14. Getting Answers His Way

Tristan was watching his sister intently. He felt strange. He had never felt this way before. He had full faith in his sister making the right choices. But he was on edge. It had happened too fast. He never expected his baby sister to end up with the beast. He looked across the room and noticed Vienna wasn't expecting this either. She was still in the same spot she was before next to Viggo at the drinks table following her brother's movements with silence intently. Tristan decided to go to Vienna. He stood up and as he walked away he walked past the Sicilians who gave him hard looks. He was his father's son. He didn't allow their unfriendly stares bother him. It was no secret they didn't like him. They made sure it was made clear that his father was no friend of theirs. He saw Vincenzo's grandfather on one of the tables. He had nerve he even showed his face. After what he had done he didn't think he was going to make his presence well known. His grandpa Giovanni was not there that night. His son Sergio Giovanni was sitting with his associates instead. He was taking a break due to a health condition which was a front for his house arrest. His mother was mad at him for endangering Tristan. It was a time full of tension.

Vienna saw Tristan coming and she looked at Viggo " He is coming. What do you think his reaction is to Vincenzo dating his sister of all the girls?"

Viggo was staring at his brother who was walking with Clarisa to the tables to get food. " He must care. That's his baby sister. But I think he cares about you too."

Vienna whispered " What if he is mad? I am worried Viggo. What if he is angry?"

Viggo chuckled " Since when are you concerned with that. He shows his Irish Love to you and Irish wrath to the rest of the world. You don't need to worry. If he is mad, he will talk it out with Vincenzo." Viggo felt for Vienna. It was impossible to tell if Tristan was angry or happy. He always kept his emotions in check. You couldn't tell by just looking at him how he felt. He was a master of it now for sure. Viggo smiled " I need to go check on Angelia. She is in her room resting. Good luck with Tristan."

Vienna watched her brother walk away. On the way, Tristan hit his shoulder against Viggo and gave him a look " Why does she look worried? Is it your doing?"

Viggo put his hand up in surrender " Vienna is fine. I didn't do anything." He then smiled and walked away. Tristan never changed. He only saw Vienna in the room and nothing else mattered.

Tristan walked to Vienna and looked at her as he spoke softly " Are you okay?"

Vienna was taken back " Me? I am fine... Well, your sister just commuted herself to my big brother. Tristan... Are you okay? I am sorry about this. I had no idea about this. I swear. If I knew I would have told you."

Tristan reached his hand to her cheek and stroked it as he leaned close and kissed her on the lips gently. As he broke away he spoke " I know Vienna. I know everything. Your brother managed to keep this a secret for so long. I wished he hadn't. I am not mad at him but I am not thrilled with him either. My baby sister is the one who should forgive or forget. Not me. That's your brother. He acts on his own accord without consultation. I would have done what I could to protect my cousin too if I had to. If sebastiano asked me to help him I would have but I wouldn't have gone this far. I trust the adults to have had a better solution."

Vienna asked in a hushed tone "What will happen to Letizia? I am worried about her."

Tristan shrugged " No one knows. She should have known not to play with a gun when she was on someone else's territory. He nearly shot someone. If I shoot someone for no reason I expect to face the consequences."

Vienna looked around her and then looked up " My uncle Pietro is in a difficult situation. He would rather cut out protection for Letizia so she is handed over to Lucianos for trial than watch his daughter get promised to Juliano. But it seems like this is the peaceful way."

Tristan looked around to direction of Vitale who was sitting with Letizia in a quiet corner surrounded by his body guards "Well. Vitale won't hand over his sister but he won't let his girl die either. It's interesting to see what he is going to do. My money is on him running away with her and coming back with a kid."

Vienna gasped "What? Thats outrageous."

Tristan looked at Vienna "But thats the classic solution. Only when she gets pregnant with his child she gets immunity. Even then after she has a baby then still the Lucianos would be after her to kill her. When you commit a crime against a family, you either declare war on them or you just have to wait for them to retaliate. Vitale has now come out with the secret. Until now Letizia was safe since she was associanted with an American. Your father would have gotten his allies involved if they went after his son's girl. But now Vitale is on his own because of all the people Letizia could insult, she picked the one family whom are good friends on the Rosarios in Sicily. So now Vitale either must kill her or marry her. The latter has a cost and his sister has to be sacrificed."

