Marco.

We wasted no time finding where that fool lived. Breaking into his apartment was easier than I thought. I cocked my gun as we quietly stepped into the mucky, dirty, and unpleasant apartment. It was the most disgusting sight that my eyes have ever beheld. Needles and syringes that were used for heroin were scattered all over the floor along with trash and cocaine. Blood, vomit, and bodily fluids covered the walls and furniture.

I scrunch my nose as the foul odor hits my nostrils. We heard the sound of the TV in the living room. I motioned to Luca to check the bedroom while I went and checked the living room.

There I saw the fool who had pushed aunt Anna down the stairs laying on his back on the floor. He seemed to be passed out. I stomped on his stomach as hard as I could which made him open his eyes and let out a loud groan. As if that wasn't enough, I gave him a hard kick in the side. He tried to get up but eventually fell on his back.

I aimed my pistol at his head and growled at him. "I know that you pushed my aunt down the stairs. I also know that you're working for that coward, Leonardo, and that slut, Whitney. Where the fuck are they?"

"I don't know." He mumbled in pain while touching his forehead.

Before I could say anything else to him, I heard Luca shout at him. "You better tell us where Leonardo and that bitch are before I have to put a bullet in your bitch's head!" Luca warned as he held her in a chokehold with his pistol at her temple.

"Please don't kill me." She begged in a trembling voice but neither one of us gave a damn.

"Shut the fuck up, bitch." Luca snarled at her.

"I'll tell you." He barely said. "Whitney is back in the US but Leonardo is still here. I don't know where in Milan he is. He's going to be at the dock tonight where he's supposed to collect the shipments that will be coming in."

"Where in the US is Whitney?" I demanded, still aiming my pistol at his head.

"I don't know." He answered in a weak voice.

"Not the answer that I want to hear, fucker." I said and pulled the trigger of my gun blowing his head off. "That's for messing with my precious aunt."

His bitch opened her mouth to scream but before she could utter a sound, Luca shot her in the head.

He then let go of her body and it hit the floor with a thud.

That coward, Leonardo, and that bitch, Whitney were next.

                             _____**_____

Later that night.

Luca and I stood at the dock watching that coward and his men. A few of my men in Italy were also there with us.

We wasted no time opening fire at them. They returned the fire at us. I aimed my pistol at Leonardo and shot him in the stomach. It was not long after that he shot me in my left arm as he staggered to the ground. I continued firing at them as they returned the fire.

The coward escaped in a getaway boat. Only two of my men were shot and none died. A few of Leonardo's men lay dead. I knew that the coward wasn't dead but his days are coming to an end. I'm not giving up until I blow his head off.

                              ___**____

A day later, I was back home because I wanted to go and see Kelly. Luca was still in Italy trying to track down Leonardo.

The place was empty without Kelly. I missed seeing her beautiful face and hearing her infectious laughter which would normally spread throughout the house. Everyone here missed her. My heart was broken and I felt empty inside but I was good at hiding it. I had told Lorenzo to ensure that she had protection.

It was very late when I pulled up in Kelly's driveway and parked the car. I wasn't alone. Salvatore and a few more of my men were there with me.

I entered the code and opened the front door. I stepped into the house while calling her name.

All the lights were on.

"Kelly," I called out loud.

"Marco, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Italy?" Kelly asked, coming down the stairs wearing a black silk robe. She looked a bit surprised to see me.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" I asked, moving closer to her as she stood at the bottom of the staircase.

She didn't respond. "Oh, my. What happened to your arm?" She asked while looking at my arm in the plaster cast.

She tried to touch it but I moved my arm away.

"It's nothing, Kelly," I responded, softly.

I stared at her. It's been months since I've seen her and she was more beautiful than ever. Her curvy hips looked a bit rounder and her breasts were firmer and fuller. Her stomach was flat as usual.

"Aren't you going to give me a hug?" I asked, sarcastically.

"Marco, we are not together anymore. So I'd appreciate it if you're coming to my house to not show up unannounced." She told me calmly. "And do not let yourself into my house again."

I raised my eyebrows at her. "I don't take orders from anyone, Kelly." I reminded her.

