Garden of Roses

~Chapter 5~

/Vals POV/

Ooh shit, I kind of forgot about that, but it's fine. Just go along with it; it'll make this easier, right?

"Yeah, and what's wrong with that?" I say, No emotion in my face.

Alessio looks at me like I pissed in his Cheerios and says, "What's wrong with that? Are you being serious right now? You're basically dancing around in your underwear in front of a bunch of drunk men for what money, and don't even let me get to the fact that you also allow private sessions; you probably have some sort of disease from that."

Now I'm starting to get pissed he did not just say that to me and think it was okay. "Okay, and what is it to you? What I do to be able to get a living wage? You clearly have never had to struggle for anything, seeing as you're all millionaires," I say, raising my voice.

I can't let them see I'm lying; it'll cause too many questions, plus it'll work as a cover-up, so nobody suspects what I'm actually here to do. It'll ruin everything if they realize.

I calmed down and just walked to the room they gave me.

Flashback to earlier-

"Luigi, I need you to look something up for me. It's the address that Robert gave me last night. Let me know who owns the building and any other info you can find on it," I tell Luigi as I'm packing up my clothes.

He looks at me and nods while saying, "You know, Val, you can always count on me. I know you don't like to open up about your past or who he is, but I'll wait for whenever you're ready."

I know he cares deeply about me, but I can't open up. It hurts; nobody knows what really happened; it hurts too much, and I don't want to let the wound open.

~

I finish packing, and I get an email from the informant at base that Luigi asked to get me info about the address.

I open it and see the pdf of the building contract showing that it's being used as storage. I scroll to the end to see the owner's signature at the end.

Luca Luciano

This bitch is going to pay, but he won't know it till everything he loves disappears in the blink of an eye.

/Luca's POV/

We all sat there stunned. Nobody says a word as we process what she said.

It's my fault; it is all my fault if I had saved her. I know I was just 10 when she was taken, but I feel guilty. She could've grown up with us, with me to protect her, give her all the love she needs, and spoil my princess.

She isn't going to work there anymore; it isn't safe. Just thinking about it makes me furious. I'm going to give her all the things she deserves; she's my baby sister, for god's sake, and she became a stripper for money.

What Alessio said finally clicked, and I realize she needs to be taken to a doctor incase of-

Kicking me out of my thoughts, Mateo says, "Alessio, you could've been a bit nicer, don't you think?"

Alessio raises his voice and says, "Well, am I wrong for god's sake? Are we just gonna pretend it isn't true she is a stripper and she acts like nothing is wro-"

"Enough, Alessio, we all hate it as much as you do, but we don't know her reasons; we can't judge; we weren't there for her, but we are now, so tomorrow we take her to the doctor to get checked for anything, and it's final." I say interrupting their argument and walking out to my room.