Lucian's deep voice was calm but terrifying.

I tensed up, not even daring to look up at him. I started shuffling my feet, to try and get my mind off of his presence.

"What did I tell you during our discussion?" His voice cut the silence again, while I was busy getting shocked as to why I didn't get called out for not looking at him.

"That everyone is to be respected, regardless of who they are or how old they are."

My head snapped up with wide eyes. Damien was now facing Lucian instead of me, with his head bowed and hands behind his back.

"Look up!" Lucian snapped. I flinched a little, which went unnoticed.

His command wasn't directed at me but it made my head turn and eyes to lift up nonetheless.

But Lucian's cold silver gray orbs were focussed intently on Damien. Damien lifted his head and looked him in the eyes, showing no emotions on his face.

"Be at the headquarters tomorrow." Lucian ordered. Damien nodded his head, looking like he was holding back a lot. Like he wanted to destroy every thing or every being he came across.

Lucian raised an eyebrow, making Damien refrain himself from rolling his eyes.

"Sì, Fratello." He said.

Lucian nodded and turned to me.

"Stand straight, Bunny."

I looked down to find my legs bent at the knees, my left foot before my right and my arms stretched out on my side, my left arm stretched behind me, so my hand touched Rose's upper arm. In a protective spiderman position.

I cleared my throat trying to hide my embarrassment and stood straight again.

Jayden and Josiah stopped when they saw us all outside the kitchen. They looked at us with questioning looks, to which Lucian responded with turning around and walking back inside.

Damien moved to walk away.

"Have breakfast, Dex." Asher called out, apparently knowing he was walking away.

"I don't want to." Damien grumbled.

"Damien Luke Mazzanti, you have ten seconds to be seated at the table and ask for breakfast." Lucian's voice shook the walls like an earthquake.

This time I did flinch at the very first words and due to the loudness. The full name has been used. It's been a long time since I've heard someone being called by their full names.

'Amira Levi Verlice, I promise I will protect you till my last breath.'

Damien stopped abruptly.

"Fuck's sake." He muttered under his breath, before turning around and barging into the kitchen. He didn't spare us another glance.

I released a breath, looking at the door.

"I'm sorry." I said, turning to face Rose.

She looked at me and shook her head.

"No. It's not your fault, Levi. I was just scared so I jumped aside."

"I know." I said, putting my hand on her head. "I'll make sure he doesn't come near you anymore."

She seemed relived by that offer.

"I wish I could stop Lucian from being around you." She muttered.

I chuckled quietly.

"I doubt anyone can do that."

"Yeah." She grinned before we walked into the kitchen.

Lucian glanced at us but moved his gaze back to Asher as they talked quietly.

Asher, however, stopped chatting when his eyes landed on us.

"Good morning, Babies." He said, smiling brightly.

"Good morning." Rose muttered reluctantly while I grunted in response.

"That wasn't a proper response, Bunny." Lucian's tone was warning, but I tried my best to ignore.

And my best was to look busy in having Rose seated and getting seated myself.

A fist slamming on the table made me jump, along with Rose. Before Lucian could start getting angry though, my mouth took control.

"Good morning." I muttered, digging my nails into my arm.

"Morning sweetheart. Did you sleep well last night?" Asher asked, smiling sadly, after he was done frowning at Lucian.

"Yeah." I said, just as the plates were put before us.

"You have bags under your eyes." Josiah pointed out.

I just clenched my jaw and hummed in response.

As soon as the plate was put before me, I started putting food in Rose's out of habit. Rose did the same back. We just exchanged one spoonful when someone cleared their throat.

"Exchange seats with Rose please." Lucian said, looking straight at Jayden. Jayden slid his plate beside mine, before sliding Rose's plate towards him.

This time Jayden was sitting between Josiah and Asher, directly across from me.

Rose grabbed my sleeve, panicking inside.

"She is not comfortable with sitting with anyone who is not me." I said, in most respectful tone I could muster.

"She will be okay." Lucian said, simply, shifting his gaze to Rose looking at her expectantly.

"Can't you see she's panicking?" I said, nodding my head towards my twin.

"When I ask you to do something, I expect it to be done immediately, Aurora." Lucian said, sternly. That name sounded so foreign. I haven't been called anything except Bunny or Levi yet.

I looked at Rose to find her already looking at me with wide eyes.

Just this much of separation was hard for us. Still I nodded my head, with the best reassuring look I could give her.

I took her hand in mine and squeezed gently, calming her nerves.

She stood up nervously, not liking the attention she was getting one bit.

At least she's sitting between Josiah and Asher.

'They're already separating you from each other.'

"What would you like to drink, love?" Asher asked. I looked up from my food to see him looking at Rose with a smile.

Rose shrunk in her seat and looked at me. I just nodded.

My hands itched to punch someone. He shouldn't have done this. I hope someone puts a sharp pin on Lucian's chair in his office. It will feel nice to have his butt stabbed.

"Whatever Levi is having." She said, glancing at me then looking down. Asher and Josiah looked at me together.

