Isabella

"We found multiple traces of the blood of Isabella Castillo all over their house. We think this could be a lead to child abuse. I call Isabella Castillo to stand."

My breath stopped. Please no, no, no, no, no. This was not part of the plan, no one said anything about this to me! Oh god, how do I get out of this?

"Miss Castillo, could you please take a seat?" Mr. Jeson was staring kindly to me and all eyes were on me.

"You can do it loca. You got this, just stay calm." Emilio whispered. All my brothers were shocked and weren't prepared for this. Lorenzo looked like he was ready to kill someone. He knew I was already nervous and this was just another level.

I slowly stand up and walk to the judge. He nods at me and gave me a friendly smile. I sat in my seat and looked at Mr. Jeson. I couldn't look my mother and Logan in the eyes. I felt their eyes on me and I was sweating like crazy.

"Hello kiddo, could you please tell us your name?"

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I was shocked so I did the worst thing you could do, I looked at Logan. Oh I wish I didn't

I gasped and my eyes went wide, Logan was throwing daggers to me. Even my mother was glaring at me. Mr. Jeson saw my discomfort and looked at Logan and my mother.

"Mr. and Ms. Mcfield, I'll advice you to stop sending daggers to your child. Now kiddo, coud you please tell us your name?" His eyes told me it was okay and that nothing could happen to me. Oh boy, you don't even know.

"Isabella. I-Isabella Cas-tillo."

"Isabella Castillo, do you vow to speak the truth and the truth only?" The judge asked.

"Yes, your Honor."

"Go on Mr. Jeson." The judge said.

"Isabella, as I've told before, we found your blood all over the house. To little blood for little wounds. We also found knives, glass and other items with your blood on. Now my question for you is if your parents did that?"

What do I do now? I mean I'm sitting here, not able to speak, let alone tell him...that story. I forgot I was in a room full of people and I noticed I was entering a panic attack.

"Isabella, deep breaths. Focus on your breath Isabella." He wasn't helping, it was starting to get worse and out of no where I saw someone stand up and run to me.

"Cariño I need you to breath, can you do that for me? Listen to my voice, focus on my hands on yours. I know you can do it Isabella." Lorenzo's voice reached my ears and I immediately felt safe.

I started to breath normal again and I looked him straight in the eyes.

"Sorry." I looked away.

I never look away.

"Bella, look at me." I slowly face him. "You have nothing to apologise for. You're safe now. Tell them you did not know about this, they can't question you because that's your right and then we'll get out of here. I promise."

He walked back to his place after give me a small smile and Mr. Jason started questioning me again.

"Are you okay Isabella?"

"You're a Castillo, you're stronger than you think." ~Matteo Castillo

"All the witnesses are called by their surname, I expect you to treat me the same as I wasn't informed on this part." I looked him coldly in the eye.

I did that. I really said that. Holy-

"Alright, my apologies Miss Castillo. Could you please answer my first question?"

"No, I won't." Gasp where filled in the room and I locked eyes with Emilio and Lorenzo. They both nodded and I felt relief wash over me.

"Mr. Jeson, I think Miss Castillo did not know about this so she has every right to not answer, but the evidence is clearly there. I'm afraid the jury has to vote Miss Castillo." He gave me a guilty look and I looked at him with horror in my eyes.

"Jury, you have ten minutes to vote anonymous." Twelve people stood up and walked to a door at the right side of the room.

These ten minutes were the longest minutes of my whole life. They had the power to decide to drop it or follow the evidence what means I will be at the center of the trial with Logan and my mother.

I'm not sure if I can handle that.

Everyone was whispering to each other and looking over at me but I was in my own world, panicking. If they just filled me in about this evidence I could at least prepared myself but they didn't. No scartch that, if they just simply didn't find the evidence, there wouldn't be a problem.

My brothers tried to get my attention but I straight ignored them. I couldn't face them, not now, not after this. It was already so hard to open up to Lorenzo and Emilio about Logan, let stand a room full of strangers.

"Miss Castillo, I'm Pete Jeson. I'm sorry I startled you with this but I needed to get your real reaction. I know something happened in that house Isabella and I'll do everything in my power to give you justice. You have my word." He patted me on my shoulder and I winced. His eyes went wide and so did mine.

