The Amorielle family was started in 1902 by Alero Amorielle and is known for its extensive criminal record. They were accused of bank fraud, narcotics, and arms dealing. It was guaranteed a place among the great Mafia families that came to the USA. Most of the family members were killed in conflicts with other families and the whereabouts of the Amorielle family were unknown...

Until today.

***

— Vittorio. - Marco Amorielle called after knocking on the door of his son's room.

The gray-haired gentleman with green eyes opened the door and found his son standing in front of the mirror fixing his bow tie while being watched by his escort, a beautiful blond-haired woman dressed in a glamorous red dress.

"Oh, forgive me," Marco let out clumsily at the scene of his son with his girlfriend, "I didn't know Eleonora was here.

"Don't worry, father-in-law.", Said the young woman smiling towards the sixty-year-old gentleman. She turned away from her boyfriend. "I was just helping this little boy get dressed."

"Little boy? That's not what you called me a few minutes ago. ", Teased the boy with a mischievous grin.

"Fewer details, young man, please.", Marco asked as he gestured with his hand. He smiled at his daughter-in-law and asked, " May I have a moment alone with the birthday boy?"

"Father-in-law.", Eleonora said walking towards Marco. She held her father-in-law's hand and kissed the golden ring, with the initials of the Amorielle family, arranged on Marco's little finger, after all, he was none other than the Head of the entire Italian-American Mafia. " Don Marco."

He nodded toward the young woman who left the premises leaving father and son alone. Marco approached his son who was still struggling with his bow tie which was slightly crooked, quite different from the one his father wore, perfect.

"Let me help you," asked the father, who was already putting his hands on his son's tie and untying it, "I bet this is all just nerves. After all, it's not every day we turn thirty..."

"And even less so at your parents' pearl wedding celebration.", Completed Vittorio staring at his father who didn't show as exciting as he should have been about the memory, "Is everything okay, Dad?"

"Yes, why the question?", Marco replied with another question while struggling with his son's tie.

"I thought you would be more cheerful about your wedding anniversary... Thirty years of marriage is not for everyone."

"It is...it isn't. ", Agreed Marco smiling briefly at Vittorio who knew very well that fake smile of when something is bothering his father.

"What is it, Don Marco?", Vittorio asked seriously. He placed his hand over his father's stopping him from continuing to fix his tie.

Marco Amorielle stared at his son, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't pretend that everything was fine, for Vittorio knew him too well. He could only tell the truth.

"You mean you two are here!", Antonietta Amorielle said entering the room, annoyed. She approached the two, holding up the tail of her moss green dress, and then noticed that her son's tie was still undone, further increasing her irritation, "Why is your tie still like that?"

"Hi, Mama," Vittorio greeted his mother with a huge smile. He shrugged his shoulders as he went on to justify himself, "My tie insisted on being crooked and so Dad decided to help me."

"Your father?", Antonietta questioned as she stared at Marco. She turned to her son smiling and then said, "Don Marco Amorielle may be great at business, but when it comes to a bow tie it's me, Antonietta Amorielle, who he has always turned to. "

"That's right and look how I look," Marco let out pointing to his tie.

"Come, dear. Let me do that," Antonietta asked, putting herself in the place of her husband who stepped aside and then straightened her son's tie with her nimble hands as she said, "I hope this is the last time I fix your tie and that the next one will be done by your wife..."

"Here comes the lady with that subject. Eleonora and I are not yet at that degree in our relationship," Vittorio explained seriously, "We just celebrated one year of dating, Mama."

"Still, I think that's long enough. Your father and I got married in a month," Antonietta argued as she finished fixing her son's tie which was now perfect just like Marco's, "And look where we are..."

"Thirty years of marriage.", Marco finished before taking a deep breath, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by his wife who shot him a look with her green eyes.

There was something in the air between the couple that even Vittorio noticed. Knowing his parents, he bet that his mother must have exaggerated at some point about today's event and displeased his father, or the other way around. After all, the two had always sinned by excess and ended up scolding each other. Vittorio had already witnessed that cold war between them, that although they didn't argue in front of their son, they could never disguise that something was going on.

"We are here in the room of our only much-loved son," Antonietta continued as she lightly tapped her son's breastplate, "And future Head of this family."

"It's time to go...," Interrupted Don Marco as he watched his watch, " Eleonora must be turning into a statue out there by now."

"You are right, Papa.", Agreed on Vittorio who walked towards his closet and then opened one of his drawers, attracting his mother's attention, "I am not getting an engagement ring, just my watch, Madame Amorielle."

"It doesn't hurt to dream.", Antonietta mumbled as she moved her shoulders, briefly.

