Title : Dangerous Family Business

Author : CandyGirl1980

Rating : Mature

Couples : Maria/Michael with everybody thrown in it.

Summary : Maria is the daughter of an Italian Drug boss. Most of her life she had all the freedom she wanted. But one day a drug deal went wrong and now a few drugdealer are after her and her family. To keep everyone safe her father hires the most famous hitman money can buy. This time this man doesn´t get paid to kill someone, but to keep his daughter alive until everything is over.

Disclaimer : Roswell doesn´t belong to me nor do I inherit any money with this story. All I want is to entertain other fans like me with my tales. And I´m sorry if I offend someone with my description of the town Barker. Everybody from there should have mercy with me and I apologize beforehand.

Author´s Note : Every review is wanted, even the bad kind. And there are no aliens in this fic.

The huge white victorian mansion with the big beige windows had always been one of the most famous building of the small town Barker, New York. No wonder with a town, which didn´t even own a movie theatre, a public swimming pool or a playground for kids. All the little hamlet had to offer were a tyne sheriff departement, which was also the townshall, two pubs, which had seen better days and a few corner shops. But the mansion had everybody fascinated. There were rumours that in that building had died at least three people. A man, who couldn´t get over the death of his wife and had blown his head away with a sawed off weapon. A child, who played in front of the high staircase, tripped and rolled down the stairs. When it crashed to the ground, the boy´s neck was broken. And the last was a young beautiful woman, who had been raped hours and hours before her attacker slashed her throat from one side to another. But that wasn´t the main reason for the quiet whispers or that people stopped at the large iron gate to look at the towering house. It was the family living inside. People were wondering what was going on behind the heavy doors, but nobody had the guts to ask. The De Lucas, the family living inside the mansion, was well respected and everybody loved them. Jim De Luca, a man in his late fourties, slightly grey hair and blue eyes, always dressed in a suit, which seemed to be as expensive as his golden watch at his wrist. , had invested much money to save a few buildings from closing and he gave a few people work at his house. But it was still a mysterie what his job was. He never left early in the morning and came home late in the evening like every hard working man in town. He disappeared sometimes for weeks or even months, but no one ever knew what he was doing for a living. Amy De Luca, still a young woman in her early fourties with brown short hair and brown eyes, who looked good in everything she wore, even if it would be a potatoe sack, spent most of her time at the small day care center. She didn´t earn anything there, she just made it, because she wanted to. She had a kind heart and the women in town loved her to pieces. She was always invited to every party or little celebrations. Kyle De Luca, a young man in his midtwenties, with the appearance of a california surfer, dark blonde hair, blue eyes and most charming smile girls ever saw. He was the exact replica of his father. The people liked him, because he was always helpful and he had never made any trouble like any other kids in his age had done. Sean De Luca, the second young man at the age of 27 with short dark blonde curly hair, blue eyes and the smile of the devil. He was actually not so bad if one knew him. But he had made much trouble in his youth and nobody trusted him that much. He had changed, a few years in jail would do that to you, but no one noticed it. They just saw the young boy who stole a car and destroyed the little cottage of Mr. Mulligan. Maria De Luca, the youngest member of the family, she had just finished college and was taking a year time out to organize her life and see what she wanted to do with life. Her look was often the reason for fights among young men or accidents. Her long blonde hair, her light green eyes, her red full lips and her long legs, which she often presented with her short skirts, were the cause of many sleepless nights. But despite her beauty, she wasn´t shallow or even cocky. Most of the time she didn´t notice the stares or the drooling when she passed by. She treated everyone the same and she always had a kind word for all. The kids in town loved her and used every opportunity to see her or make her stay with them. She told the most interesting stories or was teaching them how to read a book. All in all the family was rather normal. At least on the surface.

Inside the mansion

Jim sat in his huge study room behind his expensive mahogany desk and was talking on the phone with one of his " clients". He had to settle a meeting with the said person, because it was too dangerous to transact the business in his house. Slowly he grasped a few papers on his desk and eyed the words on it. If anybody saw it they would think he was in the import-export business. But nobody would find out that they would be holding the ordering list of a drug delivery. Yes, Jim Valenti was the most successfull drug dealer in the united states. He was the best in his job and nobody could compare with him. Although he was already thinking about retiring soon and pass the obligation to his oldest son Sean. Just as Jim was putting back the phone, a knock was heard at the door.

