Chapter one: Late night visit
October, 1599
"Lord Vongola, there is a guest to see you."
The never-ending flow of paperwork was covering most of the desk that Giotto Vongola had been occupying since the early hours of the afternoon - ever since he had locked himself in his office to get rid of it after lunch had been done with and the entire family occupied themselves with their own duties. While the hope of its end seemed futile, it was still smouldering at the back of his mind that, one day, he would be able to be finished with the paperwork, letters and invitations permanently. But he knew that the only way for it to happen would be to decline his lordship and everything that came with it – and that was not an option. Getting involved in many different investments and businesses to expand the still rising Vongola Noble House's wealth and reputation occupied most of his time, as the network of connections had to be built in order to succeed - and the carefulness in putting his money in someone's trust was strongly advised. And to reach their childhood goals and dreams, it was something he was willing to deal with, despite the headache he was getting out as a result.
They had been a Noble House for barely four years – four years that had created many bonds and memories. The funds that came with the title had been generous, especially in the eyes of the ones that had been deprived of it until then, but to reach their goals they still needed to have the means of doing so. A lot more means. They couldn't count on rich families to support them whenever they were in trouble or to use someone else's influence to get out of a hard situation. Most of the individuals that joined together to form the current structure of the family either didn't have such a powerful allies or were estranged from their birth relatives due to the decision to become Vongola in the first place. Which is why he had taken the obligation and duty to calculate and examine every move and decision he had to make as a Lord of the House, the well-being of his friends driving his actions. The last thing he wanted was for his carelessness to lead towards the devastating fall of theirs, even before they reached the top – or at least the middle, as Giotto decided to be more realistic with their development a few months back – of the social ladder.
Because, even though their growth was rapid and dynamic, they were still far too away from the desired position.
Matteo, the old but energetic butler serving the family for the last four years who had been taking care of the enormous residence even before Giotto and G - the only ones that had moved there back then – were given the possession of it, stood waiting patiently by the door, giving his Lord a moment to gather his senses through the thick mist of confusion that clouded the uncommon amber eyes of the younger man. Matteo had been nothing but professional ever since being introduced to his new employee, completely and utterly avoiding the subject of the birth rights and origins from which the two men had come from and going out of his way to cover any missteps of theirs, whenever he could.
The young man behind the desk watched the older one for a few seconds, not realising at first he had been the one addressed, despite the glaring absence of anyone else in the room. It still happened occasionally, when Giotto was tired or consumed with his work, that the new reality of being directed as a Lord slipped off his mind. The staff had gotten used to it by one point, even though it had was a reason for many giggles and humorous whispers exchanged around the house until Matteo strictly and unyieldingly cut it short. Laughing at any of the shortcomings of the Lord of the House was the most disrespectful and unforgivable action in the eyes of every butler and, if it had been any other House, would inevitably lead to the termination of the employment with a person committing such an act.
But all hirings and firings had to go through the desk of Giotto, in accordance to his wishes until he would get married eventually and the duty would be passed onto his wife, and Matteo was well aware by now that the Lord would never take away someone's means of income barely because he or she made fun of him.
The sharp and concentrated look returned to the amber orbs eventually and Giotto shook himself out of his temporary stupor.
"At this hour?" he asked, both curious and exhausted, glancing at his pocket watch.
The darkness of the night had already covered the sky behind the window, rendering the usually pleasant look on the garden invisible. So far, watching the view of the vast area full of flowers and trees had been one of the most enjoyable ways of passing the time. The autumn was his favourite, the splendour of colours making him relaxed every time he looked through the window, but it was closely followed by spring, when everything was returning back to life, the blossoms giving a hope of better tomorrow and brighter future after the depressing winters.
He had once naively thought, even at the time when he had been accepting the Lordship from the hands of Royal Representative, that becoming a part of the Noble Society would result in spending most of his days on social events and banquets - and while it had been occupying the end of the list of reasons why they had been striving to reach that grade of the social hierarchy, it still had been a thrilling idea to get such an experience. The rumours about it had been circulating endlessly around the lower classes, the maids and servants willingly and happily sharing details of it with others not as lucky as to get a good position that would give them such an opportunity. The imagination providing a picture of vast amounts of food served during the banquets and colourful and splendid display of clothes the riches wore for the occasion kept many orphans dreaming about participating in it, at least once, to only get a glimpse of what it was like to be born on the better side of the world.
The reality had been a painful wake up call. He had realised quite soon in his debut as a Lord of the House that navigating his way through the etiquette and hooks of manners was one of the most tiring and exhausting things in his new life. Everything he had ever heard about the lives of Nobles omitted their brutal cleverness and unyielding need to prove the superiority of their in faces of the others, even the ones coming from the same background.
It had taken a lot of politics and gritted teeth to get his way through them to reach their current standing without offending too many on his way.
"It's Lord Carlevaro. He is insisting it's a matter of great importance and cannot wait to return tomorrow."
"Bring him in, please. It must be pressing, if he is here under such circumstances."
He had known the man for over six years now and such an incident had never happened before.
The fifth Lord of House Carlevaro, Francesco, was a very scrupulous man about etiquette and its benefits and limitations. Arriving at this hour of day with no prior notice was not a common occurrence and the sudden change in the usual routine was a worrying development – many would consider such an act as open disrespect towards their time and work, not giving them time to clear the schedule for such a meeting. There had always been a note delivered by a penny boy hired by Carlevaro preceding the arrival, even shortly before the appearance of the guest himself. And it had been cleared at the early stage of their growing friendship that he expected the same out of his own visitors.
Giotto had quickly learned that any distortion of the social rules, even accidental one, was frowned upon and could result in gaining unwanted foes. Society functioned on appearances and the propriety of one's actions. Many painful hours of training and polishing his skills had taught him how to weave his way through the catches, even though the task was still something he considered impossible at times. It was a setback he was still trying to deal with.
He - as well as most of his family - hadn't been raised in the surrounding society based solely on etiquette and appearances. He hadn't spent all of his years since early childhood learning how to follow certain subjects or what to avoid during a banquet or what to say to not offend the ones that would look for an opportunity to feel disrespected. What he often found natural, others found inappropriate or strange. Even a great part of compassion gestures could be perceived the wrong way. He had always been an open and understanding person, giving his sympathy to the others easily, not even expecting receiving it back.
The Nobility taught him that it could only serve as a weakness, a way to be used by the ones who held no compunction against it.
