If Theo's and Ariana's wedding was beautiful, Hector's and Dahlia's was divine. I could now see how much my mom had held back at the first wedding.

This was literally too good to be true. The venue was ten times bigger and we had to book a bigger church.

Everybody came to the Don's wedding.

The guest list was incredibly long and I had no idea how my mom scheduled everything to perfection. I would frown in all that work but she was made for this.

"I really wanted a small wedding." Dahlia muttered.

We were in the limousine on our way to church. I've never seen her this stressed but I guessed it was just the nerves. It was her wedding day, it's normal that she's nervous.

"Then you chose the wrong man." Mom winked at her.

Dahlia closed her eyes for a second. Hector was supposed to have a massive wedding. I saw the pictures of our parents' wedding: lavish and ginormous.

"At least you'll get loads of presents." I smirked.

Wasn't that the best part of the wedding? The gifts you got. Dahlia opened her eyes and a smile finally settled on her lips.

She's acted indifferent for the wedding but I think it was now finally setting in. I guessed it was because she'll walk down the aisle by herself.

She hasn't told anyone but Hector what happened between her and her family. I would never bug her to tell me but I felt like it was hard to be here without them today.

We finally arrived at the church and we helped her out the car. The dress was big and absolutely breathtaking. Dahlia looked like a goddess with her hair up.

"You look so stunning." Mom smiled with tears in her eyes.

She carefully fixed Dahlia's dress while we got into position. I was supposed to walk in first of the bridesmaids but something was wrong. Dahlia reached out for my hand and it was as if she was holding onto me. She paled even more and now I couldn't just brush it off.

These weren't nerves.

"Hector is my brother and he loves you so much, but if you don't want to marry him, then that's your choice." I told her firmly.

Maybe she wasn't ready. I knew how terrifying the introduction to this world was. It was overwhelming and I had a breakdown over it. There were so many rules that she had to follow now and the moment she marries my brother, she could never return to a life of normalcy.

"I want to marry Hector." The determination in her eyes was as clear as day.

"These aren't just nerves, Dahlia. What's wrong?" I asked her softly.

She let out a breath before closing her eyes to hold back tears. Dad came outside to check up on us. We probably missed the timing to go inside but we'd only go inside when she was ready.

"I'm scared to walk down alone." She confessed.

A few stubborn tears rolled down her cheeks and mom quickly wiped them away with a napkin. I tightened my grip on Dahlia's hand.

"Oh, sweetheart, why didn't you tell us before?" Mom wondered.

"It's stupid." Dahlia muttered.

"No, it's not. You deserve someone to walk you down the aisle." I insisted.

I couldn't imagine walking down the aisle all by yourself. For so many women it meant the world for their dad to walk them down the aisle. If I ever managed to get married, I want my dad to walk me down the aisle.

I felt bad for Dahlia because she didn't have that.

"I'll walk you down the aisle." Dad spoke up.

We looked at him. He came closer and laid his arm around her shoulders.

"You're my kid as well, Dahlia. You're the only girl that my son has ever opened his heart to aside from family. Hector needs you and you're strong enough to stand beside him." He squeezed her in a way that I knew was reassuring.

Dad gives the best hugs and pep talks.

"You're not alone. We're your family. You're a Cassano and Cassano's stick together. So let me walk you down the aisle. Like any father would do with his daughter."

I looked up to fight back tears. My parents were good people, aside from the fact that my dad used to be head of a criminal organisation. But they did everything they could for the people they love.

That's something they passed down to all their children.

"Does that mean that I'll get a nickname as well?" Dahlia asked while smirking.

Dad laughed and started to brainstorm for a nickname. Amelia and I went to our positions and walked in first. The church was packed and almost a thousand eyes were on us.

I'd never be able to walk down this aisle alone. Amelia and I held hands. Behind us walked Giana with Priscilla. Ariana couldn't join us but she sat in the first row with Fabio next to our grandparents. At the end of the aisle we're our brothers.

Hector caught my gaze and I gave him a nod. He must he worried about Dahlia but she'll be fine. Dad was with her and it was all she needed.

Because soon after, she walked down the aisle with him.

The ceremony was beautiful and I would love to say that it was a joyous day.

It wasn't.

Soon after they shared their kiss, the first shots were fired. At first, I had no idea where they came from. The only thing that I knew was the fact that they hit people.

Amelia.

She was standing next to me and suddenly she slumped to the floor. It happened almost immediately after the first shot. Giana who stood on her other side let out a piercing scream that I'll never forget.

What was more haunting was my poor sister.

She was down on the floor holding her stomach. Tears streamed down her face and at first she was confused until it hit. Her panicked brown eyes fell on me and I dropped to my knees.

"Lia?" I croaked.

Shots were still being fired and I didn't even notice the hell that was happening around me. All I could see was my poor sister.

"Help! Help!" I started to scream.

Before I could initiate to help her, someone was at my side. Victor had thrown off his jacket and pressed it down hard on her wound. She let out a scream and I shivered with horror.

Who would do something like this?

"Leo, call the ambulance now!" Victor screamed at him.

Our other brothers must've surrounded us. I wasn't sure. I just couldn't look away from Amelia whose eyes started to roll backwards.

