Thirteen
1715 Words
“Papa?” Andromeda called as she stopped outside her father’s first-floor office. She knocked again, her knuckles tapping against the wood rhythmically. “Papa, are you in there?”
Footsteps from behind her caught her attention, and she shivered in fear of the man coming toward her. He smiled, but the action didn’t quite reach his eyes as she watched him lean leisurely against the wall. He reached into his pocket, pulling out his cigarettes before lighting one. He paused to take a few draws, exhaling a steady stream of blue-grey smoke. “My apologies, Miss Andie, but your father has stepped out for the afternoon to take care of some business. Perhaps I can be of assistance?”
She paled, shaking her head quickly. “No, grazie. I wanted to talk to my father about something private. Scusi, Giovanni, but seeing as he’s not here, I must return to my studies.”
“You mustn’t let anyone from the outside mobs get their hands on you, my dear. It would be an awful shame if anything were to happen to you while you are so young,” he replied smoothly as he stepped in her direction. His fingers grazed her cheek, and he had to hide a sneer when she avoided his touch.
Her heart thumped in her ears as her mind race to find an escape. Her eyes darted around as he took another step closer to her. Seeing her personal maid who had been her carer since her mother passed, she called out to the woman. “Adrianne! Adrianne, there you are! Papa has told me that I’ll be returning to school soon, and I need help with my wardrobe.”
The woman glanced at the man with the young heiress, her throat going dry as she understood what was going on. The fear on the girl’s face was enough to tell the woman that Andromeda was terrified of the man in front of her. She smiled, “Si! Of course, Madam. The Maestro went to the school to find some information on the boy who was here earlier. Quite handsome, that one. He did mention that you would need to go to the shops at some point today. Are you ready to leave now?”
Lying was easy enough to do when it was the young heiress life was in jeopardy. Now knowing that
Phoenix had been by again? The thought warmed her as Andromeda bit her lip, a light blush colouring her cheeks a nice shade of pink. Running from Bianchi, the teen breathed a sigh of relief as she reached the woman’s side. She made a show of looping her arm around Adrienne’s waist. “I am, we shall bring Sebastien with us. He is my assigned guard, after all.”
“Oh, about that,” Bianchi called lightly. He blew out another stream of smoke as he smiled at the girl. “Sebastien has been ordered to undergo additional training. I’m free at the moment, and willing to take you two into town.”
Thinking fast, the maid shook her head. “Oh, no. I can’t have that, Giovanni. I’m well trained to defend the young Padrona against threats, so there should be no issue with two women going shopping. It’s such a nice day out, too. Besides, it would be grand to have a nice, peaceful girls’ day while we have the chance in this country.”
“Woman, I said,” Giovanni’s voice trailed off as he looked past them down the hall. His boss was home, his eyes flickering with interest. Thinking he had won the battle, he said, “Sir, I trust the boy will not be bothering your daughter further with his excuses?”
Saying nothing, Francesco gently took his daughter by the arm, steering her toward the stairs. “Come, my child. I need to speak to you for a moment. Giovanni, you’re needed out on the training grounds.”
“But, Sir-”
“You know I hate repeating myself, Bianchi. Mind yourself, and go ensure that my men are being trained to my specifications. Anything less than the best will be sent packing back to Italy in a body bag,” Francesco snapped. “Andromeda, come along.”
“Yes, Papa,” she replied, obediently trailing behind her father as he climbed up to the next level. Her heart calmed slightly the further she got from the man who had cornered her. “Papa, is everything okay?”
“Not now, Andromeda. Hold your tongue until we are within the privacy of my quarters,” he muttered. Looking to the maid who had been talking to his daughter a few moments before, he asked if there was anything he needed to know.
“Giovanni was rather forceful about Lady Andromeda’s personal space. Madam, did you still want to go shopping?” The maid asked, turning her full attention to the blonde girl.