Vienna asked "But no one is dead. I dont understand why the Lucianos are asking for Tiziana when there is no harm done."

Tristan sighed "Becuase its about honour. They cant let anyone get away trying to kill one of them and gets away with it. It makes them look weak. They have to take revenge. You are right about one thing. Why do they ask for Tiziana when the Rosarios are heady to give money and assets to keep the peace? Why do you think Vienna? Tiziana is going to give Lucianos an alliance thats unbreakable. This is also their way of saying to Vitale that you may have your woman now but you lost one woman in your family to us. Of course this trade is not so bad. At least Juliano loves Tiziana. Some people have had to endure much worse fate when the couple had no love between them. It has history of its own. How do you think the kings and queens in europe have managed to strengthen their empires. Luckily we dont have any of the royal nonsence here." He then picked up a glass of lemonade from the drinks table and handed it to Vienna as he picked up one himself. He raised his glass "Here is to us. Thank the lord we are Americans." He then drank the lemonade as Vienna watched him with an unreadable expression. She slowly took sips from her lemonade while she watched him finish her drink.

Tristan smiled as he put the glass back on the table "Ah. You still havent finished drinking? I need to teach you how to drink in one go. We will get plenty of practice in college though."

The thought of college threw vienna off. Oh, dont remind me. After the christmas holidays we need to go back to school."

Tristan's expression turned more serious "I actually was going to talk to you about this. We are going back to school. I know I am bound to New York. Where will you go? I know your father has given you until the end of Christmas holidays. Thats a month away. But I know you must know your decision Vienna."

Vienna looked away "Can we not talk about this now please?" She then walked away slowly as as she put away her glass of lemonade that she hadnt finished drinking.

Tristan frowned "Vienna. Dont walk away from me."

Vienna felt like she was doing something wrong. She was turning her back to him and knew exactly what she was doing. Tristan went into rageful mode when anyone walked away from him. Vienna just didnt want to talk to him about this topic. She hoped he gave up. She hoped he didnt follow her where she walked but he did. She made her way to the lounge next to the dining hall that had a TV inside. Just her luck the room was empty as she entered it. She wished there was someone there. Just when she was about to turn around and leave she heard the door close. She jumped and turned to see Tristan who was looking at her with a stoney expression with one hand on the closed door. He wanted answers. He deserved answers.

Tristan spoke in a low tone "Vienna. You cant keep locking me out of this matter. You have to discuss with me why your father even needs to give you one month to decide. My sister didnt take so long. She knew what she wanted and had a purpose."

Vienna took a few steps backwards "Tristan... You need to give me time..."

Tristan put his hands on his hips "What for? Stop playing around Vienna. What are you going to do? I refuse to believe an intelligent girl like you needs one month to decide what she wishes to do with the rest of her senior year."

Vienna closed her eyes as she composed herself. He always knew everything. He just did. He was always so observent and knew her better than herself. She loved his intelligence and elegance but she was at the receiving end it was not enjoyable to see him demonstrate a glimpse of his abilities. She opened her eyes "Tristan. I am so sorry for keeping you waiting. I am not playing around. You have to believe me."

Tristan took a step forward "It looks like you are trying to avoid the topic and your father helps you with it. You can't escape everything with the help fo your father Vienna. Sometimes when you keep someone waiting they become restless..."

Vienna gave out a shaky breath "I am sorry. I know..."

Tristan took another step towards her now towering over her "Vienna. Your father's deadline is to hear your answer at the end of the month. My deadline is now. I need to know what you are going to do."

Vienna breathed "Now. Tristan. Why?"

Tristan replied "I have the right to know. I want to know whats going on. Your mother is not here to influence you. Here you are alone in this room. You have to answer to me Vienna. I need my answer now."

Vienna looked away not being able to give an answer "What if I dont give you an answer."

Tristan asked "In that case I find out the truth in my own way. You are my girlfriend. You should not keep secrets from me and try not to."

Vienna looked up  "But sometimes I have to Tristan..."

