VERITY'S POV ~_______~_______~

"Should we wake her up?"

"No, she looks peaceful."

"But we have to go—"

"Shut up for a moment."

"She's so pretty."

"I can't believe she's here, alive."

"Shhh! She's waking up!"

My eyes fluttered open slowly as I took in my surroundings. I was in a room, a huge room, nicely decorated. I was on a soft Queen-sized bed and still had the clothes from school on. I looked up to see 8 pairs of eyes staring at me. What the actual fuck.

"Uhm.."

"Hi, Verity." A gruff voice said. I looked up to see a man, he looked to be in his late 40's, with greying curly hair and beautiful blue eyes. He smiled widely at me and I raised my eyebrow. "I'm your father."

Wow. What a way to drop the news.

My breath hitched as memories came flooding back from yesterday — John, the sheriff, the CPS worker, the call.. was this my family? Why were there so many of them? And why did they all look like literal giants?

I must've been sleeping for a while.

"I'm your mother, sweetheart." A soft voice said. I looked up to see a woman with brown hair and clear skin, and what intrigued me most was her eyes. They looked exactly like mine. Green, and pretty.

"She just woke up, I don't think she even is listening, guys." Said another voice. I looked to see a boy, about 19, standing against the doorway. He looked like me.

I stayed silent and everybody shuffled around uncomfortably. I brought my knees up to my chest and looked back at my mother. She was so beautiful. But anger, anger started to take over me.

Why did they leave me? With that monster of a man? Why is it only now they come in my life, when they had no other choice but to take me in?

"I'm sorry, sweetie. We will let you get settled in and call you down to the living room in a few. Uhm..yeah." My 'mother' muttered. They all slowly exited, the boy who spoke up earlier staying a second longer to observe me before he shuffled away as well.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when the door closed behind him. I immediately looked around for my phone, and when I couldn't find it, I frowned. Maybe one of my biologicals had it.

This whole situation was amusing. Was I in Italy right now? With the people I despise for leaving me so much? Was I really to live with them for the next three years, until I can move out?

I suddenly felt empty. I missed Andrei, and Alexei, and Maxim. I missed them so much. My братья. (brothers).

I sighed and got up, walking into a large closet with clothes I never bought. I grabbed a large black hoodie and some white basketball shorts — that I made sure were long enough to hide the bruises — with undergarments and took a shower.

The cold water felt good against my skin, even though I hated taking cold showers. I let the water run down my face and hair, closing my eyes, trying to process everything.

When I was done, I got out and changed into the hoodie and shorts. I let my coily hair air dry and walked into my bedroom, where my so-called father was sitting on my bed.

"Oh. You're out. Uhm, well, I need to take you downstairs now, so...let's go?" He asked, rather quickly.

I stiffly nodded my head and we made our way down to the living room, after making many turns down hallways. This house was fucking huge, but pretty. After making one final turn, I knew I wouldn't remember any of this.

We walked into a large living room where 7 people were sat on a L-shaped couch. My 'father' beckoned me to sit, so I took a seat on a single chair, fairly far from everybody as my sperm donor stayed standing.

"So, Verity. As you know, I am your biological father.. I now have full custody over you, and I hope overtime you feel comfortable with me. My name is Francesco. You don't have to call me dad, not at all, but.. you get it." He announced, staring at me. He looked and sounded nervous.

I nearly laughed. I knew who he was — I figured it out the second he said his name. The don of the Italian mafia. Fucking crazy, I was living with the Italian mafia when my real family were the Russian mafia. It was funny, seeing such a big bad man so vulnerable and nervous.

I didn't reply, just stiffly nodded.

My birthgiver, Andrea, introduced herself once again, smiling at me softly. I also saw a look of nervousness plastered on her face, but her eyes were kind and warm. I kind of wanted to give her a hug, but remembered she abandoned me. I once again, stiffly nodded.

"Is she mute or something?" Blurted out a voice. I look over to see the same boy from earlier, about 19, looking annoyed and as if he would rather be anywhere but here.