***

The guests were chatting excitedly when the presence of the Amorielle family was announced, who now appeared at the top of the marble staircase: Eleonora held her father-in-law's arm while Vittorio conceded his arm to Antonietta.

At that moment they were seen as royalty among all the families present.

Marco bowed his head in the direction of his clerk who clapped his hands twice, causing the guests to fall silent:

"Welcome, my friends. Welcome everyone to another Amorielle celebration. Today we have the joy of celebrating the birthday of my son, Vittorio Amorielle," Marco began, smiling at his son who was staring at him happily. Don Marco took his cup handed to him by the waiter who continued to hand it to his family members and then continued his speech, " So, a round of applause for Vittorio Amorielle because today it is him we will celebrate!"

The guests applauded the boy who now faced his mother who smiled at him as she applauded him. He brought his face close to his mother's ear as if kissing her cheek and asked:

- What is going on between you?

"My son, I promise that later you will know," assured his mother who kept a smile on her lips, but tears at the corners of her eyes.

***

The party was lively, but Vittorio longed for it to end. He could only think about his mother's words. Marco's heir remained seated at the table as he watched his parents, who despite the interaction between them, he had noticed that they did not touch each other even by force of habit. They had also not even danced, something quite unusual for the couple who loved a dance floor. I mean, they had not even danced with each other, but both Don Marco and Antonietta had fallen in with other people on the dance floor. Antonietta chose Giuseppe, Marco's Consigliere, as her dance partner, while Eleonora took it upon herself to be Marco's partner. As much as Vittorio didn't want to think about it, the only hypothesis that came to his mind was that his parents were getting divorced. But this was impossible in the Mafia, especially when it came to the Capo di tutti capi and his wife. Not that there was a law about divorce, but they all followed what the Catholic Church determined: until death do us part. Your father wouldn't be able to go against it, would he?

"Vittorio.", Called his father from the middle of the lane, "Come, it's time to deliver your present."

Vittorio stood up and walked towards his father who was laughing with Eleonora. Don Marco led the young woman's hand towards his son and then said:

- Take it.

"This gift I have already earned," Vittorio joked holding Eleonora by the waist.

"I know. I give the beautiful lady to go outside with the rest of the guests," Marco explained.

"In the garden?", Vittorio asked, surprised. He raised his eyebrows and then asked, "What have you done this time, Don Marco?

"Go outside and find out," his father replied before walking in the opposite direction.

***

All the guests, including Vittorio, were outside, curious about the surprise promised by Don Marco. However, the boy was even more curious about his mother's absence at such an important moment. Vittorio looked for Antonietta's face in the crowd but did not find her. He then turned to his girlfriend and asked:

- Baby\, have you seen my mother?

"No, dear. However, I'll bet my chips that your mother must have been indisposed and retired early."

"We are talking about my mother, Eleonora. The only person capable of making her unwell is my father. By the way, have you noticed anything strange between them?"

"No...," Eleonora said without understanding her boyfriend's question, "Why?

"I feel that the two of them fought...," Vittorio replied.

"Ah, darling...," Eleonora began laughing at her boyfriend, " When Don Marco and Dona Antonietta don't fight? The two of them are hot-blooded Italians. I bet it has to do with the family business. And everyone knows that your mother meddles in your father's business and Don Marco doesn't like that..."

"I know, but it's weird... ", Vittorio began.

"Honey, relax.", Eleonora asked rubbing her boyfriend's arm, " Believe me, when we're married, if there's one thing I won't care about, it's business."

"And you see this as a good thing?", Vittorio asked, surprised by his girlfriend's speech.

"Absolutely, not least because I'm going to worry about my business. You will be the boss and I will be your trophy wife. I'll be involved with clothes and parties... They say that's the recipe for a lasting marriage.", replied Eleonora smiling at her boyfriend.

Vittorio even opened his lips ready to say something to his wife when the sound of the engine of the golden Lamborghini Aventador attracted his attention. That car was his dream of consumption and now it was standing in front of him. The doors of the vehicle opened and then Marco Amorielle emerged from inside it and asked:

— Shall we take a ride in your new car, my son?

***

The road near the Amorielle home in New York seemed short before the speed at which Vittorio was driving. Don Marco just smiled proudly in his son's direction. Despite his happiness over his gift, the boy could not leave behind what was going through his mind:

"Dad, can we talk?", Vittorio asked as he stopped the car on the shoulder.

"What? Isn't this the car you wanted?", Marco asked, curious. He twisted his lips: "It was the color, wasn't it? Is that gold plated too flashy?"

"No, Dad the car is perfect...", Vittorio denied, " It was something I noticed during the party..."

