We spent the next couple of minutes just browsing the drawings. Of just me. Marco and I. Me and the other boys. All of us together.

As I poured over the drawings, I absentmindedly reached up to scratch at the burn on my back. It had been pretty itchy lately, which I think is a good sign?

The bandage covering the large patch of blistered skin on my back crinkled as I scratched at it, and I felt Marco stiffen behind me. His large hand gently wrapped around my thin wrist and moved it off my back, rubbing his thumb across the back of my hand.

I froze, just staring down at the drawings. Eventually, he was the one to break the silence.

"How are you feeling, Luca?" his low voice drew me out of my thoughts, and my brow furrowed. How am I feeling? What a silly question.

I began to respond with a thumbs-up, but he cut me off.

"—And I don't want to hear a lie. Physically," he emphasized the word, "How are you feeling?" he gently turned me around on his lap, cocking an eyebrow at me expectantly.

I hesitated, shifting uncomfortably on his lap. There's no reason to lie, I guess. Some tension left my shoulders as I whispered, "Hurts'a bit," he hummed softly.

"Where does it hurt?" he murmured, letting go of my hand so I could show him. I hesitated but decided to give in. Before, I turned around all the way and made eye contact with him, lifting my pinky.

"Don't tell others," I whispered, looking up at him through wide, serious eyes.

I felt him stiffen again before a relaxed, soft smile spread across his lips and he intertwined our pinkies together, sealing the deal.

I relaxed a bit after our promise and gingerly began pointing at spots. The burn on my back. The bruises on my ribs. My ankle. My head. A few other places, and when I looked up at Marco at the end of my little presentation, his gaze was dark.

The darkness disappeared quickly, however, and then he gently brushed the hair out of my face, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

"Can I take a look, buddy?" he murmured, and I tensed immediately. I really don't want him to. But I can't say no, "It's okay to say no, you know," He's a mind reader.

I hesitated.

He's gonna get sooo mad at you if you say no! Maybe he'll finally hit you! The Voice cackled, and I clenched my fists in my lap.

I took a breath, and slowly shook my head, bracing for impact. When none came, I slowly peeled my eyes open.

Instead of anger, Marco looked... proud? Through his tough exterior, his eyes almost seemed to shine, and he ruffled my hair gently, kissing my forehead again.

"That's okay, monkey. Some other time, hmm?" I nodded, a breath leaving my chest.

Gently, Marco wrapped his muscular arms back around me, pulling me close to his chest and resting his chin on my head. I heard him murmur something under his breath, but I didn't catch it as he pressed his lips to my head and inhaled slowly.

"Alright," he began, holding me at arm's length, "Why don't you go down for breakfast. I'll be right behind you, sì?" He spoke (not really an offer) and I nodded, sliding off his lap, Hobbes in my grasp, and headed out the door, shooting him a soft smile on the way out.

꩜꩜꩜

A warm feeling spread through Marco's chest as Luca left the room. He laid back on his bed, unable to help the small smile that stretched his lips as he pictured his baby brother leaving, waving cutely at him as he slipped out the door.

However, his thoughts darkened when he remembered how many different places his brother had pointed to when he was prompted as to what was in pain. Marco's brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed, imagining all the things he would've done to that puttana if he had the chance, before he died like a goddam coward.

꩜꩜꩜

When I made it downstairs, the twins were in the kitchen, eating cereal at the kitchen counter. And they were wearing... matching outfits?

"They're school uniforms, dummy," Alonzo growled from the island.

I didn't realize I said that out loud. Stupid. I clenched my fists, ignoring the sting as I lowered my gaze. I flinched at the sound of a loud smack and looked up to see Alonzo scowling and rubbing the back of his head, and Alessio humming as he hopped off his stool with his empty bowl.

"Cereal, fratellino?" Alessio offered, lifting the box from the counter to show me. I just shot him a half-hearted smile and shook my head politely. I didn't miss the way his brow furrowed, "Well, you have to eat something. Will you eat with Marco when he comes down?" He offered, and I nodded. Perfect.

