𝓯𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓞𝓴𝓽𝓸𝓫𝓮𝓻 7𝓽𝓱, 𝓙𝓾𝓵𝓮𝓼 I had fallen asleep shortly after Nico had left the office warning me to stay on the couch before he did.

I wiped my hands across my face while I groaned. "Stupid, stupid Jules" I muttered as I thought about the stupid things I had done the last few days. Seeing a guy get murdered, getting kidnapped and lastly not being aloud to leave. If mother had been alive she would've for sure scolded me for not staying away from strangers and if father had seen me now he would've for sure locked me away in my room till I'd turn 80.

I missed him and I missed Margaret just as much. I thought twice before I finally stood up from the couch, walking over to the dark oak desk that stood in the centre. My fingers drummed softly over the desk before they opened the drawers. Sitting down on the hard floors I scanned through the papers leaving them messy as I did, black screen.

Phone.

I stiffened slightly before looking around, they weren't here so no one to stop me. I started quickly adding the numbers into the phone. The door burst open and i froze dropping the phone with a thud on the desk. A small girl ran in, her blonde hair messily in a bun. She bumped harshly into me, falling on the floor in the process.

"Prettty" I was abruptly taken out of my thoughts when her tiny hands fisted my sweater "uppie?" I gave a small smile before picking her up. Children can't do wrong right? Just then Alexander walked in, the girl looked similar to him. Great, more devil spawns.

His gaze turned soft as he took in the girl on my hip. "Who's this brother?" He gave her a small laugh before he turned serious as he took me in. He knew what i was doing. "This is Jules, Francesca" Francesca's eyes turned wide as she looked at me again "like Juliet from Romeo and Juliet, Alex!" She exclaimed before she started twisting. I put her down on the floor and she quickly ran over to Alexander who scooped her up effortlessly "just like Juliet, mhm" he turned his head slightly as he watched me.

A strangled laugh left my lips "not really" more like locked up rapunzel at this point. He gave me a glare that shut me up quickly, almost a silent watch it.

"Go find uncle Cassie and Nick, Fran. I'll be down shortly mhm?" She quickly nodded before she was put down, running down the hallway.

I had barely time to react before he was in front of me, one hand grabbed my chin tightly. Pushing a thumb into my mouth.

"Suck" I obeyed, to scared of what Nico had done earlier. He tilted my head up, his brown eyes meeting mine. "Did you find what you were looking for?" My breath hitched as he pressed his thumb deeper.

"Who were you calling darling, daddy?" I tightened my jaw, my teeth almost grinding into his thumb.

"Do you really think anyone besides that old lady would come looking for you? We know everything Jules, money was hard coming by when you were younger right?" I snapped at that. He had no right, absolutely no right. I bit down hard on his thumb, slapping him in the process.

I ran out of the door, down the stairs before I heard quiet laughter coming from a room. They couldn't hurt me with her, right? I openend the door softly as I walked in. Francesca was sat up against Nico's legs who was braiding her hair. Toys scattered across the table. She beamed up at me when I walked in. Cassian shot me a dark look as Alexander strolled in, a red angry mark across his cheek.

I stiffened slightly before Francesca interrupted "tea party?" I gave her a quick nod sitting down next to her. Cassian sat down next to me, moving on of his hands across my leg before moving it up slowly. Squeezing I tightly as he did so.

Francesca was giving everyone a cup, her smile made her look angelic. "Drink" she slurped loudly as she pretended to drink the liquid. "Best tea I've ever had" Cassian said as he gave my thigh another squeeze. I stiffened, my fingers tightening around the tiny porcelain cup. Francesca giggled, clearly pleased with herself. "You have to drink too, Uncle Nico!" Nico finally tore his gaze away from me and picked up his tiny cup.

Francesca beamed. "See? Now everyone is friends!"

The room went silent. "Jules, you should stay with us forever!" she chirped, kicking her little legs as she sipped more of her imaginary tea.

I forced a smile, ignoring the way my stomach twisted. "That's sweet of you, but I—"

"She already is," Nico interrupted smoothly. I glared at him before I quickly turned my face downwards. "Good!" she said, clapping her hands. "Then you have to come to my ballet recital next week!"

I opened my mouth to respond, but Cassian chose that moment to trace his fingers along the inside of my thigh again, his touch deliberate and slow. I tensed, willing myself not to react.

Nico noticed. Of course he did.

"Francesca, tesoro," Nico murmured, reaching down to fix a loose strand of her hair. "Why don't you go find Maria? Tell her you need your hair ribbon, hmm?"

Francesca pouted. "But we're not done with tea!"

"I know, little one," he said smoothly, brushing a gentle finger over her cheek. "But Jules will still be here when you get back." Something about the way he said it made my stomach drop. "Okay!" She hopped off the couch and scampered toward the door, her tiny footsteps echoing down the hallway. The second the door shut behind her, the atmosphere shifted.

Cassian's fingers dug into my thigh, his grip tightening just enough to make me flinch. I stiffened as Nico removed his belt.

No.



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