Letizia was sitting on a swing in the back yard of Giovanni mansion. She was swinging slowly as she was thinking back to how much her life had changed ever since she had moved to America. She missed Italy. She really did. She felt like she didn't fit in in her school.

She found it hard to survive on her own. Only Vincenzo's existance was the reason she was saved from torment every day. She wondered where he was. She had arrived early with her family at the party hosted by Gabriel Giovanni when meet and greet had just began.

She really found it hard to get along with people. The boys didnt talk to her much because they didnt want to anger Vincenzo just in case they said to her hurtful words that she could see coming. She had insulted Tristan alongside many other boys with her attitude. None of the boys approved of her. She had heard what the boys thought she needed. Azurine had told her what was said behind her back. If Vincenzo removed his protection from her, the boys were going to teach her a a lesson she wasnt going to forget. But she was protcted because of Vincenzo. She found it hard to beleive that no one else before her had ever insulted the boys as much. They had suhc big egos. How could anyone respect them. Hierarchy or not, it was hard to accept they were not used to being challneged by a new comer like her.

Letizia did get along with some of the girls. Clarisa and Vanessa werent happy about her attacking Angelia but they were there for her but they let her know she should have kept her friends close meaning being nice to girls since boys hated her. She could feel neither the boys or the girls approved of her for her defiance and lack of respect. She didnt mind leaving the school but she had to stay. Her school in Milan was different but similar too. There were less kids in the school and they worked differently. They were Italian kids in an American School. They were also more secretive. Whatever they did was really of site premises of school. She didnt fit in over in MIlan eiether but the kids just left her alone. Besides there was so much they could do because she was a girl. Their code didnt allow hurting girls to the extent they did in America. They did get her back at times to some degree but they didnt cross the line. They just scared her off sometimes when she was getting on their nerves but their code included respecting women and not hurting women which Vitale Rosario and Andreas Agostini believed in strongly.

Suddenly she felt someone grab her her shoulders suddenly making her scream. She tried to get up but she found him sitting right next to her on the swing laughing.

Letizia growled and got up from the swing facing his sitting form " You are a crazy freak."

Vincenzo laughed " Thank you for the compliment darling. I tried my best to come across as exactly what you called me. Relax. Come sit next to me." He then he patted the place next to him.

Letizia crossed her arms over her chest " No. go away. I want to be alone."

Vincenzo sighed " Did I ever tell you, it turns me on when you cross your arms over your chest? Don't do it. I don't like you teasing me."

Letizia gasped " I can't believe you. You are so rude."

Vincenzo laughed " You are so damn irresistible." He then grabbed her hand and pulled her towards himself. Letizia found herself sat on the swing next to him again as he restrained her hands in front of her in a firm grip on her lap.

Letizia groaned " Let me go."

Vincenzo spoke " Why should I? Stop fighting. You are my girl. Just sit for a few minutes on my lap. Does it kill you to sit next to me for longer than five seconds?"

Letizia sighed " I want to be alone. Let me go."

Vincenzo stated " You are beautiful. I just want to look at you."

Letizia closed her eyes and took a deep breath "Fine. I will sit next to you for longer than five seconds. Let go of my hands. You will make a scene."

Vincenzo let go of her and put his hands on his lap "Why were you sitting here by yourself outside the party? People are dancing. I had to ask around to find you. Vanessa told me you wanted to be alone. Why?"

Letizia sighed and turned to him "I hate my life. I am stuck in this crazy school. The only one who keeps saving me from getting hurt is you of all the people. How ironic is my life? You set dogs on me when I met you and yet you are the nicest person to me in this place right now."

Vincenzo laughed "Thank you. You called me nice.... But it makes no sense to me that you just came out out of a party to feel sorry for yourself. Trust me. I have seen people going through hell here and they managed it. You are no where near suffering at all. If Tristan and I wanted you to suffer you would have suffered. You are safe. What more do you want me to do? Has someone said something they shouldnt have. Minus Tristan, has anyone been bothering you in the past few weeks. Just tell me their name."

Letizia sighed "No one is nasty... But they dont like me. If you werent here, they would hurt me."

Vincenzo frowned "Look. I cant do anything unless you give me some names. Who is they? What makes you think they dont like you? If they upset you, I can make them regret being born. Just be more specific. You were not like this in school when we were watching that movie at the Zone earlier. Did something happen?"

Letizia looked away "Maybe."

Vincenzo warned "Letizia. What happened? Give me a name. Who is the reason you are upset?"

Letizia turned to her "Its no one. Its me. I am my own demise..."

Vincenzo stated "How?"

Letizia spoke "I clashed with Sebastiano at the party. I said something nasty to him because he was being mean to Vanessa when he blocked her at the food drinks table. Apparently him being the host's grandson deserved respect. Apparently, I should know that it is disrespectful to attack him verbally when he is Gabriel Giovanni's grandson. I was forced to apologise to him after his grandmother heard what I said. I just left after that point..."

Vincenzo was listening to her intently. He was looking at her with an unreadable expression. She asked "What?W hy do you stare at me?"

Vincenzo sighed "I like the colour of your eyes. Its blue."

Letizia objected "Weere you even listening?"

Vincenzo nodded "Sure. I have had to apologise thousands of times in parties. When adults get involved we have to do as we are told. If I insult Sebastiano at his home in front of his grandmother, I bet I wont get away with an apology. My father would ground me for sure. Are you grounded for this?"

Letizia shrugged "No."

Vincenzo took a deep breath "I am glad. Because I want you present at the End of Exams Dance Event and Sleep Over at Tristan's house. Tristan's mother is used to uninviting people she doesnt like. You insulted her nephew. Hopefully she wont univite you.... I will speak to Tristan to make sure you remain on the guest list. So... is there anything else thats bothering? I cant beleive you are here because of what happened in there."