"What was it? The ten-story cake, right? It's too wedding-y, I told your mother...", Marco let out, irritated.

"Dad, it's about you and Mom," Vittorio revealed as he stared at his father, "What's going on between you two?"

"Nothing ... Nothing is going on," Marco replied shrugging his arms.

"Don Marco, don't lie to me."

"Okay," Marco said as he took a deep, surrendered breath, " Vittorio... Your mother and I had a heated argument these days...We said things we shouldn't have said to each other... Too heavy things that now there's no going back."

"Are you two going to separate?", Vittorio asked, worried.

"Oh, God no!", Vittorio declined, quickly, "What your mother and I need is... to let time heal our wounds. When it comes to a family like ours, we can only hope for the forgiving power of time to move on."

"Got it.", Vittorio said straightening himself in the seat, " I hope everything works out for the best."

"Me too, my son...me too. Anyway, just the onus of being the mob boss.", Marco admitted thoughtfully. He smiled at his son and continued, " May I give you some advice?"

"Sure, Dad. All the ones you have.", Vittorio replied, excitedly. His father was not much for giving him advice, even more so if it was about the family business.

"When you choose your wife..." Marco began while touching the left side of Vittorio's chest with his forefinger, "And things get difficult between you, don't be guided by your heart, but by your head... Because the moment may come when you have to give up on your life, and the heart will never accept it, but the head will know that the best way is the end... "She finished by touching her finger lightly with her head.

"Okay... Even though you love the person?"

" Well, my other advice is to marry someone loyal and not one who loves you, regardless of what your heart will say. Whether it's your heart or hers.", Marco continued, "A loyal person, is worth much more than a person who loves you. Because love ends, my son. Understand this. And a marriage that loses love, becomes dangerous and unstable... It lasts a short time. But loyalty can go on forever. Loyalty will bring far more benefits to the business, the family, and to you."

"Do you mean to say that you and Mama don't love each other anymore?", Vittorio asked with wide eyes.

"I loved your mother from the first time I saw her. Now if she felt the same way... Only she can say. However, I will repeat it to you: Don't make the same mistake I did. Before love, loyalty.

"What are you talking about, father," Vittorio questioned, shaking his head, "I don't need to look for a wife, I have Eleonora..."

"Eleonora Gattone is not the woman for you," Marco revealed seriously.

"Why do you say that, Father? Don't you like her?"

"I like it, she seems like a good future wife, but not for an Amorielle. However, the ideal woman for you, who will be the next boss, needs to be willing to do anything and at the same time question whether that decision you make is the best for everyone and not just for you. Understand, my son, when you are a mafia boss, the capo di tutti capi, you have to act for all the families before yourself... And your wife has to be better than your consigliere because this is the person you will trust to sleep next to you every day. And you will not want a woman who is not capable of everything to defend her family... The ideal woman is the one who can challenge you, without being afraid of you or of who you are, she will show you that you are capable of doing better... Be better, Capisce? "

"Understood, Don Marco. I will do everything to find this woman and if I don't find her naturally, I promise I will buy one.", Vittorio joked with his father.

"Can I give you one more piece of advice?", His father asked, seriously.

"Of course, you can."

"Speed up, because we've fallen into an ambush," Don Marco revealed before the car was machine-gunned.

Ellis Barker was driving excitedly through the streets of downtown New York City toward Wild Holdings Bank, the bank where the mortgage on her home was taken out. The house had been mortgaged two years ago to help her only brother, Jason, who after the sudden death of his father, had gone astray and been arrested for operating in illegal gambling. These were not exactly the plans the young woman had for her parent's home, but with the debts incurred by her brother and the lawyer she needed to hire, she was left with little choice. Ellis questioned the fact that the bank had only released part of the mortgage but charged the full value of the house in interest, the manager simply said that because it was an inheritance, she could only mortgage her share of the inheritance and not Jason's share.

"However, if I don't pay my share, you get the house in full. That doesn't seem very fair, does it?", Questioned Ellis showing the clause to the manager.

"I understand your dissatisfaction Miss Barker, but life isn't always fair.", Answered the manager with a tone of debauchery, "Do I help you with anything else?"

"No, you have already done more than enough...," Ellis replied putting the document away in her purse, disgusted.

She walked briskly out of the bank, swearing to herself that she would return one day and pay off the debt. And so it went, for two long years, in which Ellis worked two jobs: the first was as a realtor, which was for the mortgage and the house, and the other was a waitress, and the money went to the rehabilitation clinic, where her brother was admitted. Her brother would also leave the clinic that same day, but first, she would go to the bank to pay off the last installment and then go to her brother.

