Just Beyond My Reach 04

Chapter 4: What it Takes


When I woke up the next morning, I heard muffled talking from outside my window. I laid there for a moment, trying to figure out whose voices they were, but I couldn't due to my morning grogginess. I rolled out of the rather large bed, flinging the maroon covers off of me, and straightened out Ezio's clothing that I had slept in. After finding my shoes next to the door, I put them on and exited the room.

Walking down the halls, I realized that I hadn't taken the time to memorize the house yet, so I would probably find myself lost. Hopefully one of the brothers or Anetta were wandering around the house. However, even in my lack of recognition, I found the stairs to the front room. In the front room was Giovanni and Maria, and they were whispering lightly to each other and giving each other pecking kisses. Trying not to be awkward about it, I descended that stairs quietly to not disturb them. It was nice to see, however, that they loved each other despite Giovanni's decision to be what he was.

I didn't go by unnoticed. Giovanni turned towards me, and I froze on the step I was on. "Buon Giorno," he said with a smile. Maria gave me a smile as well, and even though they were warm, I knew something was going down.

"Buon Giorno," I whispered, rubbing at my eyes. "Is everything alright?"

Giovanni nodded, an odd look overcoming his face. "Everything is fine."

I stared at him for a moment, and then sighed, shrugging and shaking my head. "I'll worry anyways." I gave the man a hard look. "Be careful Giovanni."

He only smiled at me in response. With one more kiss to his wife and another whisper or two, he turned towards me and went up the stairs, which was kind of odd. I watched him pass me, before I continued to descend the stairs myself. Maria and I exchanged a few looks, and then she led me to the dining room.

Breakfast didn't seem to be as cheery as the day before had. Although the brothers exchanged a few competitive words and Claudia discussed her boyfriends matters with Maria, I didn't have a care to actually listen to them. I quietly ate my breakfast, and it actually surprised me to see Petruccio was actually talking with his brothers as well. It hit me then that none of them seemed to question Giovanni's sudden disappearances. Perhaps they all knew, but then again, judging on the way Giovanni held the matter, I don't think anyone in his family knew besides his wife, who obviously was use to hiding her distress.

"Narina." I looked up at my name to Federico next to me.

He tilted his head at me in concern. "You haven't been talking much this morning. Are you okay?"

I forced a small smile. "Yeah, I'm just a little tired."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," I said a little curtly. "I mean I just woke up so I'm a little groggy still."

"Well, okay." He turned back to Ezio, who had thrown him some snark remark that I didn't even care to acknowledge. I glanced over at Maria, who was looking at Claudia in a soft, motherly way. Everything seemed to be in it's right place, but I had the oddest feeling that something...that something wasn't right. It was a specific worry as well. I had a feeling that Giovanni's judgment wasn't going to uphold his trust and then something...bad was going to happen. Something that would change everything and no one would be able to stop it. It was all inevitable.

When breakfast ended, Federico offered to show me around the house more.

"So you can familiarize yourself," he explained.

I was about to accept his offer, but then I heard Maria say to Ezio "Please come with me to Leonardo Da Vinci's house to carry some paintings for me, Ezio."

Leonardo Da Vinci? Now that name sounded familiar. Very familiar.

"Ah, if I may," I said, taking a step towards the two, "I wish to go with you two." Federico gave me an odd look. I smiled at him apologetically. "Sorry--you can show me the house later, but I feel that I know this Leonardo."

Federico hesitated, but nodded. "Okay, do as you must. I'll stay here and wait for your return." He made an odd motion and I thought for a moment that he was going to hug me, but then he simply patted my head softly. I convinced myself that it was all in my head, that is until I stepped out of the house next to Ezio, who was snickering lightly under his breath. I proceeded to punch his shoulder and huff out a 'shut up' before catching up with Maria.

After a few moments of walking, Maria glanced to her son. "Ezio, about your fight with the Pazzi the other day...."

