Christmas had come and gone in the previous week and the family was back to being happy and annoying as usual. Bear fits in perfectly with everyone. His training has been going extremely well, he knows: sit, lie down, and come here.

Everyone still watches Blake like a hawk whenever he's around me. Dante, Riccardo and Enrico apologized to him, which he forgave; only after punching all of them first. My aunts and Ella have taken it upon themselves to turn me into a doll they can dress up when they please. Whenever we go to leave the house they hint at outfits to wear or just plain out put it on my bed. Nonna has spent the past few days, once again, feeding me as if my life depended on it. Not that I'm complaining.

Right now we're all sat in the living room watching tv. And as it was my turn to pick this week, we're watching Boondock Saints, which has a few of my family members and Blake grimacing. Boondock Saints is a film about two religious Irish brothers who have been given permission from God to kill all those that do evil; So they go off killing Mafia Bosses and men. Watching Nario and Enzo flinch at, very, detailed description was probably the highlight of my evening.

The film finally finished and Nonno and Alfonso have stood up to make their usual daily announcement. "Girls, tomorrow you're going to the mall to shop for the Girmani Ball." My aunts, Nonna and Ella squealed in excitement.

Blake leans forward from behind me and whispers in my ear. "They're the leaders of the Mafia world. Our Mafia's answer to them. The leader Fabio Girmani is the Don of Dons."

"So you'll be there?" I whisper back.

"I wouldn't miss a dance with you for the world." Smiling I sit back forward and listen to Nonno dishing out the rules.

"1. They hold more power than us so be respectful. 2. We have a good relationship with them so do not tarnish it. 3. Boys, no shooting anyone. The same goes for Maria and Adriana." Nonna and I both shoot Nonno a sheepish grin. "4. You kids are not getting drunk. Dante, Enzo, Ezio, and Nario don't even have a drink."

We all nod showing our understand and then we leave the room. Bear and Blake follow me up the stairs into my bedroom while passing Larzo. "You two, keep the door open." Blushing madly I speed walk to my room with Blake laughing from behind me. When we get there I slam the door close and watch as Blake and Bear sit on my bed, looking at me with laughing eyes.

Great. Even the fucking dog is laughing.

"Come here." Blake says. I do so and he opens his arms for me. He looks down at me with a smirk then brings me in for a kiss.

It soon turns into a full blown make out session until Bear decides that he wants attention and starts jumping up and down on Blake. He lets out a low groan and pulls away in pain.

"Whats wrong." I ask worried. He turns so his legs are hanging off the bed and he holds his hands down on his jeans in pain. I look at his red face and follow his gaze to a tail wagging Bear.

"Blake whats-" I pick up on what happened and can't help the laugh that escapes my lips.

"Shut up!" He groans out at me. Still laughing, I pull his head onto my chest and stroke his hair as he takes deep breaths. Bear see that he's in pain and starts whining in apology.

Blake looks down at him. "Your lucky your cute or you'd be a hat." I smack his shoulder but still laugh at him.

And thats how the night went.

Blake resting his head on my chest, holding his nuts while groaning in pain. Me sat stroking his hair and Bear's fur while silently chuckling to myself.

It's now the next morning and I was leaving to go to the mall. Yay. I'm dressed in a plain back top, a pair of black jeans with red roses going up the side and a black pair of combat boots. "Doesn't your dad get pissed off that your here practically all the time?" I ask Blake as we walk out to the car.

"Sometimes. I'm always back for training and dinners so he's not that bothered. It mom who nags at me, but then I say I'm with you." He answers.

"And when you say I'm with you?" I continue.

"She begs me to let her meet you." I look up at him with a look, and he sighs already knowing the question. "We've only been dating for three weeks. If she met you she'd have the wedding dress fitted within the hour."

I laugh and shake my head. But then I think of something he clearly hasn't. "Won't I meet her tomorrow at the Girmani Ball?"

His face pales and he look down at me with sympathy. "Whatever you do, don't buy anything white."

I kiss his cheek and get in the SUV with Ella, laughing the entire way.

"What you laughing at?" She questions with a smile.

"Blake's scared of our wedding."

"Do I even want to ask?" I shake my head no and she joins in with my laughter.

..

It was now time to leave for the ball and I had just finished getting ready into my dress. My hair is styled in a half up half down with my four necklaces and silver anxiety rings. Marco bought them for me for Christmas when he noticed how I fidgeted around loads of people and I'm uncomfortable.



I left Bear in my bedroom as he drifted off to sleep. Kissing his head goodbye I go downstairs out the room. I hear chatter down the hall, following the noise, I end up at the front door with my family. Feeling a pair of eyes on me, I look at Nonno who sends me an approving wink to which I smile back. "Oh mio dio sei bellissima" I turn and see Larzo looking at me with loving eyes. "Grazie." I respond. They all turn to me shocked. Did it really take them this long to realise I speak Italian. "Ella can I have a hair pin?" Riccardo asks. She gives him a pin and he walks over to me. I notice what he's about to do and send him a don't you dare look. "Adri, that dress is too revealing." He tells me. "It's a good thing your not wearing it then." I respond. They all laugh as he rolls his eyes. Leaning down he kisses my cheek and whispers. "Your still beautiful sorellina." And everyone nods in agreement.

