Adele was once again sitting next to Francesco on the bench as he was holding her waist in his arm and both were looking into the distance. Adele was torn about whether to bring up Costanzo. She actually could see the defeated, retreating figure of Costanzo walking away from the building from where she was sitting. She was deep in thought about what was requested of Francesco. She felt so sorry for Costanzo but what could she do? Francesco was not really in a state to be asked for favours. She knew it was best to remain silent and just be there for Francesco but she was planning to talk to Costanzo and ask him if he wanted her help. But of course for now Adele was glad that at least Francesco had let him walk away with no consequences.

Francesco's words brought her out of her thoughts "You have gone quiet sweetheart. What is on your mind?"

Adele shrugged and looked up at him "It doesn't matter what I think Francesco. It's about what you feel right now. You are right. You are here on no rescue mission. You are here to get some answers and confront your father. I can't imagine what you must be going through. I know Costanzo had bad timing but he looked devastated. I can't lie to you. I do worry for him. He is like my brother..."

Francesco's expression hardened "I think it should be enough that I let him walk away just like that this time. That was for you. You do not need to worry for Costanzo. He is smarter than he looks and we are on Rosario territory. He won't be shot dead, no matter what he does for that woman if that is what worries you. I hope either Costanzo learns his lesson properly this time or even better yet, my grandfather teaches him a lesson."

Adele was thinking over his words and nodded. There were no words to say. Minutes were now spent in silence between them.

Adele was admiring the view around them from the top of the roof or rather Francesco's spot but also glancing at Francesco who was looking into the distance. She wished she could read his mind. Her mind was partly with Francesco and partly with Costanzo. There was nothing she could do but hope that Francesco did something. She knew it was not the right time to talk to Francesco about his brother's love life. Francesco had other worries on his mind. But she was surely going to ask Costanzo somehow later if there was anything she could do for him. But part of her was not so sure she could help him. Costanzo's troubles seemed to be always complex. Where did his problems ever end? Sometimes keeping away from Costanzo could at least mean she couldn't make it any worse....

Francesco looked at Adele "I love you so much.... Today was an eventful day but you know the most hilarious part of the day was when my uncle was trying to get me to back off by threatening you. He has met me before. He knows full well about the lengths I would go to protect you? It just shows he has ran out of his reasonings. What can he do or say? Nothing. He can not stop me. He is just stating the obvious and hope I back off. Obviously, the Don knows well also about what lengths I would go to protect what is mine and get my revenge. His men have orders to shoot me if I try to hurt his sons. Did you know that? He told me all about his orders amongst many other matters that we discussed when he asked you to step outside his office"

Adele gasped "Really? He would kill you... Francesco...."

Francesco laughed "No. Their orders is not to kill. It is to shoot... to injure to stop me from killing my uncle and my father if I do not listen to warnings or refuse to be restrained if I attack the Don's precious sons. That just shows how the Don is convinced that I mean business. His men outnumber mine by thousands. I hardly have a hundred personnel here. He has thousands. But he still knows I won't hesitate to pull the trigger if that is what I wish."

Adele spoke weakly "I am scared for you. Be careful Francesco. This may not end well.."

Francesco shook his head "Don't sweetheart. Don't worry. Don't be scared. I can protect myself. You should know that. As for protecting you, also you shouldn't worry. You are all I have and I will protect you with my life. The men in my world have the job to worry and provide for their women."

Adele spoke "And what do women do? Just have children?"

Francesco smiled weakly as he reached his free hand that was not around her waist to her stomach "I did not say that sweetheart. Of course women have many duties but none of it will include protecting. You would have my children and much more. You will be loyal and faithful to me in return and then all will be well.... You have nothing to fear in my world because you have me to protect you. Do you trust me fully to protect you Adele?"

Adele spoke " Of course I do..."