" Come in".

At that the door opened and Maria was stepping into the room. Like usual she was looking around. It was no secret that this was her favourite room of the house, except maybe her own bedroom. But she loved the huge space which was illuminated with sunlight from the two windows at two sides of the room. The wall near the door was covered with a huge bookshelf with real books in it. And she loved the smell of wood and the perfume of her father. " Hey Dad. Do you have time right now?".

Jim smiled at his daughter. She was the most precious gift he ever received. He loved his sons deeply, but it was different with Maria. Maybe it was like that with every father of a girl. He didn´t know. He leaned back on his black leather armchair and put his hands behind his head. " For you always, angel. What gives?".

Maria carefully sat on her fathers desk and crossed her legs. She was glad that she decided to wear pants today, because otherwise this could have been really uncomfortable. " I wanted to talk to you about my future plans. You know I thought about it and I want to join the family business".

" No. Absolutely not. Forget this plan of yours fast. I don´t want you anywhere near this business", Jim´s answer was strong and certain. He did everything to keep his family out of harms way and far away from the dangerous people he worked with. That was the reason why he brought this mansion.

Maria jumped to her feet immediately. She already expected this, after all she grew up with this man long enough to know him. Slightly pouting she snaked her arms around her fathers neck and sat on his lap. " Come on Daddy. Sean and Kyle work for you, too. Don´t you think it´s a tad bit unfair to treat them better than me?".

Jim hated it when his daughter used his love for her to get what she wanted. She knew which button she had to push to persuade him. But this time she would bit on granite, this time she wouldn´t get her way. Lovingly he caressed her cheek. " I´m treating you different, because I know that Sean and Kyle can take care of themself", he saw that his daughter tried to protest. Tenderly he laid a finger on her lips to silence her. " I know you think you can take care of yourself. But honey, we´re talking about dangerous people, who would gladly get their hands on such a young beautiful girl like you. I would be devasteted if something would happen to you".

" But I could do the paperwork or make appointments with the clients or even do the ordering lists for you", Maria snuggled her head deeper on her fathers shoulder. That broke his resistance everytime. She played his sweet little angel and he allowed everything.

Jim sighed defeated. She was as persistant as her mother. And how could he say no to his daughter when she asked like that. He was getting soft on his old days. " I´ll think about it, how about that?".

Maria refrained from smiling confidently. She just got her way without her father knowing it. He just said he would think about it, but her mother would do the rest to convince him, she was sure of that. Happily she kissed her fathers cheek and stood up. " Thanks Dad".

" Someday I will get a heartattacke because of you", Jim rubbed his face while he watched his daughter walking out of his room. He was sure that all the grey hair were from Maria and not from Sean like he always thought.

Outside the office

Maria waited until the door closed behind her before she jumped in the air and let a joyful sound escape. She had won this round and she was proud that she didn´t behave like a little princess. She only used the things her mother taught her.

" How did it go", Amy stepped out of the common room. She had heard the door close and was curious how the conversation went. But judging after the happy expression on her daughters face, she knew it.

Maria smiled at her mother. " It went exactly like you said. I played the little girl and Dad was pudding in my hands. He told me he would think about my proposal".

Amy was glad that her daughter finally found something to do. She knew that she had been unhappy on college. Her favourite subject had been forensic science. Since her childhood she had the gift to see on the basis of evidence how someone had died. Even today she could indentify the murder weapon just by looking at the wound. But she knew that a career in the police section was out of the question with her fathers business. " That´s good. Now it´s on me to get him to agree to it. But don´t worry I already know what how I have to do it".

" What are you both talking about?", the women had been too occupied to notice that they weren´t alone any longer. Two young handsome men had joined them. Obviously just coming from their exercise, judging after the sweat drenched white t-shirts and the black sweatpants.

