Chapter 8

I entered the house. The house was unusually silent. It was not a good sign. A 11 year old me tried to tip toe to my room upstairs. As I climbed the first stair it made a creak sound.

"Look who's back" said a drunk and angry step dad. I froze at my place. My room was just few steps away I could easily run and secure myself in my room but I also knew the consequence of doing so.

"Ah the bitch is back!!" said my mother.

I turned back to see them drunk. I stood there glued to my place. Suddenly I felt a sting in my cheek . My step dad had slapped me. My mother grabbed my hair harshly and threw me at the floor. My head hit the floor with a loud bang. My step dad was standing there laughing at me. My mother went to the other room . I was just laying there as I was dizzy from the fall. After some time she came back with a long stick. I stared at her with wide eyes fear evident in them .

"Punishment time" she said with a sickly sweet voice while my step dad was standing with amusement in his eyes.

"START COUNTING!!" my mother shouted.

I woke up with a gasp. I looked at my phone . It was 4am. I went to bed around 12. Great at least I got 4 hour sleep.

Sleep was never my friend because of these nightmares . I started having them after they died. Its been two years and I still have these nightmares. When these nightmares started I was not able to get proper sleep resulting a tired and frustrated me. I started getting irritated because lack of sleep.

After one month I started controlling my emotions. I would not either not reply or give short response. I had to made it my habit to sleep as long as I can before I woke up from my nightmare. Its usually 3-4 hour sleep. It was not a problem for me all thanks to my parents. I was used to 5 hour sleep with them.

I opened my laptop and started watching some random series as I had nothing else to do. After completing a whole.series I looked at the time it was 6 . I got up from the bed and did my morning routine. I changed and as I was about to head down I heard a knock on my door. I opened it and it was the same maid that came yesterday.

"Breakfast is served " she said politely. I nodded . She smiled and left.

After tying my hair in a ponytail I went downstairs. There were only three people sitting, Ercole, Rodrigo and his twin Orlando.

I went and sat their opposite. There were four bowl there filled with cereals. As I was about to take one I was given another one by Ercole. I looked at him.

"I just prefer to eat in that bowl"he said. I looked around the table and all the bowl was of same design and color.

I became suspicious.

After a while Dom and Ed joined us.

"Good morning Beatrice" Ed greeted me.

I greeted him with small 'morning' and a smile.

They all started eating. I was looking at my cereal suspiciously .

"Why aren't you eating?" asked Ercole with a small smile. That's it there is something wrong with this bowl. His expression said it all that he had done something.

"Oh and by the way you are supposed to finish your breakfast in this house . It's a rule which we all follow." he said smiling.

I nodded. Let's see what he got. I took a bite and it was SALTY!. He fucking poured salt in my cereal . No wonder he changed the bowl. If I can taste the salt that means it is not edible.

I saw him waiting for my reaction. I was not going to give him one. So I neither reacted nor said anything and silently kept eating with a neutral expression.

It was not hard for me. It was not first time that something like this has happened. Try living my life and these small things won't affect you.

Because of the food that my mother and step father used to feed me as punishment my taste buds were basically dead. I could only tell whether its salty or sweet or spicy because some of my taste buds that are still functioning and only if it is in excess.

No wonder he told me about the rule. After I finished my cereal I looked at him and he had an annoyed look on his face probably because of not getting what he was expecting. Our eyes met and I smirked at him. His face became red with anger.

I waited for the boys to finish their breakfast. Once they finished they started talking to each other completely ignoring me. I was about to get up when Ed stopped me.

"The things you asked for are here . Where do you want to keep them?" he asked.

"In my room ." I replied. He nodded.

"Some of our cousins are coming to meet you " said Dom.

I nodded. He sighed.

Just then the doorbell rang.

One of the staff went and opened the door. And in came three boys.

"Boys this is Beatrice."Dom introduced

me.

"Hi I'm Hayden."

"Hi I'm Blake."

"Theo."

I nodded.

"Is she really her? Are you sure you are not mistaken." Theo said smirking.

He then went to Ercole and did a handshake with him.

What's wrong with them. No wonder they are friends.

Just then the doorbell rang again. One of the staff opened the door. He then called for me saying there is someone at the door for me. Hearing this all of boys went there before me.

"Who are you?" "What do you want from her?" "How do you know her?" these were the questions that could heard from them. No reply was heard. I went and saw that it was one of the people who work for Alex in his house.

He is pretty tough and its very difficult to make him talk. He was just standing there without any emotion looking weirdly at my brothers. As soon as he saw me he bowed his head slightly and smiled. Seeing this gesture all the heads turned towards me.

"Your stuff Miss." he said gesturing towards the two big suitcases he had.

I took my stuff and politely thanked him. He smiled gave my brothers a weird look and went towards his car. I waved him bye and shut the door.

"Whats in these? " asked Orlando.

"My stuff" I replied shorty .

Two of the staff took my suitcases and offered them to take them to my room. I thanked them.

I looked back to see my

brothers looking at me.

"Where were they? And who was he?" asked Ercole.

I ignored his question.

" Do you guys need . I have some work.?" I asked nobody particularly.

"Yes we need to talk about your school." said Dom . I nodded.

We went to the living room . He sat at a chair and asked me to sit down which I refused as I knew it won't take that time. All the boys took their seats in the couch. It basically looked like they were interrogating me.

After they all took their seats Dom started.

"About your school you will be going to the same school as the boys. The twins and Blake ate in the college that is just the next building from where you will be studying. Ercole is in the same school as you.

You will be going to the shopping with the cousins to buy all the necessities you required."

"Ok" I replied. He looked at me weirdly.

"I'm not going" said Theo suddenly.

"It's fine we'll take her." said Hayden.

I nodded.

"Can we go now?. I have a part time job in 1 hour."asked Hayden.

I nodded.