Introduction

The LeTale family had never been witness to so much unease around their future. Coming from generations of fierce, fearless leaders they had long dominated their city and didn't often come up against the competition in any of their excursions. 

That was until recently. The Luca family were a young but fast-growing community that were beginning to become more than a nuisance to the LeTales. Not only were they interrupting their areas of business, but they were also intruding onto the LeTale turf, trying to scare LeTale associates and, most aggravatingly, seemed to be out to cause trouble with family members. Damon Letale had a simple no-hassle policy on his turf and his response was always the same. One Strike.

You got one strike, he forgave once and then he washed his hands of you and the responsibility of what happened to you. Mercy had no place in a busines- like theirs, family was everything and if you worked for Don Damon then his family had better top yours in your priorities.

That was why Tony Calcolo was his favourite Capo. He knew the rules, was fiercely loyal and didn't bother Don Damon with the details. However bloody they might be.

****

The arrival of the white, private jet landing near the LeTale family home was certainly a sight for sore, tired eyes. Thirty-six-year old Tony Calcolo stood firmly at 6foot 2”, his hands were rough from regular gun handling, his knuckles were often a darker shade of bruised from 'taking care of business'. His physical fitness knew no bounds and his physique reflected that, hidden behind a well-tailored suit and a stubbled chin. He was dangerous to men and women alike and, though his looks did serve him well, he was very aware of his flaws. The way his nose was crooked from a fight when he first joined the family, the tension he constantly held in his shoulders and that's before you start on all the inner turmoil. Nobody had the time for that, and he hadn't the time for anybody to get enough airtime around him to try.

Despite appearing to be cool to the emotional struggles of the LeTale business, Tony was feeling somewhat anxious for the first time in a long time as the door to the plane slowly opened. A black heel with a red sole stepped onto the plane ladder. Tony's eyes betrayed him as they followed her toned, olive legs upwards and he gulped loudly as they began to move towards him.

Curved hips swaying in a sleek black dress, plump chest covered by a black, leather jacket as the bouncy brunette eventually stepped onto the runway. A manicured hand pushed a pair of large sunglasses atop her wavy, chocolate coloured hair as her large, brown eyes blinked slowly up at him.

"I was expecting Tony Calcolo..." she said softly, her eyes searching the area and landing back on Tony. She smirked a little as she said in a teasing voice "You're not telling me that you're the infamous, big, bad Tony Calcolo?"

After briefly freezing when Maria LeTale had first spoken to him, Tony cleared his throat to re-exert his dominance over the situation.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss LeTale" he slurred, picking up her luggage with one hand and offering his other out to shake.

Maria eyed his hand warily, gently taking it, shaking it and dropping it within the space of a couple of seconds before walking herself around to the passenger side of the car.

Tony lugged her bag into the boot, "Now, I realise you're not back home under the warmest of circumstances, Miss LeTale" he started, closing the boot and returning to the driver's side, "But I want you to know your father has maximum protection and--" he faltered as he was halfway into the car and realised she still hadn't moved. 

He half pulled himself back out of the car to look at her. Those dark, hazel eyes flickered to the car door handle and it took all Tony had within him not to groan. Mafia women rules!

'No wonder I prefer the paid company of women' he thought to himself as he jogged around, opened the car door for the female LeTale. 

She slid in with a knowing smile, crossed her legs and fastened her seat buckled.

"Do you want to go home first?" Tony asked in a gruff voice.

Maria looked wistfully out of the window, her legs crossed and her lips strained tightly. 'Do I want to go home first?' She thought to herself, glancing over at her sturdy bodyguard. The problem with going home was that home was where she had just flown from.

Home was thousands of miles away. Home was university and her friends there, who had become like family. Not this hell-hole she had escaped from at 14.

"I'm not allowed to go home, Mr Calcolo, I have been ordered here" she stated softly, her fingertips gently brushing the leather interior of his car door. With a sigh, she pushed the sunglasses back down onto her face. "Fine, let's go see mama" she instructed with a wave of her hand "May as well get it over with, go see Tommy perhaps" 

Tommy LeTale was 11 years old, he was the perfect age of still being protected from the family business and still believing his Daddy was a hero. Maria didn't get to see him much, he had been merely 3 years old when Maria was first sent to boarding school. Designed to protect her from a gang war happening at the time - 14-year-old Don's daughters were prime hostage material - she had been schooled across the pond and when she turned 18 she had decided to stay in England to study further. Not a particularly popular decision with her family.

Ironic, really. That they now wanted her back because it was unsafe and they needed her help.