Patrick and I lied peacefully in each other's arms not willing to drag ourselves out of bed. Everything inside of me ached. Patrick must have landed on me harder than I had thought and my arms had small bruises from where Piero had grabbed me. My feet were stiff from spending the night in heels and shoulders were sore from the cuts. Worse of all was my heart, morning over the lost of my necklace that was probably long gone.

"I was so stupid last night," I huffed, nuzzling my nose into Patrick side, "I shouldn't have made that stupid offer."

"You having second thoughts about the casino?" Patrick's confusion didn't go amiss.

I understood his confusion. I had bet everything for it and now I didn't want it. I knew it didn't make sense.

"I don't know," I sighed, running my fingers over his abs, "there were other ways I could have gone about it instead of betting it and insulting Eagle."

"Well, I'm not going to argue with you there. We really need to talk about what you do and do not bet," he squeezed me, "But he agreed to it in the end. And he respected you for it."

"He respected me for giving up my necklace not betting the casino," I corrected him with a sign.

Patrick grumbled, still not pleased that I had risked something that was so important to me. But he didn't say anything.

"What did you have anyway?" Patrick asked.

It was the question that I had been dreading. The gunfire had started before I could drop my hand and at the moment, only I knew what I had.

"Three sixes," I muttered against his chest, flicking my eyes up to his angry face.

"You bet your casino and necklace on three sixes?" He snapped in disbelief of my stupidity.

"Well, I wasn't trying too. I was bluffing, like you told me," I argued, sitting up to see his face.

"Eliza, your an opened book," he reminded me.

I remained silent, glaring at him. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

"Well, it doesn't matter now does it because I've lost them both," I snapped, rolling away from him in a sulk.

He sighed, heavily, knowing he had pissed me off. I felt the mattress dip and heard him roll over before I felt his body against my back.

"How about, you use the fire as an opportunity?" He suggested, his breath heating up my ear and waking my entire body, "I know the whole point of it was to honour your father but why don't you rebuild it in your own image. A way to, I don't know, make your way into this world."

"Patrick, I don't know a thing about casinos," I reminded him, rolling onto my back to look into his truthful eyes.

He shrugged, "I'll teach you. But, no more gambling."

I nodded, not having any arguments, "I think I've had enough poker games to last a lifetime."

He smiled, leaning down and taking my lips. I groaned, as his tongue invaded my mouth, arching my back and forcing my breasts against his chest. A growl erupted from his body as his shaft came alive between my legs.

"Roll over," I whispered against his lips, trying to sit up while still under him.

Wicked thoughts were streaming through my head, heating up my body.

Patrick flopped on his back with a cheeky smile, his arms high above his head. I climbed on top of him, taking a hold of his neck with my teeth.

"God, your wicked," Patrick hissed, cupping the backs of thighs with his hands, squeezing the white flash.

I giggled, leaving his neck and making a trail of kisses down his chest. Patrick's heavy breathing was a good sign as I went lower and lower. Like a pro, I took a hold of his base and leading his tip into my mouth.

"God," he hissed, "Angelo, oh sweet, sweet Angelo."

I sucked on the soft skin that cover the hard shaft, taking him in slowly so that I wouldn't gag. He shifted under me, moaning and hissing as he slid down my throat. Giving myself some relief, I took half of him out making up for it with my tongue.

"Oh Angelo," he moaned, forcing more of his shaft down my throat.

Clawing at the bed sheets, I forced myself not to gag. He didn't seem to care, too much in the cloud of pleasure. It felt good to know that I could bring him this type of pleasure. Have him arching his back, his head sinking between the pillows, his hands crawling at the bedsheets and moaning and hissing for more. Taking it to a different level, I cupped and squeezed his package.

"Oh, God, Eliza," Patrick growled between his teeth.

God he was close. I could taste the salty arousal in my throat.

"E-Eliza, Liza, I'm going to come," he warned me.

As soon as he did, his salty released filled the back of my throat. I swallowed, not thinking too much about it before taking him out of my mouth. My body collapsed on his and my jaw ached from the pleasurable abuse.

