Chapter 5 - Devils Fury

As they arrived at Massimo's place, Max showed her to the guest room. "You can stay in this room for now, angel. Get some rest now."

Across town, "Rossi! did you set the tracker as I instructed?" de Marco questioned him.

"I did manage, but the bitch was taken to hospital," he confirmed.

"Then explain why we're not seeing movement!" he yelled.

"B-Boss, the tracking device, it seems to have been dislodged and deactivated," the henchman, Rossi, informed him.

For a moment, the room was in sheer silence, the air thick with impending violence. Then, in a fit of rage, de Marco grabbed the nearest chair and sent it crashing against the wall.

"Goddammit!" His voice thundered through the warehouse. "Find her! I don’t care how. I want her back before sunrise!"

Rossi nodded frantically. He knew de Marco wouldn't let him live if he didn't find Talana. What he didn't know was that Massimo Morrelli and his boys were in search of him. Either way, Rossi was dead.

De Marco turned away, his jaw tightening as he stared out the grimy window. This wasn’t over. Not even close.

If Massimo thought he could keep her safe, he was dead wrong.

De Marco wanted Talana. He wasn't in love with her, but it was his insurance for Pablo Fabrizo.

Back at Massimo's villa, he saw Talana was exhausted but restless. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his eyes gentle.

"Too much on my mind," she responded.

"Would you like something to eat?" he asked, concerned that she hadn't eaten since leaving the hospital.

"Please," she responded.

They walked to the kitchen, where Max pulled out two plates and two glasses.

"Pasta Alfredo?" he asked.

"My favourite," she smiled warmly.

"Good, it's mine as well. The cook always makes extra for the next day," he responded gently. His mood was a little more subtle and gentler than earlier.

He poured them each a glass of dry white wine and sat enjoying the meal. Finally, Talana went up to bed but not before saying, "Max, you need to tell me who you really are."

"I will angel, just not tonight, but know this, with me you are safe," he smiled warmly, giving her a kiss on the forehead as he traced her jawline with his thumb. "Go rest now, angel."

As Talana closed the room door, the doorbell rang. Massimo went to answer it.

"Boss, de Marco's put out a hunt for Talana. News is that he she's been promised to him by her father and stepmother, in lieu of some of their debts. Her father is also in the drug ring," Lorenzo informed him.

"I know about the agreement, she has told me as much. I knew there was more to this. just keep at it," he responded through gritted teeth.

Talana had been through hell the past two days, if not longer, under the hand of her father. To be sold to that maniac like a piece of property. Not on my watch."

Later that morning, Talana awoke to the smell of eggs. Getting up, she went into the kitchen. "Morning," she greeted Massimo, who was drinking his second cup of coffee.

"Morning," he greeted back with a twinkle in his eye, "coffee?"

"Yes, please," she grabbed a cup of black coffee.

"I'm off today, but I need to go see my dad," she informed him.

"I'm going with you. After that, we need to talk," he informed.

Finishing off their breakfast, Talana headed back up to her room to shower and dress. Then, she went back down to wait for Max.

As they were about to leave, Lorenzo arrived, "Boss, we have Rossi," he informed him.

"Where's he?" Massimo bellowed with a growl.

"I tied him up in the cellar, Boss," he confirmed.

"Watch Talana, I'll deal with that son of a bitch," Massimo ordered and l to the cellar where Rossi was tied in chains against the wall.

"You bastard," Massimo kicked him in the stomach, "who paid you to go after Doctor Fabrizio? What do they want with her?" Questions just flew.

Smirking Rossi responded, "I'll never tell."

"Oh, if you don't talk, i'm going to kill you! What the hell, I'm gonna kill you anyway." Massimo threatened, taking out his gun and shooting him in the shoulder.

"You think you're the man? Let me tell you something, you have a rat in your own crew," he let out a blood curdling laugh.

There was a second gunshot that rang out, Rossi. A scream echoes through the cellar, blood spattered everywhere. "You will all die. One at a time, I will kill you all," Massimo vow and Rossi's body went limp.

"Lorenzo!" Massimo ordered, "take care of this. I want his body dumped where de Marco or Donatello find it. When you're done, I need you to find out who the rat is amongst us!"

"Yes, sir, " he responded, texting Mateo he said, "Get to the cellar now!" Lorenzo and Mateo were used to cleaning up.

"What does the boss want us to do with his body?" Mateo asked.

"Dump it near de Marco’s!" Lorenzo responded.

"The boss is pissed. Rossi spilt a rat amongst us. Now we have to find out who," Lorenzo spilt.

"What the hell?" Mateo asked, shocked at what Lorenzo had said.

As Massimo walked away, his brain was reeling. Massimo didn't trust easily, but when it came to his henchmen, his crew, he trusted them.

"Whoever this rat was, he would suffer worse than Rossi. Because no one betrayed Massimo Morrelli, and no one was going to hurt his angel and live to tell the tale!"

Back in the main house, "Massimo?" Talana questioned.

"Not now, angel. You're a doctor. You took an oath to save people. The less you know about what just happened, the better," he said, pulling her into his arms.

"Are you ready to face home?" he asked tenderly, his voice taking on a softer tone.

"No, but I need to get home and face that man and woman," she said.

The drive to the house started off silently. Massimo turned his head slightly to look at her. Taking his one arm, he put it around her. "I will be with you, angel. You will not be alone."

"Alright," she gave a weak smile.

But Talana could feel it, and Massimo sensed it. Something wasn't right. Something was about to happen.

"Max, thank you...for everything," she said softly.

"You don't need to thank me Angel, you are mine to protect," he responded, his voice rough with desire as his fingers skimmed over her inner thigh.

As the approached the house, Massimo pulled to a stop and killed the engine. "Talana, do you trust me?" he asked with an urgency.

"I do," she responded without reservation.

"Good," he said, as he leaned in and kissed her fervently. The kiss was demanding, desperate, and filled with unspoken emotions.

Talana whimpered at his touch.

"If I don't stop now, Tesoro, I won't be able to restrain myself," his tone husky.

"Then you better make sure I come back to you," she responded.

"Believe me bella mia, you will come back with me," he vowed out loud. "Let's go."