Alessio smiled and wrapped his arms around her little thighs. He did a quick spin. Her giggle echoed through the room, filling it with warmth. She replaced the loneliness inside of his heart with love. Full unconditional love for her. He placed her down on the ground and placed a hand on her cheek. "How's my little angel?"

She giggled and kissed his nose. "Good." she chirped. Her hands clapped together and her bounced her knee up and down. "Daddy, guess what?"

Alessio sat on the ground and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her forehead. "What is it, piccola?"

"I talked to momma and papa today." she whispered into his ear.

Alessio's heart tugged in his chest. He pulled her in for a hug, resting his chin on her little shoulders. A tear slipped down his face. "What did you, momma, and papa talk about?"

"We talked about you." she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck and leaned her head into his neck.

"What about me?" Alessio brushed his hands through her curly blonde locks.

"Momma wants you to get married, daddy. And papa wants you to bring a nice girl home to be my new mommy." she pulled away from him and clapped her hand together. An excited smile graced her face. "Are you going to get married daddy?"

Alessio smiled sadly and shook his head. "No, I'm not."

She frowned at him and stepped away. Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared at him. The exact same glare that her mother would give him every time he did something wrong. Like mother, like daughter.

"Why not?"

Alessio poked her nose and picked her up. He swung her on his shoulders knowing that she would forget about the subject.

Her giggles filled the room again. A sound of innocence that Alessio prayed she'd keep forever. He prayed that the line of work that he's in would never interfere with the life that she deserves. And that it would not kill her like it had killed Sophia.

"Daddy, put me down." she giggled, hitting his back with her tiny fists. "I'm dizzy."

Alessio chuckled and placed her down on the ground again. He held onto her as she got her balance back and ruffled her hair. "Alright piccola. You're down now."

She glared at him again and rolled her eyes. Her attitude reminded him every single day of Sophia. They had the same hair, same eyes, same smile. Their names were similar and so were their attitudes.

"Don't glare at me, Sophie," Alessio warned, "or else you're going to get wrinkles."

Sophie gasped and grabbed her face. She shook her head. "No, no wrinkles." she said in horrification.

Alessio nodded his head. "Yes wrinkles."

Sophie shook her head. "Nanna!" she shouted, running off.

Alessio chuckled at her and followed right behind.

She ran into the kitchen and hugged a woman's leg. "Nanna, daddy said i'm going to get wrinkles if I glare at him." she pouted.

The woman chuckled and knelt down next to her. She looked up at Alessio and smiled motherly. "You are home early for once Alessio."

Alessio shrugged his shoulders and leaned his body against the wall. "I didn't have much to do," he looked down at Sophie who stared up at the woman with widened eyes. He smiled at the sight, "I also missed my little piccola."

The woman shook her head and pulled Sophie away from her. "Why don't you go to your room for a bit? Your daddy and I need to talk."

Sophie looked at the woman and then at Alessio. "Will you play with me later, daddy?" she asked innocently.

Alessio nodded his head. She ran over to him and hugged his leg. "Do you promise?" she asked, holding up her pinky. Her big hazel eyes stared into his making it hard for him to say no. She had him wrapped around her little fingers ever since the day she was born.

Alessio smiled and hooked his pinky with hers. "I promise piccola."

"Will you play tea party with me?"

He cringed but nodded his head.

"Can I put a dress on you?"

His eyes twitched and he frowned but looking at the hopeful look on her face, he sighed. "Whatever you want to do, mi principessa."

She beamed at him and hugged his leg tightly. "I love you daddy." she shouted before running off towards her room.

Silence hung in the air after she left. Alessio shoved his hands into his pockets and sat down on the chair. He smiled in the woman's direction as she placed a cup of coffee down in front of him and then sat across.

She looked at him and smiled at the door. "Sophie is an amazing child." she whispered.

"I know Silvia." Alessio responded, taking a sip of the coffee.

"Sophia and Matteo must be so proud of her." Silvia whispered, looking down at her own cup of coffee. She looked up at Alessio. "You don't know how proud they are of you."

Alessio gripped the handle of his cup tighter. "Do we have to do this now, Silvia? It's been three years."

"Alessio," she warned him. "I know you didn't leave just because you missed her. You thought about them, didn't you?" she whispered.

Alessio shook his head and glared at his cup. "No, I didn't."

"Alessio—"

"Drop it Silvia." he hissed out at her.

She glared at him and leaned over, smacking him across his head. "Don't use that tone on me young man. I raised you."

Alessio sighed. "I'm sorry Silvia. I just don't want to talk about it right now. It's still fresh."

He closed his eyes and thought back to that day. The day where the only family member he had left was taken away cruelly from him. The day where he learned to close himself away from everyone else.

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She held the bundle in her hand. Tears dripped down her face as the gunshots ran louder each time. She held the bundle up to her lips and kissed it. Her tears disappeared behind the layers of blankets.

Alessio got out of his car and stood next to her. He nodded at his driver before turning towards her. "Sophia," he whispered. One of his hand gripped a gun while holding out his other arm.

"Keep her safe, Alessio." She whispered.

She handled the bundle to him. Alessio looked down. Hazel eyes stared back at him, looking on in curiosity. His heart opened for the little girl. He looked back at her, his sister. Sophia. "Sophia, come with me. I can protect you too." he pleaded.

