𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 ✍︎

12| 𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝚌𝚎 𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖

Dove's POV
Age: 10
Location: Ricci's Mansion, New York

The slight creak of the floorboards make my eyes jolt open. I tense, preparing myself for anything. My hand slowly starts moving to my knife, but I stop halfway.

I'm no longer on base. I don't need to be wary of every noise. It would be a hard habit to break though.

Slowly, I roll over and look up to see Daniel next to the bed. He has a soft smile on his face.

"Dinner's ready," he says. I nod and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. I wince slightly at the pangs of pain that flow through me when I step on the ground.

Daniel notices and moves closer to me. "Do you want me to carry you?"

I open my mouth to deny his help, but after I take a step forward I know it's in my best interests to accept. I've had worse injuries than this, but I didn't have the option of help those times. Now I do, and I plan to use it as much as I can.

"Yes please," I say, swallowing my pride and letting my older brother lift me into his arms.

He carries me out of my room and downstairs to the dining room where the rest is our family is waiting.

Daniel sets me down in an empty chair next to Dante. He gives me a quick kiss on the forehead before going to sit next to Dylan.

The food in front of me smells delicious. I'm not sure what it is, but it looks like big pieces of pasta with meat and marinara sauce on it. I notice how my portion is significantly smaller than everyone else's.

"Alright everyone, dig in!" My father says with a smile. We all pick up our utensils and start eating. Everyone starts engaging in their own conversations, but I focus on the heavenly smelling food in front of me.

I cut a small piece of the pasta and put it in my mouth. The flavours that explode in my mouth make me cut a bigger piece. I've never had this dish before, but it's one of my favourites now.

"Mama, I'm thinking of going to the mall tomorrow with the triplets," Marcus says, in between bites.

"Why do you need to go to the mall?" My mother asks Dante suspiciously.

"Wha-why are you asking me and not those two?" He asks defensively, pointing to his twins.

"Because I know that Daniel and Dylan are going to spend their money on things they actually need," my mother says.

"But I actually need my stuff!" Dante argues. My mother raises her eyebrow at him, but doesn't push it anymore.

"I was thinking of going to the mall as well," my mother says, moving on from Dante's questionable spending habits. "We need to buy some stuff for the little princess."

I blush at the new nickname, making my brothers chuckle.

"I want to come!" Lorenzo exclaims. Everyone looks at him funny, making him shrug. "I want to help pick the clothes."

Of course, it's the sadist that's the fashionista of the family. I bet he's the biggest softie out of all my brothers.

"Can I come too?" Luca asks. "I want to help shop for my sorellina."
(Translation Italian: little sister)

"Of course," my mother says with a smile. She looks to Marcus expectantly. "Would you like to come too?"

Marcus looks at my father and the two exchange a silent eye conversation. "Sure," Marcus says. "We can take some time off from work."