Angelo was sitting in the car opposite a tied up Alessio who was looking outside the window with defeated eyes. Antonio was pacing the ground in front of the car waiting just like then long line of cars carrying Rosario men in suits were waiting for something to happen.

After minutes went past suddenly Emanuelle O'Neil came into view walking down the steps from the ship slowly with some of his armed men following him. His expression was cold and authoritative not giving much away. Antonio turned and nodded to one of his men waiting outside the car. Afew Rosario men stood at his side a step behind him as Emanuelle O'Neil walked to him and stopped towering over Antonio. He spoke with a cocky smirk " It seems like Rosarios are good at ambushing targets. They did well helping overtaking this ship. I wanted to congratulate you."

Antonio had to bite his tongue not to say anything back. He wasn't happy how Emanuelle hadn't allowed Rosarios priority access. This was all an attack planned by Francesco. It was all his idea. But O'Neil being the opportunist he was, had blocked access from Francesco to attack the ship since the harbour was one of the O'Neil territories. There was nothing they could do when he had proposed he only let Francesco start a war on his territory if the O'Neils were in control of the attack. Voltolini and his allies were suspected to have been linked to O'neils plane incident, so there was nothing more important than to capture the men on that ship to the dismay of the Rosarios.

Antonio wanted to remain silent but he knew he couldn't push it. This wasn't Rosario territory. O'Neil could kill all of them if he wished it. He most likely wasn't going to go against the Rosarios but Antonio couldn't be sure. It was hard to read O'Neil. He gave a forced smile " Thank you...... May I ask you something?

O'Neil gave him a wide smirk " You may of course."

Antonio spoke with a serious tone " Are you done with the ship? I take it since you came down here, it must be over."

O'Neil shrugged " It is over."

Antonio asked the dreaded question " How many? How many have you left alive?"

O'Neil spoke "That's irrelevant"

Antonio spoke in a calm but irritated tone " I am just asking a legitimate question."

O'Neil spoke " It doesn't matter how many is left. Is there? "

Antonio sighed. He then got his point. He meant that there was nothing he could do about it, if there was anyone left alive or not. Whatever was left of the captives, Antonio had to work with. He spoke in a hard tone " No. It doesn't. You are right. Can we see these captives you have left for us? We must make our leave if you are done."

O'Neil spoke " I think, you are in a rush. If anyone didn't know you, they may have assumed you were scared of something perhaps. But you are not. Are you Anton?" He then stepped forward and got even closer to Antonio, looking at him with an intimidating look and a smirk that would have made anyone else look away. But not Antonio.

Antonio spoke "No. My friend. I am not scared. I am here to do my job that my boss has given me to do."

O'Neil nodded and leaned close. He was now in Antonio's personal space, staring him down which had all the Rosario guards on edge. O'Neil spoke with a demanding tone " I would like us to touch base Antonio before you leave. It's been a while since we hung out. How about we play some cards on the deck and have afew drinks. I would like to know how everything has been while I was in my coma.

Antonio spoke " I am sure , there will be time for that later. I must leave."

O'Neil spoke in a low and threatening tone " I insist."

Antonio had enough " I must go. I am sorry. I was given a deadline. I can't stay. If your interrogations are finished, please hand some prisoners over. You would need to ask Francesco personally if you wish to change the plans."

O'Neil looked at Antonio thoughtfully then spoke "I would have to call him up.... wont I? but he doesn't like me delaying you. He hates delays. If you have to be back by a certain deadline, then I don't want to be the one keeping you here. That I know. He is like me who prefers face to face contact.......Well, in that case....." He then turned around to his men "Get those who are alive down here ... but wait." He then turned to Antonio "What kind of packaging would you like?"

Antonio shrugged " Its your call. You call the shots as its your territory. But if I may, let me suggest that if your men just restrain them with handcuffs and blindfold them. We have a Lorry to carry them in with some packaging."

O'Neil turned to his men "You heard him. Go to the deck and inform men to bring the ones that are breathing down here and deliver them to the lorry parked down this line of cars."

Antonio spoke "Thank you."

