The Vixen of the Thieves – Chapter 7 – Reunion
Isabelle was large as a house, or so she felt. In truth she was smaller than she was at six months than she was with the twins, but she still found the lack of energy and needing to move to avoid cramps in her back and legs annoying. La Volpe for his part had been able to rub the sore places from her back at night.
It was mid-morning. Isabelle was tending the bar and watching the courtesans and men watching them dance on the tables. She nodded to Camille, a new waitress, and smiled. She beckoned her over to her. "If you want to make good tips, you need to show more skin." She said.
"But I have a husband and baby at home…"
Isabelle lowered the shoulders a little and pressed her breasts higher in her dress. "You do not need to sell yourself. Just give the illusion you are. If you have trouble, you know how to get help."
Camille nodded. "Thank you, Isabelle."
Isabelle nodded and watched her go carrying drinks on a tray. She smiled and leaned against the bar as Ugo came to her. "The new girl has potential." He said.
"She is nervous." Isabelle said. "That will change the more money she makes."
"Indeed." He looked at her. "How are you feeling?"
"Well enough." Isabelle smiled. She knew full well Antonio had sent him to babysit her. She smiled and then saw a cowled figure come in the door. "Eyes sharp, we have a visitor." She said.
Ugo turned back. "Oh, that is a friend."
"Indeed." She said taking in the dark clothing with red trim. He had a number of weapons on his person and he had his arms folded as he took in everything in the room.
"Aye, he saved Rosa's life, which is why I like him, but the man is the best assassin I have seen."
Her eyes flicked to him. "Assassin?" She took a drink from her glass.
"That is Ezio Auditore. Surely, you have heard of him?"
She almost choked on the juice she had been sipping. Ezio's narrow featured face was hard to make out under the cowl, but his lip had a scar, she could see it in the light across his face.
The form moved easily to the bar. "Ugo. A pleasure." His golden eyes lifted and met Isabelle's. "Isabelle…" He whispered.
"Ezio. It has been some time, brother."
He took a breath. "You are here, in Venice? Why?"
"I have been in need of a good home." She said.
"So you tend bar for the thieves. Eyes and ears open?"
"Always." She chuckled and straightened. "You did not come looking for me."
"No, but it was a perk to see you." He sighed. "I am looking for La Volpe."
"He will return shortly, I am sure." She walked around the bar shifting her weight back to waddle to him. She opened her arms to embrace him as she came about. "I have missed you."
He looked at her and his eyes locked on her fully belly. "What is that?" He asked pointing.
She laughed. "Even you are not that daft."
"Who impregnated you?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes. "
"Not to you it doesn't."
"Who have you married?"
"No one."
"So you have become a whore?" He hissed. The slap surprised them both and she looked at him standing like a fighter, hands up, and his cheek stung from the impact. He looked at her startled and she looked at him her violet eyes swirling with venom.
"Take it back, Ezio." She hissed. "You fucking take it back or by God I will make sure you are never welcome by the thieves again."
Holy hell, she meant it. "I am sorry." He said his hand lifting to his cheek. "Damn, I do not remember you being able to hit so hard."
"The streets has made my education better."
"So I see. Added to your vocabulary too."
"You can blame my friends for that."
"You have met Bartolomeo, haven't you?"
She laughed. "Indeed."
He took her arm and led her to a table. "Seriously, you would let your baby be born a bastard? Who is the father?"
She sat down and he sat across from her. He took her hands in his. "I thought you dead. And now I find you here with your belly under your child in a den of thieves. It is not the most becoming place for an Auditore."
"Or a De' Medici, but I manage." She said. "Come tell me. How long have you been in the city?"
"A few months." He looked at her. "How have we not crossed paths?"
"Rosa has kept you occupied."
It was his turn to cough and look down. She giggled. "She and Antonio are good friends of mine."
He chuckled. "Perhaps I am being too judgmental." He said seeing the small silver cross at her neck. He touched her cheek gently. "It does me well to see you. Are Giana and Giovani well?"
"Of course. Rosa should be bringing them home from school soon."
He laughed. "So many years I have lost with them and you."
"Nine." She said. She sighed and touched his hand gently. "They have grown so much. Giana will be a heartbreaker."
"Well or I will be a knee breaker." He smiled. "I am their uncle. I will make sure no harm comes to her."
"And Giovanni…he looks so much like Federico. It is painful." She sighed and looked down a moment. "I did not know him long, Ezio. But I miss him so much."
