Her Five Protectors

THIRTEEN

Romeo looked a little surprised when he found Athena in the bathroom. She was sitting on the bathroom floor and staring at her hands on her lap.

"Ariana!" Romeo calls her name and crouches down in front of her. Athena looks up at him.

"What happened?" He asks sounding completely concerned. Athena slowly shakes her head in negative and tries to stand up but Romeo beat her to it. He grabs her in his arms and carefully looks down at her face. The side of her cheek has turned red due to some reason. It looks like the area is slightly bruised.

"Who did this?" He asks slowly. Athena looks up at him with fear evident in her eyes.

"S-she told to not t-tell." Athena tells him innocently and in a hushed tone. Romeo's fists clenches in anger.

"Who?" He asks. Adamant, she shakes her head, refusing to answer. Romeo understands at this moment that forcing the girl to seek out the truth would not be the best move. He immediately whips his phone out and texts Alexander, telling him to meet them outside in the parking lot.

"It's ok, Ariana. Nobody's going to hurt you." Romeo assures her and picks her up in his arms. This move surprises her a little but almost unconsciously, she snuggles into his warmth radiating chest feeling scared. Romeo almost smiles at this but he does not say anything.

The pitter patter of droplets of rain makes her shiver a little. Alexander and Vittorio are already waiting outside. Seeing her in their brother's arms alarms them a bit. Something serious must have happened. Romeo only went out to find Athena when she did not arrive at the cafeteria...Till next ten minutes they waited with no sign of her showing up and they decided to split up to search for her whereabouts.

Romeo gently settles her in the car and nods at his brothers who gets into their own car. Soon they were off to the mansion. Upon reaching there, Romeo helps Athena out of the car who looks deeply indulged in her thought. He rarely has seen some other expressions on her face beside this look of utter confusion and heart clenching fear.

Vincenzo is already informed regarding this and he is waiting for his siblings and the young girl in the living room along with Luciano. Vincenzo is just plainly curious but Luciano looks genuinely worried for Athena.

Finally after what felt like eternity, following by Romeo and Athena, Alexander and Vittorio steps in.

"Bring a glass of water." Luciano says to the maids and immediately rushes towards Athena.

He helps her on the couch and grabs the glass of water from the maid after muttering a small polite thank you. The maid scurries away blushing.

He hands her the glass. His heart melts as she innocently grabs the glass with both of her hands and takes few small sips of it.

"What happened?" Vincenzo asks Romeo who narrates his side of story. Luciano notices how Athena flinches a bit at the mention of that girl.

"It's your turn to speak now." Vincenzo dictates his attention towards Athena who is playing with her fingers.

"I am asking you something, Ariana." He repeats in his stern cold voice. Athena flinches in fear a little and finally decides to speak. Her words are not making a lot sense that makes them actually realize how unfair her life must be back in her own home.

At some point, Alexander feels a little strange, like something is tugging his insides and telling him that this girl does not deserve to be kept in their life of lies. He is guilty and his facial expressions shows it very well. Vittorio and Romeo are putting some cold unbothered wall in front of them whereas Vincenzo looks emotionlessly cold as usual.

"Who was she, Ariana?" Luciano asks her. Athena tries to dodge this question as Aurora warned her to not to say anything like that. Alexander was thinking about using a little sternness to get the truth out judging how easily she gets scared of them but however his thoughts are cut short in middle.

"Ariana, I appreciate your honesty regarding this serious matter. You are free to go to your room. Take some rest." Vincenzo tells her and Athena's facial expressions shows the relief well. She is not forced to tell Aurora's name and now Aurora would not be angry at her. With these naive thoughts in her mind, she immediately walks upstairs.

Vincenzo brings his attention back to his brothers.

"Bring me the survelliance footage."