I woke up from a nightmare and I remembered that Alessandro is sleeping next to me so I had to be quiet while I cried a little.
The worst cry is the silent one.
I looked at Sandro's phone, it's 5 a.m. I decided to wake up and go to the kitchen. I need water.
I go down the stairs. I still am amazed by this house- mansion. The roof is so high. It's immense.
After 5 minutes, I got to the kitchen but before I entered, I heard people moving upstairs; third floor to be exact.
No.
Please?
No. We're gonna get in trouble.
But we have the right now to go there.
Yeah but I think I need permission to go there.
Fine go back to bed and be boring while you can know what's going on up there.
Stop manipulating me.
I am you remember? I am the real you that you want to hide so bad.
For fuck's sake. Fine. You won. I will go up there.
Before I knew it, I was in front of the stairs that I have never went up before.
My mind is telling me to go back. But my legs are moving. It's a bad idea. Still my legs are moving. This is a very bad idea. I am halfway up there-
"What the fuck are you doing here?!?" Marcello grabbed my arm harshly and his voice is stern as well. Where did he come from?!?
"I-" I was gonna say something- even though I have no excuse besides my curiosity- but still I could have said anything to make this better.
"It's 5 in the morning for fuck's sake! It's full of men up there!" He cut me off scolding me while dragging me down the stairs.
"I-" I was gonna apologise but he cut me off once again.
"Why are you up anyway?!? I knew I swear to god I had this feeling that you were gonna go up!" His grip is getting tighter by the second that it's hurting me.
Will he give me a chance to talk!
"You're hurting me." I whispered but he heard me. He was confused at first but then he let go once he noticed his hand gripping my arm. We're now in the hall of the second floor.
"Why are you up? Where's Alessandro?" He sighed massaging his temples.
"I had a nightmare. Sandro is probably still sleeping." I responded keeping my head down.
I knew this was a bad idea.
"Why were you going up there?" His voice softened a little.
"I heard noises so I got curious." He tensed again and before he could say anything. "I am sorry." I apologised giving him my puppy eyes. He sighed and ran his hands over his face and hair while mumbling things I couldn't understand.
"You can't go up there alone, okay?" He asked softly and I nodded. "Do you want to go back to sleep or start your day?"
I want to sleep so bad. So so bad. I am so tired but I can't. My mind is overthinking 24/7. I am exhausted.
"Come on we're going to my room. You clearly want to sleep." He said putting an arm around my shoulders and we started walking towards his room.
"Don't you have work to do?" I asked him.
I don't want to be a burden-
I am a burden.
"Don't worry about that." He reassured me. "What was your nightmare about?"
Silence.
Outside there's silence but inside my mind is going wild.
I don't like my mind. I hate it.
"I don't want to talk about it." I said giving him an unreadable face. He sighed but didn't say anything.
We got into his room and the bed was made so he didn't sleep yet. I wonder what they are doing right now. I mean why aren't they freaking out that we're getting attacked today! Sandro is literally asleep.
I don't get it. I am terrified!
"What are you thinking about?" Marcello asked me.
"N-"
"And before you say nothing. I saw you glaring at my bed so just tell me." He cut me off.
"I just- it's stupid- but not stupid for me- you know- never mind.." I can't tell him I am scared.
"You're scared about today?" He asked me.
"A little?" I said titling my head.
I was waiting for him to comfort me or something but he just went and laid on his bed.
Oh thanks brother.
"Stop glaring at me." He said putting his phone on his nightstand.
When I didn't stop he sighed and spoke; "Fine. Don't be scared Marissa." He deadpanned.
"Wow. I don't feel scared anymore." I deadpanned back. We glared at each other for a few second until I bursted out laughing causing him to chuckle too.
"Weird child." He muttered under his breath.
"I-" a yawn escaped my mouth interrupting me.
"Come on Marissa." He patted the place next to him in bed.
This time without hesitation I went to bed and laid my head on his chest with my arm around his torso.
He makes me feel safe.
After a few moments I felt a hand stroking my hair. I can't explain how much I love that.
"Don't ever do that again. Okay?" He spoke after a moment.
"Do what?"
"Go upstairs without us knowing. I know you don't know what's up there but it's really nothing interesting, just a lot of men everywhere. If they had find you, I don't know what could have happened..." he said but not in an angry tone but in a worried yet relieved tone.