That day was too important for Ellis who felt that nothing would be able to take her out of her mind, something that was not so difficult to accomplish. Not the traffic she knew she would face, nor the young woman who serves her with a look of disgust every time she goes to pay the installments. However, today seemed like an incredibly special day. The sky was blue without any clouds, something rare when talking about New York. Even the traffic was so calm that it took her less than an hour to get to the bank, something unimaginable on an ordinary weekday.

"Did I get it wrong and today is a holiday?" asked Ellis as she entered the bank's parking gate. She observes the parking lot and notices that it is crowded. It was too good to be true, thought Ellis as she drove slowly through the lot, looking for any sign that a customer was leaving. Finally, she stopped the vehicle and decided to check her cell phone to make sure it was not a holiday.

She was looking at her cell phone when a charitable soul decided to drive away. The young woman put her phone back in the glove compartment, started her vehicle, and drove to the parking space, letting her car go a little because she wanted to park backward. She was about to make her move when an Audi RS e-tron GT simply parked in her space.

Ellis is paralyzed for a while without understanding what has happened since she can swear she had made clear her intention to enter the space. The young brown-haired woman then decides to look in the rearview mirror and sees two men in suits get out of the vehicle, laughing and talking without caring what she had done. And this was the last straw for Ellis, who got out of her vehicle in a rage.

"Hey!" she shouted as she walked behind the two men who continued walking without caring about her. Ellis quickened her pace as she shouted, "Hey, assholes in suits!"

The two men stopped and then looked at each other, surprised. Until one of them, the taller and stronger one, the one who looked like his black suit was going to rip at any moment...just this one turned toward Ellis, serious. However, not only did he turn, but he walked towards Ellis, who did not seem to be intimidated by the thug that breathed close to his face, like an animal. An animal that the young woman realized was totally controlled by the other man, in a gray suit and dark glasses, who just watched the scene from where he was standing with his hands in the pockets of his house, calmly.

"What were you calling us?" the brute questioned.

"Assholes in suits," Ellis replied quietly. She then dodged the bully and turned to the other bully who was still watching the scene, "You stole my spot!"

"Hey, don't address Mr. Amorielle.", Ordered the lout holding Ellis' shoulder.

"Take your filthy hand off me, or I will scream so much in this parking lot that you will bitterly regret it. ", Spoke Ellis facing the lout who removes his hand, surprised.

"Take your hand off her, Rocco.", Spoke the other man as he placed his hand inside his gray suit, "We'd better settle this in a more... friendly manner."

Slowly his hand came out from inside his suit and then with it also came a generous wad of money to Ellis' surprise.

"But what...?", Ellis started to say interrupted by the gesture of the man who threw the packet toward his henchman.

"A way of asking you to recompense her for the inconvenience caused by Rocco putting his car in the spot that you say is yours.", Explained the other man under Ellis' still-shocked look.

Rocco extends the bundle towards Ellis who takes a step back refusing to hold the money. After all, who would give a bundle that should easily have a few thousand dollars in it, just for a parking space?

"No, thank you. I don't need your money," Ellis refused, serious.

"Everyone needs money, no need to be so proud, young lady," spoke the man in the gray suit.

- Besides stealing my job\, it seems you don't know the word "no"\, do you?

"And you do seem to like her quite a bit, don't you?", replied Lord Amorielle. He stared at his wristwatch and then continued by saying, "Look, as much as I am enjoying this strange conversation with a stranger, I have to go to my meeting. So, take the money and be on your way."

She faced the owner of the wad of money and said:

- Keep this money with you to pay for classes on how to live in society\, because you are in urgent need of it.

Ellis then walked back towards her car while being watched by Rocco and Lord Amorielle. The brute turned to the man in the gray suit and said, with his hand inside his black suit:

- Just give the order and I will disappear with this problem\, Don Vittorio.

"No.", Amorielle refused to hold Rocco's arm, thus preventing his security guard's gun from coming up. The Brutamontes stared at him without understanding and then he continued saying, "We're too exposed here. Come on, we have better things to do than worry about this girl."

The two of them walked back towards the elevator being watched by Ellis who was gripping his steering wheel angrily.

***

"Don Vittorio Amorielle!", Spoke the manager who opened his arms and smiled towards the two men," What a pleasant surprise."

Despite the effusive greeting, and the joy shown by the bank's general manager, the final speech indicated exactly what Vittorio wanted: he was surprised and not in a positive way. The sweat on the manager's forehead indicated nervousness or fear. Also, who wouldn't be afraid of running into none other than the newest head of the Amorielle family, the same family that for decades had always kept their partners, shareholders, and people like Rocco behind the scenes, letting their partners, shareholders, and people like Rocco settle their affairs: whether they were legal or between "friends.

