Giovanni (Blood Brothers Book 6) (3 page)

Chapter Three

Nya watched the family from a distance, debating on whether she should approach. They looked happy. The little boy chased his younger sister, threatening to tickle her. She was saved, however, when the children’s father joined them and swooped the girl off her feet and spun her around. She laughed and squealed with delight. “Faster, Daddy!” she screamed.

As this scene took place, the mother snapped pictures on a camera most professionals would envy. They were the perfect family. They might not have been traditional in appearance, with a white father, an Asian mother and two African-America children, but there was nothing untraditional about the obvious love the four subjects of Nya’s observation felt for each other. To those not in the know, no one would ever guess that the parents were also vampires with the father being quite old.

A twinge of envy tore at Nya’s breast. She didn’t begrudge this family their happiness, but she was jealous of the ease in which they were able to give and receive love to each other. It was an emotion she didn’t think she was capable of. Sure, she cared deeply for the few people she called friend, but she wasn’t sure if that was love. She didn’t know what love was anymore. She’d spent several decades denying that emotion and when she finally acknowledged it, it was too late. And now that fleeting feeling was gone forever, leaving her with a numbness that consumed every part of her.

When she ate, she couldn’t taste the food. She partook in blood but didn’t give her the heady rush that it once had. When she fucked, she felt nothing. Nya feared this would be her life for as long as she walked the Earth. The fact that she was immortal meant that living like that was a curse.

She had no right to be here, watching this family behind the shadows so she wouldn’t be detected. She kept herself at a distance far enough to not be detected, knowing that if the older vampire wasn’t so occupied with his family he might have noticed the presence of another immortal in the vicinity.

Slowly, she backed away as she silently wished them a farewell. She departed with a heavy sigh and contemplated where her next destination would be. Hopefully the next place she wouldn’t run into anyone she knew, and in particular two very determined adversaries who dogged her heels. She contemplated checking on Giovanni to see how he was handling the task she’d given to him. She hadn’t heard from him in weeks but she knew by now that he should be nestled in the small little town in South Carolina. She was certain he’d take care of the little problem down there. He’d never let her down before and she didn’t expect him to now.

Once she assured herself that things would be handled, Nya slid into her vehicle and drove off into obscurity.

<><><><><>

Giovanni sat by the pond and sullenly threw rocks into the water to watch it ripple. It had a calming effect on him. His chest hurt but he refused to cry. Men didn’t cry, and even if no one was watching he wouldn’t allow himself this indulgence. No matter how hard he tried to impress his father, nothing seemed to please him. If he did well with his tutors it didn’t matter. Any attempt to impress Don Sarducci with his knowledge of the land or anything Giovanni believed would be of interest was met with failure. In fact, his father who seemed to be irritated by his presence, would often scold him for things his brother would get praised for. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t acknowledge the twinge of jealousy he felt toward Adonis, the favored son.

It was Adonis whom his father would take on horseback rides along their massive estate. Adonis would be treated to exotic gifts from their father’s travels. If Giovanni was given anything it was usually an afterthought and nowhere near as grand as anything Adonis received. Still, Giovanni was grateful for any crumbs his father threw his way, which were few and far between. Despite this he loved his brother, who looked out for him when their father was being particularly critical.

Giovanni had no doubt that if he dropped dead today, his father wouldn’t bat an eye. His mama was no better. The only time she paid any attention to him was in front of guests where she pretended to actually care. Most other times, she simply ignored his presence.

“I thought I’d find you in the stables talking to that boy again.”

Giovanni looked up to see his brother standing over him.

“That boy is older than us.”

Adonis shrugged. “So? He’s a servant. Does it really matter?”

Giovanni hated when his brother took on such an arrogant tone but he dismissed it. His mind was on other things. “Our father says that I’ve been spending too much time with the help and it’s unbecoming of his son.” It was true he spent a lot of time with the stable master’s assistant. His father ran a strict household and was particularly hard on the servants. Most of them were too scared to look the family members in the eyes let alone speak to them unless spoken to, but not Gio, his namesake. It was him who Giovanni would run to whenever his father said something cruel or made him feel worthless. Gio always had good advice and whenever Giovanni spoke to him, he felt better. He felt an affinity toward the stable worker that he couldn’t quite explain. It was like there was some kind of intangible connection between them.

Silly as it may have been, he often wished Gio was his real father. The Don certainly wasn’t much as one. Unfortunately for him, one of the other servants apparently reported how much time Giovanni was spending in the stables with Gio. He’d received a tongue-lashing along with ten strikes to the back with his father’s cane. It had curtailed his visits but didn’t stop them. He couldn’t stay away and refused to be parted from the only father figure he had.

“The stable master sent him to town on an errand.”

Adonis lowered himself to the ground to sit next to Giovanni. “It’s a good thing. Papa says you spend too much time with that man. You’re lucky he hasn’t had the man whipped.”

“For what? Being kind to me when my own father treats me with contempt?” He might only be ten but he was old enough to know how his sire felt toward him.

Adonis sighed. “Papa cares for you, he just doesn’t know how to show it.”

“He has no problems showing you.
If you’ve come out here to defend him like you always do, then I don’t want to hear it.” Giovanni stood up and threw another rock into the pond with all his might.”

“I didn’t. I came out here to see how you’re doing. It wasn’t fair that you would be punished for such a minor indiscretion. I told Papa this. He’s willing to hear you out.”

While his brother was willing to dismiss the incident as inconsequential, Giovanni didn’t see it that way. “They were starving. What did you expect me to do?”

“They were poachers. They should have been beaten and thrown in jail, not rewarded for their crimes.”

