In The Name Of Thy Father ~ A Borgia AU

Chapter Five

Cesare had Michelleto gather Nikki's bags and they had dropped her friend home. Now Lucrezia was back in the family villa soaking in a marble tub of steamy bubbly water. As soon as she arrived home she told her brother she needed to get the stench of Giovanni Sforza off her. He thought she meant it figuratively but she was quite literal. With the aromatic scent of rose petals wafting up from the water, Lucrezia ran her fingers through water. She was no stranger to her family's reputation or their activities. Her father was a powerful man, not only in Rome but in the rest of the world. No one dare cross Don Rodrigo. Businesses across the globe hinged on his approval. They even had to do business with despicable men like Sforza. It's just that usually Lucrezia didn't have to come in contact with that side of her family. It shook her up a bit.

She stood up and let the water drip from her body as she reached for the large fluffy towel. Stepping out of the bath, she wrapped the towel around her body. Lucrezia smiled softly as she thought of her hero. Cesare always made sure that nothing happened to her. All through her life he was there to protect her. She wasn't so naïve that she didn't know what he did for the family. However not once did she see that dangerous side of him. All she knew was that with her he was gentle and kind. Yet when anyone dare threaten her, he would unleash that dangerous side and God help them. Walking into her bedroom, Lucrezia let the towel and let the warm Italian air dry her body. She sat on the bench in front of her vanity. It was then that she made up her mind. Despite her recently acquired college degree, she knew she could never leave her family. Never leave Cesare.

* * *

"How dare he put his hands on her!" Cesare fumed as he downed his drink. Anger flowed through him as he paced in his father's office. "What makes him think he's good enough to touch her?"

Rodrigo rubbed his temples. "Cesare calm down. You said he only kissed her hand." he pointed out.

His son whipped around and stared at his father. "Isn't that enough? Johnny is nothing more than a thug of his cousin, Caterina. He fucks common whores and he's not even trusted enough to become Caterina's heir! She's just keeping him around until her bastard son becomes of age." he seethed.

"I'm not going to tell you again, calm down." His father slammed his hands down on his desk. "We can't start a war with the Sforza family right now. We have that casino deal going down soon and we can't fuck it up!" The head of the Borgia family reminded him. "Once that deal is over then you can deal with him. But right now, we play it straight. The deal goes down in a week. We are providing the muscle for the deal. We get $25 million for our efforts. That's not bad for a day's work. You won't do anything to jeopardize this."

Cesare slumped down in an oversized leather chair. "I won't fuck it up. As long as he stays away from Lucrezia." He took another sip of his booze.

Rodrigo sighed. "Cesare, I know you love your sister. We all do. But we have to let her grow up a bit. What happens when she falls in love and gets married?" As much as he hated the thought himself, Vannozza was right. His baby girl was growing up.

Cesare growled. "No man is good enough for her."

His father chuckled. "I know it seems that way. I thought so myself all her life. But I'm sure somewhere out there, one man is. She just has to find him."

"You sound like you're planning to marry her off." Cesare snapped at him.

"Good God! Give me some credit! No man we know is good enough for our Lucrezia!" Rodrigo put a hand on his chest before he chuckled.

That drew a smirk from Cesare's face as he chuckled. He sighed as he let his head fall back. "What are we going to do about Johnny?"

"What I said. We are going to let him lay low until the deal goes down. Then...if he bothers your sister again, all bets are off." Rodrigo's voice was lethal.