Whisper of Blood

Giovanna (8 hours earlier)

"Giovanna!!! Papá is looking for you!" my baby sister bounced into my room yelling. "You better go quick he seems angry." I sighed dramatically and patted my sisters head as I walked from my master suite.

 I headed down the hall to the elevator, walking slowly admiring all of our family portraits that decorated the halls. They always brought me comfort and a sense of calm in my anything but life. I reached the elevator and realized I was just stalling the inevitable, my father.

 I quickly punched the penthouse button; the top floor of the Cappelletti Estate was reserved for my parents bedroom and my father and brother's offices, along with a small conference room. The elevator door opened and for the first time in forever I was frightened to move. A pit of dread started to form in my belly and every fiber of me told me this would not be a pleasant meeting.

I forced my feet forward against every instinct telling me to run, and I found myself at the closed door to my fathers office. Before I could raise my hand to knock I heard a stern voice I couldn't place on the other side."You know I am not a patient man Gianni. I will not wait around all day for my son to claim what is his. I know you are a smarter man than that to double cross me. Get her here, NOW!" 

My heart started hamming even harder than before. I knew the only person who had a chance in hell at talking to her papá like that was another boss. It took everything in me to fight my urge to run, every last bit of strength to lightly knock on that door. 

"La mia principessa non aver paura per favore entra"  (my princess don't be afraid please come in) I heard my father respond to me. I quietly and quickly opened the door and walked in closing it behind me. The first thing I noticed was that my brother, Fabrizio, was missing and that was odd. The next thing I noticed was that my mother sat at my fathers side head down, she looked heartbroken, and she was crying silent tears. I looked across my fathers desk and my breath caught. 

Alessandro Ruggiero; top boss of one of the oldest families. He controlled most of Ireland and the other half of Italy that wasn't under my fathers control. Though he was an older gentleman, senior to even her father, I could tell he was stunning in his prime. The thought made me blush and bite my lip. Sitting next to him was a young man who put his fathers good looks to shame. Sure there was enough resemblance but you had to have made a deal with the devil to get those good looks. He was tall from what I could tell, he was sitting though, very muscular, sun-kissed skin, jet black hair, eyes so blue they put the ocean to shame. 

"Ah the every lovely Giovanna. You are a beautiful young lady, but you will be quick to learn that in my house you come when you are called. You do not take your time. You do not stop to smell the roses. Time is money as they say, and my time is worth something is it not?" Alessandro berated me, and was his bastard son holding back a laugh at me? My temper started to flare. 

Alessandro turned to my father, "Now I see why you keep your daughters locked in a tower Gianni. Your words did her no justice." a smile crept over his lips but it never reached his eyes. I took a small step forward. 

"Mr. Ruggiero, I am very sorry I kept you waiting, and I beg your forgiveness but may I ask why you called me here? Usually people request an audience with my brother. Fabrizio is here I can get him for you. I'm  sure you are aware he is in line for my fathers position, not me. I assure you Fabrizio will want to know of any business dealings between us." My eyes quickly found the floor, my fingers knotting together.

"I have no business with your little brother. This. This is between your father and I, and you and Rafael here. As far as you are concerned pack your bags. Tomorrow we return piccola principessa for you will reign as Rafael's queen." The air was sucked from my lungs.