Angela was floored to learn about her connection with the bratva. As if knowing that her mother had a different name than what she knew wasn't enough, her grandfather might marry her off if he found out about her existence.

This whole thing was ridiculous. It was amusingly a book-worthy plot she could write one day. She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it that her brain became muddled.

Both of them believed that as long as no one told the Pakhan, he wouldn't know. But Angela was worried about something. "Ivan Volkov knows about me, my brother, and my father. Don't you think he's a threat?"

"I want to believe that he wouldn't do anything. I don't think he knows you're here, considering Cynthia was being secretive. If he planned on using this information, why wait twenty years? Also, it wouldn't benefit him if he used you since you're not his daughter. Maybe he's also against it."

"You think so?"

"Let's be optimistic," said Gael as he pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Whatever happens, I won't let them get to you. They'll have to get through me first."

***

The following day, Angela convinced Gael to let her go with him to drive Giovanni to the airport. Gael was hesitant, but he eventually allowed her to come, not wanting her to feel so restricted within the walls of his apartment. He drove the Escalade, and she sat on the front seat while his guards were in a different SUV behind them. First, they went to pick up Giovanni from his apartment. Alessandro wanted to make sure his brother got on the plane, hence Gael having to drive his uncle personally.

It was the first time that Angela saw Giovanni looking out of his element. He wore jeans, a shirt, and a jacket—different than his usual suit attire. He smiled at her when he got in the backseat and even jokingly called her "homeslice" — which she had gotten used to. But he wasn't as chipper as he usually was.

Angela gave him a tumbler of freshly brewed coffee that she made before they left the apartment and some pastries she bought from the bakery on the ground floor. She felt somewhat protective of the man and wanted to take care of him while he wasn't feeling his usual cocky self. Gael glanced at her, mouthing a "thank you" with a smile as he reached for her hand.

Before heading to the airport, Gael needed to drop by the hospital first to sign medical paperwork for J's sister who was currently confined. She was very sick and was always in and out of the hospital. Angela learned that Gael became J and his sister's official guardian ever since he took them under his wing. When J became an adult, the two of them were both guardians. Whenever J wasn't around, Gael oversaw her needs.

Gabriella was very close to J's sister, and she visited her all the time. However, only Gael and J could make decisions. That day, Gael had to sign an approval for a change in medication. Angela wanted to meet the girl, but Gael asked her to stay in the car and told her they could meet next time. When he entered the hospital, she was left with Giovanni who was busy on his phone. They were at the parking lot beside the hospital, and pedestrians came and went in the area, busy at who knows what at eight in the morning.

"How long are you staying in London?" she asked, trying to make small talk.

Giovanni sighed, shoving his phone inside his pocket and then taking a careful sip of the coffee. "That's the question of the month. I'd like to come back as soon as possible."

"Maybe the change in scenery will be good for you."

He scoffed, looking outside the window. "I doubt that."

"Well, if you need—"

"Fuck." Giovanni straightened up, and before Angela could ask him what's wrong, he had already opened the door and sprinted towards the other side of the parking lot.

Angela narrowed her eyes, unsure of what was happening. There were no men or moving cars to where Giovanni was headed to. It didn't seem like there was a threat.

However, something else bothered Giovanni—rather someone.

From the Escalade, Angela saw him approach a woman who was about to get inside the driver's side of the car. He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her towards a secluded corner near the hospital's back door. They disappeared from her sight, but not before she caught a glimpse of the woman's face. Lia.

***

Giovanni shoved Lia against the concrete wall of the hospital's back entrance. She gasped in both pain and shock, wincing from his vice grip. There was no one around, and their only audience would be a couple of dumpsters several feet away.

"G-Gio… What are you doing here?" Her eyes widened. She was startled to see him. Good. That's what he wanted: to always catch her off guard.

"I should ask you that. You're in my territory, Morelli." He gritted his teeth, his tall frame towering over her.

The shock on her face slipped off, and it turned into irritation. "Don't call me that. My last name is Rose."

"You have Marino's blood running inside you."

Lia squared her shoulders, her brows knitting together as she glared at him. "If I could extract all of it out, I would!"

This. This was the Lia he remembered. So feisty like she didn't give a fuck who he was. And damn it, his cock became rock hard upon seeing her all riled up. Their faces were inches apart, both of them looking like they wanted to either slap each other's faces or rip each other's clothes off.

He leaned away just a little. "Take my advice, Lia. Leave New York. This is my last warning."

Her eyes reddened and became misty, and she pushed him in the chest—though that didn't do anything as he was rooted in place. He still let her hit him.

"You think I want to stay here? You think I enjoy being near you? I would live on the other side of the world—as far away from you as possible if I could."

Giovanni's chest felt constricted at the thought of her being that far away. He pushed her back to the wall. "Then why the fuck don't you? You're there every time I turn my head. You're fucking my mind, Lee."

"I could say the same to you."

He could see the anger in the forefront of her eyes, trying to shield the other emotions swimming behind them. Emotions that mirrored exactly his.

"Why are you doing this?" He breathed harshly. "Haven't you done enough to my family? Are you waiting until you bury me six feet under?"

Lia scoffed, lowering her head as her shoulders sagged under his hold. It was as if she'd given up being mad, and her voice softened just a little. "I've done the best I could to stay away from you, Gio. Seven long years. Do you think I came here because I'm bored?"

Seven? Why did it feel like it had been a century? "I was fine. I was already fine until you fucking showed up again," he told her, his eyes never leaving hers. It was as if he was trying to capture everything there was to see on her beautiful face. She hadn't changed much. If anything, her body became fucking hotter and her face even more beautiful than back when they were still together.

"No." Her nose flared. She was getting pissed again, pointing at his chest. "YOU showed up. In case you forgot last month, you were the one who came to the party I had every right to. You weren't supposed to be in Mayne, and yet you were. You also could've ignored me then, and yet you didn't. So don't blame me, Gio."

"How the fuck should I know you'd be there?" he muttered under gritted teeth.

Then his eyes dipped on her soft lips, and they parted. Lia's stare fell to his lips too. The undeniable pull between them was suffocating, and he wanted to smother himself onto her until they were breathless.

So many memories those lips of hers haunted him every night—of them kissing him, of them sucking his dick, of them hanging open from the mind-blowing orgasms he gave her.

It seemed as if she had the same thought as she sucked in her breath.

But they were all just that. Memories.

Then she closed her mouth and looked away, breaking their heated gaze. She blinked as if that would erase the familiar thought they both had. "Let me go, Gio," Lia asked in a gentle tone. "Keith will be looking for me any minute now."

Giovanni realized he held her tightly, and their bodies were pressed against each other—his erection was pressed against her stomach.

And the mention of her fiancé just reminded him of how enraged he was.

He released her and stepped back, noticing a bruise on her left forearm. He was certain it wasn't him who did that. The discoloration looked like it was nearly a day old. The phone call from yesterday played in his head, and he was reminded about her sobs and the way Perry spoke to her.

"Did he hurt you?" He reached for her arm, but she recoiled.

"Not as much as you did," she said, and he knew she wasn't talking about today.

Lia began walking away and didn't look back while Giovanni was still fuming. That fucking bastard hurt her, and he was ready to kill the motherfucker. His hands balled into fists on his side. He wanted to grab Lia again, but he stopped himself before he would regret his actions.

"Tell your fucking fiancé to leave town and go back to his city before I end him," he told her retreating back.

Lia stopped. She took a deep breath, clenching and unclenching her fists, then she spoke over her shoulder, "You have to go through me to do that." She stalked off, got in her car, and drove away.