"I know." He said softly. "I miss them as well."
Her eyes lifted and her face brightened. "I missed you. I just could not think of a way to have you come without sounding…presumptuous. I am happy to see you well, too."
He let his thumb caress her cheek in a tender gesture. "I am never so busy to not see family." He said softly. "If you ever have need. Seek me out, sister."
"I will remember that."
"Isabelle, Ezio. Ah, glad you finally have been able to see each other face to face." La Volpe said walking up. He folded his arms across his chest.
"You knew she was here and you said nothing?" Ezio asked.
"You never asked." La Volpe pointed out. He smiled at Isabelle and pressed a hand to her belly gently and with a smile on his face of pleasure. The move was not lost on Ezio.
Ezio grabbed his friend and pressed him to the table, knocking dishes away as he did so, his hidden blade coming within millimeters of the man's throat. La Volpe spread his hands.
"Ezio!" Isabelle barked as she rose to her feet awkwardly.
"You have a child in my sister-in-law's womb and yet you will not honorably marry her you son of a…"
La Volpe looked up at him from his cowl. "Do you honestly think I did not ask her?"
Ezio considered that. He looked at his former sister-in-law. "You refuse marriage?" He let his friend rise and whirled on her. "Why?"
She stood defiantly looking up at him. "You left us. I made my own way. I am not ready to marry. Is that so hard for you to grasp? The man who could have a dozen bastards around Firenze dares make judgment against me?"
He stepped forward and took her by her arms gripping her tightly. He pressed his face close looking her over. "What the hell are you thinking? You need protection. As much as I hate to admit it, La Volpe is likely the best protection you have."
"You left me. You left me alone with twins!" She spat.
He realized that was what she was bitter about. He had asked her once to marry him. She had refused, but he had left her instead of helping her and caring for her…like he had promised. He took a breath. "I am sorry. I had to avenge the family name." He looked at her. "I am sorry Isabelle." He whispered. "I wish I could take it all back…all the pain…all the…" He grunted as she threw herself into his arms and he held her to him as she started to weep.
He was not used to women weeping so in his arms, but he held her to him looking back at La Volpe who was watching them keenly, but not making a move toward them. Ezio tried to hush her, but soon gave up as he let her cry out the pain she was in deep down that seemed to be erupting from her like Vesuvius.
Ezio laid his cheek against her hair and held her. He then smiled when he felt something move against his stomach armor. He moved his hand and felt the baby moving against his hand. He smiled a little and then sighed as Isabelle quieted. She looked exhausted now and was leaning against him. He shook his head and bent, lifting her in his arms.
"Where is her room?" He asked La Volpe. Isabelle was nearly asleep in his arms. She felt safe and secure and that was not lost on La Volpe. The Fox led the way upstairs and into their room.
There Ezio laid her gently on the bed and looked at her. She sighed and closed her eyes, turning to her side, which was far more comfortable for her and her expanded belly. He kissed her cheek before going to La Volpe who was waiting outside.
"We need to talk." He said lowly.
La Volpe nodded and Ezio followed him outside and to the back of the building where there was a bridge and a bench. They were sheltered from the light rain that was falling. For a long time they just sat there.
La Volpe sat with his hands on his knees. Ezio dropped down beside him after standing for a time.
"She is not a child, Ezio." La Volpe started. "She has decided. I asked to be my wife. They already call her the Vixen." He sighed. "I want my child to be born in wedlock just as much as you do, but she is stubborn."
Ezio laughed lightly. "Yes, she has changed little."
"Ezio. I love her greatly, in my own fashion." He sighed. "I am sorry if this puts a rift between us, but she is safe here with my people and with Antonio's thieves."
Ezio shook his head. "You know I offered her marriage after she gave birth."
La Volpe chuckled. "Yes and I am sure Antonio offered as well."
"Why is she so against marriage?"
"Is it not plain to you?"
"No." Ezio said.
"She's afraid."
"Of what?" Ezio looked at his friend. "I doubt you harm her."
La Volpe shook his head. "No, and if I did I am sure you would murder me."
"Yes." Ezio said. "But what does she fear?"
"Another man she loves dying to the rope."
Ezio looked over in sudden comprehension. "She does not want to be a widow again."
La Volpe nodded.
Ezio then nodded. "I see." He took a breath. "She is a good woman, a good mother, a capable fighter, a good assassin, good holder of secrets, and she is a De' Medici which means she has a great deal of backing."
