Chapter 11 - Back In Reggio Calabria

On arriving back in Reggio, Talana was nervous about sending Gianna back to her place.

"Max," she looked at him with desperation in her eyes.

"I know," Massimo responded. He knew what she was going to say. "Don't worry, Gianna will stay in the guest house."

"Mr Morrelli, do you think I would need protection?" she asked sarcastically.

"After the trauma you have both been through and seeing how concerned Talana is. You're staying at our guest house!" This was not a request but an order. Gianna knew she dared not protest.

Arriving at the villas, Gianna was shown to her place. Massimo had taken the time to get all her things moved in. "Lorenzo stays in the second guest house with Mateo, so you are doubly protected," he reassured both women.

"Thank you, Max," Talana said softly as she looked at the sincerity in his face.

Settling in, Talana went to help Gianna. while Massimo attended to some business.

In his office, he called for Mateo and Lorenzo.

"Bring me up to speed. What's the deal with that shipment that was supposed to go down?" he asked Matteo, who had been assigned to monitor the movements.

"Boss," the shipment was put on hold. They were informed that we were tracking their movements and have rescheduled for a week from now. But I think it's going to move sooner," Matteo informed him.

"Stay on it, stay close and inform me the minute you get movement. I also want to know where this shipment is being homed," he ordered calmly.

Looking at Lorenzo, Massimo leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he fixed his gaze on Lorenzo. “Is there news on that microchip tracking device?”

Lorenzo responded, “We've managed to decrypt part of it, but this is more sophisticated than we had anticipated. Whoever designed this knew what they were doing.”

Massimo’s eyes darkened. “I don’t need excuses. I need results.”

“Boss, we've managed to trace some communication signals. They’re bouncing through multiple servers, making it hard to pinpoint the source. But…” he began, but then hesitated as his eyes flicked to Mateo before returning to Massimo, “…we got a very feint location, originating from Vibo Valentia.”

Massimo’s expression hardened. “Back to Vibo Valentia?” The name tasted bitter on his tongue.

Mateo leaned in, his voice low. “It's possible that the signal is a trap, Boss. They know you’ll want revenge after what happened with Talana.”

Massimo’s fist slammed onto his desk. “Or it’s a message that they’re not done playing their games.” His voice dropped to a deadly whisper, “But neither am I.”

Lorenzo dared to take a step closer. “There’s more. The encryption pattern on the device, it's similar to a signature we’ve seen before.”

Massimo’s eyes narrowed. “Whose?”

Lorenzo hesitated before answering, “Raphael.”

The room seemed to drop in temperature. Massimo’s lips curled into a dangerous smirk. “The bastard,” he said coldly. “I should’ve killed him instantly. How dare he betray the brotherhood."

“He’s wounded, but clearly not powerless,” Mateo added. “He must have allies. There must be someone helping him stay one step ahead.”

Massimo’s eyes flicked to Lorenzo. “Drake de Marco! I want Drake’s every move mapped out before he even makes it!"

Lorenzo’s eyes gleamed with determination. “Consider it done.”

Massimo leaned back, his fingers drumming against the armrest. “And Lorenzo… When you find Raphael, bring him to me - Alive. I want him to see who’s really in control before I end his miserable existence.”

A cold smile played on Lorenzo’s lips. “It’ll be my pleasure, Boss.”

Massimo’s eyes darkened, a ruthless promise flashing within them. “This game he’s playing… it ends on our terms. No Talana's terms.”

"On your command, sir!" Both men said as they left the office.

"Lorenzo, get the car ready. I'm taking Talana to the club," he responded. "Tonight you both take care of Miss Gianna. Whatever she wants you provide. Tonight you both off."

"Our pleasure, sir." They responded.

"Boss definitely has changed. Miss Talana is definitely good for him. A night off? wow." The two me laughed as they left the study.

In the living room, Talana was sitting reading a medical journal while Gianna was reading the news on her social media feeds.

"Angel," Massimo said as he joined the two ladies, "I'm off to the club. Do you want to join?" It was more of an order than a question.

"What about G?" she asked.

"I've asked Lorenzo and Mateo to look after her. I'm sure they have something planned," he smirked.

"Actually," Lorenzo said, "we wanted to go to your other club across town. Gianna, you want to join the two of us handsome men?"

Gianna couldn't help but laugh. "Sure, why not.

After eating dinner, Talana and Massimo headed for the most busiest of their clubs. It was a Saturday night, after all, and the place would be bumping.

