Sinful (Goddaughter Book 2) Read online

  Sinful

  Goddaughter 2

  By

  Raven Crow

  No. 1 edition

  ©2020 Raven Crow, All rights reserved.

  ©2020 cover art from iStock, All rights reserved.

  No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher and author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright laws.

  Sinful is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  WARNING:

  This book contents material which is not suitable for all audiences; dark themes, intense and graphic sex scenes, extreme violence and other subject matter that might trigger some readers please be advised.

  Table of Contents

  No. 1 edition

  WARNING:

  Sinful

  A Gypsy Prince

  Prologue

  Proud Mama

  Chapter 1

  Gio

  Chapter 2

  Jo

  Chapter 3

  Pen

  Chapter 4

  Sax

  Chapter 5

  Gio

  Chapter 6

  Jo

  Chapter 7

  Pen

  Chapter 8

  Sax

  Chapter 9

  Gio

  Chapter 10

  Jo

  Chapter 11

  Pen

  Chapter 12

  Sax

  Chapter 13

  Gio

  Chapter 14

  Jo

  Chapter 15

  Pen

  Chapter 16

  Sax

  Chapter 17

  Gio

  Chapter 18

  Jo

  Chapter 19

  Pen

  Chapter 20

  Sax

  Chapter 21

  Gio

  Dedications

  About the Author

  Support the Author

  Obsession

  Sinful

  Definition: (To be full of sin, being sinister or corrupt in nature.)

  A Gypsy Prince

  He wants the gold, the shiny crown.

  Be it good or bad, he thinks he owns that town.

  The need for power will spread.

  Let the little lie out and see it rear its head.

  It’s time to answer for his sinful past.

  Who’s going to end up dead, for their sinful task?

  Prologue

  Proud Mama

  I loved the way satin, sheets felt on my bare skin. The clean fresh, smell of the white orchids floated through my opened balcony window causing me to arise. I was queen. I was the most beloved wife of the king. The knowledge of my power coursed through my body as I dressed.

  Beatrice buzzed around my closet while hanging up my cleaned garments as she hummed an annoying song. Having maids and cooks give proof to the world that I was to be respected. I had finally made my way into the kingdom and I wore my crown with pride. Having a person in my private spaces whether or not they were attending to me made my skin crawl. She bent down to pick up my Louis Vuitton pumps and I snapped.

  “Get your stinky hands off of my stuff, you dirty slug!” I nearly sprayed my spit onto her. “Why are you always around? Can’t you clean and do the laundry without being seen?”

  She stood silently unable to respond which made me want to hit her.

  “Camilla…Camilla my love please come down here, I have something for you!” I heard the call of my king. He had bellowed for me from down stairs somewhere.

  Beatrice scattered, disappearing from sight.

  I set off down the hall before going down the stairs where I found my love at the bottom waiting.

  “What is all the yelling about? What surprise do you have for me, Gerald?” I begged with my lips on his cheek.

  “I have something you have always wanted.” He proclaimed with a huge smile on his gorgeous face.

  I heard a sneeze from the study causing me to look. In the doorway stood a tiny boy I drew near scooping him up without a thought.

  “Who are you, you adorable little man?” I pressed his sweet face against mine.

  “That’s Giovanni—Gio and he is our son.” My husband announced as he wrapped his arm around my waist. “Camilla, meet your son, Gio.” He repeated allowing the words to sink in.

  I placed Gio down. Waves of emotion filled my body all at once nearly causing me to cry. Was it true had my king given me my most desired thing; a child of my own? Gio looked up at me with the sweetest smile as if to say he was mine and happily so.

  The harsh rumors of my king’s infertility had spread growing into a fact amongst most. I had been unsuccessful at disproving the rumors for the past six months. Our wedding bed had been all but broken with our countless attempts to conceive his heir. Now however, the heir to this kingdom was standing at my feet. All that was left now was the years of grooming, pampering and crafting his young mind into what would be the perfect gypsy king. I felt as though I had been born for such a task.

  “He is perfect! However did you hide him from me? Where did you find him, my king?” I took Gio by the hand leading him into the kitchen. Gerald followed behind.

  “I have my ways of keeping secrets, my wife. He is ours now, the paperwork took forever to finally get approved but now it’s official. I had the Danes take care of Gio for the past few months while I got all the forms filled out, that’s how I was able to hide him from you.”

  “Well, we need to call Margo and Emily to let them know that we have a son. Surely they will come home now that there’s a child needing to be cared for.” I posed the question to my king.

  “There’s nothing I would love more than to have all of my wives at home but Margo and Emily have asked to stay at the country house for the remainder of the summer and I have decided that’s best if that’s what they want. Not even the news of our son will bring them home. I feel I have failed them somehow.” He scoffed.

  “Nonsense…you could never fail us. Margo and Emily love you. I’m afraid that it is me that they are avoiding.” I grabbed a cookie giving it to Gio.

