"Good morning." She croaked out beside Adriano. Angela turned on her side to look at him and grinned. He noticed how her eyes were not yet open fully and how her hair was messed up. He chuckled warmly and put his hand on the back of her neck before kissing her gently on the lips.

"You're beautiful you know that?" he asked, not being able to hide the joy he felt from just the sight of her next to him. She moved closer and snuggled up to him as he put his arm around her shoulder. He took in her warmth and nuzzled her neck.

"Oh shut up." She sounded embarrassed by his comment but said nothing else.

"You are. I don't say it enough."

Angela gave Adriano no reply; the two just lay in a comfortable silence for a couple of minutes enjoying the feel of the closeness. She ran her hand up and down his arm as he stared at her, drinking in every like little detail of her of.

"Maybe we should get up now." Angela spoke but she didn't sound like she wanted to.

"Or maybe not." His voice was laced with lust. She giggled and turned her head to look at him.

He kissed her urgently and moved her so she was straddling him.

"I completely agree with you..."

****** "Hey Mike." Angela said in a chirpy tone, she was pleasantly surprised by his call. Adriano's head shot up to look at her at the mention of his brother's name.

"Hey shortcake, you busy today?"

"Um.." She looked over at Adriano who was chopping up vegetables and preparing food. "Adriano's making me lunch right now but afterward I'm free. Why?"

"I just thought you might be able to help me. I need to pick out something to wear and I want your opinion."

"Aw of course Mike."she burst into laughter. "You're like a teenager girl. Where are you going?" There was a pause on the phone before Mike spoke awkwardly.

"A date..."

"Really? That's great. You can tell me all about it when I seen you." They both decided an a time and a couple of minutes later Angela said her goodbyes and hung up the phone.

"Mike huh?" Adriano asked.

"Yeah, he wants me to go over to his apartment at about two to help him pick out clothes."

"Angela-" Adriano warned but Mike had already told her they had to be careful when going out. He told her it was dangerous at a time like this but didn't explain what he meant by that, but Mike also said that he promised to keep her safe while they were out, both Adriano and Mike had extra guards.

"I know, I know. Mike already told me we had to be careful." she let out a deep breath and walked towards him, he still looked concerned. Angela put her hand on his arm as he stopped what he was doing and looked down at her. "What's going on at work?"

"Just stuff..."

"Adriano please don't do this again." there was a long pause while Adriano was thinking and contemplating before he finally made up his made up his mind.

"After everyone found out Alesandro was a rat, we made a mistake."

"What kind of mistake?" Angela gulped, knowing this was serious by the tone of his voice.

"We let him get away. We don't know what Adamo is planning but we know it's something. My father won't listen to us all though..." he trailed off. Angela didn't like seeing him this way, stressed and with a lot of things on his mind- she could see it written all over his face. She reached and wrapped her arms around him in a hug which he copied. Angela ran her hands up and down his back, an attempt to sooth him but she knew it probably wouldn't help. She felt guilty, it was her fault after all that they didn't find out who Alessandro really was until a while ago.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner Adriano. I know it's my fault but-"

"No, this isn't your fault piccola. Don't blame yourself, we were bound find out about him either way." he took his arms from around her and placed them on either side of her face, tilting her head up to look at him. He caressed her cheek and kissed her gently on the lips.

"I'm sorry anyway, about not telling you sooner." there was a silence for a moment as he looked into her eyes and gave her a small smile. He didn't want to talk about work any more. Not with her, time would only be wasted.

"Let's have something to eat eh?" he changed the subject. She smiled back at him and nodded her head, knowing and sensing the conversation about Alessandro and work had come to an end.

"Okay."

They spent the next while together eating and talking until it was time for Mike to pick Angela up. She heard a knock on the door but Adriano got up to answer it. Mike seemed to be in a great mood.

"Hey bro, what's the weather like up there?" Angela heard him joke to which she let out a small giggle.

"Pretty good." Adriano said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry to say I have to take your dear Angie away from you for a little while, I hope you don't mind."

"You can keep her." Adriano said monotonously but they all knew he was joking.

