I woke to the sweetest scent imaginable. The smell of strawberries, flowing from Eliza's locks that covered my entire face. Like the old days, Eliza lied asleep with her head resting on my chest. I savoured every moment of this, knowing it wouldn't be long till our lives got back to the unfortunate reality that we endure everyday. For the moment, we had peace.

As if sensing my thoughts, Eliza groaned as sleep slowly began to disappear. Slowly, she lifted her head, clearly still half asleep. When she saw that I was wide awake, she smiled, resting her heavy head on her arm.

"Morning," she sighed, her voice croaky from the hours of little use.

"Morning," I smiled, dancing my fingertips up and down her arm, "You look well rested."

"That's because I am," she purred, inching her way closer to my face and placed a soft butterfly kiss on my lips, "Someone kept me up last night."

I chuckled as the cheeky memories resurfaced in my head, "I seem to remember someone begging me to go on."

She gasped, her eyes light and playful, "Did I do that?"

"Yes," I beamed, brushing the backs of my fingers against her smooth, soft cheeks, "over and over. Please, Patrick, I need you now."

"Stop it!" she cried, slapping my chest before falling into a fit of giggles.

My insides turned with love and excitement, causing me to pounce on her. She became easy pry as I rolled her onto her back and climbed on top. My lips latched onto her neck like I was devouring her, but the playful laughter that escaped her lips told me that she didn't hate. The complete opposite actually.

"That's not what happened," she giggled, nuzzling her cheeks against the side of my head.

"Oh really," I challenged, lifting my head so that we were face to face, "How did it happen, Amore?"

A devious smile curled on her lips, making my shaft twitch alive, "I seem to remember you clawing at my legs and eagerly throwing me on the bed."

"You didn't enjoy that?" I asked, in an attempt to tease.

Her smile turned into a cheeky smirk as she tried to conceal her hidden feelings.

"Come on, Amore," I purred, going in to her neck again, running my tongue along the curve that was connected to her shoulder, "Tell me. You loved it."

"Maybe," she brushed off, making me cry out in offense.

The little minx.

"Do I need to teach you a lesson?" I warned her, pressing my pelvis harder between her legs.

She visibly sucked in a breath, trying to hide it as best she could. Oh, but it was so obvious. The way she licked her lips and her sudden inability to keep eye contact with me.

I wanted to enjoy this moment, I did. But last nights memories weren't fair from the top of my mind. Not only that, Konrad was still a force that needed to be dealt with. And that was something that we needed to face now, and not a later time in the future.

"Eliza," I started, curling my fingers in her hair.

"Mmm," she hummed, tilting her head to the side and smiling up at me with anticipation.

"We need to talk about last night."

Immediately, her face dropped and I saw her need to avoid the topic as clear as day.

"Do we really have too?" she asked, shifting awkwardly underneath me, "We have the shares, why does the rest of it matter?"

"Because Eliza, we still have to deal with Konrad, one way or another. We've won this battle but the war is far from over. And –," I paused, struggling to hide the almost human feeling of jealous that had been filling me from head to toe, "And I don't want to be blindsided. I don't want there to be some small piece of information that you left out about last night that Konrad can use to get between us."

Realisation settled over her face as she recognised the hidden meaning behind my words. I want to know if he made a move on her and most importantly, what she did about it.

"Okay," she nodded, beginning to draw circles on my collarbone to distract herself, "it was mostly just small talk when I got in the car. Konrad was trying to be charming, giving me compliments and such."

Typical.

"We went to a restaurant, close to the docks, pretty high end actually," when Eliza caught my glare, she quickly continued, "We got talking, he was trying to get answers on my life, my father, my businesses –."

"What did you say to him?" I asked, worrying about her.

What could she have told him that he could use against her?"

"Nothing. I gave him nothing to go on. Just that my father was an Italian family head and said that he shouldn't even bother asking about my casino and brothel because I would never, ever sell to him," she soothed me and even managed to bring a proud smile on my face, "he also told me about college."

