It had been a couple of days since the Esposito family had arrived in Brazil. Franco hadn't managed to discover who planted a bomb in his family home however, the culprit had mistakenly left their fingerprints on the letter originally given to Rio.

It was a working progress.

In those couple of days, Rio hadn't spoken a single word to her daddy-she was too scared, she thought he was still angry with her. In fact it was the very opposite; Franco was angry with himself, he shouldn't of lost control of his anger-especially in front of his princess.

His poor baby didn't know that so, Rio did what she does best, she hid from him at at all costs.

Her hiding places ranged from many different types of locations. One being the washing machine, seen as though her tiny frame could squeeze through most probably anything if she tried.

Her next few hiding places consisted of; her storage units that were under her bed. She could also fit her body in the toilet if she tried, luckily the toilets are cleaned daily by the household cleaners.

Franco knew Rio was avoiding him, he didn't blame her. As much as he wanted to cuddle his daughter for eternity; he knew that she needed her space until she was ready to talk to him.

He hoped it wasn't too long.

Meanwhile, Franco, Charlie, Cassius and the brothers were all trying to figure out who could possibly want to harm Rio. Considering she was the daughter of one of the most powerful Mafia families in the world, definitely didn't put a target on her back.

They received the results of the fingerprints that were found on the envelope, unfortunately it was the postman's fingerprints.

Their search was coming to a dead end, it was frustrating for everyone.

Franco knew he needed to inform his allies on the attempted attack against himself and his family but, he was one who wanted to be independent. However, he knew that the situation was becoming more of an issue than they initially thought.

It was only right he informed them.

"Cassius, Charlotte, boys get on the phone with every single one of our allies. We need to tell them everything." Franco ordered, he was pacing around the meeting room with his head in his hands.

Rio's life was becoming closer to ending if they didn't figure out who was putting a target on her head. She had only been on the black list for not even a couple of months, and assassins had already began to try and claim her life.

As well as this, Franco already had a rat on their hands and he needed to find out who it was; sooner rather than later.

Everything was becoming too much for him, he wanted to protect Rio from the dangers that the Mafia life offered. But, it was becoming too much of a challenge.

He had only one option but, he needed to discuss them with his wife and three sons first.

"Charlie, boys once you have finished the calls I need you to meet me in my office at once."

They all stared at Franco wide-eyed, including Cassius. Never had they seen Franco look so sad and solemn in all the time they had known him, especially Charlie. She may have only been in his life for a couple of years however, the only time she had ever seen him so sad was when his younger sister passed away from Leukaemia.

But, Franco had to do this for the safety of his family and his little girl.

------

"I know you're all wondering why I have called you here at this time. But, it's for the safety of Rio and I want you to understand that's all I want for Rio. For her to live a happy life and to be safe."

Charlie and the boys stared at Franco as if he had grown an extra head, they wanted Rio to be safe obviously. She was their little girl, their princessa-they just wanted to know what was going on inside his head.

"For that being, we have two options which we could proceed with. It seem as though, even though we are one of the most powerful Mafia families in the world; we still have failed to provide the sufficient safety for our little girl." Franco spoke with tears brimming in his eyes, never had they seen Franco be on the verge of tears. Not even when Rio was born.

"I didn't want it to come to this at all, but I think it's the best option for Rio to stay in Brazil."

The whole room became silent, the boys stared at their dad with wide eyes. Charlotte on the other hand looked at Franco with pure rage.

"Like hell, I'm leaving Rio in Brazil! Like hell I'm leaving her by herself at all!" Charlotte spat, she stood from her seat and stormed out of the office.

'How dare he!' She thought to herself.

Never in her time knowing Franco had she ever been so furious, Charlie felt as though Franco was abandoning the responsibility of being Rio's father. If that was the case, Charlie would singlehandedly leave with Rio and never return.

Rio means the absolute world to Charlie and the thought of leaving her behind, causes her heart to ache.

"What the fuck was that?" Franco hissed at Charlie. They were both in their bedroom of one of Franco's penthouses he owned.

"I should be asking you that, how dare you think I would willingly follow your orders and leave our little girl here, in an unfamiliar country!" She shoved Franco's shoulder away from her.

The thought of touching him makes her physically sick at the moment.

"When we found out I was pregnant with her, we both made a vow to always protect her and here you are trying to push away that responsibility. You just don't have the effort with her do you? You are giving up so easily because, she's a girl!" She shouted at him.

With that, Franco's eyes darkened. He grabbed Charlie by her throat and pushed her up against the wall-he didn't apply any pressure whatsoever, he just wanted her to realise who she was talking to.

"That's not the reason at all!" He pushed her head back into the wall. "Rio means the absolute world to me, you know that. I am telling you Charlotte don't you dare put words in my mouth."

"Get the fuck off me!" Charlie screamed at him.

He slammed her head into the wall, not hard enough to knock her unconscious but, hard enough to make her silent.

"Charlie, I love you, my sons and Rio with all my heart. I would do anything for all of you but, please just understand where I am coming with this!" He begged desperately.

"Get off me!" She yelled.

Did I forget to mention Charlie has anger management issues?

"Mummy? Daddy? What's wrong?" A small voice spoke up.

They looked to the door to see Rio stood with tears in her eyes and her lip quivering.

Oh fuck.

A/N:

Wassup bitches,

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Lots of love,

Mia. X