Bruises

V A L E R I U S ' P O V :

"Carlo should be here any moment now." John tells me.

Blood is beginning to drip through the cloth and down Ellie's forehead, into her eye. This is doing absolutely nothing now.

I need to lay her down.

I pick her up and she lets out a sob. "I know, baby. You're doing so good." I praise. I lay her down on the bed and sit down next to her.

I turn to John who looks just as concerned as I am. "I need you to hold back my family for as long as you can." I tell him.

"Yes, Don." John nods before setting my phone down and rushing out of the room.

A cool, wet rag lays nicely on Ellie's face. Her eyes wire shut. She's definitely in pain but it's not the worst she ever felt, sadly.

I just want to take her pain away.

It's unfair that she's hurting.

Just four minutes later the door opens and Carlo walks in with his travel case. I let go of the breath I was holding in.

Carlo rushes over and sits his case on the bed. "Hi, Miss Eleonora." He says, trying to distract her while he opens his case.

I lean Ellie back more and she whines in discomfort. The cloth gets taken off for Carlo to see the wound. Blood pours out strongly. Carlo places a clean cloth underneath the cut so the blood won't get in her eyes.

He inspects it quickly before pressing the clean cloth over her wound. He snaps a glove on his left hand.

Ellie chokes on another sob. "Can't you give her something for the pain?" I plead.

"It won't kick in for a little but yes." He grabs a type of pink liquid and pours it into a small cup.

"Drink this, baby." I say but she shakes her head no. "It will make you feel better. I promise." She finally nods in agreement. I rub her back to soothe her. Our hands twist together while Carlo puts on numbing cream.

Ellie tries to not freak out when Carlo starts with the stitching. After the first stitch I hear yelling coming from downstairs.

My family is here.

I keep my cool for Ellie but inside I'm beyond annoyed. I didn't want them to find out like this.

The needle pinches her skin again and Ellie flinches back. I reassure her that she's doing a great job.

"Mrs. Armani, it's in you best interest to step away from that door." I hear John say.

He can't touch my mamma, he can't touch any of us in a harmful manner. If he does, he'll be dead, that's how the rules work. So, I know mamma is not going to be stopped.

Can't you just mind your business mamma? Not everything revolves around you.

"No! He is my son. I have the right to know what's going on!" Mom shouts at John and Ellie squeezes my fingers tighter. I just keep whispering soft encouragements in her ear, hoping this will be over soon.

"Bianca, just wait till Val is free to speak." Papà tries to reason with her.

Great. Everyone is here.

"No, Adriano! What if he's hurt! Why is Carlo here?" She bangs on the door and both Carlo and I share a look.

"I can assure you nothing is wrong with your son." I heard John but I know it will be no use.

"Maybe he still has pneumonia?" I hear papà suggest.

"I need to see him!" She shouts again and I'm starting to get mad.

I imagine John is in front of the door, blocking my mamma from entering.

My daughter is crying in pain and my mamma just won't fucking shut up. The yelling is scarring Ellie even more.

"We'll be out in a minute, Bianca." Carlo calls out to my mamma.

That doesn't work.

As Carlo finishes his last stitch the door bangs open and my angry mamma turns to look at the mess in the room. She looks to me, then the blood, then she notices Ellie on the bed.

Immediately I'm pissed off. I'm already angry that she can't listen like a normal human and stay away. Though, now she's crossed the line.

She is about to speak but I cut her off. "Get her the fuck out now!" I yell coldly and I feel Ellie flinch. This time John did put his hands on my mamma to get her out. The order came directly from me.

I could hear her shouting from the hallway,

The door slams with a thud and I rip my eyes off of it. Carlo just finished his work. I uncover Ellie's eyes and she blinks away her tears. Her eyes are red, her cheeks match. She's tired and now her head is aching.

It's been a hell of a day.

"I'm sorry for yelling." I tell her truly. She tucks herself deep into my chest for comfort. I wrap my arms around her fragile body, pulling her close. "I'm so sorry." I whisper again, feeling utterly pathetic.

Carlo walks to the bathroom and washes his hands of blood before coming back. He grabs a bandage out of his case before zipping it up.

