2 | A New Start

♤ The quickest way to self destruction is to push everyone away ♤

I now found myself waiting at the pick up area of the airport like an idiot. I was annoyed beyond ones imagination because I was told that one of my "brothers" was supposed to be picking me up but I've been waiting here for twenty minutes now.

There's also a grin on my face though since I didn't have to go through airport security because of the whole private jet thing.

My favourite suitcase was the closest to me out of all of my luggage. In it, the largest carrier out of everything, my firearms, big and small, my hand combat weapons, my trusty edibles, some cigarettes, a bit of alcohol-

To sum it up, my version therapy.

Aka, avoiding your problems by slowly killing your insides!

I groaned out in frustration as I pulled out my phone and began passing the time on it, bored out of my mind but my attention was brought up to the attractive as fuck sports car that had abruptly pulled up in front of me.

I might've been drooling at the beast of a car in front of me but I quickly looked back to my phone when the tinted window rolled down.

A man cleared his throat and I found myself looking back up at him. He seemed to be in his mid twenties. He had his hair perfectly slicked back into a professional looking man bun. Dark Versace shades on his face, a sharp suit that screamed power, a and decent to big amount of tattoo's oozing out of it.

"Get in." He blurted in a deep authoritative tone while quickly adjusting his shades, leaning his muscular arm on the space of the opened window.

Is he serious?

This could've been one of Zane's enemies for all I knew. There have been many kidnapping attempts but luckily, that bastard Raul's training came in use. Not the disgusting "toughening up" he calls when he takes my innocence with each time he—... you know.

"The fuck do I look like to you? Stupid? Who even are you?" I scoffed while leaning my weight onto one leg and placing my phone into the pocket of my leather jacket.

"I'm your brother. Now get in. I have things to do." He grumbled, clearly frustrated.

This could be some plot to get me into the kidnapping mobile.

"Proof?" I asked with narrowed eyes. He looked utterly annoyed as he turned his head to me and took off his shades in a very "Don't fuck with me" way.

"Are you serious?" He scoffed, amused, but he was quick to begin scowling at me.

"Yes. You could be some fucking perve trying to kidnap me." I huffed while returning a scowl of my own.

He rolled his eyes before taking out his phone and dialling someone as he placed it to his ear. "The girl thinks I'm trying to kidnap her. Talk to her, will you." and with that, he held out the phone towards me.

I was hesitant at first but I grabbed the phone from him before placing it to my own ear.

A familiar bubbly voice boomed through the speaker even though it was on low volume, "Valentina! Darling! I'm sorry about the mishap but this is indeed your brother." I could practically hear her smiling and I got off the call by giving the quickest goodbye in history before handing it back to him.

"Pop the trunk." I said nonchalantly as if I didn't just accuse my "brother" of being some perve who's trying to kidnap me.

He didn't answer after having popped open the trunk. I went to go grab a suitcase but was a bit taken back when the guy went and grabbed it for me.

"I was getting that." I grumbled but he still stayed silent, ignoring my frustration.

I went to grab the next suitcase but he was quick to have gotten to it and the another two suit cases as well. I wasn't gonna take more time then I needed to so I picked up the one he left before he could get to it. It was obvious that he purposely left the smallest suitcase for me to put in before he slammed the trunk shut.

We silently made our way into the beautiful car which I admired on the entire way in. I made my way into the front seat and purposely slammed his door shut, hardly, which successfully pissed him off.

I swear I saw a vein pop out on his forehead.

He calmed himself down before speeding off, gripping the steering wheel tightly. I just rolled my eyes at how fast he was going since I was already used to driving at this speed myself.

I slumped back in the seat and spread my body out seeing as there was way too much space so I adjusted the seat forwards which for some reason caused him to slightly chuckle under his breath.

Who the fuck sits here? Giants?

The first two minutes went by in silence, the only sound coming from the roaring engine of this sexy car. I couldn't stop myself and my big mouth from asking this next question, it was in my nature.