When the door to his office opened, Giotto turned his attention in that direction, his surprise swiftly concealed the moment his guest entered the room hastily, closing the door behind him – even in his hurry, Francesco ensured it was done quietly and carefully, as to not cause too much noise.
Giotto hadn't even noticed when Matteo left the room to fetch the late guest.
For the first time since he had known the man, Francesco actually looked his age - the dark shadows stressed out the wrinkles in the corners of the brown eyes, indicating many sleepless nights that must have troubled the Carlevaro lord for some reason. In his late forties, he could boast about looking younger, his features not betraying his real age. This concerned everyone of Carlevaro's blood as well, mostly the youngest daughter of the House, Alexandra.
And it had been one of the first lessons in how to not believe in the appearances during which he learned that females were not only sensitive about being perceived as older than they were, but also for younger in certain cases – especially during the Social Debut. That was not also the best way of trying to start the conversation by asking the young woman in question when she would enter her own.
He had taken her for being around fourteen. She had been eighteen and entering a matrimonial market in the search of a husband – or at least, her mother had been. Thankfully, Francesco's daughter had a sense of humour that took over the initial sourness in a matter of minutes.
Taking a closer look at the man himself, Giotto realised that it wasn't only the face that caused a worry.
The feeling of discomfort increased at the sight of his unkempt appearance - the usually styled brown hair were tousled and ruffled. The pristine clothing was switched for the crumpled shirt and trousers, looking very much as if put in haste in the darkness. Which was possible, considering the time of the visit. If Giotto hadn't been worried before, the dishevelled look of his friend would definitely cause such a reaction in him.
The unkempt appearance was something Lords would never let slip to happen just because of laziness or carelessness. There were many that spent as much time – or more - on the preparations as their female relatives before showing themselves in any public places, be it a theatre, ballroom or simply a park. It was important to show their status and great wealth - even if one couldn't really afford it, resulting in increasing the family debt and passing the bankruptcy over to their heirs. The biggest hope it gave for the ones with no spouse was to find a female that could be fooled by the display and led into believing the man courting her was indeed living in a luxury. A woman with the enormous dowry, preferably, and parents that could keep providing the income even after the money given for the marriage were all spent and forgotten.
"I'm sorry to bother you so late. But it couldn't be avoided, I'm afraid." Francesco said, his voice polite, though absent and tired, as he took a seat opposite the younger man upon being invited to do so.
"That's fine, I'm still working anyway. Is everything alright?" Giotto inquired.
Realising he had been staring at the man far too long, judging his appearance and assessing his state, he moved his eyes away from the man, shifting a piece of paper on his desk to occupy himself with something. Continuing the observation would be impolite.
A long moment of silence filled the room, as Francesco lost himself in his thoughts, hesitation written all over his features as he tried to choose the words to voice the reason behind his sudden appearance. In the end, he let out a long sigh while rubbing his forehead, worried lines not disappearing for even a second.
"I'm not sure, actually." the answer came just before Giotto was about to repeat his question, afraid he hadn't been heard for the first time. "I will be leaving soon, most probably for a period of month or two. Few weeks, definitely. However, there is a very delicate matter I need to take care of before that can happen."
"I hope it's nothing dangerous."
Giotto wasn't sure where the conversation was leading to.
Carlevaro and Vongola had been friends almost since the beginning of the existence of the second Noble House. They had met briefly before Giotto received his title, back when he had been simply a leader of a low vigilante group consisting of him and two of his childhood friends, with no real power or influence to make a change he had dreamed of, a thin thread of understanding forming between the two men with similar goals and morals. It developed into a successful and fruitful alignment later on, considering the similar fields of professions both families were adapted in. Vongola strived to protect the weak and powerless. Carlevaro helped and supported the ones not able to do so themselves. Whether it was protection against a danger or investigation of the crime committed against even the lowest class, they were often supporting each other.
But the man had never shared his plans with him before when they didn't concern the Vongola, and Giotto had never felt the urge to inquire about it. Carlevaro were one of the closest Houses to the Royal Family and the missions they had undergone in their name were to be never disclosed to unauthorized people. The repercussions of doing so were severe - if the act was judged to be a treason against the King, Francesco could have been executed and his family could lose their titles and wealth. If he was lucky and got a softer sentence, it would still mean a life imprisonment for him and ruin for his wife and children. But still, they would be used as an example to stop any possible acts of disloyalty in the future.
"I can't really share the details, as you know. However, I am most definitely planning on finishing it quickly. There are matters I need to attend here as well, just as pressing and crucial."
Giotto waited for a moment, though Francesco didn't continue the subject, instead losing focus once again, his brows eyes covered with a cloud of thoughtful unawareness of his surroundings. The time kept passing by, the seconds lost indicated by the sound of a ticking clock, its hands moving unforgivably forwards.
"Francesco, I don't want to meddle in your affairs, but is there anything I can help you with?" the blond finally broke the silence, feeling as the tiredness of the day started slipping into his mind. "Do you need Alaude to accompany you? Because it can be simply arranged, he is currently in the House."
And a note would be sufficient to make the Guardian join Carlevaro forces, though he kept it for himself.
His voice brought the man out of his thoughts and Francesco looked at Giotto confused, taking a few seconds to gather his surroundings as if he had forgotten where exactly he was. His face morphed into a tired frown as the man run a hand through his hair, messing it even more while trying to focus on the subject at hand once again. It was hard to decide just how many sleepless nights Francesco had gone through before coming to the Vongola Residence in the cover of the night - but it was definitely a high number. Too high to be healthy.
"No, unfortunately, I am not to bring any company on that mission. As I said, it's delicate. But I need your help. Yours personally, if possible."
"Whatever you need." there was no hesitation as Giotto made the promise.9
He was surprised, despite the certainty of his voice. Whenever there was a need for Vongola to support Carlevaro, Francesco usually had requested the help of Alaude. His Guardian's abilities in interrogation and intel gathering greatly benefited all investigations run by the Carlevaro House and the gratitude for any of his participation was always spoken loud and clear.
Giotto had been pleasantly astonished by the fact that the normally antisocial Guardian had not been refusing the missions, actually enjoying it. Even if he had never admitted it openly, it would be the last thing to be expected out of the ex-soldier.
"Do you remember Alexandra?"
Giotto watched him, hesitantly, not certain if he had heard Francesco correctly and trying to keep an amused smile out of his face.
"Yes, I remember your daughter. I have met her a few times." he confirmed, his amber eyes glinting with laughter at the absurd question. "Last month, I think was the last time."