  “Now that is impossible—how could anyone want to avoid you, Camilla? No—no Margo and Emily have no issues with you, they love you. I will talk to them again over the weekend maybe I will drive up to see them with Gio. That will make them happy I think.” He tried to assure me.

  I had no real want for those two to return. Their constant whispering and blank stares had driven me nearly insane. I was happy to be rid of them. But this sudden surprise might bring them back with a new sense of hope and I couldn’t have that.

  “May I have another cookie please, mama?” Gio asked with a sweet child-like tone. My heart skipped a beat.

  “Yes—yes of course my son.” I replied. (He called me mama), I mouthed silently to Gerald before handing Gio another cookie.

  Beatrice stuck her ugly big head out from inside of the pantry which grabbed Gio’s attention.

  “Who’s that, mama?” He asked while pointing.

  “That is our housekeeper, Beatrice. She’s the one who made those yummy cookies.” I answered. “Come over here Beatrice and meet your new prince.”

  Beatrice came out of the pantry with a plate of cookies and a huge smile plastered on her dumb face. Gio watched her move across the room towards us like he was watching the nature channel and she was a wild animal that he’d never seen before.

  “Gio’s not used to this kind of treatment I’m sure. I doubt he even knows what a housekeepe
r does, my love.” Gerald marked before chuckling.

  Chapter 1

  Gio

  I toweled off before dressing. I had to talk to my dad before I left to go see Jo. I had let her go earlier with Pen to stay the night with her but I wasn’t going to let them stay alone. I might have been being paranoid but I didn’t care, any excuse I could come up with to see her again I’d use.

  It was nearly midnight but my dad would be up still probably in his study like the night owl that he was. As I approached his study I saw the light from underneath the door confirming that he was in fact awake still. I gently knocked twice.

  “Come in.” My dad voiced.

  I opened the door to let myself in before closing the door nearly all the way behind me.

  “Hey dad, I wanted to talk to you for a minute if you’re not too busy.” I asked before sitting in the chair in front of his desk.

  He had a half full tumbler of whiskey and a burning cigar in the ashtray which he was babysitting. There were no papers on the desk so he hadn’t been working. He must have been plotting, or stewing over something. He eyes wear a thick mask of stress like a blindfold. And he had his arms on the desk with his hands cupped together.

  “Of course I have time for you, what’s up?” He eagerly replied.

  “Did you know that girl that was killed was a friend of Jo’s? Do the cops really believe that there’s a serial killer in Greenville?”

  “Yes—yes they are pretty sure that’s exactly what they believe they are dealing with. I had no idea Josephina knew that poor girl, which is just terrible. The whole thing is completely crazy, I can’t believe that some bone-headed asshole thinks that they can come into my kingdom and start killing my people. I won’t stand for this type of attack.” He started to get amped up.

  “What are you planning, dad? I mean do the police even have any suspects.”

  “Danes hasn’t told me that they have any suspects if they do. I am not planning a thing. All I am going to do is get my family into safe places. I have people in place to watch the town better. I have increased the patrols and I am even thinking of enforcing a curfew to keep everybody safe. What I’m not going to do is panic.” He scoffed before standing.

  He walked over to his bar to pour himself some more whiskey. I wanted to join him but I had decided against it seems how I was planning on driving. He seemed to be handling the murders a lot differently then I would have expected. He seemed to be taking the killings personally. If stopped to think about it I would say that we were all taking the killings personally. This felt like an attack against the whole town, which meant it was an attack against gypsies.

  “Ok it sounds like you have everything under control then. Do you need me to help with any of the arrangements?”

  “No as a matter of fact I want you to go to country house to stay with your mothers Emily and Margo. I want things to be business as normal.” He ordered.

  “What—why would I do that? I mean I haven’t gone to stay at the country house in years why now?”

  “That’s exactly why you should go. When was the last time you spent time with your mothers?” He said before sitting back down this time next to me.

  “I was just up there last summer—no it was the summer before that, I think. I don’t know but I really don’t have time to go take off to the country for the summer I’m far too busy, you know that.” I grew uncomfortable.

  “Gio you are forensic accountant, I think we could handle things on our own for a while without you. Plus, being that I’m your boss I have the power to give you some time off. I think that it’s a good idea that you take Josephina—I mean Jo along with. She won’t have any classes this summer and her dad will be tied up with projects all summer and I don’t want her left alone not with a killer in town.” He got more intense.

  I knew that I wasn’t going to win this argument with my dad. Plus he had a point Jo would be safer in the country; she shouldn’t be alone in that house all summer. If I was going to the country then I would rather have her with me to keep her safe.

  “Fine I can see your point dad I will go to see my mothers and take Jo along with. I see no harm in spending a couple of weeks away. I shouldn’t miss too much business.”

