In The Name Of Thy Father ~ A Borgia AU

Chapter Fourteen

Rodrigo was in his office with his face buried in the reports that came in from his underbosses when the door opened quietly. He didn't look up because no one would be so stupid as to bother him. That's when he heard the gentle footsteps make their way across the plush carpeted floor. Daring to raise his head, he found himself watching as Vannozza made her way to stand in front of his ornate desk. There were several moments of silence when neither spoke. Finally he threw down his pen as he sighed. "I expect you have a good reason to come into my office. You know I am not to be disturbed when I'm working."

His common law wife stared at him, not backing down. If there was one person who could stand up to Rodrigo Borgia, it was Vannozza. That was one of the things that had him falling in love with her so many years ago, her fiery spirit. It seemed their children had definitely inherited that from their mother. She let out a deep sigh herself. "I want her home, Rodrigo."

"What can I do?" He asked as he leaned forward. "Those damn Sforzas are behind this. Caterina Sforza started this with her damn betrayal in the casino deal. Now she's gone too far with the threat to our daughter's life. We must keep her safe."

There was several moments of silence before Vannozza spoke. "Let's be honest here. It started way before that. However our daughter is in danger now because of what happened-"

"Don't mention that!" Rodrigo threatened as he pointed at her.

"Why?" Vannozza raised her voice a little. "Lucrezia and the rest of the family will find out the truth eventually. How many lives will be ruined over an act that should have never happened?"

"Never happened?" He looked at her in confusion. "Don't you love your daughter?" He stared at her as if she had lost her mind.

Her face softened. "You know very well that I love her with all of my heart. Yet as much as we try to deny it, she was a gift to us Rodrigo. Her biological father was a cruel and monstrous ma-"

"I AM HER FATHER!" The head of the Borgia Family raged as he stood up.

Putting a hand over her heart, Vannozza felt the tears fill her eyes. "Yes my love, you are. You raised and loved her as a proper father should. You ARE her father."

Breathing deeply, Rodrigo put both hands on his desk. "He was no father to her. He was going to sell her Vannozza! Sell her to the highest bidder to achieve his fortune!" Slumping back in his chair, he seemed to be in a daze. It was as if memories of that fateful day washed over him and he was drowning. He remembered it all too well.

Galeazzo Sforza, Caterina's father, was just an underboss for the Colona Family back then. He had made his way through the ranks from a numbers runner. Yet there was no true future for him past being an underboss. But Galeazzo wanted more. When his mistress became pregnant he saw an opportunity. Many of the wives of the Families wanted children, however not all of them wanted to ruin their so called girlish figures. Because of that their husbands would pay whatever it took to get them a baby, no matter how much it cost. It was a stormy spring night when Rodrigo, as well as heads of the other Families, were called to attend a secret meeting. Had he known what he was walking into all those years go would his decision been the same? In that room was Galeazzo and his newborn daughter, still unnamed. He was offering her up to the highest bidder. For the first time in a long time, Rodrigo found himself truly shocked. How could a man sell his child? He watched in silence as men argued prices over a child. Knowing that this couldn't continue, Rodrigo spoke up. He offered more than money. He offered a small part of his territory. A chance for Galeazzo to be his own man. Knowing that Vannozza would take the child in as her own, he knew that the child would have a proper home. Much more that could be said for the rest of the men. Instantly Galeazzo took it. It was then that Rodrigo took the child and brought her home. From that day on the child was known as Lucrezia Borgia.

"Those were his sins to bear." Vannozza spoke. "What you did was the right thing. We love her like our own. So do our sons. Thankfully they were too young to remember anything. She is ours. Lucrezia is my daughter! I want her home with us, Rodrigo. I fear for her."

He gave her a tight smile. "Then trust in Cesare and his man. They are protecting her with all of their abilities."

"In the meantime what are we supposed to be doing?" she retorted.

"I have some of my best men out searching for the men responsible." he reassured her.

Vannozza walked around the desk to where Rodrigo was sitting. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head upon his head. "Just please bring her home. Blood or not she's our child. You once promised me that our family would never get caught up in your business."

His eyes closed as he hugged her tightly. "I know and I never thought those bastard Sforzas would dare stoop so low. She will come home, my love. This I swear."