Elena POV:

"What's an enforcer?" I asked Victor as we sat in the study room.

I'd already finished my homework but I was never allowed out before dinner. Hector was still so strict about my academic performance.

Victor was reading a book for his English Literature class. He'll graduate high school next month and go to study medicine at Colombia University. Apparently, Colombia was our families' university. All my older siblings had gone there, even the twins.

Expect Nicolas, who dropped out shortly after what happened to him. That's why I was asking Victor what an enforcer was because I've heard Silas talk to it about Nicolas.

"Did you eavesdrop, Elle?" Victor asked me with raised eyebrows.

"Silas has a loud voice." I shrugged.

Amelia nodded from her desk in agreement. She was still struggling with her math homework. I've tried to help her but she wanted to do it on her own.

"It's business. You shouldn't ask." He flipped a page in his book.

I scoffed and laid my arms around his neck. I've learned a lot from living with my brothers for more than a year already. My puppy dog eyes were irresistible.

"It's the person who deals with the unpaid debts. He goes to collect them violently." He explained shortly.

"And Nico is one?" I demanded.

Victor gave me a stern look but I didn't back down. Nicolas was still going through a rough period and I knew that he was in a lot of pain.

"He's been for a couple of months. It's helping him get rid of his anger."

"By beating up people?"

It sounded dumb coming from me. I knew what my family did for a living and it involved beating up people. But this wasn't a healthy manner to move on from trauma.

"People who knowingly lend money from the mob, Elena. They know what they get themselves into when they ask for money." Amelia gave me a look.

They grew up in this world but it still felt so new to me. I tried to understand it but I felt uncomfortable. Victor caught that.

"That's why I didn't want to tell you. Just don't worry about it too much." He squeezed my cheek.

I was worried about Nicolas. Months have passed and he's a completely different person now. He bulked up so much that he looked like a blonde mini version of Silas. He didn't eat any sweets like he used to nor does he tease me.

It was selfish and wrong of me to say this, but I missed my fluffy foodie brother.

"Instead of worrying about Nico so much, you should worry about yourself. Think about how you'll convince Hector to let you go out with Daniel." Amelia told me as she closed her books.

She simply grabbed my homework and started copying it. I've gotten used to it. She'd work hard until five minutes before dinner. Then she'd copy my math homework.

"He asked you out?" Victor asked.

I blushed.

To be honest, I really hadn't expected it. Yet, during lunch break, I was sitting at our usual table and while stealing his chips, he dropped the question.

'Do you want to go to the movies with me Friday?'

I choked on a chip while he softly patted my back. My friends had laughed at me while I uttered out that I'll have to ask permission first. Though, I really wanted to say yes with my full chest.

Daniel finally noticed that I liked him. After almost two years.

"I'll already have to face Hector and Silas, please don't make it any harder on me," I begged Victor.

Despite his soft nature, he could get as overprotective as the rest of my brothers. The look on his face told me that I'd also have to face him. He closed his book and set it down.

"You're not going." He stated simply.

"I am! I'm almost seventeen years old, I'm not a child!" I protested.

"Silas will never allow it." He sounded satisfied by that fact.

Before I could reply, the door opened. Theo stepped inside to come to get us for dinner and make sure that I did my homework. I thought they'd trust me by now, but I was still caught slipping every now and then.

I was just a procrastinator at heart.

In three months, we'd have to share our home with Theo's new wife. It was still so weird to think that my brother was getting married. They barely knew each other. Apparently, Ariana didn't respond to his texts but I had a feeling that was more her brother's doing.

Diego is one crazy fucker.

We were just midway through dinner when Amelia decided to bully me. She owned my heart but at this moment I wanted to slap that stupid smirk off her face.

"Elena has something to tell you!" She told Hector.

My oldest brother was on his iPad as usual. He continued to work even during dinner despite Theo telling him to stop. He was just a workaholic.

"No, I don't." I hissed at Elena.