"Yes. Lorenzo is very fond of her and she is godmother to one of his children, I forget which." La Volpe said.
"Does he know she is here?"
"No. I think he assumes her still to be Monteriggioni." La Volpe said. "She writes to him often enough."
Ezio nodded.
"Ezio. We have much work to do. Isabelle is not your concern any longer. You thought her dead for many years."
"I am still her brother-in-law and uncle to her children." He looked at his friend. "In fact. Before I go elsewhere I would see them."
La Volpe nodded. "Come then."
"What about…"
"Ugo is here to look after her. Antonio I am sure will come in as well. She is able to look after herself as well, Ezio. She is a trained assassin, lest you forget that."
"Yes." Ezio nodded.
ZzZ
They made it to the thieves' guild just as Rosa was walking in with two cloaked, small figures. Ezio had been perching on the roof. He leapt from the roof into the courtyard landing in some hay. He got out and smiled at Rosa who looked at him with an affectionate smile.
"Ezio." She said.
He chuckled. "Hello, Cara." He then looked at the two children who looked up at him. Giana was tall for her age and had very long legs and an athletic build. Her brother did as well, but he looked more boyish as he stood there, but Isabelle was right, he looked like Federico in miniature. If he kept growing he would be taller than Ezio, though his sire had been an inch or so shorter.
Ezio pulled back his hood as the two looked at him shyly. "Giana, beautiful Tesora, and Giovanni, what a handsome young man you have become."
They blinked. "Do we know you, sir?" Giovanni asked.
"I'm Ezio, your uncle."
They blinked. Giana stepped forward and reached up. She touched his scarred lip. "I had a dream about you once…I was small…"
He bent down and hugged her, lifting her in his arms. "Come let us get you some tea. It is cold. If you catch your death, your mother will never forgive me." Ezio said turning.
Rosa and Giovanni followed as he walked into the lower floors of the guild seeking the kitchens where Bianca would be making something for a snack, Ezio was sure of it.
He sat Giana down and then sat himself as the other two joined him. As he suspected. Bianca had some fresh scones, jam, churned butter, and tea for them. The children relished it all as Ezio sat with Rosa affectionately caressing her thigh under the table as the twins spoke to and learned about their uncle.
ZzZ
It was after dark when Isabelle and La Volpe came to the guild house. Antonio was speaking to Ezio. The children had been put to bed by Rosa and Ezio. Ezio found the simple activity calming. He had spent his time learning about them. For being twins they were very different.
Giana loved art, music, and learning to be stealthy. Her brother, though shy, liked to fight in the open and use the environment to his advantage. Ezio had been pleased watching them. They could already climb walls with due skill, their fingers finding hand holds he could only dream about.
Ezio found Isabelle mending a shirt of Antonio's. He sighed and came to her. "I would see you happy and with a name."
"I have a name." She said.
"You know what I mean."
"Yes, I know what you mean. Why are you so insistent?"
"I know what this city does to women who do not have a name. You become an outcast."
"I am the lover of the best thief. Some would argue that is already fact."
He sighed. "La Volpe is willing. I know there are demons in your mind, Isabelle."
"It is better he is not tied down to family. They can use me to and the baby to hurt him if he is captured."
"You do not think that would already happen?"
She looked up. He sat down next to her. "Belle. I know Federico was taken so soon from you, but he was taken by a man I am hunting and will kill."
"Not if I get to him first." She hissed.
He shook his head. "Tesoro. Please. For the child. Consider."
She sighed as he lifted a hand and pressed it to her, unbidden. She looked up at him. "Very well. I will marry him. He is a good father to Giana and Giovanni as well. It is somewhat selfish to deny him." She sighed. "By the same token he is not an easy man."
"Neither was Federico. He could have fathered just as many bastards as I could have." Ezio pointed out.
She laughed and smacked him in the shoulder.
He rose to leave and she looked up. "Ezio."
He looked back. "Yes, Cara?"
"It is good to have you back in our lives."
He smiled and bowed. "Madonna Misterioso." He said and left her to go find Rosa. He needed to relax after this long day of reunions and the best way to unwind for him was for bed play. He found her and dragged her to a room playfully.
La Volpe found Isabelle looking thoughtful. "Are you well, Cara?"
"Yes." She said. "I will marry you, if you will still have me."
"Of course." He said laughing. He dropped before her and leaned up for a kiss. "Ezio has a way of making people see his way."
"He always has."
He chuckled.