Gemma:

Therapy has helped with me with my mental health and also has helped me with my nightmares. It has helped me move forward from my traumatic past. I still have nightmares from time to time. There are times where I don't have nightmares for weeks and there are times like tonight that they decide to come full force. I am waken up from a terrible nightmare. I am drench in sweat where my pajamas are soaked and my hair is sticking to my forehead. I literally look like I have jumped into a pool fully clothed. My chest has this tight feeling and my right arm has scratch marks on it from clawing at myself. My neck isn't any better from clawing at it as well. I need my brother right now and I have no clue who's room is who's. I manage to go down the passageway I was told about earlier today. I seek out one of my oldest brothers. I am not looking for Valley or Cian tonight. I am searching for a certain brother. A particular older brother. If our house is set up like the others than their rooms go in order from oldest to youngest. I'm on the prowl of a certain blond moppy haired and mossy green eyed brother. I come to the first door on the right and knock. Please be at least one of my brothers' rooms. At this point I don't care if it's the one I'm searching for.

"It's open." A groggy voice says from a distance.

I slowly open the door at the same time someone turns on their bedside lamp. I'm relived that it is one of my brothers. I am also grateful it is the one I have been searching for.

"Are you okay Sorella?"

"I.... Justttt... Need..... My Bubbaaaa." I stutter out.

Damn this nightmare really has gotten to me.

"Come here sweetheart. You don't ever have to ask to enter."

He moves his covers over and opens his arms up. I immediately run and plop onto his bed. I place my head gently on his shoulder and he calmly starts to play with my hair. Exactly how he did when I was little. The comfort of my older brother and his skillful hair technique puts me out like a blown light in a matter of seconds. We wake up to a knock on his bedroom door.

"What!" He growls out.

His door opens up suddenly and Julian, dad, Matteo, and Nikolai storm in.

"Or just barge in. What the hell do you guys need at eight in the damn morning." He grumbles.

"For starters, we can't find Sorella and lastly, it's ten in the morning. Breakfast is ready and you're late to the table. But first help us find Sorella." Nikolai counters.

"We don't have to look far. She's laying asleep next to me. Now go away." Renzo grumbles.

"Did she have a nightmare?" Matteo questions with concern in his voice.

"Wait, she came to you?" Nikolai asks confusion in his voice.

"Damn I should have put money on you." Julian chuckles out.

"Don't wake your sister up. Let her sleep." Dad whisper yells at my brothers.

"I don't know if she had one or not. She came and knocked on my door early this morning; sweating like a pig. I didn't ask her I just told her to come lie down next to me. She fell asleep immediately after." Renzo whispers.

"Hey! I'm not a sweating pig!" I shriek out.

"Come on princess. Get out of Renzo's bed and come eat breakfast." Dad says with a chuckle.

I dangle my feet off my eldest brother's bed as my intruding brothers and father's retreating figures walk out the door.

"Are you sure you're okay Sorella?" My eldest brother asks.

"I'm fine Bubs. I just had a bad night terror I couldn't shake off." I mumble.

"My door is always open for you. Come anytime you need me." Renzo says with a soft voice.

I nod my head to tell him I understood him perfectly.

"Last one down is a sweaty pig!" Renzo suddenly says.

"I was not a sweaty pig and I will not be a sweaty pig!" I yell.

I grab the pillow I slept with and launch it at Renzo. The pillow connects with his face and he tumbles out of bed. A loud thud echoes the room. I take my only chance and bolt out his door and down the hallway. I take my first left and sprint down the stairs. I can hear Renzo's feet hitting the wood behind me. I bolt down the hall and back up the small set of stairs. I open the door and my entire family is in the kitchen gathering their food. I know I look insane because my face is red and blotchy and my hair looks like a bird has nested in it. So in short, I look ridiculous right now. Before I could move a muscle, a body collides with my own.

"Shit!" Renzo rushes out.

"Who's the sweaty pig now?" I say in between laughs.

"Only because you cheated!" Renzo counters.

"Did not!" I screech

"Did so!" Renzo mimics me.

"Did not!" I mimic Renzo's normal demanding voice.

"I would have won if you didn't hit me with that damn drooly pillow!" Renzo grumbles.

"I told you she cheats!!!" Lucian all but screams.

"I don't cheat. I play fair for a small girl against her grown brothers. I just use things to my advantage. Not my fault you all don't catch on to my tactics." I defend myself.

"If we done any of that you would be screaming to dad. It's unfair Gems." Lucian counters.

