𝐆𝐈𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐀 𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐎, a young girl who's never known stability. Raised by a reckless, unstable mother, she spent her childhood caught between drug runs and police raids, ruining her right for a normal childhood. One night when her mother go...
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Fuck, I'm so screwed.
Luca's pacing near the edge of the couch, running a hand through his hair like he's trying to calm himself down. Marco and Ace are off to the side, mid-conversation, but they both stop when they see me. Rafael sits on the far end of the couch, elbows on his knees, fingers steepled like he's holding himself back.
Damon is no where to be found.
Luca's the first to move. "Giulia," he breathes out, crossing the room in seconds before wrapping his arms around me.
His hug is tight. Too tight. Like he thought if he didn't hold on fast enough, I'd disappear again.
I just stand there.
I don't hug him back.
His chest rises and falls against mine, quick and uneven. When he finally lets go, there's this look on his face. His brows are drawn, eyes wide but tired, mouth slightly open like he had more to say but forgot how to say it. He looks rattled.
"You can't just disappear like that," he says, voice cracking slightly. "You scared the fuck out of me."
I don't say anything, I refuse to even meet his eyes. Luca take a small step back, his shoulders sinking, like the fight in him drained the second I wouldn't look at him.
Marco steps in, voice clipped. "We thought something happened." His face reflects pure disappointment which sits in my chest.
Ace leans against the wall, arms crossed, just staring at me. He doesn't say a word. His silence feels louder.
But through all of this, I keep my eyes trained on Rafael. The one I'm really scared of.
His tone slices through the room like a blade. "In my office." he says, voice low. "Now."
My stomach twists. I don't move right away. My feet feel like they're glued to the tile, but his stare doesn't leave room for negotiation.
I walk past them, eyes on the floor, every step feeling like it echoes too loudly in the hallway.
Behind me, I hear Luca sigh like he wants to follow.
Rafael's office door is already open. The lamp on his desk casts a warm, golden light over everything, his watch glinting on the edge, papers stacked too neatly, leather chair angled just so. He walks in behind me and shuts the door with a soft click that somehow feels worse than if he slammed it.
"Sit."
I do. The chair is cold. My hands are shoved deep in the pocket of my hoodie, heart thudding. This strangely feels like deja vu considering how many times I've been scolded at in this very room.
Rafael stays standing, arms crossed. He studies me in silence for a moment and I immediately take this time to speak which I probably shouldn't have.
"I wasn't trying to disappear or scare anyone, okay? I wasn't running away or trying to make a statement or anything. I just needed space for a couple of hours."
