Zane decided that he would stay and talk further with Jovani about the matter while Lena and Samuel left to discuss what the best option might be. The princess was staunchly against it after Jovani had dismissed her suggestion that she come with them for the same reason he said that it would be unwise for the head of the Vedova Nera to their estate.
"You really think that it would turn out that badly?" Samuel asked as he sat in one of the arm chairs in the sunroom. Lena who refused to sit down with him was standing in the middle of the room with her arms crossed on a scowl on her face. He continued speaking when she chose not to reply, too busy with her thoughts trying to figure out an alternative option.
"I know you're worried because I don't know anything about this side of family and more so after what happened with your mother. I can understand all of that." He started, causing the princess to look over at him. She didn't like it when her mother was randomly brought into a conversation. It still wasn't a topic that she was comfortable talking about.
"But Jovani I don't think is that same type of person and since it seems like he has a lot of say in the family, at least from how he talks. I don't think there's anything to be worried about. Plus honestly, I want to learn more about this side of the world since I'll be marrying into being together with you anyways." Lena sighed after hearing Samuel say this, her demeanor deflating slightly.
"Little chickadee, while I do understand that and it wouldn't be right for me to stop you from doing as you please in this situation, there's a lot of things you don't know though and that is what worries me." The princess explained
"We're both the same age, but unlike you, I grew up in this world. I know what it is like and how to navigate it."
"But aren't I going to have to learn how to navigate it once we're engaged and then married?" Samuel reasoned as he sat up in the chair. Lena shook her head in response to what he said.
"Yes, but with me I can tell you what to expect and how things will plus there are a number of people that you can rely on here to watch up for. With the Vedova Nera though, I can't say what to expect because there's no one there that I know." This was the biggest thing that made her hesitate rather than agreeing to what Jovani wanted.
The princess knew how exactly how her family and everyone who was to them would move and react around Samuel as they already saw him as family since he was going to be marrying Lena. The Vedova Nera however sounded like they weren't always consistent with their after she had heard Evalyn explain.
"It can't be too bad though, right?" He tried to assure her as she stood up.
"I mean, Jovani could've killed me already if he wanted to since he was able to catch me so easily, but he didn't. Plus, maybe it'll be a positive thing to have them our side if I go with him for just a few days." He paused in what he was saying when she turned around to look at him, her eyes said that she wasn't convinced by what he was saying.
"Besides, if my mother comes along I'm sure that there are still those within the family that would know her and that would make it less likely for them to do anything to me if they would otherwise reject a stranger who was still considered." Lena scoffed in response to what he said and moved out of the way before he could hug her again. He thought for certain that he would be able to get away with it since he had approached her so gently.
"You would think that, but there's where you don't know how certain things work within this world." She replied with a tsk.
"Some families have codes that even relatives aren't exempt from. Although your mother didn't technically break anyways or say anything out of turn during these twenty or so years that she has been away, that doesn't meant that the family will readily accept her back. It could still be seen as an act of betrayal that requires a certain level of retribution for." She explained.
When Zane had taken over, it was one of the first things that he had changed and not just for his family, but for those who had family as well. There were a certain amount of rules that he had no control over being able to change in terms of what would be considered grounds for punishment, but he did change the ruling so that issues related to family would be dealt with within blood relatives and those on the outside had no right to add their input.
The only rule that had really stayed in place which affected Samuel was the policy that allowed no one in the family to tell outsiders about what they did unless they were officially engaged or until after they had been married. It was the one thing those higher up in the Red Scorpion group even above her father weren't going to allow to be changed no matter what. Both for the protection of those on the outside and for the protection of their family.
"You actually think that my mother would have to undergo so type of punishment if she suddenly came back to be a part of the family?" Samuel asked rather surprised.
"It's something that you would want to ask Jovani. I can't say for sure because I don't know what rules the Vedova Nera operate under, but it is a possibility." As she moved so that she could look out one of the many windows in the sunroom that faced out towards the front of the estate.
"Maybe it would be better for her not to come with me then." Samuel said as he scratched the back of his head now not quite sure what to do. There really was a lot of things that he didn't know that much about.
"You could try asking your mother about it as well. Although it was a long time ago since she was there and rules likely have changed since then. I'm sure that some of the things she remembered would likely still be in place." Lena suggested. It was going to be a shift to think about her fiancé's mother being part of the mafia as well, she didn't think that it could be possible with how gentle the other woman seemed to be though that was probably why she wanted to walk away from the family in the first place.
"Maybe it would be better of Jovani stayed for a day until we have more time to think everything over and decide what would be best or for me to even make up my mind?" He suggested. He was realizing that he was going to need more time to think about everything before he made a solid decision.
Lena was facing outside still when he made this suggestion but the reflection on the glass helped him to see the displeased face she made at his suggestion. He knew that Princess wouldn't like it that much, but one day wouldn't have been that bad.
"I don't like the idea of having a stranger I don't know all that well staying here for the night." She replied honestly, not turning away from looking out the window.
"If he wishes to stay someplace and he and father haven't work something out by the time we head back, I'm sure that there's a hotel that would accommodate him better than here."
"I know that, but maybe him staying here and talking would make it easier for you to get used to him since it sounds like he's going to end up being with me a lot anyways."" Lena didn't reply right away as she was considering what the other was saying.
"If you're going to insist upon it, we can go and talk with him and father again and see what they had discussed. If nothing is worked out, I will considered it. Though, I don't like the idea of him working with you as a guard." Lena replied as she turned away from the window to walk towards the door, she figured that she had given everyone else enough time to either work something out or discuss other matters that were important to them.
Samuel was quick to follow her after she had started to leave the room. He hoped that she would end up changing her mind as he really wanted her to stop being so hostile towards Jovani sooner rather than later. He didn't think that he would be able to allow the other to be his guard if the animosity between him and Lena didn't change.
