TW ABSUE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

The door to my cell creaked open, a sliver of harsh light cutting through the shadows and spilling across the cold floor. I was curled in the farthest corner, my knees drawn to my chest, barely breathing.

My eyes squeezed shut, as if by refusing to see him, I could make myself invisible. A childish illusion. One that never worked.

The sound of boots—measured, slow, and cruel—echoed against the stone walls, growing louder until they stopped right in front of me.

"Open your eyes, Multum interfectorem," he murmured. (My little killer.)

"I came bearing gifts, doll."

I clenched my eyes tighter, whispering prayers to any gods that still remembered I existed.

The silence that followed was thick—too thick. And then came the sting.

His backhand cracked against my cheek, snapping my head to the side. I let out a small, broken whimper, pain blooming across my face.

His fingers clamped around my chin, forcing my face upward, forcing my trembling gaze to meet his.

"You broke a rule, doll," he said, voice honeyed with cruelty. "And you know what happens to bad girls… don’t you?"

My body shook harder—fear rooting me in place. He savored it. Drank it in like fine wine.

"They get punished."

He leaned in close, his breath cold against my ear.

"But don’t worry," he whispered. "This time… I’ll make it memorable."

With that he turned towards the table and picked a tool from it—his favorite knife.

My breath hitched, and I tried to melt even more in the wall but it was just solid, he started coming near me with a amused glintin his eyes.

The chains I was bound By rattled as he crouched down infront of me.

"Who do you belong to doll?" He asked, letting the knife glide on cheeks. "N..no one" I knew my punishment got even worse but I would never give him this satisfaction. 

He smiled and put some pressure on the knife, gliding it opening my skin—not deep, just enough to draw blood— "I am going to have so much fun breaking you"

Soon the room was filled with my screams, as he worked hos way with different tools, using them enough to hurt but not to scar.

By the time he was done, I was slumped against the wall, my voice hoarse from screaming "No one is coming to save you doll, it's better to except me and save yourself some pain"

OVER 

I woke up gasping for air, lungs burning like I’d been underwater. My eyes darted around, trying to find something familiar—anything to anchor me. But the moment I realized I was in a room I didn’t recognize, the panic kicked in harder.

Breathe or you’ll pass out.

Oh, really? Pass out? How original. I was hoping I'd grow gills and become a mermaid.

I sucked in a few shaky breaths. After a moment, it started to work—slightly—and then the memories of the last 24 hours hit me like a freight train. The dream. The past. The echo of pain I thought I’d buried.

Even after a few years… they still haunt me. It’s like I’m trapped in a never-ending nightmare—except it’s not fiction. Just memories I desperately want to forget.

But I’m out now. He can’t reach me. I’m safe here.

With family.

I ignored the bitter sting of the word and forced myself out of bed. It was only 5:30 a.m.—way too early by normal standards, but I figured I’d check out the in-built gym Killian had shown me.

As I headed toward the door, my ever-graceful self managed to trip over something.

“Fuck,” I hissed, catching myself before I faceplanted. I looked down to see a face mask on the floor. I picked it up, smirking as I tossed it onto the bed.

Last night had been… nice. They’d tried so hard to cheer me up, and for once, it had worked. It felt weird—warm, even—to be reminded that someone still cared.

Shaking away the thought before it made me feel too much, I slipped out and padded down the hallway to the gym.

Empty. Perfect.

Not even pretending to be the lonely, tragic heroine?

Shut up and crawl back into whatever garbage bin spawned you.

You mean your brain?

I rolled my eyes and started with some jumping jacks and a quick two-minute plank. Once my muscles were warmed up, I grabbed the weights and slipped into the familiar rhythm. The burn, the sweat, the silence—it all worked better than therapy.

Lifting has always been my thing. I know it sounds weird, but it’s the only time my mind shuts up. No overthinking, no ghosts. Just reps and focus.

Eventually, I moved to the punching bag. I lost track of time, throwing jab after jab.

That is, until I was yanked out of my trance by the sound of slow, clapping.

I startled, twisting around—my fist still half-raised—only to see Dante leaning against the doorway, clapping with a stupid smirk on his face.

“Don’t you know staring is rude?” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

His smirk widened. “Yeah, but this house doesn't really have early riser except me, Dad and Lucas. So imagine my surprise when I come here to find you, beating the feeling shit out of the punching bag"

I rolled my eyes at that “You’re lucky I didn’t punch you. You scared the hell out of me.”

“You’ve been throwing fists at a bag for the last hour. Pretty sure I wasn’t the scary one here.”

He stepped beside me and gave the bag a once-over. “You’ve got a solid jab,” he said, almost like it physically hurt him to compliment me. “But your left hook sucks.”

My eyes narrowed. “You wanna say that again, old man?”

