Reasons

Czar found Alessandro alone in his office after they dropped Olivia near her school. He wanted to ask about something that he wanted to do for over a month now.

"Boss, can I ask you something?" he asked.

Alessandro looked at his underboss with a knowing look in his eyes. They both are more friends now than a boss and his employee. Their dynamics shifted when Victor took the outfit under his control.

"It's about Livi, isn't it?" he guessed.

Czar nodded. He noticed that his boss calls that girl 'Livi' , which is strange. For some reason he is feeling as if his boss is fond of that girl.

"You know she would ask for something that would take her away from you. Then why did you agree to spare her father's life for her only to send her back after a month?" he inquired curiously.

Alessandro stood up from his chair and turned to look outside the window behind his desk.

"If you think that I spared George's life for his daughter, then you are wrong. George knows about some of the dealings which Victor made on behalf of us. I wanted to know what they are. George knows about them. He is useful to us until we learn about the details we need. After that, he would be dead" he explained.

Czar understood what is running inside his boss's mind. That brought up another thing that is eating at him.

"Olivia is just a little girl. When you are not going to spare her father's life, then why did you agree to take her as your slave? She is beautiful, and almost all of our men agree with it as well. But she is terrified of you and would never let you touch her. And you are not someone who would force her either. Don't tell me you are going soft" he said worriedly.

Alessandro smiled sadly. Olivia's tear-stained face flashed in his mind.

"Make no mistakes Czar. I am still as cold as ever. I will not hesitate to bury a bullet in my enemies head. I am paying penance for something I did a while ago. Do you remember that day when you dragged me off the Altar knowing that Victor is attacking? I wanted to pull Mia along, but you refused saying that I am Victor's target and he would not hurt Mia. You assured me that Nero would help his sister. I believed you and left Mia alone. But when I was leaving, I turned to see Mia, to make sure that she is safe. I saw a flash of shock and betrayal on her face that day just before Victor and his men took her away. You didn't know the regret and guilt I experienced after that. I saw the same look on Livi's face when she realised what was happening to her. It reminded me of Mia. I failed her then, so I am trying to correct that mistake by helping Livi. I will send her away when I am sure that she no longer needs my help. She is young and vulnerable now. If I refuse her step mothers offer, she might try to hurt Livi out of anger. I don't want that to happen. Moreover, she is innocent and just a little girl. She shouldn't be subjected to that kind of treatment from anyone, let alone her family. You just mentioned that our men knows how beautiful she looks. I noticed that too. That's why I sent her away from all of this " he explained.

Czar sighed. He knows a lot about his boss now than before. He is worried about him. He turned quiet and more serious now. A smile on Alesso's face is a rare occasion now.

"I am worried about you" he confessed.

That made Alesso laugh. There is no humor in his laugh. It's empty. Just like his heart. He has friends who are like his family. They care about him. But still Alesso feels empty. He is happy for his friends. Even for Mia and Reed. He will feel happy when he is with them. But still there is an empty feeling in his heart, which refused to leave. He feels hollow and cold.

"Don't worry about me, Czar. I am fine" he assured his underboss.

Czar shook his head with disapproval. He knows Alesso is far from alright. But he doesn't know how to help his boss.

'Dear god, I know we are bad people. But my boss deserves some happiness in his life. He is better than so many people who pretend to be good. Please someone to fill the void in his life ' Czar prayed for the first time for his boss.

One year ago..

"Carlos, I enrolled you in Chicago university. Pack your stuff" Alesso commanded his cousin.

Carlos looked at Alesso with wide eyes. He is too scared of Alesso to question about why he has to go so suddenly. He gathered his courage to ask any way.

"Cousin, may I know why?" he asked hesitantly.

Alesso stopped what he was doing and gave his cousin a pointed glare.

"You are questioning me now?" he asked in a calm but deadly voice. That wiped the color from Carlos's face. He became pale.

"No...No..I thought that you wouldn't send me there without any purpose. So I just wanted to know what it is" he rushed to explain.

Alesso raised his brows.

"You don't need to worry about all that. Go and settle in the campus. Get yourself a place in the basketball team. The basketball team quarter back 'Kyle ' would help you" he instructed Carlos.

Carlos nodded vigorously and ran away as if he saw Lucifer himself glaring at him.

After one week...

In the Chicago university Campus...

"I don't understand why I was forced to come all the way from Russia. I don't understand why I had to get myself a place in the basketball team and allow this annoying coach to make me run a hundred laps around the ground" Carlos muttered with displeasure. His legs are aching and sore. He came just a couple of days ago. Just like his cousin mentioned, he met Kyle, who looks laid back and charming to everyone else. But Carlos could see past his exterior. He realised, Kyle is one among them.

"That's because you were given baby sitting duties from now onwards" Kyle drawled with amusement.

Carlos is stunned to hear that piece of information. He was lying down on the grass lazily. But when he heard Kyle's words, he sat up quickly like he was stuck by lightning.

"What? Baby sitting?" he asked with his mouth agap.

Kyle chuckled at his reaction.

"This is too good than I imagined it would be. Come with me after practice, I will show you the girl whom you are supposed to babysit" Kyle volunteered, mostly because he is loving the misery of the Russian.

That night, after the basketball team finished their training, Kyle led his team towards the dorms, claiming that he needs some fresh air. As everyone in the team likes to please him, they followed after him, especially the cheerleaders.

"Look, there she is" Kyle whispered to Carlos and showed him Olivia, who is standing near her room window alongside Hera.

"Which girl?" Carlos asked with confusion as there are two beautiful girls standing there. Before Kyle could reply, they saw an expensive looking sedan halt in front of the dorms. None other than Matteo unfolded himself from behind the wheel.

'My brother is whipped. But does this girl deserve his affection?' Kyle thought with a hint of displeasure, when Hera came running and hugged Matteo.

"Oh my, isn't he, the Matteo Gonsalves? What is he doing here? Who is she?" Carlos whispered with shock.

Kyle fisted his palms when he remembered what Sussane did to his brother.

'I will not let anyone hurt you again, brother ' he vowed. No matter how many thoughts are running inside his mind, he masked his emotions with a small smile.

"Yes, he is my brother Matteo and she is Hera. You are to babysit the other girl " he muttered while his eyes are fixed on the disappearing tail lights of his brothers car.