The Lost Daughter

Chapter 7: Gianna

As i stepped into my bathroom i wondered if there were any rules about showering, could i use hot water? is there a time limit? what soaps can i use?

to be on the safe side i made sure the water was just above freezing, cold enough that i most likely i won't get in trouble but warm enough to not give me hypothermia, and i spent a generous 7 minutes under the spray,

with the knowledge of meeting my extended family i took extra care, scraping the dried blood from beneath my nails and scrubbing my skin till it was red and raw, but at least i felt clean,

i even used the brand new looking razor resting on the shelf, it was a feminine design with a pink handle  so i can, hopefully, assume that it was intended for me,

i stepped out of the cold water feeling fresher than i had in a while, the bandages on my ribs were soaking wet and no longer felt compressive, i probably should've asked if it was okay to get them wet but i can guess that they're no longer serving their purpose so i carefully peel them off,

my face contorts in pain as my bruised torso is stretched uncomfortably, just like when i was washing my hair, and i exhale in relief when i can finally breathe fully,

i tuck the ruined bandages into the small bathroom bin and shuffle into my bedroom, i survey my wardrobe and find a new pair of leggings beside the other clothes i saw yesterday,

i bask in the feeling of finally having a fresh pair of underwear and the stretchy fabric that soothes the aches in my legs minutely,

i choose another one of the oversized t shirts and pad downstairs after using the hairbrush on my dresser to carefully detangle my hair,

i head straight for the lounge, i'm relieved to see just the person i needed and i make a beeline for Silvio,

"do you think you could wrap my ribs again," i ask and my shoulders hunch down as i pause in front of him and fidget with my fingers,

"of course, paperotta, let me grab the first aid kit, stay here," he reply's gently, caressing my arm as he quickly strides over to a cupboard on the other side of the room, grabbing a big red box, and walking back,

i hover awkwardly, as he sits in his previously occupied armchair, until he pats his lap, signalling for me to sit down,

i carefully perch myself on his legs, straddling them, and hold my body stiffly to minimise the pain from my injuries,

i flinch as i feel his arms encircle me and begin to twist the bandage around my body,

i can barely hold in my pained noises but manage to silence myself, unlike on the plane when i called out for my father in a childishly pathetic way,

when the pressure of Silvio's hands eases my breath wheezes out of my lungs and i slump forward,

my brother just about has enough time to move the first aid supplies out of the way before i'm sinking forward into his arms,

without hesitation he scoops me up in a hug, cradling my head against his neck like i'm something precious,

"shh, shh it's okay, topolina," he whispers against my hair as my shoulders shake with the effort it takes to silence my sobs,

the comfort of his embrace is so unfamiliar yet i crave it desperately,

i was so dead set on getting my ribs sorted as soon as possible that i failed to notice the other occupants in the room, until a conversation breaks out,

"dad said that uncle Vince and the cousins are coming so we better set up the game room," i hear Vitus start hesitantly, as if afraid to disturb the peace,

"finally, i've been dying for a real competitor," Renzo enthusiastically replies, i stay completely silent as i fear that even my breathing will remind him of my presence and this new, joyful version of him will be lost again,

i can see him as the energetic youngest child, it's no surprise he's upset with my arrival, he's probably worried that he'll be pushed aside in place of me, which is absolutely ridiculous if you ask me, i've been here one day and he's lived with them his whole life, i'm shocked that they're still acknowledging me,

i drift in that not-quite-asleep state for a while before i'm snatched back into the present by my fathers voice,

"hey cattivella, just a warning that everyone will be here soon, i don't want you to be completely in the dark so i'll give you a bit of a rundown," my dads soothing, accented voice begins, "it'll be you're uncle Vincenzo or Vince and his 6 sons; Aldo, Cosimo, Brio, Maximo, Fiero and Lazaro, which is in order of age, Aldo is 31 and Lazaro is 27, your uncle Verdi will also be coming with his 8 sons; Isaia, Stefano, Santo, Serafino, Tristano, Riccardo, Armano and Thadeo, Isaia is 32 and Thadeo is 26, finally your grandfather Vivaldo,"

my palms become clammy, and my leg would've been shaking had i not been sitting on Silvio. 17 more boys!

"do i have any aunts or a grandmother?" i question, trying to be sensitive, very much aware of Renzo's judgemental presence in the room,

"i'm sorry leoncina, both your aunts died during childbirth and your grandmother passed away a few years ago from cancer," my father comforts, pausing at the end like he wants to continue, "your mother died the night you were born, a targeted fire while she was in hospital, that's why we believed you to be dead even though your... remains, were never found,"

i swallow the lump in my throat and give my father a thankful look, he could somehow tell exactly what i needed to know without me ever asking,

"do any of my cousins have like girlfriends or wives or anything?" i ask as my curiosity overtakes my brain to mouth filter,

"well Isaia has a son with his ex-wife and Brio had a girlfriend, she was the victim of a hit and run a year and a half ago, she didn't make it," my dad explains briefly, i notice how vague he is with the details and chalk it up to him trying to protect me from the violence,

"okay, thank you," i mumble out of instinct but my thoughts are still scrambled trying to remember everyone's names, the last thing i need is to offend anyone else in my family,

"shit, i forgot my book in my study, can you go grab it for me Renzo?" my father curses, looking towards my brother hopefully,

i see the upset look on Renzo's face and notice he's half way through a game and i jump at the opportunity to earn some brownie points,

"i'll go get it, i remember where the room is," i offer quickly, already climbing out of Silvio's lap,

"okay, it's in the third drawer down in my desk, make sure you don't look in any of the others, they're filled with classified documents," my dad reluctantly agrees, watching as i scramble out the room,

as i'm leaving i send Renzo a hopeful look but i'm crushed by the suspicion on his face, i guess my plan to gain his favour didn't work,

as i reach the study the heavy wooden door creaks open ominously to reveal an amazingly relaxing, dark, woodsy room, my eyes drift to the large oak desk dominating the space and i shuffle behind it,

i notice my dilemma the moment i examine the desk, there's 2 sets of drawers on each side and i forgot to get a more specific location,

it's okay, i got this, i pull open the first deep drawer and rustle around for the large book i've seen my father carrying frequently but it's nowhere to be found, i move on to the drawer next to it and come up empty again,

i feel like i've been here forever and i'd hate for someone to come looking for me so my hand scrambles frantically within the drawer until i finally feel the ridges of the leather bound journal,

just as i'm about to pull it out a large body slams me against the wall, i cry out in pain at the impact before my voice as well as my breathing is cut off by a firm calloused hand around my throat,