TWENTY- EIGHT (Odessa POV)

"Okay, we're all right, she hasn't seen us according to you and I'll wait tomorrow for the Vespas at the agreed place along with Jay and Sofia, you'll watch us hiding close and checking that Giorgio won't come with his mom to the meeting looking for you... Calm down, topolina..." Lucky stops to look at me with a furrowed brow when hearing my mocking tone of voice and I take advantage of the break to catch my breath.

"I'm not a little mouse anymore, I was very skinny because I didn't eat much food and it took a bit of time for me to grow up but I look better now..." The assassin points at her breasts and toned abs under the T-shirt, she looks slightly offended, and I can't help licking my lips.

"I know, you're a grown woman right now... a very hot one."

"Odessa, behave!" Lucky pretends to be angry before taking a look around trying to find where the hell we are, I don't know how she does it, honestly, all these streets and buildings look the same to me but she points in one direction and takes my hand.

"Why didn't you tell them that Giorgio had stolen those pastries?" My girl chuckles while we walk.

"Because I felt sorry for him... her mom put him on a diet. Giorgio grew up with his nonna while his father was working at the garage and her mother ran a hair salon in the neighbourhood, his grandma used to spoil him too much and gave him whatever he wanted, he was an amazing cook and her ragù napoletano was legendary... The poor boy got really fat and his mother took him to the doctor but Giorgio had a really bad time and that's why he sneaked out of the house to steal some food, I was trying to help him because... I was a kid who didn't have enough food in her own fridge and didn't understand why my friend couldn't eat whatever he wanted, people following a diet voluntarily struck me as a strange idea. When I started to earn money with my petty theft, I bought bags of cookies that I ate in one go till I felt sick..."

"I'm sorry..." I whisper regretting asking the question. I get the impression that our visit to her former street has been painful for Ares, more than she's willing to admit, and I'm just making it more difficult but I don't know how to help her, I can't protect her from her memories or change her past experiences.

"It's okay, I was able to control my food anxiety when I started training martial arts and learnt the value of discipline and the benefits of having a healthy body and staying fit... And talking about food, aren't you hungry?"

"Yes, of course. We should go back to the hotel, Jay and Sofia must be waiting for us..."

"Jay and Sofia are busy working with the laptop to hack the traffic system and I told the girl behind the reception desk to give them some pizzas and ice cream for dinner so they'll be fine, don't worry... Let's go, this will be our last night in Naples and we can have fun, street food is probably the best thing about this city. Have you ever tried fried pizza filled with pepper and ricotta cheese?" I shake my head following her down the street, the sun is setting but people don't look in a rush to go back home at all and locals mingle with tourists, it's a warm night and Neapolitan people are leaned on the counter of pizzerie and friggitorie enjoying a quick bite, chatting and laughing with their friends.

"It's a very lively city," I whisper fascinated watching the racket.

"My compatriots are dynamic people, always moving and... they're unable to speak softly. That's fried fish and prawns and it's served in paper cones, arancini... those're fried and breaded rice balls, frittata di maccheroni... a delicious omelette made with pasta... and fruit granite to drink."

"Are those Nutella crepes?" I ask following the delicious smell to a small van but Lucky pulls my arm in the opposite direction.

"First of all, pizza... and the dessert later."

"I love Naples..." I whisper and my girl chuckles while handing me a paper napkin so I can take a hot piece of fried pizza that she's bought to a woman called zia Esterina in a tiny restaurant that's only able to accommodate five people standing, I guess this is why everybody is outside eating and having fun in the street... Lucky bites her own piece and lets out a lengthy moan. "Oh my God, this is so good..." I chew happily before taking another bite. "Do you know how to bake this? I want you to try when we're back home in Philippines..."

"Yes, but it won't be as good as this one, I'm afraid..." My girl shrugs and keeps eating while we walk towards the next food truck full of delicacies.

"And in the meantime, Winston has to eat with the Scorpion and her business partners at the Continental restaurant, with those haughty waiters, where small portions of fancy food are served on designer dishes... He's missing the best thing of this city."

"It's his fault, what the hell is he doing with that venomous madwoman? She's like a praying mantis, all their lovers end up losing their heads... I don't know what Winston was thinking, to be honest. Oh look, sfogliatelle... forget about those crepes, you're going to try the pastries that drove Giorgio crazy. It's been years since I ate one of those..." Suddenly, the assassin looks really happy and she even forgets her Spanish accent when she talks to the baker in the local dialect, pointing at the pastries.

"I guess he thought the benefit offset the risk he was taking or maybe he was infatuated with the Scorpion... I can understand that. Oh my God, Lucky, this is delicious..." I chew the pastry filled with ricotta cheese and lick my fingers before grabbing another one from the paper cone she's holding.

"Understand it? Do you think the woman is attractive?" The assassin looks at me as if I'd gone mad and grabs the last sfogliatella before I can eat it. "I guess she's kind of pretty and exotic... but she gives me the creeps."

