Lissy Romano

18| So much.

Lissy Romano

"I'm sorry, sorellina..." Domenico said, his eyes filled with pity.

That was the last thing I wanted. I didn't want their pity, I didn't want them to look at me like I was fragile. I wanted them to treat me the way they did when I first arrived—mean, indifferent—because that was what I deserved.

I didn't want their kindness. I wanted to be seen as normal, as strong. If they started looking at me like I was broken, they would never love me. They'd never try to get to know the real me.

"Lissy, it's going to be okay," Davide said as he sat beside me, gently placing his hand on my head and pulling me into a hug.

At least I have Davide and Santino. They are the only ones who truly get me.

"Lissy, we love you. We're proud of you, and we'll never look at you differently," Vincenzo said in his deep, comforting voice, locking eyes with me.

"But I don't deserve your love," I murmured, my voice cracking. "I'm not worthy of it."

"Lissy," Vincenzo replied, his voice sincere, "You deserve the best this world has to offer. I haven't met anyone who deserves it more than you."

"But that's the problem," I whispered. "You think I'm kind, you think I'm positive, but deep inside, I'm just... what he said I am. I'm just a little, disappointing slut."

Tears began to fall from my eyes, and soon my lips started to tremble.

"Why the fuck do you keep saying that?" Matteo yelled in pure rage, his anger directed at me. But I didn't deserve anything better.

"Leave. Now," Vincenzo said calmly, but with a fury in his eyes that suggested he was ready to throw Matteo to the sharks.

"Whatever..." Matteo snapped, slamming the door behind him as he stormed out.

"Don't listen to him," Domenico said, standing up and walking to the table to pour himself a glass of whiskey. "He's just nervous... he doesn't know how to express his emotions. Still, it's no excuse. I'm sorry for what he said."

I didn't even care about Matteo anymore.

"Lissy, how can we help you?" Giovanni asked, his eyes searching mine, trying to understand my pain.

"Stop loving me so much," I said, my voice laced with regret. I didn't mean it.

"Lissy, there's no way we'll ever love you any less than we do right now. In fact, with each passing day, our love for you only grows stronger," Santino said as he kissed my forehead.

"About that bastard... what else did he do to you?" Enzo asked, his eyes darkening as his smile faded.

I froze. I didn't want to talk about it. I couldn't. But they kept pushing.

"He touched you?" Enzo asked, his jaw clenched.

I didn't even know how to respond. Would it matter? Would it change anything?

Everyone waited for me to answer. My mind raced, but I couldn't find the words. He didn't rape me. But sometimes he touched me where no one should ever touch a child. He said things to me that no one should ever hear.