Thankfully, she had grown to look more of her age than she had a few years back and he had been able to not make any more unfitting comments about her appearance.
That, and he had also learned to avoid such a subject in general when in the company of a female.
The three years of being acquaintances had resulted in many social events spent in each other's company, especially when Francesco had taken it upon himself to introduce Giotto to most of their neighbours. It would have been impossible, at this point, to not know the members of the Carlevaro House. Francesco's wife, Beatrice, and two of their daughters - Elsbeth and Alexandra - had been known to a certain level of familiarity to the entire Vongola Family. Though, if Giotto had to be honest with himself, it was Beatrice and Elsbeth that he had been more accustomed with as both of them had been present far more often during the events than the young daughter had been after her debut.
"Right, of course you do. I'm sorry. However, it's because of Alex I'm here today." the man clarified.
Giotto winced at the nickname, though tried to cover it. Basically the entire Carlevaro family had been using for the young woman, as well as friends and acquaintances. As she had no issue herself with being called the abbreviation of her name instead of the longer version of it, many took advantage of it.
It had led to another misunderstanding in the past – now that he thought about it, he had been able to offend her more often than he felt comfortable with. Because he had been sure Francesco had a daughter and a son at the beginning of their acquaintance. And inquired about the presence of the second one in front of the girl herself during the first visit in the household.
"Did something happen?" his amusement diminished as Giotto watched the man with furrowed brows.
"Not yet, but I'm not sure for how long I will be able to make that statement true. For a reason I am not able to fully discern, she has become the target of a mercenary group, one that is quite persistent in kidnapping her."
The matter of abductions itself was not as uncommon in Mafia as they would have wished for it to be. There was an unwritten rule to not implicate innocent women and children into any heated and armed dispute that would erupt amongst the Lords, no matter the reason for it. Having in mind the safety of their own wives and daughters, as well as the common sense, most Houses had not made any attempts to break the principle, though their actions sometimes were balancing on the margins of it. The members of the Organisation had many means of harm when they wanted to leave a lasting impression on their foes.
There were also those, unfortunately, who would not back away from anything to reach their goal, including harming the innocent lives. Cruelty and pleasure of giving pain was not a foreign characteristic to the ones that went to such length in proving their strength and superiority. The cost of it was not of great value when they were at war to protect their honour and name.
"Do you know why? Or who would want to do it?" he asked finally.
"As for whom, I have no idea. As for why, there are three options. Someone wants to get into the family by forcing Alex to marry him and ensure the annulment was not an option. There is also a desire for ransom or blackmail and, as you know, the amount of intel I have in my possession is quite tempting." Francesco listed with no hesitation.
The man had spent a lot of time mulling over the subject, trying to guess why his younger daughter suddenly found herself in danger. While probably expected at one point or another, it was still something that no parent could be fully prepared for, not when the safety of their child was in danger.
"The position in the Founding Family is desirable. There are many lesser Lords that would take a chance to gain that." Giotto said thoughtfully.
It was the easiest way for any family making their first steps in the Mafia to climb the rank ladder. Marrying into the House with established and strong connections and giving one of the daughters their own name, gave them the advantage to extend their own power. And Founding Families were on the top of the ranking, even though they were barely considered reachable by those entering the society. He would be lying if he said that it wasn't his plan for his marital status – he wouldn't be aiming as high, as he doubted any of the fathers of such position would be willing to give their daughters to the House of a few ranking lower standing without forcing him to merge. But the idea of entering a political marriage that would bind Vongola with someone of higher influences was the outcome he had decided for himself in the future. Not the immediate one, but the matter couldn't be delayed forever.
It had been made clear straight away that he needed a wife of higher position taking his name, to give it the backing they required.
"That and the position in the Carlevaro Council that is assigned to Alex's spouse."
The Carlevaro Council was an organisation inside the Carlevaro House built from the six closest friends and allies of the family. They had a large and lasting contribution in all the matters concerning the future and present of their leader and his relatives - including overruling him in case the decision made by the Lord of the House evaded the fundamental morals he was supposed to be following, as stated by the First Carlevaro Lord.
"I thought the position in the Council was heritable." he commented, keeping his curiosity in check, not wanting to seem overly interested in the internal matter of his friend.
Even if he had wondered many times just how much power the Council had over Francesco, he had never dared to inquire about it openly, not keen on accidentally offending the man by dwelling too deeply in his personal matters. At first, he had thought it was similar to the relation he himself had with his Guardians - all of them had been friends, close and loyal, their decision made in unison and understanding of their own personal beliefs and morals. Over time, he had learned that the Council was more of a commission which assessed and questioned every decision made by their Lord, not necessarily acting on the wellness of the House on their own will, unless reminded about their original purpose of the creation of their internal organisation.
"Normally, yes. But Mario passed recently, leaving no heir behind and not appointing anyone to his position in his testament. I had to fill the spot somehow, as the Council is meant to be of six members. It took some convincing, but the others supported the idea eventually, not wanting to change the structure of it."
Giotto nodded his head, accepting the explanation despite the questions he had in his mind. He had attended the funeral with his Guardians - it had happened barely a month ago, so the matter of assigning the position to Alexandra's future husband had been quite a fresh development, one that he had no way of knowing. No one aside from the members of the House and a person that would be considered and accepted to be her husband should know about it. It was included in the dowry assigned to Alexandra, so any serious talks of marriage would eventually reach the point of it. It was hard to believe anyone from the outside of the House was able to get a hold of this information early enough to organise an abduction plan to force her into an undesired marriage.
The matter of bribing officials and finding a place that would hold an impromptu ceremony with an unwilling bride without the assistance of the parents was not as easy as one would expect. With the identity of the victim – and it would need to be given to prepare all the Church documentation and marriage certificate – and the Carlevaro name showing up in the process, many doors would be slammed in the faces of the abductors. It would also require an enormous amount of money exchanged to let it happen, which meant that not anyone would afford such an action, on top of hiring a mercenary group, as their services were never cheap.
"And the third reason?" he asked instead, even though he had a hunch what it was.
"Revenge. I have as many enemies as I have allies. Perhaps, if I consider it carefully, even more. I wouldn't put it past any of them to go to such a length to make me pay for whatever they believe I should pay."
Giotto felt a headache forming, a tiredness and newly developed worry taking a toll on him with every passing minute. While he surely had good intentions, Francesco had successfully managed to put Alexandra in the position of being a desirable target by adding the Council position of the origins of her birth, possible dowry and the connections she could bring into the marriage. No matter the motivation, once the news about the details came out, she would be swarmed with the marriage offers, some more desperate than others.
