hungry dogs are never loyal × fp

ø9 : sore

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salviati strode in unannounced to francesco's room, a sinister look clouding his face.

"jacopo has ordered all of us back."

francesco had been staying in the de'medici household for three weeks now. he had recovered significantly, but pain still lingered under his skin. jacopo had inflicted quite a bit of damage with his show on the street.

the color drained from guglielmo's face, and francesco's expression hardened.

"what for?"

salviati's lips curled back in disgust as he spoke.

"he thinks we have overstayed our welcome."

giuliano appeared in the doorway after salviati, slightly breathless and wide-eyed.

"we need a plan."

francesco flicked the blanket off his frame and pushed himself up and out of bed with a grimace. guglielmo hovered by him nervously, afraid he might hurt himself further.

"there's not much we can do. he's already suspicious of us for staying in your home so peacefully."

guglielmo's timid gaze flitted between everyone in the room before giving an exasperated huff.

"there must be something."

salviati's eyes were murderous as he cut into the conversation.

"it's simple: we go back like the obedient dogs he believes we are and the moment he harms any one of us, i kill him."

guglielmo shifted uncomfortably as he looked to francesco to see his response. francesco appeared pensive; he pressed his lips into a thin line. giuliano was watching everything unfold from where he stood in the doorway.

francesco looked to his feet for a moment before turning back to salviati with resignation. his voice was hushed and firm when he spoke.

"i see no other alternative."

guglielmo stared at his cousin in disbelief.

"so that's it? just kill him?"

salviati looked to his brother sharply.

"would you have him give francesco another bruise? would you have him use us any longer?"

guglielmo recoiled from salviati's harsh tone, but he didn't break eye contact.

"there must be some other way, brother. we can't just kill a man-"

"jacopo has killed recklessly! do you know how many lives he has taken? if we take his, we will be doing florence a favor!"

"but he's our blood-"

"and that is supposed to mean something? it means nothing!"

guglielmo fell silent, shrinking behind francesco's tall frame. salviati's black eyes bore into his younger brother ruthlessly, sending his message clear as day.

"you would do well to learn that now, brother. blood is blood, and wolves are wolves, not sheep."

guglielmo knew better than to retaliate, especially with salviati. he idled lamely behind francesco and kept his mouth shut, despite his mind being riddled with doubts.

francesco glanced downward, pausing before clearing the tense silence.

"salviati, are you certain you have the stomach to kill jacopo?"

salviati's dark eyes shifted onto his cousin, radiating hostility as he spoke his chilling words.

"you need not question me, cousin."

francesco nearly flinched at the use of his relation. salviati had a twisted, perverse ambience that lacked the soundness of a sane mind when he spoke freely, though when he put up his façade, you would never even consider him unnatural.

"so is it settled?"

giuliano spoke from the doorway, studying the pazzi men carefully. salviati stared his younger brother into the floor until he looked away as a sign of submission. francesco noticed the exchange between his two cousins and chewed on his lip.

salviati turned to giuliano, a sort of cool satisfaction washing over him with a hint of a smirk twisted onto his face.

"it is done."

francesco put an arm around guglielmo's shoulders to reassure him of the ordeal. salviati watched the pair, expressionless, as giuliano ushered them from the room.

"the medici household will be open to you at all hours. i will be ready for anything you ask of me should your plan be spoiled."

francesco gave him a small smile, showing gratitude.

"you have mine and my cousins' most sincere thanks, giuliano."

the four men made it to the main doors of the medici household. salviati seemed to put up his calm façade once more and moved to francesco's other side, sliding his arm over his shoulders. the three of them walked back to their own household linked together, prepared to go through hell.

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