Vienna was in the kitchen helping her mother mixing some of the ingredients for blueberry muffins, trying not to think about what her older brother had done to her painting. She was slowly moving the mixer around the bowel and keeping her mind occupied.

Vienna loved baking with her mother. It was her escape from the real world. She was glad they were even allowed to have a kitchen. Her father hated to watch her mother cook. There were a number of female servants who did the food preparation for the whole mansion and they served them food on the family floor everyday before Vienna, Viggo and Vincenzo went to school and after they came back from school. Their fridge was also stuffed with a variety of refreshments and drinks that were shopped by her fathers men and brought in for them. Meal times were the only time of the day that the family were guaranteed to see each other.

Vienna shuddered at the thought of how strict her father was about the family eating together. He was strict with that, just like how he was strict about her mother not cooking for the family on any day except on Saturday and Sundays which her mother loved. Her father didn't want her mother to even attend her management post at the hospital which she did five days a week but her mother had a way convincing her father to reconsider his instructions to her about leaving work.

That day was Saturday. Her mother loved baking cakes and cooking delicious Italian meals for her, her twin brother Viggo, Vincenzo and her father in the weekends. The routine on that day was an exception since their father was not home. He was in his business trip so Viggo and Vincenzo bent the rules slightly and were going to be there only for dinner. Vincenzo was spending the afternoon studying in his room with their cousin Alexander and his best friend Sebastiano Giovanni who was son of Sergio Giovanni. Viggo was at their uncle Costanzo's studying with their cousin Stefano. That left Vienna alone at home to study. Vincenzo didn't mind having her join him in his room studying but Vienna thought she will pass.

Adele spoke " That's enough sweetie. I will pour the mixture in muffin cups. Give it here. Why don't you go study? Is Vannessa Canavaro coming to study with you today?"

Vienna shook her head "No. She had to help her mother in her preparations for a family wedding soon. They had to go shopping. She cancelled on me."

Adele took the mixture bowl away " It's unlike her to cancel on you. She is organised like her father Georgio Canavaro. Oh well. Call some of your other friends."

Vienna chuckled " Mum. I don't want to scare them off. Vincenzo at our home without dad to control him is not a good combination with my friends being here."

Adele shrugged " Call Clarisa O'Neil then."

Vienna spoke " No mum. Then her brothers may show up too. Then it would be Vincenzo's ego busting session with him. You know how competitive they are. Again dad is not here to break up any fights. Vincenzo listens to you but still it will all be a mess. It's ok mum. I study alone. I will call our tutor if I got stuck."

Adele sighed. As much as she wanted to help her daughter more, she couldn't. Francesco didn't let her interfere with anything to do with her sons. Especially Vincenzo was out of her control. Only if she spoke to Francesco about her sons, then he privately had a word with Vincenzo and Viggo in his office then everything was better for a short term. Vincenzo was the hard one to get through. Viggo was slightly more responsive to her and she could approach him without having to ask Francesco to interfere mostly.

Adele spoke "Honey, I am sorry, Vincenzo is causing you trouble but your father doesn't let me interfere. Why don't you go join Viggo today and tomorrow for studying? When he returns today study with him and go with him tomorrow to work with Stefano."

Adele cringed at the thought " No mum. It's fine." There was no way she was going to uncle Costanzo's house. His adopted son, Cain, who was fourteen like her. Cain was from another criminal family who's parents had given Cain to Costanzo for protection. Only Viggo and Stefano, got on with him in school. He was hard to get along with and no one knew about his past. At least none of the kids did. But she knew adults knew more.

Vienna spoke " It's ok mum. I don't want to disturb him. Don't worry. I will manage. Next time I go to Clarisa's house or Vannessa's."

Adele looked at her daughters retreating figure from the kitchen. There was not much she could do. Francesco had completely taken over the responsibility of bringing up her sons. They had been through so much. No matter how much tried to convince him it was impossible. He had kept his word from before they had children. She could bring up her daughter how she wished but her sons upbringing was his responsibility.