"So, basically, your daughter can either face a rape to force her into marriage, a torture to make you pay for her release or a death from the hand of someone holding a grudge against you." he summarised without thinking of his words until the wince concorded Francesco's face.
Even though he found himself shuddering at the prospect, he couldn't shake a feeling something still didn't feel right about the situation.
The older daughter of the House would be more desirable for such actions in case of Carlevaro house - the lack of male heir made Elsbeth the one that brought the succession of the title into her marriage, even if officially it was her husband that took over the position. However, she already had a spouse to take on that role. A wedding had taken place two years ago and was attended by everyone that mattered and held a position in the society, a splendour of luxury and wealth displayed a surprising occurrence for the Carlevaro House, who usually kept on the more modest and moderate side, despite their fortune.
But there was always a chance that, if something happened to her and Gabriel, Alexandra's husband would be put in the position of the heir. In case Elsbeth wouldn't give birth to a son that would have a rightful claim to the title, of course. Similar situation would be if there was no child at all. It would be Alexandra's offspring to receive the heirloom. As there was yet no son conceived, the possibility was still in reach of anyone daring enough to go for it and deciding to not only force the younger sister into the marriage, but also to lead to the demise of the older one, leaving no trails behind to point at him.
But for the other two reasons, Elsbeth would still be a better option to target – especially for the ransom, as a future Lady of the House was far more priceless when it came to the material perception of the subject.
"It's a blunt way to put it, but yes, it's a possibility." the older man confirmed, moving in his seat uncomfortably.
It was a dark world they lived in and the repercussions of one's actions were rarely paid by the ones deserving it. Giotto wished for nothing more than to be able to change it, having the strength to protect the ones that weren't able to do it themselves, though it was still a long way for him to go until he was able to reach it.
"There is no one you suspect so far?"
House Carlevaro was specializing in intel gathering and investigation – their skills were best in the country and there was no one so far that could take the position away from them. Giotto strongly doubted they hadn't been able to get a hand on any possible clue by now, not after capturing the few culprits, as he had already admitted to had done. And especially not when the case concerned the daughter of the Head of the House and her safety, as well as the matters of the internal affairs which would be greatly influenced by an unwanted party getting access to it through obtaining the hand of Alexandra. Unwilling, but yet legally binding, no matter the circumstances. Once the vows were said in front of God, there was no taking them back.
Giotto still couldn't imagine where, exactly, his help would be required. Francesco had a lot of men, strong and powerful men, that were already working around the safety and security of the daughter of the House, under the watchful eye of the Lord himself.
"There are many I suspect and they are being watched by my men. None of them seem to be aware of the vigilance, but also none of them make an impression of being involved in the subject." Francesco confirmed. "I had managed to imprison some, but any attempts to interrogate them were futile. They committed suicide as soon as they were confined."
"All of them? How many attempts were there?"
"All of them. And five, so far. I managed to step in every time before they succeeded in their tasks, though there were too many close calls for my liking." Francesco confirmed.
The quantity of attempts was worrying - considering that Carlevaro men had managed to stop every single of the attempts, one would expect the culprit to become discouraged. Whatever the motivation behind their actions was, they must have been determined to see it through the end.
The intensity of the mercenaries' attempts was a worrying aspect of the case. One would have suspected that with so many futile actions, the person behind it would drop the hope of ever succeeding it, seeing the results were not changing with the time.
The grand clock on the wall struck another hour and Giotto jolted, the sound cutting through the air as if to enhance the tense atmosphere caused by the grave subject. The immense sense of finality settled in his mind, as if some higher power tried to announce a decision of grand importance through the sound, causing the chills to run down his spine. He knew his imagination was running wild due to the late hour and tiredness, though the sound of blusterous wind blowing outside the window only increased his sudden discomfort and concern.
He really needed to get more rest. He shook his head to get rid of the ridiculous thoughts, clearing his throat to cover the sudden embarrassment caused by it.
"What exactly do you help with? You need us to support your man by guarding her? I can delegate one of the Guardians to do that, they will not mind." he proposed.
"That would be greatly appreciated. But I also need her to move into your residence. I can't have her in the house without knowing who she should avoid at all cost."
Giotto took a moment to answer, the idea running over in his head, as he tried to fully comprehend the meaning of it.
"It will be suspicious to have her in the Vongola Residence without any apparent reason behind it. I doubt it would be convincing if we announced she was simply visiting, considering the alleged time of your absence." he said slowly.
Having an unmarried and non-betrothed young woman move into the House of another Lord would lead to many unwanted and blown out of proportion speculations and rumours - something that Giotto would rather avoid, despite the benefits he would obviously gain from being accustomed with the Founding Family. Even through the scandal, his name would become known around the local towns. The zest would be only enhanced by the fact that he and his Guardians were all close enough in age to Alexandra to have the possible affair even more believable in the eyes of the hungry for rumours nobility.
Reputation was a very fragile thing in the noble society, and while he doubted the retribution of the gossip would bring him any harm, it would most certainly ruin Alexandra and her chances for any future suitable marriage. There was nothing more desired by the bored ladies than to blasphemy and wreck someone's good name for their own moment of fun and satisfaction.
"Normally, I wouldn't feel any discomfort or hesitation about leaving Alex's safety to my men. But there is barely anything normal in the situation and I need my full focus on the approaching mission, absent-mindedness is strongly not recommended in this case."
Giotto wasn't certain whether it was the nervous way in which Francesco ran a hand through his hair, or the nervous movement of the brown eyes that darted around the darkened office as the man took a long time to think how to continue the subject at hand, but he suddenly became more suspicious about his guest presence in his house.
"You see, I have noticed the attempts on Alex were too precise, too well planned to be a mere coincidence. The ambushes were organized in the exact spots she was, at the exact time she left the house to run her errands. At first, I thought they were just good at observation. It's not uncommon among the mercenaries to learn the skill. Alex usually keeps a standard schedule, being a creature of habits. So we kept changing her plans before she left the house."
"It didn't help much." Giotto probed him when the man stopped talking, once again consumed by his thoughts.
"No. They were still awaiting her wherever and whenever she went. What's more concerning, they knew a specific location of her bedroom, as they managed to break in there once as well, getting past the guards without notifying them of their presence." Francesco explained, his brown eyes suddenly getting sharper. "The conclusion, albeit not welcomed, could be only one."
