AN: So sorry about taking so long but here it is.

The Moretti men above... from left to right: Sal, Tony, Lorenzo, Gino and Vinny

Elena let Lorenzo's mother fuss over her for a while after they walked away from the men. She wanted more than anything to just lay down and relax but with the house crawling with Lorenzo's men and now the Russo men it was too loud. When day began to turn into night Elena still had not seen Lorenzo since their returned to Miami. She wanted to go look for him but knew he would be busy with all that was going on. When Lorenzo's mother finally left her room Elena stood up and walked to the balcony. Once out there Elena glanced around the grounds and saw all the busy bodies moving around down below.

Her eyes landed on the one person she had wanted to see and they stopped, it was like everything around Lorenzo faded away and it was just her and him. Even from the distance and height she was from him Elena could still see the anger on his face. The whole situation with Rob was still a hard blow to all of them and now a war was going to start brewing between the crime families. Elena didn't have any real time to process what had happened until that very moment. She watched as Lorenzo stood there talking with his most inner circle and it was now short one man... the one man that had betrayed them all.

The memory of Rob standing there next to Jacob and not doing anything when he assaulted her was seared into her brain. She had trusted Rob as much as everyone else had or more, for three years she had spent so much time with him. Elena had thought she knew him more than her own husband. He wasn't only her guard Elena saw him as her friend but he had been playing them.

Lorenzo, Tony, Gino, Sal and Vinny were standing in a small circle discussing what to do with the Russo men that were at the compound. The place had been busier than usual with all the new men plus his uncle was there with quite a few of his own men. Lorenzo closed his eyes as he rolled his neck to crack his stiff bones, when they opened again his eyes locked with Elena's. The sad forced smile she had placed on her face at that moment broke his heart.

"Tony, can you handle this?" Lorenzo said not taking his eyes off Elena.

"I got it." Tony said as he looked over to see what Lorenzo was looking at.

Lorenzo nodded his head at the guys as he walked back toward the house. Just as he entered the house his father and uncle Enzo came out of the downstairs office. He had hoped they didn't want him at that moment because all he wanted was to go up to Elena and hold her. With all that was going on around him he needed to step back and make sure Elena was alright. It was one thing to mess with him or his men but his wife was a whole different story. Someone putting Elena's life in danger and assaulting her was more than enough reasons for him to kill someone.

Just as Lorenzo was walking through the foyer Michael spoke. "Lorenzo we need to talk." He said as he walked towards his son with Enzo by his side.

"Can this wait?" Lorenzo asked as he sucked in a deep breath then slowly exhaled it. "I need to check on my wife, I have not seen her since we got back here."

"Your mother said she was doing well the last time she was in there." Michael said shaking his head. "Business needs to come..." he began to say and Lorenzo cut him off.

"With all due respect, I run things around here now and I decided what comes first." Lorenzo said sternly knowing what his father was going to say to him. "If what you need to discuss with me isn't dire and can wait then I am going to see my wife and when I'm done I could meet you back in my office."

"It's not dire." Enzo said looking between his brother in law and nephew, the last thing he wanted was to add more tension in an already tension filled house.

Lorenzo nodded his head and turned away from the two older men. When he got to the stairs he took them two at a time quickly reaching the top. He opened the bedroom door and walked through it to the balcony where he last saw her. Elena had still been standing near the stone wall around the balcony looking out towards the grounds and ocean as he walked out the room. When she heard the door open Elena slowly turned and smiled weakly at Lorenzo. After seeing a real smile graced her face back on the island he hated the forced one she had used so often before.

Shaking his head, he walked over to her. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he reached up and placed his hand on her soft cheek.

"I've had better days." She said softly as she leaned into his touch. "I'm tired but can't seem to get any sleep."

"Do you miss the old house?" he asked knowing it was always quieter there.

"Yeah." She said softly.

"I know this is all too much right now but I promise it will calm down once things are in order."