"I wasn't talking about that, she's a beautiful woman above all thanks to plastic surgery and expensive skincare, but she has this aura, you know." I gesture with my hand holding a paper napkin while trying to find the right words. "She's powerful, very confident, has an overwhelming personality and a strong character, she's trained and is very good and handling knives, she doesn't take no shit from nobody.... I understand why Winston could've fallen in love with such a woman because I did it too, I mean, at first I..." My cheeks turn red and Lucky stares at me confused. "I got horny thinking that I was getting laid with one of the most dangerous women working for the Company, it feels like... I don't know... petting a powerful predator knowing that it won't bite back. Later, I found out that you're funny, generous and brilliant, you always keep your promises and you're very loyal when you care about someone, those are the reasons why I fell in love with you but, at first, I was attracted to you because... you know..."

"Danger turns you on, Odessa." The assassin smirks mischievously and my cheeks burn even more but I nod boldly. "I was attracted by your genuine irreverence, you were so bold and brave, breaking the rules deliberately while other wise criminals abided by them... Yes, I know that..." Lucky raises her hand before I can even speak. "You can afford it because you're a Dashkov and the Russian mob has your back... but other people are powerful too and don't dare to break the rules. On the contrary, you wander around the underworld with your hair dyed in purple and your 'go fuck yourselves' attitude... I wanted to be like you deep inside despite you got on my nerves sometimes... Well, I am now..." She laughs amused pointing at her green hair. "But I fell in love with your big heart, your sweetness and your stubbornness... The way you care about your family and friends... You welcomed me in that group immediately and started to care about me... It's been years since I don't feel like this..."

"You're part of the family, Lucky... You belong with us, don't doubt that..." I whisper kissing her sweet lips, coated in sugar and cinnamon... delicious.

"I'd like to be part of it... officially... maybe one day. A Dashkova... Unless you prefer to be a Chiatamone although it wouldn't be wise since Lucrezia and her alter ego Ares are supposed to be dead..."

"Lucky, are you proposing to me right now?" I open my mouth wide in shock, unable to believe what I just heard, and she seems to be thinking about it quietly while throwing the paper cone to a trash can. She stares at me with squinty eyes and nods firmly, finally.

"Yes, I think that's what I'm doing exactly... Should I buy you a ring? An emerald matching the necklace would be a good idea, unless you prefer a different gem..."

"Wait, wait... You and I... You want to buy me a... and you want a celebration with white dresses and all... I didn't think you were an old-fashioned type of woman... My head is spinning right now..." I look around feeling dizzy because of the light and noise, the smell of food, Naples citizens laugh while they walk past us and I think I'm still in shock. Suddenly, Lucky's hands cradle my face and she forces me to look at her right into her shiny green eyes ignoring the curious look from the owner of the pastries truck.

"Odessa, baby, I'm Italian: jealous, temperamental, passionate... And yes, old-fashioned. Of course I want to bind you to me with all the human and divine bonds I can, making sure you'll always be by my side, and the ring on your finger must be big enough for all those women and men who try to flirt with you to understand you're mine..." I snort and try to shake my head despite her hands are still cradling my face, I can't believe what she's saying to me, where did this cavewoman come from? "It should be a symbolic celebration on the beach and a party with our friends in your dad's home: Val, Jay, Sofia, Nikolai... Only a few guests but I don't care, the only important thing is that you'll be mine and I'll be yours and we'll honour our vows as if they were a real blood oath for the rest of our lives... Do you like the idea?"

"You're crazy, Lucky, Ares, Lucrezia or whatever your name is... Of course yes, but only if you let me buy you a ring so big that those bitches who stare at you entranced every time you wear your wetsuit understand that you belong to me..." I put my arms around her waist and move closer to her body while she nods.

"Deal..."

"Shouldn't you ask my father's permission before, old-fashioned girl?" I ask mockingly when she tries to kiss me to seal our agreement.

"I did, in Paris. He asked me what my intentions with regard of you were and I promised to take care of you if he wasn't around to do so, I guess it means he approves me..."

"Are you talking with my father about my future behind my back?" Lucky's lips melding with mines stop me from complaining again although I'm pretty angry, her tongue exploring my mouth is a huge distraction and she manages to make me forget everything for a second till she pulls away abruptly.

"Fuck... Let's go..." The assassin pulls my arm and walks up the street very fast but I struggle to follow her now that my belly is full of delicious food.

"What's wrong?" My girls stops near the entrance door of a building in the darkness and points at a group of well-dressed men that walk with a provocative attitude among the food trucks, people from Naples step back immediately and tourists do the same one minute later when they understand those bullies are looking for a fight. "Do you know them?"

"Of course, I used to work with those jerks... In fact, I bet one of those will be in an alley shooting at Winston tomorrow, they never managed to move up in the Camorra because they're a bunch of rude and ignorant assholes that think everything is solved by brute force... We better go now, I don't want to risk them seeing us, I don't think they'll be able to recognize me but some of them are still Giovanni's friends and he is a danger. We'll walk across Molosiglio gardens in front of the royal palace, I bet there're less people there... Try to walk fast but looking casual at the same time..."

