Found and Forgotten

Chapter 27

Zeta POV

I know they know something when both Massimo and Enzo enter my room.

"How's your head Z?" Massimo asks.

"Better, but still hurts" I say.

"And it has nothing to do with the fact you've been crying?" Enzo asks. Shit. Has to bring the observant one.

"I don't know what you're talking about about." I'm not in the mood to explain. Maybe they'll get the hint. I doubt it though.

"Uh huh. And all of this is unrelated to your day out?" Massimo asks.

"Yup." Maybe being short is the way to go.

"Then why did you lie to Gianni that I told you to come home?" He asks. Dammit. I was hoping he didn't mention it. How am I going to get out of this?

Enzo POV

Zeta renses at Massimo's question, a clear tell something is wrong.

"I just was bored and wanted to leave" she says. Like we'd believe this.

I know it's risky to make her tell us, but her current state is concerning. Her eyes are so puffy that it's clear she cried for hours. She's super bundled up and I see her glancing down at her hands to make sure they're covered by her sleeves. Now that's weird. What is she hiding?

Massimo begins to speak, but I cut him off.

"Zeta, show me your hands" I demand.

"W-what? Why?" She stutters. Bingo.

"You know you can trust us. Just let us help you" Massimo reassures her while sitting next to her. He gestures for her arm, which she reluctantly gives. Maybe she's ready to tell us. Massimo rolls up her sleeve slightly and I'm both confused and angry.

"Why are your knuckles bruised?" I ask. "And don't lie" I add.

"I may have gotten into a fight earlier. Please don't be mad, it was self defense!" She's panicking. Her breathing has picked up. I calm myself down. I know her past makes her afraid of punishment.

"Zeta, we aren't mad. Just tell us what happened" Massimo reassures.

"At the skating rink. I went to the bathroom. I was at the sink when the door slammed open. Some creepy guy walked in and I froze."

I'm seething in anger. He better not have touched her. I'm going to kill him. But on the outside, I try to remain calm for my sister. I can tell Massimo is feeling the same. Zeta is getting more and more worked up by the second.

"I froze. Why the hell did I freeze? I was right back in my past."

"It's not your fault" I try reassuring her, but it was a pathetic attempt.

"He's right. You've been through a lot. It's not your fault for freezing. You should've never been in the situation" Massimo says.

"Can you tell us what happened after?" He's asks softly. That's the most soft spoken I've ever seen him.

She pauses before nodding. Her breathing quickens and tears start filling her eyes, making me fear the worst.

"H-he grabbed my throat and pinned me against the wall. He drove his knee into my hip so I couldn't move much." She starts.

My fist clenches and anger. How dare he touch her.

"He was touching all over my upper body. I was crying and felt like I couldn't move. Then he went to unbuckle my pants."

Tears start coming to my own eyes. I really hope this doesn't go further. Please tell me it didn't.

"That's when I punched him. He was surprised and stumbled back. I kept punching and punching untile he was unconscious in the floor. I ran outside and fixed myself up as good as I could and told Gianni you wanted us to leave."

I hate that this happened, but I'm so proud of her. She is so strong.

Massimo is hugging her as she cries, whispering that it's okay and how she is safe now.

"I'm proud of you, kid. He deserved worse" and he will get worse. I am going to torture him for the rest of his short life. And I know my brothers will too. Except Gianni, something isn't adding up here.

"One last question. Where was Gianni during this? That guy should've never made it to the bathroom if he was around."

She looks away telling me everything I need to know. He wasn't watching her. "I don't want to cause any more trouble between us. It wasn't his fault anyway." She said.

"Tell us the truth. It may not be his fault that guy attacked you, but he should of been watching you. You've gone through enough in life. Don't let anyone treat you bad. Even your brother" Massimo says.

She still hesitates, but after everything I don't think she's in the mood to hide anything. "We went ice skating, but not together. After getting skates, he went off with his friends and I was on my own. I saw him happy and laughing with his friends. I got upset that he didn't even want to try with me and felt very rejected. That's the whole reason I was in the bathroom. I didn't want to be upset in public" she reveals sadly. I'm going to kill him too. He could've prevented this. She looks so shaken, so broken. She didn't deserve this. I'm just glad it didn't go any further.

At this point, Zeta is curled into Massimo. Tears are still flowing as he comforts her. Massimo and I make eye contact. I nod at him and leave the room knowing he has this handled. I start making my way to the gym to release some anger when I see Gianni walking down the hall. I can't help the anger that rises within me.

I throw him up against the wall and hold him there. "how was ice skating with your friends? I really hope it was fun because your sister is crying up there." He seems a little shocked by my actions and words.

"That brat told on me" he quips.

I start laughing like a psycho path.

"She didn't want to. Didn't want you in trouble. We pried it out of her. When we went to check on her after dinner, she was basically shaking. Her eyes were puffy like she's been crying since you've been home."

His face goes to surprised again and he remains silent. I hit him against the wall again. "You want to know why?"

He doesn't say anything, but I continue. "While you were having a good time with your friends instead of your sister, some pervert was molesting her in the bathroom."

"W-what?" He says. Oh now he cares.

"You're lucky she fought him off before anything else happened you idiot. Or you'd be in the cells right now. I'm not kidding Gianni."

He looks upset. Is that guilt I see? I hope so.

"You've been nothing but a dick to her since she's been home. You want to know why she was in the bathroom?"

Again he doesn't speak, but it is clear he's listening. "She saw you laughing with your friends and was crying because of how much you hate her. How you rejected her on the one day you were supposed to spend together. You may not be responsible for his actions, but you are responsible for it happening."

I'm glad I see more guilt. Maybe this will finally make him see what he's doing.

"Be glad she doesn't want you hurt, because I'd love to use you as my personal punching bag right now. I don't care what our father told you about being better without her. She's here now so start acting like her older brother before it's too late, if it isn't already."

I give him one last push into the wall before storming off, leaving him alone to think about what he's done.