Her Five Protectors

TWENTY-SEVEN

The tiring study hours with Vittorio is harder than Athena could ever imagine. Hands down, Vittorio is a strict teacher even more than Alexander who brutally forces her to overuse her physical strength. Another week has been rolled on with the fast pace.

Athena's routine is usual. She wakes up at sharp 6 in the morning for her self defence session with Alexander. An hour later, she showers and gets ready for school. After the grand breakfast with her cousins, she goes to school and then after coming back she takes an hour's rest and then Romeo and sometimes Vittorio helps her in the studies. It depends on them whether they want it to be 2 hours or 3 hours.

The happiest moment of her life was when Romeo taught her how to write her name. The struggle of reaching this point from the far end of starting is totally worthy. On weekends, the brothers takes turns to take her out. Athena has seen many new things from the beautiful sunset to museum, art galleries that caught her keen interest and then malls and many new other places.

Then there is Ariana! Grounded for upcoming years and without any privilege of electronics, she is spending her life with a complete distaste and in boredom. Her schedule basically includes waking up at 3 in the morning and then direct cleaning her own room. After spending only better hours at school, she takes other remaining hours of her self defence class and then under supervision of Vincenzo himself or sometimes Luciano and Alexander she gives her whole attention to the studies.

Ariana absentmindedly nods at whatever Sarah is blabbering about but her eyes are fixed on Athena who is shyly trying to converse with Brittany and few of their other classmates. They are sitting in the cafeteria as it is the lunch break. Within few days, Athena has grown quite popular amongst the students.

Her brothers are also present in the same hall but they are sitting in different section.

"Ariana! Stephan is here." Max said loudly to gain her attention. Ariana's head snaps towards the direction of door from where Stephan is entering through. From since that day, it seemed like Stephan Riccardo vanished and today he is finally back. His sudden arrival alerted Ariana.

The rest of the curious students watches as he heads towards the second section of cafeteria where the university students usually sits. The day continues to go on slowly.

Athena quickly gathers her things as the last bell of the day rings. She glances in Ariana's direction but finds her already moving out of the class followed by Max and Sarah.

"Finally! The fucking day is over." Brittany rolls her eyes while scrolling through her phone. Athena follows her outside silently. After getting her things from her locker, she walks outside along with Brittany. Brittany departs her way towards her own car as Athena heads in the direction of her cousins cars.

"So how was your day?" Romeo asks both Ariana and Athena as he drives out from the school's entrance following Alexander and Vittorio's car.

"It was good."

"Boring as fuck!" They both replies at the same time.

"Give me your phone, Romeo! I want to listen to music." Ariana tells him but groans after seeing him shaking his head.

"You are not allowed." He says. Ariana rolls her eyes and bangs her head against the glass window dramatically. But she grins when Romeo starts the music in car.

"Thanks." She sighs.

Athena faintly smiles watching both of their actions. She leans her head against the window to stare outside while enjoying the music. Suddenly Romeo's phone rings. He pauses the music and answers his phone while still driving.

"Yeah Vittorio!" This catches both Ariana and Athena's attention. Suddenly his body stiffens that Ariana notices almost immediately.

"Alright!" Romeo says calmly and abruptly turns the car towards the dirt road. It doesn't take long for Ariana to understand what's happening but Athena seems confused watching the sudden change in air.

"Is everything alright?" She asks.

"It will be." Ariana assures her. It's the first time where Ariana directly interact Athena in this way.

"Ariana! Grab it." Romeo instructs. With a small nod of her head, Ariana quickly ducks down. Athena's eyes widens seeing a gun that appears in Ariana's hand. She looks in front to see Alexander's car slowing down letting their car pass by. His car is now at the back following theirs closely. That's when she notices 4 other black SUV's that are following their cars. But for some reason they doesn't look familiar like her cousins bodyguards cars.

"Duck down Athena and you too Ariana!" Romeo grabs the gun from Ariana's hand while ordering both of the girls. Ariana scowls at him but does as told. Athena hesitates a little but follows his words.

Romeo directly glances at her through the rearview mirror.

"Athena! Cover your ears." He tells her in a gentle tone and that's when Athena feels like their car jerk slightly. The bullets starts to hit their car rapidly. For Ariana it isn't the first time she is witnessing such scene. But Athena is basically stranger from these life threatening situations.

"Fuck!" Romeo curses under his breath struggling to balance his car as a bullet manage to pierce right through the wheel. He is forced to stop the car. One another gun magically appears in his second hand as swiftly he throw the door open.

"Stay inside." With that the doors locks trapping both Ariana and Athena inside.

"Athena! There is a gun under your seat. Take it out." Ariana tells Athena but hears no responding movements coming from her.

"Athena!" She looks back to see Athena shaking in fear as her body is curled into a ball.

"Athena! Don't be scared. Nothing's going to happen to us." She tried to confort her in a surprisingly soothing calm tone. But this doesn't cease the panic Athena is feeling.

Ariana sighs a little while getting in the backseat. She searches for the gun and within the another second, she is successful in finding it.

"Athena! You are going to fall sick if you continue crying." Ariana groans irritated and a little worried but flinches when a scary man pops out of nowhere in front of her vision. Ariana immediately grabs Athena's arm forcefully pulling her close to herself as the man start to shoot the window. When the glass didn't break, he starts to hit the glass with his gun trying to break it.

Ariana winces and Athena whimpers when a bullet is shot right through his forehead. The more she tries to control her gag in as she continue to stare at the man's blood that is splattered on the glass. This is going to be a bloody hell hour.

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