𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐘 / / 𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈

CHAPTER 1

Luciana Romero was a natural beauty. She never had to make an effort with her looks, blessed with healthy tanned skin and a pretty face. She managed to sail her way through life with a wink and smile, charming those around her with ease. From family members, to girls who only wished they could be like her and to boys who worshipped the ground she walked on, strangers she met in the middle of the street were instantly amazed with the being that she was - she had them all wrapped around her little finger. All, apart from her two older brothers.

Lucas and Lazaro knew exactly what their little sister was like, after all they had watched her grow up. Their mother, despite her juggling two jobs, waited on the youngest Romero sibling hand and foot. She was the favourite by far, and that was because of the resemblance she bore to their dead father.

"She has his eyes," she would say often with a fond smile. "Beautiful eyes."

So Luciana was used to getting what she wanted, one way or another. All she had to do was bat her long lashes and say please, and even those as stubborn as an ox would crumble. Even after her mother died, she found others to dote upon her. Those others being members of the Southside Serpents.

This was something that never sat well with her older brothers, being fully pledged members of the Ghoulies, the rival gang of the Serpents. There had always been bad blood between them, each side fighting for dominance over land and territory. That's the way it had been for as long as any of the Romero family could remember. It was during Lucas' years at Southside High that befriended members of the Ghoulies, joining the gang not long after graduation with Lazaro following close behind him.

However, Luciana chose not to affiliate herself with one side. During High School, the girl was friends with everyone and everyone knew her name. She was what you would call a floater, mingling amongst the crowds. It's what got her the invite to all the best parties around town, a party which she could of been in attendance of on such current night. Yet, she found herself trailing behind her two brothers in the depths of the Southside.

"Yo, is your little hide out much further? I'm freezing over here." The girl questioned, pulling down the sleeve of her sweater.

"Yeah? Maybe you shouldn't of worn a mini skirt then."

"Fuck you, Lazaro."

"Hey," Lucas called over his shoulder. "Why don't you both shut up? We're nearly there."

In the near distance the youngest sibling spotted an old building, surrounded by a fenced area with plenty of land to accompany it. Two men stood near the door, both smoking and keeping watch, whilst a few others walked round the perimeter.

"Keep a hold of that tongue in here Luciana," Lucas warned. "Could get you in trouble."

All he received in response was a scoff as she rolled her eyes at her brothers commands. It was no secret that she was mouthy, but in her own opinion she was just honest. She was never one to shy away from voicing her thoughts, even if it did land her in some shit.

"Ah, the Romero brothers!" One of the men called throwing his cigarette to the floor as the three approached. "Didn't think you boys would be out tonight."

"We weren't meant to be." Laz muttered under his breath.

"Thought it was about time we introduced our little sister." Said Lucas. "She's been mixing in with the wrong crowd too much."

"Ah," the man laughed whilst the other tutted. "The Serpents, too soft for our liking. Should of cut them if you got so close."

The girl did not respond, following her brothers orders she did well to bite her tongue. However, that did not mean her attitude did not go unnoticed as she raised a brow at the stranger and folded her arms across her chest.