She's They're Princess

Part 9

DALILAH'S P.O.V.

As I walked out of the kitchen after doing my dish I felt content, I did not want someone else doing MY dish, it wouldn't make sense. However, something that doesn't sit with me quite right is the fact that when I walked out I showed it on my face.

I shouldn't have and I know it, but I couldn't help it, I'm happy. Not just from doing dishes but other things too.

I don't want to jinx it but I haven't been hit in like, a whole day!

With the goofy grin still on my face I walk over to where Bruno is, not daring to go to Alonzo, "Should we go, I'm sorry if I kept you up." I said losing my smile, of course, I kept them waiting, god I'm stupid.

"It's no problem, let's go." He said, grabbing my wrists to guide me. I was fine with being pulled and even giggled a little but when I noticed my sleeve going up I ripped it from him, fearfully pulling the sleeve down.

No trace of the smile that graced my lips  a second before.

Bruno looked at me hurt, and as I looked around I realized we'd reached our other brothers. They were looking at me confused so I tried curing the tension you could cut through with a knife.

"So-sorry it's re-really co-col-cold," I said stuttering nervous, they seemed to buy it.

"Stop goddamn stuttering and speak up," Niccolo said a bit too loud and I flinched,

I could feel my mind betraying me, and I feel myself drifting back to Luke and my worst nightmares
FLASHBACK

I woke up late that morning, unable to move. I skipped school and stayed in my corner, this was one of my worst beatings, also one of my first.

I had a pool of blood surrounding me but when I heard the deadbolt to the basement unlock I felt myself stand up, wobbly.

"BITCH WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO SKIP SCHOOL!" He screams I was too cocky back then and laughed, "You know your voice gets high pitched when you yell."

I was an idiot, and still am but not as much now.

"Oh, you wanna back huh?" He said coming up and back-handing me. "You need to be punished, darling."  He grabbed the whip out of the 'toy chest', "Get on your knees darling." he demanded and I felt tears burning my eyes and stinging in my nose.

"N-no Pl-pleas-please, I'LL BE GOOD!" I shouted at the end, I don't need this again, I can't take this again.

"Stop goddamn stuttering!" He shouted pulling me up and whipping me for hours.

END OF FLASHBACK

It felt like I could feel the stinging on my back like they were fresh. I was trying to scratch but I was held back.

I was in a car with all my brothers staring at me.

"Sorry," I whispered, that wasn't my worst one thank god I couldn't feel any tears down my face just scratches in my back.

"What happened?" I asked, "We were hoping you could answer that question." "Niccolo! You all of a sudden got dazed and headed to the car, we thought that meant you wanted to go so we followed, but then you started thrashing around and screamed a little. We pulled over and then you 'woke up' from your little trance."Marco answered for his brothers.

I hadn't even noticed Nicollo, and when I looked around I realized only Marco and Niccolo were in the car. "Sorry," I apologized again "It's okay bambina," Marco replied, looking at me through the review mirror. Niccolo went back to staring at the road as we started moving again.

"Where's Carlo?" I asked softly because he was the least intimidating of my brothers and I remember him running to the garage. Marco answered as expected "He went in a car with Bruno because not all of us could fit in a car.

I nodded staring out the window, as we pulled up to a huge mall.

I climbed out of the car, waiting for my brothers to do the same. Slowly they walked out of the car and I was super nervous. I don't have any money, how am I supposed to get school supplies?

As we walked in I saw Carlo and walked toward him, "What shops do you want to hit first?" He questioned, I looked around and shrugged "I don't know, where do you think we should start." He looked around and saw a big sign that said target.

He gained a really big smile and grabbed my arm "TARJEYYYYYYY!" He yelled and all my brothers face palmed as we ran toward the bid store, him because he was excited and me because I was trying to keep up.

We reached the large store and I think I can faintly remember coming to a story like this with Mom before she passed.

Carlo dragged me from aisle to aisle starting with the school supplies. I picked only the necessities because I only had emergency cash.

As I started heading to the check-out lane Carlo looked at me like I was insane. "Why are you checking out? You only have 'school' supplies." He spoke the word school like it physically pained him to speak of.

"I know but this is all I have money for," I told him and regained my walk to the cash register. "Well, dear sister it's a good thing we have Alonzo's credit card because I was actually worried that was all you wanted."

He grabbed my shoulders, trying to redirect me, and surprisingly I let him. I don't know why I don't feel guilty for spending someone else's money but it makes me feel bad about not feeling bad.

Carlo kept going through things and shoving them into the cart whenever I told him I dont have it. These things consisted of; Stanley, squish-mellows, LED lights, new tennis shoes, and skin care. A lot of other things were thrown in as well but it's too much to say and I'm having too much fun to mention it.

When we finish shopping we go to the checkout line, the cart is about halfway full and I feel super guilty watching the price meter go up.

After that we realize we haven't seen the others in a long while so Carlo tries calling them and they pick up on the first ring "Hey Carlo what's up." The phone responds I think It's Bruno because I have a feeling the other two would not answer that nicely. "We just finished up and got all the necessities, where are you?"

"Food court Marco was getting hungry as usual and made us stop, do you want us to get you something." I heard Bruno from the other end. Carlo gave them our order and hung up.

"Let's go," he said giving me a cheerful smile and I smiled back. As we were walking my feet started getting tired and it felt like I had run a marathon. I was falling way behind Carlo when I felt a different hand on my wrist.

I froze in my spot "Hey there beautiful," the man stopped, inhaling. "You sure are a pretty little thing, why don't you come with me." I regain my barrings and steam bloody murder. The creepy man clasps a hand over my mouth but it's too late because Carlo heard.

Carlo turns around and runs towards me and the man while the man tries pulling me away but before he can I grab Carlo's hand.

Carlo rips me away from the strange man and attacks him. He starts punching and punching and I stand there watching the scene in front of me.

I gathered my bearings and pulled Carlo off of the man before he could kill him, the man was definitely dazed.

When he was up he had a crazed look in his eye, I didn't know what to do so I hugged him. He accepted the hug as soon as it was given and I could feel the tension releasing from him the longer I held on.

My arms were wrapped around his neck and he was supporting me by holding my waist. My 5'2" scrawny frame didn't even compare to his large muscular one, but that made me feel so safe.

The hug ended sooner than I'd hoped and I remembered the guy on the ground, I looked over and noticed him being hoisted up by some of the guard-looking people that surround our house.

He looks at me again "How about a piggyback." he suggests, to which I graciously agree still a little panicky from what just happened.

As we approach my other brothers they all look at us worried. Carlo sets me down on my own two feet and Bruno rushes to hug me. It isn't as magical as Carlo and I's but I still adored the physical contact.

I think I like it here.