Vicious Minds (Children of Vice 4)

She took a deep breath and rubbed her nose, laying back on the pillows.

“It took another six years for him to take over the kingdom of Puglia, and another three to take over Naples. Giovanni the Giovanni…he was the king of three of the four kingdoms, and he dreamed of uniting all them into one. But he got sick and before he went to sleep he left this mission to his son, Ignazio Giovanni, but his son couldn’t make his daddy’s dream come true, and he got sick and went to sleep too and left it to his son, Francesco Giovanni, but he went to sleep after a long war, leaving the only one Giovanni left…Orlando, Francesco younger brother. No one believed Orlando could do it, and everyone was scared because the three kingdoms tried to break away from them. Orlando was scared and alone he went to the church where all his family laid sleeping, got down on his knees and asked for strength. He threw his hands up in the air and said, ‘Oh God, make my hands strong as iron, so I can pull all of Italy together,’ ” she yawned so wide I could see down her throat. Her eyes were heavy, and she was fighting with all her might to keep them open. Sitting up, I lifted the blanket back over her.

“That’s enough for now…”

“That’s all I know.” She yawned again, rolling onto her side, rubbing her eyes. “Mama hasn’t finished telling me the story yet. She tells me a new part every time she comes back. But I want to know now. You know the story, right, Daddy? Does Orlando become king of them all?”

I smiled; I couldn’t help it. I didn’t know what it was I was feeling, but reaching over I brushed the side of her face. I laughed as I said, “That’s a spoiler, Giovanna.”

“A spoiler?” she muttered, her eyes already closed. “What’s that?”

There was no point answering because she was already fast asleep. Watching her sleep was like magic. Nothing exciting, or amazing, or even out of the ordinary was happening and yet it was like magic. I was curious. How could she fall sleep so easily? So simply? She had no clue where she was, except for fact that she wasn’t where she grew up…and yet she slept.

Turning, I heard the door open as my grandmother entered, holding a small object.

“She’s asleep?” she whispered softly, closing the door behind her. Nodding, I got up from Giovanna’s bedside.

“What is that?” I asked softly, pointing to the object in her hands.

“It’s a humidifier,” she smiled, lifting it to me. “When you were young, you’d get stuffy noses in the winter. I figured since she was also coming from Italy, she’d need some time getting adjusted to the drier air here. I increased the temperature for your room too.”

“I didn’t think about that,” I admitted as I took the device from her.

“I’d be stunned if you did,” she patted my arm and walked around me towards Giovanna who was breathing deeply.

“How close or far do I put this?” I asked, not exactly sure what the directions were.

She grinned and pointed to the bedside table on the opposite side of the bed Giovanna was sleeping on. Nodding again I walked over as she said. I didn’t say anything but turned on the machine and watched as she lifted Giovanna’s arms out from under the covers and tucked her in tighter.

“It’s magical isn’t it? Seeing yourself in another living being? Knowing they trust and love you unconditionally even though you’ve done nothing to deserve it.” She smiled, brushing Giovanna’s cheek with her fingers, which looked so much older next to my daughter’s smooth skin.

That was it.

My uncle Declan did the test the moment she came here. By the time she first hugged me, he had already confirmed everything. Everyone, especially my grandmother and uncles, cared about the reputation of this family. There was no way they’d even let them both stay in house if they were not one thousand percent sure.

So, they were sure.

And so was I.

“Ethan?”

“Yes?”

“Breathe.” My grandmother smiled and the look she gave me was like she could read my crumbled thoughts. I listened. I took a deep breath. “Good. Now that she’s asleep you can go talk to that

…to Fiorello. I rather not seem him more than I must. I’ll stay with her for the night so she isn’t alone.”

She looked away from me, her head hung low. Her anger, her pain, was clear and deep.

“Thank you,” I said, walking to the door.

“Ethan…you already have all the makings of a good father.”

How the hell did she know that? Because I sure as hell didn’t feel like a good father. Then again, what was that supposed to feel like?

I glanced back at them on my bed. I could only think of the irony. She hated Fiorello with a passion I’d never seen her hate anyone. Yet she looked at Giovanna as if she were her own daughter.

What if it’s a ruse and she plans to hurt Giovanna to get back at Fiorello? The thought came to my mind so quickly it stunned me. I was doubting my grandmother now? The list of people I trusted was small and my grandmother was always on it. Even now, knowing that she most likely knew my own parents were alive, I still trusted her. So where fuck did that thought come from?