Leandro POV

For the longest time, my life has lost its purpose, I failed the ones that I promised I would always protect, and if I couldn't do that then what good am I?

For years, all my life has been about is my siblings and the mafia, but I lacked feeling, I didn't remember what it was like to genuinely feel like I was needed.

My sister, the one person who made me feel like I had a purpose was taken away from me, and I could do nothing to stop it. I still couldn't find her, and I think that says it all.

What good am I if I can't find her?

Before the birth of Iris, I always felt like an extra, someone who wasn't meant to be there, but after her birth? I finally found out why I was born, it was for her. She was my saving grace, she pulled me out of the darkness, she made me feel needed and once she's found, I'll do anything to keep her safe. She will never be let out of my sight again.

Don't get me wrong, I love my brothers more than I love myself, but compared to Iris, they're nothing, there's nobody that compared to her, and I know that each and every single one of them feels the exact same way about her.

Our world fell apart when she was taken, and fourteen years later, we still haven't found her. There's been so many pranks that I know that a few of my brothers have lost hope in ever finding her, but I haven't. How could I when she is the reason that my heart still beats?

The door of my office suddenly opens, and I glare at Luka, my second youngest brother who happens to not know that he should fucking knock before entering.

Luka smirks, knowing he's managed to irritate me, and I find myself questioning his survival skills. Is he fucking stupid or something?

"Check your phone, dumbass." Luka says, crossing his arms and leaning against the door frame.

My glare hardens at his choice of words, and before he can register it, there's a knife flying through the air that nicks his ear.

"Have some respect, stronzo." (asshole) I say, my voice as hard as my glare. Luka nods quickly as he raises his hand to his ear to inspect the damage that I did, and I find a smirk making its way to my lips before I pull out my phone to see that papa called an emergency meeting.

Panic blooms in my chest, but I cover it up by feigning nonchalance. Luka gazes sceptically at me, but I give him no hint of what I truly feel.

When he sees that I won't be telling him anything, Luka sighs as he pulls a chair that's in front of my desk and takes a seat.

"What do you think it's about?" He asks, crossing his arms over his chest once again.

"I don't know, Luka. Maybe it's about the sudden trip he went on? But I don't even know where he went, or why he's coming back so soon. I don't think it's serious though, or he would have told us already." I answer, my voice comes out sure and confident when in reality, I feel anything but.

"Maybe it's about our alliance with the Mexicans? Alek says they've been causing trouble."

"Maybe, but we won't know until dad gets here. He should be here in about..." I check my watch, "Twenty minutes. So round everyone up, get them in the living room, I'll be there."

Luka nods before getting up and making a move to round up the rest of our brothers.

Exactly seventeen minutes later, we're all seated in the living room, Andrei and Rocco are arguing about God knows what.

Even though Andrei is the heir of the Russian mafia, and second in line for the title of the mafia king, he's about as mature as a three year old with the mental capacity of a seven year old.

"No! The colour of the dress was blue and black, asshat. There's something wrong with your eyes if you can't see that." Rocco snaps, glaring at Andrei who's about to respond when we hear the echo of the front door opening.

"Boys?" Papa calls out.

"We're in the living room." Rocco says, before he sits up straight, ready to hear whatever news papa has.

The rest of my brothers do the same, prepared for the worst, but I don't think anyone was ready for it. None of us expected two women to walk in after him.

None of us expected them to be our mother and sister who looked like they'd been through hell.

None of us expected to see how skinny they both were.

None of us expected to see the bruises on their faces.

"Papa, what the fuck is this?" Luka voices the question playing on everyone's mind, all of us unsure if it's truly them.

"Boys, say hello to your mother and sister." Papa replies with a bright smile on his face, a smile that we haven't seen in years.

That's all it takes for chaos to errupt, and before anyone can register it, I'm off the sofa and my arms are wrapped around Iris who freezes in my hold but relaxes when she realises that I won't hurt her.

"Welcome home, la mia luce." (my light) I whisper into her hair, so soft that only she can hear it.

Iris nods slowly, her arms tightening around me, and I smile, warmth filling my chest. I missed this, I missed feeling like I belonged.

All too soon, I have to let go of my sister, afraid that she's going to disappear, but happiness overcomes me once more when I realise that this is real. She's back, and I will never let her go again.

It is then that I finally make my way to my mother while the rest of my brothers stand awkwardly on the side.

I give my mother a brief hug before I make my way to my father who I stand next to. Iris immediately makes her way to me, and my heart swells when she holds onto my hand.

"Boys. Introduce yourselves." I command, my voice leaving no room for argument.

"Hiya, Ris! I'm Andrei and I'm the second eldest. I also named you." Andrei boasts, and I roll my eyes at him.

"Aleksander, Andrei's twin."

"I'm Rocco, and I'm the brother you need to come to for fashion advice, don't trust the other idiots."

Carmine looks uncomfortable for a second, and I give him a smile to tell him it's okay, and he nods, knowing that he'll introduce himself later.

"I'm the one and only Luka, and I'm gonna be your favourite. The other assholes don't stand a chance." Luka says, giving me a challenging look.

"And I'm Mikhail, the youngest brother. It's nice that you're here again so I'm not the youngest anymore." Mikhail smiles warmly.

Iris then turns to me with a question in her eyes, who are you? Her eyes ask.

"I'm Leandro, the eldest of us all." I say, and she nods in response.

"What about him?" Iris asks soft enough that only I can hear, she subtly motions to Carmine.

"He's Carmine. He's a selective mute, but he's happy to meet you." I reply.

Iris frowns, and I wonder for a second if she doesn't like the fact that Carmine doesn't speak, but before I know it, she's signing to him in perfect RSL which is what papa taught him to communicate in.

'Don't worry, I know sign language too.' Iris signs, a smile on her face. 'So don't feel uncomfortable, I promise I understand.'

'Okay. I'm Carmine, and I'm really happy you're back, Iris.' Carmen signs back with a smile on his face.

"It's nice to meet you all." Iris says, her voice soft and sweet.

I think everything's going to be just fine.

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I feel like with the amount of motivation I need to write at the moment, someone needs to like... Pay me or smth. Like damn that was a lot of effort. Lol.

BEFORE ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING, I'M JOKING SO CHILL OUTTTT.

Anyway, after this you guys can expect some hopefully longer chapters because of @Tx_Txryn she's amazing guys, and definitely one of my best friends. So like.... Shout out to her n all that jazz.

Anyway, I don't promise to be consistent with updating after this because school starts LITERALLY TOMORROW, I'M GONNA GO CRAAAAZZYYY.

But yah, we'll see how busy I am after that 😭
I promise I won't ghost or anything, I just don't know if I'll be consistent and there's gonna be at least two updates a month, I promise that much. (let's just pretend that it isn't the bare minimum 💀)

ALSO WE'RE ALMOST AT THREE HUNDRED. GUYSSSSS.

Hope y'all enjoyed it, see y'all in the next chapter!