Love, Evangeline

9.

Buttoning up my blouse, I walked down the hall. Right as I turned the corner, I bumped into my brothers. " Where've you been?" Diego asked. " Here," I answered " What took you guys so long?" " Dad, business, more work," Alessandro sighed folding his arms. " You met anyone here yet?" Mateo asked. " Uhm, no," I. said, not knowing exactly why I lied. " We'll diners ready," Diego informed me. I nodded before following my brothers downstairs.

There was a lot of commotion and chatter in the dinning room. My mom and dad were talking to both Mr. and Mrs. Berlusconi. Diego stood by my side as we walked down the table. " Are we all here?"Mrs. Berlusconi asked. She wore an all black, floor length dress with sleeves that draped down to the floor. Five girls suddenly walked into the room, I assumed they were Mrs. Berlusconi's daughters. They all looked around the age of nineteen and twenty three. They wore expensive dresses made out of fine fabric, flashy just like their mother.

Luca sat down in front of me, he wore an all black button up shirt with the first two buttons open. His hair was messy, he sat leaned back and comfortable in his chair. His dark eyes met mine, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth before disappearing. Two more boys walked into the room, both wearing the same black attire. My mom and dad sat down at the end with Mr. Mrs. Berlusconi. " Look at this," Mrs. Berlusconi said grinning from ear to ear. " Two families together at last." My mom smiled and patted my dad's hand, I looked at Alessandro who didn't seem the least bit excited to be here.

Mrs. Berlusconi stood up at the end of the table, " I'd like to welcome the Lombardi family into our home." Luca rubbed his jaw, his eyes every now and then wondering up to mine. " Please, let's be family and treat each other like one," Mrs. Berlusconi said. She looked at each one of us, " after all, we soon will be one big happy family." Mateo scoffed, earning a scowl from my mom. " Now, let's eat!" Mrs. Berlusconi exclaimed. The doors to the dinning hall immediately opened, the smell of delicious food flooded the room. Steam floated off trays placed down on the table. Looking around the room, I noticed that someone was missing. " Eat as much as you want, we always have more food," Mrs. Berlusconi informed us as our glasses were filled with champagne and a few with wine.

Alessandro looked at me and teased, " please don't make a scene while you drink that." Dante glared at him, making Alessandro chuckle softly before serving food onto his plate. " So, what is the Lombardi family up to?" Mrs. Berlusconi asked after sipping her wine. " Our business is escalating, work us hard but our boys are doing everything they can," my dad said. " I see, you have very handsome sons," Mrs. Berlusconi said smiling. Damien rolled his eyes, but only Diego, Mateo, and I noticed. " How's work going for you?" Mr. Berlusconi asked my father. " Great, but there's always minor casualties," my father informed. Mr. Berlusconi chuckled softly, " I'd be concerned if there wasn't."

I placed a piece of corn beef down onto my plate, as well as corn, salad, and watermelon. " So Evangeline," Mrs. Berlusconi suddenly said. All eyes averted to me, I carefully set down my fork as the attention was focused on me. " What do you do when the boys are out?" Mrs. Berlusconi asked. " I go to school," I simply said. " And, what exactly do you do there?" One of Mrs. Berlusconi's daughters asked. Mrs. Berlusconi chuckled softly, " Mya didn't mean to say it like that, did you?" Mrs. Berlusconi looked at Mya. " I enjoy school, I'm hoping to attend college after," I said. " College?" Mya said. I looked at her, " they haven't told you yet, have they?" Mya said staring at me. I swallowed, Luca grinning at his sisters comment.

" Something funny?" Diego asked sternly. Luca looked at Diego, clearing his throat before saying, " how long has your family been protecting your sister from the real world?" Diego clenched his jaw, "  I mean, listen at her, she wants to attend college," Luca said. His eyes averted over to me, forcing me to inhale deeply. " Okay, let's not start something we can't finish," Mrs. Berlusconi said smiling awkwardly. Diego glared at Luca, who kept his eyes glued on mine. " Nah, we can finish this," Diego simply said. Luca looked back at Diego, " why finish something when there's nothing to finish?" Luca just smiled, as if seeing Diego riled up amused him. " Okay, how is the food?" Mrs. Berlusconi said. She stood up, " I'm not hungry anymore," Diego said, eyes glued on Luca. I looked at Diego, all my brothers attention glued on Luca.