"Can you roll down the window?" I asked and he just gave me a suspiciously confused expression in return before shrugging and complying.

"Why?" He asks in his deep tone and I just respond truthfully, "I wanted to hear the exhaust."

I caught a glimpse at his expression and I saw a small smirk on his lips from my words. I just narrowed my eyes, a bit confused before closing the window after a bit.

The next minute of comfortable silence was once again ruined by my newly purchased ring tone; "Candy shop" by 50 cent.

He gave me one of the weirdest looks considering the lyrics and I just looked like a deer in headlights before quickly rushing to answer the call of my good friend, Jasmine.

"WHERE ARE YOU?! WE WERE SUPPOSED TO ENDURE THAT BITCH PAULA'S BITCHINESS TOGETHER! THE PRACTICE WILL BE A HORROR SHOW!" I cringed at how loudly she spoke, pulling the phone away from my ear slightly. I caught another amused expression on the guy who's name I don't even know's face.

"Jaz, the practice will be fine without me. Just because she's team captain doesn't mean you have to let her walk all over you." I softly chuckled into the phone.

"Easy for you to say. She doesn't dare to speak up to you after you beat her to a pulp two weeks ago." She scoffed and I just roll my eyes at the amusing but annoying memory.

"Ok. So? Beat her to a pulp like I did then. Put her in her place. She's a bitch anyways." I scoffed and I could very much see the guys grip tighten on his steering wheel from my choice of words.

I would apologize... if I gave a shit.

"But-"

"Girl. If you're not gonna hit her, then beat her ass in practice." I grinned and I could practically hear her roll her eyes at me before the call ended.

"Team?" He questions and I paused, recalling my choice of words.

"Mhm." I hummed while putting my phone back into my pocket.

"Sports team?" He asked and I came to the conclusion that the guys bipolar from how quick his mood changed.

"Basketball." I answered to which he just nodded while speeding through the crowded streets.

"So... which brother are you?" I asked, sounding a bit more blunt than I thought I would.

"Luciano. I'm your second eldest brother." He replied and I realized that I'm still not processing literally eight fucking brothers.

"Eight?" I questioned and he nodded, amused by the disbelief my tone was laced with.

"How are you... holding up?" He asks with an odd tone, as if he was barely getting out the words, fighting some sort of pride by asking.

"Uh... fine?" I respond as more of a question when in all honesty, I'm not fine. I'm so fucking confused with my life right now but I'm doing what I do best, pushing everything down until it all explodes.

Until I explode.

The rest of the ride went by with him asking me random questions, trying to make small talk. I just gave blunt one word answers and he took the hint before leaving me to myself in silence.

S H A T T E R E D

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I noticed that we pulled up to a luxurious mansion. Guards were scattered around the property, sports cars were flooding the drive way which seemed to go on for miles.

It didn't surprise me though considering I grew up in riches. I should say more around riches. I wouldn't get much stuff for myself considering Raul hated me. Zane just shooed me off with his credit card to get rid of me completely.

Raul's mansion back in LA was a bit smaller while this one seemed to be the size of Zane's from what I remember, from when I lived with him back home in Italy.

That was until he got rid of me and shipped me off to America. Who ships off a six year old to America to train them and "toughen them up" when all they've known is their life back in Italy?

Zane was a dick but he sent me off to the devil himself who made Zane's abuse look like child's play.

He was a shitty father back when I even lived with him. He neglected me, was never there, my cousins practically raised me but they had lives of their own and I'd only ever see them rarely which kinda explains my whole defiance towards any parental authority. I never had any. Simple.

Zane was a dick. Even beat me as a kid.

Who the fuck beats a six year old because they ask for water?

I got shipped off when he disappeared for a week, as usual, but when he came back, he played me. Told me we were going out for food but really, we went to the airport.

