Francesco spoke impatiently " 30 seconds left Amaranta."

Amaranta was struggling against Costanzo's iron grip on her wrists. She spoke pleadingly as tears were flowing down her cheeks " I don't know. I am not part of my fathers business. I don't know who Ambrogio is working with right now. Why can't you believe me?"

Francesco smiled menacingly " 20 seconds left. Use your words wisely. I will snap your fingers with the most painful way possible. Think fast and give me the answer I want to hear."

Amaranta sobbed silently in response closing her eyes shut.

Francesco sounded amused " By closing your eyes I am not going to go away." He was finding Costanzo's reaction even more amusing. His brother's face looked priceless. He was pale like a chalk but he was trying to keep himself balanced and under control.

As Amaranta opened her eyes, she gulped as she saw Francesco was looking into her eyes with no mercy with his most intimidating stare.

Francesco leaned closer and whispered in her ear " 10 seconds left."

This made Amaranta cringe.

Costanzo automatically took a step backwards but since the bed was behind him, he fell backwards and so did Amaranta.

Francesco chuckled at the sight of Amaranta landing on his brothers lap as Costanzo fell on the bed in seated position. Then he noticed his brothers protective arms holding her waist and pulling her back to his chest whispering to her " Please do as he says."

Francesco shook his head sounding amused " Ah. This is such a mesmerising sight. It's nice that you fancy each other but I am sorry to break up the party." His voice then turned cold and deadly " Costanzo... I don't see a Rosario ring on Amaranta's finger so there is no reason for me consider showing her any special treatment when interrogating her. If Amaranta gets hurt, It's your own fault for being so gutless when it comes to making a woman yours. In my eyes this woman is not yours to protect. You are not permitted to interfere."

Costanzo was torn. He didn't know how to help Amaranta get out of this situation. He didn't have many options. He could do what Antonio was an a expert on and with one blow could knock Amaranta out. Then of course he had to answer to Francesco. It would have bought some time for Amaranta but it wouldn't have saved her. Maybe then Antonio could do something. He was her ex afterall. That made him burn in jealousy thinking of Antonio being with her.

Costanzo didn't know what was wrong with him. Why did he get suddenly upset or rather .... jealous of thinking about Antonio. He shook away the thoughts. What other options did he have? None. Unless he attacked Francesco and knocked him out. As if that was ever going to happen. Even if that was possible, then what was he to do?

Francesco's firm voice brought Costanzo out of his thoughts " Amaranta, your time is up." He then took a step towards Amaranta who was gripped tightly from her waist by Costanzo. Francesco looked at Costanzo daring him to defy him. He could see Costanzo was on edge. He knew his little brother was on brink of pulling a stunt. He didn't mind teaching his brother a lesson.

Francesco instructed roughly " Stand up Costanzo and hold her wrists in place while I break her fingers one by one."

Costanzo was terrified now. If he acted against his brother there was no going back. But something told him, Amaranta was even worth dying for. He didn't mind welcoming death for her, he told himself. He found himself feeling protective of her. He was willing to take a bullet for her even. He had no idea what had come over him to have such peculiar thoughts on this day after all these years that he knew Amaranta. Why now? Costanzo was totally surprised at his sudden urge to protect Amaranta.

Then suddenly memories of the past came back in front of his eyes like movie. He remembered the main reasons why his protective feelings about Amaranta had surged.

Costanzo hadn't seen Amaranta in a very long time. The first time he had seen her was years ago at his college acceptance celebrations hosted by his uncle at one of the Rosario Las Vegas hotels. Amaranta was invited alongside her family and Antonio had asked her to dance that night .... before Costanzo had the chance to do so. Costanzo had kept his distance that night and in fact he had kept his distance for years to come from Amaranta at college. Costanzo recalled how he felt like he was betraying his cousin by having eyes for Amaranta. He got used to looking at her from far and admiring her but trying to lose his feelings for her. It had become easier to do so after he had met Sancia and Elize of course. He had tried to blank out Amaranta out of his mind completely. He was loyal to his cousin and could never live with himself if he acted on his feelings for a woman who had been loved by his cousin first. Antonio had asked her to dance first afterall. Then things had changed after Antonio had crossed paths with Georgina and had made it his mission to capture her heart. But Costanzo still looked at her as his cousins ex-girlfriend. But at least he found it in himself to look at her as his best friend and that was as far as things had gone.