Everyone was looking at us and panic started to rise in my blood. While I was panicking, he gently removed my jumper and he saw my shoulder. Shit, my shoulder!

I jumped back and his eyes held so much pity. Oh my god

"I swear Miss Castillo, I will make sure they never remove the bars before your parents." He gave a look full of pity and I wanted to yell at him, I wanted to slap him for inviding my privacy. I wanted to scream and curse. I wanted to cry and break down, let everything out, I wanted to run, I wanted to hug someone, I wanted to get out of here.

Then twelve people came in and then it hit me. They decided.

"Jury, please let us hear your decision. Will the evidence against Mr. and Ms. Mcfield for child abuse be dropped or lifted?" Everyone was waiting in silence; waiting for the final answer of the jury.

Seconds felt like hours and my palms started to sweat more and more. I could hear my own heart beating and the silence was killing me.

"We decided that the evidence is too much to let it be dropped. The trial will continue." And then it all stopped. I couldn't hear what the judge said beside me or what Mr. Jeson said to me. I didn't even see everyone stand up from their seat or my brothers running to me.

I was staring at the place the man who just spoke stood and someone was shaking me back and forth.

They didn't let the evidence drop. They-they-they-.

Oh my god.

"Isabella!" I snapped out of my trance and I could see my brothers visually relax.

"¡Ese bastardo! ¡Cómo se atrevía a hacer tales preguntas sin prepararla!" Emilio shouted. (That bastard! How dare he ask her such questions without preparing her!)

"Yo me ocuparé de eso, ahora déjalo, hermano." Lorenzo said back. (I'll take care of it now keep it down brother.)

"¿Cómo puedes estar tan tranquilo? ¿No viste su cara? ¡Había miedo por toda ella y no se detuvieron!" Rodrigo balled his hands. What the hell are they saying? (How can you stay so calm? Didn't you see her face? There was fear all over her and they didn't stop!)

"Ese hijo de puta, lo voy a asesinar!" Rodrigo yelled again (That son of a bitch, I will murder him!)

"Rodrigo la estás asustando, ahora mismo tenemos que sacarla de aquí" Riccardo said and Rodrigo calmed down. (Rodrigo you're scaring her, right now we need to get her out of here.)

"Nunca la vi así de asustado lorenzo, no quiero volver a verla así nunca más." Matteo whispered (I never saw her that scared lorenzo, I never want to see her like that again.)

"Lo sé hermano, incluso mis peores enemigos no podrían manejar eso." Lorenzo said and I saw a flash of sadness and hurt in his eyes. Seriously what are they talking about? (I know brother, even my worst enemies couldn't handle that.)

I noticed that tears were forming in my eyes. People were still leaving the room and I was about to break down. The fact that they're going to investigate what happened back there makes me break. I just want to leave this all behind.

I walked to Lorenzo and pulled his sleeve so he was facing me instead of my brothers' arguments. He turned around and he saw my glossy eyes.

"Mierda". He whispered and lifted me up. He laid my head into the crook of his neck and I hugged him like a koala while I cried in silence on his shoulder.

"Can we please go home." I quietly said/cried.

Now all my brothers were looking at me and they stopped arguing when they saw my state.

"Koala, baby are you okay?" Matteo asked carefully.

"Loca, please talk to us." Emilio pleaded.

"Let us help you Bella." Riccardo said.

"Isa...Please." Rodrigo added.

"Emilio, get the car, we're getting out of here. Matteo, call the pilot. We have no intention of staying any longer. Rodrigo, go out and buy some sweet stuff for Isabella, Matteo will join you when he's done. Riccardo you're with me." Everyone hurried to do their job. Lorenzo and Riccardo used the emergency exit to walk out of the building. Emilio was already waiting in the car.

"Get her in there, wait for Matteo, Rodrigo and me. And prevent her from overthinking." He whispered the last part but I still managed to hear it. Riccardo nodded. He took me from Lorenzo's arms and at first I didn't want to let go.

"Cariño, I'll be back in five, then you can hang on me how much you want okay?" I finally let go and Riccardo placed a kiss on my forehead.

"You'll be fine Bella. We got you." He placed me in the car and Emilio looked at me with sad eyes. He grabbed my hand and drew small circles on them. I didn't look at any of them, I hid my head into my seat.