Vienna walked away through the corridors of the floor that was only for family. She went past Viggo and Vincenzo's rooms and looked on with sadness. She wished that Viggo wasn't away that weekend. Viggo was much nicer than Vincenzo in many ways. At least he never ruined Vienna's paintings. Viggo was extremely gifted and loved studying. Viggo was the second born son so he wasn't going to be expected to be the head of the Rosario empire but he was going to be appointed chief executive to Vincenzo. That was going to be problematic. Everyone knew that Viggo was a born leader just like Vincenzo. He was like a silent assassin. He kept his emotions on the inside mostly but with his calm and quiet manner still had authority that his fathers men acknowledged. There was something about him that kept everyone on edge when they came across him. He was popular in school. He had good grades. He was calm and acted like the perfect student in school. More importantly, he was nicer to Vienna and his mother compared to how Vincenzo treated his mother and his sister. He was like the perfect son not challenging his parents and respecting his fathers men as well as having authority over them around the house but he was like Vincenzo when he was displeased with the way he was treated or something else bothered him.

Viggo demanded respect just like how his father had taught him. He was ordered to follow Vincenzo and not challenge his older brother in public time and time again by his father. Indeed, he did follow Vincenzo when he was asked by his older brother without a second thought and he only challenged him in front of family just like how their uncle Costanzo was taught to treat their father. But he still was a born leader and everyone knew that he was dangerous. But his lack of interest in following his brother around without being asked was so obvious especially in school. He mostly hung out with their cousin Stefano who was their uncle Costanzo son and of course Cain who was Costanzo's adopted son from a powerful family. The circumstances that he was adopted was unknown to everyone in school.

All three of them, Stefano, Cain and Viggo were the quietly dangerous type. No one messed with them and they didn't cause any trouble mostly unless they were provoked. Of course only Vincenzo and Tristan O'Neil sometimes joked around with them alongside their gangs or trying to get them involved in whatever atrocity they were upto.

As she walked down the corridors she thought back to years ago when Vincenzo, Viggo alongside her used to run around up and down the corridors laughing loudly playing. Life was so simple back then. How had this happen? How did her brother grow up do fast into such a different person, but again so much had happened ever since they were toddlers.

Vienna decided to go to the entertainment room and clear her head. She watched some TV for a while, she then thought about getting back to studying even though she had done loads.

She walked to her room and as she entered, she almost screamed. She saw non other than Vincenzo standing next to her desk leaning to the window. He was looking outside in a bored expression.

Vienna frowned " You scared me. I thought for a second you were an intruder. Why did you come into my room like this?"

Vincenzo turned to her with raised eyebrows " Don't speak to me like that. I came to give you your work of genius. Mother saw it from the kitchen window as I had half buried it in the mud in the compound grounds. She found me and confronted me. She told me to bring it to you and apologise. Well here is your work over there."

Vienna walked in and looked at where he was pointing. He had laid the muddy painting on the floor.

Vincenzo spoke " But don't get used to this. Next time I catch you wasting your time, I won't be so nice."

Vienna spoke " Father won't let you get away with it, if you keep up with bothering me about my passion for art."

Vincenzo's expression turned colder " Did you just threaten me?" He then walked to his sister looking into her eyes directly " Do you have any idea of the consequences? If you were not my family, I would have beaten you senseless."

Vienna sighed " Of course...."

Vincenzo then entered her personal space and leaned close and whispered in her ear " What you don't get is that I am being nice to you because I choose to be. Because you are my sister. Not because mum tells me to rethink my action. Neither am I kinder to you compared to how I treat others just because dad reprimands me if I don't. I choose to treat you kindly because I wish it. I choose to treat you nicely. Not because I have to. Do you understand?"

Vienna nodded weakly " Yes. I do."

Vincenzo then pulled away slightly looking into her eyes " Don't ever threaten me Vienna. Don't even say anything to imply it or you will regret it ..... one day in future."