"You suspect someone shared the information from inside the House." Giotto guessed.
For House Carlevaro, the internal spy would have devastating results once the news of it was leaked out. While for every family such a betrayal was damaging and dangerous, the amount of sensitive secrets gathered by the respective Carlevaro Lords was enormous – they had been serving the Royal Family in the task for decades and no House was left unscathed. It aroused both suspicion and respect, as though everyone knew about it, no one was yet able to prove anything.
Francesco had once joked he had a file on every member of the society, though something made Giotto suspect that the man hadn't really been kidding about that, not once the ongoing rumours about it reached his ears. There was a seed of truth in every gossip, after all.
Alaude had an impressive collection himself, even though Giotto wasn't a supporter of such actions considering the fact he didn't want to be investigated himself, but the Cloud Guardians had been doing the work for only three years so far. His own files weren't as vast and enormous as the ones in Francesco's possession.
The issues concerned Giotto on the private level as well. He had been made aware, as Francesco came clean about it, that the Royal Family had made the older man check Vongola backgrounds before handing the noble title over. It was to be expected, though Giotto had never expected the Founding Family would be the one investigating the barely important and newly developed House. Which meant there were files about him and his Guardians as well. He hadn't really had much to hide, as he had rather avoided any criminal activity in his past, but Giotto would prefer to keep his family members from being endangered by it in any way. He doubted Knuckle would like everyone to know about his boxing past. Or Alaude's years in the army, as the man had been always careful about not sharing anything too private and sensitive about himself.
"Yes. And to ensure Alex's safety, I need to discover what is happening in my own House. There is someone I misjudged at one point or another. Whoever it is, I don't doubt he would seize the opportunity when it is presented to him."
Francesco stood up rapidly from his chair, the movement taking Giotto by surprise and jolting him out of his altered state, his steps nervous when he went to look through the window. The darkness of the night had already taken over the gardens visible through it, so there was barely anything he could see, but it still had given him something to do, instead of uselessly sitting in the chair and watching his host.
"I still don't know why they target Alex specifically. The reasons are many, and pointing one would decrease the list of suspects. But it is still only speculation." he admitted. "If done correctly, it could be a swift way to close the case. If not, then I would as well hand her over to them on the silver plate."
"Francesco, while I do recognize the danger, moving Alexandra here will cause many misunderstandings." Giotto recognized the hesitation in his own voice.
He had no problem protecting Alexandra. In reality, he would be far more than happy to help, as it would also serve the purpose of partially paying off the debt he felt he had after receiving such a support from Francesco a few years back. There was no possibility for him to leave anyone in need, but at the same time, he didn't want to personally cause any damage to her future by giving jealous individuals the field for rumours and gossip. He found it much preferable to move one of his Guardians to Carlevaro Residence instead to keep a close eye over her. While it still would be confusing, Alexandra would be surrounded by her own family members, cutting short any speculations of wrongful actions.
"And that's where your persona comes into the picture." Francesco turned towards him, leaning against the windowsill.
The confusion took over the expression of Giotto, as he tried to assess what he could have in common in explaining Alexandra's presence in his house. Out of the two of them, it was Francesco who had much better abilities at creating excuses and cover stories, the experience and education obtained in that direction unquestioned benefits of his growing in Noble House.
"What exactly do you mean?"
"I have been thinking of the best solution for many days. The one that keeps not only Alex safe, but also won't damage her reputation, if possible. What I came up with is moving her here under the guise of being your fiancée."
A heavy silence fell over the room as Giotto, once again, took a moment to comprehend the words of his friend. Francesco didn't try to beat around the bushes with his request, though the straightforwardness and direct approach was more welcomed than prolonged explanation that would keep both of them in the office for much longer than necessary.
Though he knew the discussed subject would keep him awake through the night anyway.
"My fiancée." he repeated blankly.
He had expected from the beginning that Francesco's request would not be a typical one, but it still took him by surprise. There were many other things he believed his guests were going to share with him – the presence of his Guardian or even himself in his House being at the top of it.
"Yes. Basically all future Ladies of the House are participating in the bridal lessons before taking the position, to prepare them for the duties they are to take over. The education undergone, though necessary, is only theoretical. The practical experience is gained a few weeks before the wedding. It should be enough to cover my absence." Francesco explained, not bothered by the stupefied expression on Giotto's face.
"And what is going to happen after you return?" he asked eventually.
He had no doubt Alexandra was a nice and friendly person, as far as his experience with her went, but he had never considered a marriage with her.
Partially, because, following Francesco's way of speaking about his daughter, he still perceived her as a child.
"The engagement will be broken based on mutual agreement. It will not damage neither Alex, nor you, as she will be accompanied by her maid. It's not an uncommon occurrence, so no one would think twice about it in the end and no one would even suspect that there is a problem inside the House."
Giotto shook himself out of his initial shock, mulling the idea over in his head. Despite Francesco's seemingly lax attitude towards it, there were many things that could go wrong in the few weeks of the fake engagement. To keep the pretence, they would need to act towards each other as the couple to be married - and, at the same time, ensuring that no action would be misunderstood for the sake of harmless annulment.
And the line, as he had already noticed, was easily crossed accidently, the gossip hungry eyes watching young couples closely for any possible faux pas. Even him being polite or supportive at a wrong time and for a wrong reason could cause a suspicion that something improper was happening between the two of them, despite the wrongly assumption behind it
"It would be hard to believe for some that a Lord of the raising family willingly broke the union with the Founding Family." Giotto pointed out instead of voicing his thoughts.
"You already have a stable position in society. Not to mention, you willingly refused Allegri's propositions a few times." The sudden humour in Francesco's voice made him wince.
"How do you know about it?" he asked, hoping that the suspicion was not heard in his voice.
The older man shrugged his shoulders. If something had slipped in the tone of Giotto's voice, Francesco didn't seem to be bothered by it in the slightest, used to people questioning his intentions.
"Giovanni had complained about it a few times in the Club. For me and for others. So you rejecting to join another Founding Family wouldn't be as surprising."
The Club was a famous place of gatherings for the Lords when they wanted to enjoy some male company and, similarly to their wives, gather some rumours. Though, in contrast to the women hungry for the scandals and ruination, they were far more interested in politics and economy, hoping to get some good and profitable investments during the time spent there.
"There will be someone who will bring Alexandra's reputation into question after that."
