I'm a Costello

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[Valentina's POV]

The name I uttered didn't just cause me stress and pain. The tension in the room went up a few notches. Obviously my family had heard me, recognised the name I announced was the reason for my current torment.

I clung to my father like a sloth to a tree. My body shook vigorously as I cry into his chest seemingly finding it impossible to stop. My physical contact was probably the only thing that was keeping me from going crazy. I've always experienced a sense of security when with my dad.

It took them a few seconds to pull out of shock. My fathers arms tightened around me.

"Val, what do you mean?", Ales asked with an evident forced calm in his voice.

I couldn't say it. To say words I needed to get a control on my crying, if not stop entirely, but I was finding trouble to put a cap on it.

"I know it's not easy for you. But please Val, tell us what happened", Ales tried again, I didn't have to see his face to know he was worried and angry.

I take a few shuddering breaths, trying to  stable my myself. My dad rubbed my back in comforting circles, kissed the top of my head, though I could still feel his body was tense.

Slowly, I turn my head only a little bit , enough to lock eyes with Ales next to us. "H-He—Jack was in school today", I whispered, feeling fresh tears cloud my vision.

Ales's jaw clenched. I heard a little shuffle behind me and almost instantly Elijah and Enzo had appeared behind the couch dad was seated on to face me. They all crouched on their knees against the couch staring at my face with a mixture of emotions.

"He ambushed me in the last period", My eyes filled with more tears as I basically had a recollection of that event.

"What did he do next?", Elijah asked, his voice barely above a whisper, eyes showing he probably knew the answer to his question.

I couldn't describe in words how he treated me. My heart was just filled with terror. I shook my head, pleading with them to not make me relive it. A few tears cascade down my cheek. The vulnerability in my irises almost made them flinch.

Enzo shakily used his fingers to wipe my tears, incapable of anything.

Ales inhaled deeply, preparing himself to say the next words to me. "Val, I'm so sorry. I don't wish to cause you any more pain than you're feeling. But sweetie, I need to know what he did", He requested.

"Val, we can see your cheek is red. The bodyguards said your ribs were hurting. Please", Elijah pleaded.

"Dad please", I cry out, clutching tighter to my father who was currently the bane of my existence.

My father placed his lips on top of my head, his breathing heavy. He took a pause before speaking. "Tesoro he's not coming here. Don't be afraid."

They weren't wrong to want to know what happened to me. I mean wouldn't anyone be curious if their baby sister or brother came home from school weeping like they'd seen a ghost?

I take a deep breath, bracing myself because knowing them they wouldn't react calmly.

"First, he forcefully dragged me into an empty classroom. He covered my mouth to stop me from screaming for help", I took ragged breaths.

"I tried to fight him", I insist. "But he was stronger than me. He slapped me across the face that time. So hard that I basically fell back on the ground."

My cheek stings as a reminder.

"Then I tried to run to escape the classroom. I pushed him and tried to reach my bag for my phone to call for help. But he wouldn't let me", My voice now gets shaky, and fresh tears once again make it difficult for me to see clearly.