"You were in a fight?" I asked in shock looking up at Ezio.

"Fight is over exaggerating, Mother," Ezio claimed, rolling his eyes at me.

"Do not lie, Ezio--let us not play this game."

"They were speaking ill of us, Madre," Ezio said in defense. "I had to do something about it."

Maria sighed, and reached out for Ezio's arm. "Ezio, I'm sure he's having a hard time dealing with the accusations against his father, Francesco de Pazzi, and none of them are good. But even I never expected him to be capable of murder."

The context of her words were familiar enough, but the situation and the names rang of no recognition in my mind. Although I was curious, I decided to keep my big mouth shut.

"What'll happen to him?" Ezio asked, walking on the other side of his mother.

"I imagine that there will be a trial."

Ezio glanced at me, and then back to his mother. "Will father speak at it?"

"He'll have to," Maria claimed, pausing for a moment. "He's the one with the evidence."

Ezio sighed and looked up at the top of the buildings as if looking for an escape. "Still, I wish there was another way," he whispered.

Maria patted his arm comfortingly. "You've nothing to fear, my son. Everyone wants a form of justice, and although it's an unfortunate state of affairs, it'll pass."

We walked in silence for a moment before Maria turned to me on her other side. "Narina, how do you know our friend Leonardo?"

I smiled at her, but shook my head in a sad way. "I'm not even sure."

"Perhaps more answers with be told when you see him?" she offered with a smile.

"Maybe."

We stopped by a door covered by a small roof, having to walk under a small arch way to approach the door. Maria knocked lightly on the door, and a moment later it was opened by a young man, looking to be in his mid twenties, opened the door. He had mid length brown hair and light blue eyes like mine were apparently. However, at the sight of him, the force of recognition made me want to crumble to my knees, and I felt slightly nauseated at my thoughts trying to recollect themselves.

"Ah, madonna Maria!" The man said with a large smile while he and Maria exchanged greeting kisses.

"Hello, Leonardo." Maria turned towards Ezio and I. "This is my son, Ezio, and his friend Narina."

"A pleasure to meet you, Ezio and Narina," the man said bowing his head.

"The pleasure is all ours," Ezio said with a smile. I just stared at the man with wide eyes, so overwhelmed with the force of my memories trying to force their way outward.

"Let me go get the paintings. I'll be right back," Leonardo said, and disappeared back into the house.

Maria turned towards Ezio. "He really is quite talented," she said with admiration in her eyes.

"I guess," Ezio said doubtfully.

"Ezio, self-expression is vital to understanding and enjoying life. You should find an outlet for yourself, like I mentioned before."

"I have plenty of outlets," Ezio said in his defense.

I snapped out of my haze now that the man was back indoors. "Ezio," I said, giving him a hard look when he looked at me. "Vagina's aren't a hobby."

He threw his hands up as if to defend himself from a punch. "Why is everyone picking on me about that?" He exclaimed. "I have more outlets than that!"

"My son," Maria said again. "They're not an outlet, remember?"

Ezio huffed and rolled his eyes.

"To you're house, then?" Leonardo came out the door with a box of paintings in his hands.

"Si, si," Maria said, walking besides Leonardo who had sat down the box on the ground. "Ezio, please help Leonardo, hmm?"

"Si." Ezio gruffly picked up the box. I snickered at him for a moment, stopping when he threw me a dark glare. I guessed it wasn't the right moment to tease him about it--not yet, anyways.

"So, Ezio, what is it that you do?" Leonardo asked the young man once we were headed back to the Auditore's house.

"He has been working for his Father," Maria answered before Ezio had the chance, which made him even more grim which gave me another reason to tease him later.

"Ah, so you're to be a Banker, then?" Leonardo seemed a little too bubbly for what I expected him to be, to tell the truth. But, then again, I was the one with the memory loss so I decided not to say anything about it.

"For now, anyways," Ezio explained. "And you? Art, was it?"

