Is this destiny?

Emma was shocked that Sarah spoke so openly about killing. As a medical worker, Emma\'s impulse is to save lives, not take them away. It took Emma some time to respond. "I don\'t know if I can do that."

Sarah observed Emma\'s face which showed how conflicted she was. Sarah knew that Emma wants to enjoy her life, without fighting with others, but Sarah is aware how most of the time, that is not an option.

"Emma, the more you have, the more people will try to snatch it from you. That is the reality, and it does not matter how you feel about retaliating because they will come for you and everything you hold dear and if you don\'t fight back resolutely, they will keep on coming until they succeed. Didn\'t you mention assassins and poison in your tea? If someone really poisons you successfully, do you think that they will regret taking your life, or will they be happy that you are out of their way?" Sarah saw that Emma is in shock and she was not sure what to say further, other than the truth. "I don\'t want to tell you how to live your life, but you asked me how I deal with people who are after what is mine. I know that you faced a number of conflicts and that thanks to Charlie, your friends, and family, you came on top. If they didn\'t come to your aid, how would that end? Ultimately, it is up to you if you want to be a victim or a predator. There is no in-between. You are coming to my house for a while. Other than how to kick and punch, you learned how to use knives and guns. Did you think that was for war only?"

"Did you ever kill a person?", Emma asked Sarah, and Sarah\'s silence answered Emma\'s question. "How many?"

"Do you really want to know? Does it matter if it\'s one or a thousand? Whoever threatens me will experience adequate retaliation."

Emma was visibly troubled. "What retaliation requires of you to kill?"

"You are acting like you never faced danger. Forget about crazy women who spill wine on your gown, and let\'s not talk about people who drug you so that they can drag you into bed and humiliate you publicly. Let\'s talk about that guy from Italy who was working as Angelo\'s assistant. He came to Los Angeles in order to get you so that he can inherit Angelo\'s position. Do you think he cared about Charlie or about your feelings? How many lives would he ruin in order to become Capo? There are things worse than death, Emma."

Emma remembered Bruno. She doesn\'t know what happened to that man, but Angelo told Emma that he will never bother her again.

Emma\'s thoughts wandered to her brothers again. "Do you know if Sean and Ryan killed someone?"

Emma understood that if their lives at Nero armi are messy and full of violence, that would explain why they are looking for adventure and not willing to commit. In a way, they are venting while not pulling others into that lifestyle. But that is more the reason to allow them to experience normalcy.

Sarah didn\'t want to answer the question about Emma\'s brothers. "You should ask them that. I hope that you will consider their situation and what they are facing daily, and if you don\'t know that is, maybe you should learn. Before you approach them with stories of what is morally right and wrong, keep in mind that Angelo wanted you to inherit Nero armi, and that Ryan and Sean got in there only because of your refusal."

Emma frowned. "So, now it\'s my fault?"

"I didn\'t say that.", Sarah responded. "Everyone is accountable for their own actions, and it\'s not right to blame others for what is happening to you. It is up to you if you will cry because people want to snatch Charlie and because you are living in luxury you never wanted, or you can be proud of what you have and fight to keep it. Maybe you don\'t want to hurt others, but I can assure you that there are people who will slit your throat without caring about your pregnancy and they will think about how to redecorate this room to fit their style while maids are scrubbing your blood from the hardwood floors."

"OK. That\'s enough…", Tiffany interjected when she got out of the closet with Emma\'s dress in her hand. She was eavesdropping for some time, and when Sarah started with grim topics and getting graphic about it, Tiffany decided to put a stop to it. "Emma is pregnant, and you are upsetting her."

Sarah\'s lips twitched. She wanted to tell Tiffany that Emma is so meek because everyone is protecting her. Sarah had no idea how come Angelo\'s daughter who is the Madam of the Smith family can live such a sheltered life (and survive).

Sarah ignored Tiffany and looked seriously at Emma. "You need to decide if you will hide behind others for protection or take charge. I am confident that you are smart and capable. The only thing you are lacking is the resolve."

