~The lost one~

Chapter 18

**Simi's POV**

I took another bite of my sandwich(lol), savoring the taste as if it were the best thing I'd ever eaten. Maybe it was because I hadn't had a proper meal in what felt like forever, or maybe it was just that this sandwich was actually that good. The bread was soft, the cheese perfectly melted, and the flavors blended together in a way that made me forget, even for a moment, about everything else that was happening. I practically inhaled the rest of it, licking the crumbs off my fingers when I was done.

Just as I was finishing the last bite, Officer Steffan cleared his throat. I looked up at him, his expression more serious than before.

"Simi," he began, his voice gentle but firm, "we've located your real father, and apparently... you have brothers."

I froze, mid-chew, my mind racing. It was true—I had a real father out there somewhere. The knowledge hit me like a ton of bricks. I almost forgot he existed, tucked away in some distant part of my memory where I'd hidden all the things that hurt too much to think about. But now, it all came rushing back. My heart started pounding in my chest as the realization settled in.

Wait. If they found him... that means I have to go live with him. The thought was jarring. I wasn't sure if I was ready for that, to leave behind everything I knew—even if what I knew was hell—and start over with a family that was practically strangers to me.

As if sensing my turmoil, Officer Steffan slid a red file across the desk toward me. "Here, take a look at this," he said, his tone carefully neutral.

I hesitated, then slowly reached out and opened the file. My eyes scanned the contents, and my breath caught in my throat.

I HAVE SIX BROTHERS?!?

"What the fuck," I blurted out before I could stop myself.

"Excuse me😱?" Officer Steffan raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my outburst.

"Oh, sorry," I stammered, quickly backtracking. "But I think there's been a mistake. Why does it say I have six brothers?"

"Because you do," he replied simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Oh," I said, my voice small. "Okay..." The reality of it all was starting to sink in, and I felt a mix of emotions—confusion, excitement, and a bit of fear.

Then Officer Steffan delivered the news that made my stomach drop. "Sir Vittorio Gabrini—your father—is on his way to take you back to Italy. He should be here in about eight hours."

Italy. I was going to Italy. The idea of it was surreal, like something out of a movie. But then, panic started to creep in. I didn't even know these people, and now I was supposed to just go live with them?

The officer must have noticed the anxiety on my face because he quickly added, "Don't worry, Simi. We'll go by your house now so you can grab some things. You'll have time to get ready."

I nodded, though my mind was still reeling. This was really happening. We left the police station and drove to the place I'd been dreading—the house I had shared with my mother and Nyx. The place where all my worst memories were born.

The drive was short but felt like an eternity. When we arrived, I hesitated at the front door, my hand trembling slightly as I reached for the knob. The officer waited patiently behind me, his presence both reassuring and unnerving. I pushed the door open, and the familiar scent of the house hit me. It smelled like stale air, cheap perfume, and bad memories.

The house was eerily quiet. I walked in, every step heavy with the weight of the past. The walls seemed to close in on me as I made my way to my room, the one place that had ever felt like a tiny sanctuary in this miserable place. I opened the door to my room and was greeted by the sight of my bed, the covers still messy from the last time I'd slept in it, and the few personal items I had managed to keep over the years.

I grabbed the old, battered suitcase from under my bed and started packing. My hands moved automatically, almost numb, as I stuffed in clothes, some books, and the few keepsakes that meant anything to me. I tried not to think about Nyx or my mother as I packed, but their presence lingered in every corner of the room, in every item I touched. My mind flashed back to the last time Nyx had lost his temper, and I shivered involuntarily.

A memory hit me hard—a recent one that still made my ribs ache. Nyx had been more volatile than usual, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. He was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. I had been sitting in my room, minding my own business, when he barged in, his face twisted with rage. He didn't even say anything before he lashed out, his fist connecting with my ribs with such force that I could feel them crack under the impact. The pain was blinding, but it didn't stop there. He had pulled out a knife, and in a moment of pure, uncontrolled fury, he stabbed me in the shoulder. I could still feel the cold steel slicing through my skin, the blood soaking through my shirt. It was a miracle I had survived, and the scar on my shoulder was a constant reminder of that night.

End Flashback

I forced myself to breathe, trying to push the memory aside. I couldn't afford to break down now. I stuffed the last of my things into the suitcase and zipped it up. It was light—too light for someone who was leaving her whole life behind. But this was all I had.

The officer, who had been waiting in the doorway, glanced at the small bag I was carrying. "Is that everything?" he asked, his tone neutral.

"Yeah," I said quietly, not trusting my voice to say more.

We left the house without another word, and I didn't look back. We drove back to the police station, the silence between us heavy with unspoken thoughts. When we arrived, Officer Steffan led me back to his office. The room was dimly lit, with papers scattered across his desk. He gestured toward a small couch in the corner.

"You can lie down here if you want," he said, pulling a blanket from a nearby cabinet and handing it to me. "It's been a long day, and you should get some rest."

I nodded, too tired to argue. I laid down on the couch, wrapping the blanket around myself. The fabric was soft and warm, and it provided a small comfort in the midst of all the chaos. Officer Steffan sat down at his desk and started working on something, the quiet tapping of his keyboard filling the room.

I watched him for a moment, the steady rhythm of his typing oddly soothing. My eyelids grew heavy, and before I knew it, sleep started to pull me under. My last thought before drifting off was of the family I had never met—the father and six brothers who were about to change my life forever.