who is the only reason Ambrogio is panicking at all. You taking his sister has made him carry out this quick plan. This is plan B. he didn't manage to do his plan A because Amaranta was captured. He risked coming after Angelo and it paid off. Once we hand over Amaranta in exchange of Angelo, then its an open war. He would carry out his plan A which is striking our mansion and striking my father and your father so no powerful Rosario is left alive...."

Francesco looked at Antonio with suspicion " Something is missing here. What haven't you told me yet? It's impossible that he would attack our mansion. He doesn't have many resources in this country.... Unless he has allies but that's unlikely ."

Then Antonio said it " He has allies. Boss.....,,"

Francesco growled " Who? Don't tell me it's the O'Neils. That's impossible. It would be too obvious if that ship was on territory of one of his allies...."

Antonio shook his head " It's not the O'Neils. You are correct. In fact Sancia has issued warnings to them to leave the port or face the consequences. Time is up this Friday. Their allies are unknown to Saphire or so it seems.. She said she doesn't know. I think if we ambush that ship successfully, we would find out who is helping Ambrogio and we may catch the main guy as well."

Francesco spoke " Anything else?"

Antonio spoke " No boss."

Francesco nodded " Take sapphire and her brother to the mansion's cellar and lock them up. I will interrogate them myself also when we leave this hotel today and get back home. After making arrangements to send Sapphire to the mansion, you must call an emergency meeting with our allies at this hotels meeting room. I prefer the time around noon. Send a message to the heads of Canavaros, Giovannis, O'Neils that they must meet me at the hotels meeting room today at twelve noon. We may not know everything at this stage but one thing is certain. A mob war is close to eruption. Don't you agree."

Antonio nodded " Yes boss......"

Francesco spoke " Dismissed." He then followed Antonio outside and they separated ways as Francesco walked to the breakfast hall to get his angel. He was happy to find her alone where he left her previously. It was good that those women kept their distance and got the message. His angel shouldn't have been hassled by anyone or they had to be dealt with by him no matter who they were.

Francesco walked to his angel and offered his hand for her to take " Are you ready to go swimming now sweetheart?"

Adele nodded weakly " Yes. I do. But I guess there is no point asking you to find an alternative activity for us to do." She then took his hand and stood up.

Francesco smiled " No sweetheart. That's not going to help. You are learning to swim. Don't argue with me. You can't get out of this. A deal is a deal. Georgina took you away from our room when we were in the middle of our making out session so you could hang out with the united dreamers girl band. You said you will make it upto me. Here you go. It was your idea sweetheart. I go easy on you anyways. I won't force you to swim too much. Just will give you a head start and then we could have some fun." He then winked making Adele shiver.

Adele bit her lip " Francesco ..... It's not that. It's just .... something is wrong. I know there is. When I look into your eyes, I can see there is something that is the matter. I want to know what it is. But you said that you will tell me after our date. But I can't wait. I want to hear it now. I know if you tell me then it maybe so bad ....."

Francesco spoke " It is something bad. But it's my problem. Not yours. I tell you after our date. Don't argue with me. I won't let you distract me from taking you swimming. Besides I can't wait to see your gorgeous body in a swim suit."

Adele blushed " Francesco...."

Francesco leaned close and kissed her lips gently " The anticipation is killing me. If you knew what you do to me sweetheart, you would not want to keep me waiting. I might get restless.... " ,, He then gave her goose bumps as he whispered in a husky tone close to her ears " When I get restless, baby, I may mix pain with pleasure. So follow me now like a good girl or I may treat you like a bad girl." He then snaked his arm around her waist and gave her bottom a smack making her jump. She knew he was not joking. But Francesco was wrong. She could like it too much. His touch drove her crazy and at the same time made her feel embarrassed. She was starting to feel the urge to take their relationship abit further from now on. Too bad she knew something bad had happened that could ruin their day but for now she trusted faith.

Adele spoke quickly " I am following. Just lead the way." She then gave him a shy smile.

Francesco kissed her forehead and spoke " You are so innocent. I am glad you cant read my mind right now." He then nodded and tugged on her hand as he lead her outside the hall and the guards followed.

Francesco was cursing Angelo non stop in his mind. Angelo's bad timing for rebelling was making Francesco's blood boil. Just when he was making progress with Adele and he felt like she was starting to respond to his touch, Angelo had caused this stir. Francesco wasn't pleased at all with Angelo's timing of betraying him. Just when Adele was welcoming his touch and their relationship was starting to become spicier and more serious romantically Angelo had decided to run away and leave a mess behind.

Francesco didn't mind dealing with enemies and also traitors. Such situations were opportunities to prove his worth to his peers. He welcomed challenges. He lived for it. If someone was out there to get him, he craved the adrenaline to go after them and prove to the world that no one was to mess with the Rosarios. But of course what took the fun out of dealing with this mess was the fact that his future brother in law was involved. He knew what he was planning to do to that that traitor when he caught him, was going to hurt his sweetheart. Their relationship was going to go backwards if he proceeded with his plans as they were. He was certain. It made him hate Angelo even more but part of him felt sympathy for Angelo. He was played. He was tricked by the sound of it. Now he was starting to see the slight resemblance between Adele and her twin brother's mind set. They were both dreamers in many ways. His angel was innocent to think she could just ask Francesco to make changes in his ways of life that he was born to do just by asking nicely. On the other hand, her brother was naive, to think he could just quit his day job like everyone else and move on the next day with no repercussions. He just wished Angelo wasn't related to his beloved. It made everything complicated. How could he possibly punish that traitor who sided with the enemy and not hurt his angel is the process? That seemed impossible.