{ Tori's POV }

Marco led me to my new room and carried my bags for me, Marco stepped out so I could change. I changed my outfit to a pair of black tight fitting work out pants and a tight fitting gray tank top .. I opened my bedroom door and found Marco in the hall waiting for me. He led me down to the gym where I see my father, Luca, Francesco, Riccardo, Lorenzo, and Diego standing waiting for us. Marco leads me over to them.

"We know you haven't been trained like we were before we got sworn in, and we have decided to bend the rules a little ; instead of fighting until one of you gets knocked out, you can decide if you want to back out. All you have to do is tap the floor with your hand three times and it'll end. You will still be able to stay here being you are my daughter, but you will remain in the dark like Elena and Angelina." Valente explains

"I understand." I reply knowing that I have no intention of tapping out. These sexist idiots.

"You will be fighting with one of our best fighters that Diego trained." Marco informs me

I hear shuffling sounds so I look in the ring and see a guy almost ten times my size. He was built I'd give him that. However him being that big probably means he's slower than I am. I stop observing him so none of them catch on to what I'm doing.

"Is there anything else I should know?" I ask

"It's strictly hand to hand combat so no weapons. That's the only rule. Normally it's a fight to the death or until one of you knock the other out but being you are the first female to ever try to be sworn in we bent the rules." Luca tells me

"Remember there isn't any shame in tapping out, we'll understand." Francesco tells me and everyone but Luca and Diego nod in agreement

"Do we start now?" I ask ignoring the fact they are already assuming this fight is a waste of time

"As soon as you walk into the ring." Luca says watching me carefully

I nod and swiftly turn and walk up to the ring then I bend the ropes and step in like a pro. It isn't my first rodeo. I start to actually feel more relaxed for the first time since my mothers death..

I look at the guy that I am facing and he says "Boss are you serious?! You want me to fight a girl?" He turns to look at Luca and I see Luca just merely nod.

The big guy in front of me then decides to look at me and say "Are you seriously going to go up against me? I'm ten times your size. I could kill you with my bare hands without breaking a sweat. This is why girls don't get sworn into the mafia."

Well he's sexist to say the least. However I remain calm and look him dead in the eyes and say "Convince me."

"What?" He questions seeming angry for whatever reason and a little confused

"Convince me that women shouldn't be sworn into the mafia." I say quietly so the others won't hear

I can see that he takes that as a challenge, much like I knew he would.

He comes running at me so I let him believe he's scarring me by faking fear on my face. He almost stops but to keep playing with him I didn't do anything but stand there as he keeps charging at me like an angry bull. He gets right at me and goes to kick me but I duck at the very last second making him miss me completely. He shakes of his surprise and tries to kick me again but this time I slide so that I end up behind him. He doesn't get time to turn around to face me before I kick him in the back making him fall forward off balance. He finds his balance faster than I would've thought but that doesn't worry me. I'm simply just testing him and observing his movements.

He turns around to face me and goes to swing at me, but I do a complete back bend to easily avoid it. Then I quickly raise back up and kick his legs out from underneath him, making him fall flat on his back. He gets angrier just like I planned. He jumps up somewhat like a ninja, making me a little impressed at his speed but I just stand there looking bored to piss him off more.

It's my specialty.

He goes full beast mode. He tries throwing punches at me left and right. I manage to block them all but one. Which landed in my stomach knocking the air out of me, but what he didn't know is that I don't stop or crumble when I feel pain. In fact I almost welcome it. It gives me a rush. Call me some kind of psycho but it is what it is. It's also what's kept me alive.

I hear foot steps coming closer to the ring and I catch a glimpse out of the corner of my eyes of Valente who was being held back by Marco and Francesco. While Riccardo and Lorenzo almost looked as if they were trying not to watch, as if they thought this is where the fight turned bad and I ended up a bloody mess on the floor. Luca was watching me intensely with a storm of emotions in his eyes.. and Diego who looked like he knew what was about to happen, and if I'm not mistaken as the guy lands another punch to my stomach.. I see Diego nod at me as if encouraging me to go ahead and end the fight.

I twist out of the way finally using my full speed before this guy can land another punch. I kick him behind his legs making him loose his balance, then I do a round house kick and it lands perfectly on his head, making him fall to the ground. He seems to be dizzy and swaying lightly because of the force I used.

However he stands up while still clearly off balance as he sways so I say "Tap the ground three times and admit that women can have a place in the mafia and it can end."

He just shakes his head and stands up straighter, well he tries too, and says "Men don't give up."

"You should learn too.." I reply as I send another kick to his stomach. I twist backwards coming closer to him and elbow his rips with as much force as I can, which makes him double over in a pain. Meaning I more than likely cracked his ribs.

"You really should've just surrendered because this is going to hurt." I say right before I punch the same rib I cracked. I spin behind him and kick his back sending him onto his knees, then I swiftly do another round house kick with as much force as I can muster up to his head, and he lands on the ground unconscious.

I just bend the ropes out of my way and step out of the ring, and walk over to the men who seem surprised, which should've been expected.