Relaxing, Andromeda nodded. “So long as my father is fine with it, I would love to go to the mall today. It’s getting rather stuffy being inside all the time. I’m almost all healed, after all.”
Francesco pursed his lips angrily. He had been advised that some of the men had started thinking of the girl as more than just their boss’s daughter, and it irked him that there was a subtle air of fear surrounding her. It was tangible, and he knew who was causing it. “It is a reasonable request, Andromeda. Adrianne, you will go fetch Sebastien from the training grounds. Tell him he is to resume his guard position starting today. Should Giovanni interfere, I want to know.”
“Yes, Sir,” the maid replied. “Will there be anything else?”
“No, that is all for now,” the man answered.
Once the woman was gone, Andromeda breathed a sigh of relief. “Papa, did you really go to the school? I was told Phoenix was here. Was he bringing me more books from my classes?”
“He was,” her father replied. “That boy is something else. There is a loyalty to his friends that I have not seen in such a long time.”
Confused, Andromeda sat quietly as she patiently waited for her father to speak. There was an explanation coming, and she knew it.
“I spoke to someone from the Icelandic mob, my heart. This man is, how shall I say, concerned that our Family are not here to make nice. There is talk of a contract between us and Don Callum. I will not go into details, but there are precautions in place, il mio cuore. I will find a way to protect you,” he said softly.
She sobbed, “Papa, will Phoenix come by again?”
“He’s gotten into hot water with his elders just for being friendly to you. His father is a well-respected businessman and mob leader, and his mother is a revered doctor at the hospital where you were treated for your injuries. I shan’t go into much, but I doubt the boy will be able to come to the manor anytime soon.” Francesco winced as his daughter sobbed in his arms.
“Had he not been in the right place at the right time, I don’t think that I would have walked from the encounter with the other one. Phoenix beat him bloody for daring to touch me the way he did. He never even used his weapon, just his hands.” She breathed.
The same hands that had later soothed her until the ambulance took her from the scene of her nightmarish first date.
“Si, la mia Principessa,” Francesco whispered. “While you go to the shops, I will see about getting in touch with Don Callum to have a chat.”
Once she was gone, his smile faded. He picked up his phone and dialled a number that he’d recently gotten from his street contact.
A gruff male voice answered, clearly not happy with the interruption. “What?”
“Don Callum Hansson,” Francesco spoke slowly to avoid unintended insult. “I’m calling concerning your son. It appears that my daughter is somewhat infatuated with him at the moment, not that I can blame her. However, she is in danger that lurks far closer to home than I care to admit, and he seems a prime choice to ensure her safety.”
“His little visits could have gotten him killed. He meant nothing by his actions, so I hope you don’t think otherwise,” Callum snapped.
His jaw working tightly, Francesco nodded. “Yes, but I have seen what he is and is not willing to put up with regarding how others treat him. I have seen his sincerity, and can appreciate his honest integrity. His visit today brought something to my attention, and I cannot stress enough that I only do this, that I am only calling because my innocent child is at risk.”
Hearing that, Callum went quiet. “Very well. I’ll give you ten minutes of my time.”
“I require nothing more than your assistance in protecting my daughter from the threat that lurks within my walls. A contract, so to speak, so that she can still have as normal a school experience as she can.”
“You want my protection?” Callum’s voice carried his uncertainty.
Francesco licked his lips, “I am well aware that my simply being here in the province is a thorn in your proverbial side, yet I ask for an em passe. Simply put, for the time being we can set aside our historical grievances for the sake of our children. Your son does seem rather taken with my daughter, but that’s perfect since he is such a strong young man with his head on straight.”
“Debatable,” Callum commented. “Fine. I’ll call you in a few days with the details. f**k me over, and I’ll f**k you up, Maestro. You’re on my territory, so tread cautiously.”
Hanging up, Francesco let his shoulders sag in defeat. As long as Andromeda was safe, he didn’t care what happened to him.
- Writer
