― In which Santino D'Antonio falls in love with a girl and it changes his life.
Power and money is all that's ever mattered to the leader of the Camorra, Italy's biggest mob. But an alliance with the British crime syndicate will make his path cross...
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THE BALLROOM at the Rome Continental in all its elegance is filled to the brim with members of the Camorra. Nighttime has fallen over the sky through the windows, but still light and airy. Its high ceilings are embellished with crystal chandeliers and outside its grand windows is a view that will help to provide an unforgettable night. The aura that fills the room is one that resembles high society and pride, and a stuffiness with the golden music that resonates throughout.
Each guest is dressed illustriously and unique. Men in their tux's and the women in grand, sparkly, rich dresses with their hair and makeup all done up. However, there's a sense of falsity to the event; mingling with fake smiles, strained conversations, all with people they probably want dead. No one completely trusts each other here, some do, others don't; the only reason most can even be in the same room is because it's the Continental. Alone in the front of the ballroom is a quartet playing a classic, providing illustrious music for people to mingle to.
Santino has arrived with Lorenzo and Ares's eyes are watching his every move. Many come to welcome him, shake his hand, and try to hold a conversation. He pays them no mind as he is only looking for one person it particular.
His eyes search over the crowd with intensity looking for Pippa. As he moves towards the bar he finally catches sight of her; which makes him stop in his tracks. Stars shine in Santino's eyes at how beautiful she looks. Absolutely breathtaking in the sparkly black and silver ballgown, and hair tumbling past her shoulders. She has a bright smile as she animatedly talks to a group laughing every so often. Pippa looks like a princess. Santino swallows hard as he wants to make his way over. It feels as if this young girl is a sin for him and there will be nothing to stop whatever he's feeling bubbling up in his chest.
"She's cute, huh?" Lorenzo says aloud as he followed his boss. He has a feeling Santino is stuck on her figure, he can see the look in his eyes, "everyone wants a piece of her it seems, especially the men."
"Can you blame them? She's something else, not like any girl in Italy." Santino feels a tinge of jealousy as Pippa touches the arm of a man trying to seem friendly. He can tell she's overwhelmed just by the period of time he spent with her the other night. She's probably hating every second of this.
"Yeah she is, absolutely gorgeous... Heard you have an edge though, took her out the other night Matteo told me about it."
"This is the granddaughter of the man we're trying to form an alliance with we're talking about. I have a duty to her as well."
"Well I think you should go intervene if you have a duty to her, that man's getting a bit too comfortable."
Lorenzo's comment makes Santino's head snap back in Pippa's direction, where he sees a man leaning in and placing his hands all over. Pippa looks uncomfortable and keeps backing away only for him to inch closer. She still has a smile plastered on her face but it's obvious how forced it is.