Francesco looked into a distance way from Adele and took a deep breath "I have made sure of your safety. I have put the fear of god in the heart of every man I have ever met. No one would dream of hurting you because they know me. Even someone like Ambrogio hasn't dared struck me directly yet. So you do not need to worry if you can handle the dangers of this life. I would handle it for both of us. I promise you. When you entered my life I vowed that I wont let anyone take you away from me. I made sure no one dared. Not even my father. I think I never told you about the talk I had with my father and my uncle days after you left. I was beaten up badly by my father for how I spoke to him but I did manage to make sure he knew what I was going to do and what I was prepared to do if you were harmed in anyway in the ten years he was going to separate me from you." He then laughed bitterly.

Adele spoke "I had no idea."

Francesco sighed "Do you know what happened next? My uncle and my father compromised by agreeing to provide security to watch over you. That is right. I even managed to convince my own heartless father, that he was messing with fire. Yes, he could do what he wanted with me and I gave in to go through whatever he wanted me to go through and get involved in whatever business he wanted me to learn but it was on the condition that you were left unharmed. It worked. At an early age, adults knew that I meant every word that I said and knew I kept my promises..... unlike Costanzo. I have given him so many chances to make the right choices and stick with them. But I haven't seen anything yet. When will he ever learn? I do not know. I may have to teach him a lesson if he doesn't learn it himself and I will not particularly enjoy doing it. I wish he learns by himself rather than me having to keep teaching him how to act like a Rosario" He then stood up "Let's go back now sweetheart. It's close to dinner time. Not that I mind being late. The less time we spend at the table, it means the less time I have to spend looking into my father's eyes. I can't believe my mother is taking him back."

Francesco took Adele's hand in his and then lead her towards the door and away from the beautiful view of the roof. They were walking hand in hand down the stairs but of course Francesco lifted Adele to her surprise and carried her downstairs bridal style ignoring Adele's protests. They left the building and walked back towards the manor hand in hand under the watchful eyes of the guards.

Adele kept looking at Francesco and admiring his self restraint. It must have been tough for Francesco to look at the man who hurt him so much over the years. Francesco's father had managed to take so much away from Francesco and had turned him into a cold blooded criminal but he hadn't managed to take away his love for his brother and his love for Adele. Part of his heart and soul was intact. She prayed that this part of him was never taken away from him especially now that Francesco could be tempted to damage his soul further by taking a revenge involving spilling his fathers and his uncle's blood.

For now Adele had to just observe and hope he did not hurt his father in a fit of rage. She did not blame him if he did. The man had forced Francesco to kill when he was hardly nine years old. He deserved the worst pain of all in this world. But Adele did not want Francesco to be the one to carry out justice and have that on his conscious for the rest of his life. They had their whole life ahead of them. They had a wedding coming up. Francesco could move on and live happily seeing his children and grandchildren living in peace. But she could feel this occasion of meeting his father was very crucial for Francesco. This was it. The time of reckoning had come. She agreed with Costanzo that this was the ultimate test and also could feel it that Francesco's decisons could change his life forever when and if he dealt with his father. It could change him beyond repair with no way back.

Adele noticed they had not reached the main mansion yet but Francesco just came to a halt in front of a building that was surrounded by guards. He took out a key and spoke "This is the guest house you and I will be staying in." As he opened the door and they entered, Adele started looking around. "Wow, this is a nice place. Very modern too. But I thought you said we can't be together here."

Francesco closed the door and spoke "Well, we can't be sleeping in the same bed in the same room but can stay together." He then took Adele's hand and lead her upstairs "We would be checked on throughout the day and night though. My uncle Pietro is head of security. This house is my grandfather's property. Pietro is allowed to come check inside at anytime he wants for security reasons and also check to see if we need anything. We can't be found in the same bed. We just can't be. It would start a headache. This is one rule we can't break. The headache won't be worth it. So we compromise. If I want to take on the Don, I would rather do it over something else."