That would be an unavoidable result, Giotto was certain of it. While no one would really dare to say it loudly, to avoid making an enemy out of the Carlevaro House, it was still going to be whispered behind her back, cutting short the standing and reputation of the young woman amongst other ladies and hindering her prospects of the calm and luxury future.
It had happened to Elena, after all, and there was no evidence to believe it wouldn't happen to Alexandra as well.
"I will send a personal maid with Alex. Miss Baudelaire is also in the house and her presence would serve as additional chaperoning." Francesco explained, before adding seriously. "I will be honest. I have a list of possible candidates, but out of them all, you are the one I trust the most with actually not trying anything with Alex during her stay. You are not the man that could take the opportunity and either seduce her or forcing anything on her. Others, I have no such certainty."
"Why not send her to Cavallone? Lorenzo would gladly take care of Alexandra's safety without the need to come up with any guise, if I understand their relationship correctly."
The friendship between the Cavallone and Carlevaro household dated back to the first generation of the lords and was well known amongst all families. While Francesco and Lorenzo had been close to each other since the other man's childhood, it was Alexandra that held the most prominent relationship with the Lord and the Lady of Cavallone House.
"I'm well aware Lorenzo would probably cuff Alex to himself to keep an eye on her if necessary. But he also has a pregnant wife in the house, and I don't want to endanger Claire in any way." Francesco rubbed his forehead, before adding under his breath. "It never ceases to amaze me that Alex treats him more as a sibling than her own sister."
The silence that filled the room was broken only by the sound of cracking wood in the fireplace, as one man lost himself in his thoughts, while the other watched him closely, awaiting the decision.
It was both a hard and an easy resolution. Hard, because it required a certain level of creating a personal and private relationship with Alexandra, one that would convince others that they were engaged and planned to get married. And easy, because there was no possibility for Giotto to refuse when help was desperately needed. Probably, there was a better solution that neither of them could think of in the light of current events, one that didn't include the deception and lies, and that would not endanger the reputation of the youngest daughter of Carlevaro's household.
"I assume a very limited circle of your family would be informed about it?" Giotto asked suddenly, his voice absent.
"No one, actually. I'm planning to keep it away from Beatrice and Elsbeth as well."
The amber eyes raised questioningly to the older man, a thoughtful frown taking over Giotto's expression. The likelihood of anyone accidentally leaking any information about the farce would bring the purpose of the guise down, completely destroying their plan and taking away the way to secure Alexandra's safety and reputation. Still, making her own mother believe that she would be soon leaving the maiden status behind her and taking over the highest position available for a woman was going to arise a lot of anger and disappointment.
"Do you really believe your wife wouldn't notice something is off with the rushed engagement?"
The answer came fast enough for him to realise Francesco had expected the question. As many others, probably.
"Beatrice will be ecstatic at the news of Alexandra becoming engaged at the age of twenty. I don't know why, but seemingly it is a sign of triumph for mothers. I will be back before she develops any suspicions."
Giotto nodded his head, as he came to the same conclusion. It was often the mothers that were more desperate to find good and respectable husbands for their daughters than their offspring themselves.
Weighing the options in his head, Giotto continued observing the older man thoughtfully. While the plan designed by Francesco had many opportunities to crash down and backfire on them, he didn't want to consider the possibility of refusing to provide the help his friend required at the moment, not when the matters of innocent life were at stake.
Sighing deeply, Giotto straightened himself in the chair - he had strongly hoped it wouldn't end as badly as he was afraid it would.
The conversation turned out to be more time consuming than he had planned and Giotto found himself meeting his Guardians only during the breakfast the next day, as all were fast asleep when he had retired to his bedroom, crossing the corridors only lightened by a few candles, ones that Matteo always ensured to leave before his Lord finished his work. Refusing the invitation to any snacks of drink, Francesco had left as rapidly as he had shown up, his absence from the Carlevaro Residence obviously bothering him, and it had been becoming harder for the man to concentrate on the matter at hand with every passing hour, the discussion becoming more ragged and chaotic than helpful and coherent.
Which is why Giotto had decided to cut it short and proposed to continue it the next day, covering it with his own tiredness and the need of sleep. He had even promised to be the one that would visit Francesco, instead of doing it the other way around, to ensure that Alexandra wasn't left alone for too long in the Carlevaro Residence without the protection of her father.
With his mind still occupied by the unexpected development, Giotto watched his family thoughtfully. It was a rare occurrence for all the Guardians and Elena to be at the table simultaneously, joking and conversing easily, the peace occasionally broken by an erupting argument and dignified screams of protests. The number of jobs and protection requests they had been receiving greatly surpassed the original expectations of all, the reputation of House Vongola growing at a rapid speed, their name spreading around the local towns, reaching those in need, both from the noble society and those of lower class, to his great happiness. But that meant that all of them had been seeing each other less often than they would wish, though it was a price everyone had agreed on and didn't regret in the end.
With the constant absence of some of his closest family members, every possibility of spending the time together was cherished greatly, despite the overwhelming chaos and rackets that accompanied the affairs - the tempers of each individual Guardian clashing against each other, making them an uncontrollable bunch of contrasting personalities.
But he didn't want it any other way. They were his family, for all the intent and purpose of it, and he would always hold all of them close to his heart.
"I have some news."
He had to raise his voice, a rare occurrence, but it was the only way to cut through the noise and conversations in the room.
"What did you do?" the immediate question of his right hand man amused him, though he concealed it.
Instead, he looked at G with pretended annoyance. The doubt the Guardian had towards the possibility of logical and thoughtful judgment occasionally hurt him, though he couldn't blame him. Giotto was fully aware he had earned it through the years of their friendship.
Acquaintances since early childhood, they had roamed the streets together and many reckless and doubtful decisions had been made back then. G's quick temper and Giotto's soft heart weren't the most handy, or helpful, characteristics to get them through the years of hardships and poverty. He had often regretted their judgments when he had thought back to their past, the experience gained since then making him realise just how much they held themselves back. Too many times they had fled the scene barely unscathed, as well as too many times they let themselves be exploited due to their need to help those in need.
And yet, he wasn't naive enough to lie that he had dropped the habit through the years. He was still naïve when he was put in front of someone in a pinch or need, his initial instinct to act first and question later getting on G's nerves constantly, as it was a straight way to put himself in danger.
"I didn't do anything. Bad, at least." he answered, the second sentence added as an afterthought, before he continued with a cheerful smile. "I got engaged."
There were different reactions from the people gathered around the table, but he enjoyed every single one of them.
