VENGEANCE.

nineteen

luca romano

It's been a month since Natalia got taken. All of us stayed up all day and night, trying to track her down but it's hard. Maxim is a sly bastard which means unless our attack is unexpected, we won't be able to take back Natalia.

Natalia's disappearance took a big toll on Andreas, eyebags started appearing on his face. Same with the rest of my brothers. Somehow, I managed to get closer to the Herod triplets (even though Atlas was already a friend of mine.)

Both Apollo and Athena would share stories of Natalia when she was younger and I couldn't help but feel sad that I wasn't there growing up with my twin sister.

Yet, this was not the time to reminisce. Even though I wasn't with her back then, I promised to myself that I would be with her from now on.

After we rescue her, that is.

We had multiple leads but each of them turned out to be a dead end and there's a gut feeling in me that someone close is giving our findings away or telling Maxim where we are.

And each day, my feelings lead me to Aunt Cecilia.

Even after that one fateful day, no one in the family dared to officially disown Aunt Cecilia and Kira from our family. And there was something about the way that they have been acting with their mischievous smirks and glances throughout dinner that sets me off.

Regardless, I am unable to bring it up to the family as what if all my findings turn out to be wrong? But I know that Silas has the same thoughts as me which is why we are currently exchanging glances during dinner.

"Do you think....?" Silas questioned, eyes fixated on his food, voice barely above a whisper for no one else but me to hear.

I nodded in agreement before darting my gaze to the mother and daughter duo who are in their own worlds.

"Any leads on Natalia?" Andreas asked, causing a silence to engulf the entire table.

No one spoke until a voice spoke up.

"I don't know why we're still looking for her when it's been close to two months," Kira muttered under her breath, thinking that no one heard her. "It's not like you guys will find her with how I keep giving the wrong lead."

Dante, who had been sitting beside her, suddenly perked up.

"What did you say?" Dante asked, glaring at Kira.

"Nothing," she scoffed.

"Repeat it loudly or I'll shoot," Dante stated, calmly.

"I just said that I don't know why we're still looking for her when it's been close to two months." she repeated, timidly.

I slammed my fists on the table, causing everyone to look at me.

"You are not even close to replacing Natalia so I don't know who gave you the right to speak about her like this," I growled.

"You're just a mere adopted child so don't come walking in here like you're the only princess in our family," I stated, glaring at her with intense fury before turning around, preparing to leave.

"Even if I'm adopted, my blood is still legally Romano," she retorted.

Aunt Cecilia who had been sitting beside her suddenly shushed her, "You aren't supposed to tell them that," she muttered.

"Tell us what?" Uncle Salvatore stepped up.

"Antonio is my da–," she blurted out before her mouth was covered by Aunt Cecilia.