Giovanni (Blood Brothers Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and refused to be parted from the only father figure he had.
    “The stable master sent him to town on an errand.”
    Adonis lowered himself to the ground to sit next to Giovanni. “It’s a good thing. Papa says you spend too much time with that man. You’re lucky he hasn’t had the man whipped.”
    “For what? Being kind to me when my own father treats me with contempt?” He might only be ten but he was old enough to know how his sire felt toward him.
    Adonis sighed. “Papa cares for you, he just doesn’t know how to show it.”
    “He has no problems showing you. If you’ve come out here to defend him like you always do, then I don’t want to hear it.” Giovanni stood up and threw another rock into the pond with all his might.”
    “I didn’t. I came out here to see how you’re doing. It wasn’t fair that you would be punished for such a minor indiscretion. I told Papa this. He’s willing to hear you out.”
    While his brother was willing to dismiss the incident as inconsequential, Giovanni didn’t see it that way. “They were starving. What did you expect me to do?”
    “They were poachers. They should have been beaten and thrown in jail, not rewarded for their crimes.”
    “It was a man trying to provide for his children. These people barely manage to get by because of the taxes they pay to work the land. You should have seen this man and his family. They were skin and bones. I’d do it again if given the chance. It was the right thing to do and I don’t care what our father does to me. There’s nothing I could say to make this right in his eyes.” Giovanni had found a poacher hunting on his father’s estate. The protocol was to inform the guards and have the man arrested. But the man had begged and pleaded for mercy. He was only trying to feed his family after The Don had raised taxes. So instead of further adding to the man’s hardship by informing his father, he started to sneak food out to the man. But his father had spies everywhere and he was soon found out.
    His father was furious and had threatened to cane him until he was bloody. He was sent to the tower to reflect and pray over what he did. He was given a diet of bread and water while he remained in solitary confinement waiting for the brutal punishment to come. But it never did. It occurred to him that Adonis had spoken on his behalf. Adonis was the only one their father listened to, and many a time he’d spoken up on Giovanni’s behalf.
    “I admire your kind heart, brother, but there are certain things that just aren’t done. You are the son of a Duca . You have to start acting like it.”
    “He doesn’t treat me like I’m his son. I could be another servant for all he cares.”
    “Of course he cares.”
    “You keep saying that but we both know that isn’t true. Adonis, I know you’re just trying to protect my feelings but you don’t have to lie.”
    Adonis sighed. “Well, I love you. You’re my brother and I will always look out for you. One day I’ll inherit the title and I’ll need you to help me oversee the estate.”
    Besides Gio in the stables, Adonis was one of the few bright spots in his life. They were only two years apart but his older brother always looked out for him. There were times when Adonis could be a little arrogant in dealing with people he considered beneath him, but Giovanni put that down to his parents’ influence. Adonis had a big heart and Giovanni loved him more than anyone else in the world. “If I’m still around. I’d like to see the world one day.”
    “You can see the world, as long as you come back to here. You belong by my side, little brother.”
    Giovanni returned to his position on the ground and they sat in silence. No words were exchanged between them for several moments, but none were needed. It was a companionable quiet that gave Giovanni a sense of peace he hadn’t felt in a while. His brother had that effect on him. Finally, he turned to Adonis with a smile. “Thank