Tristan rasied an eyebrow "Secrets? Go on Vienna. I will find out anything if I look for it hard enough. So its best you tell me now if you are hiding anything from me."

Vienna took another step back and felt her back hit the wall. She looked into his eyes as she thought of her next words. He was going to find out and besides she shouldnt have kept secrets from him. But she didnt think keeping him in the dark was going to be a big deal. She never saw it as a big deal "I am sorry Tristan... My uncle Angelo ... He is arranging my hospital experiences in Italy..."

Tristan frowned "You can have that here. Your father owns hospitals."

Vienna continued "There is more. Also I want to graduate from art school that I can go to secretly. My aunt anna can arrange that. I cant do that here."

Vienna sighed "Vincenzo would sabotage it. I have to go where Vincenzo cant stop it. He can easily make sure he destroys any art school I go to or would get me sent back for safety reasons or whatever excuse he can find. I cant be free from Vincenzo in Italy."

Tristan asked "So you are telling me it has nothing to do with your mother?"

Vienna reluctantly spoke "She wanted me to go to Italy. She liked the idea. But not for the reasons I wanted to go.

Tristan looked deeply into Vienna's eyes "Is there anything else you havent told me?"

Vienna shook her head.

Tristan nodded "I will speak to Vincenzo. You will not have to move away to Italy. You can go to art school here to graduate. Vincenzo shouldnt have any objections because you still get grades from O'Neil school too. Art projects can be done in evenings... You dont even have to move to any art school."

Vienna wasnt sure if she could tell him the truth while looking into his eyes but she tried "I am sorry.... But I will have to move away... I know I said I wanted to get away to go to art school and have some hospital experience but also I want to test myself Tristan... Its part of the challenge. I want to be away to see if I can manage by myself. I have no confidence in anything I do."

Tristan wasn't pleased at all "Do you hear yourself Vienna? You keep doubting yourself for what? Who is telling you that you are not good enough? You are a Rosario. You have to be sheltered. Your father is an underground crime lord..."

Vienna spoke "But O'Neils are criminal families too... Clarisa is free..."

Tristan sighed "She is not free. She is watched all the time in Italy... But we are different to your family. Your grandfather is not ordinary. Have you seen how many bodyguards have to follow you and your siblings around the room. Rosarios are different to others..."

Vienna sighed "I know. My grandfather had enemies my father had to defeat..."

Tristan shook his head "Thats not it. Your father has managed to build a reputation that makes most your enemies forget revenge. No people in their right mind will mess with your father unless they are mental. It just isnt worth getting wiped out for it."

Vienna cringed at that "I understand..."

Tristan declared "No you dont. You are in danger but not from your enemies. The danger is from your family Vienna."

Vienna was confused "But you said no one would go after me."

Tristan retorted "Except your grandfather and his people. Your grandfather wants what he cant have. He has had everything in life. Now he wants what doesnt belong to him. I will protect you as your boyfriend. The Irish would retaliate if one of their own is messed with but yoru grandfather is dangerous. He is capable of anything. Vienna as much as I like you to be free and test yourself out there I cant have you going too far away especially abroad. You have little faith in yourself because everyone around you is over performing. You compare yourself to your brothers. They are the way they are but they were raised this way. They are meant to be this way. Your father intended them to be raised differently to you. You may have no faith in yourself. But I do. I love you Vienna." He then leaned close and kissed her lips.

When he pulled away he spoke in a low tone " Vienna I will be reasonable. If you want to go to art school and stay at their boarding school nearby I would get my mother to help you arrange it. She can arrange your safety. We have links to other schools. I would support it. But vienna I hate to say this but I won't tolerate it if you go abroad. You are in more danger than you know. You are a Rosario. I can't have your grandfather have open access to you in Italy. I love you enough to stop you from manouvering in the danger zone. So its your chice Vienna. Either listen to my advice or dont. if you dont then I will have to take measures to keep you safe and you may not like them." He then leaned close and kissed her again this time deepning the kiss letting her know his dominance as she called it. He fought for control as his lips attached to hers and she lost. He had dominance. He was dominant in everywhere. Always a step ahead to be her shield, her rock, always for her to rely on.