The life of a Mafia princess

• t w e n t y t h r e e •

( Just a friendly reminder that there are sometimes 2-10 months gaps in between chapters and therefore things might not add up with previous plot lines. I won't go back to edit the book tho because I have no time for this, soooo,,,,, guess we all just have to live with it from now on :') )

Third PoV

Elena goes up to her room to change into new clothes for the day and to prepare herself for the mess that will surely take place soon. She doesn't necessarily regret agreeing to talk to Matteo, because she really wants to put her burdens on somebody else, but she's also not sure about it anymore. Because what if it doesn't work or what if he tells her brothers? She doesn't want them to know.

They already treat her differently. Or more like, look at her differently. The twins are even more protective now and Santino is nicer. And if that isn't weird enough, she had a civil conversation with Ivano this morning. For once, there were no threats involved and he genuinely seemed worried about her.

"Can I come in?" Cedro knocks against the door. Elena quickly puts on the clothes, "yes.".

She sits down on the edge of her bed and watches the door open. Emiliano and Dante are standing on either side of the door in the hallway and Cedro enters her room. He closes the door behind him and walks towards her. In front of her, he crouches down and puts his hands on his sister's knees for support.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes." She nods and looks up at him. Even when he's crouching in front of her, he's still taller than her.

"Do you feel like you're up to talking to Matteo now? He's going to be here soon." His thumb comfortingly rubs up and down on her left knee.

The question makes Eleonora's eyes widen slightly. She didn't think that he would be here so fast. She doesn't even know what exactly she will tell him. Or how she will talk to him. Because what if he doesn't like her? Or doesn't believe her? The last time she talked to a therapist it was because her mother forced her to to deal with her trauma, but it was horrible. The man didn't believe her and generally always seemed more interested in her than the things she talked about. Eventually she stopped going because with every session he became weirder. And what if Matteo will be the same way?

Maybe she should just to talk to her brothers about everything but every time she told them something, they became even more protective. And Elena doesn't think that she could handle even more protectiveness from their side.

"Yes." She shrugs with her shoulders. She's not really up to talking to him now with all the doubts about it running through her mind, but it would also be rude to send him away so she has to talk to him when he comes here.

"Alright. Do you want to talk to him in here? Or the living room? Kitchen? In the garden? Or one of our rooms?" Cedro lists suggestions. Originally they were supposed to talk in Santino's office but all of their brothers are in there talking about a possible lead and there is no reason to risk her accidentally hearing something she is not supposed to.

"Living room." Elena tells him, realizing that this might be the safest option. Of course there is the risk of her brothers walking past and hearing something, but she also isn't comfortable with the thought of a stranger - even if he is Santino's friend - being in her room and seeing it.

"Okay. Come down whenever you're ready then. I'll wait for Matteo to come in the living room." Cedro smiles at her and after an encouraging nod at her, he leaves her room.