"That was - amazing," he planted, running his hands through my hair.

I nodded and moaned, closing my eyes just for a second. It was five minutes before the two of us regained our strength to breathe and I was able to think again.

"What's the plan now?" I asked, knowing he had something in mind on how we would handle this.

"I've already made arrangements for Garrick and Antonio to do some digging. Find out what type of car bomb was used, where it was brought, who the gunman were. Then we'll go from there."

"Do you think it's connected to Gabriel Bover or Karen Falco?" I asked, trying to remember who they were.

Gabriel Bover hired the mercenary, Xavier Jorden that shot at us in the study. And Karen Falco was a mercenary that was hired by an African company to kill my father.

"Maybe. Bover is dead or at least soon will be. The Cartel gave me their word that he wouldn't live long," I swallowed at the thought, "and Falco is dead too and Jorden. I don't know any other connection."

I knew one, but I was too scared to say it out loud.

"Can I be there, when you and the boys...strategise, for a better word?" I asked, looking at his face.

"Are you sure?" He asked, brushing my cheek with the back of my hand, "some of the talk won't be pretty."

I nodded, swallowing, "I think I can handle it."

He nodded, but didn't say anything more.

Sighing, I sat up on my elbows, no longer in denial. It was time to face the day.

Groaning, I crawled off him and scooted to the edge of the bed. Patrick watched my every step as I took my robe from where it lied on the lounge before making my way into the bathroom. I made a beeline to the sink, turning on the hissing water. The water was cool in my hands before I splashed it over my burning cheeks. I repeated my movements, taking in deep breaths while wiping my chin, my neck and breasts, trying to get the cum off my body. The tiny droplets trailed down to my belly, soaking the collar of my robe. I could hear Patrick moving around, but I didn't take much notice, turning off the tap and grabbing the hand towel. I dabbed it over my face, my neck and breasts, trying to dry myself. Once I had, I looked at myself in the mirror noticing the missing piece in my appearance. My necklace. God how could I be so stupid?

"You know," Patrick stated, not even making me jump as he appeared, leaning against the doorframe, "perhaps you didn't loose everything."

I frowned, turning around to look at him. My eyes went straight to the necklace that hung from Patrick's fingers. A gasp escaped my lips when I spied the blue diamond before pacing to him.

"My necklace!" I cried, snatching it from his hands to see it for myself.

It wasn't my imagination. I actually had it in my hand.

"How the hell?" I demanded, looking at him in disbelief.

"I snatched it just before Alberto and I made it out. I would have given it to you last night but we were busy, and just now," he explained.

"B-but, why?" I asked, stunned, "you risked your life for it."

"I knew how much it meant to you, it was worth the risk."

I was breathless. How could a man, claim that he had the darkest soul on earth but would risk his life - not to mention Alberto's to get just a necklace? My heart started to pound as my cheek burned under his eyes. What was this feeling? What made my stomach turn and twist, just by the way he touched me or spoke to me or kissed me? What made me shiver when his breath touched my skin? What made fear rule my body when I thought he was hurt. God, I knew it. And if I didn't speak the words they would burn inside of me.

"Patrick, I love you," I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Patrick's mouth dropped as panic filled his eyes.

"And you don't have to say it back," I quickly added, holding onto his arm before he made a run for it, "I just, can't, hold it in any longer. I think I knew it last night. I-I don't want it to change things between us. But I -."

I gasped when he snatched my lips, delivering a long sweet kiss. Patrick's hand held the back of my head as the other supported my limbless body that was under his spell. I had little control, like always, but I was growing use to it. My lips couldn't function anyway. My brain had been thrown out the window.

When Patrick finally let go, I was breathless, struggling to read what the hell was going on in his mind. He gently tilted my head forward so that our foreheads touched. I was still locked in his arms, my body pressed against his.

"If I was going to love anyone in this damn, damn world, it'd be you," he confessed, making me giggle.

It was his version of an I love you. And I accepted it as if it was.

It was almost midday by the time Garrick and Antonio had returned home with what they had found.

