Domenico POV:
"Well," I grunted as I cut off the end to a fresh cigar, you would think I had a death wish the way I was smoking them lately, but that creatin was gaining ground in the city at an all too impressive rate. My daughter was locked up in an ivory tower at her request, and I had the unnerving feeling they were closing in on the truth.
The man before me sweated and shuffled for a moment. This definitely wasn't good news, why did they think their nerves would save them, they should just face the music and tell me.
"Come on!" I snapped and he flinched. For god's sake could one of these worms find a backbone I'm sure we had one lying around here somewhere. Oh no, the only one to stand up to me was now whoring herself out to the enemy.
"The coroner is missing, we think…th-th-that. We think the Risci's have moved him, and we believe your daughter-" He stopped talking as I stood up throwing my glass at the wall.
"Fuck!" I lost it. This was the worst thing that could happen.
I had exploited her love for her mother, for family. I brought her here, trying to turn her against that Risci man eventually, he didn't seem to fall for Guilia the bouncing blonde wasn't his type. I could respect that he was a man of substance, I had long thought of pulling Arianna out of the shadows into the fold. Guilia was a good tool, a wonderful distraction, and could play little men like a violin. She was not however one for numbers, she didn't have instinct, and she couldn't read people.
Arianna on the other hand.
I had long watched her, seeing her evaluate the men who threw themselves at her feet just like they did her mother. She walked over them like fleas, not even noticing their existence, she handled her business with a cold mind, numbers only on her mind. She was content in a simpler life not needing the glitz and glamour her sister coveted. She was a contender to succeed me.
I had no desire to kill my ex-wife. Vanessa had never been one to stir the pot, when she found out what I was doing all she wanted was the girls, but woefully, I loved her. I kept Guilia trying to lure her home. She wouldn't fall for it, I smiled even now thinking of her. She had dirt on me though, and I was running out of options with Giovanni.
All I asked was for her to give up Arianna, for her own sake. She refused, I didn't watch as they attempted to persuade her. In the end, my wife's will was greater than her body and she slipped through my fingers.
I heaved thinking of what the greasy little rat had cost me. I thought of Arianna her hair the same chocolate as her mother's wavy enough to always wind up somewhat frizzy, their eyes that ambered honey that cut right through to the honest truth.
Now that genius girl was all I had left of her mother. Hate me or not I would bring her back here and she would take over for me. I would get her to understand, I would get her to see reason.
I seethed breathing ash and smoke before pulling my tie back into place. I gathered myself and went to the other problem on my plate. I marched down my hallway to her room, Guilia sat there bridal magazines strewn about like a stalker's map.
"She knows," I told her.
The younger child didn't look up continuing to flip through the magazine. "I think I'd look good in formfitting but it doesn't have the drama," She exclaimed.
Any mention of her sister was strictly forbidden around her and like the toddler, she was she simply ignored those who mentioned her.
"God Dammit Guilia! She knows!" I growled and my daughter snapped to attention. Why is it I always have to lose my temper to get people to listen, it is so much easier for them if they just do as they're told.
"So what she's with him anyways," She crossed her arms and scoffed. "We don't need her,"
I clenched my fists and smoothed my hair. "We do, sweetheart we do. She knows things about him now. We need to get ahead of him,"
Guilia shrugged. "What do I have to do with it?"
This girl really knew how to test my patience, I inhaled deeply calming myself, why was it this daughter had my temper but not my mind? "You can get closer to her, I need you to try and get close to your sister,"
Guila stood up dropping her arms "No way okay that freak is always with her, and she has his minions as her guard dogs. Also, there is no way I'm playing nice after she stole my dress!"
I grabbed the rail of her bed slamming it up against the wall. "You will! This isn't a request!" I walked up to her as she shrunk. "You will do as I say if you want this perfect wedding of yours, you will do whatever I ask of you if you want to keep breathing you understand,"
She pouted slightly but that evil glint in her eyes told me she was on board. "Fine," she sighed.
I walked out of the room as smart as she thought she was Guilia was a tiresome, hopeless, little brat. Though she succeeded at manipulation, that was as far as her intelligence went when it came to those with complex minds and feelings she fell flat on her face.
Whatever scheme she was concocting it would amount to nothing, and she would do my bidding in the meantime. I would send her out after her sister until I got them alone and then I would take back the better of the two.
Sometimes I thought of how much easier my life would be if I had kept Arianna instead of her sister. Now I had to try and get her back, I poured myself a drink and sat down in front of the fire in my office.
At least that snake was consumed with her, I could use that to my advantage. Though I would hate to do it, I would threaten her to bring him to his knees. A last resort of course, but it may have to be done.
Had I known it would result in all of this mayhem I wouldn't have blown up their shipping container all those years ago. How was I supposed to know how deep his father's pockets ran? I remember the letter he had sent to me, how he'd unleashed the fury of his elder son to send their pain on me tenfold.
He had almost succeeded to I had to give him that a ferocious beast he was, and his might was only spreading. Taking my heir was something I couldn't tolerate though, as much as I respected him and as much fun as it had been this chess game of ours. It was time to end it.
"Play it how you want, try and protect her with all your might," I toasted him. "I.Will. Win,"