Amy turned to their sons and grinned at them. " Your little sister has decided to help Dad with his business and it looks like he will agree".

Kyle exchanged confused glances with his brother. Did their mother even talk about the same man they called father? Because it didn´t sound like him. " You´re kidding right? He will never agree to that".

" He will when he knows what´s good for him", with that Amy patted the arms of her sons, gave her daughter a little peck on the cheek and then disappeared from the corridor.

Kyle watched the retreating back of his mother and waited until she was out of sight before he turned his attention to his younger sibling. " Are you mental? How can you even think about getting into the family business? Are you actually aware of the danger that lurkes there?".

Maria rolled her eyes at her brother. He was always trying to shelter her from any harm that could come her way. But she wasn´t the tiny girl any more. She was capable to defend herself if the need should arise. Dammit, she already had held a weapon before she could even walk! " Don´t treat me like a little girl! I´m just as good as you both, maybe even more".

At that Sean started to laugh. " You don´t know what you´re talking about. Do you have the slightest clue what Dad´s business partner would do to you when they realize that a girl is working with them?".

" I know how the business goes. In case you forgot, I grew up in it just like you two", Maria was two seconds away from jumping the throats of her brothers. They made her so mad sometimes.

Kyle stepped closer to her and laid an arm around her shoulder. He didn´t want to get her upset. But she was after all their little sister and all they wanted was to protect her from this bad world. " Don´t be like that. We just don´t want that something happens to you, that´s all. We love you".

Maria stomped her right foot on the ground before she pushed her brother away from her. " I hate you both", she threw over her shoulder while she angrily made her way to her room.

Kyle and Sean smiled after her satisfied.

A few weeks later

Maria was sitting in her fathers office just in the process to finish a deal with some of her fathers regular customers, when she heard fast steps coming down the den in her direction. At first she thought it was her father. But he was on another business trip and wouldn´t be back until the next day. She should know it as his new secretary. She was organizing everything for him and had planned the trips. Immediately she went through the list of people who were in the house at this time. Sean was in New York right now, visiting his six year old son Trevor. Since the divorce, Sean used every opportunity to see him and his ex wife. They were still friends and still loved each other. But Linda, his ex wife, couldn´t live with the knowledge that her husband was a criminell. She tried it for three years before she had to throw in the towel. Now they lived in seperated households and it worked. So, Sean was out of the question. But so was Kyle, too. He was sleeping at his fiance´s apartement tonight. Tess had already phoned and told she shouldn´t expect her brother until tomorrow afternoon. It was weird to think that Kyle was dating a girl, who went to school with herself. Although they hadn´t even hung out at the same crowd, the had known each other rather well. Tess was a nice girl and made her brother happy, so she didn´t mind the connection between them. So that would just leave her mother, who complained about a murder headache and was now sleeping like the dead in her room after she took a pain killer, Phil the gardner and Bruno, the bodyguard her father hired for their protection. But she was taught from childhood that she always had to be prepared for the worst. Carefully she pulled the drawer besides her open while she kept her glance at the door. Slowly she reached into it and grasped the small gun there. Her heart was beating really fast and the adrenaline was pumping through her veins. Sweat was forming on her forehead. For a moment she thought she would faint, but it went as fast as it came when the door opened forcefully. Instantly she jumped to her feet and drew her weapon.

" Dammit girl! Put that thing away!".

Maria slumped back in her seat relieved and put the gun back to its place. She almost got a heartattack because of Bruno. But she was glad that she had scared him, too. He was as white as a ghost and was holding a hand over his heart. " You almost had me piss my pants!".

Bruno, a man who was as wide as he was tall and looked like a mix between Hulk Hogan and Bret the Hitman Hart, would have smirked in her direction, if the situation wouldn´t be so bad at the moment. " Great. Now get your ass in gear and follow me".

" What is going on?", Maria knew that something went wrong. She could see it in other mans eyes. And it have to have a reason that he was so bossy with her.

Bruno didn´t have time for chit chat. Quickly he went to her, grasped her arm roughly and dragged her out of the room. " I´ll tell you later. But now I have to get you to safety".