O'Neil turned back to Antonio "Don't thank me yet. Since you refused to stay because your boss wants you back, then I am the one who is coming over. I will see Francesco tonight to share some information with him that he would find very interesting. After I meet your boss, then you can thank me and we will have a few drinks. Its been long. Hasn't it."

Antonio wanted to say " No. Not really." He found O'Neil very hard to analyse. He could read most men like an open book. But not O'Neil. His father used to tell Antonio that if he had a daughter he would have had no problem giving her permission to marry O'Neil. His father saw Emanuelle as an equal to Antonio and a worthy man. Antonio trusted his fathers judgment indeed. O'Neil was intelligent and authoritative but still he wasn't a Rosario. Nothing bound him to this family.

Emanuelle cleared his throat " I said its been long hasn't it."

Antonio had to be diplomatic. He spoke in a low tone " You are more than welcome to come over. Francesco would be pleased to see you." He didn't answer his question which didn't escape O'Neils ears.

O'Neil spoke " Very well. I will follow your crew in my car."

Antonio spoke " Let me make a phone call to the base to inform them you are coming."

O'Neil spoke " I love surprises."

Antonio stated " Francesco doesn't."

O'Neil said " It's my territory. I tell you what to do. You don't make any more phone calls. You told him, Angelo is safe. That's enough. Now get in your car while I sort this all out. I will signal you when you can leave."

Antonio didn't like being told what to do. But of course he had to put up with O'Neil. This was his territory. He was the authority here."

Antonio nodded weakly " I will be waiting in the car. Give us a signal when you want us to depart." Without another word he got into the car sitting opposite Angelo and Alessio. He complained as he looked at O'Neil shouting orders as his men and walking away from his car " He wants to prove that its his word that counts. Always putting on a show."

Angelo spoke reluctantly and weakly as he voiced his thoughts " Antonio ....Is he going to kill me? Is Francesco going to execute me?"

Antonio laughed bitterly and looked around " Don't talk about your issue publicly. Especially when the driver shows up. We are alone here so it doesn't matter. To put it simply, I don't care and I don't know what will happen to you since I have no say in it. All I know is that its the first time that Francesco will deal with a traitor at such personal level. No one knows you are a traitor except this delightful college kid sitting next to you, his brother and the Rosario family. Those who work for Rosarios don't know anything. You disappeared and you became Voltolinis hostage. You were abducted for all they care and this was some kind of rescue mission ...."

Angelo spoke " But ..... What about all those people on the ship who know about what I did?"

Antonio spoke " What about them? The enemy can talk. They can accuse you of many things since you work for Francesco. Who is going to believe an enemy who's mission is to weaken the Rosarios and of course throw accusations of weakness and treason at our organisation every chance they get. So be careful what you say out there. Who is going to believe them? When we arrive at the mansion, only I, Costanzo, Adele and Francesco will know your true crime that you will be punished for. The rest of the mansion will think your punishments are for the fact that you left your hotel room or rather post without permission at night time and exposed yourself enough to be abducted. Firstly Francesco was going to out you as a traitor and was going to make an example out of you in front of everyone who works for him but he changed his mind. You have your sister to thank. Ironically you betrayed Francesco and put Adele in danger against the brother of the guy sitting next to you only for her to save you so much public humiliation. You are Lucky in many ways. But you are going to regret everything, you traitor. I really wish I could pound you right here. I want to punch you and kick you until you lose consciousness but I am not permitted to do so. Francesco decides what to do with you and no one else. I definitely want to watch you suffer."

Angelo spoke as he looked away " I didn't know ..... I regret it ...."

Antonio spoke harshly " Of course now you say that because you are caught. I don't trust you. You have to prove your loyalty now. Now keep quiet. I don't want to hear your voice. I might lose my self restraint and beat you up right here. But again why would you care? I would be the one answering to Francesco for disobeying his orders of bringing you back safely."

Then suddenly Alessio started making sounds as his mouth was covered with tape while shaking his head.

Antonio turned to him " What? I will remove the tape. But if anything useless comes out of I am going to put you in the car's trunk or in the packaging a in the lorry. Your brothers men seen to be coming down. At least it's a dozen of them and they are all breathing. I thought he was going to bring us corpses."

