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Matteo's POV:

Jogging down the staircase of my private jet, I glanced up to see two of my associates standing next to a black Mercedes. I had just come back from a business trip in Italy, to make sure that products were still moving and that my uncle was running things correctly while my father and I took care of things in New York. The Russo's aren't just a family, we're an enterprise. We covered up the illegal side of our business by running legitimate ones like hotels and restaurants. 

I rolled my eyes when I saw my idiotic cousin - Angelo - smirking at me.  Unfortunately for me, he's one of the few people that can get away with literally tormenting me at a constant, without serious consequences.

"Shouldn't you be back at the warehouse?" I asked him.  

"I missed your grumpy ass so much, that I decided I should come to pick you up myself." He replied, removing his aviators from his face, he smiled and signaled for me to hug him. 

"Come on Cugino, you know you want to, bring it in." He grinned, walking up to me with his arms wide open. (Cousin)

"Touch me, and I'll skin you Stupido," I responded straight-faced. (Stupid)

"See... This is why we can never have nice things! I come all the way here, drop my work just for you, and you can't even give me a hug. I could've been anywhere but here but no, I came here, for you."  

"The last thing anyone wants to hear is you bitchin', Angelo", another voice chimed in. 

I averted my eyes from my cousin to one of my closest friends, Jonathan. 

We weren't related by blood, but we had known each other since we were kids; we were practically brothers.  

"I'm sorry I don't remember asking for your input, Jonathan!" Angelo mocked. 

This then resulted in them having a full-blown argument, in which Jonathan replied by saying something like he doesn't remember asking for Angelo to be born? While those two puttane were arguing, I slipped into the passenger seat. (Whores)

Rolling down the window, I growled, "Will both of you just shut the fuck up and get in the car?"

Eventually, Jonathan sat in the driving seat, while Angelo slid into the backseat. After half an hour of them side-glancing at each other in silence, Angelo finally decided to speak, "Matteo, we need to tell you something..."

I tilted my head and asked, "What is it?"  

"Your father was shot", Jonathan stated bluntly. Keeping his eyes on the road, he made no attempt to look at me, while Angelo scratched his head nervously and continued by saying, "He's not looking too good man, he's at a trauma center in the city."

I could feel my anger building up, I was close to Mio padre. He taught me everything I know. The thought of him not making it clouded my thoughts and consumed me whole. (My father)

I wanted blood. 

I wanted to know who was daring enough to try and assassinate the Head of the Russo family, of my family. 

Playing with the silver ring that my mother gave to me before she left us, I attempted to steadily breathe in and out like she always told me to when I could feel myself reaching my limit.  

"I Russi?" I inquired. 

(The Russians?)

"Sì", Angelo answered.

(Yes)

"How and who?" I breathed out.

"It was Alina", Angelo mumbled.

The tension in this car was suffocating. It obstructed all the air, asphyxiating me. Rolling down the window next to me I turned my head towards the air and mentally counted to ten. Clenching my jaw, I turned my head away from the window and back to the road. 

And then I laughed... I laughed because it was hilarious. I should've seen this coming. 

"Il sua fidanzata?" 

(His fiancée?)

"Sí. She set him up, she's been working for the Russians since they met. She won't tell us anything else."  

"You know how my dad gets, at his old age, he still doesn't know how to control himself around women. He acts like a fifteen-year-old boy whose hormones were on a rampage . It's his downfall. " 

Well, it certainly won't be mine.

We pulled up in front of a large, modern hospital. I stepped from the car and walked to the reception, while Angelo and Jonathan went to go park somewhere, hopefully with no further arguments. 

Walking up to the reception, I stopped when I noticed her. She was talking to somebody else, deep in a conversation. Her onyx hair was pulled up into a bun, and her caramel skin seemed to be glowing.
. 

Finally pulling myself together I spoke and asked, "Can someone take me to my father?"

She swung her body around and finally faced me.

I looked her up and down, staring at her dark brown eyes and then at her lips. I shamelessly checked her out, Looking back at her eyes, I smirked when I saw her physically gulp. 

"Um sure, what's your name?" She uttered, barely managing to get it out.

Merda. Her voice. It sounded like a sweet symphony. It wasn't squeaky and high, it was kind of low even... in a sultry way. (Shit)

Tilting my head, I crossed one arm over the other and said, "My name is Matteo- Matteo Russo. My father's name is Alberto Russo. Take me to him."

She nodded her head, "I'm Nurse Cruz", and turned to ask another nurse what room my father was in. 

"I'm sorry Mr. Russo, your father is currently still in surgery. If you come with me, I can explain to you what happened?" Nodding my head I followed her into a hospital room, which she explained would be my father's when he finished with his surgery. I sat in a chair from across her and she proceeded to tell me more.

"So the bullet penetrated your father's lung and he's having a piece of it removed now. Because of how long the bullet stayed in his chest, it caused him to lose a significant amount of blood.

I leaned closer to her and sustained eye contact with her. I tilted my head and rested it on my arm and murmured, "Be honest with me, will he die? Because if he is just tell me now." 

Her eyes widened, probably taken aback by what I said. But she doesn't know me, I would rather not have false hope if he's going to die anyway. 

Hope is for the weak. 

If you want something then don't hope for it. Take it. 

"He's got a chance of survival, a good one actually. He just needs to rest and recover after the surgery, for a few months at least." Before I could even reply, I was interrupted by the sound of an ambulance and it's sirens, as well as a bundle of nurses rushing towards it.

"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Russo! It looks like there are new patients coming in, I have to go help. I can take you to the waiting room if you'd like, or you can stay here and wait for your father, but that's going to be a while." She said shooting up and out of her chair.

"How about you just call me when the surgery is finished?" I said, giving her my card with my number on it. 

She nodded and was about to leave when I grabbed her arm and pulled her close to me.

"I don't believe in chances Miss Cruz... but for you, I will. Do not make me regret it." I murmured in her ear. 

And with that, I called Angelo to come and get me.

Time to deal with the issue that is Alina.