Letizia stated "But it is a big deal. its unfair. I feel embarressed that I had to apologise to him in front of everyone else."

Vincenzo chuckled "Oh, he has had to do that a couple of times. You cant insult the host. You havent to many parties then. Its normal here. What do you want me to do to make him feel better? Do you want me to go in there and beat him up? Then I would be grounded and worse by my father. His rules state I shouldnt do any fighting tonight..." His expression then turned serious "On Monday I would have a talk with him about being nice when you are in close proximity. He was mean to Vanessa and not you. You got involved. Dont do that next time... He doesnt like the Canavaros because of his auntie Sancia. Its a personal issue. Vanessa's father is Georgio Canavaro and his sister is Georgina Canavaro. Well, lets say Sebastiano's auntie Sancia doesnt get along with Vanessa's auntie Georgina. Thats how it has been. There is a feud. You didnt know. Next time dont get involved. Maybe that was why his grandmother made abig deal about it. Dont get involved in feuds, Letizia. it gets messy."

Letizia was thinking how ironic it was. Did Vincenzo know that his own brother was getting involved in a feud by falling for Angelia? She sighed "But how about Alexander? His mother is Georgina canavaro but Sebastiano is nice to him."

Vincenzo spoke "He is a Rosario by blood and besides Alexander and Sebastiano get along well. What they are being trained for is similar. Just like how what Tristan and I are being trained for are close."

Letizia raised an eyebrow " What are they being trained for?"

Vincenzo shrugged "I dont think it matters much. We are all leaders. But they would have some more leading action roles compared to Trsitan and I. You will find out when my eighteenth birthday comes along..."

Letizia was looking at him with her mouth open "You are just kids... What happens at your eighteenth birthday?|

Vicnenzo explained "Times are changing. FBI can pick us up one by one if we dont plan and we dont stick together. All these alliances are there for a reason. Something big is coming letizia. We dont talk about it but we know of it. I will be initiated officially into all branches of my father's business when my eighteenth comes. Well, my father told me that time is running out and I am starting now. Viggo and I are actually. We are to start training now slowly and in three years time we are ready..."

Letizia was shocked "But you are kids.... Other families... Are they doing the same?"

Vincenzo nodded " It goes the same for most other families. All male heirs are involved. A big fight is coming with the law. The ones who are not smart and cant see where they are about to be hit will go down. So trust me, the same people who you think are a nuisance and cant stand them are the people that will help your family business survive. Marcianos are allies with us, O'Neils and Giovannis. Your father helps us with his resources in Italy. We help him with resoiurces we have here in America. So in three years time, it will all make sense or maybe sooner. We nevr know when we are hit. But my uncle Costanzo and my father are good at covering our tracks. Our family could be one of the last to be hit with the wave from FBI... But who is to say we wont be brought down by another criminal family. We have so many enemies. So keeping our friends close is our priority..."

Letizia looked at Vincenzo with a hint of worry in her eyes "You are scaring me..."

Vincenzo smiled weakly "Did I forget to tell you, we will win? We wont fail Letizia. You and I, together we would have a strong family. Just wait a few years..... Train hard. Stay by my side. I know you will reach above everyone so that no one would touch you. Just wait. Put up with the nonsense now. Follow the rules of the hierarchy and follow the rules set by adults..... I know you are a born leader. You are defiant. You hate rules. You dont fit in. You are different... Thats why you will reach a place no one else can if you stay alive long enough." He then laughed.

Letizia spoke with annoyance "Why are you laughing?"

Vincenzo shook his head and finished laughing "You know, if you dont have protection you will be beaten down to a point that you wont stand up. Thats where I come in. I will protect you for as long as you need me. You will go to colege. You will lead your fathers businesses and you will become what I think you will become .... a ruthless boss with no remorse and mercy. You will get there.... But you need protection until you get there. Stay close to me. be with me... I will protect you for as long as you need... Then when you reach as high as you want. Thats when we rule together. Then, one day we will take over alot of businesses that half the people in the party own. One day we would rise above everyone else. One day alot of people would be begging you to spare them and you wont. One day, we would be untouchable..."

Letizia was looking at Vincenzo thoughtfuly. She was contemplating whether to ask her next question. She couldnt stand hearing no. She spoke carefully "What if I said,... I dont want protection?... What if I said.., I want to be like you now... What I said I want to train with the boys... My father has no sons.... What if I want to be learning what all the boys are... I want to protect myself... Can I ask that from my father?"

Vincenzo smiled with satisfaction " Thats my girl. You can ask. He would say no... But keep asking... I will help you convince him if thats what you want... I can guarantee your protection while we train too and set rules... if you cant do it, you drop out. You can say that to your father... But I know you can... You are my girl... You can get anything you want." He then took her hand in his. He reached his other hand into his pocket and took out a small box. He put the box in her hand "This si for you."

Letizia smiled. It made her happy to see him show her affection by getting her a present. She took the box and unwrapped it. She gasped as she saw the beautiful large bracelet. "Its so beautiful. Thank you." She then joked "Can it do anything like the umberella you made me?"

Vincenzo chuckled "What? You are now thinking how I am thinking. I am glad you asked. Sure you can kill with it. Open it and can turn it into a knife. Its big for a reason." I wish show you later. Not here. I dont think we are allowed to carry weapons at this mansion. This is a peaceful party."

Letizia nodded with a smile "I love it." She then put on her bracelet. She looked up at Vincenzo and then leaned close and planted a kiss on his cheek to Vincenzo's shock. She then got up "Lets go inside together...... I want us to dance and to show them we are together. They can have their rules and we must comply. But .... we will make our own rules one day."