<h4>Chapter 300: Chapter 300 : Seed of Hope</h4>


    *Olivia*


    I stopped in my tracks and stared at the chaos unfolding around me.


    Giovani and Alessandro were both on their feet, only an inch or two away from one another. It looked like they were confronting each other, like everything hade to a head. Both of them were angry, and though I wasn’t exactly sure, I had a good idea why.


    Alessandro looked ready to kill as he red at Giovani like one would their mortal enemy. His hands were clenched by his side, and I could see the slight tremble. I had no doubt he would have been ready to throw his fists into Giovani’s face if it weren’t for the murderous look Giovani red back at him.


    A shiver ran down my spine as the two of them looked like wild animals waiting for the other to flinch first. Whoever did would get nothing but teeth in their throat.


    Tallon looked just as worried as I was, and he tried to put a hand on both of their chests, preventing them from rushing forward into a fight.


    None of them even spared a single nce at me. They didn’t even notice I hade out. They were both in their own little worlds of rage, a silent war, and the rest of us would have to deal with the aftermath.


    Even the receptionist had forgotten her magazine to look at them. Her normal bored look was reced with a look of interest as she stared at them the way people went to the zoo to stare at the lions behind safety ss.


    I started for them, hurrying against the slick floors. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but hopefully, I could get them to stop this before it turned into an ugly mess.


    Before I could reach them, I came to a screeching halt as Alessandro threw the first verbal blow.


    “I knew you didn’t deserve the position!” Alessandro snarled into his cousin’s face. “I don’t care what James says. I deserved to be the rightful Don!”


    My eyes widened, as did Tallons.


    James? When did he start referring to his father by his first name? I knew that Alessandro had been adopted and was actually the son of James’te daughter, but James and Ba had raised him since he was a baby.


    He’d always referred to them as Mom and Dad–always.


    What had changed in the time we’d been separated?


    Giovani didn’t say a word, just red at him deeply, but his whole body was tense like a jaguar ready to pounce. If a lion roared, a Jaguar just went for the kill, and that was exactly what we were seeing.


    Giovani didn’t need to scream or yell; he was intimidating enough on his own. He’d been the Don for over a long time now, and Alessandro was clearly picking the wrong fight.


    Tallon’s eyes swerved between them unsurely as he tried to keep them away from one another. His eyes fell on me, and they widened in surprise. He cleared his throat, removing his hands from their chests as he quickly and efficiently elbowed Giovani in the ribs.


    Giovani turned his re on him, but Tallon nodded in my direction, and the two of them nced at me.


    Immediately, the moment our eyes met, Giovani’s softened. He disregarded Alessandro’s posturing and threats as he gently straightened his suit and took a step back.


    “We aren’t done, you raging a–” Alessandro shouted.


    “Alessandro!”


    He stiffened, and all three men’s eyes turned to me. It took me a moment to realize that the sharp yell hade from my own throat.


    I had never yelled like that in my life. Had never treated anyone like that.


    But I had to admit, as Alessandro turned to me with wide, shocked eyes, it felt good.


    I clenched my fists, gathering up any bit of strength I had as I took thest few steps toward them, cautiously. Courage was fleeting, and I had to take advantage of whatever hade over me.


    “This is not the ce to be making a scene,” I said sharply as I arrived, “again.”


    Giovani’s lips lifted into a tiny smirk, and Tallon gave me an impressed look. Alessandro’s eyes only darkened.


    “Stay out of it, Olivia,” he snapped back. “This has nothing to do with you.”


    “Then don’t make it my business,” I said coldly. “This is a hospital. People are sick and resting, like your sister, if you remember.”


    Alessandro swallowed, and I imagine most of it was his pride as he nced around the room and then finally took a step away from Giovani.


    “Come on,” he told me quietly and started for the door. It took him several paces to realize that no one was following him, and he turned around with a confused and annoyed look.


    “Olivia,” he said firmly, probing me to go with him... but I wouldn’t, not this time.


    I kept both my feet on the ground, not moving an inch as I told him, rather bluntly, “I’d rather ride in a car with someone who’s calmer than you are right now.”


    He jerked back, his mouth falling open, and I felt a little victory at standing up for myself. There was no way I was getting into a closed space with him as angry he was right now.


    His jaw clenched, his eyes burning with fury, before he rolled his eyes and turned around.