The Storm Guardian, G, let out the bark of laughter. Out of all the Guardians he possibly knew the best that Giotto wasn't keen on even considering the subject of the marriage – taking advantage of the fact that he had a few more years before that issue would start bothering him.
The Rain Guardian, Ugetsu, tilted his head with curiosity. He hadn't been much accustomed with the culture of the country he had arrived to barely a year and a few months prior. The obvious humour of the redhead confused him, as well as the suddenness of the decision made by their leader. Nothing of such a matter had ever been discussed before, and Giotto usually questioned them about most of his actions that would influence the family in any way.
The Sun Guardian, Knuckle, nodded his head, as if the statement made sense to him in some way. It didn't, really, as the surprising news brought as much confusion in him as to the others, but through the years of their friendship he had trusted the judgment of the blond and didn't want to question any of his decision, something he ha promised to do upon joining the Vongola.
The Lightning Guardian, Lampow, slacking in his chair, blinked at his boss in astonishment. The mere idea of the being bonded to only one woman and limit the endless source of joy and entertainment made him terrified. He also realised that the engagement would mean one more grown up breathing down his neck for the growing bills and debts in local bat houses and turfs.
The Mist Guardian, Demon, raised his eyebrows, but his face remained unchanged. Out of all, he was the only one to consider the subject of joining Vongola name with a more powerful one beforehand, the possible candidates already listing in his head as he waited for more details to follow.
The Cloud Guardian, Alaude, ignored the announcement altogether. Whether married or not, as long as Giotto performed his duties properly, he didn't really care about the marital status of their leader.
Elena's eyes shone with sudden expectancy and joy. Not only the idea of having another female in the house made her ecstatic. She was worried, ever since she had joined the Vongola, by the hours Giotto spent on his work with no other entertainments than the official events he had to attend – the idea of taking a wife brought a hope that, perhaps, the woman would force him to take the necessary breaks. His health would definitely benefit from that.
"You are serious." G realised suddenly, the laughter dying when he watched his boss with a flabbergasted expression.
"Congratulations are in order, I think." Ugetsu interjected, though his voice held a slight hesitation in it.
"Who is the lucky lady?" the laziness in Lampow's voice didn't change.
"Alexandra." Giotto replied.
Despite his own mixed feelings about the development of the previous day, he still enjoyed with great amusement and pleasure the reactions of his Guardians. He was a kind and gentle person - for the majority of the time, at least. The cheeky and cunning part of his character, something he had been nurturing with care through the years in secret, was emerging occasionally, though Giotto portrayed it only in the group of close friends, usually the ones that deserved it once they get on his nerves.
Causing a headache to his targets and making him amused and satisfied for the next few days.
"Alexandra who?" G asked with a resigned voice.
"Carlevaro. I don't think we know any other Alexandra." he answered thoughtfully. "Alessandra maybe, but only one with an x."
"Theoretically, you don't need to know a lady to get engaged." Demon interjected helpfully, ignoring the glare he received from the Storm Guardian.
"That kid?" G turned back towards the blonde once he was done with expressing his displeasure, a surprise on his face instead.
"She is barely four years younger. Or five, actually. I wouldn't consider her a kid." Giotto said with a slight exasperation, the lie simply leaving his lips.
"Well, if you did consider her a kid, the engagement would be very awkward." Lampow commented in an offhand voice, slumping lower in his chair at the look of amber eyes
"Bonding with the Founding Family through marriage is definitely beneficial for Vongola. We would use their position in hierarchy and connections for growth." Demon commented calmly, occupying himself with his drink.
He had never considered Alexandra Carlevaro to join the Vongola – he barely knew her, to start with – but the benefits the young woman could bring into the marriage were probably far more extensive than he expected.
"Why are we hearing about it only now?"
G's scowl was deepening with every spoken word, and Giotto recognized the sign of approaching temper loose. He would definitely enjoy messing with his friends a bit longer, but he wanted to avoid an argument erupting around the table. His Guardians were like dominoes - if one lost his control, the others eventually followed.
He had laid down the conversation he had had with Francesco last night, even though it had really been barely a few hours ago, trying his best to pass everything that had been discussed in his office. It felt strangely unrealistic, the plan Carlevaro boss put together to protect his daughter and Giotto wasn't able to determine yet how he felt about it. He tried to remind himself all the time that it was only an act, a guise that would eventually end with the return of Francesco. And yet, all the documentations would be real, making Alexandra his fiancée in all meanings.
"I have a fuckingly ominous feeling it's going to end badly." G said, his eyes closed while he rubbed his forehead.
They had been trying to cut the crude language of the Storm Guardian ever since they became a noble family. Though the habit was hard to kill, the years spent on developing it while dealing with criminals and shadowy characters having its impact, they had managed to stop him from speaking that way during the official outings and events he had been forced to attend as a right hand of his Lord.
"That doesn't sound promising for the Carlevaro family. The amount of confidential information and Royal secrets they held is enormous." Demon said, his eyebrows creased in worry.
"They are solely responsible for the investigation on the Royal's and noble's affairs. If the position in the family comes with the marriage, Francesco's worries are understandable. Someone may try to get the benefits forcefully." Elena interjected. "How he could not think about the danger while creating such a rule is beyond me."
Demon Spade and Elena Baudelaire were the most experienced in the noble affairs out of all of the Vongola family.
Both raised in Houses of high social status, the affairs and stories they had witnessed and heard through the years of growing up amongst the sociality gave them a deep insight into other Houses, making them a great source of information Giotto and G had lacked after their promotion. They had no claims against advising Giotto in the matters of forming a friendship or entering a new business and investments, giving hints which families to befriend and which to avoid at all cost. Both of them were also a great help when it came to following the catches and hooks of social etiquette, especially at the beginning of Vongola's existence, fishing him out of many situations that he hadn't realised had been directed towards fiendish consequences.
"Well, she isn't ugly to look at, so it's an additional benefit." Lampow noticed suddenly.
The boy gave a sudden yelp when G's hand slapped him over the head.
"Lampow, during her stay, please don't try to seduce her. She is the daughter of our friend." sighing deeply, Giotto looked at the boy.
At the age of seventeen, Lampow could boast about the conquest amongst the ladies that exceeded the other Guardians. Giotto often wondered how the boy had succeeded in that, but the laziness the Lighting Guardian had presented on a daily basis was suddenly forgotten once a lady arising his interest showed up. His wander was quickly turned to irritation with every letter of outrage he received from the fathers of the girls, demanding an apology or reparation for the boy's actions. The older Guardians were the ones that usually had to take care of the uncomfortable situation and, in the end, kept Lampow under constant vigilance during any social events and occasions.