At least that's how Amorielle acted until Vittorio took over his family, showing that things were going to change.

"What can I do for you?" the manager asked while trying to keep his nervous smile.

"We have a meeting.", Vittorio replied quietly as he rummaged through his pocket until he found his cigar.

"We do?", Asked the manager, surprised.

The man was trying to search his memory for the day's appointments and could not remember anything related to Amorielle. Maybe he had booked it with a new code. Or maybe Mr. Vittorio did have a meeting scheduled, but with the management, or directly with Domenico Wild, the owner. He could even take a chance and ask, that illustrious figure, but he knew that before he was able to complete the question he would turn over a rug with a bullet in the middle of his forehead.

"I may be wrong, but I feel that you didn't expect me to be here, Franco," Vittorio began calmly.

"No, not at all Mr. Amorielle.", Said Franco, nervously fiddling with his tie that seemed to tighten his throat. He extended his arm towards his office and continued, " Please come to my office."

The two men stood there waiting for Franco to make the first move, making the manager even more nervous to the point that he began to sound his baldness.

"Go ahead, Franco," Rocco ordered, seriously.

"As you wish.", Agreed Franco who then proceeded to walk in front.

He walked as if he were going to the gallows, followed by Rocco and lastly Vittorio, who smoked his cigar carefully.

"Cristine, I will enter a meeting with Senhor Amorielle," Franco warned his secretary who kept showing off to Vittorio, "Please, no matter who it is, tell him I am busy. Or better yet, close my calendar."

"As you wish.", Answered the blonde, but not before winking at Vittorio who completely ignored her, unlike Rocco who sent her a little kiss.

The trio entered the room and then Franco closed the door, praying that the visit would go very well.

***

"What do you mean he can't attend to me?", Ellis questioned, disgusted at Cristine's audacity.

"It was Franco's orders, Miss Barker.", Cristine replied, still touching up her red lipstick. After all, you never know when Mr. Amorielle will show up again, so she had to be prepared.

"I made an appointment.", Reinforced Ellis showing Cristine the appointment paper. She wanted to rub it in the face of the manager's secretary.

Cristine held up the appointment paper and then in a few seconds let out her debauched smile, saying:

"Yes, you were scheduled for nine o'clock in the morning and now it's five minutes to ten o'clock in the morning, so..."

"Yes, I know I'm late. But some jerk stole my parking space and I was forced to park a block away because of the traffic that decided to jam..." Ellis explained, irritated.

"I'm sorry, but I can't help you. Come back tomorrow, dear," Cristine replied with little concern.

-Honey, you don't understand. The last installment is due today and I'm still on time to talk to him...

"Well, if the installment is due today..." Cristine began, staring at Ellis. She moves even closer to the young woman giving her hope that she will speak on her behalf, "You should have made the payment before the due date. I'm sorry. Do I help you with anything else?"

"It would help if this ******* bank would make more parking spaces!", Ellis spoke aloud, "However, since they are incapable, they will have to deal with the consequences."

Before Cristine could get up from her desk, Ellis was already advancing into Franco's office and was surprised by the presence of Vittorio and Rocco who were sitting facing the manager.

"Perfect!", shouted Ellis approaching the trio. She glared at Vittorio and continued to squawk, "It wasn't enough to steal my parking space, you still dared to steal my office hours!"

"Miss, Barker...," Franco began standing up, " Please don't disrespect my illustrious customers."

"Distinguished clients? I don't give a damn if they're distinguished!", Ellis shouted, "This is my time, so get out!"

"There must be some mistake," Vittorio said, staring at the young woman. He took a strong drag on his cigar and then let the smoke spread in the room, which made the brunette even more irritated, "I have a meeting at this time... And you are trespassing... Right, Franco?"

"Cristine!" shouts Franco who is promptly answered by the Blonde, "Why is Miss Barker in my office? Did she happen to have an appointment?"

"Correct, sir. The fact is Miss Barker missed her appointment," Cristine replied, glaring at Ellis angrily.

"I missed it because of those idiots. Or rather, that idiot," Ellis corrected, pointing at Vittorio. She then pointed at Rocco and said, "This one is just the doormat.

"Careful, you're out of line," Rocco warned by putting his hand inside his suit. He looked at Vittorio and asked, "Mister...?"

"Leave it, Rocco.", Vittorio asked removing his sunglasses and then facing Ellis who was surprised by the man's black eyes. For some reason, she had imagined his eyes blue or green, until honey, "What is your business, Miss Barker?"

"None of your business," Ellis replied, snidely.

"Is your business quick, Miss Barker?", Reinforced Vittorio after taking a deep breath, indicating that he was not that patient.

