27 Leone?

NEXT DAY MORNING…

SHANE'S POV :

"Did you talk to Jessica?" I asked Nate who was busy checking the file. He nodded but didn't say anything. "What did she say?"

He sighed, "She wanted me to make it up to her, for avoiding her. Until then she won't talk to me."

"Then make it up to her," I said taking the file from his hand.

"How can I? when she doesn't even give me a chance to talk to her." He said crossing his arms over his chest sitting on the desk.

I chuckled, "You got yourself a hard one." He glared at me. "Okay, okay, she won't talk to you but she never said that she won't meet you right? Then you have a chance to make her talk to you."

"Yeah, that's what still makes me sane. I'll make her talk to me." He said confidently.

"I know you can do it but this time, don't screw it up," I said walking towards the glass window and seeing that they have just arrived.

Nate laughed, "I won't."

"Boss, they came," Seth said while entering the office.

"Let them in," I told him and he nodded. We are in one of my secret offices where we held meetings like these. So, there won't be any unnecessary problems and disturbances.

Within a minute they entered my office stomping on the floor with their shoes demanding attention with their strong aura.

They are one of the most powerful mafias in the world and the most renowned criminals just like us. And, they also never hurt an innocent just like we never did. And that is why we agreed to make an ally.

"Well, isn't it a pleasant morning to meet you here?" The present leader of the Italian mafia said coming to my side.

"Yeah, but it would feel so much better if I felt the same," I commented walking towards him.

He chuckled, "Well then, the pleasure is all mine."

I chuckled hugging him, "Well, welcome to New York City, Mr Lorenzo Antonio Leone."

"Full names, I guess… Well then, Thank you, Mr Shane Vincent King for having us here." He said hugging me back.

"So, Shane, meet my team." He said introducing his team members. "This is Aaron, my right-hand man, I don't have to say anything as you already know him. This is Laura, you might have heard of her, she is one of the best assassins. And last but not least, Marco, my hacker. This is part of my team and the remaining are in Italy taking care of everything in my absence."

I nodded shaking hands with them and started introducing my team. "Well, you already know Nate, my right-hand man." He nodded and shook his hand. "And this is Seth, one of my best snipers, he had never lost his target. This is Tyler, I guess you have seen the resemblance between them, yes they are twins and he is the thief of the gang, once he sets his mind on something he will get it. And last but not least Tessa, she is Nate's sister and also my hacker, very intelligent but a bit crazy." I showed Tessa through my window. She is inside the computer room and can be visible from here.

"I can hear you, Shane, don't forget that I can see and hear everything from here." I chuckled hearing her voice in my earphones.

"And the rest of the team is working on a mission, so they won't be here at this time. But I'm sure you will meet them at the ball. I'm pretty sure that my mom already invited your family to the upcoming ball." I said showing them their seats to sit.

He chuckled, "Yeah, she did. But as you already know, my father won't be coming there as always. But this time I will come along with Aaron. As the new leader of Italy, I can't deny your mom's invitation." He said and I nodded. His father never comes to the balls, only his mom has been coming because of my mom.

It's not because he doesn't like us or hate us, it's because he never trusted anyone other than his own family. He does have his reasons though, can't blame him.

After explaining the details about my side of the deal, he started his side. And after negotiating some parts of the deal, we finally agreed to sign the deal.

"So, after this deal, we officially became allies," I said signing the deal and passing the file to him. He also signed his copy and gave it to me. After that, we discussed about opening the clubs in Italy and also his businesses in New York.

He has a thing for law firms and also in the fashion industry especially law firms is his main concern. The lawyers in his firm never lost a case. If he laid his eyes on a lawyer, he will get them to work under him. He will offer his protection and also the amount of money he offers to them, they can't deny such a big sum.

That's how it is, it's either work under him to have his protection or the other criminals might take you if they don't have his protection for their own needs. But when they agreed to work under him, no one would ever dare to touch them. If anyone dares to touch someone under his protection then they will have to face his wrath.

Just like I told you, he is just like us. He will never forgive you if you hurt someone whom he gave his protection then imagine what will happen if you hurt someone who he loves. It will be a blood bath. Family is the most important thing to us. Nothing matters in our life more than to be with our loved ones.

"It's nice meeting you and having this deal, Shane." He said standing and walking towards me and giving me a handshake. "Now, If you excuse us, I have somewhere to be." He said, smirking while buttoning his suit.

"Okay." I raised my eyebrows suspiciously.

"Come on guys, I have to go and meet my girlfriend before going to Italy." He said grinning and looking at his team which made my blood boil. 'Girlfriend again.' I so want to smack his face right now.

"Stop being an ass, Lorenzo. She said that she is not your girlfriend." I said sarcastically, keeping my cool.

