L I L Y
I sob in Jack's arms as he rubs the palm of his hand gently on my back. I pull back and stare at his pale face, his pale blue eyes filled with so much love making me sob even harder. I don't know what I would've done if I lost you Jack.
"I'm so glad you're okay Jack."
"Me to Lil, are you okay? What happened after I passed out? And why are you guys here?" Jack states, his gaze shifting to the Lombardi brothers.
"Lily called Leo and said you guys needed help, by the time we got there you were already unconscious and the guy shot Lily just as we arrived." Alex told Jack softly.
"HE SHOT YOU" Jack shouted, his voice strained from the breathing tube that had not long been removed.
I nodded at Jack as he hugged my body closer to his own.
"I thought I got you out the way, why did you leave the bathroom Lily. You promised me you'd run, you promised." Jack murmured his voice fading to a soft whisper as he said the last two words.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't leave you. He was going to kill you Jack."
"I don't care Lily, I'd die for you in a heartbeat! That's why I told you to run."
The room fell silent at Jack's words.
He'd die for me?
"Jack, chill." Alex softly spoke as he took Jack's hand in his own. "Lily's here, she's okay and so are you. Everything will be okay."
Jack nodded at Alex's words as he gently closed his eyes. A soft exhale leaving his mouth as he tried to calm himself down. He turned to me his azure gaze locked on my own.
"I'm sorry Lily, are you okay? Where did he shoot you." His eyes roaming my full— blanket covered figure.
"It doesn't matter Jack, I'm fine. And, I'm glad that you are to, I wouldn't want you to die for me. You've already done more than enough."
"Lil stop, I meant what I said. I love you."
"I love you too."
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"Jack, Lily. There's something we need to talk about." Zac states as he takes a seat at the bottom of my bed.
Jack and I looked at each other before turning our focus onto Zac. One of his legs tapping on the floor continuously, as he begins running his left hand through his hair— he looks nervous.
"What's up?" Jack asked, clearly noticing Zac's unease.
"Your um parents—" Zac started, as soon as the words left his mouth I became tense. Jack interrupted him before he could finish his sentence.
"Oh shit, are they in jail? Where will we go?
Lil—" He turned to me, wide eyed. "We might get split up— fuck our deal, why couldn't he have shot us in like two years time." Jack rambled, everyone in the room stared at him as though he'd grown two heads, myself included.
Although I seen Jack's point. The thought of us being split up scared me shitless. In two years time Jack would be eighteen, but right now we're underage— meaning we will more than likely go into foster care.
"Fratello, did you just say why couldn't he have shot me later? Seriously, how about why couldn't he not have shot either of you at all?" Ace stated, his eyes wide as he stared at Jack in disbelief.
"Shut up Ace. I told Lily that when I turned eighteen, I'd become her guardian. That way we could get away from them, but now we're going to get split up. Lil I'm so sorry, I'll get a lawyer there must be something I can do. Or, we could just run— I'll get a job and get us an apartment, yeah I'll do that."
"Jack, no." Grey said, running his hand through his hair.
"What do you mean no? Yes I will."
"Jack, let Zac finish what he was going to say first please." Jack nodded at Grey before turning his focus to Zac, as did I.
"Yes, they're in jail. But neither of you will be going into foster care." Jack and I turned to each-other, our eyes filled with confusion and the faintest bit of hope.
"There's something we need to tell you guys. I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner." Zac stated, his eyes darting between the two of us as he continued.
"Ten years ago, our parents were murdered. They'd taken our two year old little sister to a doctors appointment and on the way home they got car-jacked. They were both killed at the scene but our little sister vanished, we presumed she had been kidnapped. A few days later the police found our parents car and there was traces of our little sisters blood in the back seat— she was presumed dead."
"I'm so sorry for your loss, but I don't understand— what's that got to do with us?" I asked, my eyes filed with sympathy and confusion.
I turned to my gaze to Jack, expecting him to have the same confused look as myself. Instead, he stared at me wide eyed— as if he'd solved a puzzle, before a small sad smile pulled at his lips as tears began to fall from his pale blue eyes.
What's going on?
"Lily, did you ever question why you and Leo looked so alike?" Grey asked me, his voice almost hesitant.
"Yeah, but then Atlas said he's my doppelgänger. Y'know like in the vampire diaries."
Everyone laughed at my statement, as Leo mumbled "Atlas is a fucking idiot." Under his breath, loud enough for only me to hear.
"Lily, you asked me what the story had to do with you. Our little sister, the one who vanished, her name was Lily." No "When Leo and the boys seen you that day in the cafeteria, they told Grey and I. We came up with a plan, we didn't want to tell you straight away, we assumed you had a good home life or I swear we would have told you that first day. If we did we could've saved you and Jack sooner."
"Mhmm Lil, I'm not you're doppelgänger." Leo tells me nervously. "I'm your twin, you're our sister."
I felt the blood drain from my face at Leo's words; twin, sister. I don't understand, I can't be there sister, can I? I can feel my palms begin to sweat, the phantom hands appearing around my neck— I can't breathe.
"Lil, look at me." I focus my gaze to Jack as he gently threads his fingers through my curls. "You're okay, just breathe— inhale, exhale. That's it, I've got you, you're safe."
The phantom grip on my nape slowly eases as I stare into Jack's azure eyes. He gently pulls my small body to the side of his chest, avoiding his wound in the centre.
"I can't be their sister Jack, I'm your sister."