I have Ellie turn to him and he tapes the bandage over her stitches. "Okay, Miss Ellie, you're all done! You were so brave." He says, smiling. He hands her a lollipop from his bag. Green apple.

After he gives her a smile, she manages to crack a small one too. Ellie sniffles and I wipe the tears out of her eyes. She tucks her head away and into my chest, hiding again.

"Thank you, Carlo." I speak sincerely.

"Anytime, Valerius." He grabs his bag before exiting the room.

Good luck getting out of my house without my mamma trying to kill you.

I stay with Ellie in my arms for a few moments longer. I need the calm before the storm.

"Ellie there are some people here to see you. Only if your ready for it."

Guilt infiltrates my body.

I wanted this to happen when she was ready and completely comfortable but my mamma ruined that plan.

"Tired, papà." She mumbles into my chest.

"I know, baby. It will be really quick. You don't have to say anything. They'll just be there, sì?" She reluctantly nods. "Let's get changed. Close your eyes, piccolina." I don't want her to see all of her blood on the floor.

When she closes her eyes I picked her up, preparing myself before opening the door. To my surprise nobody is out there. I let out the breath I had been holding but I know they didn't just leave.

They're here somewhere. They can never mind their fucking business.

I walk into my room to see Savino, Marcello and Fabio standing there talking.

Well here's half of them.

They turn their heads to me and quickly notice the child in my arms. It's not everyday I am close to a child. Before they can talk I put a hand up to silence them. I set Ellie on the floor while I go my closet. I didn't let her open her eyes, I don't want her to look at the blood on her clothes.

I come back with a change of clothes and set Ellie down on my bed. My brothers were gawk at her. Each look just as stunned as the other.

"Is this what I'm thinking it is?" Fabio asks, his mouth slacked.

"What do you think it is? Asking for a friend." Mar chimes in and rises a brow at our brother.

Idiot.

"Oh wow, Val. She looks nothing like you." Fabio says sarcastically, looking from Ellie to me. His hands cross over his chest.

Ellie looks at them shyly. "Ellie, this is dumb.." I pointed to Savino. ".. dumber.." I pointed to Fabio. ".. and dumbest." I point to Marcello and they all scoff at me, rolling their eyes. "This is Eleonora. Your niece."

"She's so beautiful!" Mar whispers like Ellie isn't right next to us. He gasps. "She's so tiny!"

"Hi, Eleonora." Savino smiles at her. He stays his distance away and finds his words. "I guess t-that means I'm your zio." Savino is the most level headed of all my brothers.

"I'm the only one with a brain, Eleonora. Never listen to anything they ever tell you." Fabio says. They both give him an annoyed look.

"Before I explain anything Ellie needs to eat something and go to bed so Mar, go get food from downstairs." I command and he groans.

"Why meeee!" He drags out, whining like a child.

"Because I'm your older brother and I say so."

Mar makes a dramatic sound and grumpily walks out of the room. Now I have to deal with two children. Only one I actually like.

"Fine! But only because I like Eleonora better than I like you." Mar smiles at Ellie before leaving the room, flipping me off.

Dickhead.

I sit on my bed and pull Ellie into my lap, she slumps against me. My brothers sit beside us.

"What happened, Eleonora?" Savino points to her bandage to try and start a conversation.

She looks at me and I nod for encouragement. "Fell bad." Her hands subconsciously go up to touch her forehead. Savino smiles at soft her voice.

"Does it still hurt?" I ask. She shakes her head no which I'm happy about.

All of the sudden, the door opens and slams shut quickly. We turn to see Mar panting. "Mama chased me down the hall. Chased me." He collapses onto the bed. Thud.

"That woman can get scary." Fabio shakes his head.

"That woman thrives to make the devil himself fear her." Mar retorts. He tries to drink Ellie's juice box before I steal it out of his hands, giving it to her.

"She's just—," I start.

"Nosey." We all say simultaneously, shaking our heads in annoyance. It's no secret mamma is terrible company.

"Marcello, did you really just bring up all candy?"

"Hell yeah! I was thinking like a kid. Kids love sugary shit. You can't tell me I'm wrong."