Sophia shook her head and looked down at her small bundle of joy. The tears ran down her face like a waterfall. She's never going to see her baby ever again. She won't be able to see her take her first step, speak her first word, or ride her first bike. She won't be there for the milestones in her daughter's life. Her first birthday, tenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, her prom night, her first date, her marriage, the birth of her child.

None of that.

Her daughter will have to go through all of that without her.

"I can't, Alessio. Wherever I am, she cannot be. She will be safe with you." she whispered.

Alessio looked down at the small girl again. Panic rose in him, seeing her face scrunch up and a tear slid down her face. It was as if she knew what was happening. He didn't know what to do. "Sophia, please." he whispered.

"Protect my daughter Alessio. Love her like she's your own. Let her know where she comes from but protect her innocence. Promise me Alessio." Her eyes held defeat. It was as if she knew her faith and accepted.

Nothing hurt him more than seeing her face like that. She was his little sister. He was suppose to protect her. "Sophia—"

"Promise me."

Alessio gulped and nodded his head. "I promised."

She smiled at him sadly. Reaching over, she kissed the baby on top of her head. The baby instantly stopped crying but reached her arm out to her. She didn't take her. She couldn't take her into her arms again because if she did, she would never be able to let her go.

"Please, keep her safe." she whispered before walking into the house through the backdoor.

Alessio stared at her retreating back.

"Sir, we have to go now." his driver informed him.

Alessio looked down at the baby. She didn't cry but it was as if she knew what had just happened. She looked back at Alessio and closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her face. Alessio leaned down and kissed her forehead.

He opened up the door and got in. He nodded his head at the driver and clutched the baby closer to his chest.

He looked at the house as they got to the front. His heart dropped in his chest seeing his little sister crying over the dead body of her husband. A man held a gun next to her head. One second, she was kneeling, the next, she collapsed on the ground.

His eyes widened as the blood spilled on the ground and his sister's head hit the hard ground. Her blonde curls laid in a mess being tainted by the blood that spilled from her head.

He wanted to stop the car and get out. Kill the man who had taken away everything he had. But he couldn't. Because if he did, he would break his promise to her.

And it was a promise that he would never break. Ever.

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The memory was still clear in his mind. The day where he lost his only sister. The girl he swore to protect for the rest of his life. But she got hurt and died. And he witnessed it, not being able to do a single thing. He allowed the man who killed her to get away.

And he vowed to himself that he would find the man. No matter what happens, he will find the man and send that bullet straight through his head just like the man had done to Sophia. That man will not live to see daylight ever again.

The glass shattered in his hand. The blood dripped down but he took no notice of it. He didn't feel the pain of the glass piercing through his skin, but he felt the familiar clenching of his heart remembering her death.

"Alessio! Your hand!" Silvia shouted at him, grabbing it.

He didn't move. He just stared straight at the wall, empty. He lost his will to feel any kind of physical pain. No pain will ever be equal to the pain of losing his little sister. The girl who looked up to him and expected him to protect her.

"Oh god. You need to control that anger of yours. What if Sophie sees this? What would you say to her?" Silvia exclaimed, pulling the glass out of his hand.

Sophie. The only person he had left is Sophie. And he vows to protect her with every last beating heart. She will never know pain. He will kill anyone who ever tries to hurt her.

No matter what happens, she will be the only person he will ever truly love. She will be the only person that he would kill for. She is the sole reason for his existence and the only reason why he haven't given up completely.

She's the light of his life and without her, he would be stuck in a dark room with no sun to brighten up his day.

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"Ashley please listen to me." Dante begged her. He knelt down on his knees.

Ashley looked at him. She didn't feel any emotion towards him. She didn't feel the heartbreak of having him in the same room, didn't feel the pity of seeing such a strong man result to begging. She was done feeling anything for him.

"If that is your way of begging for my forgiveness, you have another thing coming your way." she said coldly. She got up from her bed and pulled him up.

"Ashley, please. I don't know what else to do. I need you back into my life. I was wrong." Dante grabbed her hand and held it. "Isabella, she needs both of her parents."

Ashley ripped her hand away from his. She glared at him. "I don't need you in my life or in Isabella's. We're doing fine without you."

"A child needs both of her parents." Dante argued.

Ashley shook her head and smiled at him. "No, they don't. My father raised me on his own and I turned out just fine. Samuel lived with us but he mostly fended for himself, he turned out alright. A child needs nothing but love and support if not from their family than from themselves. I believe that my daughter will her fine without her father."

"Ashley please. We can get things back to the way they were before. Listen to me please," he whispered.

"Like how you listened to me?" she shook her head at him and smiled. "I learned one valuable lesson from you Dante."

He gave her a questioning look. "What is that?"

"I don't need a man who does not trust me in my life." she pointed towards the door before moving back to her bed. "You know the way out."

"Ashley—"

"I need my sleep, Dante. Please, show yourself the exit or I could get security in her again." she closed her eyes and laid down the pillow.

"Alright. But this isn't over. I will continue to fight for you." He said with conviction.

"That doesn't mean that we'll be together. I have made my decision Dante. And you do not come anywhere near it." she smiled and willed herself to sleep.

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