"It's time to meet the brothers." Dante says ominously before we enter the mall.

"They're at the mall?" I ask.

"Who else would I call? They're meeting us at the mall outside Forever 21."

"What? You called them? I thought you called some other person?" I assumed he called my father or some other asshole. "And you are forever 21? Wait, you're twenty."

"I turn twenty-one in a month and I called multiple people, but that's not the point. You've never heard of Forever 21?"

"Well, what is it?" I begin to become impatient.

"It's a clothing store for girls like you and young guys. It's not my type of clothing, so I don't shop there, but there a lot of girls who shop here. It's pretty cheap."

I smile at his last words. Some things never change. Dante still loves bargains and sales--any way to save money. He is always looking for an opportunity to make and save more money despite his probably hefty amount of cash gathering dust in his bank account.

"Dad wasn't kidding, was he? You really did live under a rock. How was your roomate Patrick?" He jokes.

"Ha-ha." I laugh sarcastically. "You're hilarious."

"Thank you for your compliment. I get that a lot." He bows. Then, he asks curiously,"Wait, you do know who Patrick is right? Patrick the Star-ouch!" He rubs his shoulder after I punch him. I barely tapped him. I glare enviously and admirably at his muscles, wishing that I could be back in top shape as soon as possible.

"Let's just go in." I roll my eyes.

"Gladly. It's getting cold."

It isn't long before I spot my other two brothers quickly. Now that I think about it, none of my brothers could ever blend into the background. They're too noticeable because of their big builds that I question how the heck they are able to go undercover for anything. Then again, they probably don't need to if all they need to do is start a fight as soon as they enter a place.

Leo and Tony lean against a wall nonchalantly as they converse. Leo and Tony look pretty much the same as before, older of course. It's like some magical spell where I come back and poof they're men! I know better but whatever.

Leo looks like the spitting image of a younger version of my father. I think amusingly that it is almost fitting that the one who will inherit the family business would look the most alike him. Leo is a lot leaner than Tony and Dante, but I'm sure he probably still whoops their butts like the good old days. The oldest always wins as usual.

I raise my eyebrows in surprise at the stubble growing on Tony's jaw. He looks older than Leo, and I would never admit it but he looks like one of those magazine models with the slight beard. If he grew a full-out beard, I would so call him a cave man. Couldn't any of my brothers look less goodlooking? The three of them make me feel as if I just got out of bed in my ripped jeans and oversized sweatshirt. And Tony is wearing some type of stylish sweatpant with a sweatshirt. Curse guys who make sweatpants look stylish.

I'm going off a tangent.

They spot us as we get closer, mainly due to Dante's annoying attempts to embarrass me in public. He's trying to give me a piggy back ride by lifting me up.

I don't want a piggyback ride.

I keep slapping him away. Dante can be quite immature. Scratch that, the three of them are all quite immature when the four of us are altogether.

I try my best to think about my mother, but maybe it's time to forgive. I do forgive my brothers. They have never done anything besides protect and love me. Plus, we have plenty of time to catch up and offer explanations.

"Is that who I think it is?" Tony exclaims.

"Vivi!" Leo lifts me up and swings me in a circle. Tony does the same.

"You actually grew...a little," Leo measures my height to his around six feet tall frame.

"I grew four inches. I am 5'5" now." I smack his hand as he points out the half foot of air between us.

"You'll always be tiny as ever." Tony chuckles.

"And as annoying," Dante adds, which earns him a scowl from me.

"It's not my fault all three of you got the tall gene from dad's side. And 5'5" is not short!" I cross my arms. "That is perfectly average. I don't know what type of height chart you guys have, but it is awfully skewed."

"Sure," Tony pats my head. I huff a bit louder in annoyance.

"So why are we here? Is this a shopping-bonding moment?" I have not shopped in years unless you counted online shopping. The uniforms at Elite did not offer me much of a reason to shop. "Aren't you guys a couple years too old to be shopping at a place called Forever 21?"

"Twenty-three is not old." Tony says at the exact same time Leo says, "I think twenty-four is a perfect time for mating."

"Leonardo-say-what?" I shoot him a look.

Leo laughs, "Your faces! Priceless!"

"Anyways, as I am the most mature one," Dante begins but my brothers snicker at his statement. "As I was saying before these immature children interrupted me, I, the most mature Ricca brother, have appointed myself with the responsibility of being your disguise coordinator."

"And we decided to help." Tony and Leo nod.

"You told them!" I gasp at Dante's betrayal.

"Not really," he shrugs innocently. "Da did."

Tony and Leo finally burst out laughing, clutching their stomachs tightly. They seem to find this all too hilarious.

"How could we not miss this chance?" Leo says in between his laughs. "Of course, we would want to play a part in this elaborate plan."

"Absolutely not." My face frozen in horror.

"We reject your opinions." Leo grabs my shoulders and pushes me into the store. "Hush child, the masterminds are at work," he shushes me with his hand as I open my mouth in protest. My eyes dart towards my other brothers for help but the two Devils look away.

"I'll get you three back for this, especially you!" I glare menacingly at Dante, who only smiles sweetly.

*****

Two freaking hours later

I hate this store.

I hate shopping.

"Are you serious?" I wrinkle my nose in distaste at the most horrifying outfit ever. And let's say this is the twentieth outfit I have seen. I would rather smell my brothers' stinky gym socks than be spotted in this fashion disaster of an outfit. We all knew that plaid against plaid was an absolute no for fashion, especially if the plaid shirt sported an ugly chihuahua with a Santa hat.

"It's perfect." Dante smirks. "The chihuahua looks just like you."