" Boys," my mom said sternly. I looked at Mya and her sisters before looking down at my lap. " I'll go get dessert," Mrs. Berlusconi said. And with that, she swiftly turned and headed out of the room. " You know how to fight, Evangeline?" Luca asked me. I looked at him, his eyes slowly moved off of Diego and onto me. " No, I don't," I simply said. Luca tilted his head to the side, " why not?" " That's enough Luca," Mr. Berlusconi ordered in a calming yet stern tone. Luca smirked before rubbing his jaw as he looked down at his plate. " Who the hell do you think you are?" Alessandro spat out. Luca lifted his head, his eyes averting onto Alessandro, " I can give you a formal introduction, if you want." Alessandro scoffed, " Luca," Mr. Berlusconi said sternly.

Luca winked at Alessandro just as the dinning hall doors opened. Butlers pushed aside food as they set down plates of cakes, pies, cookies, and other sweet assortments. " Is schooling all you do?" Gianna, one of the sisters asked me. " She likes to read, don't forget that," Luca teased. I looked at him, " you don't do schooling, I assume." All of my brothers held back snickering. Luca looked at me, slightly offended by my comment. " I've finished school, graduated if you wanted to know," Luca said keeping his eyes locked onto mine.

" This topic is being shut down," Mrs. Berlusconi said as the butlers exited the dinning hall. Luca's jaw was slightly clenched as he stared at me, I sat still in my seat as I stared back at him. " If we eat now, we can show our guests through the gardens," Mrs. Berlusconi informed. " That sounds like an amazing idea," my mom said. Grabbing a slice  of cherry pie, I set it down on my plate. Everyone dished out their plate, a new topic for a conversation grew. As I sat back and ate my food, I listened to everyone talk. After the tensed argument that happened mere seconds ago, I couldn't help but look at Luca. His dark eyes were so calm yet wild. His jaw seemed rested but clenched at the same time. His posture held dominance, yet he seemed utterly careless.

Right as he eyed me, I averted my attention to Mateo who was now talking. I had barely met Luca, let alone held up a decent conversation with him and I already knew this whole family thing with him was going to be a struggle.

                                             - - -
The gardens were an absolute dream, the hues of every flower glowed under the lights cemented into the ground. My parents and Mr. and Mrs. Berlusconi led the way as they talked to each other about business and work overall in Italy. Sofia, Julia, Isabella, Mya, Gianna all quietly walked behind their parents. I could feel Luca behind me, he stayed back with Giovanni and Leonardo, his brothers. Dante and Diego stood at my side as the rest of my brothers walked behind us. " I don't want you staying here alone," Dante said. I looked at him, " I don't have any other choice." " Yeah, you do," Diego said. He looked at me, " mom and dad won't let you stay," I informed them.

Diego looked at me, " I have this feeling you already met Luca." My insides instantly crumbled, " did you?" Dante asked. " He was in my room," I said. Diego and Dante looked at each other before looking back at me. " When?" Dante asked coolly. I was hesitant for a second, before saying, " after I took a shower." Without hesitation, Dante spun around and grabbed Luca by the collar of his shirt. " If you ever fucking touch me sister, I'll rip out your fucking throat!" My dad grabbed Dante by the arm, ripping him off Luca. Slightly taken aback, Luca covered his expression with a smirk. " What is wrong with you?" My mom asked harshly as she walked up to Dante. " Touch her or so call get her close to her again, and I'll kill you," Dante spat out.

Everyone had stoped and was staring at both Luca and Dante. Alessandro and my dad both had their hands on Dante's arm, keeping him back from Luca. " Luca please," Mrs. Berlusconi pleaded, slightly annoyance filling her tone. Fixing the collar of his shirt, Luca said, " you don't wanna start a fight in front of your sister, do you?" Dante kept his rage filled eyes glued on Luca, who was now smiling. " Okay, I think it's getting late," Mrs. Berlusconi said, forcing herself to smile. Mateo softly grabbed my arm, pulling me back to him and Damien. " Boys, take Evangeline back to her room," my mom instructed. Luca instantly looked at me, I inhaled deeply as I looked at him.

Damien walked in front as Mateo stayed behind me, Lucas eyes stayed on mine until I walked past him. A cold shiver slipped down my spine, making me fold my arms. " You guys don't have to walk me back to my room," I said. " Mom's orders," Damien said sternly. I looked up at the back of his head, " we're in Rome Eva, being alone isn't an exception," Damien said. I knew he wasn't mad at me, but it still felt like it. We followed the cobblestone path back up to the house. The moon hung high in the dark abise, stars glittered the sky. I knew Dante was just trying to protect me, but we weren't back at home. We we in a new surrounding, someone else's territory. The men in gangs here were stronger and didn't hesitate for a second to kill someone. So the chances of Dante getting hurt, let alone killed because he thinks he can take someone down was high, that was the one thing that scared me.