"Oh, I think you do," Victor spoke up with an angry look in his eyes.

Of course, that caught everybody's attention. Even Nicolas'. He was usually very silent and unresponsive during dinner.

"Elena," Hector called me.

I looked at him and pinched my thigh underneath the table. I have to tell him eventually, especially because I want to go on that date with Daniel.

"Euhm, I was wondering if I could go to the movies on Friday...with a friend," I added the last part softly.

"You don't go on a date with a friend," Amelia smirked.

My knife looked very tempting right now. I wanted to smash it in her face because she just alerted all my brothers at once. It was as if I was thrown in front of the lions.

"A date?" Silas snarled.

I think I paled. This was scarier than a horror movie.

"It's with Daniel. We've been friends for a while, so I don't think that it's a big deal." I muttered.

"That Daniel that you've been crushing on?" Leonardo rolled his eyes.

My cheeks most definitely turned red.

"Don't think that you're going, brat." Silas snarled at me.

"Why not? I want to go!" I snapped at him.

He pointed his finger at me and gave me a dangerous glare that made me lean back in my chair.

"You're a baby. Why would you ever bother with dating?"

They saw me as this little girl and it annoyed the hell out of me.

"I'm almost seventeen years old! I'm not a baby!" I yelled at him.

"Elena." Theo scolded me.

Of course, he'd be against me in this situation.

"You're being hypocrites! Why are you allowed to date but Amelia and I aren't?" I demanded.

"You're sixteen, kid, calm down." That was the first thing Nicolas had said to me in months.

I should be over the moon that he's talking to me but I didn't appreciate his dumb comment.

"You're impossible!" I accused all of them.

I was too angry to stay there any longer, so I got out of my seat. That's when Hector decided to finally speak up.

"You haven't been excused from the table. Finish your plate."

I ignored him and walked toward the door. He can put that plate up his ass for all I care.

"Elena."

I froze. I knew what that tone meant. He didn't do it often, but he would punish me when I stepped out of line.

But I didn't care at that moment. They've just angered me too much.

"Elena. Phone." He spoke harshly when I continue to walk.

I pushed open the door and wanted to run up the stairs to the safety of my room but a hand grabbed my wrist. Nicolas pulled me to him and yanked my phone out of my pocket with a stern glare.

"You listen to your older brother." He scolded me.

"Give it back!" I snapped at him.

Why did our first conversation after so long have to be like this?

"Go to your room. You can't fight us on this."

This was something my brothers would never change their mindset about.

No dating. Ever.

But I wasn't going down without fighting.

///////////////////

Victor watched Daniel and me like a hawk at school. He even went as far as sitting with us during lunch. He never came to the cafeteria, because he enjoyed spending lunch in the library. He just wanted to make sure that nothing was happening between Daniel and me.

I wasn't going to give up my crush that easily.

Together with Cecelia and Amelia, I came up with a plan. A way for me to date Daniel without my brothers finding out.

When I look back at that moment, I would like to note how lovestruck I was. Daniel was my biggest crush and he'd been for nearly two years.

If I weren't in such a state, I would've never done what I did.

Which was perhaps better because I've never seen Hector that angry before.

The plan was simple. Act like I was hanging out with my best friends but actually go on a date with Daniel. Our first few dates were movie dates because my bodyguards never came inside the movie theatre with me.

So I could peacefully watch the movie with Daniel, not like that was what we would actually do. In the beginning, we'd sit at the very end away from everybody and whisper to each other about things. Later on, we started to make out and I felt a bit scandalous.

I never thought that I'd be that kind of couple in the cinema.

Cecelia often let us have dates at her place because going over to her house was more logical than going to the movies so often. The layout of her house was really cool. She lived on the top floor in a penthouse with two floors.

She'd be upstairs with Eunha and Amelia while I was downstairs with Daniel.

It was nice while it lasted. A whole month.

But then Hector found out.

No one of my friends snitched on me. It appears that my older brother has eyes and ears everywhere and eventually my rebellion caught up with him.

