Forever & Always

Chapter 21: Eunoia✔️

(n) - beautiful thinking; a well mind

Pronounced: you-noy-uh

•Winter's pov•

It's been a few days since the mission and the sleepover with the girls. Everything has been going well so far. I've gone through all of the data on the flash drive and the files and my scientists have been working their asses off to see if the DNA samples they got match up with mine.

I'm currently going down to the lab since I was called. I walk through the hallways of headquarters and through the doors of the lab. I walk over to my head scientist and ask him about what he's found.

"We ran multiple tests on the samples we took and none of them match your DNA. I don't know who those people are, but they are not your parents and grandmother." I freeze. I know I had my suspicions about their deaths, that they could really be alive, but hearing someone somewhat confirm it makes it that much more real.

My parents are alive.

My grandmother is alive.

I get out of my state of shock and thank my head scientist before rushing out of the lab. I jog through the hallways and to the control room where I see Charlie. I walk up to him and pull him aside.

"I just got back from the lab. The samples don't match my DNA, those aren't their bodies. There is a possibility that they could be alive and I need all hands on deck to find out where they are." I explain. He nods and calls over the head of my hacking team.

"I need you to hack into every computer the American Mafia owns and see if you can find anything on the Lykaios family, specifically Dion Lykaios, Alyssa Lykaios, and Astra Lykaios." He says. The head of my hacking team nods and walks away. I thank Charlie and go back to my office where I call the girls, telling them to come to headquarters ASAP. They all arrive within the hour.

"They're alive," I tell them once they're seated in my office. They look at me with surprise and disbelief. "The DNA samples didn't match."

"You ran all possible tests?" Ember asks.

"Yes. They took my blood to test it along with the samples. It was negative. My hacking team is working on finding possible spots where they may be now. You can join them now V if you want." Vienna nods and leaves to join my team. "Searching may take a couple of days."

"So, what about the rest of us?" Dani questions.

"I'll tell my brothers and together we'll come up with part of a plan. We'll continue training, going to school, and living out our lives as regular teenage girls until we find something." I explain. We can't do anything until the hacking team finds something connected to the whereabouts of my parents and grandmother.

I text my eldest brother to get ready and send him the address of H.Q. I make sure to tell him to bring the others along with him. While we wait for them to arrive, I take the girls, except Vienna, to one of the meeting rooms. About 35 minutes later, there's a knock on my door.

"Εισαγω."

(Greek- Enter)

The door opens and my brothers walk into the meeting room. Once the door closes again, I speak. I tell them all about my suspicions, my investigation on Mamá, Bampás, and Nonna's deaths, and about the DNA not matching up. I also show them the results of the tests the scientist gave me.

"... Are you sure that they are alive, Winter?" Vincenzo asks me.

"Yes," I answer without hesitation. "I have my tech team searching for any possible locations of where they might be, their last known locations, any video footage, everything. It's going to take a while until we have a lead, but as soon as we do, I'll let you know."