Fina's POV

I woke to the sound of the car engine humming, the smell of leather, and something warm wrapping around me.

I didn't open my eyes right away. Instead, I let my senses adjust, letting the silence settle around me. I felt like I was floating, safe for the first time in years. There was no shouting, no threats—just the soft murmur of voices I couldn't quite make out.

The warmth around me shifted slightly, and I realized I was still resting against someone. I tensed, instinctively trying to pull away, but the arm around me tightened gently, like a shield I couldn't break free from.

"Hey, you're safe," a voice murmured, and I froze.

It was him—Enzo. I could feel his heartbeat under my ear. The steady rhythm made me want to relax, but fear gripped me instead.

"I won't hurt you," Enzo said softly, like he could sense the panic creeping up on me. "You're with us now. You're safe."

Safe.

I wanted to believe that. I really did. But everything inside me was screaming to stay alert. To wait for the next punch, the next scream. I wasn't sure how to let myself trust them. Trust anyone.

I stayed still, breathing carefully. He didn't push, didn't force me to respond. The sound of the car's tires on the road kept a steady rhythm, and for once, the world didn't feel like it was closing in on me.

I let my eyes crack open, just a sliver, and saw the dim lights of the street passing by. We were driving through the city, but the streets felt unfamiliar, like we were heading toward somewhere new. Somewhere away from the past.

I didn't speak at first, just focusing on the way the car moved. Enzo's hand was still on my shoulder, grounding me in the moment.

"How long was I out?" I whispered, my voice hoarse, unfamiliar.

"A few hours," Enzo answered, his voice steady. "You needed it."

I nodded slightly, unsure of what to say next.

I wanted to ask him about everything. About the family, about Dante, about how I ended up in this mess. But I didn't know how to ask. The questions were tangled in my throat, too heavy to speak.

Instead, I just let the silence hang between us, settling in like a blanket. After a while, Enzo's fingers gently brushed my hair back from my face, the gesture soft, careful.

"You don't have to talk if you're not ready," he said quietly. "But whenever you are, we'll be here."

His words hit me harder than I expected. Not because they were anything extraordinary, but because they were the first words in a long time that hadn't been filled with threats or anger.

I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in my throat. I didn't know if I could ever talk about what had happened—about Gary, about my mother, about everything that had been done to me. I wasn't sure I was ready for that kind of vulnerability.

But maybe... maybe I could try.

I took a deep breath, glancing up at Enzo. "Do you think... do you think I can ever go back to who I was?"

Enzo paused, his thumb gently brushing the back of my hand. "You're already taking the first step by being here. We'll help you find her again. The girl you were. The girl who had dreams."

I closed my eyes, the words sinking deep into me. I wasn't sure I believed him, but for the first time in a long time, I wanted to.

The car slowed, and I lifted my head slightly, feeling the change in motion. We'd arrived somewhere. Somewhere new. Somewhere... safe?

"Where are we?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Enzo's voice was soft but reassuring. "Home."

I didn't know what that meant anymore. I didn't know if I could ever feel like it was home. But as the car came to a stop, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I didn't have to figure everything out in one go.

Maybe, for now, I could let myself believe.

The car rolled to a stop, the sound of the engine cutting off as we parked. I could feel the weight of the moment pressing on me, heavy and suffocating. My heart was pounding against my ribcage, faster and faster with every passing second.

I didn't want to move. I didn't want to face whatever was waiting for me on the other side of that door.

"Fina." Enzo's voice was soft, but it made me flinch anyway. I wasn't used to people speaking so gently.

"You're safe here," he repeated, his voice steady.

I nodded, but the weight in my stomach grew heavier. I wasn't sure if I could do this. The door opened, and a cold gust of night air rushed in, snapping me from my thoughts.

Enzo helped me out of the car, but I kept my gaze down, not wanting to look at the house looming in front of me. It was too big. Too... intimidating. The thought of walking through those doors felt like stepping into a world I didn't belong in.

"Ready?" Enzo asked, his hand on my back, guiding me gently.

I nodded again, though my body was stiff, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. I couldn't stop my mind from racing. What if they didn't want me here? What if they looked at me the same way Gary had? What if they saw me and saw only a broken girl, something to pity?

As we stepped inside, I froze. The lights were bright, blinding even, and the house smelled different—clean, organized, nothing like the dark, musty air of the place I'd just left. But it felt too clean, too perfect.

I could hear footsteps approaching from the other room, the sound of voices growing louder. I took a step back instinctively, the cold feeling of panic crawling up my spine. I couldn't face them. I wasn't ready for this.

I hid behind Enzo without even thinking. He turned slightly, sensing my hesitation.

"Fina," he said softly, his voice calming but firm. "You're okay. It's just us."

But it wasn't just us.

There were five men standing in the living room, their eyes all falling on me as soon as I stepped through the door. I could feel their gaze like a physical thing, assessing, questioning, judging.

I flinched and pulled back further, pressing myself against Enzo, who immediately responded by turning and wrapping an arm around me protectively. His warmth felt like a shield, and I squeezed my eyes shut to block out their eyes on me.

"They won't hurt you," Enzo reassured me quietly, but his words barely registered. The fear was still too loud.

The men remained silent, watching us. They were all so different—yet each of them had a presence that made the room feel smaller, as though they all commanded attention without even trying.

I felt the heat of their stares, the weight of their expectation.

I felt exposed.

Enzo noticed and turned his body more fully to shield me. "Give her a minute," he said, his voice firm. "She's been through a lot."

There was a brief pause, and I could feel the shift in the air. I felt their eyes move away from me, their gazes softening a little, though I didn't dare look up.

"You're safe now," Enzo added quietly, his fingers brushing against mine. "You don't have to hide."

But I couldn't stop the tremor in my hands, or the way my body still wanted to shrink from them. The fear that had been so carefully built into me for years wouldn't just disappear with their words.

After a long moment of silence, a voice broke through the tension. It was soft, calm, and surprisingly warm.

"Take your time, Fina," said a man I hadn't yet seen. I lifted my head slightly, just enough to glimpse him. His dark eyes met mine, his face kind but serious. He was older than the others, his hair slightly graying at the temples, but his smile—soft and welcoming—made him seem... different. Safe.

"Fina," Enzo murmured again, his hand gently pushing a lock of hair from my face. "These are your brothers—Dante, Matteo, Luca, Antonio, and I'm Enzo. You don't have to be afraid of them."

I swallowed, still not sure I could do this, still feeling like the floor might drop out from under me any second.

But as Enzo stood with me, one hand still resting protectively on my back, the others didn't push. They simply waited, watching, understanding.

"I don't... I don't know if I can do this," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"You don't have to do anything, Fina," Luca said gently, stepping forward, though he kept his distance. His eyes were kind, but there was something in his expression that made me believe he meant every word. "We're not here to force you. We're here to protect you. Just take it one step at a time."

I looked at him, my chest tightening as I absorbed his words. They weren't what I expected. I was waiting for orders, for harsh demands, but there were none. Only patience. Only quiet assurances.

I wanted to believe them. More than anything, I wanted to believe that they were here to help, not harm.

But it wasn't easy.

I could feel the walls around me cracking, just a little. Enough to let in the warmth. Enough to make me wonder if maybe—just maybe—I could stop hiding.

And for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to feel a small glimmer of hope.