No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 11

Anastasia Mancini is The Fiore Mortale.

I fucking knew her tattoo was too alike to the markings to just be a coincidence. But now this makes her a real threat, and I can't help but wonder why.

Why would she blame my family for the death of her parents? They had nothing to do with it, but I suppose I would have the same reaction. I'm no better than she is.

I take the note and send a message in the family group chat to meet in the meeting room immediately.

I adjust my suit and exit my office, walking down the hall to the meeting room, going inside and taking my seat at the head of the table.

My family all trail in, each as confused as the last as they take their usual seats.

When everyone is seated, I read the note out, smirking at their shocked reactions.

"So she is The Fiore Mortale," Azalea gasps, pride in her eyes as she looks at me. I nod and place the letter back on the table.

"She's a threat that we need to take care of," I state, "She's targeting our Mafia and she's targeting our family,"

"It's too bad, I quite liked her," Alessio sighs, and I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Do you really believe everything in the letter?" Mom asks, "There's no denying that she's the one who killed our men, but I find it hard to believe that it's all her ideas,"

"We have proof that she was behind it and you're still siding with her?" I scoff, unable to fathom why Mom is still so heavily protecting Anastasia.

"All I'm saying is that Leonardo is a dangerous man, and he's smart. I don't believe that it's all Anastasia's ideas, she wouldn't willingly kill us, especially because she knows I was friends with her Mother," Mom says firmly, and I know it's not worth arguing with her any further, there's no budging her from this.

"I honestly don't care who fucking idea it was, I want Anastasia brought here as soon as possible. She's a threat and I don't want anyone here getting killed," I snap, exhausted over all of this back and forthing.

"I will gladly bring her here," Azalea giggles, and I roll her eyes at how immature my sister is.

"It also means she was probably behind the raid last night," I say.

"You gotta hand it to her, she's done well," Uncle Carlos says.

I raise an eyebrow at him and watch as Aunt Lia rolls her eyes at her husband.

"Is that all you had to say?" Dad asks, and I nod, my jaw locking as no one is taking this as seriously as they should.

Dad nods and stands up, waiting for Mom to get out of her chair before they walk out of the room.

"I spoke to Griffon and Everett Payton at the auction, I'll see if I can reconnect with them for more information," Uncle Carlos says, standing up and patting my shoulder as him and Aunt Lia exit after Mom and Dad. "Don't mind your Mother, she's just grieving for Penelope and feels obligated to protect Anastasia," Aunt Lia murmurs to me, ruffling my hair as her and Uncle Carlos go out into the hallway.

I sigh and run my hands down my face, utterly exhausted from where this meeting went.

"I trust you fratello, if you believe that Anastasia is a threat, then she is," Alessio smiles, and I smile at the refreshing encouragement.

"Thanks Al," I say, forever grateful for my brothers support.

"What if we let her come to us?" Azalea says slowly, "Because she's bound to make a move sooner or later, so we wait for that and just make sure we're ready for it?"

I smile at my little sisters idea, always finding it amusing when she finally uses her brain and has good ideas.

"She'll find out by some means that Leonardo dobbed her in, so she'll either get spooked or make a mistake trying to get to us sooner," Alessio adds.

"I doubt she'll get spooked, but it would probably make her want to speed up the process," I muse, liking the idea of letting Anastasia coming to us instead of us going to the trouble of finding her first.

"I assume she'll keep a low profile after last night," I muse, thinking out loud.

"I suppose it's safe to assume that Le Aquile Rosse have been helping her?" Azalea asks, looking at me with wide eyes.

I nod, "Considering that they went to the auction together, and Ari Stewart has been at all of the hits on our men, I'd assume that they've been assisting her,"

"They definitely helped her last night," Alessio says, "Gabriel Hayes was talking to Burrows at the auction,"

"They know each other?" Azalea asks, "I thought Burrows mainly kept to himself,"

"He was having some business troubles a while back, a few of his competitors were found dead, it could be a possibility that he sought help from Le Aquile Rosse," I say, leaning back in my chair.

"Could they have access to information about the property which we don't?" Alessio suddenly asks, "Perhaps Burrows gave them information about it if they helped him out,"

"I'll get into contact with Burrows today and ask," I say.

"And we wait until they make another move?" Azalea asks slowly.

I nod at her and give her a smile, shaking my head as she flashes a grin at me.

"Well it's settled then, we relax until she fucks up," Alessio announces, standing up before exiting the room.

"Meeting over then?" Azalea asks me, and I nod before she flashes me one last smile and walks out of the room.

I sigh and look at the letter again, unsure of what to think about it. There's no denying that Leonardo is a cunning man, murdering his own daughter, but that doesn't mean that his words don't hold any truth.

I know that Anastasia is The Fiore Mortale and she did commit the killings and most likely the raid last night, but Mom's words make me question whether she even wanted to. If it was truly all Leonardo's ideas, then I have no doubt that Anastasia would immediately snitch on him; but if it was all her ideas, then she would probably proudly admit that. She leaves such a distinctive mark on her victims that she obviously wants people to know that it's her who committed the hits.

I lean back in my seat and look at the letter, feeling closer to catching The Fiore Mortale than ever. But I'll wait. Wait patiently until she makes a mistake, and when she does, I'll be waiting for her.

//

Decided to publish another chapter since I'm in a good mood,

What do we think about Leonardo snitching on Anastasia??

Next chapter will be out tomorrow, so until then, have a good day/night and don't forget to vote!!

Abi <3