"You asshole," I scowl as the chihuahua looks even uglier as I stare at it longer. I am sorry for all the chihuahua lovers out there, but I cannot stand chihuahuas. They look too much like hairless rats. Plus, their barks are so annoying.

"Oh c'mon little sis," Leo swings by with two arms full of clothing articles. "The three of us are the best fashionshitas out there." He must mean fashionistas.

"Totally." Tony tries his best to mimic some type of valley girl. He adds an imaginary hair flip and hip pop. It's scarily accurate.

"I don't want to know what and how you can do that..." I stare at him as I blink slowly.

"Dante here dated some dumb blond hooker." Tony explains anyways. I think it's supposed to help clarify things, but I remain confused.

"She was not a hooker for the last time!" Dante defends her.

"Right. She was a first-class prostitute. Same thing," Leo says seriously.

Dante tries to look for me for help. Oh, now you want my help?

Instead, I joke, "Wait. Dumb, blond, and slutty? That is the type of girls you go for? Yuck. You are no brother of mine."

"You said it sis," Tony, Leo, and I high five it out.

"You guys are dicks." Dante frowns.

"Bigger than yours." Leo smirks.

"A lot bigger." Tony emphasizes.

"Hey! My dick happens to--"

"And I am tuning out." I get up to run for the nearest exit. We were doing so well before the dick jokes came in.

"Not so fast," they all say in unison.

I groan and sit back on the couch. "Do I really need to have twenty ugly outfits to wear? You guys are worst than girls."

"Yes." The three of them cross their arms and nod.

"I think this is the perfect one for you first day of school. it's all about first impression." Dante points to this outfit. "Go change. Now." His eyes turn serious at the demand.

"Okay!" I grab the clothes and scurry to the changing rooms. When any of my brothers get serious, they get serious. Ain't nobody want to mess with a serious Ricca brother.

I change quickly, cringing at every piece of clothing I wear. The only skin that shows is my face and hands. I don't flaunt my body, but I certainly do not like the feeling of confinement these clothes are making me feel.

"Come out!" One them shouts impatiently.

"Hold your horses," I reply.

"Girls take so long to change."

"Maybe it's because she might have gotten fat, so it's hard to put on some clothes."I hear Dante's voice clearly outside the changing room.

"I heard that." I grab my shoe and chuck it over the door, hoping it hits someone.

A grunt and then, "What the f**k?" follows, making me smile satisfyingly.

I look at myself in the mirror. One glance is all I need. I cringe at my attire. I will be bullied in these clothes.

"Don't forget these!" Dante yells cheerily as he throws a pair of glasses and a wig right on top of my head. They aren't supposed to hurt, but he adds my boot with it.

"Thanks, "I say sarcastically as I rub the bump on my head in pain.

The wig they chose is a short bob with bangs to my eyes. The color rivals my outfit in an ugly shade of bright red-orange. The glasses look like those old-fashioned thick librarian glasses.

I walk out miserably.

flash!

The three of them hold their phones out and take a picture of me.

"My favorite wallpaper." They compare their photos and smile evilly.

"I think you're good." Leo claps proudly.

Tony high fives Dante. "I don't think I could even recognize you underneath those glasses and wig!"

"It's perfect."

"You're going to be a total outcast from day one."

"I get it. Are we done here?" I cut off all their comments. I am beyond irritated.

"Let's go!"

"Great." I mutter without a single ounce of joy.

We end up buying half the store. I'm exaggerating, but I mean each of my brothers holds a bag full of clothes.

The teenager at the cash register stares at them with a mixture of shock and horror. With the flash of a grin, my brothers instantly charm her as she proceeds to check out every single piece of article.

I stand awkwardly in the side as we wait.

As soon as we leave the store, Dante yells," Score! Beat that!"

I look at him for an explanation.

"This lucky dude got her number instead of them two." He puffs out his chest.

"Yay for you." I shrug.

"She was too young for us. We didn't bother hitting on her." Leo furrows his brows. "Immature." He coughs.

"When exactly am I supposed to go to this school?" I change the subject.

"Tomorrow!" Dante chirps.

"Funny. No, really. When?" I scoff.

"Tomorrow...." Tony repeats.

"You are kidding me. Please tell me the school is at least decent." I beg.

"It's the largest public school in Chicago. Lane Technical High School." Tony says.

"Lane. It sounds familiar. The campus is actually kind of pretty, but old." I vaguely remember.

"Next stop: school supplies!" Dante shouts.

"Yay...." I trail off.

******

Showtime.

Today is the day.

I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror of Tony's flat. I chose not to stay overnight at the house.

The wig looks real, but more of a botched dyeing job. My Italian features is not prominent underneath the bangs and thick glasses.

"Why do I need to be in disguise again?" I spot Tony walking past.

"Because we want you to." Tony pats my back sympathetically.

"How will anyone know who I am if you guys can't even recognize me?"

"Well, your name will still be Shay Ricca. Plus, if you're in a disguise, the Acerbi Family may think that you actually want to live normally. They will think you're here to stay and learn in school."

"Yeah, but how?" I ask again.

"There's a lot of spies all over. They will know." He frowns a bit. "Just don't worry about it. Stay out of sight and act under the radar. Don't find trouble because trouble will certainly find you."

"Don't scare her too much." Dante comes over.

"Don't forget there's a bug in the chihuahua's eyes and the camera in the your glasses frame." Tony checks them once more.

"Good luck." They say. "You'll need it..."

"I hate school." I groan. "The place I went to was more of a college."

"The bus is here." Leo pops his head inside the room. "You ready?"

"The bus. Even better!" I groan as I head outside.

Showtime!

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