3 | Introductions

♤ I didn't mean to push all your buttons. I was looking for mute ♤

He was leaned up against the wall, examining what I did to the place and I caught a small smile cracking on his face which went straight back to his serious expression as soon as he was aware of my presence.

I walked out of my closet and towards him while keeping a good distance. He sighed before speaking while nudging his head towards the hallway, "Come on, dinner's ready. It's time to meet everyone."

Great. I've only gotta deal with these people for two more years and I'm out.

I've got this.

Why do I still wanna make a good impression though-

Ugh. Me and my need for a male figure in my life that actually likes me-

Valentina. Chill. Your daddy issues are showing a bit too much right now.

Shut up.

What the fuck- I'm really having an argument with myself.

No shit. You're crazy.

Whatever.

I followed Luciano out of my room and down the stairs. The only thing you could hear right now was his dress shoes clicking against the ground and my slides slapping the tiles.

The sound of our footwear eventually got mixed with a bunch of chatter. The further we walked down the hallway, the louder it got.

We entered a royal-like dining room with a dining table that could seat everyone with the last name Smith. 

Ok. I'm exaggerating. But I'm just extra like that.

Our presence was unknown and I took the time to inspect everyone at the table. There was a huge man, surprisingly, even bigger than Tony. He looked really familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it. Power is what radiated off of him, including pure intimidation as he pulled off one of the sharpest suits I've ever seen. He sat at the head of the table with proper posture and a cold expression, one you couldn't read. He had dark brown eyes like Tony's with a scar complimenting them, making him look even more intimidating.

Beside the man who I've decided to call big intimidating man, had two others on his side. One of them was Tony and the other seemed to be around the same age. He had a more warm expression, he was still intimidating with the whole power thingy but he was laughing which made him look less scary. I'm calling him... warm giant. The warm giant.

Scattered around the rest of the table were three teenage boys. All of them were chattering... or bickering or arguing. I couldn't tell. Big intimidating man looked like he was ready to shoot his head off if he heard another second of it.

One of the three seemed like the more calm one. He was still looking like a lunatic. But a calmer lunatic. He had the same ice blue eyes as Luciano. His dark hair was slicked back and he seemed pretty muscular. He looked like he had gears turning in his head at all times, always thinking. I'm calling him... calm lunatic.

The other one looked a lot like him, more than the rest. He had almost black hair with the same dark brown eyes as Tony and big intimidating man. I could tell he was making snarky comments during their "argument". He had a bunch of tattoos popping out of his dark clothing but it was nowhere near as many as Tony. I'm calling him... smartass. I don't even know why considering I haven't talked to him. I just am.

The last one of the three seemed a bit younger than them but only by a year maybe if not a couple of months. I think my lips parted a bit when I saw him considering he looked a fucking lot like me compared to the rest. He hard the same black hair with his straight instead and it flowed down to his ears. He had the exact same ice blue eyes as me which I've noticed I share with the others as well. He looked positive as fuck with an ear-to-ear grin. I noticed a smiley face tattoo on his neck as well. I'm calling him... bubbles. Yea, who cares if it's a childish temporary name.

I was brought back to earth when Luciano cleared his throat from beside me, grabbing everyone's attention and I internally cursed him for bringing the attention onto us.

Luciano pushed himself off of the wall he was leaning against before moving towards the table. I for some reason stood there like a deer in headlights. An idiot. Which I am.

Luciano noticed that I hadn't moved before nudging his head towards the table to which I nodded. He sat down between warm giant and calm lunatic. There were only two more free seats at the table. One, beside calm lunatic and the other, between smartass and bubbles. 

Me being the lazy fuck I am, I decided to sit between smartass and bubbles since they were closer and were seated beside Tony. I pulled in my chair and tried to keep on a confident expression which was hard what with seven intimidating giants staring at my every move.

I cleared my throat while I slumped back in my chair, plopped my arms up onto the table, and spread my legs out in a not so ladylike manner but for fuck sake, I'm Valentina Gianna Marino. I'm anything but ladylike.

I just sat there for what felt like an eternity which in reality, was only a couple of seconds before big intimidating man finally broke the silence by clearing his throat. Everyone's heads shot towards him, he was clearly the one who everyone listened to. 

"Valentina. I hope you found settling in easy?" He began with a deep voice, one that would send most running.

"It was tiring." I shrugged, speaking only the truth. Well, I sugar-coded it. If I went into detail about how tiring it was, everyone's ears would need to be washed out with holy water because of my language.