Oh crap. My playboy lifestyle wasn't a secret to Eliza but the full extent, particularly the part where Konrad was involved, was. He could have told her anything. The worst part was, he wouldn't have to lie to make me the bad guy. I was.

"What exactly did he tell you?" I asked, sitting up on my knees encase I needed to make a fast get away.

"Patrick, you don't –."

"No, I need to know," I stopped her before she gave me an excuse that my past life didn't bother her, "I want to answer any questions you have. We are being honest here after all."

Eliza nodded in agreement, but still looked uncomfortable. I couldn't blame her. I wouldn't want the answer to these questions either.

"Um, he said that you once slept with three girls at one party," she started, sitting up on her elbows.

"It's true," I told her, "I can't remember the night or any specific details – including their names – but yes, it happened."

I could see her trying so hard not to judge me, but she was failing miserably.

"He said that you had six girls all wrapped around your finger. Every month you had someone new," she continued, her voice sounding a little harder than before.

"True. But I was very clear to all of them that it was only causal, I didn't want anything serious and that we were not exclusive. When they began to get feelings for me and wanted anything more, I ended it."

She frowned, "Why?"

It was my turn to frown.

"You know why."

At my response, she sucked in a breath. I guess she had forgotten the loveless life I was forced to live as a teenager and an adult because I was betrothed to another. A girl that was still an innocent child when my innocence had been dead and buried for years.

Moving on, I asked, "What else?"

She took in a breath, thinking, "He said that you saw everyone like pieces of chest. Each person as their purpose, their place, whether they're a means to an end, a threat, a business opportunity."

I nodded, trying to feel ashamed for my actions. Perhaps a part of me did. But it was something that I had been taught to do from the very beginning and a technique that had served me when I had begun to make my empire. However, it didn't help me when I was first married though.

"Yes. It was something that I needed in my life and I'm not ashamed to admit that," I answered honestly, "What I can say, I never used the people who were closest to me."

She smiled at that, cocking her head to the side, "The boys."

I nodded, swallowing at the embarrassment of feelings.

"Okay, moving on," she sighed, lazily brushing her fingers across her chest, "I tried to make him talk about his reasons for being in New York, but he was really cagey about it."

"You wouldn't," I reassured her, lying back down, "he wouldn't want to show any weaknesses, not when he was losing."

"Mmm," she hummed, "I was able to get out that he's doing this for a bigger player. Family and all that. I could tell that, that was weighing on his shoulders."

I frowned, shocked that she could read that much into him, "Really? How? Did he tell you that?"

"No," she shook her head, "He had The Face."

"The Face?"

"Yeah. The same one that I had every time when I looked in the mirror before the wedding."

Oh. My breath was stolen from me as I remembered the family duty that had plagued her too for most of her life. Unlike me, Eliza had never known the true reason behind the responsibility of her burden and went to the slaughter as a willing participant. It made her sacrifice that much more worthy. It must have haunted her for years, knowing that one day she would have to marry a man she didn't know, and evidently struggle to love.

"What else?" I pressed on, realizing that we had once again gotten off topic.

"Umm, let me think," she groaned, rubbing her forehead, "He asked about our marriage."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes, "Yeah, I knew that would happen."

"So did I. It was just the usual stuff. Do you honestly think Patrick Maestri could love you? Your nothing but a business deal. You should get out of there while you can."

"You don't honestly believe that, do you?" I demanded, fear coursing through me.

"Of course not," she cried, patting my cheek, "But Konrad doesn't. I just brushed the questions off, saying that the arrangement suited us both."

I managed a smile, even if it was forced. It pleased me that she was able to push past the questions, willing to have faith in our relationship that others clearly didn't. It amazed me, that though she knew all the things about my past that she was able to keep her faith in me.

"Is that it?" I asked, "Nothing more."

She thought for a second, "Well, he did try to make a pass at me –."

"What –?!" I cried.

"But then I warned him that I had a gun in my wallet and that my husband showed me how to use it," she butted in, that devious smile returning.

I chuckled, dropping my head on her chest, my body slowly beginning to relax. Okay, that's one for Eliza.

