As he looked upon the statues that had once been his brothers. He touched the cold stone, which at one tine had been warm flesh. They died because of him, because of whom he had given his heart. The king promised him, and his brothers, any virgin bride they desired within the kingdom. All in exchange for their protection. But the king reneged on the deal, when he had chosen the princess. But that did not stop him, from taking what was rightfully his.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Cali was exhausted from jet lag, as she had flown eight hours from New York to Palermo, Sicily. Her Uncle Salvador, or Sal as she called him, had talked about Sicily's beauty for years. But now she was finally seeing it for herself. Uncle Sal had taken care of her ever since she was fourteen years old.

She was orphan, who had the misfortune of seeing her parents murdered at the mere age of six. Haunted by the memory of that horrible night. She remembered waking up in the middle of the night, hearing her mother cry out in terror. Wondering what was happening, she ran down stairs. To her horror, she saw a strange man point his gun and shoot both her parents dead.

"Mommy! Daddy!" She cried out, as the warm tears wept from her eyes. The man turned to look at her, as they both stared at one another in wide eyed terror.

"I'm sorry sweetheart." He said as tears weld up in his eyes, just as they had in hers. Police sirens could be heard, as the man promptly left her in his murderous wake. Cali just stood there, numb, as her parents dead bodies laid before her. She always remembered the man pointing his gun, and killing them. But the trauma was so great, she just couldn't recall his face.

After being moved from foster home, to foster home over the next eight years. Her Uncle Sal had just shown up out of the blue. He was a long lost great Uncle, from his father's side. She knew her father's family had come from Sicily, but this was the first time she had met any of them.

He was like guardian angel that saved her life. Most of the foster home that's she had lived in had been abusive, and the last one she had lived in was not any different. She thought her life was hopeless until he arrived. He not only rescued her form her horrible existence, but he paid for the best therapists to help her cope with the tragedies in her life.

Not only that but he paid for tutors, that helped her make her way through school. He even paid for college, where she majored in psychology and minored in music. True, the two majors really didn't go together, but she had always been told that she had a beautiful singing voice. Plus, she just always loved music.

After her plane had arrived in Palermo, she decided to rent a car. But as she made her way to her uncle's house, the jet lag was becoming too much. She stopped at a gas station along the way to get some coffee. Perhaps the fresh air would help as well. After she go her coffee, she went outside just to take in the atmosphere.

Even though she was at a small gas station, the countryside around her was still breathtaking. True, she liked living in New York, but just being away from the city could be quite relaxing once in a while. Without even realizing it, she began to sing.

She had to watch that sometimes, as she had a habit of just singing to herself completely oblivious to others. Often she wondered if she made a complete ass out of herself in front of total strangers. But then, all of a sudden, she had a strange feeling as if she was being watched. Maybe she was just being paranoid, but it felt creepy.

"Hello!" She shouted, but no one answered. As she made her way back to the car, she noticed a mysterious limousine quickly pull away. Everyone around her stared at the big black car as it drove away. All the people around her were talking, but since she didn't speak Italian, she had no idea what they were saying.

Hmm. She thought. I wonder who was in that limo? The way everyone was acting, it must have been someone rather important.

As she got back in the car, she headed towards her Uncle's Sals place. It was strange. Just as he had come into her life, one day out of the blue, he told her that he was moving back to Sicily. And that he would let her know where he was living, once he got settled into his new home. She offered to help him move, but he told her she had enough on her plate as it was.

However, she could be quite resourceful, and was able to track him down rather easily. As she drove towards his home, she couldn't help but smile. Now she was the one who would just show up out of the blue. Hopefully, he would be pleasantly surprised.

As she pulled up to the house, she had to wonder if she was at the right address. In front of the house was same limo that had been at the gas station. When she got out of the car, she could see her uncle in the window. Whatever was going on, he had a terrified look upon his face. Without even thinking, she ran right to the front door. With that she swung the door open, horrified by what she saw.

"What the hell is going on!" She cried out in a panic. "What are you doing to my uncle?"

"Cali!" Cried her uncle with a look of wide eyed terror upon his face.

It was at that moment that she realized that that they were surrounded by ten large men, all decked out in Armani suites. A man was pointing a gun at her uncle, just as she witnessed her parent's killer do to them. The man with the gun turned to look at her, as he too had a surprised look upon his face.