As expected, the club was alive with pulsating music and the lights radiating different colours. People were dancing with reckless abandonment, losing themselves in the rhythm and allure of the night.

From the moment Massimo and Talana entered, his presence commanded respect as he wrapped his arm possessively around Talana’s waist. Many heads turned and eyes lingering on the powerful couple as they moved through the crowd.

Massimo led Talana up the stairs to the VIP lounge, his fingers tightening around her waist. “You look breathtaking tonight,” he whispered into her ear, his breath warm against her skin. Talana shivered, and her body instinctively reacted to his touch.

“And you look dangerously handsome,” she teased, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of excitement and desire.

They settled into the plush leather couch, the dim lighting casting shadows across Massimo’s chiselledd features. On the table was a bottle of Chivas Regal and a bucket of ice, along with a few salted snacks. Massimo poured the golden liquid into two whiskey glasses with ice and handed her a glass.

“To us,” Massimo toasted, his eyes never leaving hers. “To surviving Vibo Valentia… and to you completing your training. What else does my angel desire?"

Talana clinked her glass against his. “To us,” she echoed, taking a sip of the smooth whiskey.

"I want to change my surname," she responded.

"Ummm, why the rush bella mia?" he questioned with a smirk.

"Max," she jabbed him in the ribs with a laugh. "I was meaning to Sanchiano."

"Then we will speak to Don Sanchiano. Your wish is our command." Massimo’s gaze grew darker, more intense as his fingers traced lazy circles on her bare shoulder.

“You have no idea how worried I was,” he admitted, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “When I saw you tied up, bruised… I wanted to burn that place to the ground.”

Talana’s heart raced at the raw emotion in his voice. “I never doubted you’d come for me,” she said softly, her fingers brushing against his cheek. “You’re Massimo Morelli. No one defies you.”

His eyes darkened even more, his grip tightening. “You’re mine, Talana. Anyone who touches you signs their own death warrant.”

His lips were on hers before she could respond, demanding and possessive. Talana melted into him, her body arching toward his as his hand tangled in her hair. She tasted the whiskey lpon his lips, his tongue exploring her mouth with a hunger that sent a shiver down her spine.

Their kiss was abruptly interrupted. Massimo's expression was murderous.

A few feet away stood his head of security with his eyes cast downward in respect. “Forgive the interruption, Boss. We’ve spotted someone.”

Massimo’s demeanour changed in an instant, the ruthless Don resurfaced “Who?”

“Raphael and his companion Antonio Russo."

Massimo’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Raphael … the rat finally has the audacity to show his face.”

Talana’s pulse quickened. "Raphael?”

He stood, his presence radiating power and authority. “Stay here, angel, my men are guarding you. You're safe,” he said softly, his tone leaving no room for argument as he sensed a subtle fear within her.

But Talana was having none of it. She stood, her chin lifted defiantly. “I’m not hiding. Not anymore.”

Massimo’s eyes flashed with something between admiration and annoyance. “You're a stubborn woman.”

“Get used to it,” she shot back, her eyes blazing with determination.

His expression softened, "then stay by my side. and don’t leave my sight.”

As they descended the stairs and weaved through the crowd, their presence commanded attention. Massimo’s men closed in discreetly as their eyes scanned the room.

Massimo’s hand tightened around Talana’s waist, anchoring her beside him as they closed the distance.

“Antonio, Raphael!,” Massimo’s voice was cold, deadly.

Both men turned, their faces paling, "Boss," Raphael swallowed hard.

It wasn't Massimo who spoke next. "You better leave now before you regret entering!" Talana's voice was a deadly. "Watch your back because we're coming for you! You, de Marco, my father, stepmother, the lot!"

"You and what army?" Raphael let out a laugh.

"Watch your back!" she warned again then called the security. "Get this trash out here."

On the side, Massimo had ordered for his security to take care of them.

Back upstairs in the VIP room, "You've got guts," he smirked at Talana.

"And you like that?" she questioned with a smile.

"If only you knew how hot you were when you took control angel. From now on, I'm not letting you out of my sight." He pulled her close to him and dragged her down onto the dance floor.

Talana whispered in his ear, "I want you tonight!"

Massimo’s eyes darkened with desire at those words. "Careful angel, you have no idea what you are asking for."

"I know exactly what I'm asking for," her eyes lo red on his as they swayed to the music on the dance floor.

Grabbing her by the waist, he navigated her through the crowd to the car. Their glances heated as his one hand traced the inner of her thigh as he drove back to the villa. Talana’s pulse quickened with each stroke. Her body aching for more.