    “Whatever,” he scoffed, storming out of the building.


    Tallon sighed. “I’ll go with him. I don’t want him to kill the driver.”


    He sent Giovani and me an apologetic look and then raced after his older brother. Once they were gone, all of the courage I had dissipated like a balloon running out of air.


    I deted, and I felt Giovani’s arm around my back, just hard enough to keep me from copsing but light enough that I could push him away at any moment. I smiled to myself.


    He was always so considerate of me and what I needed.


    “You can ride back with me,” Giovani said softly, and I nodded in response, leaning into his touch.


    I felt a little tired all of a sudden, and he walked me to his car, matching my slow pace automatically. He opened the door for me out of habit, and I got inside happily.


    Gabriele was in the front seat, and he sent us a nce as I buckled up. Giovani rounded the other side and got in. Once we were both buckled, Gabriele immediately slid the divider up.


    Iughed, happy to see that Gabriele was giving us our privacy. I remembered I used to think he didn’t like me, but now, I realized he was just a peculiar man. He showed his affection in unusual ways.


    I sighed as I leaned into Giovani’s side, d the buckles weren’t too restrictive. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close and I grabbed his other hand, ying with the ends of his fingers.


    “It’ll be okay,” Giovani muttered then pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.


    “Alessandro’s going to watch us like a hawk,” I told him, a bit irritated. “I wish he would leave us alone.”


    I felt him shrug behind me as I wrapped two of my fingers around his one. His hand was so muchrger and rougher than mine, full of calluses and hard work, whereas mine were still soft.


    “We can handle him,” Giovani replied confidently.


    I kept my eyes on his hands, smiling to myself as I enjoyed this moment together. As annoyed as I had been earlier, this was enough topletely rx me. He let me do what I wanted with his hand, rubbing his other thumb along the skin of my shoulder in a soothing circle.


    It was moments like these when everything else became worth it.


    We pulled into the driveway, and I was a bit sad to let go of him as we climbed out. I noticed the other car was suspiciously absent, and I frowned.


    “Where did they go?” I asked cautiously.


    Giovani nced at me and then the empty lot before he shrugged. “Maybe for that gto he wanted.”


    I giggled as he opened the front door, and we stepped inside. I pulled off my shoes, heading straight for the staircase after Giovani.


    “I’ve got some calls to make, but I cane to get you once I’m done,” Giovani offered with a smile.


    I shook my head. “I’d actually like some time alone right now if that’s okay.”


    He paused in his steps, and I nearly bumped into him before I stopped just in time. I nced up at him, confused, as hisrge hand brushed against my cheek.


    There was a frown on his lips, worry in his eyes as he asked, “Are you alright?”


    I smiled brightly at him, d for the concern as Iid my own hand on his.


    “I’m okay,” I reassured him. “Just feeling a little out of it today.”


    He gazed into my eyes for a few minutes like he was searching for something. I guess he found what he was looking for because he nodded and smiled as he stepped away. I intertwined our fingers, and he gently led me to my room.


    Once we were outside my door, I let go of him and stepped inside, holding the door open. He stood there, rxed and calm.


    “Things will get better once Dahliaes home tomorrow,” he reassured me kindly. “I promise.”


    I nodded, believing in him wholeheartedly. There was no doubt in my mind that he would make things okay. Alessandro and the people who kidnapped Dahlia–both problems would be fixed eventually.


    Then one day, maybe we could be together out in the open and not hidden behind closed doors like this.


    I stood up on my toes as he leaned into my doorway, our lips meeting halfway. I savored the taste of him, wanting to pull him into my room and steal him away from his duties, but I knew that we needed some time to ourselves for now.


    Once we parted, there was a gentleness in his eyes that I was realizing was reserved for me and me alone.


    “Get some rest,” he murmured to me, and then he was gone, trailing down the hallway.


    I waited until I heard his door shut before I quietly shut mine.


    I leaned against the closed door, almost in a daze as I thought back to how safe and content I felt now. A few days ago, I had been lost in despair. But even when I was losing it, Giovani had been there to hold me.


    There was a certain way he was able to make me feel better, even in the worst of times. No one else had ever been able to do that.


    I touched my lips, missing him already.


    But Giovani had nted a seed of hope inside of my chest, and it was up to me to continue to water it. It was going to bloom one day, I was sure.


    And when it did, that was the day I would tell him everything I was feeling.