As soon as they found the rest of us in the dinning room, they gave Patrick a look that said, we've got something. That look was all Patrick needed to hear before pushing off the bench and gesturing us to move. I hesitated for a moment before Patrick stopped and looked back with a frown.

"Aren't you coming?" He questioned.

My mouth dropped a little, surprised. It was one thing for him to allow me to join the boys club, it was another for him to willingly ask.

I nodded, pushing off the bench and following him out of the room.

"It took us half a day, but we got something," Garrick announced once we were in the study.

He threw a folder down on the desk, pushing a few things aside so that the rest of us could see. He then pulled out A4, satellite shots of the casino.

"This is what you've got?" Alberto questioned, "I can get on Google and search these same photos."

Garrick and Antonio both glared at him, pissed that he had doubted their achievement that apparently took them great efforts to succeed.

"How's your arm?" Garrick growled through his teeth, "I'd hate it if it got infected and we would have to shoot you."

"Can we get back on track please?" Patrick spoke up before their bickering turned into a bigger fight, "tell me what you've got."

"Okay, well there had to be at least two shooters," Antonio told him, for a start, "bullet holes were on both sides of the building, so there's no way, one shooter could have done that much damage."

"There's buildings all around it, it's possible," Piero piped up, circling the building with his finger, "the bullets were definitely coming into the front of the building."

"So one of the shooters could have been there," Nickola guessed, pointing to the building that sat across the side of the road from the car park.

Could the bullets reach?

"What about the car? Was it a suicide bomber?" Patrick asked.

Suicide bomber? That sounded like a terrorist attack.

Garrick shook his head, "timer."

"But my hacker buddy got into the casino's security footage and look what we found," Antonio teased, taking out another photo.

It was a clear shot of a man about in his thirties, getting out of the car. It was a side on of his face and his body almost seemed invisible in the black leather jacket and jeans.

"Facial recognition identified him as Liam Sarno," Garrick informed us.

Wow, they really had found something.

"mercenary?" Patrick questioned.

Antonio shook his head, "no, mercenaries. He's part of a hit group called, Blood."

"Not the most creative name but okay," Piero joked.

"How many's in the hit group?" Alberto asked this time.

"Five that are known to the police according to Patrick's police buddy," Antonio answered.

"Okay, we're going to need those names," Patrick stated, making me swallow.

Was he going to kill all five men?

"Got them," Garrick announced, pulling out a piece of paper with names neatly listed down the side, "Radcliff Gronchi, Odalis Nardo, Dimitri Toloni and Kegan Idoni are the others."

Patrick nodded but didn't wear a smile on his face. Shouldn't he be over the moon? That's five guys he could find and torture - I didn't just say that.

"Dimitri Toloni, Dimitri Toloni," Nickola muttered before looking at Patrick for answers, "where do I know that name?"

Patrick swallowed, his eyes saddening, "Dimitri Toloni was working at the casino that your sister owed money to. He was one of the guys that..."

Even Patrick couldn't say the word. My own heart broke as I watched Nickola's bright smile disappear from his face. His eyes turned cold as he remembered a forgotten memory.

"Nickola, you do not have to be involved with this one -."

"Oh hell no," Nickola stopped him, "if this guy is in the group that almost got the four of you killed, then I'm all in."

I smiled at his bravery and his willingness to put Patrick and I first even though it meant facing one of his own demons. Before I knew it, I had wrapped my arms around his neck and was hugging him. He was still for a moment, before I felt his arms around me hugging me right back.

"Do we all get one of those?" I heard Piero ask.

"If we do, she's welcomed to any meeting she wants," Antonio added.

"Yeah, while I risk my life and I get nothing. He does nothing and he's the one that gets a hug," Alberto spat.

"Maybe when your arms better," I told him, pulling out of Nickola's grip.

"My arms better now," he said, with a cheeky grin on his face and opening up his arms for a hug.

My cheeks burned under their eyes, surprised by their talk.

Patrick was still, till he swung his fist into Alberto's ribs. I don't even think he hit him that hard but it was enough for Alberto to crouch over and clutch his ribs, moaning in pain. I was a little shocked. I had never seen Patrick actually hurt one of them. The boys had different views and laughed at him instead.

