Love Me (very slow updates)

Ch 3 |•| anything and everything

Clara bit her lip nervously as she sat Infront of Lorenzo's piercing gaze. He stared at her emotionlessly. They had been sat in silence for a while and the girls anxiety was only getting worse and worse. She hated it. She felt as though Lorenzo was uncovering her deepest secrets, reaching into the farthest parts of her mind. What he was looking for, she had no idea.

Lorenzo was analysing her. He didn't mean to it was just a habit. He was raised to analyse everyone from head to toe. It wasn't as if he was purposely trying to discomfort his sister.

"Uhm did you need anything?" Clara finally mustered up the courage to mumble, not able to take the silence any longer. That seemed to snap Lorenzo out of his thoughts as he cleared his throat before straightening up.

"How's your shoulder?" Was the first thing he asked. Lorenzo was not stupid. Clara's bruise was far too dark and too prominent to be the work of the man. He would still deal with him nonetheless. But someone else had given it to her. As desperate as he was to find out and stop the person's heartbeat, he knew his sister was already scared of him. He wasn't going to add to that by forcing her to share her life story. Besides they hadn't even formally met yet.

"I- it's fine." Clara said looking down at her hands as if they were the most interesting things in the world.lorwnzo nodded before also looking down at the table. An akward silence encased the room as he wasn't exactly sure how to go about this conversation. Lorenzo could kill 10 men with his eyes closed. Or destroy a nation in a matter of minutes. But he couldn't for the life of him figure out how to talk to his 12 year old sister.

He cleared his throat before looking up at Clara who's nerves were off the charts. "Right well I'm your oldest brother Lorenzo." He said making her nod. "I've got a few rules for you." Clara's head snapped up as her heart picked up exponentially. This was it. She would break the rules and they'd hit her.

"It's nothing too bad just that I want you to respect your brother's. We'll respect you as long as you respect us. No backtalk. I want you to keep good grades. I've seen your last school grades and I'm sure you can do better. No boyfriends or girlfriends. You're still young so focus on your education. Tell us if you're going anywhere. And most importantly never ever go up to the third floor. it's where we conduct our business and I don't want you up there as you might distract my workers." He said before taking a breath.

Clara only stared at him stunned. That was it? She sat silently for a moment expecting him to say more but he didn't. That was really it?

"Am I understood?" Lorenzo asked after a moment. Clara modded her head quickly. "We prefer verbal answers Clara. Just so we understand you properly." He said making Clara tense up.

"Yes." She whispered out.

"Yes what?"

"Yes I understand." Clara said running through the rules in her head. She couldn't forget them. She wouldn't forget them. She'd follow their rules perfectly and they wouldn't hurt her.

"Right well moving on. Since I'm sure you're still mourning the loss of your step father I won't force you into school just yet but you start next Monday." Clara nodded before remembering his rule.

"Okay." She said.

"You're going shopping with Andreas and Emilio later on today seeming as you came with so little. You'll also hopefully get school supplies." He said looking at her so intently she couldn't bare it. Clara quickly lowered her eyes trying her hardest to avoid eye contact. She didn't like the way he looked at her. It scared her. He looked at her like a predator would look at their prey. Clara was wary around Lorenzo constantly waiting for him to snap and hit her. It was bound to happen. Niceties never last.