Over the next few days, I knew my brothers were keeping something from me. I could tell by the way when I walked into a room and their conversation died. Killian and Angelo seemed to be at each other's throats, disagreeing about something. They bickered whenever they were in the same room in Italian.

Soren had been on bedrest and I caught up on homework from my teachers, often talking to Tabitha and Zoe on the phone during the day.

"You can't catch a break," Tabitha muttered, eyes widening as I told her more and more about what happened since the party Friday night. "How is Soren?"

I leaned back into my pillows, sighing. "Annoying. I mean, I know he was shot and everything, but how can he be so annoying?"

"Brothers."

An hour later, I had dinner with my brothers.

"I am returning to classes tomorrow," I stated, eating a bite of steak. Angelo threw his head back, annoyed by my insistence on going back to school. I glanced at Killian and Soren for support, but neither said anything. "Please, I'm bored and sitting around here, worrying, isn't healthy. I haven't had a seizure in over 24 hours. I feel good, I haven't had any side effects from the medication."

"Why don't you wait until Monday?" My oldest brother suggested but I shook my head, narrowing my eyes, ready for a fight if need be.

"No. Stop being overprotective and understand where I'm coming from, Angelo. I don't want to repeat the year, and I will if I miss anymore classes." I studied Angelo and knew I had won him over, though his frown had deepened. "Also, I want to begin training with Christian and Rafe again. It's obvious I need to , considering how dangerous your work is, right?"

Soren scoffed. "Angelo, she's using logic to win you over. Stop her," he snapped and narrowed his eyes with a playful glint.

"I know, you're right, bambina," Angelo said, sighing. "You can go to class and restart training. I'm sorry for being so overprotective."

I smiled. "It's okay, I won't hold it against you." Angelo smirked and Killian rolled his eyes. I dropped my fork and licked my bottom lip, working up the courage to ask the question that'd been on my mind since the day Mr. Rhodes threatened to take me away.

"What did Mr. Rhodes want?"

Angelo , his usually confident demeanor wavering slightly. His fingers tapped lightly on his coffee mug, as if he was trying to find the right words. I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes flickered away from mine whenever they met. It wasn't like him to be hesitant—Angelo was the type who always had an answer, a plan, a solution. Finally he cleared his throat, but even then, the words seemed to stick.

"Alina," he started, his voice softer than usual, almost reluctant. "About Mr. Rhodes..."

He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor as if the answer might be found in the grain of the wood. It was clear he didn't want to continue, didn't want to be the one to tell me whatever it was that Mr. Rhodes had said or wanted.

"What did he want?" I pressed, my own anxiety rising with his hesitation. "Angelo, just tell me."

He looked up at me then, his expression a mix of worry and something else I couldn't quite place—something close to guilt. His lips parted as if to speak, but he hesitated again, his breath catching in his throat.

"It's... complicated," he finally said, the words slow and deliberate, like he was weighing each one before letting it out. "I'm not sure how to explain it without... upsetting you."

My heart sank at his tone, and I could feel the knot of dread tightening in my chest. Whatever Mr. Rhodes wanted, it wasn't good, and Angelo was struggling to break the news to me.

"Angelo-" Killian snapped, but Angelo levelled a stern glare, turning back to me.

"Alina, I own one of the biggest security companies in the country, and have some investments in other security companies around the world. While this is legal, I have an illegal business too. I traffic weapons and cocaine from many different countries."

I swallowed, aware my three brothers were staring at me, tense. I stared at Angelo, his words echoing in my mind, reverberating with a heaviness that made it hard to breathe. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat loud and jarring as I tried to process the reality of what he was telling me. The room felt smaller, the air thicker, as though the truth he had just confessed was crowding out everything else.

My three brothers were watching me, their gazes intense, yet guarded. I could feel the tension radiating off them, a shared unease that made the atmosphere almost suffocating. They were waiting for my reaction, but I didn't know what to say, what to think. My life had been turned upside down since I moved in with them, but this... this was something else entirely.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "So, everything you do... it's all illegal?" My voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of my disbelief.

Angelo's eyes didn't waver from mine, though I could see the strain in his expression, the slight twitch in his jaw. "Not everything. My security company is legitimate. But yes, I have illegal operations too. I didn't have a choice, I was expected to take the business over from Dad."

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. "And Mr. Rhodes... he's been working with the police to bring you down?"

Angelo nodded, a grim acknowledgment of the danger that had been lurking just beneath the surface of our lives. "Yes. He's been trying to gather evidence, to find a way to tie us to something they can use. First with Soren, now you. They're looking for any weakness, any opportunity. And now, they're targeting you because they think you're that opportunity."

My stomach churned, a mix of fear and anger roiling inside me. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why keep this from me?"

Angelo sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly, a rare show of vulnerability. "I wanted to protect you, to keep you out of this as much as possible. But I realize now that you need to know what's going on. You're part of this family, and they'll use whatever they can to get to us. Including you."

