Angelo

It was extremely hard to leave her behind in his bed. But he resided himself that Esther was with her, and she needed some space now to think of their future. She had to give in and be his, there was no other option left now for either of them.

Their fates where intertwined.

Clenching his fist, he walked out of his suite and down the hall. Once business was completed, he could come back here and be with her.

Angelo wanted her all the time, her body, her laughter, her bright emerald eyes. He wanted to lose himself inside of her world, and he didn't care if anyone never found him again. He wanted her so much sometimes that he wanted to disappear.

She could paint and he could become an average businessman, he smiled at the thought. He walked down the staircase while he pondered on a simpler life.

He shook his head dispersing the future they could never achieve.

He arrived outside of his office and walked in, business never stopped and although he wanted to work upstairs in his private suite, he had to see Luca. This conversation could not wait.

"Do you want to die?" Angelo cursed out at his friend as he stomped into his office.

"I apologise for dragging you away. This could not be postponed." Luca apologised and watched his friend huff as he sat across from him. He had to smile at his child like behaviour.

"Let me remind you that I gave you two weeks off when you found your Elena so you could woo her." Angelo reminded his friend.

"And for that I am very grateful." Luca reached out for the glasses and poured them both a whiskey. Maybe a drink would soften the blow he had to give his friend.

"So, what is it?" Angelo was pissed he wanted to get back as soon as possible to Raven. To hell with business, he thought.

"We have a small problem, the usual delivery was intercepted and stolen." Luca announced as he slid the tumbler of amber liquid towards his friend.

"The Russians?" Angelo enquired; his eyebrow rose. They had just made amends with the Russians. One of his men had just married the heads daughter.

"No, I think this is internal." Luca announced, it was not good news. The rat was getting more and more insufferable.

"I will skin him alive." Angelo declared, people who betrayed he would not be allowed a chance to breathe again never mind someone who had tried to kill him.

"What if he is your own blood?" Luca questioned. He guessed the answer Angelo would give but he had to be sure.

They had worked out that the rat had to be either his uncle Carlo or one of the new men they had hired six months ago.

"I think you confuse me for someone with remorse." Angelo snickered. Was that even a question he thought.

Luca nodded, "Romeo could do it, that's his specialty after all." Luca suggested.

Angelo swirled the amber liquid and knocked it back in one thinking about it for a moment before replying, "I will not go behind people's backs and torture them. I like my enemies to look me in the eye and see the depth of my rage as I kill them."

Luca laughed, "Fair enough." Sitting back in his chair he thought before he spoke again. "We have a problem though. We haven't been able to bug Carlo's room nor his car yet."

"And why not?" Angelo ground out. He didn't like to wait for results.

This was not what he wanted to hear now. He had to get some Intel, he had to know who the traitor was and if he was indeed living inside his house.

"I will ask Esther to do it." Angelo huffed. He didn't like giving dangerous jobs to Esther, she should have retired long ago and be living in comfort not running his house and doing dangerous jobs he requests of her.

"Are you sure?" Luca didn't like the idea either.

"It's our only choice at the moment. It is either that or we never find out for sure." Angelo remarked.

They talked about business for a few more hours and before long it was late in the evening. Luca had left to join his wife at home and Angelo finished up one last report smiling at the thought that now he was free to join Raven in his suite.

His footsteps where light as he walked out of his office, and he rushed up the stairs towards his room.

He bumped into Esther on the top of the staircase. "How is she?" He asked.

He had to ask Esther to bug Carlo's room and car, but he couldn't do it now, not out in the open. Not when others could be listening.

"You have to win her heart and heal her soul, but I think you are up for the job." Esther held his upper arm offering him some words of encouragement.

Angelo nodded and marched off to his room, "I will do just that." He shouted back to Esther.

Esther smiled and nodded as she carefully walked down the staircase. She was sure the house would be full of laughter soon.