🥀🥀🥀

"I'm home!" Nico's voice echoes through the foyer, reaching the living room where the brothers are.

"We're home!" Michael corrects, shooting Nico a disapproving look.

They walk into the living room.

"Welcome home," Alex says, looking up from his phone.

"There you are!" Nico grabs the older by the shirt and scowls. "You fucking vanished!"

"About that-"

"I'm going to shower, tell us after," Michael sighs, dropping his bag.

"Oh, someone is actually using your shower," Elias says, his grin mischievous.

Michael freezes in place. "What?"

"Thanks, Elias," Alex says sarcastically, hitting the boy over the head.

"Ow!"

"Who's using my shower?" Michael demands.

"Aurora Isabella Minta Jillian Luca Rizzo," Antonio softly supplies.

Michael and Nico both stiffen, turning to Antonio.

"Aurora?"

"Our Rora?"

"I got a call from the police yesterday," Alex calmly says. "Mom was killed by her new husband, Nathan Raine, and DNA tests linked her daughter to us. I went immediately to pick her up. It's really Aurora."

"So that's where you went..." Nico frowns. "Where was she?"

"Canada," he replies, shooting Antonio a scowl. "Where you were supposed to look."

"Well, I had to search the entire continent! Mom must have gotten wind of it and hid Ror."

Alex makes a sound to show his displeasure. "Sure."

"How is she?" Michael asks, ignoring their bickering.

"Sprained ankle and wrist, but otherwise alright," Emilio answers. "She passed out from pain, but Ant patched her up."

"I put her in your room," Alex tells Michael. "I hope that's okay."

"God, yes. It's Aurora."

"She woke up and asked to shower before meeting everyone."

The guys all nod.

"Mom was killed?" Elias asks suddenly.

Alex winces. "Poisoned. Nathan fled, and he's putting fliers up all over the country of Aurora, naked, saying she's missing and to call him if found."

Michael's eyes darken with anger. "Naked?"

"Yeah," Antonio confirms. He hands Michael one of the posters. "This one is blurred. Most of them weren't."

The paper crinkles as Michael crushes it in his fist. "I'll fucking kill him for hurting our little girl."

"Get in line," Nico scoffs.

"How much does she know about us?"

"I told her our jobs, but not our main job. I don't want to scare her, especially not so soon." Alex pauses, his grip tight enough his knuckles turn white. "I think Nathan and Mom abused her."

"What?!"

Nico, Antonio, Michael, Elias, and Emilio shout in unison, the sound echoing.

Alex winces. "I reached out and every time she flinched. I asked if he hit her, and she reacted as if scared. And she kept repeating something about rules, and panicked when I asked why."

"I'm going to fucking kill him," Michael repeats angrily.

"We all want to."

"Woah..." A voice prevents them from continuing, and Alex smiles.

"That would be Aurora."

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I walk down the stairs in awe.

They're huge, with a blue rug rolled down the center. Black railing with intricate designs line either side, and the floor is a marble white with gold and blue. I look up at the crystal chandelier and gasp.

I hesitantly step into the living room.

It's large with two couches, a large chair, a fireplace, a TV, and big windows.

A light brown and white rug covers the floor in the sitting area, and my brothers all are in it.

"Woah..." I breathe out, staring at the size of the room.

Alex looks over and smiles.

"That would be Aurora," he tells the others.

I wave shyly and gasp when I'm suddenly in a tight embrace.

"Rora..." the man says. "I missed you so much, I can't believe you're really here."

I squeak in surprise... But I'm not scared.

The hug is warm, and it feels familiar, like I melt into it.

"Aurora, these are the others. That's Michael." Alex gestures to the one hugging me. "Then there's Nico, Antonio, Elias, and Emilio." He points to each brother.

All of them are tall - or, at least taller than me.

Michael looks a lot like Alex - brown hair, light blue eyes, a bright smile. He's about a foot taller than me, so probably six feet tall.

Nico has bright blue eyes and black hair. He looks serious, but a small smile is on his lips. He appears to be around 6 feet too.

Antonio has soft brown eyes to match his chocolate hair, and his features are sharp. He's a bit taller than Nico, probably 6'2".

Emilio and Elias look nearly identical. Both of them have black hair and dark brown, almost black, eyes. Emilio is around 6'1" and has a tattoo of a knife on his neck. Elias look 5'11" with no tattoos, and he has dimples.

I don't respond.

"How old are you now, Ror?" Elias asks.

I look up, hesitating. Rule seven.

"Aurora?" Alex prompts softly.

"I'm fifteen," I slowly answer.

"Let's not overwhelm her with questions," Antonio cuts in. "Al said she just found out about us, this is probably a lot."

I give him a grateful look.

"Fair enough," Nico concedes. "Just one more. Rora, what's your favorite color?"

I think about it. "Blue."

"A girl after my own heart," Michael jokes, winking.

The clock chimes, and I count each bong.

"It's getting late," Alex notes. "Where do you want to sleep, Ror?"

"What?" I blink. "I get an option?"

"Of course," Nico answers, furrowing his brow.

"We have eighteen available rooms," Antonio adds.

My eyes widen. "Eighteen?"

"Yep. You can pick any of them."

"That's... a lot..."

"Come here, love." Alex gently grabs my hand. "I'll show you them."

I follow him out, waving to my brothers as he leads me away.

I know for certainty that this will change not only my life, but me.

And it doesn't scare me.