Chapter 46: Secrets

When Santino saw his sister and John Wick enter the room in an intimate manner, he was so furious he nearly lost his mind. "Damn it, here I am fantasizing about asking for your help to kill my own sister, and you two dogs are already hooking up? Have you forgotten who helped you when you wanted to leave the high table? Without my intervention, could you have left that easily? Not to mention, I still hold your damned blood oath sigil. Damn it, I'm going to make sure we all go down together today!"

Santino's hideous thoughts couldn't possibly escape Gianna, who had long been cautious of her brother, let alone Old Don Antonio, who sat at the head of the table.

Old Don Antonio sighed inwardly as he watched his son lose control of his emotions and expressions upon seeing Gianna with John Wick. "My foolish son, he's really not presentable. Look at him, losing his footing before the battle has even begun. How can I trust him to take over the family?"

Old Don Antonio cleared his throat, interrupting Santino, who was angrily contemplating dismembering John Wick and Gianna, and spoke, "Gianna, aren't you going to introduce this young man?"

With a proud look, Gianna glanced at her foolish brother, greeted her father respectfully first, and then seriously said, "Father, this is John Wick. Of course, he used to have another nickname, the Night Demon!"

Before entering, John had been thoroughly briefed by Gianna countless times. The usually cold-faced man was savvy enough to greet the old man who might become his father-in-law.

Old Don Antonio knew more about the Night Demon than Gianna, understanding that was just his character. Thus, he took John's somewhat cool greeting without offense, accepting his respects with a chuckle.

"John, this one, my brother, needs no introduction from me, right?"

Gianna had already decided that she must make Santino surrender the blood oath sigil in his possession. Therefore, she was not polite to Santino at all.

John, a man of few words who didn't show friendliness to those who were not his friends, glanced indifferently at Santino, who stood aside without saying a word.

However, Santino was enraged by John's attitude. "The famous Night Demon, of course, I know him. Not only do I know him, but I also have his blood oath sigil! Gianna, that's what you want, right? Too bad, I will never give it to you!"

His words suddenly changed the previously peaceful atmosphere.

Old Don Antonio couldn't remember how many times he had sighed. His foolish son was beyond help.

"Well, Santino, I can tell you clearly, John might soon become your brother-in-law, so what do you mean by holding on to his blood oath sigil? I warn you, you can plot whatever you like, but if you plan to drag John down with you, I will not end this easily with you!

We came back today specifically for that blood oath sigil in your hands, Santino. I don't want to turn against you, but I am not afraid to do so either. Do you understand?"

Gianna, furious like a lioness, was provoked by her foolish brother, and thus laid down the law and ultimatum right from the start.

Santino, enraged by Gianna's words, his nose twisted in anger. Damn, is this now a competition of shamelessness? Why should I give up John's blood oath sigil for nothing? When John Wick wanted to smoothly leave the underworld associated with the high table, although he gave up a blood oath sigil, I didn't help him for nothing; I also had to expend personal favors and interests.

Now you, acting like a white knight for our sister, want to take the blood oath sigil back for her? Where's the justice in that?

Santino ignored Gianna, perhaps due to the longstanding fear of his sister, or perhaps because John seemed an easier target, so he turned his attention to John.

"Mr. John Wick, Night Demon, aren't you going to explain why you expect me to give up your blood oath sigil without offering anything in return?"

John Wick, intending to follow Gianna's repeated instructions before arriving and leave everything to her, now found the situation forced upon him. Despite his pride, he was not willing to hide behind his woman, so after a moment's thought, he was about to respond to Santino, but Gianna stopped him.

Gianna, furious like a roaring lioness, said, "Santino, it's me who is asking for John's blood oath sigil, don't change the subject. Yes or no, will you give it?"

Old Don Antonio was not in a hurry, curiously watching the standoff between the three young people in his view, wondering whether Santino could withstand the pressure his sister was putting

 on him, and contemplating whether he should step in to help his son if he couldn't handle it.

Santino, his face red and veins throbbing, was speechless for a moment from the anger.

Just as Old Don Antonio was about to speak to ease the tense situation, Santino finally spoke, "Gianna, you expect me to just hand over John Wick's blood oath sigil without any compensation? That's impossible. And don't think about using our father or anything else to pressure me. I know you're the heir to the family, but that's all you are – an heir. You have no right to order me around. This matter, you and I are not done yet. Really, it's far from over…"

With bloodshot eyes filled with bitterness, Santino glanced at Gianna and John Wick. He didn't even bother to say goodbye to his father respectfully, turned abruptly, and strode towards the exit of the reception hall.

"Santino…"

At a critical moment, Old Don Antonio spoke.

Santino dared to confront his sister, who was not yet the family head, purely out of anger-fueled courage.

But he could not and did not ignore his father, the current head of the Don Antonio family.

Santino stopped in front of the hall door, turned to face his father, "Father, are you also on Gianna's side? Do you plan to just watch her take what belongs to me without saying anything?"

"My child, both you and Gianna are my children. I won't and don't want to favor either of you," Old Don Antonio began, making his position clear.

"But, Santino, I don't want you and your sister to fight each other to the extent that it benefits others. Oh, John, I didn't mean you..."

Old Don Antonio noticed the strange looks on the faces of John Wick and Gianna at his words and couldn't help but explain.

"Come here, Santino, the matter between you and Gianna is just a small issue within our family. What I need to talk to you about is the big issue.

Don't you want to know who attacked your club in Paris, France?"

"Who?"

Santino immediately focused when Old Don Antonio brought up the issue that had been troubling him for days. He also glanced at Gianna, since his intelligence suggested that she was vaguely involved in the background.

"It wasn't your sister, you fool. The attack on your club was carried out by a direct squad of the 'Elders'!"

Old Don Antonio revealed the truth, not wanting his foolish son to continue wasting energy on false information.

"What? The 'Elders'? Those from above the high table?"

Old Don Antonio's words caused no change in Gianna and John's expressions but shocked Santino.

Observing his daughter's unaffected demeanor, Old Don Antonio realized his suspicions were correct. It seemed that even if his daughter had not participated in the destruction of Santino's club, she at least knew about it!!!

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