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“He won’t kill him, Elle. You know how Gio gets. He is stubborn and hot-headed, but he is not stupid. He knows he has too much to lose in killing Alessio, even if he wants to.”
“And that is supposed to fill me with confidence?” she raged, her eyes burning brightly. “Why? Why can’t he just listen to me for once! Why does he always believe he knows what is best for me even when he is only hurting me? Why is he always like this?!”
I wiped her tears as I tilted my head to look at her with sorrow. My heart ached at the pain she was in and the worry she had. If I hadn’t been convinced before, I was now. She was head over heels in love with Alessio.
“Because he is a Buccini man. He is overprotective, emotional and stubborn beyond belief. He thinks he is doing right by you Elle. He thinks he knows what you need to stay safe. Since your papi died, you have been his responsibility and he takes that very seriously. He loves you.”
“If he kills Alessio or Finn, I will never forgive him. I will never forgive any of you! I will run away from this place and you will never see me again,” she cried, burying her head in her hands as I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her into my side. My daughter had always had a flair for dramatics, but at this moment, I believed every word. The door unlocked and Enzo poked his head around as we both looked up at him quickly.
“Giovanni is back. Cecilia, he would like to speak to you.”
“No!” Elle shouted, jumping to her feet. “He will speak to me!”
She stormed out of the room as I followed her, giving Enzo a brief squeeze of his shoulder. I felt sorry for the boy to be in the middle of all this mess. He seemed like a lost puppy today, with large eyes filled with uncertainty as to what he should do. I could tell he was worried about what was happening, but I couldn’t work out why.
Elle was already in Gio’s office by the time I reached the top of the stairs and saw Marco standing outside. I strolled over to him as the screeching continued and sighed deeply at my two children tearing each other apart.
“What happened?” I whispered to Marco. “What do I need to be prepared for?”
“It wasn’t pretty,” Marco huffed, his eyes shifting to the office door before he lowered his voice. “Alessio is in the dungeons.”
“What?” I snapped, furious at my son for being so stupid to bring the King of Italy into our home and hold him hostage. What was he thinking?
“He let us take him willingly in exchange for Finn’s life. Don’t say anything in front of Elle. Giovanni doesn’t want her to know he is here.”
“Merda!” I cursed, rubbing my forehead in stress. What the fuck was I meant to do with these two except bang their heads together? I walked into the office to see Elle leaning over Gio’s desk, her hands placed on the polished surface as Gio leaned back in his chair with a livid expression. They were both shouting over the top of one another in rapid Italian and I closed my eyes briefly to compose myself.
Lifting my hands up, I shouted, “Enough! Stop this madness right now! Both of you!”
The room fell silent as Elle stood upright, folding her arms across her chest and Gio ran his hands through his thick, black hair.
“What did you do? Tell me what happened?” Elle shouted again.
“Elle. Stay out of this. You have caused enough mess,” Gio gritted through his teeth as I stepped to the side of his desk, positioning myself between them. “They are both alive. That is all you need to know.”
“That is not all I need to know! You can’t keep me in the dark from my own life, Gio! I love Alessio. I want to be with him. And I need to know what happened between you two!”
“He is no good for you, Elle. You have let him get to you again. He is a manipulator and a fucking good one. Don’t fall for it. You are better than this. Marry Enzo and you’ll be safe.”
“No,” she replied stubbornly. “I will not marry Enzo tomorrow.”
“So, help me god, you will, Elenora!” he roared, standing up from his chair.
“Elle, let me speak to Giovanni alone please.”
“But mamma-”
“Please.”
She huffed and headed for the door. Pausing, she turned back to us and lowered her voice as she said angrily, “All I have ever wanted for you is love, happiness and success, Giovanni. Why can’t you find it in your heart to grant me the same?”
As soon as she was gone, I turned to Gio and started shaking my head at him.
“Don’t start, mamma.”
“First, I am going to speak to you as your consigliere. Then you are going to listen to me as your Madre. What the fuck were you thinking bringing Alessio here and holding him in the dungeons?”
“He offered himself in exchange for Finn. This way, I can detain him here until the wedding is over and Elle leaves with Enzo.”
