Full house
POV: Elena
I walk home with Luca and Vicente because the others have already left. None of the boys ask me anything and I am grateful for that.
I rest my head, which is still a little sore, on the cold window and close my eyes.
"Lorenzo era preoccupato per lei questa mattina," Luca says calmly (Lorenzo was worried about her this morning).
"Ho osservato alcune cose e non mi piace la conclusione a cui sono giunto" Vicente has a somber tone (I've observed a few things and I don't like the conclusion I'm coming to).
"Penso che abbiamo gli stessi sospetti" Luca answers sadly (I think we have the same suspicions).
"Hai parlato con Eloisa, cosa ti ha detto?" Vicente asks and I don't like the direction the conversation is taking at all (Did you talk to Eloisa, what did she say?)
"Sembra che entrambi siano cresciuti normalmente, Elena è sempre stata un po' ribelle, ma a parte questo tutto era normale" Luca answers, but I can tell he's not sure about Eloisa's words. (It seems like they both grew up normal, Elena was always a bit rebellious, but other than that everything was normal)
"Forse non sa se è successo qualcosa" Vicente thinks and I almost snort. (Maybe she doesn't know if something happened)
"Ma la domanda è: cosa è successo? Cosa c'era di così estremo da renderla così sulla difensiva?" Luca asks exasperated and I hear a hint of concern. (But the question is what happened? What was so extreme to make her so defensive?)
"Ho paura di confermare, ma diamole un po' di tempo, forse ci dirà" Vicente ends the conversation because we turn onto the gravel road near the house. (I'm afraid to confirm, but let's give her some time, maybe she'll tell us)
"Bambina, wake up, we're coming" Luca calls me and I slowly open my eyes.
The car stops and I get out quickly, I didn't like their conversation and I realize that I let them notice things they shouldn't.
I enter the house ready to go up to my room when I notice a group of people in the living room.
I stop and slowly return to the entrance. I hit Luca's chest in the process and he looks at me amused when he sees my confusion.
"The house is full" I mumble, more to myself than to him.
"It's our family Elena" he says and I frown. I hate that word and even more the group of people that come with it.
"I'm going to my room" I announce coldly "Let me know when they leave"
I leave before he can say anything, I run to the side hallway and use the employee stairs to access the bedroom floor.
When I enter, I close the door and put my bed to block the entrance of these strangers.
The day has been chaotic enough and all I need now is to rest.
I take a shower to get the sweat off my body, put on a clean sweatshirt that I still have and lie down on the bed.
I'm almost asleep when I hear a knock on the door.
"Elena, it's me, Lorenzo" my brother's voice is calm but still cold "I know you're tired, but I want to know how you are"
I consider for a moment what I should do and end up deciding to let him in.
Since we have guests, I don't want to undermine his authority in front of them. And because I'm not willing to suffer punishment for disobeying.
I open the door after moving the bed out of the way.
He walks in and closes the door behind him.
"The school called me, they said you were sick and that you had an infected cut on your shoulder" he says and I can tell he's annoyed that I didn't tell them like he asked.
"I was taking care of it," I say, unmoved by his tone, and sit back down on the bed.
"How did you get the wound?" he asks, and I know I'll have to answer.
"It was before you got here, it reopened a few days ago," I say, avoiding the question, and he notices.
"How, Elena?" His tone is more pointed and authoritative.
"A knife, an accident," I answer calmly.
"Who did it?" he asks darkly, and I glare at him.
"Like I said, it was before I got here, that's in the past," I say irritably. I'm not going to give them any more information to discuss later.
"One day you're going to have to tell us, you're going to have to stop keeping everything to yourself, Elena," he says, looking at me intently.
"That day won't come any time soon," I reply, my arms crossed.
He sighs, and I can tell he doesn't want to lose his temper.
"Our relatives are here to meet you," he says, changing the subject.
"I don't want to meet them, I don't want to have any connection with these people," my voice is dark and harsh.
More family means more people who could hurt me. I'm not about to do that.
"You don't have to talk to them, just let them see you and then go back to your room," Lorenzo demands, and I can tell that's important to him.
I consider the request for a few seconds before sighing in defeat.
"I'll say hello and go upstairs," I say irritably, and I pull my hair back into a ponytail.