"Okay, okay, okay. Anything else?" I chuckled, letting my fingers get tangled in her hair again.

"No, that's it," she giggled, slowly grazing her thumb across my jawline, "So, what's our next step. Organise a meeting with Harald?"

I moaned at the thought, "Yes, and Egor has offered his loyalty to us, so he will want to be involved."

"Okay, should we involve Eagle while we're going?" she asked, sounding tired of it all.

We both were.

"Perhaps. I think we're going to need all the help we can get."

"Why isn't he here? You told us he would be here," Harald barked, pacing the length of the high-rise office.

About an hour after Eliza and I managed to resurface from our room, we called a meeting. That meant, we were now in a room with three of New York's dangerous men. Harald Balboni, Egor Volkov and Eagle Yeung and none of them were happy about it.

"We told you. He's not coming for another hour. There's things we need to sort out first," I reminded him, from where I leaned against the desk.

Eliza was next to me, watching as the three Mafia Lord's struggle to adapt to the new conditions. This room wasn't big enough for their egos.

"Well, the way I see it, Konrad Verona is a part of the Italian Mafia. Which means he's your problem," Eagle piped up, pointing to Harald, Eliza and myself.

Harald and I shared the same glaring look. Chinese drug Lords and their every attempt to get out of trouble.

"Remember that conversation we had the other week. About you wanting back in my casino," Eliza proposed, her eyes sharp and her voice laced with a hidden agenda, "If you behave, I will consider giving you twenty percent of profit."

I was impressed. Not only was Eliza sacrificing yet another thing in her life that wasn't necessary, but she was going up against Eagle, in quite an arrogant manner, I might add. She has been learning after all.

Eagle lips curled into an double-dealing sneer, making my insides turn. How did he always manage to get what he wanted?

"Dearest, Eliza," he beamed, taking her hand in his and leading it to his lips, "How can I possibly refuse?"

Harald and I both scoffed.

"Please, don't make me vomit," Harald spat, "It's amazing to see how easy the Chinese Mafia can be bought."

"Oh, your just annoyed that I swindled you back in the eighties," Eagle bragged as his eyes lit up with smug.

"We had a deal!" Harald bellowed, pointing a deadly finger at Eagle who looked unfazed.

"Gentleman," I interrupted with an overtaxed sigh.

We didn't have time for this.

"If it wasn't for Nicholas Uccello, you would be dead!" Harald hollered, getting up close to Eagle screaming in his face.

Eagle scoffed, looking him up and down in disgusts, "Please, you Italians are all full of talk. If you wanted me dead, I'd be dead."

"There's still plenty of time to make that happen –."

"Gentleman!" I yelled, standing from my spot and trying to regain the control that we had lost.

"Please, Patrick, don't interrupt," Egor chuckled, choosing the wrong moment to put in his two cents worth, "This is more entertaining than Christmas dinner back in Old Country."

I rolled my eyes, regretting this entire plan. No, regretting getting out of bed this morning.

"Enough, the lot of you," Eliza ordered, sounding like a mother to naughty children, "Can the three of you stop acting like four-year-olds long enough for us to actually figure out a plan to get Konrad Verona out of New York. Then, you guys can get back to killing each other."

The three of them stood at attention to the twenty-two-year-old in front of them, now taking charge. I'm sure a part of them was shocked as well. I know I was. And admittedly, a little turned on by this new fierce version of herself.

"Take a seat, gentlemen and we'll get started," I began, gesturing to the table.

We all found our seats, with Eliza and I sitting next to each other, Harald two seats down, Egor a seat away from him and Eagle at the other end of the table. Eliza looked to me to start as I felt the natural role of leader settle over me.

"Konrad's plan was to buy as many mafia businesses as he could, shut them down and stabilise New York. He brought into the docks to stop production and ruin our chance to go international," I recounted, trying to give them the full picture, "Thanks to Eliza's efforts, that threat is now gone. As long as some of us don't let greed get the better from them."

Harald's eyes narrowed at me, knowing that my little stab was aimed at him.

"I will not sell my shares in the docks to Verona," he promised, giving me little reassurance.