Alessio hesitated, before nodding, "Okay, that's good. Lonzo and I have to go to school, ughhh," he sighed dramatically, sliding down to sit on his knees, before popping back up, "but we'll be back later! Have a good dayyyy!" he hollered as he dragged a still-eating Alonzo out of the room.

I assumed Gio and Massimo were at work, and no one else was around (besides Marco upstairs) so I decided to do a few dishes. I had watched my brothers arrange dishes in the strange machine, and I tried my best to do the same (I did a pretty good job if I did say so myself).

I turned around quickly, hearing footsteps on the staircase, before Marco emerged, in clean clothes with damp hair. He nodded at me, eyes scanning the kitchen.

"You don't have to clean, piccolo," He muttered, eyeing my damp hands.

Of course you do. You don't get to stay here for free.

I ignored the thoughts, instead just shaking my head and shooting him a small smile. He sighed, eyes scanning the room once more, "Did you eat already?" He eyed me, and I gulped, nodding calmly.

His eyes bored into me and I froze, feeling like time was slowing. His expression narrowed and it seemed like I was under a microscope, before, suddenly, his expression shifted and he just grunted once, shuffling to the fridge.

"You're coming with me to work today. We leave in 10, capische?" My eyes widened, but I nodded quickly. There wasn't any room for debate.

I left the room quickly, Hobbes in tow, and made my way up the stairs, ignoring the aching of my ribs. It was better, though, so I figured that was a good sign.

꩜꩜꩜

Somehow, the clothes Alessio and I had ordered just days ago were already unpacked in my room. I wasn't sure when that happened.

Instead, I spent much too long looking through all the options, before Marco shouted at me from downstairs, and I quickly picked a navy blue tee and a pair of grey sweatpants, also throwing on a random pair of white shoes.

I ran downstairs, stumbling over my laces before a large hand gripped my upper arm gently.

"Attento, piccolo," (careful) Marco's voice rumbled as he righted me, crouching down on one knee to tie my laces for me, even before I asked. My face burned with embarrassment—Can't even tie your own shoelaces?—but Marco stood up and walked away, gesturing me to follow, before I even had a chance to say anything.

He walked down the back hallway and I trailed like a lost duckling, Hobbes tucked in my grasp as he opened a door and let me into a huge garage.

There were so many fancy cars, I bet my eyes were the size of saucers. I heard a quick huff as Marco walked past me to a lockbox, where he scanned his thumb holy cow and opened it, revealing many sets of car keys.

He selected one, shut the box, and walked briskly over to a black car that wasn't shiny and it was so cool. My eyes widened more (if that was even possible) as we approached the car, and it beeped twice when Marco unlocked it, opening the back door and gesturing to me.

I rushed over, carefully climbing into the car, when my eyes met a car seat in the back. How is there already a car seat in here? I knew I was too small to sit without a seat in the car, but I figured they wouldn't care.

"Massimo had them installed in every car as soon as you came back to us," Marco's gruff voice interrupted my thoughts. My unruly hair bounced as I whipped my head to face him, shock marring my features.

He just lifted me into the seat and clipped the buckles, tightening them so they were tight but still comfortable. He shut the door gently and hopped into the front seat, starting the engine (which roared so cool but a little loud), and we were off.

꩜꩜꩜

RAHH I'M AN EAGLE

Guys I listened to the entire Rattlin' Bog song today and I now know it by heart (thank u very much).

Rash on the tick and the tick on the louse and the louse on the hair and the hair on the worm and the worm on the feather and the feather on the bird and the bird in the egg and the egg in the bird and the bird in the nest and the nest on the limb and the limb on the branch and the branch on the tree and the tree in the hole and the hole in the bog and the bog down in the valley, oh!

*bows*

If you think I'm wrong we can fight (jk I could def be wrong)

ANYWHO I don't love this chapter (kinda a filler) BUT IM HYPE FOR FUTURE ONES EEK

LOTS OF LOVE

Rosie :)