"Now will you please stop your emotional drama?" I didn't need to turn to that face to see who just said that. That could be only one person.

The monster.

My newfound family turned to face him only except me. I later turned to see him, and I could sense that this time we all were giving him a dead look because he was bothering us in our emotional moment.

"Chill brothers! He is just jealous of us." I told them by patting them on their shoulders. I felt lucky to get accepted by them.

They laughed at my words but nodded in a fake agreement. Then, we again sat in our seats and this time I got a seat beside Enzo.

Why? Why him?

I was stepping slowly towards my place on the sofa, while I glanced at him only to find that he was smirking at me. It's not that I was still scared of him. No. The thing is I didn't feel scared around him anymore, instead, I felt nervous and restless and I don't know for what reason.

Now when I would look at him and when I would tease him or irritate him, I felt... different. I felt joy. His annoyance towards my mischief would bring me some new types of happiness which I never got before, not even from my four knights.

And he also didn't seem to be angry with my happy pranks and funny moments. Which made me comfortable being around him, unlike my Uncle and Aunt and of course, Betty.

The night ended but I got so many good memories to remember in my future. I hope that I will find many more happy moments ahead.

~~~~~

I heard that a man had come here and my four knights and Enzo got in a meeting with him.

Yes! They were now my four knights.

Tey were locked inside the same meeting room where all their business people come and talk in private.

I started roaming around the entrance while waiting for them because, without them, I couldn't think of anything to start with. First, Enzo will tell them to teach me this or that, then my brothers will teach me new interesting things.

The door of the meeting room suddenly opened with a loud thud, which made me startled by the noise, so I hid behind the other part of the door. From the corner of the door, I saw an old man with a scary face–but he seemed like a frog to me– walking towards the door in big steps. He had two other men around him, one on his left and the other on his right. In the blink of an eye, they were gone.

They looked very serious. Then, I saw Enzo and my brothers also had come out of the room while speaking in a low tone, but their faces were filled with tension along with anger.

What would have happened if they all were looking so tense? Perhaps that scary man did something or must have threatened which affected them in this way.

To know the answers, I came out from behind the door when they instantly spotted me. I gave them a warm smile, and luckily they smiled back. Enzo just nodded lightly at me. Now, they didn't seem to be in tension, then what was that before?

As I was just about to ask them about that meeting when Enzo suddenly left without a single word. Something serious must have happened for sure.

I came towards Carlo to ask him because he was the only one who always explained these matters to me. It doesn't mean that Max, Galen and Rome don't, they also helped but the thing is Carlo understood me better.

He explained to me that that man works in many illegal ways and he was even into dirty politics. As he had business with the main boss, Enzo's father, sometimes Enzo also joined hands with him for all his money laundering and loan sharking with the national candidates who tend to get votes from the mafia head, who controlled the votes and directed them to the local politicians.

So basically, it meant that that old man was now blackmailing and manipulating Enzo to give him a percent as a partner in his business, otherwise, he would publish his recent illegal works to the media and file a case against his crimes.

Carlo also explained to me that mafia families cast their children as underbosses or consiglieres when they become capable of taking the responsibility to be one. So, in Enzo's case, he worked hard to reach this position. That's why he was worried that if that old frog spreads the news, the main boss and his empire could go through hard times. And Enzo's family also could be in danger of that.

No matter even if the world already knew that they are illegal, still it had to be covered as much as possible.

"What is the name of that old frog?" I asked him.

"Groves."

"Hmm..."

There came a new villain in the story.

But only temporary.

Two knocks on the door but still, no reply, banged on the door, no reply from inside the room. He stayed in his study most of the time, so I thought I would find him here. But I guess he was not here. I came to see if he was okay and to give him a little present.

So, I turned the doorknob and sneaked my head inside the room to peek through the room to see if he was there or not.

I was right. He was not here. Then where should he be? Maybe in his room? Should I check for once? Even though my room was right beside his, I never looked at his door. Not for once.

To his room, I was just praying that he doesn't get angry by seeing me. When I came in front of his room, I stopped right before the door and knocked twice.

I heard him. I heard his voice. He told me to come inside.

All the negative thoughts about what if he would scold me or get angry by my appearance, flew out of my mind just by hearing his voice, and a cheerfulness filled inside me.

I prepared myself with a warm smile because at this time he needed it more than my tease. Also, I was going to enter his room for the first time.

I opened the door and stepped inside the room and it was beautiful. His room was also like him, boring but beautiful. I looked up at him and there he was, lying on his bed, with a pillow covering his face or wait– was he hiding his face? He was in his white shirt of which the top three buttons were unbuttoned, and in his trouser.

"What do you want?" His voice almost came cracking.

Without answering him, I stepped towards his bed and then sat on the edge of the bed, right in front of him. I don't know where I got the courage to do so but at that time my mind was not the one controlling me, it was my heart that was in charge.