  “Oh no, you are going for the entire summer, six full weeks Gio. And that’s that.”

  I heard a cough come from the hallway in front of the office door. My father jumped up, raced over to the door opening it. There stood Camilla.

  “Oh hello boys I was just going to knock.” She said while wearing a guilty look.

  My mother Camilla had always been an eavesdropper. It was obvious that she’d been listening at the door. I had never understood some of my mother’s behaviors.

  “Come on in my love. We were just talking about Margo and Emily. I was telling our son that he needs to go up to see them this summer.”

  “That’s a great idea. They would love to see you. I know that they miss you. I was just talking with Margo two days ago and she was talking about the horses and how she missed watching you ride them.”

  “I love those horses. Ok I’m convinced. A trip to the country is long overdue. Jo will love riding horses I bet.” I jumped up kissing my mother on the cheek.

  “Oh you’re having him take Josephina with him?”

  “Absolutely, my goddaughter needs to meet all of my wives. Now my love, are you packed up to go? The sooner I can get you out of this lodge the better. I’d feel better having you in the manor in town.”

  “Yes sweetheart I am ready to go and the car is packed.”

  “I will see you in the car then I just have to grab a few more things in here and I’ll be out.” He kissed her before she moved towards the door.

  “Good night Gio, I love you.”

  “Good night mom, love you too.”

  “I need to head out myself.” I started to move through the door.

  “Ok have a good night and stay safe.” He waved as I exited.

  I took the back hallway which was hardly lit making me use caution. I spotted a woman near the lobby hallway just ahead of me. She seemed to be waiting for someone. She noticed me and started to smile while waving me over to her.

  “I am sorry do I know you?”

  “Giovanni it is me Abby Clark I used to work here when you were really little. You probably don’t remember me.”

  Vague flashes of memories briefly filled my mind of a younger version of the woman who had been my nanny.

  “Abby of course I remember you it is good to see you.” We embraced quickly. “How have you been? It has been years since I saw you last.”

  “I have been well thank you for asking. I was helping the staff with the party earlier. I haven’t been in this place for years it was nice spending some time here again.” She smiled while she pulled something from her bag before handing it to me. “I was waiting for you so that I could give you these.”

  I took the stack of envelopes from her. “What is this?”

  “These are something that I have held for you for when you were old enough to understand. I probably waited too long but I wasn’t able to get them to you until now.”

  “These are letters. I don’t understand.” I looked down at them before my confused gaze back on her.

  “Not anything in this house is what it seems Gio. I have to go.” She started to back away. “Don’t let anyone see those.” She pointed to the letters. “Everything that you need to know starts with those letters Gio.”

  “Abby can you stay a minute so we can talk?”

  “It isn’t safe for me here.”

  “Why because of the killer?”

  “No, I’m sorry. I have stayed too long as it is.” She walked away while she looked back at me. “Be careful and don’t trust anyone in this house.” She vanished down the hall.

  “Thanks…ok that was very strange.” I scoffed. I paused before I opened the first letter to read the envelope. “Giovanni Sagan…this is addressed to me? Who’s it from…Pop? Who i
s Pop?”

  I tore open the envelope before pulling out the letter to read. The entire letter was in French. I pulled out my phone to translate it into English before I started to read the internet translation.

  “Bonjour…” I said aloud almost proud to have understood at least one word.

  “Hello Giovanni, I have been thinking about you. I hope all is going well for you in America. I have been taking good care of you horse Mercy she is very happy but I think that she misses you and in that she is not alone. I know that you are too young to understand all the changes that have happened since you left the farm but one day you will.” I trailed off in thought.

  Who was this person to me for the life of me I couldn’t remember any of the things that they were describing in the letter. The letter continued for another half page but I was already in a hurry and it was taking too long to translate the letter. I folded the letter back up before putting it back into the pile with the others. I would need to read the letters another time.

  Once in the car on my way to Pen’s I couldn’t help myself from thinking about Abby’s warning. What had she meant by don’t trust anyone in this house? Had she been referring to the letters or did she mean don’t trust my parents in general? I guessed I would have to find my answers in those letters as Abby had suggested.

  “Pop was what I called my grandpa.” A sudden memory flashed causing me to remember my old grandpa’s face briefly. “That was so long ago I had forgotten about him almost.” My eyes darted to the letters on the passenger seat. “My pop wrote all of those, they must be from when I was really young.”

  I couldn’t help but feel excited about the possibility of finding out more about my life before I moved to America. I wanted to know more about who my birth parents were. If Abby hadn’t have told me not to show them to anyone I might have asked Mr. Danes to read them to me or translate them since Mr. Danes was fluent in French.

  I got to a stop sign before I put my parking brake on. I lifted up the pile of letters to read my return address. Chuny, France appeared below the address as the city. I had been born in Chuny a place I couldn’t even visualize.