"Yes.", Answered the young woman staring at Franco. She opened her purse and handed over a small pocket where she kept all her salary. Franco nodded to Cristine who begrudgingly took the bag from Ellis' hands, "You need to sign the mortgage release form for the house.

"Okay, I will do it for you later and send it to your e-mail address," Franco replied.

"I need it now," Ellis reinforced.

"I already said I'll do it later," Franco repeated without much patience.

"And I'm not leaving here without the term in hand.", Said Ellis who stared at Franco, irritated.

"Franco, do it.", Vittorio said quietly as he went back to enjoying his cigar.

"As you wish, Mister Amorielle.", Replied Franco leaving the room with his secretary, leaving only Rocco, Vittorio, and Ellis.

"You're insistent," Vittorio commented, breaking the silence.

"You think you're really important...," Ellis commented without turning to Vittorio.

"I think I'm important?", Vittorio asked arching his eyebrow automatically. Ellis' tone of voice bothered him; no one had ever dared to question his power and influence. He was so annoyed that he stood up, straightening his suit, and said to the young woman, "Don't you consider me important? I made you go and draw up your term..."

"What I think is irrelevant here. That was made quite clear to me.", Ellis claimed to face Vittorio, " After all, what is the importance of a mere broke mortal, is it?"

"Don't despise yourself like that...," Asked Vittorio who was surprised. Those words were not supposed to come out of his lips. At least he managed to control his hand in time to keep it from brushing against Ellis's disheveled hair, which insisted on covering his face.

"I'm not despising myself." - Denied Ellis turning away from Vittorio. She walked over to the window, where she stared at the street. Let me tell you a secret: you can't buy everything.

"Really? Tell me one thing I can't buy?", Vittorio challenged as he watched the young woman.

"Happiness.", Ellis replied watching the movement of the street. She came across a couple in love kissing leaning against the wall of a store and then let out, "Love..."

"Happiness comes included in the goods I acquire.", Vittorio replied approaching Ellis who stared at him, clumsily at the gesture.

She hadn't noticed how tall he was until that moment. Maybe it was because Rocco was almost twice the size of his boss. But him standing so close to her forced her to raise her head to face him.

"What about love?", Ellis asked trying not to stutter," Have you been able to buy it yet?"

"A few times...", Vittorio replied enjoying his cigar, "Anything else? Is there something else you think I'm not able to buy?

"Yes there is. ", said Ellis approaching Vittorio. If he thought that his approaching her like that, with this cologne invading the brunette's nose would make her feel intimidated, he was very wrong. She stood on her tiptoes, which were in tennis shoes, reaching for his ear and whispered, "To me.

"You?", Vittorio asked, surprised, but not sure if by the shiver that from Ellis' lips so close to his ear or by the cheeky and defiant answer.

"You tried to buy me off in the parking lot, did you forget?", Ellis reminded him as he walked away, "But, believe me, you'll never be able to buy me off.

"Are you challenging me, Miss Barker?", Vittorio asked, surprised.

He watched as Ellis' lips opened slowly, ready to answer him

"Ready, Miss Barker," Franco spoke, walking back into his office. He held out the paper to the young woman who approached him, took the paper, and began to read, " Trust me, it's all right."

She completely ignored the manager's request and continued reading the document calmly. When she finished, she smiled in Franco's direction and said:

"I'm sorry if I don't trust you, but last time we almost lost the house." She turned toward Lord Amorielle and said goodbye saying, "Goodbye, Godfather."

She walked out of the room without waiting for an answer leaving Vittorio watching her, stirred at that whole situation.

"Where were we?", Franco asked returning to his desk, "Oh yes, you said you had a proposal to make to our bank..."

"What is the name of this woman?", Vittorio asked staring at Franco.

"Excuse me, but I don't understand your question, ", Franco began, confused.

"This woman who was here, who is she? What does she do? Her address?"

"Mr. Amorielle, I'm sorry, but that's confidential data...," Franco explained cautiously, "Our bank has a policy of not passing on our clients' information to third parties."

"And you said that I am one of your most distinguished clients.", Vittorio recalled straightening his suit, "That must be taken into account, no?"

"I'm sorry, but that information can only be passed on with an express order from the board of directors," Franco spoke, fiddling with the papers on his desk, "Anyway, back to our meeting..."

"Well, if I am the owner of the bank, can I have access?", Vittorio asked, seriously.

"How?", Franco asked, surprised.

"If I am the owner I would have access, correct?", Vittorio asked again.

"Yes... I mean... in a hypothetical situation, yes I could,", Franco replied offering a dull smile as he thought about the prepotency of the man in front of him, " But since you are not the owner..."

