{ Tori's POV }

"How did you find that out?" Francesco questions looking at Elena

"Elena didn't tell me if that's what you're worried about. My mother did." I answer

"She knew everything?" My father questions

"She knew enough." I say looking at Angelina

"She was curious little thing." My father Valente comments

"She found papers in your office one day. I told her not to say a word to anyone else outside of me or she could be killed. She didn't get much of a chance to get use to the idea of any of it after what happened with the Russians. I don't think I could blame her for anything after the accident." Angelina explains

"All of the women in this house betrayed me. come faccio a sapere che mia figlia non farà lo stesso." ~how do I know my own daughter won't do the same~ My father says like he's expecting I won't know what he is talking about. So I decide to play along and pretend to be clueless..

"potremmo farla giurare." ~we could make her swear.~ Francesco says also in Italian in a tone of someone giving a suggestion they don't really want to give. My guess he doesn't believe I would make it through whatever process it is or that I would turn out to be like my mother and try to run.

"How much do you know?" Luca questions me as he stares me down

"She knows everything." Marco answers before I can but still Luca's eyes never left my direction.

"I think she should. It would be interesting." Enzo aka Lorenzo adds in

"What if she chooses not too?" Riccardo questions

"We would make her." Valente says

"I don't even know if that's possible." Marco says

"What do you mean?" Luca questions still never taking his eyes off of me

"If I am correct she's more like V. I don't know that anyone could make her do something she doesn't want to do." Marco says

Of course not knowing that it could trigger me back into a dark mindset. Because there was one person who made me do something I didn't want.. but I wouldn't tell them that.

"If it helps any of you sleep at night. I'll swear." I say randomly and everyone's heads snap towards me

"Do you even know what that means?" Riccardo asks me like I'm crazy

"Omerta means code of silence, and I'm assuming you have some kind of ritual test thing that I would have to do to be accepted. This isn't exactly a fitness club you pay to join. It's the mafia. Of course it isn't going to be a cake walk." I reply back calmly

All of them look at me as if I've lost my head.

"Why?" Luca asks while analyzing me

"Why what?" I question slightly challenging him with a raised eyebrow

Luca sends me a slight glare.

"Why offer to swear in willingly?" Luca finally asks exactly what he wants to know

"If this lets me stay without being a prisoner here that gets watched twenty four seven then I'll do it. I'll admit that I'm not fully aware of what the challenge is but I'm prepared for the worst. None of you know anything about me, I understand why you don't trust me, after all I'm an outsider... and to be honest I don't trust any of you either so if this helps any of that then I'll do it." I answer with a slight shrug

"Marco what do you think?" Luca asks

"She seems to be a very curious person so she'll probably find out a lot more then what any of you would want her to. I don't know how she will handle being sworn in or any of the dark parts of the mafia.. but she's interesting and has certain fire behind her eyes. I don't think she'll run at least not anytime soon if that's what your concern is." Marco answers

"Mother, Angelina please leave the room." Luca says somewhat politely but I heard the command in his voice that left no room for any argument. Elena and Angelina hesitantly leave and I give them a reassuring smile trying to show them that I'll be fine.

Diego, My father, Riccardo, and Francesco finally all sit down. In order it's Luca, Riccardo, Lorenzo, Diego, Me, Marco, Francesco, and My father who is sitting next to Luca on his other side. Of course the table is round so everyone can still see each other without a problem.

"First part of our test is an interview." Luca explains

"Most people would use a lie detector test but I don't see the point here." My father says almost if he believed I was too innocent to need one.

"I mean I intend on being as honest as I can with all of you.. so I'll take a lie detector test if any of you prefer that I do. Although you should all know that it wouldn't of worked anyway. I can lie the entire test and still pass. I just make my brain believe it's the truth even when it's not. " I tell them wanting to be honest and all of them look at me as if I've lost it

"Was I not suppose to be that honest?" I question out loud with some smartly added sass

Lorenzo laughs and says "This girl is amazing." Both Luca and my father shoots him a look as if to shut up. Which amuses me for whatever reason.

"How do you know you can pass a lie detector test?" Francesco questions seemingly genuinely interested in the story

"Despite my mother being pure of heart I've always been good at lying when needed. So my friend and I made a bet to see if I could pass or not. The Idiot underestimated my abilities and ended up paying for the test. Then he eventually owed me money when I passed with flying colors." I tell them

"Have you ever done anything illegal?" Riccardo asked so I am assuming the interview starts now

"Of course. Like trespassing, driving without a license, not wearing a seatbelt, and stealing small household items.. but as far as killing someone or robbing a bank...I can't say I have." I answer

"Have you ever gotten caught?" Lorenzo questions me

"Yes but I wasn't ever charged." I reply

"Have you ever thought about killing someone?" Luca asked as if he sensed something

"Yes." I answer honestly

"Did you ever try to kill someone?" Luca asks

"No." I respond which is true although I probably should have

"Would you kill someone to protect yourself or your family?" Luca asks like he's grilling me

"Yes." I answer without hesitation or any doubt while keeping eye contact with Luca.

"Do you consider us family?" Riccardo asks

"No." I answer

My father or should I say Valente seemed shocked by my answer. The others seem more interested than anything else.

"What about my wife?" Francesco asks me

"I consider her my family, or at least that's quickly what she is becoming." I reply back

"Why?" My father questions

"She protected me even before I was born in her own way, even while knowing what would likely happen if any of you ever found out. She didn't even hesitate to come see me when I called her. So just for that alone I have respect for her, and feel like we'll always get along just fine." I answer

"What about Marco?" Luca questions with a hard tone that I can't pinpoint

"I trusted him enough to get me here safety, that's just what he did. As far as calling Marco or the rest of you family.. I'm not there yet. So consider all of your family titles pending from me. After all I am having to go through an interview to really become yours." I say

They all look at me but seem deep in thought.