"You're always thinking like a child." Fabio grumbles, stealing a piece of chocolate.

Mar tries to steal it back but Fabio whacks his head, hard. Mar shout back at him.

"I swear if she's jumping off the walls.. I'm killing you." I say to Mar as I hand Ellie a piece of chocolate. Ellie happily takes it from me, a smile igniting her lips.

"You seem better, Val." Savino says quietly and I look at him oddly. "It's good to finally see you- you not wrapped up in your own head." They continue and I roll my eyes playfully.

I wasn't wrapped in my head. I'm just like how I was before.

"Now instead of having a stick up your ass like Enzo you're actually might be decent, Val." Fabio teases and I throw a piece of candy at his face. He catches it in his mouth.

I would have retorted something rude but there is a knock at the door, interrupting me.

I look at my brothers and they shrug. "If it were mamma she wouldn't have knocked." Fabio says and I agree.

"Come in."

Papà steps in through the door.

He closes it carefully, taking sight of me and my brothers. His eyes follow to Ellie and I guess he puts the pieces together.

"Is this my granddaughter?" We both already know the answer.

"I think you already know that answer."

He walks closer to the bed, sitting down on the edge. "Well you guys look terribly similar." He says, studying Ellie's face.

This is the quietest I think I've ever heard my papà. It's like he's trying to process what he's seeing. I've never seen him so affected by something.

"Told you!" Mar shouts.

"I said that! Not you!" Fabio snaps at him.

"Your mamma is downstairs raving about the little girl in a room with her son." He tells us.

Of course she is.

"Where did she go? And where is 'I have a stick up my ass Enzo'?" Fabio asks.

"Downstairs. I think Enzo is still processing everything. I told your mother it was best if she stayed downstairs to cool off."

"Thank you." I say to him and he nods.

A silence overturns the room.

"You made me an old man, Valerius." Papà gives me a gentle look, something I've never seen from him before.

"You've always been old." Fabio retorts and papà slaps him upside his head. "Ow!" He hisses.

"Well are you going to tell me anything about my granddaughter or are you going to make me guess?" Papà asks. I see Ellie smile a little.

"Eleonora Valarie Armani." My hand brushes her hair back, her head laying in my chest. "Born December 6th, five-years-old." I speak proudly. She turns her head away from all the attention.

"Ellie..," I call out and she looks to me. "This is your nonno." She looks at papà curiously. She gives him a small wave, unsure.

Papà meets my eyes with something unfamiliar. Ellie looks over to him. She looks at me and I nod for her to do what she wants.

She walks just a step to climb into his lap. It takes both my me and my papà by surprise.

Papà pulls her into his lap. "Hello, Eleonora." He looks unsure of what to do next. Eventually, he relaxes and lets Ellie be.

She's doing so good with other people. I'm so proud of her.

"Hi." She whispers back shyly. Slowly, her head leans back to his chest.

I push down my jealousy because Ellie should have her moment will her nonno. I won't take away her progress to selfishly keep her only for me. Even though it's hard to do.

"You're hogging her!" Marcello whines. He reaches over to try and grab Ellie off of papà but he slaps Mar's hands away.

"Hey! My nipotina!" Papà chides. Marcello moves his hand back quickly. Ellie almost laughs but she holds herself back.

I spend the next half-hour listening to them bicker over who should hold Ellie. In all honesty I feel like this is the closest I've ever felt to my family. Who knew it would only take having a kid.

Eventually, Ellie actually falls asleep in my papà's arms. It was time to tell everyone the full story. How this actually happened.

I take Ellie out of my papà's hands. I tell them to wait downstairs.

When we reach my bedroom we do our night routine. After, I pull the covers back and lay Ellie down. She whines but eventually stops and lays comfortably. I tuck her in tightly.

"Goodnight, Ellie." I whisper softly. I kiss her head.

I wait with her until she's fully asleep. Then I go.

I stop and eye my nightstand sitting by Ellie's head. I make the decision to move it further to the left- away from her reach.

Better to be safe than sorry.

With one final glance back at my daughter, I walk out of my room and close my door.

Here we go.

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