"Elena, make sure she keeps her eyes open! Do it now!" Victor nudged me and I jumped to business.

I cupped Amelia's face and gave her soft slaps. It kept her awake partially so I tried to talk to her.

"Keep your eyes open, Lia. You can't close them." I insisted.

They kept rolling back so I slapped harder.

"Look at me! Now!" I snapped.

Her lids were getting heavier.

"I'll tell Hector about William!" I panicked.

Surprisingly that managed to help her open her eyes. She was dying but was still paranoid over the fact that she kissed a boy behind our brother's backs.

"Y-you promised." She muttered.

"Keep your eyes open and the promise is intact." I shrugged my shoulders.

She sighed and then winced deeply. I held her hands in mine. Her hold was only getting weaker. It was as if I could feel the life being sucked out of her.

"I'm tired." She whispered.

I swallowed down a big lump in my throat and tried to keep her awake. The ambulance arrived in four minutes but those four minutes felt like hours to me. I watched how the lifted her onto a carrier and hurried her out. Victor went with them but I couldn't move.

"Are you injured?" Leonardo searched me for injuries but I didn't even have a scratch.

If I could switch places with Amelia, I would. I knew what pain was, I'd handle it for her. I'd do anything for her, even the impossible like taking away her pain.

"You're shaking, baby." Leonardo muttered as he pressed me close to him.

I broke down against his chest and sobbed my eyes out.

Today was supposed to be a good day. A day of joy and celebration. Whoever decided to attack us on this particular, day did it with a reason.

This was a planned attack on our family.

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

Amelia's been in surgery for the past twenty hours. I don't know why it was lasting so long. The shot had hit some vital parts and the surgeons were trying the best to save her. They told us that it was all up to her.

She was so close to death.

I've been here for all those twenty hours. My butt was glued to the chair of the waiting room. No one could get me to go home or get some rest. I was still on my dress from the wedding. It was slightly stained with Amelia's blood.

What we learned in those twenty hours was that Amelia was the only victim. The first shot was directed at her and the others at the ceiling. Probably to cause panic and confusion.

So we concluded that this was an attack on Amelia. Narrowing down the suspects was hard because my brothers had more enemies than friends.

The hospital was swarmed with Hector's men to keep Victor, my parents and I safe while we waited for news from the operation room. Ariana, Fabio, and Dahlia were back at home with our other family members and the twins. My oldest brothers were out hunting the attacker and I hoped they found the asshole soon.

I'd kill him myself if I could.

"Had any news yet?" Hector asked dad when my brothers came down to the hospital.

I barley noticed them as I kept staring at the door. The head surgeon will walk out of there and tell us that Amelia made it. I wouldn't allow anything else to happen. She has to make it. She has to.

"No, they're still operating." Dad muttered.

He had his arm wrapped around mom who was shaking terribly. I could tell that he was just as scared as her but he always pushed aside his emotions. It was what this life taught him to do and he was protective over mom. He always put her first.

"I told you to take her home, Paul." I heard Theo tell my bodyguard.

Paul had tried multiple times but last time, I lashed out at him. He was only following orders but I was such an emotional mess right now. I didn't mean to be harsh or rude.

"I tried to, but she refused to go." Paul explained.

Hector grabbed my chin and made me look at him. He was still wearing his tuxedo. He hadn't changed either and had been hunting ever since when it has happened. I could already tell by the look on his face that he'll scold me.

"You have to go home. Take a shower and sleep." It wasn't a suggestion but an order.

"No."

He narrowed his eyes.

"You haven't slept in more than twenty-four hours. You have blood on your dress. Do you really think that this is helping?"

What was sleep when your sister might be dying? I didn't care about all that until I knew that Amelia was alright.

"Fuck off. You have a fucker to catch." I pushed him off me.

Why was he even her scolding me? He should be other there tracking that asshole down and then kill him for what he's done to our sister!

"I can't catch him while you worry the fuck out of me, Elena."

"Then don't worry about me and do something useful instead of ordering me around!" I yelled at him.

I was not going to move out of this chair until I knew that Amelia was alright. He'll just have to deal with it and leave me alone.

"Tesoro, let's just go home. You can't-" I cut Theo off.

"No!"

They could try all they wanted but I wasn't going to move.

"For fuck sake, Elena, do as you're told for one time!" Hector yelled at me.

He yanked me out of the chair and basically threw me to Paul.

That asshole.

Paul started to drag me towards the elevator but I moved wildly. Why couldn't they understand that I needed to be here? I'd only go insane at home with worry and fear. Why did they never listen to what I wanted?

"That's enough. Elena can stay." Mom spoke up.

She'd been crying nonstop the past twenty hours. Her eyes were red and swollen but her voice was firm. She met my gaze and mentioned for me to come to her.

"She's going home." Hector interrupted.

"She's staying here and that is final. What good will it do to force her to go home?" Mom got off dad's lap and came towards me.

I fell into her embrace when Paul finally let go off me. We sat back down in the chairs and she softly caressed my back. What would I do without her?

"She's-" Mom cut Hector off.

"I understand that you're worried but this isn't doing any good. Besides, you have to focus on catching that asshole."

I flinched when mom cursed. This is the first time that I heard her curse. She was angry.

"I don't want to see you until you catch him." She told my oldest brothers.