She didn't respond as I stepped closer to her. She backed away from me.

"Kelly, why are you doing this to me, bambino?"

Her back hit the door as I trapped her between the door and the wall.

I stroked her cheeks and stared at her. "Please come back home," I begged in a whisper.

"No," she muttered under her breath. "It's over between us, Marco. My life is much better without you. Please leave. I need to go to bed."

"I'm not leaving, Kelly. I'm just going to crash here for the night. I'll tell Salvatore and the others to go home without me." I whispered to her while looking around the living room.

"Get out of my house, Marco!" She yelled at me.

"Bella, you're acting like my fucking enemy, and trust me, Kelly, you don't want to be my enemy!" I shouted at her.

"I'm sorry, Marco. Just please leave." She mumbled.

I saw fear in her eyes because the smirk that was on my face was now replaced with an angry frown.

"It's not over between us, Bella. Not by a long shot. Remember that even though I'm not here, I'll still know you're every move. Good night, bambino. I love you."

I planted a kiss on her forehead and left.

                             ____**____

An hour later.

                             _____**____

Kelly.

If I said that I wasn't happy to see him, then I would be a liar. I knew that he was here even before he called my name because I smelled his cologne.

I wished that his world was different and he wasn't the mafia boss. I wished that I wasn't so afraid and weak. I wished that I was strong and brave like Loren and not afraid to take chances. I wished that I wasn't afraid of death.

There were a million things that I wished for but none of them would ever come through. I combed my hair and put on one of Marco's shirts that I had packed in my suitcase. I inhaled his scent and smiled to myself. Before I knew it, sleep had invaded my thoughts and I was in another world.

                              ___**___

I was woken up by a loud thumping sound coming from downstairs.

What the hell was that? The first thing that came to my mind was that it was Marco still here. No, it wasn't Marco. I saw when he left and he wouldn't come back here and not let me know. I got out of bed and slowly went downstairs. I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and walked into the living room. That's when I saw someone wearing all black. They were also wearing a mask and gloves. I tried to run for the door but the person grabbed me by the hair and slammed me against the wall. I started screaming, hoping that someone would hear me and call 911 or even come to my rescue.

The person wrapped their hands around my neck. Their thumbs overlapped one another and their fingers wrapped around the side of my neck. I knew that they were going to kill me because I couldn't breathe.

This had to be a man. Judging by their strength and height.

I refused to die now. I refused to become a victim. I started fighting back. The person used a knife and held it to my throat. I could feel the sharp blade pressed against my soft skin.

I used the knife that I had to stab him on the hand. I kneed him in the crotch and struggled to get away. I was screaming the entire time. I was finally free from his hold. I fled through the front door which was slightly ajar.

My hands were shaking as I entered the code for the gate. My whole body was shaking. I ran over to Tory's boyfriend's apartment. We were neighbors.

I banged on the door as I yelled his name.

"Chase, please help me! Please open the door!" My voice was hoarse and my head was throbbing.

"Hold your horses. Is that you, Kelly?" He asked.

"Yes, please open the door!"

"Oh, my god, Kelly. What happened?" He questioned as he let me in and lock the door.

My breathing was heavy and I couldn't talk.

"Come on, Kelly. Have a seat." He helped me to sit on the couch.

"Would you like a glass of water?" He asked and I shook my head at him.

"I was attacked." I managed to get the words out. "Someone broke into my house and tried to kill me." I choked out.

"What!" He exclaimed. "We have to report it to the police. Kelly, you're bleeding."

That's when I felt my neck and realized that the jerk had cut me there.

"We have to also get you to the hospital." He suggested.

Chase went and woke Tory up. She came rushing into the living room in a state of panic.

"Oh, Kelly. Let's get you to the hospital now." Tory said, grabbing Chase's car keys off the table.

"I need to call Marco and tell him," I said to both of them.

"No," Tory said while looking at me. "Mr. Russo doesn't care about you. Look how he treated you. Let's go, Chase."

Tory helped me to get up from the couch because I felt so weak.

I think that Amanda Ross woman was behind it. Even though I left Marco she still wanted me dead. My life was in grave danger.

                               ___**____