Tiffany snorted. "I said…"

Sarah shot Tiffany a glare. "Do you think that your words are helping? The only thing you are achieving is shutting me up, but at what cost? Do you believe that people who want to harm Emma will step away because she is pregnant? Or because they don\'t want to hurt her feelings? Or do you think that they will take her current condition as a weakness?"

Sarah forced a smile and looked at Emma. "I apologize if the truth is upsetting. You have Charlie and your brothers, and Tiff and me and Soph and Anna and probably a few more that you can trust, but no matter how many of us are, unless you stand up tall and show some backbone, they will keep on coming after you because they are waiting for their chance when we are not around. I believe you are aware of this and that is why you are stressed."

Sarah took a deep breath and schooled her features into more pleasant ones. "This is not a good time to talk about serious topics. Party started and we should go down. Did Oni bring my dress here?"

"Mhm…", Tiffany hummed in confirmation and gestured toward the chair with a neatly packed garment on it.

Tiffany was not happy about Sarah\'s speech, but she knew that Sarah was right. Emma is a gentle soul who would never hurt anyone, but that made her an easy target. Sure, Charlie arranged security around Emma, and Tiffany is with her for most of the day, but Emma is still stressed because she feels that the situation is not in her control, and it\'s not. Tiffany decided not to comment on this further, and to leave for Emma to decide how this little chat will affect her behavior going forward.

Tiffany noticed that Sarah removed her suit jacket and was about to change clothes. "Are you putting the dress on now? I thought it\'s for later…"

Sarah was wearing a sharp pant-suit, and even though it\'s not very feminine, they are all used to seeing Sarah in pants. Sarah\'s high heels, makeup, and hair lifted into a messy bun made her look party-ready.

Sarah opened the long zipper and smiled while looking at the purple cocktail dress made out of silky fabric. It was a one-shoulder dress that fit snugly around the bust, the fabric folds wrap around the waist and it expands into a flowy skirt that reached Sarah\'s knees.

Getting Oni to sneak in this garment without Aiden noticing will be worth it. Sarah looks forward to seeing Aiden\'s expression when she shows up wearing this dress. He loves when she wears a dress.

Emma looked at Sarah who was undressing with a goofy smile on her face and Emma was unable to understand how come Sarah can be so warm and pleasant, when only a minute ago she was talking about blood and killing people. Is this a case of split personality?

Emma was aware that Sarah went through several incidents, with the latest one being Aiden\'s kidnapping. And Emma knew that Sarah is pregnant as well (even though it\'s still not showing), yet the two of them are opposite. Emma took her pregnancy as a reason to step back and shield herself with pleasant things (more than usually), while Sarah is sharp and dangerous as if the child in her womb is increasing her strength and resolve.

But no matter how soft Emma is, she had to admit that Sarah\'s words made sense, and when Sarah said that Emma is hiding behind others to protect her… it hurt. Emma never wanted to be a burden for anyone, and she started training at the Cliffside Villa with other girls so that she won\'t be Charlie\'s weakness, but she never really used any of that.

Thinking of Sean and Ryan made her chest heavy. She is their big sister, and instead of protecting them, they ended up in a hostile environment because she refused Angelo. It\'s not that Emma regrets rejecting Angelo, but she didn\'t stop Sean and Ryan when they went to Italy, thinking that it\'s something fun and adventurous. Emma knows that Nero armi is not fun and games, because it changed her brothers fundamentally.

Emma remembered how Sean and Ryan wanted to be her bodyguards and she refused them because she didn\'t want them to be in danger, yet they found a different kind of danger. 

Emma wanted to ask Sarah for more clarifications and maybe some tips on what to do, but she feared that Sarah will call her weak. Emma decided to ask JoAnna about it later.

"Come…", Tiffany urged Emma to get up. "You need to wash your face, so people don\'t see your puffy eyes from crying…"

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