"I'm worried about what is going to happen." Elena said as she took a step back from him and looked back out towards the grounds as Lorenzo's hand fell back to his side.

"I don't want you to worry." He said stepping next to her and leaned forward on the wall. "I will keep you safe and I will try to end this as fast as possible."

"I'm not just worried about my safety; I'm worried about yours." She said glancing over at him. "What if something happens to you? Our life together may have started three years ago but to me it just started and I don't want to lose you."

"You're not going to lose me." Lorenzo said standing up straight and turned his body to face her. "I hate myself for everything I have put you through and I have so much to make up for still so I don't plan on leaving your side anytime soon." Lorenzo pulled her against his body and wrapped his arms around her. "It's getting late; I have a few things to handle then I'll get the area around the mansion quiet so we can sleep."

Elena nodded her head as she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. Not knowing the full aspect of what was coming scared her. Antonio had kept her sheltered from the violent side of this life and over the last few months she had a small taste of what it was like. She knew this time around there would be no way for Lorenzo to shelter her from what was about to come and it was going to be worse than what she had already seen or been through.

After standing there with Elena for a while longer just holding her he finally parted ways and went back to business. Lorenzo met with Michael and Enzo in his office like he said he would and that didn't go so well. Michael was having a hard time accepting that he was no longer in charge of the family and what he was trying to force Lorenzo to do wouldn't work. Michael wanted Lorenzo to take a step back from starting a war and arrange a sit down with the Vargas family to work things out. Lorenzo refused to hear him out, he saw no other option that would satisfy his need for revenge.

"I'm not the one that started this war." Lorenzo snapped at his father. "Jacob Vargas did that when he made an attempt on my life then had the balls to assault my wife in front of me after kidnapping her. I will be the one to finish this and everyone out there will know not to fuck with me or my family."

"Once again my son is being fucking reckless and hotheaded." Michael snapped as he glanced over at Enzo. "I will not be around to get him out of this mess."

"I don't need you to get me out of shit." Lorenzo snapped, Michael calling him reckless and hotheaded didn't go over well. "If you don't like how I run things around here then you can leave."

"You wouldn't have any of this had it not been for me. Not this empire and sure as hell not your wife." Michael snapped at Lorenzo. "You better watch how you talk to me."

"You're right." Lorenzo said calmly as he sat back in his chair. "I took what you gave me and bettered it. I have almost triple what you gave me, as for my wife... you may have arranged it but I was the one that agreed to it and in the end I am the one here for her."

"You will regret all of this." Michael said shaking his head at Lorenzo.

"I only have one regret and I'm righting that wrong now." Lorenzo said as he glanced between his uncle and father. "I told Elena I had a few things to do then I would be back up to her so if you don't mind I need to keep my word."

Lorenzo's parents were gone as quick as they had come, leaving back to Italy before the night was over. Michael didn't want to stand around and watch as Lorenzo started a war he thought was uncalled for. He tried to get Enzo to talk some sense into Lorenzo and to get him to stop what was coming. Enzo and Michael didn't see eye to eye on the matters either because Enzo had been in Lorenzo's shoes and a bloodbath was the only justice for what had been done.

That night Lorenzo made everyone on the compound stay out of and away from the main house. He wanted one full night of peace and quiet for him and Elena before things took the turn he was expecting. When he was the last man standing in the mansion he went upstairs to his wife. Walking in the room she had slept in alone all this time felt a little weird at first but seeing her laying on one side of the bed sleeping but leaving room for him brought a smile to his face. After changing out of his suit Lorenzo walked over to the bed and climbed in behind her then pulled her body back to lay against his own.

The next day things took the turn Lorenzo had expected along with things he had not expected. Juan Vargas received word about his son being dead and he went into a rage. The Moretti family was at the top of his list of suspects. Vinny got word from the streets that Rob's dead body being with Jacob was the reason he suspected Lorenzo had something to with it. Vinny also found out that no one other than Jacob and a few of his trusted men knew of Rob double crossing Lorenzo, not even Juan. That was a major game changer for Lorenzo.

