𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | [𝟏𝟖+]

twenty three: the beach.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚'𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐯:

"Ilya was in the house?" Aurora asks as all of us eat our breakfast at the table. The only people who aren't here are Romeo, Isabella, Alessandra, Gio, and Luca. That's only because Luca and Gio had to be at the warehouse so the rest of them tagged along and got breakfast on their way there.

"How did you find out?" Leo groans as he talks with his mouth full. I roll my eyes and slap his hand. I mumble 'don't speak with food in your mouth' while he just flips me off.

"Heard Vinny talking about it," she admits and I look towards him.

"How'd you find out?" Leo asks and Vinny shrugs.

"Heard you guys last night while I was sleeping on the couch. Asked Rocco if he heard about it and then mom heard me," he says.

"Non importa come l'abbiamo scoperto. Ci sono bambini che vivono qui. Non avrebbe dovuto entrare facilmente e fuggire dalla nostra casa," her voice rises as she drops her fork on her plate. Creating a clinking sound which catches everyone's attention.

[It doesn't matter how we found out. There are children living here. He should not have easily entered and escape our home.]

"Mamma-" he tries but she cuts him off.

"Leonardo Russo, I will not argue with you. Your wife was in danger last night," she holds her finger up and my eyes widen.

"Not the government name," Rocco and Sienna mumble in unison.

"I wasn't in danger, Aurora. I was fine, he just caught me off guard," I say and she snaps her head towards me.

"You were in your undergarments, completely exposed with no type of weapon, while he had what? A few knives and guns on him? You were in danger," she says.

"I can protect myself," I sigh as I take a bite of my food.

"That's what your mother said and now look at her," she yells and I pause all my movements.

Really? She had to bring my mother into this? I understand she wants me to be safe 24/7 but in this world, that's not how it works. I throw myself into danger all the time and I end up perfectly fine.

But bringing up my mother? Of all people.

I clear my throat as I place my fork down and stand up out of my chair. Everyone's eyes on me as the wait for my next move. Vinny looks scared, as if I would put my hands on his mother.

"You had no right bringing her up," I scoff as I push my chair in. "I'm going to change and then I'm heading to my estate to see my brother's," I say to Leo as he stands out of his chair as well.

"I'm coming with-"

"I would like to go alone," I cut him off and I watch as Aurora stands out of her chair.

"Stella, I didn't mean it-" she cuts herself off when I start to walk away.

I walk upstairs and towards the room to find Salvatore standing in front of it. He looks at me and notices how angry I look. He doesn't say anything as I look up at him. I feel as tears fill my eyes and he immediately pulls me into a hug. I wrap my arms around him as tears fall from my cheeks and I struggle to swallow a sob.