Leonardo stroked at his face. "I'm not sure--it's quite hard for me to settle, you see. I feel that my painting isn't enough, that it doesn't have a great purpose. I want to be able to deliver more directly, you see. Like through architect, anatomy--I don't just want to capture the world in a painting, I want to change it."

"Oh, Leonardo, I have no doubt that you will create many great things!"

"Thank you, Maria. That's very kind, although I...."

"You will." All of three of the people walking next to me turned and gazed at me. I kept my gaze on Leonardo's blue eyes. "You will someday Leonardo. I know it. Not only for you art, but your wits and your thoughts as well." An odd sense of astonishment came over me, and my insides suddenly felt all twisted together. "You will be written down in history."

"Please," Leonardo said with clear embarrassment. "You all give me too much credit." Before I could reply, I realized that we were in front of the Auditore's house again. Ezio sat the paintings next to the front door, and turned back to Maria and Leonardo.

"Thank you for your help, Ezio," Maria said. "Don't let me keep you from your other duties as well. Run off."

"It was nice to meet you Ezio, Narina. I hope our paths cross again someday."

"As do I," Ezio replied with a short bow of his head. I curtsied and the man turned and walked back around the corner while Maria made her way back inside the house.

I giggled lightly under my breath, making Ezio look at me. " I met a famous person," I whispered, proudly folding my arms.

"He's not that famous, mind you," Ezio pointed out. "He's just a painter."

I threw him a hard look. "Yeah, a painter that'll change the world."

He shrugged. "Like he said, you give him too much credit."

I sighed quickly in an annoyed huff. "If you're just going to be unpleasant, I think I'll step inside now. " I took a hold of the door handle and opened it, taking a step into the house. "Good day, Ezio." I slammed the door before he could respond.

I snorted and shook my head. He just has to find every little thing to argue about, doesn't he? I thought with annoyance. How irritating.

I was surprised that Federico wasn't waiting for me right at the door. Since he wasn't, I walked around on the first level of the house, waiting for Federico to make his sudden appearances that he was so good at. Oddly enough, I didn't find anyone, so I proceeded to make my way up to the second floor. It was weird that I found Petruccio before I found Federico.

As I passed a door that was opened, I noticed that the young Auditore was hanging out of the window of the room, like he was watching something. I stopped by the door and knocked on it. Petruccio turned to look at me.

"Hey," I said with a smile. "Do you know where Federico is?"

Petruccio nodded. "He went on an errand that mother asked him to go on."

"Oh." I walked into the room slowly, folding my hands together. "What are you doing?"

He turned back out the window and pointed up to the roof tops of the building next door. "I want those feathers," he said. "Only, I can't go out side to get them myself."

"Why not?" I asked, now standing next to him. I looked out the window to where he was pointing and saw a little flit of the feather over the edge of the roof.

Petruccio stared up at me with his big, dark eyes. "I'm sick. I can't go outside."

I looked down at him shock. "You don't...seem sick," I commented, looking at him carefully.

He looked back out the window. "Mother says that if I go outside, I could die."

I stared at him quietly. It was sad to think that this poor little boy was so sick that he could die at any living moment. I reached out and patted the top of his head.

"Listen--I'll go get them for you, okay? Although I'm not that good of a climber so it might take a long while."

Petruccio's eyes lit up happily. "Really? Thank you!"

I pinched at the kids cheeks playfully. "I'll be back." With that I walked out of the room and made my way back outside.

I circled around the house to find the building that the feathers were perched upon. It was a lot taller than I had first thought.

How the hell am I suppose to climb this thing? I thought in awed surprise. The wall straight up from the street was no good--not only were the lowest windows not low enough to grab onto, but I didn't have the physical strength anyway to pull myself up the straight wall. I decided to start smaller, to walk around this building and see if there were any lower buildings next to it. There was one I noticed when I walked around the corner, only I knew that I would have trouble even to get up to this roof.