“Old man?” He barked a laugh. “I’m only 9 years older than you!”

“That’s ancient in trauma years.”

He chuckled but then fell quiet, the kind of silence that wasn't awkward—just full of the things we hadn’t said yet.

“You wanna spar?” he asked suddenly, already kicking off his shoes and cracking his neck like this was routine.

I tilted my head. “You want me to punch you? I though lorenzo said no fighting in the house?”

“Technically, we’re under the gym level. Loophole.” His eyes flashed me a small sad gesture, at bio dad's real name but I ignored that.

“You're seriously willing to let me hit you?”

His smile turned into something softer. “Kid, I’ve wanted you to yell, scream, punch, anything—ever since we got you back. So yeah… try to hit me.”

I stared at him for a second longer. Then I stepped onto the mat.

It started light. Jab, block. Duck, swing. But I was rusty and Dante was fast. The next five minutes were full of me throwing every ounce of frustration into the air, and him dodging like the smug older brother he was.

Until finally—finally—I managed to land a punch to his ribs.

“Ow,” he grunted, stumbling back a step. “Okay. Rude.”

I grinned, panting slightly. “I told you. Ancient.”

He rubbed his side, laughing despite himself. “Remind me not to piss you off again.”

I lowered my gloves, my smile fading into something real. Dante come closer to me, a smile on his face "I missed you my little warrior"

I froze the nickname remimding of mom but  in a move that felt completely un-Dante, he stepped forward and pulled me into a hug—tight, grounding, like he was afraid I’d disappear again.

I awkwardly stood there, unsure what to do "you don't have to hug or even speak to me little warrior but know that I am always here to you. If you want to share anything you can always find me and I will always make time for you."

My heart swelled at that but I pulled away "Thank you" I said genuinely "Now I should go, breakfast is about to be ready and here I am sweating like a bear"

He laughed a little at that but nodded, letting me go. I took the opportunity and ran out of there like I out possessed. 

Locking the door behind me, I made a beeline for the showers. I was sweating like crazy. 

˖✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦

Pulling my hair into a ponytail, I made my way downstairs to the dining room.

As expected, Lorenzo, Dante, and Adriano were already seated, deep in conversation in Italian. Their voices lowered the moment I walked in.

“Good morning,” I greeted, sliding into the same seat I’d used yesterday.

They turned toward me instantly. “Good morning, princess,” Dante said with a smirk.

“Buongiorno, sorella,” Adriano added with a wink.

“Good morning, Angel,” Lorenzo said softly. “I want to apologize again for Xavier yesterday. There’s no excuse for his behavior, but I promise—he won’t say anything like that again today.”

His eyes were gentle.

I nodded slowly, then hesitated. “Can I ask you something?”

All three of them nodded, the atmosphere turning quiet.

“I get it—after yesterday, it’s obvious you guys don’t really like… Mom.” The word tasted strange on my tongue. “But why?”

They exchanged glances, a silent conversation flashing between them in a heartbeat.

“It’s not your fault, Liana,” Lorenzo finally said. “It’s not even entirely her fault either. But the truth is… we blame her.”

“For leaving,” Dante added, his voice rougher now. “For not being there. For choosing to disappear when we needed her most.”

“She wasn’t there when we lost everything,” Adriano said quietly, tracing the rim of his coffee mug. “She wasn’t our mother—she was just someone who walked away. And that leaves marks.”

I nodded, even though it was hard to fully believe. My mother had always been painted as a big family woman—warm, loving, protective.

“Also,” I said slowly, glancing at all three of them. “Why did she take me?”

At that, all of them stiffened. Subtle—but I caught it.

They’re hiding something.

“During that time…” Lorenzo started, his tone carefully measured like every word was being weighed. “Our family was going through a difficult phase. Enemies were threatening to hurt you. So… she decided to take you away for your safety.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly. That felt half-true. Not a full lie. But definitely not the whole truth either.

Before I could ask more, the sound of footsteps and voices broke the moment. One by one, the rest of the boys filed in, tossing greetings across the room like it was a normal day in some sitcom mafia house.

Killian strolled in last, a little sleep still clinging to his eyes. The moment he saw me, his face lit up.

He walked over and without warning—pinched my cheek.

I swatted his hand away. “Ow! What the hell?”

He grinned and rubbed his hand like I’d broken his bones. “Damn, you've gotten violent.”

“What was that about?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Nothing,” he said with that shameless smile. “I just like pinching your cheeks. You’re like a baby angel.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “I’m not a baby.”

“Exactly. That’s what makes it fun.”

I sighed dramatically. “You’re all emotionally constipated, and he’s just physically annoying.”

“Love you too, cupcake,” Killian chirped, tossing a wink before stealing a piece of toast from Lucas’s plate.