I was sitting on the carpet in Cecelia's living room, next to Daniel. We were talking while he was feeding me grapes.

Grapes are literally the superior fruit and I won't argue with anyone about that.

Just accept the truth, bestie.

But anyway, we were sitting there talking about universities because next year would be our senior year. He was talking about the computer science program at MIT when the elevator suddenly opened.

Hector stormed inside followed by my two bodyguards. The look he gave me was one that I'll never forget.

I wanted to vanish right then and there.

Daniel next to me dropped the grape that he was holding up to my lips. I didn't have to look at him to know how terrified he was.

"What-" he cut me off.

"Silence. I don't want to hear a single word from you, Elena." He snapped harshly.

I know that I went behind his back but he was just too angry. The only thing I did was date a guy that I liked. They just had to learn to accept the fact that I was old enough to date.

He came to me and pulled me up. I nearly stumbled as he pushed me behind him. He pointed his finger at Daniel and I feared that he was going to hurt him.

"Go near my little sister again and I'll destroy you. Have I made myself clear?"

I fished the material of his jacket tightly. Daniel looked dangerously pale and kept his head down. I didn't blame him but myself for putting him in this situation. My family had a reputation for being scary and I was selfish for wanting a relationship with him.

Now I've put him in danger.

Hector turned back around and dragged me out of Cecelia's place. The elevator ride was eerily quiet but so was the car ride to wherever as well. It was just me and Hector in his black Porsche. He didn't even turn on the radio as he'd always do for me.

I fucked up real bad.

"Where are we?" I asked.

We drove up to a warehouse of some sort. Hector didn't answer as he stepped out of the car. I took in the old and beaten-down building. Why would he take me here? Why not home?

Was this a scaring technique cause it was already working?!

He opened my door and grabbed my wrist. I stumbled behind him to keep up as we entered the warehouse. The main part was a gym where shirtless men were working out, one of them being Leonardo. He frowned confused when he spotted us but didn't follow.

I don't think I can handle any more angry brothers.

We walked up an iron staircase that went up to another floor. There were several doors but Hector opened the one to the far right. Our family surname was written on top of it.

It was a simple office not as grandiose as his one at home. Just a black desk with a spin chair and a round table in the middle of the room. The walls were painted a dark shade of grey and were bare. The only thing that told me that this room was used was the drinks assortment in the far corner.

"I've installed the software on your computer." A woman sat in the spinning chair.

Her long black hair was pulled up in a loose ponytail. I don't know why I looked at her lips first but they were plump and bruised as if she just had an intense make-out session with someone.

I also don't know why I looked at Hector's lips next and noticed the same.

Did they kiss?

Is he dating her?

"You can go." He instructed the woman.

Her hazel eyes fell on me and she leaned back in her chair with a playful smirk. She was really pretty.

"Oh, I think I'll stay."

"Dahlia," Hector told her sternly.

"Is this your little sister? Elena, am I right?" She ignored him.

I was still tense from all that was happening so I nodded. Her smirk widened and she threw her legs on his desk. She had the most amazing black platform boots on that reached her knees. If I wasn't scared then I might've asked her where she got them from.

"Sit here and wait," Hector ordered me.

He led me to the round table and sat me down before leaving the room. I buried my head in my hands and tried to fight back tears. I haven't been this out of line since my first weeks with them. I don't want to go back to that time where I didn't trust them and they didn't like me.

I feel like I've ruined everything just because I wanted to date Daniel.

"You're a bit too young to look that down, kid," Dahlia commented.

She'd walked towards me and taken the seat beside me. I just sighed deeply. I don't know where Hector went but I had a feeling that he was getting Silas and Theo.

They always gang up against me when I misbehave.

"What happened? Maybe I can help?"

I looked up at her. The smirk on her lips was gone and she looked approachable. Up close I saw her freckles and red cheeks.

"I went behind my brothers back to date a guy that I've been crushing on for two years," I confessed.