"The hit needs to happen now." Angelo said as he took a seat across from Lorenzo. "If we give Vargas time he will be ready for us."

"Vargas is not a stupid man." Lorenzo said shaking his head. "He is ready for anything, there will be no way we are going to get close to him."

"There will be away." Roberto said as he walked into the office. "We just have to find it."

"We start by taking out his lower ranks a few at a time." Carmine said as he leaned forward in his chair.

"First we need to put extra men at all the businesses for protection. We need to protect our money as well as our family." Tony said as he stood up from his chair and walked over to the patio doors. "With the man power we have now, it should work."

"Vargas will expect us to come for him first." Lorenzo said leaning back in his chair as he crossed his arms over his chest. "No one kills Vargas... he placed the hit on me that could have killed me and Elena. I want him for myself but first I want Vargas to watch as I rip apart his empire and take out his men."

"And he will." Carmine said with a sadistic smirk on his face. "Not many people know mine or Angelo's face, that will get us through a few doors."

"The Marzano family will take the first few hits then Carmine and I have to get back to New York with Roberto so we can prepare just in case this follows us home." Angelo said calmly. "My father and the rest of the guys will remain here with you until Vargas is dead."

Lorenzo nodded his head just as there was a knock on his office door. "Come in." he called out and watched as Gino walked in.

"Boss, we have an issue that needs your attention."

"Alright." Lorenzo said.

"I'll keep you informed on when we decide to make our first move." Angelo said as he and Carmine stood up to leave.

Gino stepped to the side and let the two men along with Roberto leave the office then glanced over at Elena's sister Angel. She was wiping away the tears that were sliding down her cheeks. Gino gestured for her to come in the office and led her over to the chair Angelo had just vacated. Lorenzo stood there looking confused between the crying girl and Gino. He stood quiet giving Angel a few moments to pull herself together before speaking.

"What's wrong Angel?" he asked in a soft voice as he leaned forward on the desk.

It was Gino who answered him. "Angel and I have been seeing each other for some time now and Antonio found out." he said stepping up behind her. "We were going to tell you after the casino opening but with everything that has gone on we decided to wait."

"OK." Lorenzo said sounding confused. "What's the problem?"

"My dad told me that if I didn't break things off with Gino he would disown me and cause trouble for Gino." Angel cried out as more tears fell down her cheeks. "I don't want to lose my family but I can't be without Gino... I love him, Lorenzo."

"Calm down Angel." Lorenzo said softly as he looked between Gino and Angel. "How long has this been going on?"

"It's been almost six months now." Angel hiccupped.

"How did Antonio find out about the two of you?" Tony asked as he walked over towards Lorenzo's desk.

"Cora got mad at me and told our father." Angel said wiping at her steady tears.

"Alright, does Elena know about this?" he asked looking between them and they both shook their heads no. "Which one of you plan on telling her?"

"I will." Gino said standing tall.

"No." Angel said shaking her head. "She's my sister I will tell her."

"You two work that one out." Lorenzo said smiling at them. "Now as for Antonio, I'll handle him."

"My father won't listen to anyone." Angel said crying again. "He said no one could change his mind."

"I will." Lorenzo said sternly.

"But..." Angel began to say and Lorenzo cut her off.

"Angel I will hand this." He said sternly. "If he disowns you that's ok, you still have us and we won't do that shit here. Gino take the keys for the empty house here on the compound and the two of you can stay there."

"Thank you, Lorenzo." Angel said with a tear stained smile and he nodded with a smile on his face.

Tony sat there quiet watching as Gino led Angel back out of the office. He knew Elena wouldn't have problem with them seeing each other but he also knew Antonio would not roll over easy on this. The last thing anyone needed was Antonio causing problems for them when they had enough problems to deal with already. When he looked back at Lorenzo he stood there with a smirk on his face and Tony knew that smirk meant trouble.

