CHAPTER 3 DINNER, S𝚊𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚊 V𝚒𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚜

I had taken a good look around my new room, noting the attached bathroom and closet. They were both spacious—definitely not something I was used to from my old house. A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Sis, dinner!" It had to be James; his energetic voice could be recognized from miles away.

"Coming," I murmured, opening the door. When I saw his bright smile, I couldn't help but smile back a little, even though it felt shy and small.

"So, we're having pasta for dinner," he said, his enthusiasm palpable. "I love pasta, especially with loads of cheese and marinara sauce. Ooh, and garlic bread..." I nodded along, trying to focus, but the pain in my leg from Evan's earlier abuse became more pronounced.

"Sorellina, you there?" James waved his hand in front of my face, concern creeping into his expression. I chuckled awkwardly, forcing myself to respond, "I'm fine."

He nodded, but I could tell he wasn't convinced. "Come on, let's go eat!" He gently pulled me toward the kitchen, and I followed, hoping the distraction would help ease the pain.

When we entered the dining room, I saw my newfound brothers already gathered around the large dining table. The sight of them made me feel both nervous and curious. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the discomfort as I sat between James and Theo.

𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚊 𝚟𝚒𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚜

I watched as Sabrina winced while settling into her seat. I exchanged a concerned glance with Theo; he had already picked up on her limp when she walked up the stairs. He shook off his concern, redirecting his attention to her. She smiled awkwardly, her gaze darting away as if avoiding the scrutiny of our eyes.

"Sabrina," I called, and she flinched slightly at the sound of my voice, focusing her attention on me.

"We have some rules in this household. Each of the boys follows them until they turn 20."

James immediately shook his head. "That's absolute bullshit," he muttered. I shot him a glare, knowing he needed to tone it down for her sake. "Fine, fine, fine," he added, but I could see that our sorellina was visibly trembling.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my tone calm. "There are a few rules: 1. You will always listen to us.

2. if we ask something, answer back

3. No boys as friends or boyfriends.

4. You can't leave the mansion without supervision.

5. Don't use bad words.

6. Don't go to the basement.

7. Never lie to us."

I watched as she absorbed the information, her eyes widening at the last few rules. I could tell she was trying to process everything. I wanted to make sure she felt safe here, but I also needed her to understand that we were a family—and families had rules. I skipped the part about being a mafia family, wanting to keep our baby safe from that part of our sinister world.

"Trust me, Gattina, you don't want to be punished by Luca," Theo added, clearly not thinking things through. I noticed Sabrina's eyes welling up before she could muster a response. "Excuse me," she murmured, then dashed away from the table and bolted toward the stairs.

"Theo, are you stupid or something? She's twelve, for l'amor di Dio," Ace chimed in, his voice steady but laced with concern. Normally quiet, Ace had a protective side that came out when it mattered.

Arthur simply grunted in response and left the table, clearly annoyed.

"Grumpy ass monkey," I heard James mutter under his breath, but he quickly fell silent when I shot him a warning glance.

"What? He is," Theo replied defensively, but I could see he was beginning to realize the weight of his words.

"I'm going to check on her," I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Ace, I want you to look out for any more injuries. I'm afraid she's endured much more pain than we ever could have imagined."

With that, I walked away from the table and headed toward our sorellina's room, hoping I could catch her before she spiralled further into her thoughts.

I approached Sabrina's room, my heart pounding with a mix of concern and urgency. The door was slightly ajar, and I could hear the faint sound of muffled sobs from inside. I knocked gently, trying to keep my voice soft and calm. "Sabrina? Can I come in?"

There was a moment of silence before she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please... just go away."

My chest tightened at her words. I knew she was hurting, but shutting me out wouldn't help her. "I'm not leaving, okay? I just want to talk. I promise I won't hurt you." I pushed the door open slowly, stepping into the dimly lit room.

Sabrina was curled up on her bed, clutching a stuffed bunny tightly against her chest, her face buried in the pillow. The sight broke my heart. She looked so small, so fragile, like a delicate flower that could be crushed at any moment. "Hey," I said softly, taking a few cautious steps closer. "Can I sit with you?"

She didn't respond, but I took that as a yes. I sat down on the edge of the bed, keeping my distance, letting her know I was there without crowding her space. "I know things feel overwhelming right now, but you're safe here. We're not going to hurt you."

Finally, she turned her head slightly, just enough for me to see her tear-streaked face. "But you're all so... big and scary," she admitted, her voice trembling.

I nodded, understanding her fear. "I get it. We might seem intimidating, but we're not going to hurt you. We want to protect you, Sabrina. You don't have to be scared of us."

"Really?" She lifted her head a little more, her eyes wide with uncertainty.

"Really," I promised, forcing a reassuring smile. "We're family now, and that means looking out for each other. I know it's hard to trust us right away, but it'll get better. You just have to give it time."

"I... I don't know how," she confessed, her voice cracking.

"That's okay," I said gently. "You don't have to know right now. Just take it one day at a time. If you ever feel scared or uncomfortable, you can always come to me, or Theo, or even Ace. We'll be here for you, I promise."

Sabrina shifted slightly, her bunny still clutched in her arms. "What if I mess up? What if I can't follow the rules?"

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Then we'll figure it out together. Rules are just guidelines to help us feel safe. If you make a mistake, it's okay."

She nodded slowly, still hesitant. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke again, this time her voice a little steadier. "Okay" I leaned closer, my heart aching for her. "You can always talk to us We'll protect you, no matter what. But you have to trust us. Can you do that?"

She bit her lip, contemplating my words. "I'll try," she whispered, and I felt a flicker of hope. "That's all I ask," I replied, relieved. "You're already doing better than you think. Just remember, if you ever need anything, I'm just a room away."

Her lips curled into a small smile, and I felt my heart lift a little. "Okay, could-d I have a hug" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, still clutching her bunny.

My eyes widened in Suprise "Yeah, come here Sorellina" I said, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. I moved next to her, wrapping her up into my side. Moving the pink blanket over her body tucking her in. she fell asleep shortly after that, ''thank you'' she muttered softly before turning around.

As I stood up to leave, I couldn't help but look back at her one last time. With that, I stepped out of her room, closing the door gently behind me.