TROUBLE

six

The entire car ride home I could sense the emotions radiating off my brothers and papa.

The others decided they were going to stay out for longer or go back to the hotel, they thought this was something that needed to be dealt between us, pops couldn't resist and he wanted to come to for the 'the talk', no one dared to say no to him so here we are.

I'm sat in between Pops and Cyrus, who's face isn't set into a scowl or a glare. He remains emotionless the entire time. His hand is holding mine so tightly, giving me a silent reminder that he was there.

The usual quick journey home seemed to last forever, and all I wanted to do was go to sleep and completely forget tonight. Forget Bryce, the words he said when we were together, the things I heard people say about me at the academy, I didn't want those words to define who I am.

They were and never will be who I am.

We drive up the driveway and park the car. I take a deep breath having no idea how anything is going to play out.

Pops helps me out of the car, offering me his hand, he wraps papa's suit jacket around my shoulders after I shiver from the bitter air.

Walking towards the door, I feel the glaring eyes of my brother's on my back, if looks could kill I would be hospitalised. I catch sight of Rocco and his eyes soften slightly, before they go back to their deepest glare.

Giovanni is clenching and unclenching his fists, his knuckles so white they look like paper.

Adriano just looks sad, which breaks my heart, this is my fault, I caused this.

I can't be thinking like that.

Cyrus is still beside me with his arm around my shoulder and I lean into his touch, he knows more than anyone.

We walk through the door and everyone walks quickly towards the living room, I follow behind slowly, stripping my feet of my boots and taking papa's jacket off due to how warm the house was. I enter the large living room to see everyone is already seated, all except Rocco and papa.

The living room has two 'L' shape sofa's opposite one another. There was space between Adriano and Pops, so I sit between them.

I take a deep breath and slowly close my eyes, holding onto the single moment of silence I will get, before hell enters our living room.

I fiddle with my fingers, playing my rings and my bracelet, my hands are stopped by my pops' hands holding both of mine. I look up at him and smile sadly, he returns my smile with a squeeze of my hands, as well as tucking my loose hair behind my ear.

"Cecilia, who was that?" My papa says from across the room, he takes his glasses off his face and rubs his face out of frustration. His lines across his forehead are becoming more prominent every second I am silent.

"His name is Bryce." My eyes contact with Rocco who scoffs rather loudly. "We know that Cesca, how do you know him."

"We went high school together."

I know they are getting fed up already of my vague answers but I down really think I want to tell my dad and my older brothers that I had sex with him.

"Just tell us how you know him." Giovanni asks his voice raising.

"Fine. We dated for a while for like 7/8 months my senior year." I roll my eyes, my voice raising too.

"Do not roll your eyes Cecilia Francesca." Rocco bellows.

I roll my eyes again; "I don't get why I am being interrogated, so what I had a boyfriend, you've all had relationships. What is so different about me having one. He was a dickhead, most guys are. But that is beside the point. You all breathe down my neck when I don't follow the unwritten shitty rules you put in place for me, but none of you have the same rules. This is why I fucking hate the patriarchy." I mumble the last part.