Maria struggled against the strong grip he had on her arm. He was actually hurting her and she was scared. Scared for her father. " What happened to my father? Is he alright?".

" Yeah. He´s unharmed at the moment".

That stopped Maria immediately. She planted her feet tight to the ground and leant her body in the other direction, so that Bruno was haltered in his pace. " What do you mean at the moment?".

Bruno tugged at her arm stronger than before. They didn´t have time for this. His boss gave him the order to get his family out of harms way and that he would do. But his charge was a stubborn opponent. " Come on. We don´t have time. I will explain everything later, I promise".

" I´m not moving any further if you don´t..." Maria stopped suddenly in her tirade. Some strange sound had made her sharp eared for a moment. Something or someone was in the house. She had felt a cold breeze wafting over her back and the feeling gave her the chills. Alarmed she looked at her bodyguard, who seemed to have realized something was wrong, too.

He pulled his hand gun from his shoulder holster under his black jacket and loaded it. " We´re no longer alone". Then he took Maria with him to the entrance, where the alarm system was. He checked the camera at the front gate on the monitor. But unfortunately someone seemed to have destroyed the camera and all they saw on the monitor was snowing. " Dammit".

Slightly scared Maria took turn eyeing the scared face of Bruno and the defect camera at the gate. She knew that it wasn´t some joke and that something had happened, something involving her father. Thinking quickly she remembered that her mother was probably still lying in bed, unprotected. " Bruno, go get my mother and bring her in the basement".

" I can´t leave you alone here".

Maria thought about little weapon in her fathers desk. " Don´t worry. I´ll just get something really quick and then I´m meeting you both downstairs".

Bruno gripped her wrist again before she could walk away. But this time he didn´t want to stop her. " Be careful, alright? I don´t want anyting happen to you".

" I´m always careful", Maria smiled at him reasurringly before she ran down the corridor.

Bruno watched after her until she disappeared in the office. Pleased that she arrived at least safe at her destination, he turned around and made his way to the masterbedroom to get the lady of the house.

Inside the office

Maria had made it into the room and was just in the process get the weapon from the still open drawer, when the door behind her closed with a loud bang. Startled she turned around and saw a small man with a scarred face and cold almost black eyes staring back at her. Although his appearance was pretty scary, the glinting knive in his right hand was worrying her more at the moment.

" What are you doing in this house? You´re stepping on private property, buddy and that´s against the law", Maria hoped that she was sounding more brave than she felt right now. She tried to get her shaking hands under control, but fear was preventing her from that.

The guy just smiled at her and the expression was making her more afraid than anything else. He obviously had a low opinion about dental hygiene. Almost all his teeth were yellow and were a stark contrast to his tanned skin. " The law can kiss my ass. I´m just here to do a job, honey. Don´t worry I don´t intend to stay long anyway".

Maria stepped carefully and nondescripted in the direction of the desk. She wanted to reach the gun before they guy noticed anything. She knew he wasn´t here to give her a message, the knive in his hand was prove for that. He was here to kill her and probably her mother, too. " So, you´re the one who destroyed our alarm system? You don´t appear to be the smart kind. Did you have help?".

" Shut up bitch", the guy, obviously angered at her dig at his intelligence, stormed towards her and pressed her body painfully hard at the desk behind her. His face was a mask of danger again while he held his knife against her throat.

Maria felt the blade digging into her skin and wondered how long it would take her to die when he sliced her throat. Fear was rising in her and threatend to choke her. Unfortunately for her, the gun was out of her reach and she had nothing to defend herself with. Desperate she searched with her hands for something that she could use as a weapon. But except for papers, papers and more papers, there was nothing useful for her to grasp. The only thing she could do was trying to stall as long as possible. Maybe Bruno would notice that she wasn´t coming and would walk in here to look after her. " I´m sorry. Did I strike a nerve? Strange, I always thought men were just sensitive about their endowment. But maybe that´s just the smart men".