Alessio turned around to the direction Antonio was looking at. Just then Antonio peeled off the tape around his mouth making Alessio shout " Ow. That hurt." He turned to Antonio " This guy is no traitor. My brother fooled him. It wasn't his fault. My brother is good at convincing people."

Antonio chuckled " Worry about yourself. Besides you rooting for him would make his crimes heavier. Any other words you want to say before I put a tape on you again? Francesco would want to question you personally I am sure otherwise you would have been kicking and screaming on the floor as I interrogated you."

Alessio spoke " Don't put that tape on me. I need to breathe. I would keep quiet. I have nothing to say. I don't know anything. My brother called me up here to protect me rather than me staying on campus. The next thing I know an ambush happened. He didn't expect the attack. My father wouldn't be pleased to hear about him crossing the Rosarios. In a way I am glad that I am captured and don't have to answer to him in Milan."

Antonio filled his eyes " Lets see if your story changes when you are taken to the cellar at the mansion." He then looked outside the window putting his hand up acknowledging understanding Emanuelle's signal. Then the driver entered the car and started the engine. Antonio spoke with relief in his voice " The cards will turn when we cross the border and enter our own territory." He then reached to a storage box on the floor and opened it. He took out a whiskey bottle opening it with his teeth. He always needed a drink after each time He deal with O'Neil.

Angelo looked behind him " Are we being followed?"

Antonio shrugged " Don't talk..... Yes we are. O'Neil is chasing us. He is showing up at the mansion." The rest of the ride was spent in silence. Antonio didn't tape Alessio's mouth. He wasn't sure if he had asthma or some breathing difficulty Or not. He didn't want him to suffocate before Francesco got him.

When they arrived at the mansion's gates Antonio smirked " Oh. He is not going to like having to hand in his weapons at the gate."

Angelo spoke " This is the back gate of the mansion. Not the front one ...."

Antonio spoke " Of course. We wait at the back. We don't want to be seen by certain people who shouldn't be seeing you." Angelo knew he was referring to Adele.

As Antonio's car got in front of the mansion but no one moved a muscle. Angelo and Alessio noticed that Rosario men stayed in their cars.

Antonio answered Alessio before he spoke " Before you ask, we need to wait for instructions. We were ordered to come here and wait at this gate for orders to come. Get comfortable."

O'Neil cars by that time also arrived at the mansion. Emanuelle got off his car and leaned to the car's trunk waiting looking at his watch as he was instructing his men.

Angelo was looking at Emanuelle O'Neil with awe. He looked so powerful and carried himself with so much confidence. Everyone else looked on edge as there was so much tension in the air. There was a war between an enemy who was on the run and multiple families were involved. All allies were in danger. But Emanuelle didn't seem to mind. He was calm and relaxed as though he had come to a party. It didn't seem like he had come from attacking a ship full of armed criminals.

Antonio sighed as he watched Emanuelle walking to his car. Emanuelle opened the door and looked at him "Can I have a tie? Mine is bloody. I don't want to meet Adele Rosario with blood on my clothes."

Antonio got off the car and stood in front of him "You wont see the lady of this mansion tonight. Francesco would see you alone. He doesn't wish his lady involved in such matters."

Emanuelle raised an eyebrow "Nonsense. I am here for dinner. I am staying. He has met my wife. I need to meet his fiance. I need a black tie."

Antonio spoke "That would be done." He turned to one of the men "Please bring a black tie to Mr O'Neil from the dressing rooms." He then turned to him "Any other demands, you would like me to meet."

Emanuelle's eyes sparkled as he saw something within distance. He ignored Antonio "Not really. He is here." Without glancing at Antonio he walked round the car "How is life Costanzo? We didn't get the chance to catch up after the meeting. You almost sprinted off."

Costanzo looked at him coldly " There will be plenty of time later for catching up. I need to arrange for the two main prisoners to be accompanied to where they should be. You will be lead to Francesco's office by Antonio."

As Costanzo turned to Antonio who was now approaching him, O'Neil stepped in front of Costanzo "Wait. I want to know. How is life treating you? Have you found yourself a girl yet? You need heirs. Francesco's orders."