I begged him to let me stay with him. I was a naive girl who was desperate for her father to finally show her even a sliver of affection for once but he just shrugged me off and sent me away.

Sent me away to my own hell where Raul's abuse completely broke me for a very long time.

He's scarred me. Bad. But I use those scars as motivation to keep my head up. Can't have the crown falling, now can we?

I hadn't even realized that the car was parked while Luciano was getting my luggage from the trunk. I grumbled before lunging out of the car, ready to carry them myself but he already had everything, leaving me with that tiny suitcase, once again.

"I don't need your help!" I exclaimed while catching up to him, making failed attempts at trying to get my luggage back.

"Well, you're getting it whether you like it or not." He replied, amused and I just huffed my way into the mansion after him.

"Great." I mumbled under my breath. If you haven't realized, I like relying on myself and no one else. There's no room for any one else's but your fuck ups. It might be the cowards way out but it sure as hell has kept me going for the past almost sixteen years.

"Tony!" Luciano shouted, his voice booming throughout the mansion, creating echoes, causing me to flinch back but it thankfully went unnoticed.

"What?!" A deep voice boomed through out the house and then my eyes landed on a man emerging from the basement stairs.

So, how much did this guy pay to get a real life hulk into his house?

The man was huge to say the least. Probably standing at around 6'3 or 6'4 with bulging muscles that you could see considering he was only wearing shorts. The what seemed to be like a twenty year old, had tattoo's plastered all over his body like a work of art. Probably the most tattoo's I've ever seen. He looked like he just came out from a work out considering the basketball shorts and the disgusting amount of sweat. I couldn't lie, he looked a lot like Luciano apart from their eyes where he had dark ones and Luciano had blue ones.

His scowl instantly dropped when his dark brown eyes went straight past Luciano and landed on me. I felt like squirming under his sharp gaze but I quickly kept my head up, not letting myself radiate any sort of weakness.

I can't give them a head start at what'll hopefully not be hell part three.

"Is it her?" I was a bit shocked with how soft his voice went compared to how it was before. I noticed Luciano give a subtle nod and "Tony's" gaze was practically piercing through me at this point.

"Where's my room?" I asked, bluntly, needing to get out of this odd position.

"Uh- we'll show you..." he paused for a second after his stammering before continuing with disbelief all over his face, "I'm Antonio but everyone calls me Tony. I'm your fourth eldest brother."

"Cool. I'm Valentina. Now, my room?" I raised an eyebrow and he still seemed starstruck so I just turned to the stubborn one.

"Right. Tony, bring some of this stuff up with us." Luciano gestured towards the luggage and he nodded. I lunged towards it but they were already making their way up the stairs with it all, even the mini suitcase that I was supposed to take.

"I said I don't need your help!" I grunted while trying to catch up to them.

"And I told you. You're getting it." Luciano huffed as we made it to the top of the luxurious stair case.

I just rolled my eyes, letting them do it considering the fact that I needed some rest after that plane ride.

Who cares. Let the stubborn fucks move it for me.

They were mumbling something to each other but I couldn't make it out. I just ignored the frustration that was boiling up in me. I've always been one to know what's happening around me. I need to be aware. I can't have any surprises which leaves me unguarded which leads to... very familiar traumas.

We ended up in a long corridor of what seemed to be a bunch of bedrooms. The doors were huge, probably standing at at-least ten feet. I followed them only a little bit further before we stopped at one of the doors which I assumed to be mine.

"The order of the rooms are pretty scattered. You're rooms between your youngest brother, Marcelo, and Domenico, the oldest triplet." Tony explained while pushing the door open.

Holy shit. Not even twins. Fucking triplets.

"Triplets?" I asked, shocked. I'm not even used to siblings. The closest thing I've ever had are my cousins back in Italy and my relationship with them is complicated.

Sure, we don't have a bad relationship but they're all just a bunch of mafia men who have their life devoted to that and nothing else. Plus, they're back in Italy so I ever only see them when they're in America for business or when I'm back in Italy. They did take the chance and joined Zane on his surprise visits to see how my trainings going though.