I stared helplessly up the wall, trying to find an easy way to climb up. Well, I thought as I brushed my hair out of my face, if Ezio and Federico can climb with me over their shoulders, the least I can do is pull myself up. I looked to my right and saw some crates piled upon each other, giving me a good boost about four feet up. I should have known that even climbing up these simple crates wasn't exactly going to be easy, but I didn't even think twice about it as I scrambled up the pile, creating a great wobble effect that almost knocked the stack down. I heard many astonished whispers from the people on the streets watching me.

I finally was able to create my sense of balance and my ability to stand up on the boxes. From there, I looked up to gauge how much farther the roofs' edge was from me. I had a good 6 to 7 feet to go, so that meant that actual climbing would have to be involved. I heaved a big breath, wiping my hands on my pants, and reached up for a small crevice in the wall. Finding a foot hole as well, I managed to get myself off the crates and onto the wall.

Great. Now what?

Slowly, I inched my way up the wall, taking my time to search out grip holes for me to pull myself up. By the time I was actually on top of the building and on the roof, I had spent a good six minutes and I was well out of breath.

"Mio Dio," I panted as I sat down to catch my breath. "How in the hell did Ezio and Federico carry me while doing that?" It was unbelievable! Not only did they have to drag themselves up the wall, but the had the burden of my obviously heavy body weight as well. I decided right then and there that my respect for the brothers went up quite a bit.

After catching my breath, I gazed up the initial building's wall and realized that there was no way in any hell that I would make it up there.

But just the thought of Petruccio's sad eyes when he talked about his deadly illness made me suck it up and devise a plan on how to pull myself up that building! The grip holes and foot holes appeared to be further apart on this building, which probably meant more arm strength to pull up further. My arms ached at the thought.

I managed to get both of my hands and both of my feet in a good point, but then I realized that I had no where to go now, that the gaps between the holes were much farther apart than I had anticipated. I groaned loudly, and dropped back down about the foot that I had climbed. "I'll never make it up there!" I whined under my breath. "Seriously, why does he have to pick the hardest spot to get feathers?"

After brewing for a good minute or so, I began to pace around the roof, trying to think up of a way to get the damned feathers.

"Narina!"

My brain clicked at the voice. Of course. I turned the way the voice had come from and watched as Ezio pulled himself up onto the roof.

"What are you doing up here?" He asked, flashing me a grin.

I ignored his charm and pointed up to the taller building. "You're younger brother wants the feathers on top of that building. Although I'm not physically fit for the caper, I was going to retrieve them for him since he's ill." I paused and looked at Ezio for a moment. "You never told me he was sick," I whispered, lowering my eyes.

Ezio sighed and rubbed his head. "He'll be fine if he stays indoors. The doctors said so."

My fingers fiddled around with each other as I looked up at him. "That doesn't seem like an Ideal way for him to spend his childhood--locked indoors."

"It's better than having him dead." Ezio walked past me, making a swirl of air wash over my face. I felt it didn't matter--it didn't matter if he was dead from his illness or if he was locked up inside. I felt that it was all of no use, that no matter how hard they'd try, Petruccio was going to die soon.

I closed my eyes, bit my lip and shook my head to rid of the horrifying accusations running through my head. It was a strange and scary feeling to anticipate death, and I certainly didn't want to practice it on poor little Petruccio.

"So," Ezio said, making me turn around to face him. He was staring up at the building like I had been doing as well. "Do you need me to help you?"

I sighed, and rolled my eyes, not liking the way he was making me force it into words. "Yeah, that would probably be best." Ezio, who had turned around for my answer, grinned and chuckled lightly. I shrugged back at him. "I would probably end up falling and killing myself anyways."

After he was done laughing at me, he proceeded to scale the wall with ease, making it look at though anyone could do it.

Show off, I thought gruffly, kicking at a small pebble that had been on the roof.

