Her brothers and moving

Chapter 2

Aria sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the sunlight spilling through the curtains. It was another Saturday morning, which meant Matteo would probably be awake before everyone else, checking the house, making sure every corner was secure. She liked mornings alone sometimes, but today, her quiet was broken before it even began.

“Aria, breakfast.” Her mother’s soft voice called from downstairs. Sofia had a way of making her voice gentle even when she was worried. And today, Aria could hear the worry before she even got out of bed.

She got up, brushing her hair back with her fingers. Today felt different. There was tension in the air, even though nothing had happened yet. Maybe it was just a feeling, but in her world, feelings mattered more than she wanted to admit.

Downstairs, the kitchen smelled like fresh bread and coffee. Sofia was arranging plates quietly while Elena sipped tea, scrolling on her phone like the world outside the Bellini house didn’t exist. Matteo, of course, sat at the head of the table, arms crossed, jaw tight, eyes sharp.

“Morning,” Aria said softly, sitting down.

“Morning,” Elena murmured without looking up.

Matteo didn’t greet her at all. He just stared at the table as if she weren’t there. That was normal, too. Aria had learned that Matteo didn’t need words to express his feelings. His stare was enough.

Sofia finally looked up. “Aria, I heard you talking yesterday about moving into your own apartment.”

Aria’s heart skipped. She knew this conversation was coming. She had been thinking about it for weeks, planning how to approach it, knowing it would be difficult.

“Yes,” she said quietly. “I… I just think it’s time. I want to live on my own. I can handle it.”

Sofia sighed deeply, placing a plate of toast in front of Aria. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, sweetie. You’re smart, careful, and brave. But you know what our world is. You know how dangerous it can be. Moving out… It’s not just leaving the house. It’s leaving protection. Leaving safety.”

Aria frowned, frustration bubbling. “I know the risks, Mom. I’m not stupid. I want to do this. I can be careful. I can watch myself.”

Sofia shook her head, sadness in her eyes. “Being careful doesn’t mean anything when the world is full of people who don’t care if you live or die. The Bellinis didn’t get this far by letting people decide for themselves. Safety is not optional, Aria.”

Aria looked away, focusing on the toast she wasn’t hungry for. She loved her mother, but she hated the way Sofia’s worry felt like chains wrapped around her chest. “I’m not a child,” she said softly. “I can make choices for myself.”

“Not in this world,” Matteo’s deep voice said from across the table. He had been quiet until now, but the words hit harder than a slap. “Especially not in this world. There are people out there who would see you dead before breakfast if I weren’t watching.”

Aria’s stomach tightened. Matteo didn’t yell. He never yelled. But the quiet warning in his voice made her want to push back and step forward at the same time.

“Like the DeLucas?” she asked carefully, testing him.

Matteo’s eyes snapped up. “Like the DeLucas,” he said, sharp and controlled. His face was hard, like stone. “Do not forget who they are. They are dangerous. They are unpredictable. They will kill without thought if they think it helps them get power or revenge. And Aria, you have to understand something their eyes are always on us. On you.”

Aria swallowed. She had heard the stories. Stories of fights, attacks, ambushes, and betrayal. She had grown up with Matteo telling her what to fear, what to avoid, and who to never trust. But hearing it all again, in his voice, made it feel real again, not just stories.

“I know,” she whispered.

“No, you don’t,” Matteo said, leaning back. He pinched the bridge of his nose like he was holding back something. “You think you understand, but you’ve never seen what they do. You haven’t seen the men they’ve sent after our family. You haven’t seen the traps they lay. Do you think moving out is about freedom? It’s about being a target.”

Aria felt her chest tighten. “I can handle being careful,” she said again, more firmly. “I know I can.”

Matteo’s eyes softened slightly, just for a second, before returning to their sharp, calculating look. “You can’t understand it yet,” he said. “And I won’t let you get hurt. Not on my watch. If you move, I will be watching. Always. And anyone who even looks at you the wrong way… I’ll make sure they regret it.”

Elena finally looked up from her phone. Her expression was calm and thoughtful. “Matteo, she’s old enough to try,” she said. “Let her learn. But yes, we have to be careful. She can’t just live anywhere. She needs rules and protections.”

Sofia put her hand over Aria’s. “Elena is right,” she said softly. “If you insist on moving, we will make it as safe as possible. But you have to promise me something.”

“Anything,” Aria said, hoping flickering in her chest.

“Promise you’ll listen,” Sofia said. “Promise you’ll call, check in, don’t take risks, you don’t have to. And promise me you’ll never forget who you are and the world you come from.”

Aria nodded, squeezing her mother’s hand. She meant it.

She would follow the rules she had to, at least for now. But the longing for independence burned quietly inside her.

Matteo’s jaw tightened again. He didn’t speak, but she felt his warning. If she moved, he would follow every step she took, watch every action, and if anyone dared to touch her, he would react. Probably violently.

And that was both terrifying and… strangely comforting.

After breakfast, the family went about their usual weekend routines. Lorenzo went into his office to handle family business. Sofia tidied up the kitchen. Matteo checked the estate, walking slowly through hallways and peering out windows. Elena disappeared upstairs, probably reading or messaging friends.

Aria sat in the garden with the cats, the sun warming her face. She wanted to feel free. She wanted to feel normal. But every time she took a breath, she remembered Matteo’s words, her mother’s concern, and the constant shadow of danger that had always been part of her life.

Still, she imagined her new apartment, small and simple, a place of her own. She imagined walking down streets without guards, sitting in cafés alone, choosing her own meals, her own routines, her own life. It felt impossible.

But she wanted it anyway. Matteo returned to the garden a little later, arms crossed. He watched her without speaking, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. “I’m serious, Aria,” he said finally. “If you move, you have to understand the world is different out there. The DeLucas, anyone else who thinks they can get to you… it won’t end with words. They don’t play fair.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“No, you don’t,” Matteo said again. “But if you insist, I’ll make sure you survive. That’s my job.”

Aria wanted to argue, to tell him she could take care of herself, but she didn’t. She could see the truth in his eyes. He would not let her go unprotected. And she realised, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t want him to.

The sun was high now, and the cats had wandered off to nap in the shade. Aria walked back into the house, feeling heavy, thinking about the life she wanted versus the life she had.

She knew one thing for sure. Moving out wasn’t going to be simple. It never was in the Bellini family.

And someone else was probably watching already, even if she didn’t know it yet.