Silence

6

Just as suddenly as the silence fell, yelling consumes the room - which feels like it's getting smaller by the second.

"The actual fuck!"

"She needs a doctor, Luc!"'

"Giuro quando metto le mani su questo figlio di puttana"

(I swear when I get my hands on this motherfucker)

"Where does it hurt? Are you alright sweetie?"

"Who did this to you. Tell me what bastard had the audacity to lay his fucking hands on you!"

"All of you, be quiet!"

The final statement is made by Mason and it's the only one I'm thankful for. The air I'm desperately trying to inhale is no longer reaching my lungs and I'm begging for this all to be over, but of course it's only just begun.

"Ember sweetie you need to breathe okay, you're safe - no one is angry at you bambina" Will says as he pulls my head up to his heartbeat where slowly, with a lot of guidance from Lucas, I start to regain my breath. I stay with my head pressed to his chest as I hear my brothers converse over what to do next, but to me it sounds like they're millions of miles away.

"Ember, I'm going to help you take this jumper right off so Luc can have a proper look at your back okay?" Mason instructs as he pulls my jumper over my head leaving me in just a sports bra and joggers. All my brothers inhale sharply at the same time and begin to mutter to each other again. Another spell of silence falls over the room as Lucas starts gently running his fingers over my back to assess the damage. Once he's finished, Will adjusts me slightly so now my back is pressed up against him, allowing Lucas to check my ribs and study the marks running up my stomach.

"A lot of these cuts are infected, especially some of the lashes on her back but I don't think her ribs are broken, just badly bruised." he concludes, "are you hurt anywhere else stellina?"

I shake my head shyly, burying my face back into Will who's acting as my main source of comfort right now. Kieran and Jaxon whisper something between themselves, glancing sceptically at me until Aiden nudges them to shut up as he comes back into the room, handing Lucas what looks like a bigger version of the first aid kit in my bathroom.

"okay, if you're sure sweetie. I'm just going to quickly clean and bandage some of the deeper wounds if that's alright?" I don't bother answering, knowing it's going to happen whether I want it to or not, and sure enough Will turns me to one side leaving Lucas full access to my stomach, ribs and back. I wince harshly as Lucas generously sprays some sort of antiseptic onto both my stomach and back. He then tightly bandages these areas and wraps my ribs, smiling sadly when I flinch away.

Once he's finished, Will shifts me slightly in his lap again so I have no choice but to look at Mason who has taken Lucas' spot, crouched directly in front of me. My heart begins to pound against my chest again and I guess Will must feel the tension shooting through my body as he kisses me softly on top of my head,

"I think it's time for you to tell us the truth Emmy" To this I offer nothing, not even a nod of my head, which makes a heavy sigh escape from Mason's mouth. "How about I ask the question and you either nod your head yes or shake your head no". This time the sigh leaves my mouth and I shrug in agreement, knowing there's no way I can escape this conversation - I'll just have to be careful with what I say.

"Someone's been hurting you." I don't reply - it's technically not a question.

"Has someone been hurting you Em?" This time I nod slightly.

"Was it someone at school? " I nod again, Steven became my teacher after I came home late from school one too many times, so technically it's not a lie.

"Wasn't she home-schooled Mase? Lucas asks. I roll my eyes internally, why did he have to bring that up.

"It wasn't Steven was it?" I stay completely still - I thought they'd take longer to get it.

"Answer me please Ember, was Steven the one hurting you? I shrug, then at the look in Mason's eyes, nod hesitantly. A huge bang makes me flinch. It's Kieran punching a nearby wall - hard enough to make a dent. At a look from our oldest brother, Aiden guides his twin out, murmuring something in his ear.

"He did all this by himself?" I nod - Steven doesn't like to share.

"Did he ever -" I nod, my smallest one yet but the fastest. I don't want him to say the word.

"Il fottuto bastardo!" (the fucking bastard!) Jaxon yells and then is quickly led out by Lucas, offering a lot more resistance then Kieran did. 4 down, 3 to go.

What Mason does next takes me by surprise. Instead of asking more questions, he just carefully takes my hands into his own, stopping me from digging my nails into my palm. Behind me, Will has his head buried into my hair. Alex stands in front of me, tears in his eyes. They're holding me so tenderly, like I'd break or disappear if they used too much force. This is one of the first times I don't flinch away from their touch, instead embracing it, using their strength as my own.