"But your ribs are not. Just remember who she sleeps next to her at night," Patrick growled as Alberto wheezed before pulling me into his grip and whispered in my ear, "and you don't forget that either."

My cheeks heated, not from the wicked thoughts that flowed through my head but from the boys sickening looks.

"Okay, if you two are going to do that in these meetings, I quit," Piero spat.

"The door's over there," Patrick pointed to the doors, while nuzzling his nose into my cheek.

I couldn't contain the smile or the burning fire in my stomach. Who knew I could be so happy?

"Actually, Lizzy, I need to talk to you about something," Nickola told me, stopping Patrick nuzzling immediately, "you know, about that thing you asked me to look into."

Oh right, I had almost forgotten that I had asked Nickola to look into my father's other businesses.

I nodded at him, gesturing towards the door before lightly pecking Patrick's cheek.

"I'll be right back."

I didn't give him a chance to question me. I skipped out of the room and followed Nickola down the left corridor. I hesitated again, Patrick's warning ringing in my head, but also, my men have a right to keep their lives private to you. If they wish for you to be in their rooms or personal life, than that's their business not mine. I'm just asking you to respect their privacy.

"You coming or what?" Nickola asked from the corridor, waking me from my thoughts.

I guess I was welcomed in their private life. Coughing, I closed the distance between Nickola and I.

Nickola walked passed two doors before he opened the third.

"Excuse the mess," he said sighing and walking through.

The room wasn't as big as mine or Patrick's for that matter but it was still a decent size. There was a hint of cologne in the air and the room was dark from the still drawn grey curtains. The queen size bed that sat by the wall was unmade and a pile of laundry was curled into a ball on a chair by the desk. The chest-of-draws was a mess as well, with some draws not even shut properly.

Nickola didn't notice and went straight to his desk. He picked up a yellow folder and handed it to me.

"That's all I found. All your father's businesses are profiting and going into accounts that you have excess to," he told me.

"What about their managers? Who runs them?" I asked.

"Well, no Mafias for starters. So you don't need to worry about having a poker game with them," he joked making my eyes roll, "but good people. You can meet them tomorrow if you want."

I nodded. If I could find the time. I doubt Patrick would let me out of the house, especially now.

"So," Nickola sighed, "have you spoken to Zoey?"

My heart sunk as I remembered our fight last night, the guilt quickly returning. I hadn't spoken to her at all. I knew that I had been in the wrong but so was she. Was it wrong of me to want her to wallow for a bit?

"Nope," I huffed, hating myself more than I hated her, "she shouldn't have spoken to Patrick like that. She wouldn't have if it had been any of my past boyfriends."

"Hey, she loves you. You should have seen her when Patrick called about the shooting and the bomb. Barely stopped her from getting in the car."

I frowned, confused by his intention. He didn't seem too pleased with her behaviour either. Why was he sticking up for her all of a sudden?

"You like her, don't you?" I questioned him, putting my hands on my hips.

I was going to get an answer out of him even if it killed me.

"No, I don't like anyone," he lied.

I scoffed, "Nickola you really shouldn't play poker. Your a horribly liar."

He was silent for a moment, trying to decide if he should lie to me or not.

"Okay, fine, I like her," he finally admitted, making me jump with joy, "but I'm not going to do anything about it."

I stopped. My heart sunk.

"Why not?" I asked, horrified.

"Besides from the fact that she's made it clear that she doesn't want anything to do with me, I don't want anything serious," he confessed.

I couldn't help but scoff, "your worse than Piero."

"Can you blame us? I mean, last night proved it. In our world, life can end just as quickly as it started," he explained, his eyes looking sad.

I wondered if he was thinking about his sister and how quickly her life came crumbling down around her.

"That should be a reason to jump at opportunities, not avoid them," I corrected him.

He nodded and hung his head but didn't say anything else. I smiled at him to raise his spirits, patting his shoulder.

"Not everyone is as lucky as you and Patrick, Lizzy," he stated making me frown.