"Adriano!" Angela exclaimed before narrowing her eyes at him in mock disgust as she walked towards the two men, ready to leave.

"You know I'm joking piccola." Adriano put his arm around her and brought her close before planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Whatever." Angela rolled her eyes, still trying to pretend she was annoyed. Adriano and Mike laughed at her reply before the pair left.

The drive to Mike's apartment was filled with chatter. The atmosphere was light and it was even more enjoyable for Angela to be around Mike today. She could clearly see his good mood had to be related to the fact that he had a date tonight. She wondered who he was seeing but after asking quite a few times, Mike wouldn't let her name pass his lips.

"That one. It's definitely that one. Please pick that one so we don't have to look at any more suits, please." Angela begged after seeing Mike dressed in the tenth suit today. He was being picky and didn't think any were fit for the occasion that night.

"Oh c'mon." Mike laughed and rolled his eyes at her. "You're acting like this is complete torture, you're the one that said yes."

"I didn't think it would take this long." Angela yawned after trying to keep it in.

"I have just one more to try okay? Then we can get our take out and after I'll drop you home."

"Yes! Thank god!" Angela fist pumped the air as he sighed and went back into his room to get changed.

Mike had definitely saved the best suit for last, or so he thought anyway. Angela thought they were all identical apart from the colors but agreed with him anyway so that they could order food. Once they were finished, Mike ordered the food and soon enough they were sitting on his sofa watching TV and eating Chinese food.

"All of that suit-deciding has made me hungry." Angela said through a mouthful of food. She had eaten most of what they had ordered, with Mike only eating something small to save room for his dinner that night with his date. Mike sniggered and turned to look at her.

"You're such a drama queen shortcake." he scoffed. She laughed but it was cut off by the sound of her cellphone ringing in her pocket. She took it out and looked at the called ID, it was Adriano. She quickly answered the phone, wondering why he was calling.

"Hello Adriano." she spoke first.

"Angie! Thank god you picked up, you need to come home now." His voice was panicked and it made her sit up properly. Was something wrong? She thought it sounded serious.

"Adriano what's happened?" she asked with concern.

"Franco and Maria were just here, you need to come home now. They just dumped the kids on me and I don't know what to do." Although Adriano's voice remained rushed and panicked, Angela let out a sigh of relief and then burst out into laughter.

"That's it?"

"Yes? Please, I need your help."

"Adriano I thought something was seriously wrong. You scared me."

"This is serious, I don't know what to do with them. I'm not good with kids Angie."

"Alright, alright. I'll be home once I'm finished my food-"

"No." he said breathlessly, like that was the worst thing on earth at this moment in time. "I can't wait any longer, please come home as soon as possible. Michael keeps wandering around and trying to eat stuff and Amelia won't stop playing that god damn 'Happy Birthday' song." Angela tried to take him seriously but chuckled again.

"I'm on my way. You hang on in there."

"Thank you."

"Bye." she said before hanging up.

"What's wrong?" Mike asked, looking at her now.

"Can you drop me home now? Adriano says it's an emergency."

"Emergency?"

"Yes, he's stuck in the apartment with Amelia and Michael and is freaking out." Just like Angela, Mike had the same reaction- he laughed.

"I'll take you home now if you like?"

"Thanks so much Mike."

"No problem Shortcake." he winked before they both got up and got ready to go.

"Thanks for your help today, I'll see you soon." Mike said in the car outside Adriano's building. He reached over and gave her a hug before she got out of the car.

"Any time- or maybe not if I have to help you pick out something to wear again." The two laughed and Angela shut the door. The guards followed her into the elevator and soon enough she was home.

The sound of Amelia playing the piano filled her ears before Adriano almost ran over to her.

"Thank god you're home." he let out the biggest sigh of relief you could get.

"Where's Michael?"

"Behind the couch."

"Let me go see him." Angela walked over to the couch with Adriano following behind her. She picked him up and said hello, making a few silly faces and noises too. Adriano watched, trying to take in what she was doing like a student with a teacher.