"I can't help it if you all are idiots." I deadpan.

We continue our argument all through the breakfast line and into the main dining room. Dad finds it amusing how my grown brothers and I bicker over the smallest things. I think it reminds him of when we were just toddlers and small children.

"I love your guys arguments but let's eat before breakfast is cold." Dad says with a small smile.

"Dad, you have to tell Gemma she's cheats." Lucian complains with his arms crossed.

"Me? Dad you have to tell my big bad brothers to quit being wooly ogres because I always beat them." I retort back.

"Guys! Quit picking on your sister. Gemma, quit hitting your big bad brothers with small objects. You're beating up their tough egos when they get taken down by a small child, with that said pillow." Dad says while he chuckles.

"Dad!" All twelve of us whine.

We finish our breakfast and start to head towards the main sitting area. As I'm walking through the main doorway; Lucian kicks his foot into the side of my foot and I trip.

"Awe Gemma are you okay?" Renzo teases.

"Poor Gems is tripping over her own feet." Lucian chuckles out.

"Two can play that game. This means war." I grumble out.

"Oh lord! We all know Gemma and her grudges. Sorry guys, you're on your own with this war. No pink hair dye in my hair again. The lesson was taught. Gemma always wins in the end." Julian says with fear laced in his voice.

Fear me big brother because I will come back for you later. All you Rossi brothers are on my hit list right now. Every last one of you. We all are in our seats while dad is standing in the center of the room demanding attention. We all give it to him without any issues. We all respect our father.

"We need to come up with a plan. A strategy to capture this lady alive. Lucian will stay here guarded because she's targeted him. Gemma will be here as well because I need her safe." Dad starts off.

"What information has Vin and Lee found on her?" Nikolai asks.

"Nothing really just what her 'name' is and she's from the Spanish Mafia." Leonardo says.

"It's like her background has been erased. Like she knows higher up and they wiped out her entire existence." Vincent continues to explain.

"So she's like a ghost?" Matteo asks.

"No she's a fucking ninja." Gianni says with a smirk.

Boy, if you don't shut up Matteo will make you eat your teeth; like he done Julian months ago.

"All we can get is her name. For all we know, her name might be one of her many aliases."

"We couldn't even get a clear view of her face in the hospital because she had a medical mask on her face. Any tattoos she has were hidden under her clothing. All we can go on is her damn piercing green eyes and her voice."

"Only reason we got this far is because where Gemma bitch slapped her mask halfway off her face. Plus, her fingerprint from the syringe because the glove she wore had one finger tip broken off and our digging says that is her name." Vincent explains.

"When we dug deeper with that name, it's like someone from the CIA or a really great technology guy wiped her existence out and gave her some fake name. I don't think that is truly her name." Leonardo finishes Vincent explanation.

"We'll have Valentino, Julian, and Nikolai scout out her hiding place." Renzo orders.

"We're going!" Lucian and I stubbornly say.

"Absolutely not!" All our brothers and father say at the same time.

"Yes Gemma and I need to go. We had the better look of the lady. We can tell you if we spot her there." Lucian demands.

"I mean I did technically slap her face off and had the best look at her small scar on her cheek. Plus, a clearer view of her damn eyes and part of her rose tattoo that was peeking out under her long sleeve scrub top." I state the obvious.

"I swear you two will be the death of me." Dad grumbles.

Second pass before dad finally gives his decision.

"Fine, but stay WITH your brothers. Don't get out the damn car and don't do anything stupid." Dad reluctantly agrees.

We agree to dad's rules and follow our third, fourth, and fifth eldest brothers to the garage. Valentino grabs a set of brand new keys and walks over to the armored black Lamborghini Urus.

Is all of Valley's cars black and bulletproof?

"Gemma sits in the middle. Julian on one side and Lucian on the other. This isn't negotiable."

"Aye aye captain."

We turn out right out of our driveway onto Viale delle Tamerici with the sound of our tires squealing.

What is up with Valley's driving!?

He's driving like we just done a heist.

Nikolai is in the passenger seat playing with the touch screen radio. Before I could even do basic math Valley takes a sharp right turn onto Viale di Campo Salino. I don't think he even taps his brakes, not even once. I glance at the dash and see we're doing 132 KMH. I glance to the left of me where Lucian is sitting and see the trees and scenery is nothing but a blur. The car starts to slow down and Valley passes the house up completely. I look at him like he's gone mad.

We need to see the front of the house what the hell is he even doing?