I began looking around at everyone, sending them "the fuck are you looking at?" looks and I noticed something.

"There's seven of you. I was told that there's eight. Did the eighth one die or something?" I asked, bluntly in a loud tone. They all seemed a bit shocked with my calmness and confidence before quickly adjusting to it.

Holy shit. I'm gonna be living with eight male specimens.

I can barely even be in the same room as a male without feeling uncomfortable or getting flashbacks.

How the fuck am I supposed to do this?

Great. Fuck my life.

"He was supposed to be here on time. Of course, he isn't h-" big intimidating man grumbled with distaste in his tone as if this were a regular thing but he was cut off by a loud sound booming throughout the place. The front doors swooshed open and were slammed shut, followed by loud thuds which were supposed to be footsteps, coming closer towards the dining room.

"There's the missing child." Smartass began and spoke like a, well, smart ass. 

How is my intuition always right? What am I saying? I'm smart as fuck. That's why.

Stop lying to yourself babes. You like to think you're smart. You're street smart. But you're a complete dumbass. Don't get it twisted.

I hate my mind.

My eyes landed on the last edition of the bunch once he walked into the room. He was pretty tall, really close to Tony's height. He was well built, just like the rest and he screamed "bad boy." Cliche motherfucker. He wore all black with a leather jacket and he brought the stench of smoke in with him. He had a scowl on his face with dark eyes, almost black, landing on me with a glare. He had a bunch of tattoos, more than smartass but less than Tony. I'm calling him... dickhead. Only because he had the audacity to give me that harsh of a scowl.

I honestly felt like shrinking under his glare but I remembered who I am so I mustered one ten times worse. He just rolled his eyes before taking out the seat beside calm lunatic and slumping down in it.

"The one time we really need you at dinner. You never cease to disappoint. Where were you?" And I thought big intimidating man's tone from earlier was harsh. This guy sounded like a puppy earlier compared to now.

"Out." Dickhead shrugged to which big intimidating man rolled his eyes.

"Can we do this another time... you know, not in front of our long-lost sister?" Warm giant asked intimidating man who glared at dickhead before subtly nodding.

I decided to be the icebreaker before dramatically sighing like the dramatic bitch I am, "So, I know Tony and Luciano. Who are the rest of you?"

They all had the slightest glimpse of hurt on their faces with how blunt I was but it was quickly replaced with the expressions they had on before my question. I was growing impatient as I swirled my cup of water before bringing it to my mouth.

"I'm your eldest brother, Giovanni. Giovanni Lombardi." big intimidating man spoke and I nodded before I actually processed his words.

I choked on my water before spitting it out into my glass once I processed his words. Everyone leaned out of their seats a bit towards me, but I waved them off while clearing my throat.

I know I just heard him wrong-

Giovanni fucking Lombardi. As in Zane's pure enemy. Leader of the Sicilian mafia.

What in the actual fuc—

"I would ask if you need water but it kinda almost just killed you so-... are you okay?" Bubbles rambled and I just nodded while finally clearing up my throat.

"You've gotta be shitting me. Giovanni fucking Lombardi." I scoffed while laughing in pure disbelief. They all looked at me as if I were crazy... which I am so I didn't take any offense.

"What is this? Seriously. Is this some sort of ploy or what? I have my gun and I won't hesitate to shoot someone's head if anyone puts their hands on me!" I threatened, slightly panicked-- who am I kidding-- really panicked, while reaching into the back of my jeans.

Most of them burst out in laughter whereas the older ones seemed to just shake their heads. I rolled my eyes before placing my hands back onto the table seeing as they thought I was joking.

"I'm guessing she knows about the mafia." Calm lunatic chuckled.

"No shit. You can guess that it's at least a little panicking to find out that I'm currently in the hands of my father's enemy." I sarcastically replied to which they just chuckled.

"There's no need for guns, Valentina. We can go on with introducing ourselves... there won't be any more threats to shoot us, will there?" Giovanni asked with the same cold expression but his tone, laced with amusement.

"No..." I awkwardly chuckled, deciding to let them go on.

"You already know that I'm the second eldest." Luciano shrugged back in his seat. I slightly jumped when bubbles whispered to me, "Luc is the bipolar one."

"Well, I'm Marco. Third eldest brother." Warm giant softly grinned and I nodded before bubbles whispered "the mom."

