7. Chapter 7

Jade

The rest of the day involves Matteo showing me how to set up an iPhone, putting in everyone's contacts, and signing me up for Instagram. He makes the account private, hiding my name, and only follows each of our family members—wives included. He says I don't need to post anything, but I should like everything he posts.

Andit's important that I have multiple ways of contacting them. Like if my phone were to break but there was a computer I could access, I would be able to log on and message every single one of them easily. A really smart idea, if I'm honest.

He also gets me an older pair of his pants that fit much better around my waist. I helped him dig around in his messy closet to find them, and it was sort of fun. He has a bit of a chaotic room with dark splashes of colors and things haphazardly laying around. It screams Matteo, which I admire. I want to know myself as well as he does.

It's just him and me for lunch, so Martha makes us each personal pizzas. When I can only eat half of mine, Matteo gladly devours the rest for me. It's really amazing, just hanging out for the day.

We're lounging around in my room, watching some movie about zombies, when someone taps on my open door. Alerted by the knock, both of us swing our heads, finding Dante—Dad—stepping over the threshold.

"Having fun?"

"Oh yeah," Matteo answers, nodding with a big grin. "Lots of zombie gore and gunfire, we're having a straight-up wholesome bit of fun."

The word wholesome doesn't even feel that out of place of a description. Sure, people are being eaten alive on my TV screen, but I'm just enjoying a day with my brother. There hasn't been an ounce of fighting or screaming or fear. It's been nice.

"It's great," I agree, smiling too.

Offering a nod of understanding, he steps further into the space. "I have some unfortunate news," our father claims carefully.

My stomach flips with anticipation. News about me?

"Did something happen?" Matteo asks, immediately concerned.

"It seems that Kim is missing," he informs us, watching me as my throat bobs up and down. "When Officer Brian made it back to the town's hospital, she had already fled, untreated injuries and all."

"If she ran, it's because she's scared," Matteo points out angrily. "Which likely means she didn't bank on us hurting Jade like she said."

"At the very least, she was unsure," Dad agrees. "I've got people on the streets looking out for any whisper of her. Don't worry, Jade, we'll get her."

He hesitates, and I sense it. "But?"

"But it may take a while," he says, withholding a wince. "Her boyfriend can't be found by his parole officer either. They think he skipped town after having his bail paid, and so I can only assume they're together."

I feel the color drain from my face. "B-Bruce made bail?"

There's a dark glint in my father's eye as his jaw ticks. "Yes, he did. Don't worry about him, though, Jade. He can't touch you here. Neither of them can."

I know Bruce, and he's like a kicked dog when he's hurt. He'll whine and moan and pout until he needs to fight back. For now, I'm safe from him, and I suppose that's all I can ask.

"Okay," I say, letting out a breath.

"I'm going to introduce you to all of the guards tonight," Dad tells me softly. "You won't need to remember names, but seeing faces that you will become familiar with is important. There are a lot of people here at all times that will keep the family safe. It's important to me that you're comfortable here."

"You're two doors away from the safest place on earth too," Matteo chimes.

"I am?" I ask, confused.

"Apollo's room has an entrance to our hidden safe room," Dante explains. "He'll go over that with you himself. There is one other entrance that we'll show you as well."

"Safe room, huh?" I look between the two of them. "Does that get used a lot?"

Matteo chuckles. "Not much, no. This house hasn't been broken into more than a few times in my entire life. The property has been breached maybe ten times since our family has owned it. It's more likely that the people breaking in will need a safe room than it is that any of us would be holed up inside of there."

"But if anything goes wrong, that's where you'll go immediately," Dante adds, leaving no room for argument.

Trust me, there's no need for me to fight him on this. I will absolutely run and hide without having to be told twice. "Makes sense," I reply easily.

Dad nods, releasing a breath. "You're sure you like this space?" he asks, changing the subject and looking around. "There's enough room for your things?"

I snort. "I could fit all of my things in like one corner. Trust me, there's plenty of space."

Immediately he looks less pleased and clears his throat with a grunt. "We'll just have to take you shopping then."

"Oh, no, that wasn't me asking. I have enough?—"

Matteo laughs so loud that it startles me. "Armani is going to fill this closet whether you like it or not. You might as well be on board with it, or he'll just get what he likes and not what you're into."

I don't even know what I'm into. When you don't have money, you really don't get to have a style. You wear what keeps your body from being nude, and you wear it until it's falling apart at the seams.

Dante smiles, and it's a proud one. "My boy knows fashion."

"He'll probably snoop while packing up your stuff anyway," Matteo adds. "If it was one of us, he'd toss everything he deemed inexcusable, but he won't do that with you. Yet, anyway."

"I'm sorry," I say slowly. "Packing up my stuff?"

"Yeah, Apollo and him are meeting Uncle Cesar at your old place to deal with everything and grab your stuff."

"No," I instantly shout.

Dante frowns. "No?"

"They can't go in my room. I don't, I don't want them in there."

Matteo's thick eyebrows pinch together. "They're probably already done."

Oh my god.

My stomach twists into a painful knot. "W-what?"

His confused look becomes wary. "They left a while ago?—"

"No," I say again, fear crawling up my back.

They saw… they saw my house. My room. And there's nothing I can do to stop it because it's already happened. I think—holy shit, my heart is beating fast—I think I'm going to have a panic attack.

"Jade, it's okay, Bruce and Kim aren't there, remember?" Matteo says, trying to coax me from the impending panic. He doesn't understand, though. I'm not worried about Kim or Bruce running into them, I'm worried about what they'll see because of them. The two of them don't need to be present for the evidence of their cruelty to be witnessed.

My head shakes from side to side, mouth dried up and cold. "No."

There's the distant echo of doors slamming, and I know there's no time to run and hide from this. They're home, and if I'm right, they'll be heading right for us—for me.