Francesco then stopped at a door and spoke " This is your room. Your suitcase is inside. I am next door. Now go to your room, get changed and then we can go to dinner."

Adele nodded and complied. It felt strange to go inside a bedroom that had a single bed with no Francesco but they had to respect the wishes of the host.

When she walked out, she saw Francesco already dressed up waiting outside. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead "You look beautiful. The sunshine is giving you a sun tan. You look healthier."

As Francesco took her hand and they walked down the stairs to the door, Francesco whispered "At the dinner, if my grandfather says anything, you don't have to say anything back. Just nod at him and smile. He has already approved of you. But he can be intimidating."

Francesco the opened the door and saw the last man he wanted to see in this whole world standing on the porch leaning to one of the pillars of the porch facing him.

Adele pushed herself towards Francesco. His father had a faint of a smile on his face which did not match his menacing and cold eyes at all. He resembled Pietro alot at close up. Adele felt petrified at being at such close proximity to Francesco's father. Even with the crutches under his arms he looked deadly. Adele did not see the need for all those guards to have guns in their hands standing protectively behind him. He looked dangerous as it was.

Paulo spoke in a low tone "You left just when I wanted to talk to you. That was not very polite, son..."

Francesco warned "Do not call me son."

Paulo looked at Adele "She has grown up to be a fine young woman. She looks healthy enough to have your children. I am pleased."

Francesco let go of Adele's hand and walked to his father. He grabbed the collar of his shirt only to see the guards behind his father raising their guns and pointing them towards him.

Paulo looked behind him "Put the guns down."

Adele was helplessly watching. To her relief the guards lowered their guns. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she was worriedly looking on.

Francesco spoke in gritted teeth "This pretense that you have put up does not trick me. You will not take away my mother and you will not hurt her."

Paulo sighed "I will not hurt her. Her punishment is over. Twenty years of banishment was the sentence I chose for her for risking your life. You were six when she left and now you are almost twenty six. It is over, maybe it's is one year, give or take. I am letting her off one year early because I see she has learnt her lesson."

Francesco objected "Her lesson in what? She did nothing to hurt her baby"

Paulo spoke "She put you in danger. You are my blood."

Francesco grabbed his father's neck.

The guards again raised their guns pointing at Francesco ready to shoot.

Francesco spoke in fury looking into his father's eyes "You are a coward, bringing guards behind you."

Paulo protested "My father sent them. This is what fathers do. They look out for their sons." He then shouted "Put the damn guns down. He can hit me if he wants to. He knows I hit back. Always."

Francesco was looking at him with murder but he let his hands down. His father's words had a sting to them. Francesco hated this man but he knew this man that had taught him all he knew was not to be underestimated. He was intelligent. He did not have as much power but he was the most dangerous man he had ever met."

Paulo spoke "Lets go inside and talk. But the guards have to come in. The stunt you pulled out in the open with Piero cost the privilege of being alone. My father doesn't take chances with my life just like I never wanted to take chances with yours...."

Francesco spoke "I have nothing to say to you. I do not have time to waste talking to you."

Paulo spoke "But you have to because I demand it Francesco. You have a woman now. What would you do if she ran away while she was pregnant with your son to another man. What would you do if she ran to the police, FBI or a senator to destroy and endanger her child? What would you do?"

Francesco gave his father a menacing glare "I will not hurt her... I am not like you. I will never be like you."

Paulo smiled menacingly "Are you sure about that son?"

Francesco spoke "Yes, I am. Now the only thing I really want to know is this... How did you manage to convince her to take you back? Did you force her? Did you threaten her? Be a man and tell the truth."

Paulo spoke in a dismissive tone "Really son? is this the only thing you would like to ask? I have to disappoint you and say that I did nothing. She loves me and I love her."