"What's your story?" Valente asks

"I was born in Florida. My mother and I lived in a hotel for the first few months, where my mother worked as a housekeeper in exchange for our free room to save money. Then we moved to New York and she got us an apartment. My mother got a job in a department store, and saved up as much money as she could. She eventually opened up a shelter that she named after Angelina. She wanted to help women and children in need. We were happy and we always remained that way, even in the hard times. There were a lot of times she didn't know what to do with me. When I started asking why I didn't have a father all she would say is that she and my father didn't understand each other, and that he never knew she got pregnant. I asked what my father was like from time to time, and she always said I looked almost exactly like her but with his hair. She said I had her curiosity and kindness for others but everything else was him." I explain and Valente nods for me to continue

"In middle school I was to good of a mix between the both of you. I had her kindness making me want to help others. So any time I would see kids getting bullied I would want to help them, only I didn't hug them while they were crying or go get a teacher like she probably would have. My mother wasn't a fan of how I handled things, she said I gave her mini heart attacks that entire school year." I tell them

"How did you handle things?" Luca questions seeming even more interested all of a sudden

"I stood up for innocents." I answer vaguely but truthfully

Luca seemed to get the hint because I promise I saw the side of his lip twitch up in what could've been an award winning smile. I continue with my story leaving the dark parts out.

"After I got caught and got in trouble she began putting me in extra classes to keep me busy being she worked a lot. Such as language classes, dance classes, etc. They were something I didn't know that I needed, but in reality I did. I just didn't know it yet. I'll always be grateful for those classes and to my mother for making sure I would grow up independent and into a woman who didn't break." I tell them

"Did you have any friends?" Riccardo asks me

"I've never been the type of person that keeps friends, I would attract them then eventually send them away. It drove my mother nuts. However in high school as I started helping at the shelter I became better at handling people. Although I have to admit my people skills still aren't the best. I did meet my first real friend in my first year of college, and he also happened to be my first boyfriend. Other than that and the people I work with.. I guess you can call me friendless." I say trying to answer the best I can

"Did you have a job in New York?" Francesco asks me

"Yes. After I finished college, I got a job working as a fashion designers assistant. It wasn't my dream job but I'm also not one for the spotlight so it worked out and helped pay bills. I had the best boss I could've asked for so everything was good.." I answer

"You almost say that as if things got bad.." Francesco says picking up on my tone at the end.

"They did." I reply with a dark chuckle at the end

"How so?" Riccardo questions

I hated to tell them that I wasn't going to share my deepest and darkest secrets on the first day of meeting them.. So I will find a way to answer the question to the best of ability without lying.

"My mother got cancer. She had two surgeries and a round of chemo and nothing helped. She just got worse. She couldn't do anything for herself because she got so weak, much less enjoy the life she had left so she stopped it all." I answer

"She gave up." Valente said as if it pained him and disappointed him

"Yes in a way she gave up, but she lived the rest of her months happy. We spent most of the time she had left together. Thankfully my boss was kind and understood when in the end I would have to take off because mom was to weak to get out of the bed by herself. I did it all without a complaint because she had done so much for me just by bringing me into this world and raising me by herself. She died a little over two weeks ago." I tell him

"I am sorry for your loss but how did you find out about us if your mother died?" Francesco asks

" I guess you could say that even in her death she found a way to guide me down the right path. I was going through her things a few days ago and I found a key to her file cabinet. I had never been in it before so I was curious. I ended up finding her whole life's journal, that explained everything and more to me. I found a file titled Ferrari, that held everything that she knew about the mafia.. and she wrote a letter for me explaining things better. She was going to tell once I got older, and she was sure I was able to take care of myself.. but then she was diagnosed with cancer. She admitted to being selfish with what time she had left and apologized for not telling me sooner. I think she always knew I would choose to come here, even after knowing everything.. and that's why she waited so long. Now she's in a safe place and isn't suffering anymore or being tortured with idea of me being in any harm." I say

"Why do you say that your mother always knew you would end up here?" Valente asks

"I'm apparently a lot like you. I don't personally know you so I wouldn't know, but that's what she thought, and she knew both of us pretty well so I'm assuming she was right.. and despite everything she had good mother instincts." I answer then I look at Luca and ask "Anything else you want to know?"

"Yes actually. ti stai nascondendo?" ~what are you hiding?~ Luca asks

I expected that. Although I don't think they realize I speak Italian yet.

"A few things actually." I answer

Everyone looks at me in shock.

"You speak Italian?" Luca questions but comes out more like a statement.

"It was one of the classes my mother got me to take. I can understand it but I'm not very good at actually speaking it." I explain

"What are you hiding?" Riccardo questions

"Something a little to personal to tell a bunch of people who I just met today about. So I won't tell you, if that's what your looking for. I'd rather just be kicked out now so to speak." I say

"Victoria you have.." Valente starts and I expected as much but what shocks me is when Luca holds his hand up to stop him.

"You are entitled to have your own secrets, but if it can ever put this family in danger, you'll have to at least tell me. It's the code." Luca said in a serious and somewhat commanding tone

"Understood." I reply and I can see his lip twitch then I ask "When do I start and finish this whole omerta thing?"

"You've completed the first step. The interview." Riccardo tells me

"How many steps are there?" I ask

"Three in total." Francesco answers

"If you want you can start the next step now or tomorrow it's your choice. If you complete it you'll get to choose when you do the third step." Valente explains

Although I am pretty sure no one else has gotten to choose when they start the next step.. I'll take it.

"I'll start it now." I tell them

And they all look at me clearly not expecting me to say that...

"It's better to get it all over with." I say shrugging casually