TROUBLE

twenty nine

Cecilia's POV

Spending time with my family after so long seems so strange but in a good way. I wasn't expecting the family to bounce back so quickly after Giovanni's passing, of course we are all still mourning but I think since we are always together it has helped us.

Family time is much needed, but not only with my brothers, papa and I, but with everyone.

I also need to drop the brother bomb to the rest of my brothers, so why not do it with everyone around?

Is it the best idea? Probably not but if it doesn't happen today when will it happen?

"So movie night or game night?" Pops asks from beside me on the sofa. I have my head leaning on his shoulder, while my legs are draped over Cyrus. This dude needs to stop tickling my feet.

I kick him in the ribs causing him to grunt in pain. "The fuck was that for?"

"Stop ticking my feet motherfucker, or I'll kick you in the head next time." He rolls his eyes, bitch.

"Cesca stop threatening your brother." My nonna scolds.

"Are you sure I can't just punch him in the face?" I questions. A chorus of 'yes' fill the air.

"What if I break his nose just a little bit?"

"How do you break a nose a little?" Camden exclaims confusedly.

"I don't know, shall we find out." I crack my knuckles, my pops chuckles from beside me, taking my hands into his own. He pats my hand in a way of saying stand down. I sigh.

Cyrus sticks his tongue out, while I flip him off. I wonder what he would look like without a tongue? Or at least forked?

After our mini- argument we decided on a games night, teaming up and playing monopoly, such a classic. Not exactly the ideal game with a bunch of business men that are competitive as fuck.

The teams were Leonardo and Aunty Reina, Uncle Luciano and Cyrus, Papa and Adriano, Flavio and Rocco and Angelo and i. Nonna agreed to be the banker, but also to stop fights ensuing, which was likely. She also made sure to collect everyones weapons because they often get used.

It's too often how often a gun or knife has been drawn on one another on a Saldaro Game's Night.

I feel like I've drawn the short straw, as much as I love Angelo he is the most unmotivated fucker I know. He just doesn't give a shit, which doesn't weigh up well with me because inherited a natural competitiveness.

***

We have been playing for an hour and half, alliance have already been made. I have just given up and now on a mission to fuck up everyone else's shit. Angelo has been playing on his phone for about an hour, we occupied his mind for about half hour. There is only two teams remaining; Angelo and I and Flavio and Rocco.

"Pay up fratello." I laugh as Flavio and Rocco count through their money. They count frantically known they are about to be bankrupt.

"I think we could come to some sort of agreement right bambina, we can help you?" Rocco negotiated pouting.

I roll my eyes, I shake my head beckoning my hand motioning them to hand over their money. They hand it over, I look down at their measly final 3 notes, I don't see the problem they have an entire street that I am guaranteed to land on on my next roll.

I pick up the pair of dice, shaking and blowing them for luck before rolling them on the board. An eruption of cheers is heard rom the opposite side of the board from Flavio when he realises I have landed on their property.

Didn't I just say the wouldn't happen?

Genius?

"Pay up sorellina." Rocco mocks me holding his hand out.

Angelo pipes up, "just concede I am bored and it'll mean this will all be over." I smack him upside the head, he whines rubbing his head.

"Fine you win, you assholes." They high five. We bet real shit on this game.

I hand over $100 to each of them, also giving Flavio the keys to my favourite Lamborgini Aventador.

"One week. If I find one scratch, dent or mark on the exterior or interior of that car I will scratch and dent you. Capiche?" Flavio gulps and nods. I smile sweetly going over and sitting with papa.

He opens his arms and I lean into his warmth. I sit beside him, while everyone tries to decide between Fast and Furious or Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

"I'm just saying I want to watch cars more than apes." Adriano reasons.

After another 15 minutes of deliberations, they decided upon fast and furious, I wasn't particularly bothered. I much rather be in my own head, overthinking.

With all the fun and love tonight I seem to have forgotten I needed to reveal to everyone, my recent revelations.

My papa must have picked up on my change on mood as he tightens his hold on me, "tesoro are you alright?" I shrug before sighing deeply.

"I actually need to talk to everyone." I declare loudly, so everyone can hear. Adriano pauses the movie as everyone turns their attention to me.

"What is it principessa?" Leonardo asks, I look around and everyone had a look of concern in their eyes.

"Ok. So the first piece of news actually affects just me." They raise their eyebrows. "I have decided to move out."

"But we have just moved here?"

"I know but so much has happened recently, I have wanted my own space to think and breathe. Don't get me wrong I love you all with everything I am, but It's time. I am 20."

"Where are you moving?"

"Giovanni's old apartment." Protests fill the air. "Before you say it is a bad idea, I know that, trust me. I just think being in his old apartment will make me feel closer to him. It takes my mind off what happened to him."

It took some more convincing, but eventually they agreed. Camden promised he would come and stay a few nights a week. So I am not entirely alone, which was very much appreciated.

If I was being honest with myself I knew I would struggle if I was by myself all the time.

Plus, I will be able to have Miles around more. Which means I can have him all to myself, in more ways than one.

"Mia sole, you said that was the first piece, is there more?"

I nod stiffly.

"I had my suspicions about a new kid on campus named Niko, Cyrus knows who he is. I had Zeke do a background check on him. The results were not exactly what I was expecting." I sigh. "Papa did you know mother was cheating on you?

"What?"

"Niko is 22. Which means straight after having Adriano she cheated. She had Niko when she was 'kidnapped' for 10 months she really wasn't she was shacked up in the bed of Villin. She came back and then me and Camden entered this glorious world."

I totally just information dumped on them, it was either tell them slowly or straight up.

"What?"

"So you are telling me we have a half brother and mother had 4 children in the space of 3 years? Not only that but she faked being kidnapped and cheated on papa?"

I nod again.

"Surprise???" I chuckle sarcastically.

Everyone looked dumbfounded.

"So where is Marina now?" Papa questions, knowing I know exactly where she is.

"England in the protective custody of King, according to the reports she was being abused by Villin and ran. But a few weeks ago she was in Italy for the funeral, then in New York. That's not even the worst part. She saw Giovanni the day he died."

===================================

Edited: As of 2022

--M <3