He scowled. “Do that again, and I’m feeding you to the sharks.”

“Please, they’d keep me as their king,” Killian replied, already halfway through the toast.

"Get you own, stronzo (asshole)" 

He spoke his cheeks full. “You’re just mad because you didn’t wake up first and claim it like a real warrior.”

“Children,” Lorenzo said sharply, his voice dipped in authority. “Eat your food, not each other.”

Before anyone could say more, Tristan leaned over and stabbed a piece of bacon off Killian’s plate with a fork.

“Are you kidding me?!” Killian yelped. “I am being hunted at breakfast!”

Lucas just smirked. “You’re too slow. Survival of the fittest.”

Lorenzo rolled his eyes. “This is a dining room, not a gladiator arena.”

“That depends,” Adriano muttered, “on how long Killian keeps provoking people before someone throws him out the window.”

“You’d miss me,” Killian said with a wink.

“Like a bullet to the chest,” Adriano replied dryly.

I snorted into my orange juice, trying to stay invisible, but the moment I laughed, seven pairs of eyes whipped to me like sharks smelling blood in the water.

“She laughs now,” Lucas said dramatically, resting his elbow on the table and his chin in his palm. “But by tomorrow she’ll be throwing cutlery with the rest of us.”

“At least unlike you lot, I won’t miss,” I said, smug.

A chorus of “woah-ohh” echoed around the table.

Bio dad looked like he wanted to vanish. “Liana,” he said, drawing everyone’s attention. “You’re going shopping with your brothers today.”

The boys cheered immediately.

“I CALL DIBS!” Killian yelled.

I frowned. “Why? I have enough clothes.”

His eyes softened. “You’re starting school soon. You need supplies—and we just got you back. Let us spoil you.”

He pulled out a black card and slid it to me. “Don’t worry about the price. Get whatever you want.”

Well who am I tp say no, if someone else is paying. " Fine but I am deciding the playlist" 

With that th3 breakfast continued.

✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦

“If you don’t come down in five seconds, we’re leaving!” Killian’s scowl could curdle milk.

I groaned, staring at the ceiling. Lorenzo just shrugged from the stairs like, Yeah, you’re on your own with these lunatics.

Eventually, I dragged myself down to the living room, where Xavier and Tristan were already waiting, both trying (and failing) to look serious.

“Finally,” Xavier grumbled, folding his arms. “You do know we don’t have all day, right?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? And who’s going to carry my bags?”

Tristan smirked, grabbing the biggest reusable tote bag he could find. “This guy.”

Killian shot me a look—still scowling, of course. “Let’s just get this over with.”

We piled into the car, and Xavier immediately took the wheel with a dramatic sigh.

“So, what’s first? Clothes? Supplies? Shoes? You better not pick anything lame.”

I rolled my eyes. “Lame? Please. I’m the one getting spoiled here.”

Killian snorted. “You’ll regret those words when we drag you through every store in this city.”

“Oh, bring it on,” I said, grinning.

Three hours later, and yes, I definitely regretted saying “bring it on.” Killian wasn’t joking when he said he’d drag me to every single shop. But we scored big—clothes, shoes, bags, fancy gadgets, and, of course, I totally smuggled in some limited edition book covers.

Hehe.

What surprised me the most? Scowl Face himself didn’t say a single complaint. Instead, he just grinned when I got books.

Now, my legs were on fire, and we finally made it to the food court.

“Ugh, I’m so tired,” I whined for the fiftieth time, flopping into a chair.

Tristan laughed, tossing a popcorn kernel at me. “You’re such a drama queen.”

Killian smirked, finally breaking his scowl. “You’re lucky we even brought you here. Next time, you’re carrying the bags.”

Xavier just shook his head, grinning. “Speak for yourself, I’m done shopping forever.”

“Alright, what’s next? Food or torture?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Food,” Tristan said, mock serious. “Then maybe a nap. Definitely a nap.”

"So what are you going to have Pixie?" Triatain asked "How about somthing Macdonald? " I suggested and they nodded, Triataun was getting up to get food.

Suddenly the hair on my skin rose goosebumps arriving, like someone was watching me. 

I took a look around, not seeing anyone form here. "Whats wrong? "  Killian asked, I shook my hard but got up "I am going to the bathroom"  they nodded and I left.

But maybe I shouldn't have.

As soon as I opened a stall, I was pulled backward bymy hair. Someone pinned me to the wall and started choking me "damn. How many times I have gotten 8n this suitation the week?" 

The mask man, very slowly rolled up his sleeves, revealing a mark.

I gasped immediately as I saw it, my eyes going wide.

No no no, this can't be happening. The man smirked at my reaction "Vacations over Valkyrie"