A few shaky breaths fall from my lips before they close in on my room. I see my brothers first, both wearing masks of anger while Uncle Cesar follows behind them, his mask even darker than theirs.

In my eldest brother's clenched fists lies the stuff of nightmares. Reality in its most physical form, the sight of it sending a crack straight through my heart. His hands loosen around the relic, extending it out in presentation before letting go entirely.

Apollo lets the chain and lock fall, the rattling metal clinking painfully loud until it all hits the floor. In a pile at his feet, the piece of evidence gleams under the light of my room's chandelier. I struggle to breathe, blinking like it might go away if my eyes are closed for long enough.

I hate that chain of metal more than I hate a lot of awful things. I can't hide my disdain for it. Imagine needing something so huge and horrendous in order to give yourself enough peace of mind to sleep at night. Imagine having to steal that thing to even possess it, and then struggling to drag it all the way home.

I dragged that heavy ass hunk of protection five miles from a junkyard and maneuvered it inch by inch through my bedroom window. I tried five different ways of locking my door with it before I found one that worked well enough.

Matteo gapes. "What the fuck is that?"

No, no, no. One day here and they're already going to know. I don't even get a week of pretending like everything is okay.

My breath stalls in my throat, and I give my eldest brother a panicked glance. He isn't looking at me though, his eyes are firmly locked on our father's. It looks like they're speaking without words, silently spilling secrets between each other.

Until it's not so silent.

"This is our little sister's bedroom door lock."

The room takes a collective breath and then chaos ensues.

"What the fuck did you just say?" Dante asks, the words sending a horrible chill all over my body. It rolls up my arms, nipping away at any comfort still remaining.

"Is that why you asked about rules?" Matteo asks me, still staring at the chain.

Dad turns to him. "What fucking rules?"

"Excuse me," I blurt out, running for my bathroom. I have the door slammed shut and latched behind me before rushing to the toilet. Dry heaving on my knees, I can't tune it out as Matteo rambles through our conversation from last night.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Apollo questions, though his tone is almost gentle. He could snap at our brother, but he isn't going to. It's not Matteo's fault.

"I thought she was just nervous," Matteo defends, sounding panicked. "Who the hell gets in trouble for showering for more than five minutes?"

"Explains the lock on the fridge." This comes from Armani, I think.

I try to control my breathing, stomach turning in the worst way.

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay.

Fuckfuckfuck.

A knock rattles the door, and my hands start to shake.

"D-don't come in," I beg.

"Jade." It's Dad. "Sweetheart, it's okay. Come out and talk to us."

"I need a minute," I call out, shakily taking breaths in and out. I quickly come to the conclusion that nothing is going to come up—only bile to burn my esophagus—and close the toilet lid.

Shrinking back against the shower glass, I relish the bite of cold against my neck. I knew this would happen, I'm just not ready for it.

There's no option to get ready, so I have to pull my ass together and quickly. I wouldn't put it past them to break down my door. They're more than worried, and they don't know me well. I could be in here hurting myself, and there's no way they'd let that happen. At least, I don't think there is.

Concerned murmurs on the other side of the wall filter through the door, so I know I don't have much more time alone.

"Jade?" Dad asks again. "Can you hear me, sweetheart?"

"Y-yes," I answer. Feeling bold, I add, "I just want to be alone."

"I'm sorry, but I can't give you that," he replies, sounding sincere.

I thought he might say that.

"We've concluded that you may be overwhelmed with the idea of talking to us all at once," my father continues cautiously. "If it's easier, you can pick one of us to speak to. But you do need to speak to one of us. I'm sorry, but privacy can only extend so far in this family. Someone needs to pay for this, and I need to know who I'm punishing and how. You understand, yes?"

I swallow, nodding to myself slowly. "O-okay. Did, um, did everyone go into my room?"

There's a moment of quiet before his answer. "Just Apollo."

Hands shaking, I hold my face, gauging the heat from the cheeks. I'm not going to be sick, but the possibility of fainting is still on the table. This overwhelming feeling is not one I want to keep myself overly familiar with. Fear isn't something new to me, but it's appalling to experience it to this extreme after finally feeling safe for once.

"Apollo can come in," I croak, pausing before getting up to unlock the door. I move away from it like it might burn me, retreating back to my seat on the floor before anyone can walk through.

A few heavy moments pass, and to my utter relief, Apollo enters alone.

Without saying a word, he seals the door shut behind him, and joins me on the floor. He's huge, casting a shadow over me even while sitting down. All of my brother's are taller than me, and Apollo is the tallest of them. He's bigger too, like dad. Where Nico, Emilio, and Leon are quite slim, the rest of my brothers look like they could pull cars out of a ditch with some rope and their bare hands.

"Are you alright?" he asks, his mirror-eyes scanning my face.

I attempt to crack a watery smile. "Bet you never thought you'd be on a bathroom floor comforting a sister, did you?"

"No," he agrees, voice deepening. "I bet you never imagined anyone laying eyes on your bedroom, did you?"

"No," I echo, voice husking out the simple word.

"Tell me about the chain, Jade."

I pick at my nails. "Straight to it, then?"

"Yes, well, unfortunately for you, you're now a part of a family full of impatient men with anger issues. If we don't have someone to destroy for this in the next few hours, we'll likely begin to annihilate anyone who has ever laid eyes on you. Killing potential innocents isn't typically our thing, so."

So terrifying and so sweet at the same time.

In two days, I've gone from a house that would prefer me dead to a home that would kill to keep me alive. Whiplash doesn't even begin to describe it.

Still scared, but reassured by Apollo's place at my side, I'm able to open up.

I shut my eyes, count to three, and begin to speak.

"Bruce liked to play games."