"Why do you look like you're about to murder someone?" Jayden asked, from beside me.

"Oh get over it. She's sitting across from you." Damien grumbled, a scoff escaping his mouth.

Between two people she doesn't know properly. This is a big thing and we won't tolerate being separated.

"What do you want for drink, sweetie?" Josiah asked me.

I almost corrected him and said, 'Levi.' but the burning gaze on me warned me not to.

Rose likes to have chocolate milk in the morning.

"Chocolate milk." I said, focusing on my food.

"But-" Rose started, but stopped when I looked up. She closed her mouth and cleared her throat. 'But you don't like it' she wanted to say.

"Woah! So she needs your permission to talk?" Jayden said, from beside me. I clenched my hands into fists.

I don't know what to say to that.

'They're trying to take her away from you.'

"It's not like that." Rose started defending.

"We don't need to give them an explanation, Rose." I said, glaring at Jayden.

"Okay. Calm down." Asher said, as he returned with two chocolate milks, pushing one towards me while putting the other before Rose.

"Here, babies. If you want anything else, just tell me." He said, smiling at Rose then looking at me with the same bright smile.

"Thank you." Rose said, while I just focused on eating, my elbow on the table and my hand supporting my face on it.

"Do you want to hang out today, Rose?" Jayden asked, causing her head to snap up and look at him.

"What about Bunny?" Asher said. I didn't have to look at him to know what look he was giving his younger brother.

'Second choice.'

I clenched my eyes shut. This voice needs to stop.

I want to stay away from them. I don't want to hang out with them. Rose can make her choice.

"I don't think she'd want to hang out with us." Jayden scoffed, making me wave my hand showing him I didn't care.

"She doesn't care if you ask her or not. But I can't stay away from her for so long." Rose said, sweetly. She was trying hard to cover the frown on her face.

"You will be with your brothers. What's the problem?" Damien asked.

"Someone I don't know." Rose corrected. I stifled a laugh.

As sweet and adorable she might be, she's pretty ruthless if you manage to get her mad. She's not mad right now, but she is a little annoyed, judging by her response.

"Stop making plans." Asher said, looking at Lucian.

"Bunny and Rose are going shopping with Dex." Lucian announced, raising an eyebrow and looking at all of us one by one. When there was nothing except acceptance of the fate, he nodded his head.

I was done with the food. The drink was on the table untouched. I picked it up and put it to my mouth, gulping it down while holding my breath.

Rose finished as soon as I put the glass down. We stood up and I waited for her to walk around the table.

I started walking as soon as she was beside me.

"Be down in twenty." Grumbled a voice.

I just walked out with Rose walking beside me, without bothering to give him an answer.

After just sitting in our room with Rose singing and twirling around the room, we made our way downstairs.

We had the clothes, Josiah sent this morning, on with fluffy slippers. We didn't exactly get the time to change into something else before running away from our home.

We met Jayden at the end of the stairs.

"Wear these." Jayden said, pointing to the shoes that looked like they were just pulled out of the boxes. Not to mention how delicately expensive they looked.

I stared at them, before moving forward to grab them. Rose did the same and tied the laces.

I sat there with my feet in the shoes, waiting for her to be done.

After she was done she got up from the step we were both sitting on and crouched down before me, tying my shoelaces. I don't know how to tie them and she never let me do it myself. For some reason, no matter how much I try, I still find it hard.

Lucian stopped when he looked at us. He looked at Rose and knitted his eyebrows.

Rose stood up when she was done. Lucian moved forward and extended his hand, a card held between two fingers.

"Keep this with you. Just in case." He said, looking at Rose, who was standing before him.

Rose looked at me, we shared a look and she took it, nodding her head slowly.

He's going to force it anyways.

Hearing heavy footsteps, we saw Damien striding down the stairs, with Josiah following him.

"You're going too?" Asher asked, appearing from the direction Lucian appeared from.

"Yeah." Josiah smiled.

Rose and I moved out of the way and away from the four brothers as Damien and Josiah walked downstairs.

"Let's go." Josiah said, smiling at us.

We followed them to the garage, where Damien took his time deciding on what we should go in.

He decided on the sleek black mercedes at the end. Of course.

His whole outfit was black, including the one earring dangling from his right ear.

As soon as we were seated and out of the driveway, Damien started speaking.

"Don't wander off alone. Be in arm's length distance. If we tell you to do something, do it. No questions asked, no tantrums thrown." He listed the 'expectations'.

I rolled my eyes when he looked at me with his narrowed ones.

"Don't even think about stepping out of line. Not one bit. Lucian doesn't tolerate misbehavior, especially outside in public."

"Dex!" Josiah hissed quietly, looking at the situation. He turned around to look at me and smiled.

"Don't worry about him, love." He said. "But please follow the rules. They're for your own safety."

Damien rolled his eyes at the sweet tone he was using.

I just turned my head to look out and ignore them. Rose was sitting beside me, instead of the other side of the backseat and she kept rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand, reminding me to keep calm.

As soon as we pulled up, Damien looked in the rearview again, making eye contact with me.