In no time, Ezio had scaled the building, retrieved the feathers, and was back down on the lower roof beside me.

"Wow," I said with complete sarcasm as he walked up to me. "I think that was a new record!" He ignored my jibe and handed the feathers to me.

"I'll give you the credit," he told me.

I gave him a confused look. "Why? You did all the work--besides...."

Ezio put one of his fingers to my lips to silence me, which I immediately jumped away from his touch, setting my heart a flutter. "Petruccio really seems to look up to you," he explained. "Besides, I don't want to get stuck on feather duty all day."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, it's the least damn thing you could do for him."

Ezio shrugged. "I like more practical things."

I looked at the soft, dark feathers that were now in my hands. "Why does he need these?" I asked.
Ezio had already made his way to the edge of the roof, looking over as if to judge where he was going to land when he jumped down. "Non so. Ask him."

I moved next to him and stared up at him. "You know, you're a real asshole," I commented.

"Only for you, Narina."

Glaring at him, I seriously considered spitting at him. "Fuck you."

Pouting and then shrugging, he said, "Well, you're normally not my type, but, alright. I'll try you out."

For God's sake, I wanted to rip his hair out and maybe wipe that smile off of his damned face with a good punch! Giving him my evil eye, I slowly turned towards him. While I was considering pushing him off the building to watch him fall to his death, I spurted out a "No, I don't want STDs."

Finally, the smile disappeared, and bewilderment took over. "What are STDs?"

I paused, and in a flash, my anger disappeared, and I was soon confused as well. "I'm not sure...." I said, then raised my head to my head. "God, that was weird."

"What was?"

"Just--nothing," I answered in a hurry, remembering why I had been mad a few moments before. "Can we just go home now? Petruccio is waiting for his feathers."

"Fine by me." Ezio offered me his hand. "Do you want me to help you down, or are you just going to jump yourself?" he explained when I gave him an odd look. Sighing, I gave in and took his hand, to which he used to pull me to his side and he tucked me under his arm. He did a cute little countdown from 10 before we jumped, and it was then that I figured out that Ezio really enjoyed to piss me off. When we were on the ground again, he proceeded to breath down my neck, making me shiver and swing my fist at his face.

"You're just asking me to rip your eyes out, aren't you?" I threatened, pushing him away from me as we started to walk.

He only chuckled at me, but he kept his distance this time. He walked me to the door of the house, and then he said something about how he was needed elsewhere, and he ran back out onto the streets. I watched him for a moment, my anger growing more distant the farther he walked away from me. I needed to stay away from him for a good while, I decided. I didn't want to deal with him anymore today than I had to.

"Your feathers, good sir," I announced loudly as I walked into Petruccio's room.

The boy ran from the window and up to me with outstretched hands. "Thank you, Narina!" He held the soft, dark feathers in his hands and smiled down on them brightly. I smirked evilly, not even considering to give Ezio the credit now.

I squatted down so I could watch him be really happy. It was strange to see how his happiness worked on my own. "What do you need these for?" I asked, taking only that part of Ezio's offers seriously.

Petruccio gazed at me for a moment, then raised his finger to his mouth, as if to tell me to be quiet. "It's a secret," he whispered.

C'mon! I though warily. I busted ass for those! But my words came out exposed. "Well, can't you tell me?"

He still shook his head. "Not now, but later perhaps, after I collect enough."

I looked at the feathers still sitting softly in the palm of his hands. "How much do you need?"

"Around one hundred at least," he explained.

I stared at him in shock. "That's a LOT of feathers, Petruccio."

He grinned at me. "I need a lot of feathers."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Well, then, I can't wait to hear this secret of yours."

At that moment, we heard the front door down on the lower floor open, and then loud cries were echoing throughout the house. In my shock, I barely heard Petruccio say "That's Claudia--I wonder what's wrong this time."

A course of fear and anticipation bolted through me. "Is she okay?"

