BEL

a Luc

ldhood

up at the high gates I can't help b

SHB

father. "I will not be a p

you think you were able to attend all those prestigious art schools? Get all those connections?

a legal way! Why? Why do

is honest, no is as clean as you like to think, not if you want to m

at peace? That all those guards are not trained assassin's sworn to protect us from the en

n me and my father. "Apologize to your father, right

on't want to be involved

r your family then you are not a m

sps as she grabs his hand

ith us. Get out of my house, do not return un

I reply as I whir

ES

last time I s

ardens of the estate. Towering trees and long green

fitting for this sprawling estate that ba

he sky, meticulously manicured gardens, where vibrant flowers bloom in a mos

beyond the gardens, rows upon rows of grapevines promising a boun

nto the opulence inside to the ornate wrought iron details of the balconies, and as I look up, I see the elegant frescoes that decorate the

g at the mansion and only being brought out of m

s out tentatively as she comes out an

fraid to approach her, no

croons as she opens

I rush into them. "

t my love. It

he thought I hated him... the way I left

my love, that is ho

how di

gently leads me into the house. "She thought he was aslee

Carla?

new house

ppened t

She couldn'

s

m, I can hear the low din of

d rivals all present to

the curious stares as we wind our way t

te. Your father made a lo

that. There is no

re his coffin is placed, surrounde

r brokenly as I

t his business and yes, I said some rea

just..

it is

d I can't apo

nor speak to him, nor see his

lly is

o the floor, the numbness wears

t br

wrench

p only coming to reality when I fe

tly. "Come on, on your

egins leading me away when we ar

epest condolences on y

eople, but there are some that look l

d beard. Standing at about 6 feet tall, he has a broad-shouldered, athletic bu

for coming," my mother re

ano is my father, yo

off in my hea

afia, I must have been at least be fam

on't forgo titles except if they are fr

I will be damned if I let him

straighten my back as I

mark. "The nam

ther and mine are... were

e the

hing tone. "Luca is right. His father

gang and clawed their way up wh

ea

, not wavering as I look hi

nces at my mother and I watch a

er?"

e away, this time Luca following behind

what?"

he st

ugh the milling guests, past th

my eyes go to the leather chai

edi

e kill

ing around

mad rage, something I didn

ging my attention to her. "Before your father died, he and Signore Rom

M

es

... d

est choice for the family and for you. Your

t, d

ing up for the first time since he

use

ng has been finalized. From what your mother told me, it is even stipul

few seconds before

the