Costanzo gave him a cold glare.

Antonio came to the rescue "I appreciate your well wishes for Costanzo but we have got to move on. Follow me please while I take you to Francesco's office." He then walked away.

Costanzo took a sigh and turned to men waiting for orders "Take all prisoners to the cellar as usual. But ...." he then gasped as he saw Alessio alongside Angelo. He shook his head. Francesco wasn't going to be happy with Alessio unless a miracle happened. The guy had nothing to offer. He was not immersed into his fathers business like how Ambrogio was. He hoped, Francesco wasn't going to break the alliance for this failure of O'Neil to deliver his end of the bargain and taking prisoners whom were wanted by Francesco.

Costanzo cleared his throat "Alessio must be accompanied to the room next to his sister and handcuffed to the radiator." They couldn't be too careful. Alessio didn't know much about business but was physically fit and well trained to get himself out of situations.

As the guards, carried the prisoners and Alessio away, there was only Angelo left.

Costanzo spoke roughly "Get out of the car and follow me Angelo."

Angelo wasn't sure what to think and where he was headed but it couldn't be good. He knew he was going to pay for his crimes but he didn't know how.

Angelo noticed how Costanzo hardly even glanced at him and didn't even greet him. he deserved the cold reception and much worse. He expected to be kicked and beaten up as he had touched foot at the mansion but nothing had happened yet. It was the quiet before storm. Francesco was going to be the one to hurt him and he was going to keep Angelo waiting. That was his guess for now.

Angelo was surprised not to be lead to the cellar. In fact, he hadn't been to the part of the mansion before. They were walking through empty corridors through which were accessed by unlocking a set of consecutive locked doors. He had never seen the place before on the ground floor. Angelo felt too ashamed to speak now. He felt regretful at betraying Francesco after seeing how humane he was being treated as Antonio had put it. He wasn't going to be publicly punished and was saved the humiliation of screaming and crying in front of his colleagues. He knew he deserved anything Francesco did to him but he didn't think Adele deserved to watch him suffer. He felt sick at the thought of how his sister must have been feeling right now. She must have been worried sick.

Costanzo opened a door and spoke "Go inside. Angelo entered and gasped. The room was covered in white mosaics on its floor. The walls at one side were covered in mirrors and the other side had variety of weapons and devices of torture placed on the wall. The ceilings were covered in hooks and handcuffs to tie people too. There were poles in some parts of the room too with hooks to handcuff someone to. He had seen this setting before. The cellar torture rooms had same decorations.

Costanzo walked to one side of the room and opened a door. He held the door open and spoke "This is where you will be staying. Go inside."

Angelo walked slowly towards his faith. As he entered the windowless room, he noticed it was like a small storage room except it had nothing inside. Only a small bed and cupboards and another door. As he opened that door, he saw a tiny toilet and basin.

Costanzo explained "This is part of the ground floor interrogation compartments. This is where Francesco treats special prisoners he wants to deal with personally in privacy. He lets his men here to participate in whatever he is doing too. You will be staying here indefinitely. You will be given food and clothes. He wont deprive you of any of that but you will have no company. The house keepers will come three times a day to see you but you cant talk to them and they cant talk to you. They bring you food and clothes and do housekeeping with someone's supervision. Most likely Pablo, head of security, I or Antonio will also watch so you don't pull a stunt. Any questions."

Angelo looked down "Will I be tortured?"

Costanzo spoke "No. But you will hear alot of people behind this door who will be tortured. You cant see them but can hear them."

Angelo spoke the words he dreaded "Does Adele know?"

Costanzo spoke "Of course. You are getting this five star hotel treatment because of her. She begged Francesco to spare your life. Francesco loves her so much that he agreed to spare you physical pain. But believe me when you experience what Francesco will do to you mentally, you will beg to be hurt physically instead. But again you are a lucky one. You know if you were anyone else he would have hung you by your hands from one of these hooks on the ceiling torturing you day and night depriving you of your sleep and making you scream in pain until you died. But Adele saved you from pain."

Angelo nodded