"Songbird!" The man cried out. She was taken aback by everything unfolding around her. She'd be lying if she said she didn't find the man handsome, but he was about to kill her uncle. But why did he just cal her songbird?

"Cali get out of here!" Her uncle cried in terror.

"She's not going anywhere!" The handsome man explained.

"This has nothing to do with her!" Uncle Sal insisted. "She isn't apart of this!"

"I'm afraid she is now." The man replied. He then snapped his fingers. One of his goons, who was standing behind her, grabbed her arm rather harshly and brought her to his boss.

"Ow!" She cried out in pain. "Get your filthy ape hands off of me! You're hurting me! Let go!" A look of anger soon flashed upon the handsome man's face, as he began to stare down the man who had just harshly grabbed her.

"That is not how you treat a lady!" He growled. "Apologize to her, Anton."

"But sir-" the goon began.

"I said apologize, Anton!" He exclaimed in anger.

"I am very sorry, my dear." Stated Anton. "I should have known better."

The handsome man then looked at her. "Now then my little songbird, what does Cali stand for?"

"Why do you keep calling me songbird?" She asked. "Why are you about to kill my uncle?"

"I am the one who's asking the questions." He replied with a stoic expression. "What..does Cali..stand for?"

"It's short for Calliope." She replied with no emotion. She was determined not to give him the satisfaction.

"Calliope." He said with a smile. "The Greek Muse of the beautiful voice, how appropriate. Where are you from?"

"New York." She answered.

"Leave her alone you bastard!" Her uncle cried.

"Shut up old man!" He exclaimed as he turned his head towards her uncle. "You don't want to test my patience!"

"And what are you going to do?" Her uncle asked. "Kill me twice?"

"Please don't do this!" Cali cried. The man turned back to look at her, his face softened, while he had a look of regret.

"It's too bad Songbird." He sighed. "I was enchanted with you from the moment I caught you, singing at the petrol station earlier today. I had planned on taking you to dinner this evening. But I have a feeling that you would have very little interest in me, after I do what needs to be done. You see, your uncle owes me $10 million dollars. And that is just way too much to forgive, even in the hopes of winning the favor of a pretty little songbird, like you. Anton, please escort the young lady to the airport in Palermo. Get her on the next flight back to New York—first class."

"But sir?" Anton asked. "Even after witnessing this, you're just going to let her go?"

"And what is she going to do Anton?" He asked in annoyance. "Call the police. I own the police!"

"If that is your wish sir." Anton replied. "Come with me my dear." This time he gently took her upper arm, as he tried to lead her away. But Cali was having none of it. With all she could, she elbowed Anton in the gut. He made an, "oof!" sound as he had obviously doubled over in pain.

Just as the handsome man was about to shoot her uncle, she grabbed his arm and pushed him out of the way. As she did, his arm went upwards, and he shot the ceiling. Cali then wrapped herself around her uncle, as she burst into tears. Although she knew it was impossible, she felt like she could use her body as a way to protect her uncle.

"Cali?" Her uncle cried. "What are you doing?"

"Are you crazy?"the handsome man exclaimed in anger. "Do you realize I almost killed you?"

"I don't care!" Cali exclaimed. "If you're going to kill him, then the bullet is going to have to go through me first!" She was expecting to die, but instead the handsome man began to laugh.

"Now that!" the handsome exclaimed. "Is what I call loyalty! And that is the kind of loyalty that I expect from each and every one of you! You could all learn a lesson form this one! And loyalty, and lessons learned should always be rewarded."

As she continued to hold on to her uncle for dear life, the handsome man gently cupped her chin. He slowly turned her head until she was facing him. He had a wicked smile upon his face, as he stared into her teary eyes.

"Tell me Songbird." he asked as he still smiled at her. "Are you really willing to give me your life, in exchange for his?"

"Yes." She cried.

"Well I must admit." He replied. "That is quite the most intriguing business offer, that I've had in a long time."

"No!" Cried her uncle. "You're business is with, me not her! Surely even a monster as yourself, wound not dare murder an innocent girl in cold blood!"

"Shut up, old man!" He exclaimed. "I didn't ask if she would die for you. That would truly be a waste. I asked if she would give her life for yours, and she has agreed. I don't know what god you pray to, but if I were you, I would get down on my knees and thank him before you go to sleep tonight. For he has sent you an angel, a songbird to spare your miserable life. She has so generously given me her life, she now belongs to me."