Chapter Six

      He walked around the car and opened the door. His stride halted when Marco approached him. He muttered something to him. 

      I let out a long sigh knowing whenever Marco showed up and whispered to Niko like this. Niko would have to cancel our plans.

      "Sorry, princess. Something urgent has shown up." He told me, bending to look at me. 

       Sadly, I unbuckled my seatbelt. I reached for the door and stepped out of the car. "No issue. I'll see you later." I told him, heading back to the party. 

     "We'll go later," I heard him say. 

     I shrugged without turning to look back at him. That was the problem. When my brothers had to go, they would simply leave, they never explained why. So I stopped asking them. 

     Tears brimmed in my eyes. They just coldly refused to say anything. Suddenly, I collided with something, hitting my forehead and shoulder. 

      "Ouch!" I exclaimed. My hand shot out to rub my forehead. I lifted my lashes. My lips parted as I witnessed a set of ocean blue eyes staring at me. He was so tall that I had to crane my neck. His sudden appearance caught me off guard, he was a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark jet black hair, strong jawline, and angular face. I stumbled. His hands shot out to steady me. 

      "Are you alright?" He muttered. 

      I rubbed my forehead. "You're like a mountain." Muttering, I took a step back from him. 

     The corners of his lips kicked up. I was still sort of gawking at him in disbelief. Two strong hands curled around my upper arms and yanked me back. My head whipped around to find seething Niko. "What's happening?" He asked, scowling. 

      "I didn't see him coming. I bumped my head." I explained to him. 

     "Nicolo! You aren't there to greet my father." He said in his low and gentle voice. 

     "Marco just informed me about your family's arrival. It's not like you're some kind of celebrity." Niko snapped.

     "We rule Mexico." Another brash voice reached my ears, interrupting us. He was tall, but not as tall as the ocean-blue-eyed one, he had dark brown eyes and dark hair, good looking. But not as good as ocean-blue-one. He was attractive, but something about him warned me to keep my distance. "If you doubt us, we can settle this in a match." He challenged, smirking. His gaze ran over me.

     "A match! What match? And why are these people rude?" I asked frowning. 

     "Marco," Niko motioned at him. 

      Marco stepped forward waiting for me to go with him. 

      Alessio walked over to us, clearing his throat, and directed his gaze at Niko, his eyes softened as they landed on me. "You should be at the party." He said. I wasn't certain his words were meant for me. He was looking at me , so I assumed they were for me. 

      "Niko and I were about to go out. Then Marco appeared out of the blue. He murmured something like he usually does. And then Niko's regular line." I said as I rolled my eyes. 

      The man with dark eyes let out a chuckle. "You must be important. Otherwise, no one would dare to..." Alessio cut him off, his demeanor icy. 

     "Angelo Abruzzo," Alessio said with a tight smile. "This party is held in honor of our new deal." His expression was cold.

      Angelo smirked, eyeing me. "No one introduced you, Miss?" He said, ignoring the dagger of warning from my brothers. He forwarded a long stride. 

     Their protective brothers instinct awoke, they stepped closer,     

     The air felt tense. They gave each other a cold look. 

     "Boss is waiting for you all." Suddenly I shuddered with a sudden tone. I looked away from them. I had seen him with my uncle, he stayed next to him like his shadow. He was close to my uncle's age. They must have been friends or colleagues.

     "I'll see you guys later." I told them, turning. 

     "That includes you too, little princess." He said, holding no expression. 

      I remembered wandering around Bianchi mansion. He had always found me and insisted on escorting me back to the front garden saying it could be dangerous wandering around alone. Niko and Alessio were usually staying in the hostel at that moment. They mostly had returned home on holidays. 

     "But I don't feel like going. And I'm not little, Zoro." I told him, feeling offended. 

     "Even though you have grown up. You'll forever be that little girl wandering around the garden, picking your favourite flowers. I still remember carrying you on my shoulders." He muttered softly, a gentle smile appeared on his face. 

     There was no bad intention, he was just doing his duty like always. 

     "Let's not discuss it in front of a stranger, Zoro." Alessio said, shooting his cold gaze at the dark-eyed person and gesturing to me to walk first. 

     I sighed quietly and stepped forward. "Why do they need me? I didn't do anything." I muttered to him, asking. 

      "It could be something else." Niko muttered, walking along with me. 

      "Is she part of your family?" Angelo asked, still looking at me. "No one has ever mentioned that Bianchi has a daughter." He added, waiting for an answer.

      "You're here for business, not to poke your nose in our matters. I hope I have made myself clear." Alessio shot, daggering a cold look at him. 

      "I was just curious." Angelo said, smirking. 

      I didn't like him, I didn't like the way he looked at me, it was similar to how Sienna looked at Alessio, but her intentions were pure, but his intentions seemed evil, his gaze made me furious. 

      We entered the mansion, escaping the hustle and bustle of the party. Uncle was already waiting for us. Alessio and Niko got a look from him. They all looked handsome. 

      I swallowed hard as I caught the sight of my family, and to my surprise, Sienna was seated among them.

      There were two unfamiliar faces. A man in his fifty, peppery hair, strong features. A slim pretty looking woman seated next to my Aunt, her face was long like Angelo. She must be his mother. 

    "She's my cousin." The man in his fifties said. My gaze shot at him. He was talking to me. He gestured at the Psycho gazer. "He's my son, Angelo." He told me.