"Hello Michael!" she kissed both his cheeks repeatedly before he giggled. "And hello Amelia." Angela said a little louder so Amelia could hear. She stopped playing the piano now and hopped down off the stool to run over to Angela and hug her legs. Adriano couldn't help but take in such a perfect sight of Angela with the two children. He smiled contently to himself.

"Angela!" Amelia exclaimed.

"Let's go and sit down over here for a minute okay?"Angela carried Michael with her in her arms and sat down on the sofa, Amelia and Adriano doing so too. Adriano watched intently as Amelia and Angela went into deep conversation about Amelia's news and how she was doing in school. He wished, deep inside, he was good with kids but he found it awkward at times and felt he needed to act cold and careless.

Adriano told Angela Maria and Franco would come to pick the two kids up in a couple of hours so Angela heated Michael's dinner and cooked something for Amelia. They played hide and seek for another while and other games before the two children were both tired out. The four of them were now relaxing on the sofas, Michael was dozing off quietly when Amelia began to fidget.

"Everything okay?" Angela whispered. She was sitting on one char with the two kids while Adriano was on his own on the other sofa.

"I want to sit beside Uncle Ad now." Adriano looked over at the mention of his name.

"Well go ahead Amelia." Angela said sweetly.

"um, sure?" Adriano said awkwardly.

Amelia got down and moved to Adriano's sofa were she snuggled close to him and soon enough, both children fell asleep. Adriano took the blanket from the back of his chair and put it gently around Amelia while Angela put Michael in his stroller so he would be more comfortable.

"How could you not love that?" Angela nodded towards Amelia who was sleeping cutely next to Adriano.

"Today wasn't fun at all for me." he said monotonously.

"I know you secretly don't hate children Adriano. As much a you let on, I can see it, you enjoy spending time with Amelia- even Michael."

"Oh whatever." Angela rolled her eyes and chuckled.

"I don't know how you do it." Adriano shook his head lightly while looking at her.

"Do what?"

"You're just so- good with them. You don't even have to try."

"That's because I'm not trying to pretend I don't like them." Angela said jokingly.

"Okay, I admit Amelia is kind of cute right now. Just look at her. But that still doesn't mean I like kids."

"Sure." Angela said, but wasn't convinced.

They sat there for a while, watching TV quietly before Maria and Franco came to pick up Amelia and Michael. They thanked them for looking after the kids so last minute and then left after saying their goodbyes. Maria promised she would see Angela soon and said they should definitely have dinner again- just like the first time they had both met.

The night went by quietly and the atmosphere was peaceful and calm as they both crawled into bed. Adriano's sleepless nights before he and Angela made up, were still taking their toll on him and he new he needed to catch up on more sleep.

They curled up together, Adriano wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace that made it so easy for her to fall asleep but Adriano, on the other hand, took a while to drift off- even with Angela there. He finally fell asleep but a while later, in the early hours of the morning, the sound of Adriano cellphone ringing from his bedside table woke both of them up.

Adriano answered with a groggy "Hello." but Angela could tell whatever the person on the other end of the phone had said had woken him up quicker than anything else would. He stiffened in bed and sat up, his eyes wide with shock. He inhaled quietly as the person went on.

"Yes, I understand." he said.

"Where is he now?"

"Is he going to be alright?"

"I'll be right there, give me a couple of minutes. I promise I'm coming right over." Adriano couldn't hide the concern in his voice and his tone only made Angela gulp and wonder who he was talking about on the phone. A tension fell on the room and there was a silence in the room once Adriano hung up. Angela was left wondering whether to ask what had happened or not once he shot up out of bed and began quickly throwing on his clothes from the day before.

"Adriano what's wrong?" Angela was worried now as he rushed around the room. He didn't hear her, he was too busy wrapped up in his own thoughts but stopped panicked when he realised she had gotten up out of bed and walked towards him. She placed her hand gently on his arm and looked up at him with anxiousness evident in her expression.

"It's Mike... He's in the hospital."

********

So?:o Thanks for reading once again, I'm so happy with how all the votes and comments on this story so I can't thank you enough. 'Menacingly' has just passed over 300k reads!? OMG, I'm so so sooo happy. Don't forget to let me know what you thought of this chapter and what will happen next:)

Autumn xo