brot

ur raccoon sister who fi

such a trouble." As Matt

felt my blood boil beneat

ss of wine as if he owned

that. And Giovanni, always

h his agreement, as if h

hot a g

th a mixture of anger and

sort of burden to be toler

y mouth opened to retort,

but before I could utter a

ife. "He is right, Bella.

sion. I turned to look a

ovanni, my eldest brother

joining forces wit

t I-" I

e again, this time by the

t of him, my favorite amon

g, Alessandro was always

tant source of comfort

s Ale

nied by the only woman I

at the easy camaraderie

acy bearing down upon us,

g I admired greatly. But e

ke the feeling of being

ter what I did, I could ne

judgement of

ling a

straightened my spine and

," I said, my voice stead

'm not afraid to get my ha

words, the tension thick

had gone too far, that I

then, to my surprise, Al

es sparkling

poken

said clapping me on the s

need someone like you t

couldn

anni once again attempte

sandro's feet. "You are t

sandro." Giovanni's voice

er shot at th

essand

e, merely chuckled in res

it." He said, taking his

comfortably. Daniella, al

sandro's lap, her fingers

rovoca

think t

And Matteo should be the

with mischief. She didn't

ne of the recent fight t

as predictably brash as h

t help but smirk, knowin

t them forget that I was

ou

nd bes

irst punch," I interjected

sing the situation, it se

was crowding around me,

m fine, really," I insist

my chin, his eyes search

ents like these that mad

esence, his touch sendi

He wo

getting hit at the balls

sed to let anyone, especia

f there was one thing I kn

t to back dow

Aless

to Daniella, my heart flu

hint of authority that m

"Dani, take Bella to her

e. "And look for any wound

e

wallowe

y stomach at the serious

was okay, his insistence

gaze returned to me, his

n the warmth of his hands

sured me softly, his touc

But I need to

ith a

ding me out of the room as

led me along the familiar

firm. As we walked, I co

my distress, filled me wi

's protective instincts

t of him seeking a fight o

itude w

ave tha

his voice laced with bar

lly for what he has done t

ouldn't suppress the small

g that my brothers were w

e of the unbreakable bon

rences and occasi

s Dan

room, I couldn't help fee

of the day had taken thei

ant was to curl up in th

engulfed my world. As Dani

feel a sense of comfort wa

h other for what felt lik

st met in high school and

g of getting married soon,

mi

ay on t

myself, feeling a little

me, lying beside me, her

't worry, your brothers w

ice like a soothing

I kno

ured myself. When it com

for me. Taking care of Ma

redators, where only the

Not him, nor his family.

ng about that," I added wi

unders

rning

Daniella's blue eyes hel

uly seen, in a way that fe

haring the doubts and fear

w if I should be fine or n

ed my orders," I confesse

up at the ceiling,

was tru

ders not to intervene when

ndle any situation on my

r, I had found myself alo

ack. Even though I had com

red, gnawing at the edges

ld I have not gi

s Dan

expression softened with

in a silent gesture of su

oftly, her voice carryi

r, you are not alone. You

stand by you n

r word

reminding me that even i

e found. And as I lay ther

the future held, I would

ht, her blue eyes sparkle

about we spend some time

nds," she suggested, her

asm bubbled over as she ad

you, like

couldn

at her offer. Her smile w

had always admired Danie

me through the complexitie

the perfection: beautiful,

f those she cared about.

hand-to-hand combat-a f

igh before agreeing, "Oka

crossing her arms over

a plan," she declared, ext

ght out." She

e in her eye revealing the

what she meant by that-t

world and simple enjoy ea

k her hand, feeling a ru

oug