"What could have happened?" I ask but I doubt he will answer my question.
"I honestly don't know but nothing good that's for sure. They don't know who you are yet."
"Are you guys planning on telling them about me?" I ask.
"It's Lorenzo's decision but at some point he has to tell them I guess..."
I am surprised that he's really answering my questions.
"Don't ever do that again if Lorenzo hears about this he's gonna be pissed."
"You know he's the one who told me that I am allowed to go there." I argued.
"Yeah I know. But he didn't clarify."
Now that I think about it. I am more scared about Lorenzo finding out than the whole attack.
"Can you... like... not tell Lorenzo?" I am asking the impossible but it's worth the try.
"Only this time Marissa." He... agreed? Oh my god.
I hugged him even more, thankful that he's not gonna snitch on me.
REUNITED FOR HER
"No. Not yet." I heard Lorenzo say from the dining room.
"But listen-" Leo was speaking but stopped once he saw me. I took my usual seat next to him. All my brothers were here.
Matteo and Sandro look like they are planning my death for some reason.
"Oh here he is. He let us deal with all the work while he was sleeping." Matteo said and I just flipped him off.
"So what were you talking about exactly that Lorenzo declined?" I asked.
"I was telling Lorenzo that we need to tell them about Marissa." Leo answered me.
"Absolutely not. Are you crazy? They will try to hurt her to get to us." I answered.
"Thank you Marcello. That's what I was saying." Antonio said.
"No I agree more with Leo. If our men know about her, they can protect her." Matteo said.
"It doesn't matter! Once she gets to school with us, with the last name 'Riva' everyone will know about her." Sandro said. True.
"Maybe we should give her her stepfather's last name back so—" Antonio said.
"Absolutely not!" Matteo, Sandro and I responded at the same time.
"Yeah that's not an option Antonio." Lorenzo said.
We stayed silent for a few minutes while I ate some pancakes. It's 10 in the morning so I don't have much food choice as I skipped breakfast. I am eating while Alessandro's glare is burning through my head.
"What's your problem?!?" I asked putting my fork and knife down.
"What's my problem?!? Why would you take Marissa from me?" Sandro responded making me chuckle at his obvious jealousy.
"I didn't take her. I found her in the kitchen-" She makes me lie for her. "-she told me that she had a nightmare. Her eyes looked puffy like she was crying so I took her to my room. It's not my fault you didn't realise that your little sister was crying next to you!" I said, hurt was clear in his his eyes.
He got up and left. He can't be angry at me?!? So sensitive honestly.
"Don't be too harsh on your younger brother Marcello." Leo said.
I really didn't mean to though.
"You said she had a nightmare. Did she tell you about it?" Lorenzo asked.
"Of course she did not." I said in a 'duh' tone.
"What did I of course not do?" Marissa said coming into the room walking to her usual seat.
"What makes you think we're talking about you?" Matteo asked her.
She took a pancake and put it on her plate. "Who is a 'she' besides me in the Riva household?" She asked not looking for answer.
"How did you sleep last night?" Antonio asked her.
"So so great! Best night of my life if you ask me!" She said sarcastically and glared at me because I am guessing she figured out that I told them about her nightmare last night.
Matteo chuckled slightly while the others looked amused and I just glared back at Rissa. But then Lorenzo raised his eyebrows as a clue for her to explain more.
"It was just a little nightmare. Once I get L back I will be fine." She said. "Where's Sandro?" She asked when she looked around the table and didn't find him.
"He got into an argument with Marcello because of you." Matteo told her.
"Because of me? What did I do?" She asked confused.
"Well you went to Marcello's room and Sandro thought he took you from him."
"It's my fault. I wanted to go to Marcello's room. Somehow I don't get nightmares when I sleep next to him. I should apologise. It's my fault he's upset-"
Marissa said that when she sleeps next to me, she doesn't have nightmares. That made my soul alive again.
"Rissa. He's not upset with you. He's upset with me." I cut her off reassuring her.
"Why?" She asked.
"No Marcello. You don't get it. He's upset with himself." Leo explained.
"Why?" She asked again.
"Because he didn't notice that you had a nightmare." Leo answered her.
"Oh.. I am gonna go see him." She said shoving a pancake in her mouth before getting up. Someone is hungry today.
"Not until you eat properly." Tonio said.
"I will come back. I promise." She said leaving the dining room before we could stop her.
REUNITED FOR HER
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