A few minutes passed I think and Rodrigo and Matteo came into the car all panting and exhausted.

"How is she?" Rodrigo asked. I was sitting in the back with the twins with me next to the window. Emilio was on the driver's seat and Matteo on the passenger seat.

"She hasn't looked at us." Emilio sighed.

"Dios mio, esto es malo" Matteo said. (My god, this is bad.)

Ten minutes have passed now and Lorenzo came in the car. He opened my door and without warning me he lifted me up and sat in the back. He placed my legs on both sides and I laid my head into his chest. He made small movements with his fingers on my back.

I held back my tears and tried to stop overthink.

Yeah, tried.

This could last months. Months of people trying to find out what happened by asking me uncomfortable questions and invade my privacy. It will be expensive flying over constantly, what makes me a burden to my family.

My family...

I dragged them in this. I should have ran away when I had the chance, maybe I still have a chance. Maybe I could run away from all of this and make sure my brothers' lifes will be back to the way they were.

"Stop overthinking Bella." Lorenzo whispered. "I promise I'll take care of it."

I couldn't help myself by overthinking. And once you start, you can not stop the thoughts from coming. That's when a silent tear escaped my eye and rolled over my cheek on Lorenzo's shoulder.

"¡Mierda Emilio, conduce más rápido!" Lorenzo yelled. I need to learn this language I swear to god. For all I know they could say they're putting me up for adoption. (Shit, Emilio drive faster!)

Oh my god

They're going to put me up for adoption aren't they? I just started to feel like I belonged...

"Qué pasó?" Matteo asked while Emilio pressed harder on the gas pedal. (What happened?)

"Ella está al borde de romperse." Lorenzo said with a sad voice. They're probably sad because no one wants to adopt me. You're going to have to wait a long time before someone would want to adopt me out of free will, gentlemen. (She's on the edge of breaking down.)

We arrived at the airport. Lorenzo immediately walked out of the car, never letting go of me. My brother soon followed him and we all entered the plane after greeting the piloy. He was looking with a shocked expression to me and Lorenzo gave him a glare to mind his own business.

"Matteo, I'll call you after a while to check up on her bruises. Rod, Ric, Emilio, stay here." They all nodded. Lorenzo walked to his office. He put me on his one arm and with the other he did some things that made the sofa turn into an office bed.

He placed me on the edge and lowered himself so he was on my hight. I looked everywhere but his eyes. The same eyes as my mother...

"Cariño, please look at me." I couldn't. I just couldn't.

"Bella, I can't imagine what you just went through. Please let us help you. Let me help you."

I still didn't look at him and our breath was the only thing you could hear.

"You think you're a burden don't you? Let me tell you Isabella. You are our family, our little sister. The only place we can take a break from being the cold Castillos. You never are and will never be a burden. Never." He waited but I still didn't budge. He let out a small sigh.

"That moment fsather called us in the room to look at us new little sister I hated the fact I had a sister. But then I got to hold you and those sparky eyes immediately put me under a spell. A spell of brotherly love. I promised myself to always protect you. To be there when you say your first word, when you take your first steps, your first day to school, your first day to high school, your graduation, your wedding. I promised myself to be your big brother."

"But I also promised myself to be there to catch you when you fall for the first time, the second, until the last. I will be there to beat up the boy who broke your heart, I will be there when you get your first fight, I will be there when you're in trouble. I promised myself to be your bubble wrap."

"But now I'm not promising this to myself anymore, because I'm promising this to you now. I missed a lot of those things when you were gone, Isabella. But now that you're back, I won't be just your bubble wrap, I will also be your body guard, the lock to your heart, your security camera but most importantly, I will be your big brother. We all will, so please let me in Isabella. Please."

Tears were threathing to drop at his speech. Dammit why is he so good with words?

"You don't get it Lorenzo! This could last months! Months! Months of people reminding me how broken I am. Months of pure torment! I can't have people dig into my past Lorenzo! I can't, I just can't handle it. I'm so done! I just want to forget they ever-"

"Shhh, it's okay baby."

"I just want to leave it behind me Lorenzo." Tears were streaming down my face "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I dragged all of you in this mess. I'm so sorry." I was on full crying modus now and I couldn't stop.

Lorenzo was whiping my tears away but it was no use. I also was an ugly crier so this is awkward.

