Evelina

(xxvii)

Antonio

It still didn't feel real. Enzo sat by the window seat, his hand tightly wrapped around Vera's, his expression distant and uncharacteristically serious. It was strange to see my younger brother so guarded, shutting the rest of us out with a maturity that didn't fit his age. Papà was in the back, comforting Mama, while Alessandro gently nudged Mateo on his etiquette, as usual.

I held Eve's hand, her head resting on my shoulder as she slept, exhaustion finally catching up with her after whatever she'd done with the Germans. She hadn't told me everything, just that the matter was "dealt with."

I glanced down at her, her peaceful face a stark contrast to the tension that still lingered from the day. The captain's voice crackled over the speakers, "Cabin crew and passengers, please prepare for landing."

As soon as the plane came to a stop, I gently shook Eve. "Wake up, love," I whispered. But she didn't stir. I smiled softly, careful not to wake her abruptly, and scooped her up in my arms, carrying her down the stairs and into the waiting car, letting her rest just a little longer.

As soon as we reached our mansion, Eve stirred, her eyes fluttering open before a warm smile spread across her face. "We're home," she announced softly, her voice a balm to the tension that had gripped us for so long. She glanced over at Enzo, who still held Vera tightly in his arms, a silent testament to the ordeal they had both endured. "Brother, we're home."

Enzo returned her smile with a faint, weary one of his own before moving to enter the house. Eve quickly followed, her steps purposeful as she reached out and grabbed his hand. "Are you okay, Enzo?" she asked gently.

That simple question was all it took to make Enzo snap. "What do you think, Eve? I just got rescued after a month of being mentally and physically tortured by the Germans. You understand the pain, don't you? After all, they kidnapped you before, Queen."

Eve's attempt to comfort him was met with resistance. "You know you can speak to me, right?" she said softly, trying to bridge the growing chasm between them despite his harsh words.

Enzo shook his head, his frustration evident. "No, thanks. I don't want to. How can I trust someone who can't trust me enough to tell me who she is? Do you know how much it would've helped me if I knew your identity?"

Eve remained silent, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. Enzo let out a dry, cold laugh. "Of course you don't. If you had told me, I wouldn't have been so hurt. I would've... I would've—"

"Died," Eve interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper but cutting through him like a knife.

"You would've died, and I would've blamed myself for your death because of that reason. Do you think you could've survived so long if you had told them? If they had verified the information and found out it was real, they would've tortured you to death or worse, used you against me. Do you know why?" Eve paused, her silence speaking volumes.

"Because you are my weakness. I'll do anything to make sure you are alive and safe. Even give myself to the monsters," he continued, his voice breaking. "I'm already dead inside."

Eve couldn't hold back any longer. She broke into a heartfelt laugh, tears welling in her eyes. "You say that after one month of being with them. I was with them for a year. A year. If I ate food like a normal human, I was beaten hard. Really hard. And, my dear brother, I didn't have mafia training, and I was seven. You think I wasn't dead inside? I hated being around men. I hated being near Papà. I was afraid he'd turn out to be just like my father and the Germans, but was he like that? No."

She took a deep breath, her voice gaining strength as she continued. "Do you know why I am better now? Because I spoke to people. I let my emotions out. I screamed. I yelled. I put up a fight, but I never... I never gave up. I never screamed at Mama, asking her why she didn't kill me rather than take me home. I never shouted at Lexi, Liv, and Jan, asking them why they saved me rather than leave me. Do you know why? Because they didn't have to save me. I was nothing but a stranger to them. But they did. You know why?"

Enzo looked away, the anguish in his eyes mirroring his sister's pain. "Because you didn't deserve any of it."

"Yes, if I didn't deserve any of it. How could you?" By now, Eve was on the verge of a full breakdown, her voice cracking with emotion. "You are the kindest person in our family. You deserve the best, yet you got hurt. What you're going to do is talk to us and let it all out. Then, you're going to take that torture, those scars, and that hurt and turn them into new strength. You're going to fight, not give up."

Eve's words hung in the air, a lifeline thrown to a drowning brother. Enzo looked at her, the anger in his eyes slowly giving way to something softer, more vulnerable. He took a shaky breath, nodding slightly. "I... I'll try."

She reached out, gently squeezing his hand. "That's all I ask. Let us help you heal."

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of their shared history pressing down on them. Finally, Enzo managed a small, tentative smile. "Thank you, Eve. But I... I don't know if I can move on."

Eve returned his smile, her own tears now freely flowing. "You don't have to move on. You just have to learn and become better." She said and pulled him into a hug right after.