"Okay, I want to buy that bank.", Revealed Vittorio seeing Franco's eyes widen, "Analyzing, it's always good to have control of things... Okay, make the contract and I'll sign it."

- Mr. Amorielle\, this is Mr. Domenico's bank... You can't buy it here... I mean... I don't have the authority to sell you the bank.

"Who does?" asked Vittorio.

-Who?

-Tell me, who has to authorize it? Domenico?

-Yes.

"Great.", Vittorio replied, smiling.

He moved his head toward Rocco who approached with his cell phone already dialing a number. Three rings and they answered:

"Rocco, speaking. Put him on the line," Rocco ordered, who handed the phone to Franco.

"Franco speaking," said Franco identifying himself. Then his face turns pale, " Mister Domenico... are you sure? Okay, All right... All right... You need to sign... Okay."

"So...?", Vittorio asked crumpling his cigar in the ashtray.

"He confirmed...," Franco answered handing the phone to Rocco. The manager stared at Vittorio still not believing what his next words would say, "Congratulations, you are the new owner of Wild Holdings Bank..."

"Rocco concludes the contract.", Vittorio asked without showing any emotion.

"You may finalize the contract.", Spoke Rocco who stayed on the line until he heard the gunshots," Transaction effected, sir."

"Perfect.", said Vittorio who moved his face closer to Franco and then said, " Now, Miss Barker's information."

Name: Ellis Barker

Age: Twenty-six years old,

Parentage: Emily Preston and Jack Barker.

Profession: realtor and waitress.

Credit history: issued discharge papers for the property located.

"Damn!" Cussed Vittorio as he threw the folder with Ellis' banking information on the vehicle's seat, quite annoyed.

"What is it, sir?" Rocco asked observing his boss through the rearview mirror.

"Unfortunately that information is of little use to me," Vittorio replied, taking a deep breath.

- I understand. In fact\, I must admit I didn't understand why you didn't go to Enrico for the "collection".

"I wanted to see what it would be like to do things the legal way," Vittorio explained, looking at the landscape from his car window.

"So, you bought the bank only to gather information from Miss Barnes...," Rocco concluded letting out a mischievous smile afterwards, "She seems to have really impressed you."

"I bought it because I wanted to. That has nothing to do with this girl," Vittorio corrected, seriously. He took off his sunglasses and stared at his driver in a way that Rocco felt he would die right then and there, "Don't you ever dare question the reasons for my decisions again, understand?"

-Understood, sir. I apologize if I was too bold in my speech. I just wanted to...

"You don't have to want anything, other than to do what I say," Vittorio scolded, picking up his cell phone. He dialed a few numbers and then waited to be answered on the first ring, "Hello, Enrico? I need a favor from you... For yesterday."

***

"We have arrived, sir," Rocco warned as he approached the lofty iron gates of the Amorielle Mansion.

Alero Amorielle bought the property for $80,000 and turned it into a veritable fortress, with heavy iron gates, thick walls and a station for security guards who along with bodyguards and huge dogs.

Built of stone and decorated in white marble, a huge outdoor swimming pool, wooden floors, a huge ballroom where the gala balls and family events are held, stone carved fireplaces, huge bookcases made of rare woods, a 24-foot waterfall indoor pool, and huge terraces outside all the suites and outside the main reception room.

In addition, it had a tennis court, golf course, basketball court, spa, private gym, and a vast 4.5 acre fully fenced living space of the gated estate surrounded by other million dollar homes and only a short 25 minute drive from New York City.

The family Founder and all his descendants spared no care for the details that would turn the mansion into a refined luxury estate of over 25,000 square feet. However, Vittorio saw it not only as his home, but the place where he was born, grew up and also the last place where he saw his father happy before...

" Sir?" Spoke Rocco attracting Vittorio's attention," We await your approval."

"Vittorio Amorielle," Vittorio spoke as he pressed the communication button inside the vehicle.

In a matter of seconds the huge gates opened and finally the vehicle accessed the Mansion grounds. Rocco drove the vehicle to its assigned spot among the more than fifteen Amorielle family vehicles. Not long after the driver had parked, Vittorio got out, straightening his suit as he walked towards the door to the main house.

His heavy steps betrayed his arrival to Antonietta Amorielle, the current matriarch of the clan and Vittorio's mother. The beautiful lady had naturally black hair, in contrast to her green eyes and sculptural body, which was impressive because of her age. She looked more like Sophia Loren when she was forty-five than a lady of almost sixty.

She was waiting for her son at the top of one of the double marble stairs. Her huge smile and open arms almost disguised the pain of grief shown by her black dress.

"Mamma," Vittorio spoke as he returned his mother's hug.