"Behave."

I saw Josiah exiting the car and opening the door on the other side. I opened mine and got out, soon followed by Damien and Rose.

Josiah walked ahead of us while Damien walked behind.

People moved out of the way when they saw Josiah, then they moved out of the stores when they saw Damien.

I just shook my head to anything Josiah offered. Rose did the same.

It doesn't feel right buying things from someone else's money.

After a while, Damien got annoyed and started shoving any clothes I took a second too long to look at into the cart.

Josiah did the same with Rose but a lot more gentle and loving, exactly how she should be treated.

They led us to an electronic store, where all I could see were screens.

Josiah was showing Rose a Rose gold coloured laptop, because she was admiring that color before while I just stood there awkwardly, beside Damien.

Rose looked back at me for help when Josiah tried to show her something more.

I hate that I can't do anything.

Before I could respond, Damien stood before me blocking the view. I looked up, a scowl on my face.

"Follow me." He said, before turning around. He walked towards the far section of the store, opposite from where Rose and Josiah went.

More electronics, just a bit more video game kinds.

I kept my hands stuffed in my pockets and stared at everything, bored. Damien scowled and opened his mouth to say something, but a phone ringing stopped him from spewing bullshit.

He pulled his phone out and looked at the screen, furrowing his eyebrows. Looking up at me, he frowned.

He snapped his fingers and pointed to the stool that was placed near us.

"Sit." He said. He walked away, while talking to whoever called him.

'He really is treating you like a dog.'

I clenched my hands into fists and kicked the stupid stool.

"Bastard. I'm not a fucking dog." I muttered. After trying to calm myself down, but failing, I started walking away from there and out the store.

I kept my hands stuffed in my pockets as my speed slowed with each passing second and each bit of relaxation that replaced my initial anger.

I looked around the expensive stores, decorated with gold lightings, chandeliers, some with a more modern touch.

'God, Baby! I thought I lost you.'

My face fell. I felt the softening in the corners of my eyes as my steps slowed in the empty corridor.

I clenched my shaking hands into fists and gulped down the sudden lump in my throat.

"Amira Levi Mazzanti!"

I turned around as the voice shook the whole mall.

Damien was storming towards me, looking angrier than ever. The veins on his neck were visible. The scowl was accompanied by a glare and there was steam coming out of his ears.

I jumped with each step he took, considering he was stomping towards me.

As soon as he reached me, he grabbed the collar of my shirt and shoved me into the wall behind me, causing my breath to hitch.

Instinctively, I grabbed his wrist as he raised me a little higher against the wall, barely on my tiptoes.

"Get off me!" I said, which came out shaky yet loud.

"I told you to sit there." He gritted, while I took deep breaths and forced my face to look as usual. Emotionless and unbothered.

"I told you I'm not a dog. I don't think you heard it, you-" I gritted back, leaning forward slightly. But I was cut off by him tightening his grip a little.

"So you wandered off?" He said, his voice raising in volume. "Do you know how dangerous that is? That's literally the first rule I listed."

I tried to kick him in the privates but he stopped me with his quick reflexes.

"This could've been anyone. Anyone holding you like this. What could you have done?" He yelled the last part in my face.

His fist clenched so hard and the force he was putting was so much that for once I thought he'll manage to break my ribs.

"Do you know how to fight?" He said, not being able to control his anger, his fist shoved into my chest, just below my throat.

'You are pathetic.'

I stopped breathing. I opened my mouth to get some air in, but none came, instead my eyes widened as I looked at the furious man before me.

"This is how you will protect yourself?" He gritted, pulling his fist away from my chest a little, putting enough force for it to not dig into my chest, but for me stay raised up against the wall.

"I said, get off me." I said, which was followed by my own gasp. I struggled to take air in.

"Yeah. Say that and they will leave you alone." He mocked, but the look on his face did not soften one bit. The longer he took, the worse it got. A ringing started in my ears, echoing in my head.

"Damien!" Someone yelled, making him turn his head slowly. I turned my head the best I could to see Josiah running towards us, with Rose following close behind.

Rose was already shaking and I hated myself for being so pathetic. How could I let her see me in this state?

Josiah pushed Damien off and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, preventing the fall I was going to experience.

His hand came to the back of my head to push my head into his chest.

Rose is here. Rose is here.

My breaths came heavy and long when I felt her close to me, standing beside Josiah.

I took deep breaths, inhaling the sweet fragrance from Josiah's shirt, still wide eyed, staring at nothing.

I couldn't comprehend what all happened after I stopped breathing, but someone was yelling now and my face could feel the reverberating chest.

I turned my head slightly so my nose wasn't squished against the hard chest, making it easier to breath.

Just as I turned my head, I saw my hand barely touched Josiah's waist, hovering just above his belt.

I flinched and pushed him away.

"Stay away from me!"

My loud volume caused their own yelling match to stop. Well, Josiah had stopped as soon as I pushed him away.

Without thinking for a second, I stormed away from there, hearing Rose follow close behind, with heavy footsteps following hers.

I need to leave.