Chapter 4 - Be Prepared

Gianna had asked Massimo to look into the issues surrounding Talana.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo was deep in, uncovering all the filth that lay beneath the surface.

After leaving the hospital, Massimo Talana insisted she needed to get back home. Though Massimo was not comfortable in her going back to the scene of the crime. Talana needed to face her parents.

Arriving outside her home, Massimo said, "If you feel the slightest bit uncomfortable, you message me immediately." He lifted his hand to remove ap wayward strand. His fingers burning against her skin. "God, how I want to hold her and protect her so badly," he thought.

As he entered the car to get back home, rage simmered beneath Massimo's cool exterior. "Lorenzo, have you managed to find out anything about the club incident and her home incident?"

“Boss, this has to do with her father's gambling debts. That guy, his name is Marco Rossi." Lorenzo was right on Massimo's heels. “The bastard’s been moving in silence, using fronts to cover up his operations. But the real kicker is that he's been seen having private meetings with De Marco and Donatello for weeks now. If Talana’s father owes them, they using that debt as leverage.”

"But why Talana? What the fuck does she have to so with all this?" Massimo raged.

Pacing the floor of his VIP room, he growled. “I don’t care what it takes. Just find out everything! Look I to this tracker also!"

"Talana isn’t just anyone. She’s mine!

I’ll burn their bloody empires to the ground before I let anyone get his hands on her again!" Massimo raged on, thowing back a glass of stiff whiskey.

Lorenzo nodded. “Understood. Sir, do you think this goes deeper?”

"I don't think," his temper rising. "I know it does."

As Massimo poured himself another glass of whiskey, his thoughts drifting back to Talana, the woman who had unknowingly ignited a war within him.

He stared at the amber coloured liquid in the glass, reminiscing at how she felt in his arms as they danced, how her laughter lit up the darkened space inside his heart. "Hang in there, angel. I'm coming to you," he uttered as he downed the second glass.

As he was about to leave and head back home, one of the other employees came in. "Boss!" Mateo said as he entered.

"What is it?" Massimo vented.

"Something's going down, Boss. I heard it would take place in three days. Donatello, de Marco and Rossi!" Mateo explained.

"Find Rossi! I want him delivered to the spot before the end of business tomorrow!" he instructed, "we not waiting on them we going after Rossi. He's their weak link!"

The Donatello'swere into drug trafficking, de Marco's had connections in Mexico.

"How do you want Rossi? Dead or alive?" Matteo and Lorenzo asked.

With a sinister smirk, he answered, "Both!"

"Got it, Boss," both Lorenzo and Mateo responded.

With each step he took, they saw his determination. "I've never seen the Don like this over a woman before. She must be something special," Mateo concluded.

Whatever was happening, Massimo Morelli was not going to allow Talana to face it alone.

"Lorenzo, arrange a meeting with Roberto Sanchiano!" he ordered.

"Boss?" he questioned.

"Do it!" he yelled.

A few minutes later. "Mr Sanchiano, Massimo Morelli needs a word, sir."

"Roberto," Massimo greeted the elderly gentleman telephonically.

"Morelli, young man," the elder Don greeted him.

"Your granddaughter's life is in danger." Massimo explained everything to Sanchiano.

"I knew that bastard was trouble the day Rosslina left the family for him," Sanchiano slammed his hand on the table in anger.

"Sir, I don't know how much debt he owes or what the connection is to the Donatello's and de Marco's, but whatever it is, it's not just gambling debt. It's bigger than that!"

"I will get her uncle on it first thing in the morning!" Roberto Sanchiano informed him.

"I've ordered my men to get Rossi. I want him dead. A message that they are playing with fire!"

"It's okay son, between the Sanchianos and Morelli’s we will get to the bottom of this."

"Roberto, Talana has stamina. She wants in," he informed the old man.

"Of course she does. The mafia runs in her blood. We'll bring her in when the time is right!" he assured Massimo.

Massimo contacted Gianna. "I need Talana out that house tomorrow. Either she stays with me, or I have her in lockdown at your place."

Meanwhile, back at Talana's. "You bitch," her step mother raised her hand and hit her."

"What the hell," Talana wasn't going to allow for Maria to hit her.

"Your dad has made a deal with de Marco. You're going to marry him!" she insisted.

"The bloody hell I am! No one signs me away!" her tone, not so gentle.

Marching up to her bedroom, Talana sent a text message to Max. "I need your help!"

As quick as the text was sent, it was as quick as Massimo answered her back. "On my way!"

Within minutes, Massimo was outside her place. Talana heard the car and went out the back way to avoid both her father and stepmother.

Climbing in the car, Massimo saw the handprint on her face. "Angel, speak to me! Who the fuck hit you!" he urged her.

"Maria. My dad signed me away to de Marco!" she raged.

"Over my dead body!" Massimo said, gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles went white.

"You're staying at my place tonight," he informed her as they drove to his place. There was no room for argument.

"Max?" she began.

"Yes, angel," he responded, more gentle this time.

"Max, we need to get these bastards," she voice low but angered.

"Don't worry, angel, I spoke to Don Sanchiano he is looking into it as well," he responded.

"Don Sanchiano? What does ha have to do with all this?" Talana was now more uncertain than before. "Max, I want to deal with this my way!" she implored.

"Fine! whatever my angel wants," he resigned with a sigh.

His vow was determined. Whatever way Talana wanted it, he would do it. One by one, he would help her exact revenge.