Checkmate

The hard way

"Madeline?" My eyes open and come into focus on Alessandro's worries face.

I pull my arm and find it can't move. My eyes move to the side of the bed where I'm handcuffed to the bar.

"What the hell" someone come with the key and opens it.

"You were fighting us" Alessandro explains.
"We're done playing nice" I say touching the bandage on my abdomen, "Get the council together"

I sit up and swing my legs off the edge of the bed. "Luke" I say and he rushes out of the room to do what I said.

"Woah you shouldn't be moving" Alessandro says earning a look from me.

I smile "I don't feel anything" I tell him pulling him down to my height.

I kiss his lips wrapping my arms around him. "Let's finish this"

We arrive in the throne room just as the council is gathered. I changed into black jeans and a T-shirt with a leather jacket.

"I have news" they all murmur as I talk.
"Please welcome your future king" I say gesturing to Alessandro who stares at me with wide eyes.

"I will be away for a while and will be leaving him in charge of the monarchy.." they start to shout and get upset.

I lose my cool and throw a cup I found on the table across the room. It shatters into a million pieces onto the ground.

"There is to be no objections!" I yell quieting the room. "If we have to do this the hard way then we will!"

They all stay quiet then stand as I leave the room. I leave everything behind and make my way upstairs, the room I left still quiet.

Alessandro follows me up the steps grabbing my arm to stop me "where are you going again?"

"I have a few things to take care of before I can deal with Rizzo" I say taking his hand "I need you here"

He shakes his head "no I'm coming with you this time"

I smile "Leave Michael in charge then and pack only the essentials"

*************************************
"I'm going to ask one more time..where is the codex?" He doesn't respond and I shoot his leg again digging the bullet in with my fingers.

"Kill him he's useless" I say wiping my hands on a dish cloth.

He was the third person in Rizzos outer circle who wouldn't spill the beans. The codex is a ledger sort of..considering the mafia doesn't leave paper trails they had to keep track of things somehow..the royals have one for all the families but since no one knows what family or families Rizzo belongs to, he must keep his own ledger or codex.

"Alessandro kill him" I say again and hear the man scream.

"Wait!" He says making me turn around "I don't know where the codex is but I know who's in charge of it"

I smile "perfect so tell us before I kill you myself"

He gulps "I don't know his name but he's a head family! Someone in his inner circle with a raven as their symbol."

I look up at Alessandro then punch our victim knocking him out cold.
I peel back Alessandro's shirt and find the small tattoo of a raven in the right side of his lower abdomen.
The tattoo was a raven with its wings outstretched surrounded by the words, "Unità, fede, amore" (Unity, Faith, Love)then on the bottom of the tattoo forza (strength)
He sighs "I hoped you didn't notice"

I raise an eyebrow "you knew I did the moment you took your shirt off"

I trace it with my fingers and look at him the question burning against my throat.