The cousins who actually liked me were always supportive of my progress with some attitude, unlike Zane who was just a complete dick about it. Just like Zane, they had no clue about what happened in the walls of the horrid mansion I've spent the last decade trapped in.

I wonder how they're dealing with it all right now? Even if I'll ever see them again...

"Let's get you settled in." Luciano sighed as they both dragged my luggage in.

I stepped in behind them and my jaw might've hit the floor when I saw the room. I might've been used to a big house but not a big room. Raul had me sleeping on what could pass for a shithole.

It was a beautiful heather grey theme with silver colour for all of the furniture. Everything had what looked like real diamonds on them. From the diamond-embedded headboard to the door knobs. There were also LED lights which I really appreciated and a bunch of well-set furniture.

"You like it?" I nodded my head in response to Tony's question, not being able to take my eyes off of the glass balcony.

"... Well, we'll let you unpack. You'll meet everyone else at dinner tonight." Luciano informed and I just hummed in response to which they both softly chuckled before leaving my room and closing the door behind them.

Well, shit. I can get used to this.

S H A T T E R E D

I groaned before belly-flopping down onto the marshmallow-like king-sized bed. I instantly moved to the side when my blind ass landed on my last suit case but my scowl was wiped away and replaced with a grin.

My last suitcase to unpack: my favourite suitcase.

I pushed myself up and off the bed, making my way towards the giant dresser, my suitcase with me. I pulled the two top drawers open that I had saved for my babies.

In one, I placed all of my knives, my knife collection, butterfly knives, blades, daggers, pocket knives, machetes, switchblades, you get the idea. In the other drawer, are my firearms, the ones on the smaller side that is.

I made my way towards the humongous walk-in closet and over to the big drawers, I left empty before placing my bigger guns in. They were all in their cases, my snipers, rifles, machine guns, then the rest. I put my bazooka in its own drawer away from the other bazookas. This one was special. I had it customized so that it had diamond embeddings on it.

I placed my special M16 in its own drawer as well. It had a black and gold look with "say hello to my little friend" engraved onto it. Will forever be one of my favorite things. Plus, I may or may have not used that line before shooting some bastards with this pretty little thing.

Next, I placed down my first ever AK-47. I gazed at it as one does to their child. My cousins— the ones who actually like me— gifted it to me for my twelfth birthday and it was customized as well.

Let's not question why it was a birthday present for a twelve-year-old—

Then again, they're all a bunch of mafia men who have a concerning adoration for violence and I guess we're trying to rub it off onto me— which they succeeded in.

Once I was done, I decided to change out of the clothes I was wearing on the flight and into something a little more presentable since I looked like a potato in my sweat pants and hoodie. My leather jacket was barely saving the look.

I quickly stripped down to my underwear and my eyes landed on my body through the mirror. I slowly stepped closer to get a better look and I saw a very familiar sight.

The bruises from Raul's beating had already formed into a purple and yellow explosion all over my ribs. With it, scars, horrid scars. There were some slashes, stab wounds, carvings, and belt marks. Raul.

I quickly shook off my gaze and practically ran away from the mirror. I swallowed down a pain killer before slipping into black jeans, a black turtle neck, and some jewelry.

I let my dark, black curls flow down to my mid-back in a middle part like they usually would. I put on my signature lipgloss that has a brownish-nude tint to it before finishing my look off with my go-to Nike slides.

My clothes make up for the footwear.

Throughout the entire time, I found myself fiddling with the S pendant on my chest, dangling from the silver chain. The necklace he gave me the night... the last night I saw him.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when a loud knock echoed throughout my room. I quickly fixed up my hair before shoving my phone into my pocket and making my way over to the door.

I rolled my eyes though when the door was already opened and Luciano strolled in as if he didn't just knock.

Privacy? I think not.