Lissy Romano
I walked out of the house with my godfather by my side and Jax cradled in my arms. With each step toward the black Jeep, I felt a strange mix of excitement and longing.
Physically, I felt better. Mentally too. I wasn't running from my past anymore, and while I wasn't eager to relive it, I wasn't letting it control me either.
So, after what felt like hours of begging, I convinced my brothers to let me spend more time with Federico. They finally caved. And now, here I was, heading to the place my dad and godfather grew up. Federico's private jet was waiting to whisk us away.
Things were finally shifting between my brothers and Federico. After everything he'd done for us, they couldn't deny the trust he'd earned. Their once-icy exchanges had softened into real conversations, and they were finally starting to understand one another. It was a change I never thought I'd see.
I said goodbye to my brothers earlier, but of course, that didn't mean they were just going to let me walk away without supervision. They were all standing outside now, watching me like hawks as Federico and I made our way to the car.
Federico opened the door for me and Jax. Just as I was settling Jax into the backseat, I heard Santino call my name. I turned just in time to be swept into his strong, familiar embrace. He held me tightly, his presence as comforting as always.
"I love you," he said softly, and I couldn't help but smile.
"I love you too, brother," I replied, looking up at him.
"I'll just give you two a moment," Federico said, excusing himself to the driver's seat.
"Remember what I told you, huh?" Santino asked, raising his brows expectantly.
I grinned, pretending not to know. "What rules?" I teased, though I knew exactly what he was talking about.
"I knew I should've written them down," he muttered, pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket. Before I could say anything, the rest of my brothers joined us, standing nearby like a protective wall.
"Are you serious right now?" I asked, staring at the paper as he handed it to me.
"Read it," he commanded in that stern, older-brother tone.
I rolled my eyes but obliged. "Rules I have to follow," I began, sighing dramatically.
"Keep going," Santino prompted, pointing at the list.
"Number one: Call my brothers every half an hour," I read aloud. I paused. "What if I'm sleeping?" I asked, smirking.
"Don't test us," Vincenzo warned, his voice deep and authoritative.
"Fine, fine." I moved on. "Number two: Don't talk to strangers, especially men." I gave Santino a look like he'd lost his mind.
"What?" he asked defensively, resting a hand on my shoulder.
"That's a dumb rule. Like I'd willingly talk to creeps," I said, cringing at the mere thought.
"Good girl," Dante said, a proud smile spreading across his face.
"Number three..." I hesitated, my cheeks heating up. "No drinking, partying, sneaking out, lying, getting high on drugs, or... making out with boys."
"Understood?" Domenico asked, crossing his arms and staring me down.
I tilted my head. "Do I look dumb?" I asked with a cheeky grin. Before anyone could answer, I quickly added, "Don't even say it."
"Do. You. Understand?" Davide pressed, his tone sharp.
"Yeah, yeah," I said, waving him off. Then, just to mess with them, I quipped, "But you didn't say anything about girls."
Their faces dropped in unison. It took everything in me not to laugh.
"Bring me a pen," Santino barked at the guard standing by the house.
"It's not that bad," Matteo chimed in. "At least she can't get pregnant from a girl, right?"
"Shut up," Giovanni snapped, shoving Matteo hard enough to make him wince.
"Number four: Think rationally in every situation," I read next. "You should really take your own advice," I muttered under my breath, shooting them a pointed look.
"Mean," Enzo mumbled.
"And finally, number five..." I paused as my heart softened. "Having fun and a good time is a must. Enjoy yourself, and remember that your eight brothers love you to the core. If something happens, don't hesitate to call us. We'll be there as fast as we can."
I looked up, my eyes stinging slightly. "Thank you," I said softly, smiling at them.
"We love you," they all said, one by one, and Santino pulled me into another tight hug.
One by one, they followed, wrapping me in their arms. Vincenzo was the last, and as he hugged me, he whispered, "I'll be waiting for you to come home, okay?"
I nodded, resting my head against his chest as he kissed the top of my head.
Just as I was about to finally get into the Jeep, Giovanni pulled me into one more hug. "Promise me you'll come back," he said, his voice low and earnest.
"I promise," I reassured him. "I love you all too much to stay away."
"Don't forget the rules, baby," Giovanni said, smirking.
"You're really not going to let this go, are you?" I asked, laughing as Santino practically shouted at the guard to hurry up with a pen. Poor guy looked like he'd run a marathon.
Santino snatched the pen, added or girls next to rule three, and handed the paper back to me with a sigh. "There. Fixed."
Dante grinned. "See? We save all our kindness for you, Lissy."
Federico leaned out the driver's side window. "Okay, boys. We really have to go."
"You better take care of her," Davide said darkly, glaring at him.
As I waved goodbye, Santino yelled, "Don't forget the rules!" and shoved the paper back through the window. I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop smiling.
I leaned out of the window as Federico drove away, waving at my brothers one last time. They stood there, watching until we disappeared from sight.
Me too, bros. Me too.
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Lissy Romano
AçãoFourteen years old girl named Elizabeth Romano lived with her father until he got killed, only then she learned that he wasn't her real dad. Elizabeth...called Lissy for short, finds out that she was kidnapped when she was little and that she actual...
