A Life Worth Living

Chapter 4

Lavinia De' Medici

Chapter Four

The men finish their job finally after what seems like a lifetime of watching them beat my poor brother.

"You are cowards!" I scream with a raspy voice

They just laugh exiting the alleyway

"Lavinia." Giuliano coughs out on the ground

I reach down grabbing his face in my hands.

"Let's get you home. Lean on me I will walk you home." I say quickly grabbing his arm putting it over my shoulders

"Thank you. For not leaving." He whispers

"I would never leave you behind." I reply

Now on his feet, I direct him home.

...

I can't help, but cry.

We make it to the door. It's so hard trying to drag such a big man being my size.

Finally inside, Bianca is standing looking over some fabric.

"Giuliano!" She shouts running our direction

Lorenzo and mother come racing around the corner.

They help me seat him and start examining the damage. He looks so damn beat.

"Who did this to you?" Lorenzo asked

"Pazzi" Giuliano breaths out

"Francesco Pazzi" I say. My voice cracks showing a sliver of the anger I feel.

"He will pay for this, Lorenzo summon the priori. We must demand justice." mother says

The stick. Thump, thump, thump.

I turn around to see father making his way down.

"There will be no need for that, will there father?" Lorenzo says, his voice stern

I missed something.

"What the hell is he talking about?" I say frustration coming through

"I mean the duke is no longer repaying the loan with money!" Lorenzo's voice showing anger

"The duke's men are outside the city walls. They will March on Florence at midnight." Father proclaims

"Those men will sack this city father, and you agreed to it." Lorenzo says

"Father you couldn't really have agreed to this. You are putting lives at risk-" I start

"-I know what they will do." He interrupts

"Father!" Bianca yells

"You must not do this." Mother says trying to stay calm

"What choice is there? Would you see us ruined? And the Pazzi undo all the good we've done for the people of Florence." He asks

The desperation clear on his face. I could never have dreamed father would agree to something like this.

He walks away mother hot on his heels.

...

The priori are being summoned. I walk in just a bit late. I look around the room noticing the Pazzi immediately.

"He is no longer the head of this bank." Lorenzo says

Lorenzo? He...must be taking over. There is no other way. I don't think Giuliano would have agreed to anything like that.