"Two things are infinite; the universe an human stupidity; and I'm not so sure about the universe." -Albert Einstein

~Recap~

"Oh for fucks sake!" I shout. "I own a company, owned it for over three years now. And since I own it, I have to get to work. If you really want to find out what I do, which you should bloody already know considering I don't keep it a secret from everyone, you literally just need to get my name and figure it out! Now excuse me I've got to bloody go!"

"Make sure you're not back too late. And as soon as you are back, come to my office. We need to chat." Alessandro says as I've got my hand on the door knob.

I do an almost imperceptible nod before turning the handle and walking straight out, my heals clicking on the floor.

Shit another talk in his office?

The last one didn't go too well did it.

I climb into my car and speed out the drive, placing my shades over my eyes to shield them from the sun.

They're going to go fucking mental when they find out...

...And I can't wait.

~Now~

(Lila's POV)

The engine of my car hums in my ears, the wind from the open windows rushing through my hair.

My dark tinted sunglasses shield my face from the incoming wrath of the suns beams.

At least someone is fucking happy.

I can't believe they didn't know?

What? How-? I mean?

I shake my head in confusion, trying to push the thoughts of the past few days out of my head.

I slow down as I see the red light coming. From my spot in my car, I hear the revving of a porche next to me. I turn my head and spot a group of four teenage guys, about 17 or 18, next to me in a bright red corvette.

"Like what you see? How about a little race. If we win, you spend the night with us. Come on, we'll show you a fun time." They smirk, with a cocky and suggestive smirk on their faces.

"And if I win?" I smirk back, a dangerous look on my face.

They only smile cunningly in return. "You won't, darling."

With that, I turn back to face the front, watching the traffic lights.

I put one hand firmly on the gear stick, the other tightly holding the steering wheel. I'll show them how to fucking race.

The lights slowly shift.

Amber...

Green!

I quickly press down on the pedal, allowing the car to launch forward, passing the red corvette in a heartbeat.

The engine roars to life, humming through my ears. The wind roars to life once again, blowing away all my troubles with it for just a few minutes, a few seconds.

And for once, I finally feel free...

And then it all comes crashing down.

I remember the past few days, few weeks, few years.

I finally make it to my office, the tall glass building towering over me.

I close the windows, the dark, bulletproof glass shielding me from the outside world.

I take out my clicker to the garage and pull on in, parking in my spot. Then, I grab out my makeup back and start applying it to my whole face.

You see, I have a certain look I follow.

I usually wear suits and I usually have a certain makeup look I follow. It's like a galaxy exploded around my eyes. It always matches the colours of my clothes and has the word 'Hale' in the middle.

It's similar to the one on my wall in my room to be honest.

No. Not my room. I don't live there. It's not my home. It's my childhood home.

I breathe out a sigh and finish off my makeup, the grey-black galaxy reaching around my eyes and across my nose, the delicate white stars finishing it off.

Not only does it look fucking stunning, but it matches my outfit and acts as a mask, concealing my identity from the public.

I step out of my car, my heels clicking on the concrete.

Click-Clack. Click-Clack.

I swipe my key card along the pin pad, waiting for the authentication to work.

I hear the successful click of the locks unlocking, before the green light flashes and a buzz sounds, alerting me to my granted entry.

I pull open the door, walking into the alleyway to the elevator.

When in the elevator, I make sure I'm ready for the day, fixing my hair and adjusting my clothes, before the door finally opens on the 79th floor. My office.

I sigh. Time to start another day of work.

~Time Skip~

My eyes go fuzzy and the words begin to merge together.

I've been working all day and now I'm so fucking tired.

I stand up, stretching my muscles and hear the crack of my bones shifting. "Oof."

It's been a long day at work and I'm ready to head back to my apartment. Ready to see my best friend again. Ready to have a lovely cup of coffee.

I almost drool at the thought of the steaming black coffee, grounds so fine they're like sand grains, smoke so thick and dark they're like my soul, flavour so rich that they could...

Ring ring. Ring ring.

For fucks sake.

The second I take my phone off silent it fucking goes off like a bloody kid in a Christmas shop.

I look at the caller ID.

Alessandro.

Shit.

The call ends before I even think of answering, allowing me to see the hundreds of missed calls from my so called brothers.

Lorenzo - 53 Matteo - 47 Giovanni - 33 Rocco - 29 Elijah - 27 Angelo - 24 Alessandro - 21

Fuck. Me.

The screen flashes again before I've had a chance to even breathe.

Why the fuck are they even calling?

Alessandro's name lights up my screen.

I might as well see what they want. Otherwise they'll be fucking falling forever.

"What?" I reply snappily, angry and tired and so fucking done.

"Don't talk to me in that tone, young lady. Where the fuck are you? I'm coming to pick you up right now." He seethes into the phone.

"I fucking told you in the morning. I'm at work. And I'll fucking talk to you however I want! You deserve shit from me." I reply, angrily. Who the fuck does he think he is? My dad?

"Lila. It's fucking 3 in the morning and you haven't arrived back home yet. You left without telling us properly where you're going and NOW YOU'RE TALKING BACK? Tell. Me. Where. You. Are. Or I swear to god I will send out a FUCKING SEARCH PARTY FOR YOU DELILAH HALE RUSSO!" I screams.

My fucking god I'm so dead. I've never seen him so angry before.

Fuck.

I sigh.

I know who he is. He's not just Alessandro Percivale Russo. He's not just my... big brother.