Petruccio nodded. "It's probably boy problems again."

I nodded. "Well, I'm going to go check it out. See you, Petruccio."

"See you Narina, and thanks again."

It didn't take me long to find out where Claudia was at. I simply followed the sound of the sniffles and the sobs. They led me to the common room down on the first floor with all of the couches. Not only was Claudia in the room, but both of her elder brothers were as well.

"Narina!" Federico greeted when I walked in the room.

"What's happened?" I asked, staring at Claudia who was sobbing loudly into her hands. Federico stood from the couches and walked up to me, giving me a one-armed hug, which was comforting and actually quite a nice change from the events that I had gotten earlier that day.

Federico sighed. "That's what we were trying to figure out."

I was confused. "She hasn't said anything?" Federico shook his head as a simple answer.

"Please, Claudia," Ezio was begging her, sitting next to her and touching her shoulder comfortingly. "What is it that has you so upset?"

"It's Duccio!" she managed to say. "The other girls tell me that he's been...unfaithful!" More tears were streaming down the girls face. "Ezio, I thought that they were my friends!"

"They're harpies!" Ezio exclaimed loudly. "You're much better off without them!"

I rolled my eyes, and leaned towards Federico more. "I bet you anything that he'd sleep with them all in a heartbeat," I whispered.

Federico quickly raised his hand to his mouth to cover up a laugh. Then he whispered back "You're probably right."

I smiled, pressing my lips together to keep my own laughter inside.

"But I loved him!" Claudia cried loudly, grasping onto the front of Ezio's shirt, and I wondered idly if it could have gotten anymore dramatic.

"No, Claudia, you only thought you did."

Claudia frowned. "He should pay for what he has done," she whispered darkly.

There it was--a mood swing. Of course it could get more dramatic.

"Then let me go talk to him, Claudia. I'll be back." Ezio stood from the couch while Claudia dried her tears on the sleeves of her dress.

Ezio approached Federico and I. "I'm going to find Duccio."

"I'll go too," Federico offered. Although he had laughed at Ezio's circumstance, I knew that he was upset about his sister's unfaithful man just as much as Ezio seemed to be.

"I'm coming too," I said. "I'm more than eager enough to throw some punches today." I threw a quick glare at Ezio, but he was too brought up into his own anger to witness my own.

"Where would he be?" Federico asked as we all paraded out of the house. Ezio glowered about the streets as if choosing which way he should head.

"He wouldn't be in town," he said slowly. "Let's check around the house."

Of course, Ezio took off quickly around the corner, and I realized just how angry he was about this whole thing. Federico seemed to be reigning in his anger, and he simply walked with me instead of running ahead.

I glanced up at Federico "Ezio is this upset because...?"

"Claudia was so attached to Duccio in a way." Federico sighed and closed his eyes. "I can't believe it's come to this."

"I'm sorry that it had to come to this, but this guys seems like he deserves it," I explained.

Federico sighed, and rubbed his head. "Claudia can usually take care of it herself is what I meant." I looked up at him, confused. "It runs in the family, the hardheadedness," he explained. "The will to take it all on your own and the strength to deal with it as well. Not only are the Auditore's rash and bold, but we can back up our words with a fiery passion to make things go our way as well. Even Claudia, gentle woman that she can be, has inherited these traits, which makes her a, uh...hard woman to please."

I smiled at him. "Well, if you think about it, all women are hard to please, Federico."

"Indeed, you are right." Federico smirked at me and ruffled my hair about a bit.

Duccio was behind a few buildings to the back of the Auditore villa, snuggled into a corner with a quite large woman. It was to miss them--the streets here were bare and hardly no one was walking about. Ezio was approaching them at a quick pace by the time we came into the area.

"Venire!" Federico took a hold of my hand and began to run towards the battle that was about to break out.

