Family First | *Rewrites in Progress*

I'll Miss You

Anastasia's POV

Today was the worst day of my life. Never, had the Heart kids been split up for more than a day, and now we were leaving Grayson and Charlie behind, as well as Alex, Carlotta, Julian.

My parents too.

We were outside the two cars, their tinted windows making the situation more grave by the second. My mamma was crying, her tears jerking at my heart, causing tears to escape from my eyes. Quinn was discussing last minute arrangements with my papà, whose grip on my mamma was both for her comfort and his.

Hazel and Nathan had already said their goodbyes, silently climbing into their cars. Evelyn was hugging her mum, whilst her father had simply given her a look before stalking back inside the villa, reaching for his phone.

I was shaking, not from the cold, but from fear. We were never going to be safe. And now I was leaving all I had ever felt safe with. We all decided to sleep in the theatre last night, as we all felt equally as scared as the next.

Quinn walked away from my parents, and I took the opportunity to run into their arms, taking in the smell of my father's cologne and my mother's perfume combined.

"Principessa, I love you so much, don't forget that now, ok?" my papà asked, and I nodded, my sobs becoming louder by the second. My mamma pulled me to her, and held onto me tightly, as if it were the last time we would see each other.

"I trust that boy Anastasia, and I know he will do anything it takes to protect you and Hazel especially." She wiped my tears as hers fells, and I wiped hers back.

"Of course mama," I replied, giving her one last hug. My father kissed my forehead, and smiled down at me. 

"Make me proud figlia," he whispered, and he turned me around, pushing me lightly towards Charlie and Grayson.

They were both solemn, but I could see emotion built up behind their eyes.

"We will miss you Ana," Grayson said, ruffling my hair. I latched my arms around his waist, squeezing as hard I could until he squeezed equally as hard back. Charlie clears his throat, and I giggled, escaping from Grayson and jumping onto Charlie, letting my legs wrap around his waist.  

"I'll miss you bro," I said quietly, and he cocked an eyebrow.

"Well I wouldn't expect any less Anastasia Rosa Cuore," he pretended to scold. He gave me a small smile and pecked my cheek before setting me down. I walked quickly to the car, but not before hearing my brothers yell over the engine.

"And if you come back pregnant, we will kill him!" Grayson yelled, and I stuck my pretty finger up at him. 

"Same goes if I find Carlotta pregnant, you asshole!" I yelled out before quickly climbing in and shutting the door. Carlotta's face turned crimson, and Julian's eyebrows came up in surprise, before his eyes narrowed on his sister and my brother. 

Nathan, Jacob, Evelyn and Rod were taking one car, whilst Quinn, Hazel, Gabby and I were taking the other, to whatever destination we were going to. Quinn drove out of the driveway first, as the family we left behind waved to us, and the sinking feeling in my stomach began to grow.

"I'm hungry," Hazel muttered, and Gabby agreed, before tapping on Quinn's shoulder.

"Did we bring any snacks with us?" she asked hopefully, and Quinn nodded, pointing to the small bag by their feet. She and Hazel shared a grin before digging in, both of them sharing AirPods listening to some music.

"This feels so messed up," I whispered, fumbling with my hands as Quinn drove towards the nearest dock, where heaps of boats lay unattended. Quinn reached over to take my hand in his, and I traced the gold ring on his finger, which he had explained last night he had received from my dad.

"If I'm being honest, the whole mafia world is messed up," he said, stroking his thumb over my hand. "I'd give anything to leave, to have a fresh start. If my parents had of had another boy, I would've stepped aside, but god, I could never have put Aurora in my shoes."

"Aurora?" I asked, unfamiliar with Quinn's sister. I had not realised he had one.

"My little sister," Quinn said with a faint smile. "She was a little firecracker, and the biggest empath I'd ever come across. She was just like Hazel in so many ways."

"Was?" 

He heaved a sigh, eyes drifting to me for a split second before focusing back on the road. "There was an accident two years ago, a car crash which killed my mother. I was severely injured, and was put in a medically induced coma for a week. My sister had been in the backseat, but when the police arrived on scene, there was no trace of her. She was only twelve."

Oh my.

"Quinn, I'm so sorry," I whispered, bringing our hands up to my lips to press a kiss to them.

"You weren't the one driving the car that hit us, Ana. And if anything, it's my fault," he said, his tone heavy with guilt and regret. His shoulders had sagged forward, as if the memory of the crash still haunted him, but I could not come to reason to see why any of it was his fault.

"Quinn, you weren't driving either, not at fifteen. Why would you blame yourself?" I asked quietly.

"Because I'm the reason we were in the car in the first place. I'd gotten into a fight at school, because someone insulted Rod, and my mother was called to pick me up. She and Rory had been having a girls day, after Rory had scored 100% in her recent math test, so Rory was already in the car."

"Quinn, it wasn't your fault," Gabby said quietly. I hadn't realised she'd been secretly listening in on our quiet conversation. "You defended my brother, and some idiot hit the car when Aunt Luella took you home."

Quinn slowed the car down in a car park, handing the keys over to one of my father's men who was stationed at the dock. His hand that was on the wheel shook, and I grabbed it, clasping it in my other hand. 

I hated the fact he had beat himself up about this internally for two years. It was not his fault, and I had to make him see that. 

I just had to.