I follow Lorenzo down the stairs, my heart racing with each step toward the living room.
When I'm on the last step, I freeze. My legs lock up and my fear is unbearable now.
I grab Lorenzo's hands, and he stops and looks at me with concern. I know he can see me as an open book right now, and I don't have the strength to put my barriers up again.
"I can't," I whisper as my hands shake.
"It's okay," he reassures me as if I'm a frightened animal. Maybe I am.
He sits me down on the stairs and holds my hands, showing me how to breathe normally, and I hadn't even realized I was hyperventilating.
"I'll be right by your side, and I promise I'll take you to your room as soon as you ask," he informs me.
Breathe Elena, it will be five minutes, that's all.
We enter the room and I see Eloisa talking to some boys who must be Sandro's age.
I see the adults in a circle talking to my brothers and some women talking among themselves.
The room goes silent when they notice our presence and I shake Lorenzo's hand indicating that I am very uncomfortable.
"This is Elena, she had a tiring day, that's why she didn't come to talk to you before" Lorenzo says and I give him a grateful look.
"Hello" I say trying to control my nervousness.
A sixty-year-old man approaches me and for some reason I don't tremble.
"I'm Marcos Valentini, your grandfather" the old man's voice reminds me of the first time I saw Lorenzo, his tone was rough and authoritative, just like his.
I raise my head and assess my grandfather, his eyes are green like mine and equally empty. I can tell he's been through enough to take the shine out of his eyes. Well, me too.
"Elena Valentini, but I think you already know that" the fear I felt before evaporates and now I put my protections in place.
I look at each person in this room and I feel like I'm in the middle of wolves and my fear would be just food for them.
I look back at my grandfather who smiles at me. He knows I understand where I'm stepping and I can see a feeling that no one has ever shown me. Pride.
He walks away and he looks at Lorenzo who just shakes his head.
I let go of Lorenzo's hand, I'm grateful for his support, but I need to show that I can take care of myself. I always could.
The others introduce themselves, I have grandfathers, uncles and cousins. And no girls.
My grandmother is a loving and sweet person, but just as determined and authoritarian as the men.
After speaking to each of them, I look at Lorenzo, who hasn't taken his eyes off me as he promised.
I approach him, who is talking to uncles Carlo and Salvatore. They are speaking in Italian and continue to do so even as I approach.
I indicate that I want to go to my room and Lorenzo asks me for a minute.
"Ci stiamo occupando del porto, ma la spedizione è stata ritardata a causa della disputa con gli americani" says Uncle Carlo, I pretend not to understand anything (We are taking care of the port, but the shipment was delayed because of the dispute with the Americans)
"I francesi hanno detto che saranno dalla nostra parte se gli americani decideranno di andare in guerra contro di noi" says Uncle Salvatore and I become more curious about the subject. (The French said they will be on our side if the Americans decide to go to war against us)
A maid passes by serving glasses of juice and I thank her before taking one.
I sip my juice calmly as I listen to their conversation.
"I Ricci sono i nostri partner dell'anno, non mi aspetterei niente di meno da loro. E i Ferrari hanno già annunciato che siamo la loro priorità negli affari" says Lorenzo, and I remember the old woman who snitched. She was a Ricci. (The Riccis are our partners of the year, I wouldn't expect anything less from them. And the Ferraris have already announced that we are their priority in business)
"Nessuno giocherà con noi sul nostro territorio," Uncle Carlo announces angrily (Nobody is going to play with us on our turf)
"Se pensano di poter giocare con la mafia italiana, avranno una sorpresa" Lorenzo says angrily and I choke on my juice (If they think they can play with the Italian Mafia, they're in for a surprise)
I choke on the juice.
I cough a few times before pulling away and looking at them with wide eyes.
"Siete voi la fottuta mafia italiana?" the question comes out in Italian, but I don't care. (Are you the fucking Italian Mafia?)
Other characters:
Grandfather - Marcos Valentini
Grandmother - Romana Valentini
Uncle - Carlo Valentini
Wife - Isadora Valentini
Children - Matteo and Vitorio
Uncle - Salva
tori Valentini
Wife - Esther Valentini
Children - Nicco, Giorgio and Giovanni
Uncle - Massimo Valentini
Wife - Andreia Valentini
Children - Dante, Bruno, Ângelo and Antoni.