Her Five Brothers

Chapter 17 - Alexander

Aspen: TW

I woke up in my bed, covered in multiple blankets and a cold cloth spread across my forehead. I let out a sigh of relief as the nagging headache slowly starts to fade. Rolling my neck, I sit up and push my pillows behind me.

My head spins for a little and i think hard, trying to recollect all my facts.

Alexander is a Don of a mafia.
Tiffany is the step-daughter of the Spanish Mafia Don.
My brothers, my sweet brothers, are murders.
So are their friends.
Even Ace, who is undeniably gorgeous.

I huff out a breath, i need more information. Mafia's include murdering innocents, rape, human trafficking. Everything that goes against ones moral compass. People in the mafia are ruthless, merciless and terrifying.

My brother's are not. Yes, Axel and Alexander can be a little intimidating but never incredibly threatening. Even when Axel "threatened" me, i wasn't scared. He didn't radiate the same power Adam did as an abuser.

Imagining the boys as another other than sweet and gentle is insane in my mind. Lorenzo, only seventeen, the most bubbly and energetic boy you'll ever meet. Elijah, a doctor, someone who saves peoples lives.

It just doesn't add up.

And if my brothers are human trafficking in their mafia, what is stopping them from sending me away. What if this is all a plan to lure me in, force me to feel safe and let my guard down, only to hurt me. To abuse me.

I'm no match for them. I wasn't even a match for Tiffany. I threw one hit and cried like a baby, it was pathetic. I'm not even sure if I hit Tiffany either, it could've been the fucking table by the looks of my knuckles.

"Bambina?" A voice calls from outside the door. Alexander. Don.

My body shrinks into itself, almost sensing the danger of what truly could lie behind Alexander's nature.

"Are you okay? Can i come in?"

I panic, they can't find me suspicious. That will only cause them to break this facade sooner. I've got to cling to their softness for as long as possible.

I clear my throat. "Yeah." I call gently.

The door slowly creeks open, Alexander's large body entering and closing the door behind him.

"How you feeling?" He asks.

"Fine." I say blandly. All i want is to crawl into his lap and cry. I want my big brother to hold me, to comfort me. He doesn't feel dangerous. He doesn't seem like the type of guy to kill innocents, to sell young children and adults to a permanent hell.

"It's okay to not feel okay. Tiffany was completely out of line, grabbing you and calling you that name. You aren't what she said or what he called you either." He sits on the edge of the bed, reaching his hand out.

I hold it. It's not possible for my brothers to commit such heinous acts. I refuse to believe they are like Adam, i can't let it play on my mind.

He sends me a small smile when my fingers meet his. "I know i'm not. When she called me a slut-" he cringes, "it pulled me right back into that room with him on that night when he carved that very word into my skin." I let out a large breath of air. "I wasn't scared of Tiffany or what she could do, i'm positive that i've survived worse. I was scared that he'd come back." I confess, squeezing his hand gently when i see the pain etched on his face. An expression that mirrors my own.

"You don't have to fear him any more. He's dead, he's gone. He will never ever touch you again." Alexander looks me dead in the eyes. "Even if he was alive, he'd not get by me. Your brothers and I would go further than the sun to protect you from predators like him."

His cold demeanour slips through his facade and for a split second, i see it. I see the man i refused to believe he was. The anger, the threat, the pure malice. And yet, i was not scared, not threatened by the callous look behind his eyes. It comforts me, he and the rest would protect me from harm.

I trust him. I trust my older brother, Don or not. Some mafias disapprove of rape, human trafficking and everything like that. Alexander must be one of them and his reaction to my next words will tell me all i need to know.

"Alexander?" I say after a moment of silence, already regretting my next words.

"Yes, bambina?"

"Adam did more than physically abuse me." I whisper out but his snaps up quickly.

"What did he do?" He asks, eyebrows drawn together in pain as if he already knows the answer.

"He'd rape me. Sexually tortured me. Left hickeys all over my neck. He took my first kiss and everything after that." I pull my top down slightly, showing only a small portion of Adam's markings. Alexander's eyes go dark, staring at the bruises as if they'd magically disappear. I pull the top back up.

My eyes find my finger nails, which i'm aggressively picking at while the temperature in the room drops considerably. Tears gather in my eyes but i hold them back. I don't want him to be disappointed in me.

After five minutes of complete silence and Alexander tightly holding my hand, i glance up.

My oldest brother, the father figure of this family, the strongest man i know, is sobbing his heart out. His eyes are red and raw, tears tracking down his cheeks and staining his shirt. His other hand is pressed firmly against his mouth as he chokes on silent tears.

I guess Josh was right, i did have him crying like a baby in no time.

I wonder when Josh will come visit.

I swallow the lump in my throat. This is too real for it to be a facade. This man truly loves and cares for me. This is not a man who intentionally forces children and women to succumb beneath them. He's not one to hurt people who don't deserve to be hurt.

"Al?" His glassy eyes meet mine, the pure agony on his face causes my gut to wrench.

"I'm so sorry, bambina." He trembles out. "I love you so much and i'm very proud of you. You're so strong and brave, you've made it so far."

It took me less than a second to launch myself into his lap and surround myself in his arms. He reacts immediately, pulling me close to his chest. I need this, i need him.

He rocks me gently for a while, whispering reassurances in my ear. My head is tucked under his chin, his large hands softly holding me as if he's scared his strength will crush me.

After we both have collected ourselves I turn to him, wanting to bypass this depressing mood.

"Who did I punch?" I ask, tilting my head to the right.

Alexander barks out a laugh. "Ace! But don't worry, Tiffany won't be bothering you again."

"Oh god." I groan out.

"He and their other friends are downstairs if you want to see the bruise." He stands up, walking out the door.

"BRUISE??" I yell in shock.

I hear his laughter down the hall.