He chuckled, "That doesn't mean she is anyone's girlfriend. Still, I have a chance to make her mine."

Wtf, did he just say 'mine'? I couldn't control myself after hearing that. My jaw clenched, curbed up in anger and my fist balled up on its own itching to punch him in the face but Nate stopped me, holding my fist before anything happens. "Don't," Nate whispered in my ear.

"What are you two whispering about?" He asked still smirking. Wait, until I remove that smug look on your face, you bastard.

"Nothing. But I just wanted to ask you one thing." Nate said moving forward.

"Go ahead."

"How do you know Alina and Jessica? You guys seem like you are pretty close and have known each other." Nate asked the same question which was on my mind since last night.

"That's because we are," Lorenzo said which makes us confused about how they know each other.

"How?" I asked him.

"They are my juniors in college." He said shortly.

"That doesn't make any sense. If she is just a junior, how can she get so close to you? Knowing your family very well, you won't get close to someone so easily. And also do they know about you being a mafia leader?" I asked him while raising one of my brows.

He laughed, "Well, that's a story for another time. Actually, why don't you ask Alina yourself that? If you are lucky enough, she might tell you everything." He said with a smirk.

This answer enraged me for not knowing what their relationship is. Do they have any relationship in the past? Are they still seeing each other? Many doubts, so many doubts are playing in my mind making me go crazy with those thoughts.

Why can't I imagine her with another man when I just wanted her far away from me? I wanted to avoid her but it seems like I'm the one getting close to her.

"You know what, your mother told me to bring a date to the ball so I'm thinking about asking Alina to come with me." He suddenly blasted a bomb which made me furious. Gritting my teeth and clenching my fist, I was on the verge of hitting him but Nate came forward blocking my path.

"Actually, Shane is going to ask Alina as his date," Nate said all of a sudden which surprised me.

"What?" I asked him, surprised by his sudden revelation which in fact I don't know. When did I ever say that? Nate ignored my question so is Lorenzo?

"Oh, are you Shane? Hmm, That's fine as long as she comes there, I can still meet and talk to her." Lorenzo said. He is unbelievable.

I scoffed at hearing his answer, "You are unbelievable."

"Well, that makes two of us." Again confusing me with his answers. "Anyways, I will take my leave then." He said while leaving along with his team.

"F*cking bast*rd," I muttered under my breath punching the wall in anger. This man is making me furious. Why would he have to be so close to Alina? How did they become this close? I couldn't even tell this feeling as to why I'm getting angry whenever I see her with someone else.

Just like last night at the club, when I saw her with Lorenzo, I couldn't control my rage and wanted to kill him for touching her.

And when he introduced her as his girlfriend, my heart ached to hear that she is someone else's and not mine. Why am I getting hurt if she is not mine? I mean, isn't it what I wanted, for her to be happy with someone else? Then why did my heart stop beating suddenly when he said that?

When I looked at her to confirm this, it was like she read my mind and heart and immediately moved away from him giving a safe distance between them and telling me that he is her best friend. It made me feel at ease and my heartbeat became normal.

I couldn't explain the happiness that I felt at that time knowing that he is not her boyfriend and now when he said that she is still single, it makes me happy hearing that for a second there before he ruined it by telling me that he still has a chance to make her his.

No, I can't imagine her with him or anyone else for that matter. What the hell is happening to me? I've never been this disturbed about anyone in my life. She is the only one who is making me feel things that I have never felt before.

And that is why I'm scared, yes I'm scared of hurting her. I'm scared of ruining her peaceful life. She needs to stay away from me. But I can't see her with anyone else. I need to figure out what these feelings are before I do something that I regret later.

And this stupid Nate told him that I'm going to ask her as my date. When the hell did I tell him that? Now he made things difficult for me. Doesn't he know that she doesn't even like to talk to me then how did he think that she would agree to come with me?

"What are you thinking about?" Nate came after sending them off and asked me.

"Don't ask me innocently, Nate. Why did you tell him that I'm going to ask Alina as my date?" I asked him while raising my brows.

"Would you rather like it if she goes with him as his date?" I clenched my teeth in rage. "Yeah, that's what I thought. I made things easy for you, so don't screw it up." He said the same words which I told him before and then laughed getting out of my sight before saying, "Use this opportunity to know what's going on with you. Even though I know what that is, you won't accept it until you realise it on your own." And left leaving me alone with my thoughts.

He Is right, I should use this opportunity to know what's happening with me and why I feel anxious when she is with someone else. But how can I ask her while knowing perfectly that she won't accept? I should think of a way to make her agree or else the hard way it is.

I chuckled thinking about her stubborn personality. Nate and Omar were right, she is just like me, a female version...