A while ago she watched Lorenzo drive off in a red Ferrari sports car which meant this was a silver opportunity to escape, It would be difficult but with Lorenzo out of the picture for now, it might be possible. she walked over to the doors, twisted the door knob and slowly open the doors, she took a peak when it was half opened and sighed in relief at the empty hallway.
Taking in a deep breath she opened the door and stepped out only to crash against a hard surface, "Ouch!" She rubbed her aching head.
"leaving already miss Cassie?," That voice, it was without a doubt
"Leonardo," she lifted her gaze to meet his blue eyes, her heart beating like a drum, shit she had been caught red handed, play it cool! play it cool Cassie! she told herself "I....I was just going out for a walk, it's suffocating inside,"
He remained silent for a while as though trying to desipher if she was telling the truth, then he smiled, "You're such a terrible liar,"
"Umm...." She bit her lips nervously, he raised his hands and she shut her eyes instinctively, flinching in fright, unexpectedly instead of a hit, his hands rested on her hair and he ruffled it playfully.
"It's only natural that you would try to escape, but usually women are trying to get into my brother's house not out of it," He said letting out a boyous laughter. Besides their striking good-looks there was really no similarity between Lorenzo and his brother Leonardo.
Lorenzo was dark, brooding, evil, narcissistic, fuck just thinking about him made her blood boil, yet Leonardo was a stark opposite to Lorenzo. He even dressed in an opposite fashion, she noticed Lorenzo mostly claded himself in black attire, Leonardo on the other hand preferred to dress in white. it was both welcoming and alluring.
"Well I'm guessing none of those women had their best friend murdered and their father haunted like a dog by him," She cleverly retorted earning a defeaning silence. shit!shit!shit! had I taken it a bit too far?, she bit her lips nervously.
"you're so adorable when upset," He broke the silence and Cassie sighed in relief, Leonardo was nothing like his psychopatic brother. Still something troubled her at the back of her mind, where the hell did Leonardo come from?, she had looked left and right making sure there was no one before she opened the doors. The whole Giovanni family was strange.
first it was that psychopath Lorenzo biting her neck and taking a piercing to the eye without a single scratch, next it was the spoiled princess Gianna's superhearing feat at the dinner table, then Leonardo's sudden appearance at her doorstep. There certainly was more to what they let on.
Leonardo eyes settled on the Cresent moon mark on Cassie's neck and she could have swore she felt this ominous aura in the hall that quickly disappeared.
"How about we take a walk?," He asked with a gentle smile, woah he was really pretty Cassie thought as she replied.
"y-yeah that would be nice,"
Leonardo accompanied her morning walk around the castle which was bordered by a variety of fruit-bearing trees and plants. Along the way she was struck by the sculpture of a wolf, in fact there were several sculptures of wolves, how... odd, she thought, nonetheless she didn't think too much of it assuming it was merely crafted out of the imagination of the sculptor,
Walking through a part of the garden which was dark and eerie, covered with trees and plants she came to an open space, where the morning sun emitted a lovely warmth, illuminating the garden of birth with a lovely cottage, and a beautiful view of the surrounding meadows and the nature reserve. Although the mansion was built with a modern design she loved the fact that the Giovanni's had incorporated nature elements to the castle.
She noticed the guard taking a slight bow whenever they greeted Leonardo and the servant ladies blushing at his presence, well not surprising considering how beautiful Leonardo was, it made her wonder which of their parent both men took their striking good-looks from.
"Enjoying our morning walk?," He lowered his gaze to hers, only then did she realize she had been staring too long, embarrassed she darted her face away.
"Can I ask you question?,"
"Sure, I'll answer if I can," He replied carefully
"Did you ever meet my father?," She said biting her lips, she needed to confirm Lorenzo's statements.
"No," He lied, " I never met him, I'm not very involved in this part my family business, it is Lorenzo's world not mine," He answered, "But Lorenzo isn't lying when he says your father was an employee,"
"I see," Her heart sank at his words, she was grief stricken realising she never truly knew her father, the man she knew was a shadow of his true self. it was hard to come to terms with the fact that her father was an associate of the Giovanni Mob, a ruthless Mob known for Murders, Kidnapping, trafficking and torture, "I guess you never truly know anyone, it hurts to be betrayed like this Leon,"
Leonardo halted on his tracks and turned to Cassie who couldn't stop the tears, he pulled her into a tight hug,
"You do not know me Cassie but I need you to believe me, I'd never hurt or betray you, you can trust me," He said in a whisper his heart string tugged at the sight of Cassie. This wasn't the way he had expected them to reunite. He had always hoped to meet her again in a more condusive condition, especially after the kindness she showed him as a child fifteen years ago.
*******
Fifteen years ago
"Come on fight back Giovanni scum!" One of the five boys gathered around him in the cold rainy night mocked while kicking him repeatedly. his face was bruised with cuts and his lips was busted bleeding profusely. He balled himself up trying to protect his face from thier relentless assults.
"Awwn is little Leon going to cry?," Another, much larger than the previous said in a mockery tone, "Fucking weak scum, you're the son of an omega who who seduced your father with witchcraft,"
"Can't believe the bitch ran away after your birth,"Another chimed in
"Do not insult my mother," Leonardo said gritting his teeth.
"Huh?, what the hell are you getting upset about?, you never even met the bitch," He laughed and kicked him across the face.
"Hey you kids thats enough!" An elderly man taking a walk with his seven year old daughter shouted at them, "Get lost before I call the cops,"
"Tsk, looks like you're getting off easy this time Leon, see you next time," They each spat on him before taking off.
"Papa he is hurt!" The girl ran towards him with her umbrella, shielding him from the rain, "Are you okay?,"
"Go away," He managed to say holding back sobs.
"I can't leave you like this you're hurt," She said with a look of concern that shocked Leonardo, no one had ever looked at him like that, not his even his siblings or father, yet this human child who seemed to be around his age...why?
"Papa he's hurt, we can't just leave him," She said to her father who knew arguing was pointless, besides he suspected the child might die if left alone. He gently picked him up In his arms and whispered comforting words.
"Do not worry child you'll be fine," Those words had him tearing up as it was the first time anyone had ever offered to help.