I couldn't trust Harald. Once upon a time, he sided with Sebastian Drago in his plot to rid New York of all the other Mafias, leaving the Italian Mafia in control. Not only that, my father warned me about him. He said that Harald was one of the type of people that looked out for himself. Yes, my father did his fair share of backstabbing to get ahead and so did I. But we always lived by a code of loyalty. People like Harald did not. If Konrad gave him the right price, I'm sure he wouldn't think twice about throwing the rest of us under the bus, making what Eliza and I had accomplish these past couple of months pointless.

"Can you give us your word?" I demanded, knowing that my ability to be nice went out the window five minutes ago, "If Konrad gets his hands on the docks, you can kiss your empire goodbye, Harald."

"And I understand that, Patrick," he snapped, clearly offended by my accusations, "I know what you and your father thought of me. But I have no desire in seeing New York shut down."

If only I believed that.

"We hope so," Egor piped up, leaning over the desk and shooting Harald a dangerous glare, "Because I do not have short memory. I remember your involvement when Sebastian Drago was trying to take over city. Including when you tried to have me killed!"

Damn it. We were going off topic again.

"Offended by that are you?" Harald snarled, making no effort to apologise or drown out the flames, "Don't sit there and act like you haven't order to have my head on a spike as well."

"Ty zloy, sukin syn!" Egor shouted, slamming his hand on the table.

"Ti ucciderò nel sonno!" Harald bellowed.

Eliza groaned, dropping her head in her hands, "We're not getting anywhere."

I sighed, rubbing my forehead as the two mafia lords went at it. Why must things always be done the hard way?

"Enough!" I howled, slamming my hand so hard on the table that the bang echoed off the glass and even made Eliza jump.

It was enough to make them stop bickering and finally return their attention back on me.

"Konrad will be here in less then an hour and we still haven't made any progress," I barked, "we need to be united if we want him out of New York and any threat from the Philadelphia Mafias erased."

Each of them shared looks, as if daring each other to say another word to make matters even worse. With neither of them taking the bait, they both sat down and remained silent.

"When Konrad gets here, we need to show him that none of the mafias in New York are willing to tolerate his behaviour and will drive him out of our city if he won't leave of his own accord," I preached, like a general heading into battle, "Are we able to do that?"

The three of them were silent, avoiding my eyes at all costs. Why were these old mafia lords so selfish?

"Tell me the real reason you want Konrad Verona out of New York, Patrick?" Eagle questioned me, leaning forward on the desk.

My eyes narrowed at him, annoyed that he was clever enough to see what I was really doing. Protecting my family. I guess he has picked up on my tells during his obsession with Eliza.

"I'm protecting my family," I answered him honestly, "And I suggest you do the same."

He seemed please by my response, nodding and leaning back in the chair.

"I will offer my alliance to you, Patrick," he told me, entwining his fingers together, "the Chinese Mafia is with you."

Good. My eyes turned to Egor.

He shrugged, "You know you have my support. I will not let Verona stay in New York for another day."

Acceptable. Now Harald. Under my gaze, he shifted in his seat.

"This is your fight too, Harald," I reminded him, hoping he wouldn't listen to that side of him that told him to only think of himself.

He sighed, shaking his head, "Fine. You have support as well."

Good enough.

Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket, automatically knowing who it was before I even answered.

"Garrick?" I answered, knowing that I didn't have to ask the question.

"He's here," he told me.

I sucked in a breath, feeling my insides tighten. It was show time.

"Send him up," I ordered, "And make sure that he's not carrying anything."

Hanging up, my eyes went straight to Eliza.

"He's here," she breathed, standing up and suddenly looking nervous.

I nodded, wanting to tell her that everything was going to be okay. That I would protect her. But with the others in the room, I couldn't.

"Well, I guess it's the moment of truth," Eagle stated, standing from his spot, "to see if we can drive a demon out of our city before killing each other."

Ding

The door to the elevator glided opened, revealing the smug demon himself. I tried to search for some sort of shame or remorse to what he put Eliza and I throw last night, but there was nothing.  His eyes