The Ones Who Saved Us

Chapter 34

Avalee's POV

I couldn't allow myself to sleep last night in fear of the memories that would welcome me in the form of nightmares. Papa stayed with me the entire night to ensure that I had fallen asleep, and I had hoped that he had fallen for my fake sleeping act, but I had doubts. Sometimes I felt like Papa knew me better than even I knew myself.

Papa finally left my side at 5:30 in the morning, the front door slamming shut moments later. Only thirty minutes after his departure, someone knocked on my bedroom door and walked in. I kept my eyes shut as I felt the bed dip below me, my body flinching when a hand starting rubbing circles on my back.

"Aves, can you get up please?"

I recognized my oldest brother's voice immediately, internally cursing myself when I realized how I had reacted to his touch.

"Aves, I have to go to work now, and you're coming with me. We're going to spend the day together, tesoro," he said. When I made no effort to open my heavy eyes, Alessandro sighed. "Dad will join us later."

I slowly turned onto my side to face my brother, reluctantly fluttering my eyes open. I tried to rub the exhaustion out of my eyes, a result of two consecutive, restless nights. "When's Papa coming?" I asked, a small yawn escaping my lips.

"Before your therapy session. You have a session with Anna at noon, and right after, the three of us will go out for lunch," Alessandro said, brushing my messy hair out of my face.

I propped myself up on my elbows, worry encasing me. Therapy was the last thing I wanted to do today. With the mic I was required to wear at all times, I now had no private moments with my family and friends, least of all Anna. There were events from my past I had just found myself willing to open up about, but with Nikolai listening in to every one of my conversations, I wouldn't feel free to say anything.

This therapy session would be a complete one-eighty from my last session when, for the first time, I had brought up Demetri and the cruel things he had done to me. Today, though, I would lose all courage to do so. I didn't want to give Nikolai the satisfaction of knowing how much damage his uncle did to me during that year.

"I don't want to, Sandro."

"This isn't negotiable, Aves. We agreed on that when you first sobered up," he said.

"Please," I said, clasping my hands together. "Can't I stay home?"

Alessandro shook his head. "No one's going to be home at all today to watch you. So yes, you have to come with me."

A frown pulled on my lips. "I'm sixteen years old, fratello. I don't need someone to babysit me."

"I understand, but you're not the average sixteen-year-old girl," Alessandro said. He cupped my face, his thumb rubbing circles on my cheek. "Think of it this way. You'll have my complete attention for the entire day without having to fight your brothers for it."

"Sounds more like a curse than a blessing," I mumbled.

Alessandro let out a deep laugh, shaking his head. "Get dressed, tesoro, and bring something to entertain yourself. It's going to be a long day. We'll leave once you have breakfast."

I groaned, stumbling out of bed once my brother had left. I quickly got ready wearing a baggy hoodie and joggers. With my schoolbag slung over my shoulder, I soon reached the bottom of the stairs where I saw Alessandro sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee. He was dressed in a suit and tie, making me feel extremely underdressed.

Clearing my throat, Alessandro's attention turned towards me, sending a smile towards me. "Do I need to change or...?" I asked, my voice trailing off.