“It was a man trying to provide for his children. These people barely manage to get by because of the taxes they pay to work the land. You should have seen this man and his family. They were skin and bones. I’d do it again if given the chance. It was the right thing to do and I don’t care what our father does to me. There’s nothing I could say to make this right in his eyes.” Giovanni had found a poacher hunting on his father’s estate. The protocol was to inform the guards and have the man arrested. But the man had begged and pleaded for mercy. He was only trying to feed his family after The Don had raised taxes. So instead of further adding to the man’s hardship by informing his father, he started to sneak food out to the man. But his father had spies everywhere and he was soon found out.

His father was furious and had threatened to cane him until he was bloody. He was sent to the tower to reflect and pray over what he did. He was given a diet of bread and water while he remained in solitary confinement waiting for the brutal punishment to come. But it never did. It occurred to him that Adonis had spoken on his behalf. Adonis was the only one their father listened to, and many a time he’d spoken up on Giovanni’s behalf.

“I admire your kind heart, brother, but there are certain things that just aren’t done. You are the son of a
Duca
. You have to start acting like it.”

“He doesn’t treat me like I’m his son. I could be another servant for all he cares.”

“Of course he cares.”

“You keep saying that but we both know that isn’t true. Adonis, I know you’re just trying to protect my feelings but you don’t have to lie.”

Adonis sighed. “Well, I love you. You’re my brother and I will always look out for you. One day I’ll inherit the title and I’ll need you to help me oversee the estate.”

Besides Gio in the stables, Adonis was one of the few bright spots in his life. They were only two years apart but his older brother always looked out for him. There were times when Adonis could be a little arrogant in dealing with people he considered beneath him, but Giovanni put that down to his parents’ influence. Adonis had a big heart and Giovanni loved him more than anyone else in the world. “If I’m still around. I’d like to see the world one day.”

“You can see the world, as long as you come back to here. You belong by my side, little brother.”

Giovanni returned to his position on the ground and they sat in silence. No words were exchanged between them for several moments, but none were needed. It was a companionable quiet that gave Giovanni a sense of peace he hadn’t felt in a while. His brother had that effect on him. Finally, he turned to Adonis with a smile. “Thank you,” he whispered.

Adonis raised a dark red brow. “For what?”

“For saving me from a lashing.”

Adonis shrugged. “That’s what brothers do. We look out for each other. No matter what. So I don’t understand why you didn’t save me.”

Giovanni frowned. “Save you from what?”

Adonis turned to face him. His eyes which were usually golden in color were now blood red. He opened his mouth to reveal pointed teeth. “Why didn’t you save me?”

Giovanni scooted away from Adonis in horror as the older boy’s face continued to morph into something monstrous. “Adonis! What’s wrong with you?”

“You didn’t save me!” Adonis’s hands were now claws. Suddenly he sprang on to Giovanni and wrapped those creature-like hands around Giovanni’s throat. “You didn’t save me,” he yelled again. He lowered his head with his mouth wide, and sharp teeth glistening as if he was ready to bite.

Giovanni screamed. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

“John! Wake up!”

Someone shook him vigorously and all he could think about was getting away from the red-eyed monster. He pushed against his attacker with a hard shove only. There was a feminine cry before he heard a loud thud.

Giovanni bolted to a sitting position and opened his eyes. He fought to catch his breath. It was just a dream. But he’d felt someone grab him.

He looked around to see Sydney on the floor. She seemed to be a bit disoriented and confused.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Lewis.” He pushed the covers off and slid out of bed to help her up. When he gripped her arm to lend her support, he didn’t feel that big jolt he’d experienced with their initial touch, but there were currents between them all the same. She must have felt it too because she pulled away as soon as she was on her feet. “Thanks,” she muttered. “Uh, are you okay? I heard you screaming from all the way downstairs.”

“Yes, it was just a dream.”

“A bad one from the sound of it. I was starting to get worried about you. I was tempted to call the doctor.”

He scratched his head in confusion. “Because I was screaming?”

“No. Because you’ve been asleep for the past three days. I had to check on you a few times, to make sure you were still alive. If you didn’t get up to go to the bathroom, I definitely would have called for help.”

“Three days? Are you sure?”

“I’m very certain. Ida and I took turns checking on you. You weren’t kidding when you said you were exhausted when you showed up.”

He racked his hand through his hair. Giovanni doubted she would believe him if he told her he hadn’t had actual sleep for the past few century. It was one of the side effects of the dark magic he’d dabbled in. “What time is it now?”

“It’s almost six. Dinner will be ready in a half hour. Why don’t you wash up and come and join us. I have three other boarders at the moment and Ida’s grandson arrived this morning so we have a pretty full house for dinner tonight. Usually everyone does their own thing but tonight…” she broke off with a chuckle. “I’m sorry for rambling. I’m sure you probably want your privacy.”

She slowly backed away but Giovanni reached out and took her hand. “No! I mean, you don’t have to hurry off on my account. I don’t mind the conversation. I appreciate you checking up on me.” He couldn’t help but be struck by her natural beauty. Something within him wanted to pull her closer so he could feel the softness of her body against his. Reluctantly he released her hand out of fear that he’d do just that.

“It’s no problem, John. I should probably go help Ida with dinner. We’re looking forward to you joining us tonight.”

“Likewise.”

This time when she turned to leave, he let her go although he didn’t want to. As disturbing as his dream had been, his focus was on her. He’d made a promise to Nya that he’d keep an eye on Sydney. He wondered what his friend would think if she found out that he was having some very naughty thoughts involving her last living descendant.