I walk out the room mentally preparing myself for the lecture I'm about to get from my dad for fuck knows why.
I go in the open living room to see everyone standing there. EVERYONE.
I look around scanning each face for a hint of what's going on.
The aunts are all siting down on the couch with various different emotions covering each face. Two of my uncles hover above them while uncle Josh is sat on the armrest but all his usual giddiness is gone. My mom is pacing back and forth on the side of the room and Nico is comforting Dahlia who looks like she's seconds away from tearing up. Camila and Ethan lean against a wall with both sets of eyes on the ground. Both of them clearly upset about something. My dad is standing just watching my mom pace around.
Dahlia looks up and runs to me. She hugs me so tight I feel like I can't breathe. I gently hug her back sending Nico a questioning look. He shrugs his shoulders telling me to be prepared.
All the "kids" look up with apologetic eyes.
What's happening? I wanna ask. I even open my mouth. But nothing comes out. Why is it so hard to talk I did it with Sofia just a few seconds ago.
"Lorenzo is Sofia asleep?" Uncle Alex asks. I cautiously nod.
"I-I can't do this." My mom is basically hyperventilating when my dad finally brings her into his embrace. She sobs in his chest.
If I don't start talking now I may never get a chance to know what the fuck is happening. I clear my throat and everyone turns their eyes to me. "What's with the family emergency?" I ask.
Camila sends me a soft proud smile so does Ethan. Dahlia looks up with pride shining through her eyes. Nick laughs and basically cheers at the one sentence.
"So you could talk." Aunt Jules says sarcastically even though I know she would never judge me.
Aunt Ava and Bridget both look proud along with Uncle Josh.
Mom finally looks up from dad's chest before walking over to me.
Dahlia reluctantly detaches herself from my arms. "I love you so much." Mom cradles my cheek with her hand as a fresh tear escapes her eyes. I quickly wipe it away. "I love you too." I kiss her palm and she starts crying again. This time she's crying in my arms. My heart breaks just a bit seeing my mom cry. Dad just watches from a far.
"After thanksgiving you're moving to London." He says the short sentence as if it's nothing and starts to walks away. Fuck no.
"I- what?!" I ask upset.
"You're moving to London, not debatable. I've bought an apartment for you and set up a job interview when you get there. After Thanksgiving you're moving to England." He says leaving no discussion.
I look back at him with disbelief. Then look around the room. They all have guilty faces except for uncle Rhys and Alex.
"Seriously?!" I ask. My dearest father turns around and I can tell he's angry.
"Yes. Seriously. How fucking dare you question my decision after what your smart ass did." He practically spits out.
"Christian." Mom warns while drying her tears.
He looks at her for a moment and his eyes soften. But it's not enough to ease much of the anger he has right now.
"Everyone out!" He basically shouts.
Aunt Jules and Bridget slightly laughs along with my uncles. "You really think we're gonna leave him with you alone while you're all mad and stuff." Aunt Jules says, almost amused by the thought. My dad never hurt me. Ever. Not mentally, not physically not any fucking way. So I'm a little confused on why they're so scared for me.
"He fucking killed people!" He shouts. Everyone flinches. Mom has a fresh new set of tears in her eyes.
"Christian that's enough." Uncle Alex warns him his ice cold glare.
"You killed people too. Don't act so fucking innocent now that you've past on some fucking genes." Uncle Rhys adds.
All the women here look ready to intervene if anything gets too messy.
"Not at fucking 20." He responds.
Uncle Josh roles his eyes and turns to me. "You gonna answer if I ask you a question?" He asks.
I nod my head in response.
"Why did you kill them?" He asks.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to." Aunt Ava tells me with her comforting smile.
"YES HE DOES!" Dad screams at Aunt Ava.
"DONT YOU FUCKING SCREAM AT MY WIFE HARPER!" Uncle Alex warns.
"Self defense." I lie. They can't know the real reason- not yet.
"Bullshit" my dad calls
We all hear some footsteps padding against the marble floor before Sofia comes in with sleepy eyes. She's not in the same dress I left her in though. She's in a silk shorts and shirt pj set.
She rubs her eyes and yawns.
"Whys everyone screaming?" She asks tiredly. Sofia is the baby of the family. She's the youngest of us all and has the face of an angel.
"Nothing little sunshine. Go back to bed." Alex answers softly. Sofia rolls her eyes.
"If it's nothing you guys wouldn't be screaming from the top of your lungs." She answers back.
"Sweetheart please go back to your room?" Ava pleads with her daughter. But I know Sofia well enough to know that she is stubborn as fuck.
"No. Not until someone explains what's everyone screaming about."
"Pr-Sofia please" I beg her. I almost mess up with the nickname causing a suspicious eye from Jules. Sofia looks at me suspiciously but shakes her head.
"You too? I already have to deal with my uncles and aunts and parents. Now I have to deal with you too?" She asks annoyed by everyone wanting to shoo her away.
"Sofa please?" Sofa is what Nico calls Sofia. It started off to annoy her but they both grew into it.
"Nope." She sits down on the cold floor leaning her head on her hands waiting for the explanation she wants.
"Get off the floor you'll get a cold." Ethan speaks up. Again Sofia rolls her eyes.
"Oh my god just tell me what's everyone screaming about and I'll go away like you guys want me too!" She says exhausted while getting up.
My heart breaks for her more than it did for my mom.
"I'm moving to London." I finally say. I can see her stomach drop as the color drains from her face.
"What?" She asks taken back.
"I'm moving to London." I repeat.
"I- Why? When?"
"Because he killed people." my dad answers coldly. Sofia sends a glare to my father that sends a tiny smile to my face and a shocked expression to his. Good girl.
"Why?" She asks again but this time directly asks me.
"Because I killed people."
"So did half the people here. Congratulations. That's not an answer." She says annoyed. My dad scoffs and I can feel my uncles making fun of him from across the room.
"It is to my father." I say giving her a soft smile.
"Then I'm coming with you." She decides. A smile grows on my face even though I really don't want her too.
"Sofia No." Alex says.
"Why not? Momma went there for a whole year." She says not backing down.
"I was there the whole time!"
"He's gonna be there the whole time!" She exclaims directing to me.
"It's supposed to teach him a lesson." My dad interrupts. Sofia looks confused for a second.
"By giving him full freedom?" She asks totally confused. I laugh a little as I realize she's not loosing this argument anytime soon.
"By giving him no way to see his family." My dad corrects. Sofia bursts out laughing.
"You own a private plane, you have enough money to buy a cruise and fun fact cell phones exist." She says through an angelic giggle.
"You're not going to London and that's final." Uncle Alex says strictly.
"Why not? Give me one good reason."
"You have to finish school sweetheart." Ava says softly.
"I'll do it online." She counters. Aunt Ava has a small proud smile at her daughter's stubbornness.
"Sofia no. It's his business not yours. Don't get yourself involved." Nico speaks up.
"He's your best friend!" She says. Nico looks a little guilty but it's not enough to stop his over protectiveness to Sofia.
"You can't come." I tell her softly, mentally preparing myself for what I'm about to tell her.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you to," liar
"because your an inconvenience," liar
"Because you are just a child." That parts true.
Tears welled up in her eyes and I beat myself up for hurting her. "Fine. You don't like me around, I won't be around." With that she exits the house grabbing her phone and keys.