Francesco spoke "Its symbolic. A turtle dove is the symbol of Valentine's day and love. A Dove only stays with one mate in their lifetime. A dove mates for life. This Dove brooch is a symbol of our loyal love. Sweetheart. Thank you for your love. Saying those sacred vows in church all those years ago promising myself to you and vowing to take care of you as my one and only was one of the best moments of my life. Thank you for everything. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for bringing up the kids when I am not here. I try not to stay away too long but sometimes I have to. I am sorry."

Adele put on the brooch on her dress and looked up at him "Its alright honey. Seeing you back safe and sound is all I want. I want you to come back to me always safe. That's all I want."

Francesco kissed her forehead "I know. I promise to come home to you safe always but if I don't ... then our sons are ready to step up. Vincenzo is strong enough to lead and Viggo is ready to have his back. They are young. Too young but they can handle it with some guidance from their godfather, Emanuelle and their uncles. They are my sons. I raised them. I know you can rely on them. Don't worry about me sweetheart though. I am not easy to catch. I never get caught. I am a step ahead of my enemies. So our sons can have the childhood I never had. I know you don't like me being so hard on my sons' training but I don't force them. They want this. They want to back their father. If they didn't, I would have backed off abit from their upbringing. You must face it. They are their father's sons."

Adele was getting emotional at this point. She had been taught by Francesco to try to ignore the realities of his underground criminal life that he was leading. She was taught to distract herself by her job at the hospital and look the other way. But of course, the thought of her sons entering this life soon too really hurt the most. She was determined to somehow find a way to keep them away and change their future. Time was running out but there was time.

Adele nodded weakly "Of course..... You are right .......... I think we should go now. I can imagine they are climbing the stairs by now." She was hoping she wasn't going to cry. She was hoping the thoughts of her children gathering around for dinner was enough to make her forget her fears and worries.

Francesco kissed her lips and whispered "Leave it all to me sweetheart. Don't fear anything." He then walked away and opened the door for Adele "After you Mrs Rosario."

Adele walked out quickly as she gave him a weak smile. She walked straight to the kitchen and wiped her tears that had just escaped from her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened the oven and took out the Lasagne and the roast.

Vienna came into the kitchen "Mum. It smells so nice." She then without being asked helped Adele by taking the food dishes to the dining room one after another.

When Adele entered the dining room with the soup dish she noticed Vincenzo, Vienna alongside Francesco were sitting on the table. Viggo hadn't still arrived. She looked at the clock. It was two minutes left to Francesco's deadline."

As she set the soup down and took her seat she heard his younger son running to the kitchen. He had made it and by the looks of it he had been running.

Viggo spoke "Sorry for not arriving earlier."

Francesco gave him a hard stare "Sit down Viggo. I will speak to you and your brother after dinner in my office."

As Viggo took his seat, Adele spoke "Francesco, do you mind cutting the roast please into pieces."

Francesco stood up and took a knife to the roast lamp piece. Then as he sat down the family started eating in silence. No one said any word for a while. Then Vienna broke the silence "Dad... can I ask you something?"

Francesco looked up at his daughter "Yes, Vienna."

Vienna spoke slowly and carefully "Dad.... I was invited to a sleep over in two weeks time for celebrating end of our exams. Can I go?"

Francesco spoke "It depends who has invited you?"

Vienna bit her lip "Its Clarisa O'Neil. So they would be holding a dance as well as other entertainment like games for boys and girls at the O'Neil mansion."

Francesco spoke "There are boys?... So ...Are any of your brothers invited?"

Viggo spoke "I was invited and I want to go."

Francesco spoke "I don't see why not Vienna. You can go too."

Vincenzo spoke "I am not going and father I don't think its a good idea for her to socialise with senior boys."

Francesco spoke "The O'Neils are our allies. Emanuelle and Sancia O'Neil are your god-parents. Explain to me why you are not going. Have any O'Neils disrespected us or they have left you out of the invitation?"

Viggo laughed "No father. He was invited by Tristan and Trent personally like how I was. He is not thinking of going because there is dancing involved. He cant dance but Tristan and Trent can. He doesn't want to look bad."

Vincenzo kicked his brother from under the table making Viggo wince in pain. Vincenzo then gave Viggo a death glare that meant it was not over. It meant bed time confrontation at his bedroom for Viggo that he was used to and didn't mind. He liked to challenge his brother in private.

Francesco turned to Viggo "Good choice you are going Viggo. Such parties are good networking opportunities." He then carried on eating. Of course his words had a great effect on his eldest son. Vincenzo didn't like to fall behind his younger brother. Francesco was certain that Vincenzo was now going to learn some ballroom dancing and was going to attend.

The rest of dinner time went quietly. After dinner, Vincenzo and Vito went to their father's office and waited for him as they were told. It was reckoning time for them.

As their father came inside his office after keeping them waiting for minutes, his voice boomed as he walked towards them " Good that you are punctual at least today to my meeting. I don't have time for lateness as you know. Tonight I will let you in some details from my business trip. I wish I could take you with me. But your education comes first." He walked behind his desk facing his sons who were standing in the middle of the room most likely knowing what was coming next.

Francesco continued "But first. Your conduct needs to be discussed before anything else. Viggo, you cut it too close today and you Vincenzo haven't been keeping your mother content with your conduct." He then poured himself some vodka into a glass as he instructed "Drop and give me twenty both of you."

As his sons dropped to the floor and got on with push ups, Francesco looked at his watch as he took sips from his glass drinking vodka. His sons had learnt to do what their father demanded without argument and had to be quick since to their father time meant everything. Francesco had taught his sons that doing everything within the certain time frame meant money and power applied to every situation. Whether it was their training. Whether it was their studying and whether it was their punishments. It didn't matter. Francesco timed them every step of the way. His sons had learnt that time was of great value and was their greatest enemy in life. If they were going to waste their father's time, he was going to waste theirs.

Francesco was looking at his watch as he was timing his sons doing push ups as fast as they could and listening to them counting their push ups. He was going to ask for another twenty if he wasn't happy with the speed and his sons knew that well. Of course he was going to double or triple their push ups if his sons displeased him with their pace.

As the two youngsters finished their push ups and got up, he nodded at them "Very good. It seems like you are learning fast and it looks to me that you have been doing your training regularly. Your fitness is satisfactory. But .... there is some additional matter I want to discuss about the conduct of both of you before anything else. You must show more respect to your mother in a more appreciative way. You must understand. Your mother works hard to prepare a nice meal for all of you at weekends. I didn't hear you say thank you after the meal today since you were too busy giving each other challenging glares as you left. Remember to respect your mother no matter what happens. Now, drop and give me another twenty."