Giovanni

Chapter 22

Thora Hawthorn:

"Happy Birthday," Santiago grunts as I walk into the training room for the morning torture. I roll my eyes at him but say nothing. He jumps down from the pull up bar and crosses his arms "Wow, so the silent treatment for today, is it?"

I shrug to him and start my stretches. I'm still pissed at him for yesterday. How could he do that? It was uncalled for and he knows that Gio is sensitive already about me and him. "We have to spar today. Together."

"Where's Rayan?" I ask him

He rolls his eyes "Last minute security changes for tonight so he's busy and is going to miss todays training."

"Fine then we don't need to spar today," I tell him simply and he scoff at me.

"Are you seriously mad right now? I did you a favor."

"A favor?" I growl "Santiago how was pushing him into this a favor? We were going at his pace and-"

He laughs "At his pace you'd both be old and knocking on deaths door before he made a decision."

"That's not true," I defend and he raises an eyebrow at me.

"He sat in his room for a week," Santiago says "I gave him a push. He needed to see the consequences to his actions. There are men out there who would do anything to claim you and he's in his room wallowing in self pity about whatever the hell happened when he left his pack."

I cross my arms and narrow my eyes. "you don't know what happened to him."

"And you do?"

"No," I mutter

"And how long ago was this alleged escape into the night?" He questions.

"Three years ago." I whisper hoping he doesn't hear me.

He does "Three years?" He practically screams "Look Thora, by him attending this it's going to give him a chance to see what his position really is. He needed to see first hand just how ruthless people can be."

I scoff "And that point needed to be proven by you basically saying you'd be a better choice for King?"

"I said he needed to see first hand, Thora." Santiago sighs and sits on the floor. "I don't want the throne. I never have no matter how much the people pushed. But there are men who do want to throne and are more than worthy of taking it. The only thing in their way is Giovanni and he didn't even realize that."

Santiago is right, as usual. Gio did need that push and while it happened in a way I would've tried to avoid it happened. My parents were going to push people towards me at the ball and basically promise the throne to them against my will. It all just seemed to be a rushed decision and I hate that. I wanted him to realize this on his own accord.

"My parents though will never approve."

"You have me and Rayan so far," Santiago says "With time and training you'll get them too and if they are on board hopefully the people will follow."

"Do you think he can do this?" I ask looking at Santiago to gauge his reaction.

Without hesitation he nods "He thinks he's weak but he's not. He's just confused and once he gets past that he'll be a great King." I smile. That means a lot coming from Santiago. He doesn't believe in blowing compliments up peoples asses. It was always a pain to get him to say anything nice about anyone and now here he is basically praising Gio.

I pace for a second and then make a final decision. "Come on," I demand from him and he look up confused.

"Where?"