Vengeance

Chapter 39

Ava's POV

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AVA!"

I jumped in fear and slowly turned around, with palm of my right hand clutching my chest instinctively.
All of them were gathered at the entrance of the room, with big smiles on their faces.
I was instantly wrapped into hugs from each one of them.
"You guys remembered.. when even I had forgotten!" I was so delighted. 

"Of course, Sorellina. We could never forget this day." Enzo replied kissing my forehead. 

"Thank you. Thank you so so much." 

"Come." 

They led me towards the round dinning and made me sit.
Enzo sat to my right while Ryan to my left. Stefen in Arlo were next to him. Then Vanessa and Veronica across me. Dante, Romeo, Matteo and Marco were sitting in that order beside Enzo. Ryan smiled at me slightly making me blush.
When we were all settled, Enzo cleared his throat gaining everyone's attention.
"I would like to say a few words.."
I nodded at him, in anticipation. 

"This day had been most special day of our lives since you came into this world, Sorellina. It become a harsh reality and a sad memory of you and mother since the incident. But today.. this day has become even more important because today we found our life back. Today our family is complete. Because today we have you, our princess amongst us, safe and alive. I know we couldn't be there for you more than a decade.. But we will do everything to make up for this lost time. No matter how bad things you have seen and been through all this time, remember now you are safe, because your fratelli will die before they let anything happen to you ever again."
By now I had tears in my eyes. I grabbed him into a hug and shook my head at him for talking about dying.
"Happy 18th birthday, principessa."

Arlo opened a bottle of champagne, lightening the mood a little.
All of us were finally laughing and talking to each other, until my stomach grumbled loudly.
I covered my face in embarrassment as they all laughed about it. 

Come on, I'm starving since the morning. A girl needs food. A lot of it!

The food was absolutely delicious. I had never eaten more than today my entire life. And the desert on the top of all that had me so full.
I had missed having Italian food for so many years. But today all the old days were coming back to me. The happy times with family dinners.
Ryan cleared his throat a little making me look at him.
He pointed his index finger towards his mouth while looking me.
I gave him a confused look. So he grabbed a tissue and handed it to me. 

Oh! I have something on my mouth! 

I tried to wipe but looking at his expression, it was clearly not the right place.
After trying a couple of times, he sighed and held my chin with right hand and wiped the remnants of the desert himself.
I felt his thumb wiping the side of my mouth while his eyes were focused on that task.
My breath was caught as I stared in his eyes.
Those silver grey eyes slowly lifted upto mine and once again everything else faded into the background.
Only thing we could hear was our slow deep breathes.
I gulped nervously. 

"Ava!"
We quickly looked away. I grabbed the glass of water trying to recover from our trance.
"Ava?" I turned towards Enzo. 

"Yes?" I looked at him sheepishly. 

"Today is your day. So you can ask for anything that you wish for." He said with a genuine smile.  

"Anything?" I asked with uncertainty. 

"The world, the moon, anything, Sorellina. Whatever you want." Romeo said.
Happiness filled my heart by looking at their love and sincerity towards me. 

So blessed to have such amazing older brothers!

"I know you could give anything I want but what I really want right now are answers. Can I have those?" I asked them unsure of how they would react. 

Everyone looked at my brother, waiting for him to respond.
He let out a deep sigh.
"Fair enough. You've been kept in the dark for too long. You deserve to know everything."

"Thank you." I said smiling at him for keeping my wish. 

"Ask away."

"Who are you?" 

"Damn, Sis! Straight to the point huh?" Enzo chuckled nervously. 

"I want to know why you had a gun." 

"Well.. This may come as a huge shock for you but... He is the Capo of the Italian Mafia." Romeo said casually. 

"Mafia? As in underground, dangerous world of illegal business, Mafia?" My eyes widened in shock and I turned to look at Enzo, who looked like a deer caught in the headlights. 

"Yeaaaaahhh.. Illegal, dangerous.. That puts it right." He said scratching the back of his head. 

"And you are the Don?! Like the Boss of all the bosses?" 

"Yeppppp." He said nodding his head. 

"All of you are in Mafia?" I looked at the rest of my brothers. 

"All of us, means you too, Sorella." Marco grinned. 

My mouth was hanging open.
"Hunt? All the illegal business and drugs.. ?" 

"Mafia.. Yep!" Matteo shrugged his shoulders. 

"Wait a minute.." I turned towards Ryan, "You said Hunt took everything from you. Does that mean you are-" 

"The Don of American Mafia now." Veronica confirmed. 

I just watched them all with an "OhMyFuckingGodness" kinda face. 

I am sitting among the most dangerous people in the world!
And they are my own brothers and friends!
Fuckkkkkkk!
But to really think about it....

"So it actually makes sense.. All the men and guns and security. And that scary ass basement I stumbled into last year. And the story he told me about Mama and Papa.. It actually does make sense now. That guy Ricci, he was mafia too. Yes!" 

"What story?" Dante asked curiously.

So I told them the backstory of why Hunt killed Mama and kidnapped me. The environment in the room suddenly turned from casual and happy to rage-filled and mourning.
I sighed feeling deeply sad recalling the past.
Ryan's hand found mine which was resting on my thigh. He gave little squeeze and his thumb was circling on the back of my hand lightly, trying to soothe me.
I looked at him sadly and then turned towards Enzo.
"I miss Papa, fratello. I wanna meet him. He must have missed me so much. Please take me to him." I had tears in my eye as I begged him. 

He immediately looked towards our brothers with a weird sadness and guilt.
All of them had a similar expression.
My heart was pounding in my chest with nervousness.
There was a heavy silence in the room. None of them dared to meet my eyes or even lift theirs heads.
Ryan's grip on my hand tightened.
"What? Why are you all so quiet all of a sudden?" I demanded.

"Sorellina, Papa is gone."