We pulled up outside a lavish hotel in which the ball is being held. The flashes of paparazzi cameras blare through the windows as we get ready to leave the car. "Adri listen carefully, keep your head down and don't let go of my hand." I do as Alfonso says and grip tightly onto his hand. The security guards open the door and paparazzi push to try and get photos of us. The rest of my family rush over and make a circle around me, my aunts, Ella and Nonna along with the body guards. I feel Alfonso pull me through the crowds until we reach the glass doors. Once we get inside I'm met with the warm and welcoming air. We walk down a hall and through a pair of golden doors and are greeted by fancy music and waiters carrying glasses of champagne. Reaching for a glass, Enrico slaps my hand away and gives me a pointed look. Sighing I take one from the non alcoholic tray and sip it to show him I'm being good.

We've been at the ball for over an hour now and I'm ready for the champagne, or anything. Alfonso and Nonno have spent their time introducing me to mafia leaders and their families. I'm standing at the side of the wall looking out at the crowds before me, when I feel a light tap on my shoulder.

Turning to see who it is, I'm met with bright green eyes in a body that towers over mine. Lavish brown hair resting on his forehead and a sharp jawline that could cut if needed. A playful smirk gracing his lips as he holds his hand out for mine. I give him my hand, and instead of shaking like I thought, he brought it to his lips and kisses my knuckles.

"Georgio Girmani" The italian accent is unmistakable in his voice.

"Adriana Baresi." I respond, pulling my hand back as gracefully as possible once he lets go.

"You're Alfonso's sister, correct?" I nod my head and sip my glass as I watch his every move over the rim.

"Well, you look beautiful tonight Adriana." he says stepping closer, too far into my personal space for my liking.

"She looks beautiful every night." I feel a pair of arms encircle my waist and am hit with the scent of the masculine cologne I love. Leaning back into his arms, I see Georgio looking slightly pissed but mainly amused.

"Blake, I thought you weren't the dating type. I never thought you could catch such a gorgeous woman looking like that." He comments while looking us up and down.

"And I never thought that women don't actually talk to your ugly ass, yet here we are." A smile creeps on both their faces, Blake letting go of me, bringing each other into a bro hug of sorts. While they do this, I take in Blake's appearance. He's dressed in an all black suit and a black tie, his charcoal hair styled neatly, definatly more than usual.

"Since when are you two friends?" I ask when they turn back to me.

"Since we are twins." Georgio answers.

Noticing my confused face, Blake continues. "Our mothers are sisters, making us cousins, we were born on the same day, making us practically twins."

I nod my head in understanding and they continue to talk to each other. Georgio asked about how me and Blake met and started dating. When I told him about the constant silence, his only response was 'typical'; but the beating from my family had him doubled over in laughter.

"So do all mafias come to this party?" I ask Georgio once Blake had left. He said his mother was threatening him to meet me so he's trying to distract her for as long as possible.

"Yeah all around the world, all five Italians, Cuban, Spanish, Mexican, German, Irish-"

"Russian?" He stops for a moment but shakes his head.

"Since they started human trafficking, which I know may come as a shock, is against mafia law, so they are excluded." Law? So the law breakers have a law to fix the laws they break...

"What other mafia laws are there?" I question.

He goes on to list the laws such as: No starting a war without cause. No contracts broken unless peculiar/ reasonable circumstances. No human trafficking. No sex trafficking. No killing other mafia leaders without reason. And so much more, but they were the main ones. If a law is broken the 'criminals' are brought to the Girmani family as they are the head of the mafia law, Don of Dons, and they're given their punishment.

We continued to chat together when a pair of arms pull my flying from my seat and trap me in a bone crushing hug from a stranger.

"Kathy she can't breathe." I hear Georgio chuckle.

The women pulls back, looking me up and down as I do the same. She's quite a short women, around 5'3 I'd say. Long black hair tied into a neat, yet loose, bun. She's a skinny, tan women with wide hips and looks around mid 40s. I look up only to find her silver eyes boring into mine. Silver? Oh shit!

"I'm guessing your Mrs Kemper." I say as she holds me by my shoulders.

"Yes dear. Your absolutely gorgeous." I thank her and say the same as she guides us to the stools by the bar. She sits where Georgio once was, he seems to have left.

"So your the girlfriend I've heard so much about." She says as she takes me in.

"Yes, it's nice to meet you Mrs Kemper."

"Kathy please. Mrs Kemper sounds wrong coming from you."

This better not be because she doesn't like me. "Why is that?" I ask as I take a sip of my drink.

"It'll be your name eventually."

That one sentence is what caused me to burst into a coughing fit and have Blake rush over to pat me on the back.

"Mom what did you say!?" He asks as I regain my breath.

"Only facts." She responds, smiling at me and her son with love.