Now years later, Costanzo could only explain the return of his old feelings by taking into account that Antonio had proved he was madly in love with Georgina and was totally obsessed with her. Now it was as though his heart was bound and not allowed to be free for years and suddenly freedom had come and at such inconvenient time. After all this time Costanzo finally felt free enough to let his heart act. He had allowed himself once again to have eyes for a woman he used to see as one belonging to another Rosario. But it was a shame he had to be realising his feelings when the woman he cared for and admired so much was threatened by his own brother.

Francesco's harsh voice boomed again " Maybe I will break her arms as well as her fingers while I am at it. Costanzo. You can't delay me. My orders have to be obeyed instantly. Get up. Stop acting like a softie, stand and hold her in place while I teach her a lesson. Stop acting so loved up. If you loved her, you would have given her your ring by now. So she is a Voltolini still. Not a Rosario. Don't waste my time."

Costanzo knew he was going to regret his actions. He had to defy his brother. He would have rather died a thousand times that let Amaranta have her fingers snapped in front of his eyes. He took a deep breath and decided to act but her voice stopped him.

Amaranta spoke while crying hard in a panic voice " Wait..... Let me think ..... There are some names I know from dinner parties I attended with my brother. I am going to give those names to you. But I swear to you they are the only American contacts that I know of working with Ambrogio. They are in wine business and olive oil business. But they are all I have got. I swear."

Francesco spoke " Go on. What are they called? Tell me their names and I decide if you are allowed to keep your intact fingers."

Amaranta swallowed hard as Costanzo huffed her tighter. Whispering " Say it. I will protect you from your brother if he accuses you of being a traitor. I promise. Just say the names."

Francesco laughed bitterly " Costanzo stop showing favouritism to this hostage. As I said, she is not yours to protect since I don't see your name on no ring on her finger. So she is just a simple hostage. Keep out of this."

Amaranta closed her eyes and spoke the words as though every word cost her dearly " Carlo & Fredo & Co shareholders. I don't recall their names. I know they are two powerful families in the illegal trade scene but I didn't catch their names. I was not interested in even meeting them let alone learning their names. I don't know any more Italian Americans. You have to believe me." She then opened her eyes looking at Francesco worriedly awaiting his reaction. Francesco looked at her with raised eyebrows. He then closed the distance between then. He towered over her sitting form on Costanzo's lap. He leaned close and whispered in her ear " Do you know what I will do if I find out you know more than you just disclosed?"

Amaranta shook her head in fear and pushed her back towards Costanzo's chest. " No. I am not lying. I swear."

Francesco spoke " Lets hope for your sake you are telling the truth." He then straightened himself up and looked into Costanzo's eyes " It wasn't so hard for her to save herself. Was it? Next time if you defy me, I would make you drown in your pool of blood as I punch the daylights out of you. The only reason I let you off with a warning is because I found your interactions with her entertaining. You can amuse me at times. Now ..., you must try to toughen up. I don't care who Amaranta is to you. She is my enemies' sister for now unless you change that." He then gazed at Amaranta " I am going to a meeting where I will determine methods of attacking your brother. You never know you may meet your brother soon if he is captured in tonight's raid. So you may have some family reunions. Don't look so grumpy." He then without another word walked away towards the exit as he shouted instruction " Antonio and Costanzo. I want you in the meeting room in ten minutes. Have your reports and files ready for presentation to our allies.

Francesco then turned the door knob and left the room but Francesco was very pleased. He had managed to hit two targets with an arrow. He had taken some clues out of Amaranta who he fully trusted to be telling the truth. That meant he was about to be steps ahead of the man who wanted to take his angel away. Protecting Adele was all that mattered to him the most and he was willing to do it by any means and by any method.

Of course he was also feeling content about how he had managed to stir up his brother enough for him to drop his armor. Francesco was fully aware that one of the best moments to realise how much you cared for someone was when you were about to lose them or when you watched them suffer.

He had learnt how much he loved his mother when his father divorced her and forced her to say goodbye to her sons.

He had realised how much he truly loved Adele also in not so ideal situations. He realised he loved her more than life itself twice in his life, The first time was when his uncle had instructed his men to seize her to take her to the cellar for interrogation when Adele's family were brought to his uncles mansion to answer for accusations of spying for the FBI.

The second time he had learnt how much he truly wanted Adele was when he had the phone call from his men that Adele had started dating Michael O'Connor.

So since he was the expert, he knew he was going to get a reaction out of his brother and he got one. He was glad his brother had at last glanced at a woman for longer than seconds and she neither worked for FBI and neither was after breaking Costanzo beyond repair just to show she was the dominant one. He was so glad, Elize and Sancia were out of his brothers way. He knew nothing could come out of associating with them for Costanzo. Nothing good.