He takes the following driveway and parks in front of this unknown person's rundown house. Niko and Valley get out of the car and the three of us in the back look at each other confused.

"Julian and Nikolai take this side of the fence. Gemma and Lucian will come with me check the backside out. You two keep your guns out at all times and be careful."

"Don't get caught and don't get shot. Meet back at the car in fifteen minutes."

"Don't do anything stupid Julian and Nikolai. Im serious!"

Two of my brothers begin to walk down the fence line as my other two walk off towards the back.

Thanks guys!

Just leave the girl with nonexistent legs behind.

I begin to run after my brothers; which looks more like I'm a headless horseman trying to find his head in the dark. I round the corner and spot my brothers looking over the fence. I can't see over the six foot fence; instead I peek through a small opening in the wooden fence. That's when I spot the side of her face; she is in the garden. She's water the red roses with a small pale blue watering can. I know it's her for the simple fact I can see the small scar on her face. She is just watering these roses like she has no care in the world. Like she didn't just recently try to kill my brother. I pull on Lucian's pants leg and he looks down at me. I point towards her direction and he glances where my finger is pointing into the wood. He gives me a discombobulating look which causes me to roll my eyes.

"Look in that direction over the fence. She's over in the garden watering the roses." I whisper.

He finally does as I say and spots her. He taps Valley on his shoulder and nods to where she is.

"What the fuck is she doing?"

"She's just has no care in the world."

"Like she didn't just try to end my life like last week?!"

We can hear she's talking to someone but, there's no one in our sights. Who the hell is she talking too? Is she nuts? Has she gone mad? Is she talking to herself? What the fuck is going on?

"I will get every single last one of the Rossi's. I will avenge your death sister." She says in a small voice.

Valley, Lucian, and I glance at each other. Who the fuck is her sister? What happened to her sister. What the bloody hell is going on?

Valley walks further down to see if he can get a clear view of her. To see if she's actually talking to anyone in general. Lucian and I begin to survey the back area and take mental notes on what we have seen. I'm trying to remember every little detail of the back of this house. I want to make sure I have everything memorized so I can tell dad everything that could help them in the long run. Like how there's no guards in the back, how these six planks of wood isn't attached to the fencing frame. Scanning more of the area I can see its surrounded by trees and vineyards. Her back door that is open has no locks on the handle, no chain locks, nor any dead bolt locks. In general, her back door is easy walk into without Julian going Rambo and busting through it. They can easily just walk right through the back door like an open invitation.

How can someone not have locks?

Dad has like six on our front door?!

Dad also has like six on all our doors. Your point is?

How can she not have a single lock!

I keep edging down the fence and turn to the left around the side of the other side of house. The left side of the fencing is busted and ragged. One small breeze of wind and this thing will crash down. If she's trying to stay safe and hidden, this isn't very safe. The back door, the planks not connected, this busted ass fence on the left side, and I have yet to see a damn guard. It's like she knew we would find her. It's like she wants it to be easy for us to invade this place.

What is she up too?

Is she on a suicide mission?

Has she gone mad?!

Lucian comes next to me and whispers it's time to meet up with Julian and Nikolai. I nod my head and do an quick glance over. I follow my brother behind the back fence to Valley. Valley is now covered in dirt and gives me the appointed look of don't ask.

Trust me I wasn't about to ask you a thing.

Not with your face looking pissed off.

We walk in front of our third eldest brother and turn the corner to spot Nikolai and Julian by the car. Nikolai is just as dirty as Valley. I look back at Valley then back at Niko repeatedly. When I glance over at Lucian, he has the same confusion in his facial features as I do.

What the hell did these two get into?

We all take our respective seats and Valley creeps down the gravel driveway. Once he hits the asphalt, he punches it. My head is forcefully thrown back into my seat to where I can't even lift my head forward at all. He's driving quicker to get home then when we were coming to this place.

What has gotten into Valley?

Once we gotten back into our garage all you could hear is the twins bickering. I couldn't even keep up with their arguments. It is like they are talking in twin codes. Once we walk through into our main room, all heads turn in our direction. Mostly, because the twins are still arguing and probably because they look like they rolled in dirt for weeks.

"I have dirt in places it shouldn't be because of you." Valley grumbles.

"I have mud in my ass crack." Nikolai all but yells.

"Are you sure you didn't shit yourself?" Lucian causally asks.

"No you fucking idiot!" Nikolai defends himself.

"Boys! Enough!" Dad's voice echoes in the room

The room goes quiet; very quickly I will add. Dad's cold dark voice makes me shrink into Julian's side. When dad gets pissed his voice still scares me.

