Behind the one way mirror in the basement of the safehouse owned by the White family…
Emma and Charlie are holding each other and listening to Bruno's story.
"How are you doing?", Charlie asked Emma when he felt that her hold on him tightened.
Emma was not sure how to respond, but she wanted to say something so that Charlie does not think how she is doubting him (again). "Bruno owes everything he has to my father and he does not think that it's a problem to work against the man who raised him only to get his hands on power. I find his way of thinking disturbing."
"Do you feel sorry for Angelo?", Charlie asked while observing Emma's face intently.
Emma didn't deny it. "Angelo abandoned his family and focused on two things: his organization and on Bruno… and Bruno is ready to backstab him in order to take Angelo's organization. If Bruno succeeds, Angelo is left with nothing. If Bruno fails, Angelo is left with an organization. I wonder if he thinks it's worth it. Sounds like it came from a TV drama. I pity Angelo because he picked his organization over his family and he is on a verge of being left empty handed."
Charlie was surprised by Emma's answer. "You pity him? Aren't you sad or angry that your father is out there, and he never contacted you?"
"Uhm… I don't know him. However, considering that he willingly stayed away from us, I guess he is not a father material and it's probably better that I grew up without his influence. I stopped hating him a long time ago.", Emma admitted.
She looked at Charlie and added: "This situation between Bruno and Angelo reminds me of your family. Are all people who have access to power like that?"
"Not everyone turns bad and greedy. Look at Jeff and Aiden."
Emma wanted to say that Charlie can be added to that list as well, but then she remembered: "The two of them are getting along well, but what about the rest of their family? They had to fight against their Uncle. What makes people turn bad and greedy?"
Charlie thought for some time before responding: "I'm not sure. If I need to pick one, I would say: entitlement. When a person believes that they deserve something which is not theirs and they are bold enough to try to snatch it, people fight."
"How do you prevent it?"
Charlie smiled helplessly. "If I knew, I would fix my family."
On the private island on the Adriatic Sea…
It is early morning and Sarah and Aiden are huddled in the bed while watching Bruno's interrogation on the laptop.
When Bruno ended his story, Sarah got a message from JoAnna: "Do you want to find out anything else?"
Sarah showed the text to Aiden and he waved his hand, indicating that he has no questions for Bruno. If it's up to him, he and his Mrs. will go back under the cover and sleep or make love. One of those two. And watching this live stream is not the activity of his choice.
Sarah texted back: "Does he know who beat him up?"
JoAnna responded: "I don't think so."
Sarah giggled when she sent: "Ask him. Based on Bruno's talk, he thinks that he is better than Ronin siblings. It will be fun."
In Los Angeles…
JoAnna read the message from Sarah and shook her head. Ah, Sarah wants to mess with Bruno more than just physically but considering that he came here to seduce Emma in order to become a boss of some organization, Bruno deserves it.
"What makes you think that you are the right person to be the next head of Nero armi?", JoAnna asked Bruno.
Bruno frowned. "There is no one better than me for the job."
"But you just said how you need to marry Emma in order to lead the organization after Angelo. And based on that we can conclude that she can be the next boss." JoAnna paused while making a dramatic 'I am thinking' face. "Why does Emma need to marry you? What is stopping her from taking over Nero armi without you?"
Bruno shook his head in disapproval. "Angelo's children don't know that he is alive, and they never heard of Nero armi. How can they be a better choice than me?"
"In an organization where blood ties count, everything else can be learned. And being the most capable does not hold much weight."
Bruno agreed with JoAnna. "True. But how can they get the position if they are not aware of it?"
"What if they find out?"
Bruno's face darkened. "I will take care of them."
"Are you sure you have the skills?", JoAnna asked mockingly.
"Of course. For twenty years I am preparing for this role." Bruno is not the best fist-fighter, but he is confident in his skills with guns. And being the next leader of Nero armi is much more than just fighting skills. Bruno knows the ins and outs of the organization.
JoAnna sighed. "You sound confident, but those are only words. After all, you got beaten up so easily."
Bruno will not deny that he got beatings, and JoAnna's smug expression told him that there is more to it. "What?"
"Today you got a beating from the people you think are less worthy than you." JoAnna moved her fingers and the television which is up in the corner showed photos of Sean, Ryan, and Mike. "Do you recognize these people?"
Bruno frowned, and it took him a second to connect the photos with his memories from earlier that day.
"Those are two identical boys from the restroom in the restaurant. And the third one is the guy from the alley!", Bruno said through his teeth. He can't lie and he can't hide his anger either.
JoAnna observed him with excitement. "Is that it? You don't know anything else about them?" She saw that Bruno's expression is blank and added: "I thought you said how Angelo has files on his children…"
Bruno's eyes darted few times while he connected the dots and his face fell when he realized that those three are Angelo's boys. Of course, he saw their files, but he focused on Emma and neglected her brothers. No wonder they looked familiar.
"Unbelievable…", Bruno said under his breath. "Do they know about my intentions? Is that why they attacked me?"
"They know that you are here with an intention to seduce their sister.", JoAnna responded, happy with Bruno's reaction.
"How do they know? Does Emma know?", Bruno asked frantically. If Emma knows, his plan is ruined.
The door opened and Emma and Charlie walked in right on time to hear Bruno's questions.
"Not only Emma. I know also.", Charlie glared at Bruno while flexing his fingers.
Bruno's brows furrowed while his eyes darted from Emma to Charlie.
Bruno can see that Charlie is ready to pounce on him, but he is stuck to this chair! Is this how things end? He felt like crying. He approached Emma this morning and then got beaten up by all three of her brothers and now fiancé as well? The only comforting thing is that the anesthetic JoAnna gave him is still effective.
JoAnna can see that Charlie is ready to beat up Bruno, and based on Charlie's expression, it will not be easy to stop him. She swiftly texted Sarah: "Are we done?"
"Give us a minute…", a response from Sarah arrived two seconds later.
JoAnna blinked at her screen which showed Sarah's response and mumbled: "I don't think we have a minute..."
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