We ran up soon enough to watch Ezio deliberately punch the man's chin, making Duccio curse loudly.
Federico put a hand on my stomach. I looked up at him. "Stay here," he ordered, then walked up to Duccio as well.

"You insult my sister," Ezio declared, then jabbed an accusing finger at the large women who was now positioned behind Duccio, "parading around with this puttana." The woman gasped loudly, and covered her mouth as if appalled by the accusation.

"What are you talking about?" Duccio asked innocently, still rubbing at his chin.

"Don't play stupido. I heard the words you told her and saw the gift you gave her."

Duccio poked a finger in Ezio's chest. "Maybe if your sister wasn't so stingy with her virtue...."

Federico reached over and knocked the mans' arm away from Ezio. Duccio suddenly realized that there were now two brothers instead of only one. "You broke her heart," Federico whispered in a deadly tone, and it almost surprised me to hear him be like this.

Duccio laughed loudly. "Yeah, well, now, I'm going to break your faces!" He raised a fist, and I felt a prick of anticipation to watch this guy get the bloody hell beat out of him. "You Auditore's always talk so big, but when it comes to the actual action...pah!"

Ezio snarled at the man. "You'll regret opening that big mouth of yours."

"You're sister was lucky to have a man like me, although I could have taught her so much more than what I had."

"Bastardo!"

Duccio threw his punch.

Ezio was quick to counter the punch that was thrown at him, ducking out from the fist, then flinging his fist into Duccio's stomach, rendering him shocked and bent over in pain. Federico proceeded to grab Duccio's head, and forced it down painfully to the knee Federico raised. I flinched at the sick sound of a nose cracking, possibly breaking. Duccio fell backwards, his nose bleeding and his lip busted, and he lay spread eagle on his back, to which Ezio took the liberty to kick his heel into the mans crotch several times.

Federico put a hand on Ezio's shoulder, biding him to stop. Ezio kicked Duccio one last time, pointed at him and demanded "Stay away from my Sister!" The man didn't respond, he just lay on his side now, cupping at his crotch and whimpering.

I thought Federico was calm again now, but a kick to Duccio's side from the eldest Auditore brother told me calm wasn't on anyone's mind right now. I made my way towards the men now, and before the two led me away from the "battlefield", I spat on Duccio and whispered to him "You're name fits you, douche bag."
I returned back to Ezio and Federico, who were waiting for me silently. Federico offered me his arm, and Ezio just smiled at me and pinched at my cheek. I swatted his hand away like he was a pesky fly and drew myself closer to Federico, who then told Ezio to leave me alone.

"Aw, now isn't that cute," Ezio teased with a smirk. "You two just get along so well." I blushed, but tried to ignore Ezio for the rest of the way home.

I thought that the worst was over and now all I had left was the rest of the day touring around the Auditore house with Federico But when we got to the house, Giovanni was waiting outside by the gate.

"Father," both the brothers greeted.

Giovanni, the usually kind man, was grim and serious. "Ezio, I need to have a word with you," he said in a flat tone.

"Yes, father. What is it?" Ezio seemed eager for his father's approval I noticed in the past few days.

"I have a letter I want you to deliver to an associate of mine in the city." Giovanni handed a folded letter to Ezio carefully. "And then I need you to pick up a message from a pigeon coop not too far from here. Could you please do this for me?"

"Si, Father. Of course."

"And Ezio," Giovanni claimed before the boy could run off. "Try not to get in trouble, hm?"

Ezio smirked. "Of course." He then disappeared into the crowds of the city.

Giovanni smiled at Federico and I, and I realized that I still was latched onto his arm like a begging women. I immediately let go, and greeted Giovanni with a bow. "Good day, Giovanni."

"Narina, Federico," he nodded back. I painfully noticed the sly smirk Giovanni threw his son before he walked back into the house.

I smiled shyly and looked up at Federico He was smiling back as well, lightly shaking his head. He cleared his throat and rubbed at his face. "Well," he coughed. "Let's get this tour underway."