He's the don of the Italian Mafia.

And I know he's more than capable and more than willing to send out a literal army to search for me and find me.

"Fine. I'll come back. Just wait there and I'll drive to you." I sigh in annoyance.

"D-Drive?" He sputters in anger. "Absolutely NOT! You're fifteen years old Lila! How do you even have a license? Or a car for that matter! No. I'm coming to you. Where are y-?"

I cut him off before he can finish, hearing the successful beeping of the call ending.

This is gonna be one hell of a night.

~Time skip to back at the Russo mansion~

I finally pull up to the house, my face free from the galaxy on my face.

I turn off the ignition, turning off the car and unlocking my seatbelt.

Before I can grab my stuff and my keys, my door opens and I'm met with the furious gaze of Rocco.

"What the hell do you think you're doing! Getting home at 4 in the morning!" He shouts at me.

Before I can even speak, he's lifted me out of the car, securing me over his right shoulder with his arm.

When I notice, I begin to kick and scream. "Let go of me. I can fucking walk myself! Let me go!" I scream, wiggling in every direction, trying to get free.

He tightens his hold, securing his other arm around me to keep hold of my flailing legs.

I feel him walk into the open house, me still flailing to get out of his grasp.

"Settle down for fucks sake." He says, voice rough.

I don't listen though, still flailing around in his arms, trying to get any part of me free.

I faintly hear the sounds of some of my brothers speaking. "Thank god you're okay." I hear Gio speak, his voice barely heard over the sound of my struggles.

Before I can get out, he sits down on the couch, me secured in his lap.

"Let go of me." I seethe, still wriggling around.

"Lila! Enough now! You've returned at a ridiculous time, given us a load of back chat, and are now arguing with your brother. Just sit down and stop arguing!" Alessandro shouts, the vein in his neck pulsing.

Fuck I've got myself into a sticky situation.

"Now where the hell were you!" He shouts.

They all look at me, awaiting my answer, most of them with an angry and worried face.

I try giving Gio my best pleading look, hoping he can get me out of this situation.

He only looks down in response. "Sorry, bambina. Can't get you out of this one. You worried me sick." He said gently.

I didn't realise I had worried them that much.

I sigh, somewhat understanding their reactions.

"I was... at work?" I say, my tone making it almost a question.

"Enough with the bullshit, Delilah." I cringe at the use of my full name, but then remember that I'm the one who asked him to say it. No attachments remember? I fly solo. "Tell us where you were. What job? What do you do? WHO are you?" He asks.

Fed up of all the questions, I decide to just give them the truth. Well, sort of truth. SOME of the truth.

"What's my name?" I ask.

I'm met with confused faces and a huge sigh of annoyance from Alessandro. "What? What do you mean. It's Delilah." He replies, exasperated.

"No. What's my full name." I reply, urging them on.

"...Delilah Hale Russo." Giovanni replies, brows furrowed in confusion.

"Yes. Come on, you've practically got it now." I urge on, a sense of... urgency in my voice?

"What? What does this have to do with your job? Stop talking in god damn riddles!" Elijah shouts.

"Elijah enough!" Alessandro shouts stopping him.

Before anyone can speak again, I begin. "Come on! Lila Hale. HALE! No? Come on it's not that fucking hard." I groan, leaning my head back on Rocco's chest in annoyance.

When I realise what I've done, I move to lift it off, but he pulls me closer to him before I can, leaving my head trapped by his chest, allowing me to be lulled by his heartbeat.

After a few moments of silence, Angelo breaks out "Wait I've got it! Lila Hale. Lucy Hale. You're fucking Lucy Hale! OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH!" He shouts, jumping up in excitement.

The look on the others' faces are priceless.

"Wait, you're having sex with Lucy Hale?" Matteo shouts.

"What the fuck? No. I am Lucy Hale, I reply.

"But, but you can't be her. I mean, you're only 15! And she's like, the biggest entrepreneur ever!" He exclaims.

"Erm... yup I guess that's me. Heh." I reply, nervous about all this attention.

They look at me in astonishment.

Seconds go by in absolute silence.

Finally, Gio begins talking. "Oh my goodness bambina! We're so proud of you!" He smiles in happiness. He walks down in front of Rocco and gives me a small hug.

I'm frozen by the gesture.

It's been years since they've hugged me. Years.

I've... I've missed it.

By the time I've acknowledged the hug, he's stood up and moved back to Alessandro's side.

Rocco gently turns me around, letting me face him. "He's right you know. We are so so proud."

What the hell is going on right now?

"Thanks." I whisper breathlessly.

"I don't think you can even believe how proud we are of what you have become. However, that is not to say your actions earlier do not have consequences. You were not back before curfew, you didn't answer our calls and you were very rude on the phone. Your grounded for the next three days." He says sternly.

"What? You can't do that! I've got work!" I reply, shocked.

Surely now he should understand!

"I know. That's why I didn't confiscate your laptop and phone along with it. Now off to bed. It's far too early." He replies.

I sigh as Rocco lifts me off of his lap and standing onto the floor.

I had kind of forgotten I had been there to be honest.

"Fine," I grumble out.

As I walk past Alessandro, he stops me with a hand on my shoulder. I turn to face him, curious as to the interruption.

"I'm so proud of you, bambina." He whispers.

I give him a small smile before turning around and heading up the stairs.

What on earth just happened?

Hello, dear reader!

Sorry for the delay! Hope you like the new chapter and see you soon!

If I don't have a good Christmas!!!