"What facts?" He's getting pissed off now.

"That having her call me Mrs Kemper is not necessary as she will be called the same eventually." Blush runs up his face as he looks down at me, only to find I'm looking at him.

"Mom for the love of god, she's sixteen, I'm only seventeen. No Marriage!" He tells her in an authoratives tone and I vigorously nod my head in agreement.

"Yes well, we'll see. So anyways Adriana tell me about yourself." Great. The 'tell me about yourself conversation', more like interrogation.

"Well, I grew up in Doncaster with my mother and step father. She was a fashion designer in her spare time, he was an American soldier. I like football, you call it soccer. I also do cross country and I used to do street fighting." I tell her as Blake holds me from behind.

"How come you did street fighting?" She enquires.

"Got me out of the house. My mother, wasn't the kindest person towards the end." My mind briefly flashes back to what she did when I see the glass in Kathy's hand. I slightly wince, but Blake holds me a little tighter at the feeling.

"Oh I'm sorry. Were you any good?" Her soft tone comes out mother like, something I hadn't experienced in years. Something I dearly missed.

"13 wins, 4 losses." Her eyes grow wide at my answer. I even feel Blakes chest stop moving for a moment in shock.

"Well that answers that." We all chuckle and she continues her questions. It seems so much easier with Blake here. His mother is probably the sweetest woman I had ever met. Her voice was comforting and warm, never varying from showing acceptance.

"Kathy, Blake, girl I do not know." A middle-aged man came over to the three of us. I felt Blake stand up a littler straighter but the man's kind smile kept me relaxed.

"Mark, this is Adriana Baresi." Kathy tells 'Mark'

"Oh, nice to meet you Adriana, I'm Mark Kemper, Blake's father." He holds his hands out for me and I shake mine with his

"You too Sir."

"Mark." He corrects. I offer him a kind smile and he stands behind Kathy, like Blake to me, and listens to the quiz I am partaking in.

The night draws on until the sky outside is pitch black and all the young children have drifted off to sleep. At the moment I'm dancing with Carlos who we met a few hours ago with Carmen and Sebastian. Turns out Carlos is next in line for the Spanish Mafia, Carmen is next to being the Underboss for him, and Sebastian is going to be Blake's Underboss. So basically everyone of my brothers friends are in the Mafia.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Carlos asked me. So far tonight I had danced with: Nonno, my two uncles, my brothers, cousins, Blake and Sebastian. So my feet are killing me in these heels.

"I want my feet amputated." I tell him as we break away from the dance as the song finishes. Chuckling at me, he guides me over to Blake, Ezio, Enzo, Dante, Sebastian and Carmen. All of them dressed in black suits and ties, but Carmen without the tie and a very low cut blouse.

"When are we leaving?" I ask Dante as I collapse in Ezio's arms.

"We can go now if you want, Al said we can go anytime past eleven." I breathe a happy breath and nod my head, causing them all to laugh.

"Come on then, I'll take you." Enzo says as he takes me from Ezio.

"Bye." They all say and I respond. I kiss Blake's cheek and he kisses my head and Enzo guides me out to the car.

All the paparazzi had left by now and we got into the Black SUV. As soon as my ass meets the seat I kick off my heels and place my feet on Enzo lap.

"Enough dancing for tonight?" He smirks at me.

"For a life time." I answer. We just chuckle and begin our long journey home.

Home.

I had been here for two months and it is already home to me. I guess family can make you open up more than anyone else.

We had reached our home at the border of the city. Pulling up outside the gate, something seems off.

We get out of the car by the fountain in front of the house and walk upto the from door.

"Go and get to bed, it's been a late night." Enzo tells me kissing the crown of my head.

"Goodnight" I say as I go up the stairs to my bedroom and have a cuddle with Bear before he falls asleep. I go to my vanity and removes my make up and let my hair down all the way. Picking out a pair of black shorts, a cropped navy jumper and black tank top, I go into the bathroom and get into the shower after removing my dress and laying it on my bed.

Half way through my shower I hear a series of bangs from downstairs. Thinking it is probably my drunk brothers returning home I finish my shower and change into my clothes. I walk back into my room and find Bear in the little playpen with the gate shut like I had left him. His fluffy brown fur moves from the wind of my open window.

But why was it open? I didn't leave it like that.

I walk over and close the window on the far side of the bedroom. Going to close the curtains, I notice something in the reflection.

Spinning around I go for a punch, only to have him beat me to it. The right hook sends me flying to the floor with blood dripping from the cut forming on my cheek. Bear's barking can be heard in the background, but right now I'm focused on the strange man that has just knocked me to the floor.

I sweep his legs from under him and he slams down next to me. I flip ontop of him and punch with everything I've got. I don't stop when the blood pools from his head. I don't stop when he goes unconscious. I don't stop when I hear the crack of his skull. I only stop when I have no more to give.

Getting up I stumble back, only to hit a wall.

But said wall hits me behind my head, as the wall is actually a man.

And all I see is the starry darkness is my closed eyes.