"Are you going to put me up for adoption now?" His eyes went wide and his hand stopped whiping away my tears. Shit.

"Isabella..."

"I get it, I really do. It's okay."

"Stop." His voice was loud and there was no sign of humor or madness. Pure leadership.

"Never in a million years I would put you up for adoption. I would rather die, than lose you. Never think like that again Isabella. You're my little sister. My little getaway, my little cariño."

I didn't even listen after that, I just threw myself in his arms and he easily caught me.

"I love you so much Isabella. So freaking much. I promise I will handle the situation, don't worry about it, okay? We're getting through this together."

"Pinky promise?" I said with glossy eyes and a running nose.

"Pinky promise." He smiled at me, connected our pinkies and then we were hugging again.

"Now I'm going to call Matteo to check up on your wounds. You can take a bite and a nap after okay?"

"Sounds good." I smiled back at him. Me eyes are probably puffy and red, how amazing.

Lorenzo walked out of the room and called Matteo. Instead of only matteo, everyone came in.

Why doesn't that surprise me?

"Hi." I awkwardly said.

Really? 'Hi'?

"Even after all of this you're cute as fuck." Emilio looked at me with adoration. Lorenzo gave him a stern look for cursing and Emilio gulped.

"He's right though. You little cutie, how are you feeling?" Riccardo sat next to me and moved my hair out of my face.

"I'm better, thanks." I smiled at him.

"I'm glad we got you out of there, I couldn't stand to see you like that Isa." Rodrigo kissed both of my hands what made me chuckle.

"Hey koala. Remember you're not on your own. You never will be." Matteo said. "Now, if it's okay I'll treat your wounds with your brothers in the room?" I slowly nodded, trusting them fully again.

Matteo walked to me and signed Lorenzo to follow him.

"Give her your hand to hold on to." Lorenzo nodded and gave me his hand. I took it and smiled sheepish at him.

Matteo got his first kit and everyone was watching his every move. He started to treat my wounds and everyone held a sad expression when they saw my scars again.

"You look...better Bella." Riccardo tried to cheer me up. I gave him a small smile an he returned it.

"Distract her." I heard Matteo whisper.

"So uhm where did you get this scar from?" Emilio asked.

"Why does he needs to distract me?" Everyone looked at me like I turned into an alien.

"What? I'm fourteen, not deaf." The twins chuckled and Lorenzo fought back a smile. Emilio and Matteo looked like they just got caught stealing someone's candy.

"It's going to hurt." Matteosaid with a sad face. I sighed and turned to Emilio.

"Which one?" I asked Emilio.

"The one right above your elbow." I took a deep breath. Everyone was ready to listen to the story behind that scar. Talking about it will help, I hope.

"It was a friday night. I just got a bad note for history. I fell asleep during the class and the teacher was mad so she wrote my mother and Logan a note. Logan was furious so threw a knife at me. I dodge it and it made him madder so he beat the sh- trash out of me. After I was lying exhausted on the floor, mother stepped on my arm. This is a print of her heel she was wearing." I looked down and tried to hold back the tears from the memory.

"That little-" Rodrigo started but as soon as he saw me, he stopped.

"Thanks for telling us Isa. I'm proud of you." He smiled and I immediately looked up and gave him a huge smile. Something about my brothers being proud of me makes me the happiest person alive.

"Done. You did good koala." Matteo cleaned up his mess. I didn't even noticed- wow he's good.

Lorenzo pulled me in a hug. I was shocked at first but wrappe my arms around his neck fast. Everyone joined us and soon it became a family hug.

Man I love these moments.

We hugged for a while until Lorenzo decided to ruin the moment.

"Bella?"

"Mhh?"

"You're going shopping tomorrow, you start school next week."

What an amazing way to cause me nightmares, brother.

Hi there beautiful human.

So yeah sorry about 'updating yesterday', I pressed the wrong button, I was suppose to just save my chapter. I was FREAKING OUT. hehe

Anyway THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 11K!!

We literally got 2K in 2 days this is too crazy for words. I love you all so much, thanks for the support and the kind messages. You all have a place in my heart <3

Also thank you so much to the people who put my story on their recommend list. That means the world xx

I hope you enjoyed it! The next chapters will be...fun ;)

Until next chapter lovies <3

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