    It was an awkward moment, but I nodded my head.

     "What's going on, Dad?" Alessio asked, taking a long stride forward, he looked straight into his eyes, clearly demanding answers. I always worried they might end up fighting over something one day. And luckily, they always proved me wrong. 

     "Abruzzo has asked for Sienna's hand in marriage for his son Angelo." Uncle Garrett said. 

     "What? But!" Angelo muttered in shock, clamping his lips shut. He shot daggers at his father. 

      "And?" Niko asked with a frown. 

      "Evara's hand for André." Uncle said. 

     My eyes rounded in fear. They must be kidding me.

      "She has just turned sixteen, Dad." Alessio said with a locked jaw. 

      I stilled in fear as I watched them in confusion. They were talking about me, my wedding. They must be out of their mind.

      "I've thought about it as well. But it's good for her." Garrett Bianchi said. 

      "And Andre isn't even his son and we know nothing about him. I won't agree to this." Niko said exasperatedly.

      "Andre is my son, I've brought him up. You can't insult our upbringing, our family." Senior Abtuzzo said, snorting. 

      I glanced at my family. They remained seated there silently, not interfering like I wasn't their daughter at all. 

     "He's not insulting your upbringing, Jenoah. Evara is simply too young to get married." Alessio said, coldly.

      "It's decided. They will be engaged tonight." Uncle Garrett announced. 

      Sienna appeared anxious but she didn't voice her disapproval. It seemed she already knew. My family didn't look my way. It was clear they weren't going to help me here. 

      "I'm not getting married." I declared and the room fell dead silent. All sets of eyes turned at me. My heart began to beat in fear.

     "Exactly," Angelo said, letting out a sigh of relief.

      Something felt off, yet I needed support as much as I could get. Angelo was taking my side. There must be something fishy. But I wasn't interested in figuring out anything. 

      "It's been decided, Pumpkin." Dad said, holding a soft smile at me. 

       Like it's gonna convince me! Huh!

      "I don't care." I told him. He had been silent when they were discussing my life.

      "Andre is the best you can have." Jenoah Abruzzo said, swirling his drink and taking a long sip. "This is the best a soldier's daughter can hope for." He smirked, looking me down.

      "You don't need to say that, Mr. Abruzzo." Uncle Tony said to him. His expression hardened.

      Abruzzo snorted and took another sip of his drink. "Andre is a millionaire without my help. I just helped Lad secure the best education. Look at him, young, handsome and successful." He said, looking at me, gesturing towards Andre with his hand. 

     My throat tightened. They looked determined to tie this knot. Sienna could speak for herself if she chose to. I was in no position to help her when I couldn't even help myself. 

     "Brothers, I don't want this." I told them, turning to them. They were my last and only hope. Den and Noah were surprisingly quiet, leaving only Niko and Alessia talking in my favour. 

     "You're promised to him, Child." Garrett uncle said. 

     "No, I don't care about that." I told him in annoyance and spun to leave. 

     "You won't be leaving without an engagement ring, Evara." Dad said, making me halt in my tracks. I shook my head. He walked over to me and held my hand. 

     "Dad, please. I don't want to get married." I pleaded, trying to pull my hand away. I was certain nobody would help me. What was holding them back from helping me? I spun to leave again. What could things change so quickly in a few minutes?

     "This is the best an illegitimate child can expect in life." Jenoah smirked.

     I blinked in confusion as I looked at him. What was he talking about?

     "Abruzzo!" Garrett uncle shouted in anger, his blazing gaze set on him. 

     I dumbfoundedly stared at them. Were his words for me? Surely, I must be hearing things.

     "I don't trust that piece of paper, Nino." Jenoah Abruzzo merely shrugged his shoulders, appearing not bothered by the situation, I could guarantee he created. He walked over to the counter to make himself another drink. "She needs to hear the truth." He said, pouring himself a drink. He turned to me and lifted his glass. "You're Garrett's daughter. Though, the DNA test says- you're his and Lia's daughter." He said. 

     "I'll cut off your tongue if I hear you saying another word!" Alessio snarled, glaring at him.

     Garrett and Niko glared at him as well.

     I blinked, pulling myself out of my shock. "Bullshit!" I snapped, taking angry steps forward. I wanted to break his jaw. My hands fisted. Abruzzo regarded me coldly. Ignoring him, I averted my gaze, focusing on my family. Nobody stepped forward to correct him. They weren't just businessmen. They had done wrong things, they went against the law. They worked under Garrett Nino Bianchi. When I was fifteen, I got into a fight with a boy from a high school, who had taunted me 'Mafia bitch!' That one word was enough to create a doubt and that boy disappeared the next day, proving he hadn't been lying. They were mafia. 

     My heart drummed in my ears as I realized nobody denied his allegations. "I'm not. I'm my parents' daughter." My voice stuttered. My gaze was fixed on my family, waiting impatiently for a response. 

     "Your father and your uncle's sister, Reina, were going to wed. But unfortunately," He shrugged his shoulders while taking a long sip of his drink.

    "They weren't going to wed." Niko snapped, he looked furious suddenly.

     "Shut up, Niko!" Alessio snapped. 

     "Oh! You don't need to know much, Niko." Abruzzo chuckled and turned to his sons. "Let's begin the ceremony." He said.