She'll probably hear it later when Silas starts to scream at me.

"They don't allow you to date?" She guessed.

I nodded.

"You're a teenager, kid. I understand why you rebelled against them. But it's not going to work for the long run. You'll have to find a way to convince them."

"I've tried but they keep seeing me as this little girl," I muttered.

She nudged me softly.

"It's easy for them to restrict you from things because they have power over you. Hector's your legal guardian and you have to listen to your older brothers."

"I got a lot of those," I muttered.

Six older brothers were like a living nightmare at times. Especially now.

"Well, who has power over them? You got to think about this, kid. Be smarter and act more effectively."

Who had power over Hector? He was the most powerful man in the country.

Before I could ask more, the door opened and an angry Silas stormed in. My grip tightened on my chair and I inched closer to Dahlia who put up a smirk again.

"You little shit, you went behind our backs?" Silas slammed his hands on the table.

It made me flinch.

"You're always so dramatic. Calm your tits and sit down before yelling at her." Dahlia commented.

"What is this bitch doing here?!" Silas yelled at Hector.

Hector just gave Dahlia a look but she didn't move. I was happy that she didn't because I felt safe next to her.

Theo came to sit down next to me with a frown. He grabbed my hand and caressed it softly. He was being sweet but I saw the disappointment in his eyes.

"Elena, we were very clear when we told you that you weren't allowed to date." He spoke.

"I'm going to fucking kill that kid," Silas announced.

My heart dropped and I jumped out of my seat.

"No!" I screamed.

They can't hurt Daniel.

"You're going to kill a kid because he dated your sister? You're really fishing for excuses to kill, aren't you?" Dahlia snapped at Silas.

Silas turned red and was about to jump on her but Hector pulled him back.

"You're fucking pussy-whipped, aren't you?!" Silas spat at him.

Hector forcefully sat him down and grabbed him by the collar. I leaned back in my chair and tightened my grip on Theo's hand.

"You don't touch her," Hector spoke calmly but that was his voice when he was raged.

Dahlia didn't look any different but she squirmed a little in her chair. What was going on between her and my brother?

"Calm the fuck down and let me deal with Elena," Hector told Theo to move seats and despite my protest, he did.

Hector sat down next to me and I inched closer to Dahlia until I almost sat on her lap.

"Your sister likes me." She winked at Hector.

I kinda did like her. I felt like if I wasn't in this shitty situation, we would've hit it off immediately. Mainly because she seemed to love to bully Silas as much as I do.

"You went behind our backs to date Daniel. You'll have to do a lot to win our trust back." He grabbed my chin.

"I just wanted-"

"You wanted to date him because you like him, I understand, but you proceeded to do it after we disapproved."

"Because you would never approve!" I cried out.

It was so unfair. They'll never let me do what I want and kept controlling every aspect of my life. I hated it.

"Of course not, you're a child." He stated simply.

"No, I'm not. You're treating me like one."

He shook his head. The more emotionless his face became, the angrier he was.

"I'm doing this to protect you, Elena. You tricked your bodyguards. Do you know what could've happened to you when they're not around? Who's going to protect you? Daniel? He's an outsider who's probably never even had a gun pointed at his head before. What guarantee do I have that he won't use you to protect himself?" He ranted.

"We were just hanging out in Cece's penthouse!"

He was acting as if we were out on the streets.

"You should know better than anyone how dangerous that neighbourhood is for you." He snapped.

That's where Roman kidnapped me. I harshly pushed Hector away. Why did he have to say that? I hadn't had an attack in months but I felt one coming up.

"You're an asshole for being so mean to her! She just dated a guy. You act as if she went on a killing spree." Dahlia snapped at Hector.

Silas got angry again but all their voices disappeared and I was back in the cell again. His hands were all over my body and I freaked out. I started to kick and squirm. My attacks always showed images that weren't fully true. He did touch me and tried to rape me, but in these images, he did rape me.

That didn't happen but my brain always showed those images.