"Matteo, do not be rude." My birthgiver scolded him, "Boys, introduce yourselves."

"I'm Enzo. I'm 23 years old, and I like French toast." I look over to him, he had brown curly hair, green eyes- exactly like mine- and olive skin. I realize all of them have my green eyes.

"I'm Emilio, I'm 21, and I like soccer." Emilio had black curly hair, green eyes, and pale skin. He looked more like my father than my mother.

"I'm Matteo. I'm 19. I like basketball." Grumbled the boy from earlier. He had brown curly hair, green eyes, and olive skin.

"I am Leonardo. I am 17, and I enjoy reading." Leonardo had black curls, green eyes, and caramel-ish skin, like mine. "This is my twin, Lorenzo," he nodded at the boy next to him, who looked the exact same- except he had what looked like a birthmark the shape of a heart on his right cheek. I had the same one on my arm. "You can tell us apart by the birthmark. Lorenzo enjoys not talking."

"Right, well that's all your brothers sweetheart." My birthgiver stated.

Wait. Hold up. BROTHERS?

"Brothers? I have six brothers? Wow, you guys must've been real busy, huh?..." The words came out before I could stop them, and everybody stared at me before bursting out in laughter.

"So she can talk, and has a snarky attitude? This should be great," Matteo says sarcastically. I rolled my eyes.

"Right. Uhm, what was it, Andrea, right? Is it okay if I have my phone?" I muttered. I saw hurt flicker across her face when I said her name and not 'mom' but I could care less.

She nodded and pulled my phone out of her pocket, handing me it. I thanked her and turned off my Do Not Disturb, regretting it immediately. My phone went off with notifications right away from my real brothers. I got a call, but it wasn't from them. It was from Maya.

"You can pick it up, just put it on speaker." My sperm donor said.

Who are you to tell me what to do?

Either way, out of fear, I nodded stiffly and picked it up, pressing the speaker.

"BITTTTCHHHHHHH! WHERE ARE YOU!? WHAT HAPPENED? WE HEARD ABOUT JOHN, ARE YOU OKAY—" she yelled through the phone, causing me to flinch.

"Oh my god Maya, I think I've gone deaf. Anyways, that's a stupid question to ask, I'm sure Verity is more than happy that son of a bitch is dead." I heard a voice, Derek. Well, he's not wrong there.

Derek and Maya knew about my situation, I just left the details out about the mafia and shit. You know, case sensitive stuff.

"You guys are so fucking loud and obnoxious. I'm fine. I'm with my biologicals.." I muttered. My face was red as my family stared at me, wide-eyed.

"Bitch,—" Maya started again.

"YOU HAVE A CUSSING PROBLEM, MAYA, SHUT UP—" Derek screeched.

"YOU SHUT UP—"

"Both of you shut the fuck up before I come back to LA and rip your vocal cords out." I said coldly. They zipped it because they knew damn well I would do it if I really wanted to.

"Wait, back to LA? Love, where are you?" Derek asked. He was British, so calling me love was normal.

I was about to say something when I realized I didn't know where I was. I frowned for a second but Matteo got up, came over, said "Italy." And hung up the phone.

"Who was that, and why did they call you love?" Leonardo asked angrily.

"Those were my best friends, Maya and Derek. Derek's just a British idiot, he calls everybody love." I muttered back.

I guess I'm doing a lot of muttering.

Leonardo narrowed his eyes and I stayed quiet once again. The room was filled with an awkward silence until I decided to get up, grab my phone, and walk upstairs. Nobody said anything, but I realized I don't fucking know where I'm going. I made many turns through halls before I bumped into a guard. He seemed to be around his late 30's, maybe early 40's? He looked down at me with a cold look. I just shuddered and went on before he grabbed my arm, turned the corner, and left me outside my door. I muttered a thank you and I swear he almost smiled as he turned on his heel and left.

I walked into my bedroom and immediately collapsed on the bed. I was not excited for this. _________________________________Word count: 1558 Boring ass chapter but IDRC it's like 3AM 😭😭😭 EDITED*

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