My soft voice thick with emotion as I bury my face in the crook of Jack's neck, he places a soft gentle kiss on my forehead before gently pulling my face from his neck, looking me directly in the eye.
"Listen to me, you'll always be my sister Lily, blood doesn't make you family. Fuck, I'm proof of that now considering my own blood done this to me. You're my only family now Lil— I told you, you're my light, I'll always love you." He whispers as tears pool in his eyes.
"And I'll always love you more."
"Give the boys a chance Lil, you deserve the world and I'm more than positive they'll give it to you. You'll finally get the life I always dreamt for you— filled with love and happiness."
"You deserve that too."
"Maybe, but not everyone gets a happy ending."
I pull from Jack's embrace, gripping his hand tightly in my own as I turn to the Lombardi brothers. Their eyes filled with awe as they stare at Jack and I, after hearing our conversation.
"How can you be so sure I'm your sister?" I voiced out to no one in particular.
"Oh that's a really funny story, Grey tell her what you done." Killian responds, amusement evident in his eyes.
Grey scratches the back of his neck nervously as he looks at me. "Well um, remember when your hair got caught in my button?" I look at Grey, shock overtaking my features.
"You pulled my hair on purpose?"
"Mhmm" He weakly responds.
"Why?" I ask, looking at Grey.
"DNA Test. We got the results the night you two were shot, here." Grey states as he pulls an envelope from his inside jacket pocket, before handing it to me. "We only tested your DNA against Leo's."
I gently peel the envelope open and hold the thin sheet of paper in front of my eyes, turning it slightly so Jack could see.
Lily Adams - Leo Lombardi
87.9%
DNA MATCH
fraternal twin
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I stared at the results, as a range of emotions washing over me. I couldn't help the happiness that made its way to my heart. All this time I'd had nine brothers who cared for me, who loved me. In the past few weeks I've went from thinking I have no one, to finding friends, to having Jack's love that unbeknown to me had always been there. To now having nine more brothers.
Ten freaking brothers.
I wouldn't change my life, if I hadn't been taken when Leo's parents— my parents, had died then I'd have never met Jack. Everything happens for a reason and I think I was taken to save Jack. He suffered more than anyone could begin to imagine but as he said, even without me— they would've hurt him regardless.
If I hadn't entered Jack's life, he would have been alone. Protecting me gave him purpose, I gave him someone to love, someone to fight for and without me, I'm positive he would've given up. Now it was my turn to repay him. He would have the same happiness as I, I'd make sure of it.
"Jeez, Sissy. Eight more brothers? Good luck with that." I turn to Jack, ready to correct him until I see the twinkle in his eye.
"It's nine more brothers idiota," Ace snarks.
"Nope, says here each of them are Lily's biological brothers apart from you. Shit, I forgot Alex told me you were adopted. My bad bro."
Ace's face pales at Jack's words as the rest of us bite our lips to stop ourselves from laughing. Ace turns to Alex, who somehow manages to keep his face emotionless as he stares at his younger brother.
"Alex, w-what is he talking about?"
"I'm sorry. Jack wasn't meant to tell you, this wasn't the way we wanted you to find out." Alex replies as he places his hand on Ace's arm giving it a small squeeze whilst sending Jack a subtle wink.
Ace stares at Alex before turning his gaze to the rest of us. I can't help the giggle that escapes my lips as I pass the DNA results to Ace, who then turns to Jack and Alex with a deadly glare.
"We only tested Leo's DNA against Lily's, Ace." Grey tells him, since it seems like Ace hadn't heard him when he told me.
"I fucking hate you both."
Jack and Alex bump fists as we all laugh at Ace's credulous.
_
"What happens now?" I found myself asking, the words pouring out before I had a chance to stop them.
"Well" Zac began as he stared at Jack and I. "Lily, Mr and Mrs Adams never actually adopted you. Lily Adams is technically not even a person. With the results of the DNA test proving you are Lily Lombardi, it automatically makes me your official guardian."
Zac flashes me a wide smile, that I can't help returning as he pulls me into a hug.
"We all love you so much bambina."
My heart swells at Zac's words as I bury my face into his neck trying to blink back the tears from my eyes. Which, for once— are tears of happiness.
Zac pulls back from the hug, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead as he focuses his gaze on Jack.
"Jack, I hope you don't mind—"
Jack of course cuts in before Zac can even finish his sentence. He's got a habit of doing that today.
"It's okay, I understand. I don't mind foster care. Just please, don't keep Lily away from me. I know I failed, I didn't protect her as much as I should have but I swear—"
This time Jack gets cut off as Zac gently pulls him into a hug before cupping Jack's cheeks in his large hands.
"You just can't let me finish a sentence can you?" Zac chuckled, as did the rest of us. "You never failed Lily. Fratello, you're the strongest person I've ever came across in my life. You're only a child Jack, you've been protecting Lily your whole life and I'll always be grateful to you. I'm so proud of you kid, all of us are."
A chorus of agreements echo through the room.
"You're not going into foster care Jack, I've already adopted you."
Jack stares at Zac in disbelief, his pale blue eyes filling with tears as he pulls Zac back into a much needed hug. The rest of my brothers quickly join them as Jack gently tugs me to his side. I can't help the warmth that flows through my chest— a real family group hug.
We all pull back and stare at one another, everyone's eyes red from the amount of tears that have been spilled. Zac turns to Jack a wide grin over taking his face as he says his next words—
"Welcome to the family baby brother."
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End of chapter thirty five :)
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The calm before the storm...