after they met her

thirty

i v a n a

As we walked into the house, I felt like I should run into my room, hide and never show up infront of anyone ever again.

I could already picture it, my brothers will be absolutely thrilled to hear our father's plan.

But as soon as I stepped into the living room, the atmosphere changed.

Everyone was lounging around lazily, but the moment they saw me, they lit up like happy puppies.

"Ivana!" Asher exclaimed, sitting up straighter.

I couldn't smile back at him.

Matthew noticed immediately that something was wrong. He walked up, crouching down to me, his eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong?" he asked surprised.

His hand gently petting my head.

Before I could answer, my father entered the room. He was greeted by Logan, and Gray, who all acknowledged him with respect. He took his seat, the head of the family, and cleared his throat.

"I have great news," he began, his voice carrying an air of authority. He then explained his plan about taking me to the ball and especially engaging me to someone.

„It will be the perfect solution, if she is away from us-. If we distance her from us, there will be no further assassination attack." he beamed proudly. „We just have to act as if we do not care for her at the ball. So our enemies will think she isn't worth as a bait."

The room fell silent for a moment, and then chaos erupted.

Gray's face turned a deep shade of red, his veins standing out prominently on his neck and temples. His jaw clenched, and his hands balled into fists. "Are you serious?" he hissed, his voice deep. „We just found her and now we are supposed to just give her away to someone?"

Matthew and Asher exchanged looks of pure disgust, their expressions mirroring each other's revulsion. Asher's lip curled as if he'd tasted something bitter, and Matthew shook his head slowly, unable to comprehend what he was hearing.

Logan was the first to speak his mind directly. "Ew, what the fuck?" he blurted out, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Our father's face darkened instantly. "Watch your language, Logan," he snapped. "Show some respect."

"Respect?" Logan shot back, his voice rising. "You want to sell Ivana off like a piece of property and you expect me to respect that?"

Gray stepped forward, his face contorted with anger. "This is insane, Dad. You can't just decide something like this without my permission. She's not ready for anything related to the Mafia."

"Gray, you will not speak to me in that tone," our father barked, standing up and glaring at his eldest son. "You may have stepped into my shoes, but I am still the head of the family. This is my decision, and I expect you all to support it."

Asher crossed his arms over his chest, his face still twisted in disgust. "How can you even think this is a good idea? What if it shoots back? Ivana deserves a chance of a happy life. I don't even want her to marry someone from our line of work."

Matthew, usually the calmest of us, was visibly shaking with anger. "Dad, this isn't the way to secure her future. This is wrong. How can you look at her and think about marriage? She's a child!"

I stood there, watching the scene unfold, I was shocked. Shocked at the plan my father had laid out, and shocked that my brothers were standing up for me this time. The last time our father ridiculed me, they had been silent, but now they were vocal, their protective instincts flaring up.