Antonietta pulled away briefly from her son's embrace and then held Vittorio's face between her hands as if she was able to read his thoughts just by looking at him.

"Domenico Wild," his mother let out as she lightly patted her son's face.

"He deserved it," Answered Vittorio to a question not asked by Antonietta, "He was the one who..."

"I know," stated Antonietta giving her son a kiss on the cheek then. She smiled and then said, "I only wish I could have been there to see the face of that Cascittuni¹."

- I would have liked that too\, but I had more important things to attend to.

"How do you acquire his bank?" Questioned Antonietta raising her eyebrows.

"Papa always wanted to have a stool," Vittorio replied as he turned away from his mother and walked towards the wooden bar laid out in the main room.

He entered the bar space, started to prepare two drinks, while his mother approached with her arms crossed. Don Vittorio smiled toward Antonietta and then handed her the drink as if he were just a bartender. She held up the glass, but couldn't help herself and said:

- You shouldn't have done that.

"Why not?" Questioned Vittorio taking his whiskey in a single gulp, "It's what Dad would do."

-No, your father would not buy the bank of the man he just killed. And I can say with certainty that your father filled half the Greenwood cemetery with his enemies and did not acquire any property afterwards. In fact, your father would have consulted with Ciuseppe before making this decision.

Giuseppe Denaro was the Consiglieri² of Vittorio's father, and with his death the boy had not yet made the decision whether to remain with Giuseppe in that position or to switch. In fact, he had thought about putting Rocco in place, but after today he decided to review that decision.

"That, my son, is leaving a huge target on your back. And you can't become a target now. You are too vulnerable, "Antonietta continued.

"Vulnerable... Nice word for saying that I am a single man, childless and that my condition causes the extinction of our family, should I die," Vittorio said pouring another sip of whiskey. I know that all this talk is only because I missed the Gattone's party, where you would probably force me to return with their daughter, Eleonora..."

"Sure, I never understood why you dropped the, La povera piccola cosa.Eleonora Gattone is a beautiful woman, she was raised in terra nostra, she has college and even took over some things from her family.... She is a pure girl, who follows the principles of our family...," argued Antonietta, who received a sarcastic laugh from her son, "What?

"Nothing, I'm just agreeing. Eleonora has many qualities, Mama," Vittorio said, staring at his mother, "Including in bed.

"Oh, Madonna mia , don't tell me you dumped her because you slept with her?" Questioned Antonietta shaking her head in disgust, "You need to stop sleeping with our friends' daughters, or you won't marry any..."

"The question is, who hasn't slept with Eleonora Gattone? By the way, Mom that's not what stopped me from marrying her in the first place," Vittorio explained.

-No? -That's great, so that means you consider her...

-Sleeping with Eleonora is not the problem, the problem is that ... I mean, the sex is great, but...

-You have to talk that way about women, huh? Didn't your father teach you that you shouldn't talk about your intimacies to other people?

"But you're my mother," Vittorio argued.

"And I'm someone else, "Rebutted Antonietta, "Anyway, what stopped you from marrying Eleonora?"

"She doesn't challenge me, " Vittorio replied thoughtfully, "Papa said that one of the things that attracted him to you was that you challenged him from the beginning."

"You shouldn't listen to your father's loving advice. Look where it got you," Antonietta said raising her arms.

"It led my father to marry the lady, pray!" replied Vittorio, raising an eyebrow.

- In any case\, no daughter of our friends will challenge you for who you are... In fact\, no woman will ever be able to confront you\, Don Vittorio Amorielle\, my son. So\, I recommend you forget about what your father said and get married soon\, or else we will indeed disappear from the face of the earth.

"As you wish, Mama. But it won't be Eleonora, that I can assure you. Even if I have to buy one," Vittorio informed, receiving a crossed look from his mother.

"Don Vittorio," called the man at the door to the main room.

"Come in, Enrico.", Vittorio ordered being watched by his mother, "I need to attend to Enrico, Mom. Do you need anything else?"

"Just marry and make your offspring, Vittorio.", Asked Antonietta before leaving.

"Lady Amorielle.", Spoke Enrico lowering his head slightly as the matriarch walked past him. Finally, Vittorio's investigator glared at him as he held up a thin folder towards his boss, "Here is what you asked for."

Vittorio took the folder from Enrico's hands and right there began to read the documents handed to him by the red-haired man. Lord Amorielle took a deep breath, reading practically the same things he had in the bank report, he was prepared to lecture his employee, when the last page caught his attention.

"Jason Barker...," Vittorio whispered. He smiled and then faced Enrico as he said, "Ask Rocco to come to the office. I have an assignment for him."