We Were Villains

9

His eyes were green as moss in a forest, cold and frightening. He aimed his gun, finger lingering near the trigger; I wanted to say well, shoot me already. "Don't make me repeat myself," the man snarled.

"Shit, Jules," Luca hissed, stepping into the man's line of fire, "put the damn gun down."

"Tell me who this girl is in my garden." The way he said it meant he was very protective over the damn garden.

"It's Alessia, you shithead. You can't just go pointing your gun at everyone you see."

"You mean the Alessia?" The man, Jules, said in disbelief. He slowly lowered his gun. "Oh, I'm sorry."

Luca ran a hand through his hair. "Did you not figure it out? How would someone get past the guards, idiot?" He muttered, turning to me. "Are you okay, Lessie?"

I nodded. "I'm okay."

Luca let out a relieved breath, gesturing to the man in black. "This is Julian, Angelo's boyfriend." I studied Julian, his sharp jawline and the tattoos on his hands. I had no idea Angelo had a boyfriend.

Julian looked at me, smiling. He tucked away his gun and stepped around Luca. "Hello, Alessia," he murmured as I shook his hand. "I am sorry about that, I've been travelling the last week, and I'm exhausted."

"Those are shitty excuses," Luca said, and Julian glared at him. "Wait until Angelo hears you almost shot his little sister. You'll be in the dog house for sure." My brother snickered at the last part.

"Why do you have a gun, anyway?" I asked, glaring at my brother's boyfriend. Julian tucked the gun into his waistband and flattened his shirt.

"I need it for protection."

I smirked. "From who? People lurking in your garden?"

Julian chuckled. "You got me there. I'm protective of my garden, so what?" He huffed and I couldn't help but laugh.

Luca reached out his hand for me to take. "Come on, let's get you inside and get some lunch."

+++

Mattia and I were the first ones down for dinner. "Did you enjoy your day? What did you do?" He asked, sitting at the table as Carlotta, the family's housekeeper set a silver platter on the table. I smiled at her, and she smiled back before quickly disappearing into the kitchen. "I'll be around tomorrow more, and I had to see a few patients today."

"I had a good day, I guess," I mumbled, shrugging a shoulder. "I met Julian today."

His eyes widened. "Oh, how did that go?"

"He pointed a gun at my head."

"That fucking idiot," Mattia hissed.

"He's very particular about his garden."

Mattia paused for a moment and then laughed. "He's something else, that's for sure," he said and I couldn't help but agree. "Angelo will be home later tonight."

"He works long hours," I commented, sitting down beside him.

Mattia nodded his head. "What else did you do today?"

"Not much, really. I was wondering ... is there gonna be a funeral for my mom? I want to go." The question seemed to take my brother by surprise. I didn't understand why Angelo wouldn't wait for the funeral before bringing me to New York.

My brother hummed, sipping his water. "I'm sure you can go, I don't see why Angelo would have any issue with it."

I didn't want to go to his funeral. No way did I want to show up there but my mom, I wanted to be there for her. I wanted to show up for her.

"How are you doing with all of this? I know the move was sudden - all of this so sudden," Mattia said, his voice gentle. "Do you like it here?"

"I mean, I've only been here two days so far but yeah."

Mattia huffed out a laugh. "Fair enough."

Julian and Luca entered the kitchen, shoving each other like children would. Mattia rolled his eyes and I smirked. "Enough, children. Sit down so we eat."

Julian and Luca took their seat across from me at the table. Carlotta brought in a bowl of caesar salad, saying "Bon appetite," before disappearing again.

"Merci, Carlotta," Mattia called, and we shared the bowls around the table and ate peacefully. How many languages did my brothers speak? French, Italian, what else didn't I know about my brothers?

"Anything you like to do, Alessia?" Julian asked, taking a bite of steak.

I shrugged. "I like to read, I like the outdoors. I used to be on the swim team but I didn't try out this year," I murmured, not sure why I did, because it meant they could ask questions. I couldn't swim with the chlorine on my cuts. I should just shut my mouth.

Mattia leaned forward, putting more salad on my plate when he added his. "Why didn't you?" He asked, "try out for the swim team, I mean?"

"I just wanted to focus more on my classes and volunteering. I wasn't that good anyway," I said, refusing to look at anyone and focused on my food.
If they only knew the truth, my brothers and Julian would be disgusted. The scars on my upper thighs were hideous, I felt disgusted with myself. Yet, I couldn't stop.

+++

I heard a knock on my bedroom door. "Come in," I called and it opened to reveal Angelo. His hair was wet, likely from showering, and dressed in a plain t-shirt and grey sweatpants.

"Hey bambina," he murmured, pointing to the book I read. Something Real by Heather Demetrios. "What are you reading?"

"A book," I said, smirking.

Angelo rolled his eyes, striding forward before sitting on the end of my bed. "Mattia said you wanted to go to your mothers funeral?"

I nodded, setting my book down. "I would appreciate it a lot."

"I'll get ahold of whoever is arranging the funeral," he said, nodding. "Do you mind if all three of us come with you?"

"No, that'd be alright."

"Did you have a good day? I heard you met Julian," he said, snickering. "I am truly sorry about him." I laughed a little, shrugging it off.

"Does he live here too?"

Angelo nodded. "He does, but his work takes him away at times. Don't worry, he might look intimidating but he's a teddy bear. I promise."

"Good to know."

"Are you doing okay? Do you need anything?"

"I'm okay," I lied.

+++