"What are you thinking?" Tony asked.

"How much more Russo is going to hate me." Lorenzo said smirking still. "The man lost one daughter to me and now he will lose another to one of men."

"What do we do about him?"

"I handle it." Lorenzo said waving it off.

A few hours later Lorenzo sat at his desk going over some of his business books when there was a soft knock on his door. Only one person in the mansion knocked that softly and it brought a smile to his face as he called out for her to come in. Elena smiled at him as she walked into the office and made her way over to him. Rather than sit at the chair across from him she walked around the desk sliding her fingers across the mahogany wood.

"Are you busy?" she asked.

"For you... never." He said smirking as he pushed away from the desk and she stepped in front of him. "What's on your mind?"

"You." She said looking down at him as she moved to straddle his lap.

Lorenzo pulled her closer to his body. "I could use a distraction." He said smirking at her. Elena leaned down and softly kissed his lips a few times but before anything could go any further there was a knock as his door. "What?" he called out over her shoulder.

"Angelo called." Tony answered him.

"Fuck." Lorenzo said as he looked back at Elena. "Give me ten minutes to talk with Tony then I'm all yours."

"Alright." Elena said as she stood up from his lap.

"Come in." Lorenzo called out to Tony.

Tony walked in just as Elena was getting ready to walk away but he spoke before she could move. "Good you're both here." He said and she looked over at him confused. "The three of us and Gino needs to go out right now."

"What the hell for?" Lorenzo asked as he moved his chair closer to his desk again.

"The Marzano family is at Jacob's nightclub." Tony said hoping Lorenzo understood why they were there. "We just need to be seen out in the open to keep things covered."

"Alright." Lorenzo said as he stood up and could see that Elena was still confused.

"I'll let Gino know to get ready." Tony said walking away.

Lorenzo nodded then looked over at Elena. "I know the last thing you want to do right now is leave the mansion but I need you to do this with me."

"Ok... I just need to try and cover up some of these bruises first." Elena said gesturing to her neck and face.

"You don't have to do that." Lorenzo said softly to her.

"Yes I do." Elena said as she walked over to him. "I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea if they see us together. If some reason any officers see us they will give you problems and I don't want that."

"Alright." Lorenzo said leaning down and placed a soft kiss to her lips. "We should hurry."

Elena nodded her head and went up to the bedroom to get ready. This was going to be the first time she was going to go somewhere other than dinner with him and she was a bit nervous. Lorenzo and the guys patiently waited for Elena to get ready and once she was down by them they left for one of his casinos.

Angelo and the Marzano family waited outside of the nightclub until they got word Lorenzo was where he needed to be. Roberto was busy letting all the men know where there were needed and what needed to go down. Once things were clear he looked over at his Capo's two sons.

"Carmine you are with me." Roberto said knowing he needed to keep the reckless one in sight. "Angelo, you and Victor go left. When we are in there I want all men to wait for my signal before any shooting starts."

"Alright." Angelo said looking over at his best friend Victor then over at his brother before looking back at his father's underboss. "Is my dad sitting this one out?"

"Yeah." Roberto said as he checked the ammo in his gun. "Capo will meet Lorenzo at the casino and once we complete this hit we head north and lay low for a couple days until we plan our next hit."

"Sounds good." Angelo said as his phone buzzed. He looked down checking the message than back up at Roberto. "It's time." All the men nodded at him and began parting ways so they would attract attention. "Carmine listen to Roberto and we'll see each other on the other side of this."

"Always brother." Carmine said walking away with Roberto.

AN: One more small note. As heartbreaking as this may be to some of you I did want to say that there will be only two or three more chapters to this story. I don't want to overkill the story and drag it out longer than it should be.

The very end of this chapter and the beginning of the next chapter will be a small glimpse to the companion book that will soon follow. The next book will have ties to this one but can be a stand alone just like this one.