He made a mental note to take a closer look at the circle of friends the boy spent his free time with.
"And her official status will be the fiancée of Giotto, which would be a great offence to him." Ugetsu warned the boy good-naturally, causing the youngest Guardian to pale noticeably.
"Did he give any details about what had happened until now?" G changed the subject, still scowling in Lampow's direction.
"I will go there tomorrow to get all the details. For now, it seems to be hired mercenaries' work, but there is always a possibility for it to be something more." Giotto answered, guessing that his right hand man meant Francesco.
There was nothing that indicated it to be hard or complicated work. Vongola residence was well secured from both outside and inside - the guards were checking the perimeters of the yard, while there was at least one Guardian present at the House, the insistence on never leaving the Residence occupied only by Giotto and Elena somehow degrading for the Lord himself. He was far more than capable of protecting them on their own, being, after all, the strongest out of them. But in that situation, keeping a constant eye on Alexandra would be an easy task, as well as making sure she is safe and unharmed. From any possible danger The spy, whoever it was, would have no way to get the information about her plans and actions as Giotto was more than sure and certain about the loyalty and secrecy of his Family. It would limit the actions of mercenaries, making the work even easier.
Giotto actually considered convincing the society and Carlevaro family that they were going to get married, a harder part of the job.
"You will need to be very careful. Both of you, I mean, while in the company of others. To make them believe you are to get married without making anyone doubt her virtue can be tricky with her stay in the Residence." Elena said suddenly, biting the inside of her cheek, her previous joy at the news forgotten.
Giotto nodded his head, Elena's words lining up with his own worries.
"That's why I was hesitant with accepting the request." he admitted, turning to the blonde woman. "But I couldn't really leave Francesco alone when he is in need. She is going to have her maid with her and I hope you can accompany her as much as possible, Elena, if it won't be a problem."
She smiled reassuringly, nodding her head. There was not much she had to do around the House – even after leaving her own House and falling out of the graces of her previous friends and family, Elena's invitations had been greatly limited. The news from the Capitol addend only unneeded fire to the ones circulating around concerning the matters of her living arrangements and even Demon's position wasn't able to do much to hush them down. In the result, her social circle of friends had been limited to only the men living in the Residence with her.
Anything she could do support Giotto and the rest of the Vongola House made her immensely happy.
"It will be a nice change to have a female company here. Don't worry, I will take care of Alexandra during her stay here." she promised.
"Avoid the social interactions as much as possible." Demon added, shrugging his shoulders when he received a questioning look of the amber eyes. "We have already faced a lot of trickery when a maiden wanted to force you to marry her."
The memory made Giotto wince, as well as some of the others around the table. But the true was there as well as the revulsion that resurfaced whenever the events were brought up.
The interest he had been receiving from the female part of the community had been a great surprise, though it turned into a fear and scare when the advances became more intense. He had eventually learn to avoid any situation even partially considered to be dangerous for a reputation, as there were those who wouldn't back from going that far.
"You can't really expect such a behaviour from every encountered woman, you know." Elena chided her fiancé.
"Not every, but around eighty percent of all local ones would be accurate." G mumbled under his breath with irritation.
"You are overestimating the matter. It's not that bad." Giotto said with indignation.
"Just because not all are brae enough to make a direct approach doesn't mean they are watching you from the shadows."
Giotto shivered at the ominous words, throwing a glare at the redhead by his side.
"I believe Elena is right, we shouldn't judge everyone the same." He said eventually, clearing his throat. "And I met Alexandra already, a few times. She had never acted… that way."
Maybe because he took her for a boy and a child, but he kept it for himself.
"It doesn't matter. If you want the annulment clear, we need to be careful of this." Demon pointed.
"I'm not sure, but shouldn't we discuss the matters of Miss Carlevaro safety, instead?"
Seven pairs of eyes turned to Ugetsu, a different level of surprise and confusion in them, before the realisation dawned on the gathered that, apparently, their priorities weren't set as properly as they wanted them to be.
A man sat by the desk in the obscure and dark room, a pen tapping the notebook in front of him as he considered the list of names in front of him.
"So I take it we are taking the job?"
Turning towards the source of the voice, the man watched for a moment his companion, his face completely void of any emotions and thoughts. It always had been set that way, as cold as the dark eyes that glistened in the warm light of the candle, the only source of light in the rented room. They were there only temporarily, for the meeting that had been set up to discuss the terms of the employment, so there was no need for any unnecessary luxury.
"I don't see why we shouldn't. The money are mind blowing. We're gonna be richer than the King himself after this." the companion continued, slouching in his chair and balancing it on its back legs.
"There is a lot of possibilities of failures. Remember that most of the names has a direct contact to the Mafia." the man spoke for the first time since their possible employee had left. "The first name is a Founding Family, remember."
"As is the other one on the list. Is it really that important? How hard can it be to kidnap some chick?"
The man sighed, restraining himself from rubbing his forehead. The young age and the lack of experience would never be balanced with the skills of his companion, no matter how good or strong the powers of his were.
"Considering they have already failed a few times, it can be much harder. They already know something is happening."
"But she is going to be away from her House, right? Shouldn't it be easier?"
The man took a moment to consider the question, his eyes falling down on the piece of paper with the address on it. The assumption was right – with the girl being away from the Founding Family influence can be just a way to do their job properly and with no significant problems.
Usually, he feared no one. If it were only some Mafia families to go against, the man would bat no eyelash against accepting the work and earning the money they had been offered.
The Founding Family was a different matter, though. Going against the best of the strongest people in the worlds was something that couldn't be threatened lightly and decided on without any prior thought. He needed to consider his options, the resources and needed power to do so. The operation to be run was not a simple kidnap-and-deliver/kill they had usually dealt with. To organise everything to that level of secrecy swiftly and with no failures would require a lot of control and planning to do.
A little mistake could cross the success of the entire operation.
But the thrill of the challenge was already building in his mind and he could not ignore the nagging of it at the back of his head.
"Gather everyone. If we are doing it, we need all hands on deck. I don't care if they are sleeping, killing or raping at the moment, I want them here, ready and on call. Get some baits to assess what we are going against. Gather some intel." He said eventually, closing the notebook and hiding it in his pocket.
"So we are doing it?" his companion asked, an excitement and joy in his voice as he awaited the decision.
"Probably."