"Was that good enough for all of you?" I ask smartly knowing they expected me to tap out or end up on the ground

"You toyed with him.." Lorenzo says

I shrugged knowing that it was sort of my thing and I say "Now you know what I did in middle school, only back then I just pushed their head smack into a wall or the nearest locker."

"You seemed to leave that out out of your story.." Francesco says almost with a smile

"I just wanted to let all of you figure it out for yourselves. I wanted to see if you'd underestimate me, which you did.. Although I appreciate that all of you were willing to bend the rules for me, so I wouldn't die.. but I'm not some princess who expects the world to revolve around her. I got myself into this world the moment I called Elena, so I'll deal with every challenge as it comes. I knew what I was getting myself into believe it or now, or at least I had a pretty good idea. So I'm as prepared as it gets." I say with seriousness and honesty

Everyone just stays silent and stares at me.

I then turn and look at Luca and ask "What's the third step?"

"Weapons." He answers simply

"Meaning it's cut or be cut type of test." I say basically translating what he said, and I promise I saw him smirk for like two seconds.

"When is it?" I ask

"You can start tomorrow.." Valente says

"Why not today?" I question

"Because you need rest.. you were hurt in the fight. " Valente responds

"Would any of you take the rest?" I ask

"This isn't about me." Valente says

"Meaning you wouldn't." I reply

"She's really good at that..." Lorenzo says

"It's a gift I guess." I say to Enzo

Then I look at Luca and say " If I'm going to pass it won't matter if I do it today or tomorrow. Trust me. I'm fine."

"You can start the next step whenever you want." Luca tells me

"Today." I say

Luca nods and turns and gestures for me to follow him. We all go down another floor which is like a basement. I know it isn't the cells because there isn't a cell in here however it's dark and there is a man tied up without a shirt, and he looks like he's in rough shape.

"Part of the next step is to torture a prisoner, however this time we actually need something from him.. so just be sure not to kill him..." Luca says and I nod and ask "What's the information you need?" He looks surprised that I'm actually going through with it.

"He was one of ours but recently he has sided with the Russians I want to know why.." Luca surprisingly explains to me

"Does it matter how I do it?" I ask just to be safe

"No just don't kill him. Lorenzo is the best at extracting information, he is going to stay in here with you, while we'll be to waiting outside." He tells me

The rest leave and Diego gives me a nod on his way out. Lorenzo looks at me and says "After you.." I walk in front of him and go to the table with the weapons. This is new for me so I'm a little at a lost but I don't quite feel out of my element yet. So that's good.

"His name is Pietro. You already know the information you have to get just use your instincts, and don't kill him. I'll have to report everything to Luca as it's mandatory for only one other person to be in here just in case something happens. Your father was actually the one with me." Lorenzo tells me and I nod not really sure what to say, and I grab the bottle of water. Lorenzo hides in the dark corner of the room. I dump the water on the guy to wake him up.

The guy cusses and he opens his eyes seeming confused.

Just as he sees me standing there his eyes widen.

I expected that because I'm a women whom he's never seen before.

"It's you!" He says as his eyes adjust

"Obviously. Who are you?" I ask

"Pietro." He answers

"Why are you down here?" I question seeming innocent and faking concern

"I turned on the family. You?" He asks

"I got curious. Why would you turn on your family?" I reply keeping up the act

"They aren't my family. Valente killed my father because he had his own opinion and dared to share it." He answers seeming angry

"What did you do?" I ask faking my confusion

"I joined up with some other friends of mine to find this girl, who they believed would come here...and she did." He says looking at me smugly. I remember when he opened his eyes he seemed to already know me, but I continue to play innocent and confused.

"Her name is Victoria. My friend is obsessed with her. He says she's a real nice f*ck. You know who she is don't you?" He asks taunting me

I nod and wipe all emotions off of my face.

"I may have broke my cover but he will find you..and when he does he's going to reign hell upon your new family until he gets you back.. and when he gets his hands on you, no one not even father dearest will be able to save you." He says trying to scare me and at this point I'm over it and I know what I have to do.

"Then its a good thing I can save myself." I reply as I take a knife out of my pocket and carve "traitor" on his back. He hiss in pain and cusses at me the whole time but I just go emotionless.

I walked over to Lorenzo and handed him the knife without making eye contact, because I already know he has questions.

I continue on and picked up the hammer that was laying on the weapons table and walk over to Pietro only to swing it to his left knee cap.

"YOU STUPID BITCH!" Pietro yells at me

So I do the reasonable thing and swing the hammer into his right knee cap breaking it and he just screams in pain.

I hand Lorenzo the hammer when he walks over to me. Then I turn and walk out the doors to see the rest of the group in the hall waiting for me.

I look straight at Luca and say "Lorenzo is most likely finishing up.. then we are going to need to talk. I'll be in my room until your ready."

I don't wait for a reply I just walk back up the stairs and find the room my stuff is in. I take a shower to clear my mind and let my emotions surface. I get out and change into something casual and comfortable, then I lay on my bed wishing that I had never went out to that club while my mom was sick.

I shouldn't have.

Because now my mistake and dark past is going to ruin the only chance of having a real family that I have, if you can even call them that at this point...