The man leant closer to her and now they were face to face. His breath was tickling her cheeks and slowly he wet his dry lips. " You´re pretty mouthy for such a beautiful girl", grinning happily he lifted his hand and stroked her face with the knife. " Maybe I should teach you some manners before I slice you open".

Maria had to turn her head away from the man, because his foul breath was making her sick. But maybe it was also the fact that she would die and this would be the last face she would ever see in her life. " Why me? What have I done to deserve to die?".

" Nothing. You´re just related to the wrong people", the man was trailing his knife free hand up her belly and shover her black t-shirt upwards with it. It was obvious what he had in mind for her before she would pass away.

A new wave of fear was washing over her and made her mind clearer. No, she didn´t want to die that way. She didn´t want to be found with her clothes gone and everybody could see her naked and defiled body. Without knowing what she was doing her knee shoot upwards and hit her attacker direct in his groin. While he bent down from pain she pushed him away from her and made a run for the drawer on the other side of the desk. However the man had other plans and striked out with his knife. For a moment Maria noticed a slight burning sensation at her right side, but she ignored it. She had to get the gun, that was her only thing in her mind. Just as she was millimeter away from her salvation, the man got a hold on her wrist. Instinctively she raised her other hand and bash her fist in his face. Satisfied she felt the bone break under her hand and how the grip on her wrist went away. Immediately she snatched the gun and aimed the barrel in his direction.

" Now I suggest you get your ugly ass out of this house or I will blow your fing brain out of your fing head".

The attacker, who was holding his left hand in front of his bleeding nose, stared at her shocked. He obviously hadn´t expected such a stunt from her. But then suddenly he smiled. " Oh yeah. You want to shoot me with a secured gun?".

Maria was distracted for a moment, because she looked at the weapon in her hand. That was all the man needed and with a loud cry he lunged at her. Startled Maria pulled the trigger on the gun and instantly a deafening report was resounding though the room, just before the man knocked her over. Together with her attacker she fell to the ground and landed with a hard thud. The extra weight on her and the fall knocked the air out of her lungs for a few seconds. All of the sudden she heard the door burst open and fast steps coming into the room.

" Maria? Kiddo, are you here? Say something".

Relieved Maria realized it was the voice of Bruno. " I´m behind the desk".

Seconds later Bruno appeared in her sight with his weapon drawn in front of his body. Horrified he eyed the scene. Maria was lying on the ground, with a man lying on top of her. There was blood trailing on the floor and drenching the expensive carpet under the desk. " Oh my god? Are you alright?".

Maria nodded her head while her bodyguard pushed the body from her. Tenderly he helped her back on her feet. " Is he dead?".

Bruno looked down at the man and nudge the bastard with his foot. After there was no response, he turned the man on his back. Now he could see the red stain on his chest and the painfull expression frozen on his face. " Yes".

" Oh. I didn´t...I had no...I wanted..", now that everything was over, Maria finally grasped what happened and tears were streaming down her face. The shock was gone and now the realization what she had done was hitting her.

Immediately Bruno was taking her in his arms and caressed her back. He made soothing noises and tried to calm her down with it. " I know. But you did the right thing".

Maria wanted to tell him that she wasn´t crying because she killed that man, she had no other option left or he would have killed her. She grasped the concept of kill or be killed since she could talk. No she cried because she survived it. She fought against her fear and had won. And now that the adrenaline was ebbing away, she felt pain in her hand and at her side. " I think he hurt me after all".

" Where?", Bruno pushed her softly from him and checked her bloodsoaked t-shirt. She could be glad that it was black or else she would be looking like she had been bleeding. Slowly he took his hands and shoved it carefully upwards. Maria pointed at a spot at her side and he eyed it. " Yeah. He got you with his knife. But it doesn´t appear to be deep", he inspected it closer. " It´s just a scratch".

Maria tried to glance everywhere, but the dead body at her feet. She wasn´t sure if she could stand the sight. " We have to call the police".

Bruno hefted her with his strong arms and carried her from the office. They shouldn´t destroy any evidence that could help the police. " Already done".

