A New hope

Chapter 28-Action

Alessio-

Staring down at my precious little sister all I can feel is guilt. My sister lays limply in my arms, her face for once peaceful. My brain cycles through the images I've seen today, bringing up memory after memory of my history with Ciana. All of the ways I've failed her. 

The pain of finding her room empty so many years ago. The fierce anger I felt when I saw her bruised back on the plane. Her fear of eating. Her broken shoulder. Finding out she was bullied at her old school. All of the bruises and flinching. The therapy visits. The fear of not being able to find her on Friday night, thinking my baby was gone for good this time. The fear in her eyes when she returned to me, a fucking handprint around her neck. Knowing someone almost raped my sister. The dread I felt hearing that my baby was in danger again, that she was alone with someone who could hurt her, kill her. Not knowing if she was okay while we rushed to the school. Finding her barely alive, covered in wounds so serious she could have bled out. Knowing she will now hold the guilt of killing someone, taking a life.

I'm done. I've had enough. No more.

This all could have been prevented if I had done my damn job. I'm her oldest brother, her guardian, practically her fucking father. It's my job to keep her safe. And I've done a shit job at it.

No more.

I gently set her down onto the spare bed in the dorm room. Her face scrunches in pain at the contact before settling into neutrality again. It's time to visit our family. Get away for a while, until all of this dies over, until it's safe for her again.

I turn from my sister and walk up to Tullio. His tired, drained eyes are only another reminder of how I have failed my siblings. After expressing my thanks and telling him to get some sleep, I nod to Gio and Romeo. We all make our way outside onto the balcony connecting to the room. I position myself deliberately where I can see Ciana sleeping.

The air is brisk but none of us mention it.

(Conversation takes place in Italian. if they're not in the same conversation or room as Ciana assume they're talking in Italian in this book. I'm just too lazy to write out it all in both languages)

"I'm taking Ciana away," I start and they both nod.

Gio grunts from near the railing, "what about the boys?"

I think before answering, "the triplets are almost eighteen and they have less than a year of school left, it wouldn't be fair for them to have to leave behind their life's". Romeo cocks his head, "I don't think they would mind leaving".

I shrug, "the decision is theirs then. Cassio is another case; he's still a boy. He's coming too, even though I know he wouldn't want to come. He's still too little to go without a parental figure".

Gio scoffs, "don't let him hear you call him little".

A grin finds my face despite all of my emotions, "I'll call him what I want, I basically raised him. He'll always be a baby to me".

"Where are we going?" Romeo interrupts me.

"Sicily. To the family home. I think it's time that Ciana meets the rest of the horde".

"For how long?" Gio asks.

"However long it takes for me to feel comfortable to bring her back here".

Romeo grunts from beside me, "I'll talk to my ma. Will Miller was the heir of Germany. They'll be out for blood. She should be able to blow it against them though. Will attacking Ciana was a direct act against the code, attacking a woman and a child of a mafia family. You know I gave up my title to be your left hand, but I still have influence. Say the word and my family will destroy them, no need for war, for death. Well, unless you want that."

I sigh thinking about my options, Romeo's right, with the triplets planning on joining the mafia this winter for their 18th and Ciana's arrival it's the worst time to start a war. "No war." I voice, though everything in me wants to avenge my sister. "But get rid of them, not even a whisper of what stood there once". Romeo grins, nodding.

-

-Three days later-

Ciana-

I gently pick up one of my favorite sweatshirts, folding it, before placing it into the suitcase resting on the foot of my bed. My back aches with the effort yet I don't show it. Tullio looms from the other side of the room, watching my every movement. One wince and he'll be having me laying down in my bed again, like I've been doing for the last three days. I had to beg him for thirty minutes to let me get out of bed today.

I've been so cooped up in my own thoughts that I knew if I didn't have something to do soon I would go insane. My brothers have been so supportive, maybe a little obsessive. One of them is always here, always. Usually more than one. It's like they think someone with an axe is going to come flying through my window the moment I'm left alone.

Lucio barges into my room, kicking open the door. I jump in shock, trying to hide the wince at the sharp pain that comes from my leg at the landing. My eyes dart to Tullio, he looks at me with narrowed eyes. "My faaaaaavorite sister, I bring you a gift". Lucio's energetic voice fills the room. I turn towards Lucio with a small smile. "Your only sister, silly" I say as he hands me my kitten, toast, that was previously cradled in his arms.

My kitten meows loudly up into my face as I cradle her to me, "hi toasty". she purrs before resting herself onto my chest.

"It's good to see you out of bed, sorella" Lucio says as he goes to pet Toast, she hisses at him as his finger gets closer to his face. He turns towards me aghast. I laugh but quickly stop myself as my bruised rib burns. "Would have been sooner if not for him," I nod back towards where Tullio is standing. Lucio hums, looking his triplet up and down. "Good lord, all of his menacing and dreariness would make me even more in pain. Come on sorella, we got to get you away from Mr. depression over there". I grin, hearing Tullio's answering scoff.

With some begging and promises to take the elevator, I am officially interrupted from my packing task. Alessio told me two nights ago what my future would look like for a while. I can't say I'm upset. I'll miss my friends, especially Elle and Amara. God, Amara, I need to ask if she's okay. I'll miss my brothers the most, the triplets decided on coming with us for two weeks before returning to school for the remainder of the term. Cassio is going to be dragged with us, and Vani (Gio) is coming too. I don't think I'll miss the school. I've had a lot of good memories at the school in the past few months, but the recent ones out way those right now. 

Perhaps it's best if I don't return for a while, let the memories fade before coming back. Romeo is coming with us, so Roman is too but apparently, he'll be returning with the triplets back to school after two weeks. I've been blocking out the memories of Monday, but I know that it was Roman who got to me first. That found, comforted me, and kept me safe and alive until Tullio got there. I try not to think about the vulnerable state he found me in. My brothers have reassured me so many times throughout the past few days that it is not my fault. That I'm not a murderer. But I know who I am now, I killed someone's friend, someone's family, someone's son. I quickly block out my train of thoughts when my brain turns towards guilt and self-doubt.

Lucio guides me into the cinema room, a movie already set up. Paddington. My heart sores. It was one of the first movies I watched when I got here and has quickly become my favorite. He must have put it on to try to comfort me. Elio and Cassio are spread out on two different couches; they cheer when I walk into the room. "Ciana had finally been released from Tullio's grasp?" Elio asks from where he's lying. Lucio responds to me, guiding me towards the best couch, it's already got my favorite blanket on it along with all sorts of snacks.

I look up towards my brothers and Cassio grins at my expression, "thought we'd give you a good memory of this place". I nod, not finding my voice to thank them. They start the movie and for the first time in three days I don't think about my past.

P.S.- if the last part of the boy's conversation doesn't make sense to you it's not supposed to yet. It will be explained in a later chapter. 

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