"Fourth eldest, as you already know." Tony added on and bubbles whispered "Bodybuilding freak with anger issues."

There was a silence as everyone stared at dickhead. He rolled his eyes before finally deciding to speak when Giovanni cleared his throat in a threatening manner.

"Domenico. Fifth eldest." Dickhead grumbled and bubbles went on with his whispers, "the one with a permanent stick in his ass. He's the Xander."

Eh. I can't really say anything. I've been told I'm the female Xander... on multiple occasions.

"I'm Nicolo. This guy's triplet. I'm the sixth eldest." Smartass continued while earning a childish eye roll from Domenico. I waited for bubbles' whisper but he quickly added it after sipping his water, "The sarcastic idiot. No brains, all muscle."

"I'm Stefano. The seventh eldest. Last triplet." Calm lunatic softly smiled and bubbles' whisper came, "the brains. Also a damn good street racer."

There was that same silence as everyone stared at bubbles who was completely oblivious before a look of realization washed over his face. "Oh! My turn! I'm Marcelo! The one everyone likes. I'm the eighth eldest or as everyone likes to repeatedly point out, the youngest. Well, not anymore. That's you. Sucks to suck." He scoffed with a chuckle as everyone just rolled their eyes.

"Well... I'm Valentina... which you all already know." I added on, awkwardly.

Nice going, dumbass.

"So, you ever been to New York before?" Marco broke the silence and I looked up from my plate of food.

"I mean, yea. I've been here a couple of times." I shrugged, trying to keep the conversation to a minimum but I had an annoying feeling that it wasn't gonna happen-

"What about L.A.? How was it like growing up there?" He continued and I put down my fork, coming to terms with the fact that I probably wasn't gonna get the chance to eat.

"It's fine." I bluntly replied.

"... I noticed that you have a bit of an accent?" Luciano questioned and my eyes widened slightly, shocked. No one had ever noticed my accent before... except Santiag—

What am I saying? Of course he noticed my accent. I met him when I was fresh off the boat, barely able to speak English.

"Uh, yea. I wasn't always in America." I shrugged and took a second to realize that he and Giovanni have Italian accents as well. There's were more recognizable. Marco had one as well but it was faint, like mine.

"You lived in Italy?" Tony asked while looking up from his food.

"Yea. Up until I was six. That's when I came to America." I replied with a sigh before surprisingly carrying on the conversation, "You guys have accents too?"

"We do. We moved to America around the same age you did." Giovanni answered with slightly narrowed eyes as if he could see right through me.

"How was it when you guys moved to America?" Marcelo asked with curiosity lacing his tone.

I shook my head slightly before speaking, "Not we. Only I moved to America."

They all looked a bit confused before Stefano spoke up, "You guys didn't move together?"

"Nope. Zane shipped me off to America when I was six for training. How I ended up with Raul." I shrugged and they slowly nodded.

"... You call Zane by his name?" Giovanni questioned, noticing the hate my tone was laced with and it was pissing me off. He was spotting my every slip-up.

"I do. We didn't have the best father-daughter relationship." I replied with a sliver of distaste in my tone.

"Well, I'm still... sorry for your loss." Giovanni uttered as if it were going against his literal morals to say those words, just how Luciano did earlier today in the car...

Everyone's heads snapped to Domenico when he started grumbling something under his breath. I slightly flinched back into my seat when he slammed his fist onto his table, "Don't apologize for that prick!"

Oh, Domenico. I couldn't agree with you more.

"Domenico! Sit. Back. Down." Giovanni slightly shouted in a threatening tone which set Domenico straight in his place before he huffed and plopped back down in his seat. He made sure to send one of the harshest glares my way while doing so.

And I was on your side... a Xander he is indeed.

Everyone was quick to get over the tension and go to their food. It was mostly quiet. The chatter I witnessed before I entered the room was no longer there. Just pure awkwardness. It kinda hurt. It's not rocket science to realize it's because of me.

I don't know what I expected. I'm the one who has plans of bolting as soon as I turn eighteen anyways.

They're a family. They've always been a family and I'm not a part of it. I need to get over it and focus on the important things.

I can't let my guard down here. It was already hell on earth with just Raul. Now? There's eight of them. Raul's traumatizing torture would be nothing compared to this.

They could be just like him for all I know...

Which is why I'll keep my walls up like I always have. I won't make room for people to hurt me... as they've done before.

People have a tendency to leave me