"How the hell am I supposed to do that?" I ask quietly but Lucky doesn't answer and keeps pulling my arm, choosing the darker sidewalk far away from lampposts and monitoring the surroundings constantly. This isn't a good work out after having so many delicious things for dinner but I try to follow her pace knowing that we're close to our hotel, fortunately.

A young boy runs past us holding a camera in his hand followed by a fat tourist yelling that he's a thief and calling the police out loud, other tourists stare at him in shock and Naples citizens ignore him while they keep eating and chatting. The city still looks lively and colourful to me but I can't help shuddering, I wouldn't like to wander around these streets when it's dark looking like a lost foreign with flashy purple hair, and besides, I'm not carrying my wallet, money, my phone or a weapon... I'd be lost in the middle of Naples, not knowing anyone, not knowing where to go and, even if I'm able to fight thanks to my martial arts training, I'm very happy that the assassin is here with me: I feel safe when my girlfriend is around. Well, my fiancée... I can't help smiling when I remember it but the grin vanishes from my face when Lucky pulls my arm abruptly and forces me to hide behind a stone fountain with two sculpted lions.

"Parli del diavolo..." she whispers grimacing.

"What?" I ask puzzled trying to take a look over the stone animal but her arm on my shoulders pins me down again.

"Talking about the devil... here he comes... Giovanni and his friends, I think they're drunk..." I have to trust her because I can't see them although I hear them laughing and singing out of tune the way only drunk people knows to do while they walk towards the food trucks near the marina. "Come on, sit down on this step and we'll wait for some minutes to make sure they're far away before we go back to our hotel... I hope we won't run into anyone else..."

"Picture this: we're walking casually and bump into the Scorpion and Winston after turning a corner," I giggle quietly and my girl snorts, putting her arm around my waist.

"It'd be the icing on the cake... Are you cold?"

"No but I don't mind if you want to stay stuck to my body..." I whisper naughtily grazing her lips with mines. Lucky responds to my kiss slowly, letting me play with her tongue and provoking her a little but trying not to take things further. Minutes tick by while we make out like two teenagers hiding in a park, my skin warms up and her taste drives me crazy without me even noticing it. I lean closer to her to be able to deepen the kiss while my hand slips up her jeans fabric, rubbing her knee and thigh, and she lets out a soft moan before trying to pull away but the stone edge of the fountain behind her stops her movement.

"Odessa, this is a public park... Behave!" I cut her speech off kissing her again and tangling my fingers in her silky hair to stop her from pulling away. Our tongues dance in sync and I can feel her hardened nipples grazing my torso through our T-shirts fabric, my hand cups her hot core over the jeans fabric and my girl raises her butt to meet me involuntarily. "Have you gone nuts? This isn't the right place or moment to..." Her breath fans my face while she complains but her hips buck against my hand when I put a little more pressure and start rubbing her crotch with my fingertips, muffling her gasp with my own mouth.

"You fell in love with me because I was brave, bold and irreverent..." I whisper before trapping her lower lip between my teeth gently.

"Yes, but I didn't know you were an exhibitionist..." Her tone of voice sounds slightly worried but fights me half-heartedly when she tries to get rid of my hand, deep inside she knows no one can see us behind this stone fountain far away from the main paths and the lampposts, and the branches of a big tree protect us too. My lips slip down her neck, her heady perfume goes directly to my brain and her skin is sweet under my tongue while my fingers work nonstop trying to put more pressure on the right spot over the fabric. It's summer, luckily, and these aren't her thicker jeans... I can feel her heat and wetness. "Oh God, Odessa..." Lucky cradles my face and tangles her fingers in my hair while kissing me deeply, her hips buck against my hand and her whole body convulses when she reaches an orgasm, short but intense, muffling her moans in my mouth till her muscles go limp and leans her forehead on mine, relaxing in my arms while she catches her breath. "Dashkovs are crazy, seriously..."

"A wonderful madness..." I whisper holding her tight, hiding my face in her neck so I can get drunk with her distinctive perfume.

"How the hell am I supposed to walk back to the hotel now? My legs feel week and it's your fault, bad girl..." she whispers in my ear with a harsh tone of voice before biting my earlobe as a punishment.

"Think of your revenge, baby, that will give you strength..." The assassin raises her head abruptly and looks at me with squinty eyes and, even if it's dark, I can see that they're shining with mischief.

You're right, you know I'm going to make you pay for this... and I'm not talking about buying me new panties."

"Will be your revenge sweet enough if you know that I can't wait for you to punish me?" I ask mockingly while Lucky gets up, monitoring the surroundings at the same time she offers me her hand to help me.

"I'll decide it in a few minutes when I hear you begging for mercy in our bed... Let's go, it's getting late and Jay and Sofia must be worried."