"What the fuck?", Bianca said.
"I am here for the wedding reception. Leonardo invited me personally", Maria said holding up her invitation.
Bianca reached out to take it but Maria held it back. During this conversation, Fin had managed to excuse himself.
"Don't get smart. I have my eyes on you and sure, once I get the chance, I'd confirm with Leonardo", Bianca said and she walked away.
Maria rolled her eyes. 'I better get to action', she thought.
**********************************
After Leonardo gave her the anklet, he walked to a corner to talk to Rob. Their conversation seemed pretty heated.
She watched Leonardo expression turn dark and she knew it was work related, which of course meant that someone was going to die.
Their eyes met and he walked towards her.
"I'm sorry kitten. Would you give me a second?", he asked, his gaze softening for her.
"Who's going to die now?", she asked sarcastically.
"Don't you worry about it. I'll be back in a few minutes", he said and she gave him a smile.
He felt a sudden urge to kiss her and he went with it. Arya wasn't expecting it and she gasped into his mouth. It was a soft kiss and Arya began to kiss him back. He broke the kiss and gave his signature smirk.
"Patience kitten", he said. He pecked her cheek and walked away with Rob behind him. Arya felt colour creep to her cheeks.
Her good mood didn't last as she turned around and saw Carls, her father, walking towards her.
"We have to talk", he said to her. "Let's go somewhere private".
Arya followed him warily to study. She wondered what was so private that he had to hide.
As soon as they got in, Carls began talking.
"I need you to do a job for me. There's a particular document in your husband's possession that I want you to get for me", he said desperately.
"Seems you forgot I'm a woman, I can't meddle in politics", she replied, wondering what her scheming father was up to.
"It's just a document, Arya. It's the least you could do to thank me for marrying you off to this powerful family", he said clearly loosing his patience.
Arya couldn't believe her ears. "No", she said.
Carls looked like he had just seen a ghost. Arya had never said no to him, she's a push over or so he thought.
"I'd take that as a slip up", he said with a dry chuckle.
"I said no, papa. If I get caught I could lose my head", she said trying to explain.
Arya heard a loud sound and it took a minute for her to realize she had been slapped by her father.
"Seems like you forget your place. If you don't get me the documents I'll have your head myself", Carls hissed and walked away, leaving her alone in the study.
Arya let the tears fall immediately he left. She couldn't believe that even though she left, she still didn't have peace.
****************************
"If I didn't know you I'd say you're in love with her", Rob said as they stood in Leonardo's office.
"It's purely obsession and raw sexual attraction", Leonardo said.
"Yes, you've been obsessed in the past, had numerous sexual attractions but you've never been soft for them. Your expression changed the moment you saw her", Rob added, choosing his words carefully.
Leonardo shook his head. He felt bad for her that's all.
"Don, I am happy for you".
"I am happy for myself too".
"But do you think it was wise to bring Arya into this lifestyle and even show case her? She could be targeted...", Rob trailed off.
In a swift move, Leonardo had Rob against the wall with a blade at his throat.
"I'd burn down the entire of Italy if anyone threatens her life", he said, nothing but pure rage emitting from him.
"I'm sorry, Don. I was just looking out for her, I am not the enemy here", Rob said with his hands up on either side of his head.
Leonardo left him and he watched as Rob tried to catch his breath. Rob was right, he wasn't the enemy. The enemy was outside with a gun waiting for either him or Arya to step out.
"Besides, she's a mafia princess. She was born and brought up in this lifestyle".
"Yes Don, but her father has lesser enemies and she was always hidden", Rob coughed.
"I want it done without alarming the guests", he said to Rob who was still coughing.
"Are the men in place?", he asked.
"Yes Don".
"Make sure some guards are with Arya. I want her safe till we are done".
"Don, you could be with her. We can handle the shooter", Rob said.
"Use me as bait", Leonardo said. The rage in him was enough to burn anyone close to him and Rob was currently feeling the heat.
Rob stood in shock.
"I'm sorry, Don. It's way too risky", Rob said.
"Are you saying no to an order?", Don asked.
Rob bowed his head. "Let me be bait".
"He's not here for you", Leonardo said.
Rob nodded. He couldn't say no but he had his plans.
"It's time", Don said and he walked outside the mansion. The plan is to lure out the shooter from his hiding place.
He stood outside feeling the breeze on his face.
"Don, your time has come to an end", a voice said pointing a gun at him.
Leonardo let out a laugh. From the type of gun and how incompetent the shooter looked, he knew this was a distraction.
He also knew no one would be able to enter the mansion with a gun so whoever sent the shooter didn't want him dead, at least not yet. They were here for something else.
The shooter probably didn't know what he was up against coming here.
"Who sent you?", Don asked.
"It won't matter when I kill you", the shooter said.
A shot reverberated through the air.