Just as the sentence was finished sirenes pierced through the silence. Within minutes the house was swarming with police officer and paramedics. Maria was checked for other wounds while the police was looking at the crime scene. Bruno didn´t leave her side for a moment, not even when her mother came finally from the basement and saw the commotion. For hours people were walking around the house. Thankfully all the illegal papers where hidden or were looking like a plain delivery list. Maria had been orderd to get in bed, because of the painkiller she got from one of the doctors. Although the cut wasn´t that deep and her hand was just sprained, it hurt like hell. And she gladly had obeyed. Before her head hit the pillow, she was out like a light.

The next morning

Maria opened her eyes slowly and flinched for a moment, because the sun was shining in her face. But after a few moments her eyes got accustomed to the light and she could finally open them fully. At first she wondered why her head felt like it had been in a box fight with Mike Tyson and she could feel every muscle in her body. Then the incident which happened the day before came back to her. Carefully she got up from the bed and stayed in a sitting position for a minute. There she noticed the time and was surprised that she slept into the afternoon. It was almost time for dinner. Still hurting she arose in a standing position. Happily she realized that her feet were stable enough to carry her. However she wanted to be safe and walked slowly out of her room, surprisingly glad in her favourite Scooby Doo pyjama. The house was strangly quiet when she arrived at the corridor. She strained to listen to any sound, but there was none. Shrugging her shoulders, she made her way down the hall. After she had searched the kitchen, the common room and the garden for her family, she decided to go back to her bed. On her way she finally heard voices. Two of them. One was from her father and the other was new. They both were discussing something rather heatingly. She was glad her father was home again and that nothing had happened to him. With a smile she steered herself in the direction of the voices. When she came to the officce she stopped afraid. The picture from the fight were still fresh in her mind. Suddenly she overheard the conversation.

" I don´t care how much money you are offering me. I´m not some watchdog for a little girl. I´m a hitman, not a bodyguard". The voice was deep and young.

" I know that. But I´m desperate. I know you´re the best and I just want the best to protect my daughter", her father was angry.

" Great. Then look for a bodyguard. I will not stick my neck out for someone other than myself".

Maria was confused. What was going on in there? Slowly she opened the door and steppped in the room. Immediately the conversation died and two pairs of eyes were watching her. The first one she knew, because they belonged to her father. But the other pair was strange to her. " What´s up here?".

Jim stared at his daughter like he would see her for the first time. He had been looking in her room while she slept. But now he finally saw the damage. Her right cheek had a small cut and her hand was in a bandage. Thankfully her gash on her side was hidden from her top. " Hey honey. How are you feeling?".

" Like I wrestled with Bruno", Maria eyed her father suspiciously. He was obviously hiding something from her. " What is going on? Why did you scream?".

Jim pointed at the young man standing besides him. He was extremely handsome in some bad boy way. His brown hair was falling on his shoulders and his eyes had the colour of a glas full of whisky. His pissed off expression matched his clothes, which were a pair of blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a black leather jacket. " I just had a slight discussion with Mr. Guerin. I made an offer and he refused. Nothing you have to worry about".

The mentioned man on the other hand didn´t look like he still had the same opinion. He was eyeing Maria from her tousled blonde hair, to her green eyes, over her red pouty lips to her petite body and stopped at her long legs, which were hidden behind pyjama bottoms. Hello goddess! Where have you been all my life! If he knew how his charge would look like he would have agree to the offer immediately and with half of the price. " I didn´t exactly refuse".

" Then I must have confused the words, because I thought you said you wouldn´t stick your head out for someone other than yourself", Jim noticed the looks from the young man towards his daughter and he didn´t like it.

Maria regarded Mr. Guerin with the eyes of a single woman, who was looking for a little action. And she thought he was the right man for it. He was good looking, he appeared dangerous and most of all her father wouldn´t like him. She already pictured some things she could do with him, at least when the injurys were healed. Suddenly the voice of father penetrated her fantasy. Blushing slightly she faced him. " What?".

Jim growled at her. She was eyeing Guerin like he was a sundae with whipped cream and a cherry on top. " Say hello to your new bodyguard".

TBC