"I will ask my three youngest what they saw. Then, I will come back and figure out what the hell you two got into. You two look like you rolled around in a pig pen. I would have expected this appearance from Gemma and Lucian not you two. You two are the fucking two oldest in the damn group. Is that understood?" Dad growls out.

His patience has hit it's limit and it's showing.

"Yes father." We all five mumble out.

"Gem, what did you see exactly Sorella?" Renzo calmly asks.

"She's there but from the looks of it in the back of the house; she looks to be alone."

I speak quietly like a mouse.

"Is that all?" Matteo questions with his brow raised.

"The fencing on the back has areas where the planks aren't attached to the fence frame." I softly speak.

"Is that all you got?" Dad asks just as softly as Matty.

"Her back door doesn't have any locks. No dead bolts, no chains. None. The left side of the fence is ragged and beaten. They'll be easy to just knock over. She has no guards back there like I said earlier and she was talking to herself." I quickly say.

"Is she a nut job?" Maximus asks.

"I mean she literally just targeted the most powerful man's son. I think that speaks volumes." Gianni answers.

"She has this garden she seems to care a lot about. It's where we spotted her at the entire time. The windows don't have locks, they are the ones that just slide up and down. Easily to get into." I finish off.

"Great work Gem." Renzo commitments me.

"Damn, she would make a great detective."

"Too bad she's in the wrong family."

"Lucian what did you see, son?"

"I noticed the planks not attached like Gemma and the left side fencing like her as well. When we drove by the front of the house, it has a long run down driveway. It's surrounded by trees. You would miss it if you weren't paying attention because the driveway is well hidden. When we came down the next door neighbor's driveway; I was able to see it is better; one bigger house with four smaller ones surrounding the biggest one. The fencing is well kept on the right side of the house. The window in the smallest house near the back has a broken window and a wonky door. It also has no locks on it either." Lucian describes what he was able to see.

"Anything else?" Renzo asks.

"There is a well behind the fence in the back." Lucian adds.

"Julian, you're next." Matteo addresses.

"The place is a little run down. She has wires running to the neighbors house. So, she's running off their electric. The right side of the main house has a window that looks out into the neighbors yard. Better yet more the driveway. I didn't spot any guards. She wasn't armed from what I could tell. The windows look to be new in some of the smaller homes and the garden look up kept. The houses have small bullet holes in each of them. She owns a small cat and a small koi pond. That's all I could really see from my point of view." Julian explains.

"Can the twins now tell us why they look like utter shit?" Gianni asks.

"Which one wants to go first?" Dad asks both Valley and Niko.

"I will." Nikolai finally agrees.

"There was an hatch near the fence on the right side where I was. So, I opened it and walked down the ladder. It was filled with different tunnels that were underground. The one I took led directly behind the pond Julian mentioned earlier. When I barely opened the small hatch behind the pond; I could see wiring and cameras in different directions, pointing in different spots of the area. I went back down and took an different tunnel which led in the garden. Again it has cameras pointing in all directions and is wired to the max." Nikolai explains his view.

"Valley?" Renzo asks with his brow raised.

"The well Lucian mentioned earlier wasn't a well. I mean it's shaped like one but it's not a functioning well. It has stairs that lead down into the tunnels. I took the stairs and went in one direction and it came out in front of the house. The porch has cameras and a motion sensor. I took a second tunnel that led straight into the main house. The outside doesn't give the inside justice. She has pictures everywhere. It doesn't look like a home of an assassin but of a mother, a sister, an aunt. I took another tunnel which led to where Nikolai was. We both exited the tunnels and met with our siblings." Valley again explains his own view.

"That doesn't exactly explain your two's appearance though." Dad says.

"It's old and dusty down there. With dirt and cobwebs. Spiders." Nikolai tries to explain.

"We ran into each other in the tunnels and had a wrestling match until we realized it who each other was. That's why he has a black eye and I have a fat bottom lip. Happy?" Valley says with his arms crossed and brow raised.

"Wait the twins got into a wrestling match?!"

"Who won?"

"Valley of course."

"Will you three shut the fuck up!?"

The room goes silent after Renzo's outburst. I mean the twins fighting is unbelievable. They never really argue, let alone fight. Like fist fight each other. That's when the air gets knocked out of all of us after one of our brother's comments.

"She looks like Mom."

A/N:

Word Count: 3947

Thoughts?

Who do you think this mysterious assassin is?