That was mostly the end of our interaction or so I thought, when two weeks later, at the party he showed up–all suited up. The audacity. And I had not known I had a family until two weeks ago.

The same day he dropped me off, forcefully, they came. Saying that I was their blood. I stood next to the headmistress, a nun at the same orphanage I was found at years ago.

Mr. Moretti was about to cry looking at me. The woman next to him just seemed like she wanted nothing to do with this place. "Honey, this is hardly the place–"

He raised his arm to shut her up and stood, walking over to me. She scoffed as he took my face in his hands–examining me. "You look so much like your mother."

"So you had an affair with some–"

"Enough Elena! You have spit too much venom... let me have a moment with my own blood," he said, cutting her off–like she's just gum on his shoes. He turned back to me, staring into my eyes for a long while before pulling me into a warm embrace.

And I freeze, not knowing what to do. Elena, a woman whose barely in her 40s, seemed to say something under breath.

"I won't ask you to forgive me.... But I do hope you can accept us as part of your life now. Your brothers are waiting eagerly at home."

"Please make sure you sign, sir... along these lines... there are documents.." the headmistress said to him.

The entire ride home, he let me rest my head against him while the family chauffeur drove us to his house. I guess the warmth of a father is unlike any other so I fell asleep just as Elena said, "Lino... this is ridiculous... accepting filth into our–"

**

When I woke, the car had already pulled into the driveway of an enormous mansion. "She's real," is what I hear as soon as we walk up the gravel and up to the entrance.

All five guys were staring at me, lovingly. Every one of them–a carbon copy of our father. My Father. Mr. Moretti points to the one leaning against the column and introduces him just as he searches his pockets for something.

"Matteo.... Your older brother, and don't reach in your pocket son..." he said.

Muttering something he stepped away from the column, coming up to me. And Elena scoffed again. How will I say that there were gifts coming to my house? I gulped as he took me inside. "Nico is about to leave anyway..."

"Leave where?" I ask.

"Hey!" someone shouted at Matteo. "That isn't true bitch."

I almost laughed and my eldest brother booped my nose. "Your room is ready.... If you want something ask."

And then I met Lorenzo, Riley, and Killian. All five had different ideas to cheer me up. Most questions came from Riley, the youngest. He is still in high school from the looks of his curly dark hair.

**

For two days, I had so much love poured from my new brothers. Even the youngest was ready to be accepted into their family. Friday is when things got complicated as I was cornered by Elena.

It must have stung her to have me in the house. Behind her, I saw a figure about to sneak off. Riley....

"You are about to ruin my chance of getting everything I've ever wanted."

She kept backing me up until I hit the wall, where the long table was–knocking most of the stuff off. I don't know what she was getting at cause someone else was considering marrying me. Is he though? His face flashes across my thoughts, and the way he held me tight after threatening me–lights a fire within me.

"Ruin what? Cause I won't be here much longer muddy anything," I shot back in a hiss, my back against the wall.

"Your brothers, I sent them off to work... Riley isn't here... So calling for help won't–" she began but a voice cut her off.

"Who said I'm not here, mother?"

Elena turned around. "Well?" he added, walking up to us.

"You're late for school.... Go..."

"You know what? I'm not feeling well so... I'm skipping it."

With her distracted, I stepped away from the wall, and walked off. From the room entirely.

This is between them.

**

I had just painted the base layer of my new artwork, when the door creaked open. He had knocked before walking in. "Sorry about mom.... She likes men not... girls apprently..."

His school tie was hanging loosely on his neck–having not been tied. "Are you sure about skipping school?" I ask, as he ruffles his hair.

He nods just as I lay the brush aside, twisting to face him. "Riley, look...."

"I finally have a sister..." he says and beelines to me and pulls me in for a hug. "It was so boring having those idiots around."

"Your welcome... I guess."

The only response I could give to him.