The reality of the situation hit me like a tidal wave, pulling me under with its intensity. I was caught in a web of lies, danger, and betrayal, and there was no easy way out. I felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of this newfound knowledge.

"What do we do now?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"We stick together," Soren said firmly, his gaze hardening with resolve. "We don't let them tear us apart. And we make sure that Mr. Rhodes and anyone else who tries to hurt this family regrets it."

"You have to know though, you can't speak of this to anyone," Killian said, his voice firm but soft. "I know it's overwhelming, so if you have questions about ... the illegal side of things, you need to come to one of us three. No one else. Understand?"

I nodded. "I understand."

"All the security guards around the house are aware of the illegal business," Angelo said, leaning back in his seat, his tone measured. "They need to understand the risks, the dangers that come with the territory. But they only know bits and pieces. Just enough to do their jobs and stay safe."

He paused, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made me shiver. "Alina, I know this is a lot to ask, but I need you to promise me something. Whatever we discuss inside these walls, between the four of us, stays here. You can't tell anyone. Not a soul."

His words hung heavy in the air, the weight of his request pressing down on me. I could feel the tension in the room, the unspoken implications of what would happen if I broke that promise. I'd be ripped away from my brothers, my family. The only people that showed me kindness and love without wanting anything in return.

"I promise I will not say anything to anyone," I said, nodding. "I have a few questions though."

Killian sighed, gesturing for me to speak. "There are some things we cannot tell you, you just have to accept that, but we will do our best to answer any question."

I frowned but knew I'd have to accept that. "What happens if the police corner me? What do I say?"

Angelo smiled, seeming impressed with the question. "The police cannot question you unless I am present. No matter what they try and say, you have no legal obligation to talk to them. Don't fall into their traps, but I have a feeling you are indeed smarter than them."

I rattled off more questions, which my brothers answered. Eventually, I excused myself to my room, with a promise I was okay. I had to process things, needed space, but I knew one thing for sure - I trusted my brothers, my wealthy, infamous, criminal brothers; with my life.

+++

I walked through the halls of the language arts building, lost. My head was aching, but I needed to push through. The longer I wandered, the more frustrated I became. Every classroom looked the same, and every turn seemed to lead to another identical hallway. I sighed, rubbing my temples as my headache intensified.

I was about to give up when I spotted a familiar face at the end of the hall. "Mr. Aeros!" I called out, hoping my relief was evident. "Can you help me find—"

"Alina, what are you doing out of class?" he interrupted, his expression stern. "You know the rules. Wandering the halls is not allowed."

"I'm not wandering," I tried to explain, "I'm just lost. I can't find my classroom, and I—"

"That's no excuse," he cut me off, shaking his head. "You should have been more prepared. This isn't the first time, Alina. I'm assigning you detention."

"But Mr. Aeros, I really was lost!" I protested, my frustration bubbling over. "If you'd just listen to me for a second—"

"That's enough, Alina," he said firmly. "Report to the detention room after school. I don't want to hear another word about it."

Anger flared in me, and before I could stop myself, I blurted out, "Maybe if you actually listened to your students, you'd know what's going on!"

"That's quite enough," Mr. Aeros snapped. "Consider this a lesson in respect. Now get to class."

I clenched my fists, biting back the urge to say more. Instead, I turned on my heel and stormed down the hall, my anger and frustration fueling each step, remembering I still didn't know where I was going.

"Alina!" I glanced over my shoulder and groaned. Christian jogged up behind me, scowling. "You ditched me, left me hanging with Ms. Rossi, how could you!" my creative writing teacher had a crush on Christian.

"Laugh all you want .. I'm adding fifty pushups to your warmup tomorrow."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Ms. Morena! What did I tell you, tardiness will not be tolerated. You have detention for an entire week." Mr. Aeros screeched, reappearing in the hallway. "Go to class, now!"

I stepped toward him, clutching the paper in my fist, about to yell at him when Christian caught my shoulder. "Your class is two doors down. Walk and don't talk to him or you'll be in more trouble."

Christian guided me into the classroom and I gave a sheepish smile to Mrs. Broadbent, the AP English teacher. "I apologize for being late, Mrs. Broadbent. I have not yet got every class location memorized," I mumbled, taking my seat next to Tabitha as Christian stood took his place at the back of the classroom.

"Your face is as red as a tomato. What happened, we all heard Mr. Aeros screeching from down the hall?" She whispered, her wide eyes studying me.

"He's like, out for me or something. I couldn't figure out which room we were in. I have detention for the week."

"OMG. What a -"

"Tabitha," Mrs. Broadbent hissed. "Read the next paragraph." We were reading 1984 by George Orwell. I had read it before, so I felt ahead of the class.

Half an hour later, we were dismissed, and I followed Tabitha to our next class. My phone buzzed with a slew of incoming messages - and it nearly knocked me over.

Hey bitch, remember me?
It's Caitlin.
Kidnapped? No wonder you're so fucked up.

+++
I don't like this chapter but please,
tell me what you think of it!
Thank you for reading!
- Charlie 🧡