Aurora Costello.

Chapter 32

Asher's PoV-

I am struggling to remember that this is my baby sister standing in front of me and not a random from the street that happens to look exactly like her.

I haven't spoken in years, out of choice but also out of the fear that if I did speak, I wouldn't be heard.

But I swear to every god up there, if this family keeps giving my baby that look, I will raise hell.

Except I too am giving her a look of horror. Not because of her actions, but because I didn't notice. She was running a freaking mafia, how the hell did none of us see that?

And the Russian mafia? The mafia that in the space of 5 months took over five or was it six of the most powerful mafia's in the world and became the queen of the underworld? The same 5 months in which Rory was gone?

I wonder if anyone else has realised this information in the midst of their anger for their daughter, sister, cousin, niece and granddaughter.

I go to open my mouth, if it's for my sister I'll talk a whole damn speech. But before I can even register what I want to say to her, she's gone.

She left.

Again.

... why am I even surprised?

I know how Rory's brain works, she may think she's good at hiding it, but my brain works pretty darn similar.

Those looks we where all giving her? She's going to have thought we where horrified by her. She's going to see herself as a failure for not being what we had all imagined her to be when we where all younger.

But what she doesn't know, is I would die for her. I would do anything for my hermana. She's my life, my little love and my soul.

This girl will be the death of me.

I hear the door slam shut and a few seconds later the roar of her bike blazes through the silence. Nonno chuckles. What is funny?

"The hell you laughing at old man?" Uncle Federico snarls at Nonno.

"Call me old again." Nonno spits at his youngest son.

Uncle rico shells up and looks away, "thats what I thought idioto" nonno chuckles again this time leaving any eminence of humour.

"You idiots couldn't think of anything to do other than stare at the poor girl?" He says in his gruff Italian don voice.

He's not the don, he hasn't been for a long time, none of our grandparents have but when they get mad, they put on the voice they used to use on their soldiers. Their don voices.

"6 months she was 'dead' for and none of you stopped crying and pitying yourselves. Now she's back, and you didn't comfort her or tell her how much you had all missed her, instead; you all drive her further away. Well done truly, A* for pure idiocy" he snarls clapping slowly, tauntingly.

One thing about Nonno? He's the king of sarcasm and he does not care how his sarcasm or blunt attitude may hurt a persons heart. He simply has no filter.

7 hours.

It's the next morning now, everyone went to bed shortly after nonno's little speech. I don't think anyone actually slept, I for one just stared at my ceiling waiting for my baby to come home.

She never did though.

And now we're all in the kitchen in silence. Waiting for that door to open and our 5'3 killer princess to walk in.

Aurora's PoV. -

1hour later.

I woke up with a banging headache, it was probably my body rejecting the shit that I was gonna have to explain to all my friends and family.

I made my bed and immediately got ready for the day, choosing comfort over looks I tied my hair into a ponytail, chucked a hoodie and leggings on with my Uggs. Putting my glasses on, yes I now have glasses, thanks to the lovely scar I have on my eye, that eye is now partially closed and therefore I can't see much, as for my other eye, I have never had 20/20 vision it just never got noticed because I had much bigger fish to fry.

Making my way downstairs I greet everyone good morning. I make a hot chocolate and head outside to see the pond and the flowers. The main reason I bought this house in particular? I wanted somewhere to breathe. What better place to stay in tune with my emotions than in my very own flower garden?

I sit down sipping on the hot chocolate and taking some breaths. I feel a presence coming towards me, I don't have to look to know who it is. Mainly because of the butterflies that erupt in my stomach as soon as I smell his sandalwood scent.

He sits down and moments of silence pass us by "you know" he starts in a husky morning voice that makes me want to kiss him "I don't know you very well, but your reputation proceeds you, you are strong and very fucking powerful. You may act like it isn't but I know what your family and friends think of you is your soul reason for still being here, tell them the truth, tell them everything. They love you, all of them in their own special way Aurora. Have faith in them. And if anyone says anything out of line. Show them who you are." He says as he leans back on the bench, pushes his hips up and man spreads, his knee brushing mine. I know my face is beet red right now but I don't look at him as I stare at the rose section in my garden.

"You know, when I was younger, I was trapped and locked away, only allowed to leave the house for school and some days I'd never even make it as far as out of my basement I was forced to call my room. But one time, Lucas and Leo, they ditched school with me. We spent the day together and we passed a field of flowers. I got out and we spent hours picking one of each flower making it into a massive bouquet. I will never ever forget the joy I felt of having all those flowers in my small frail hands. It felt right. It was the first and probably last time I truly felt young and free. Maybe in my next life I'll be a florist" I say as I pick a daisy starting off a chain, "I used to dream about having a garden with every flower you could ever dream of. This is my first step" I say longingly nodding towards my flower patches "it's not much yet, but it will be. I'm free from the chains of my kidnappers and I will never take my freedom of choice for granted." I finish with a small ghost smile.

Blade doesn't answer, he helps me with my daisy chain.

"What's your favourite flowers?" He asks lowly.

"Pink dahlias" I say with no hesitation. All time favourite flowers ever.

He nods with a small genuine smile his dimples deepening "I will keep that in mind" he says.

"Come on, the others are dying to speak to you after six months, and your family are probably going out of their minds" he says holding his hand out for me to take.

I roll my eyes and stand up staring at his outstretched hand.

"I may have opened up to you a bit but I need no man" I say confidently only half joking.

"Yes ma'am" he chuckles from behind me.

Mhm at least he knows.