"Enzo." It was the second time I called him by his name. Maybe.

He didn't respond nor did he remove that pillow from his face. But I could notice that he started breathing heavily.

His hands were spread beside him but still, I couldn't dare to remove the pillow from his face. His right hand was lying before me, so I decided to put my present in his hand but before that, I thought to talk to him for once.

So, I put my present on his side table and got seated comfortably by fully hopping on the bed.

"Alora, I am not in a mood to talk to you right now." He said but it came like a whisper.

"It's alright, you don't have to talk to me. I have a better way of talking."

Just after that, I took his hand on mine and opened his palm more plainly. His hand was obviously bigger than mine. I measured my hand while placing it on his. To know if he was bothered or more irritated by me, I took a glance at his covered face and I was relieved. He didn't seem to be angry, and he didn't take his hand away from mine. That was a good sign to keep it going.

I placed my finger upon his palm and ran it by the way of writing. For a trial, I first drew a star and turned in his direction to know that he understood.

"There are pens and papers in this room, if you are trying to show me your inner artist with your hidden talent, then you can draw these stars and moon on paper. Leave my hand." He said all this in one breath and I noticed that now his voice was not cracking.

But what he just said made me smile. He was mocking me though so that was another good sign. So, I started writing my words on his palm.

"What are you doing? What was that?"

He asked me in a low tone.

"Concentrate."

I wrote, 'Everything will be fine.'

He released a heavy breath, which I guessed was a signal of understanding. I smiled brightly even though he couldn't see me.

Then I wrote, 'Enzo.'

No signal.

'It's okay, boss.”

Still no signal.

'Can you please look at me now?'

Just like that, he removed that pillow from his face and looked right into my eyes. I glanced into his eyes and found the redness inside which meant he was...

Suddenly he got up and seated just in front of me, not even leaving any space to pass the air between us. He tried to give that usual cold look but failed. I could sense that he was not well right now.

Again, I took his hand and wrote, 'You are not alone.'

Then I looked up at him to see how he reacted but there wasn't anything on his face except the redness in his eyes.

'You are a good boss.' I again took a sneak peek at him and saw his lips slowly curving into a smile.

He smiled. Enzo smiled. That would be considered a victory.

My lips had also curved into a broad smile. This Enzo was different but...I don't know what I was thinking.

"Is this your code language?" He asked me.

"Yeah! Kind of." I chuckled at him and then realised that he was talking to me. "Can we talk directly now?"

"Are you going to listen if I say no?" He asked, making a mocking face.

"Of course...NOT!"

He released a chuckle and I could sense that the sadness was out of him now.

Mission accomplished. Yayyyyy!!!

"It felt ticklish."

"I know. My mom used to do that to me whenever I didn't listen to her.”

"You mean these tickles were your punishment?" He asked me with a confused face.

"Haha...it sounds silly, right? That is my weakness. So, it was enough for me as a punishment." I chuckled at my own words while remembering how I used to jump on the bed when my mom used to tickle me.

His next move was unexpected to me. He took my hand and started trying to tickle me on my palm by running all his fingers softly upon mine.

"Umm...don't tell me you are testing it." I said, making a disbelief look on my face.

He cleared his throat and instantly took his hands away from mine. His face suddenly turned lightly red while he stared at the floor. Was he embarrassed?

"I don't feel it on my palms anymore. Now, it only works if someone does that on...um...my waist or maybe neck." I felt shy as I was telling him about my most silly weakness.

To clear the awkwardness between us, I thought of giving him the present. I slightly got up from my place and took it from the table.

When I turned to look at him, I saw him staring at me differently. His lips were curved into a warm smile. A genuine smile. His eyes were...only into mine.

My heart started beating so fast just like a bullet train and my face went hot just like a hot air balloon. Without realizing it, my hands headed in his direction on their own with that present. He looked down on my hand but my eyes were fixed on his face.

Look away from him. I could not. At this point, I was not in charge of my mind. I couldn't control my actions.

"For me?" He asked, not meeting my eyes.

I somehow managed to look away from him and replied, "Yeah. Only for you."

Because you needed it right now. Everyone wants flowers whether it is a boy or girl.

"Thank you." He said calmly.

I just nodded at him. He didn't ask me why I was giving him a flower and all, he just accepted it which made me feel happy. Maybe, he knew that it was the same love sign from his mom and he needed it the most at this moment.

"But why rose? That too a red rose?" He asked, facing me with a curious face.

"Because this flower suits you."

He stilled but there was no expression on his face. So, I got ready for my next move but before that I got the courage to ask him.

"Um....consider this a favour."

And just like that I slid my arms around him and hugged him while resting my face on his shoulder. I could sense that he was a bit shocked by that.

"Stay like this for a few minutes."

After a few moments of hesitation, he slid his arms around me which made me weak with a fast rating heartbeat and... he embraced himself in that hug. He was relaxed in my arms. I could feel his tense muscles dropping on that embrace.

"It doesn't change the fact that we are enemies and know that I still hate you." I whispered to him.

"Noted." He whispered back but in a voice full of relief.

The reply was not like him. But it was actually a good reply.

*****