Francesco grabbed the collar of his father's shirt with one hand and pulled his other hand back. Francesco was about to hit him but then his father dropped one of his crutches and grabbed his fist "Is it too hard to imagine for you son? She loves me. She always has. I hurt her but she had left me no choice. She committed a sin, she forced me to punish her and that hurt me too to hurt her. She had to pay. I couldn't let her get away with what she did. I even let her be with you and Costanzo until you were close to school age. I showed her mercy. I should have killed her because I couldn't.... I banished her. Now we are back. I regret hurting her after she ran away. I wish I had just banished her after you were born. But she had committed an unforgivable sin of endangering my son and I was angry with her. I couldn't control my rage and I hurt her. I have expressed my remorse and know I have no reason to hurt her now and I won't. A father's priority is to protect his son in a Rosario family and I acted. I acted too harshly with her and I regret hurting your mother to the extent that I did but that is in the past. I would not hurt her now. Years of being away from her has made me realise how I should treat my family as a husband and as a father...."

Francesco spoke with venom "You can't call yourself a father." Francesco looked into his father's eyes and then looked at the raised guns. He really was not in the mood for this confrontation right now. He had experienced enough nonsense for one day. So he freed his hand from his fist and let go of the collar of his shirt that he had in his other hand. Immediately the guards lowered the guns.

Francesco took a step away from his father and spoke " I have heard enough for today.... Just tell me... Why did she take you back? She couldn't possibly forgive you this easily after what you did. What did you do to her to force her to marry you again?"

Paulo spoke truthfully "Your mother loves me. She knows what she did was wrong. She accepted what she had done was wrong. She does agree that she has atoned for her sins. She does believe she should have suffered for her crimes and endangering your life. Your mother was not like Adele. She was not from a normal family. She lived in a family that was a crime family. She knew the rules full well just like how she knew the consequences and punishments for betrayal. She committed a sin and she paid for it. She knew she got away lightly. She knew I should have killed her and I didn't because she was the mother of my children. She is grateful I let her live to see his sons grow older..."

Francesco closed his eyes taking in his words like a dagger to his heart. His mother actually believed that she deserved to suffer. She had actually believed she was a sinner. Of course. She had accepted her faith with open arms because she blamed herself for something she saw as a crime. But Francesco knew she must have been scared when she had ran away. He knew she was desperate, young, petrified. His father had forced her to act.

Francesco opened his eyes " You should have protected her. You should not have allowed her to run. You committed a sin too." He then turned to Adele "Let's go sweetheart. The dinner would be getting cold if we don't go now."

Paulo spoke "The only sin I committed was pushing you too hard. I pushed you beyond breaking point.... I am sorry Francesco....."

Francesco shook his head "Don't you dare." He offered his hand to Adele to take and Adele swallowed hard as she felt the tension and took in the scene. His father had just apologised. How did Francesco feel. She would have given anything to find out. She took Francesco's hand and immediately felt the tremors in his hands. He was shaking from rage.

Francesco didn't glance at his father and tried to side step him while holding Adele's hand. But his father blocked his path.

Adele was petrified. Francesco's father was quite tall. He was the same height as Francesco. He was strong build too. She looked at his towering figure and trembled. He looked quite displeased.

Paulo spoke in a hard tone " I raised you to be strong. I don't apologise for that. I made you into a strong man who can protect his family. I am not sorry for that. I do not apologise for separating you from your mother because her banishment made you stronger in the process..... But I do regret hurting you and Costanzo because you are my sons and I do regret hurting your mother beyond what was necessary for betraying me but come to think of it she deserved to die for betraying me and I showed her mercy either way. I should have killed her for attempting to do something that could kill my son but I did not kill her when I should have and I could have.... My fury at her carried over and I took it out on you and Costanzo. I know that now. I had time to think away from the business during my retirement and I put things into perspective.... I apologised to Costanzo too..... I say this now I am sorry son...."

Francesco looked at his father as he was clenching his jaw "Go to hell."

Paulo spoke "One day you will have your own sons and you will understand what I said to you just