Chapter 7

I am excited for tonight; it has been a while since I was on the ice. It is one of the places I feel free and relaxed.

I showered and changed into something light. The guys had one of my spare skates, we always kept spares for each other. I kept theirs and mine hidden when I realized they hate this sport to the core. Tonight, I could lose my brothers' trust forever, but it is a risk I am willing to take, to get on the ice for just a moment.

I jumped out the window at midnight. It was easy for me to leave the mansion, I walked down the road, where they were waiting for me, I got into the car, and we drove off.

"We are here. Papa said you can destroy the ice as much as you want, and he will not care as long as you come over soon" Ar said as we put on the skates. I nodded happily.

I stepped onto the ice, and calmness filled every inch of my body. I let go of everything with each slide and skid. With each movement, I forget everything that made me sad. I only remember my love for figure skating and the joy it brings me.

I started to smile and laugh as I skate around the ice. I am free for now.

Alessio's POV

I love riding my bike at night, the wind and the silence make the best time to ride. I was riding back home when I saw Ana getting into the car with the same guys, she was eating lunch with.

It makes me feel suspicious, I followed them at a distance. I was surprised to see them stop at a skating arena. Why are they here, I wondered as I followed them in. I am good at being stealth when I need to be.

The smile on Ana's face as she stepped on the ice with nothing to protect her from getting hurt. She is not even wearing a jacket to keep her warm. This says that this is not the first time she is skating.

Her smile grows wider and wider as she skates around the ice, doing some twists, turns and jumps. She looks amazing, her movements were perfect. Then I heard something that I have not heard in a long time, her laughter. It made my heart beat faster. My baby sister is laughing from real happiness.

I shook my head to snap out of it. She is dangerous, I remember how Kaden feared her. How she had a dangerous aura when she was talking to him.

She is doing something that my family hates the most. I will do anything to keep my family safe from getting hurt again. Even if it means, I have to take away the one thing she loves. Well, too bad, if she wants to stay with my family, she has to give this up.

"Well, look at this. The innocent sister is doing something her brothers hate" my loud voice boomed the arena making her skid to an abrupt stop. She looks at me in complete fear. It breaks my heart, but I have to keep my brothers' safe.

"I-I" she stammers not knowing what to say.

"If you come with me now, and never skate again, I will not tell anyone about this or leave my family and you can continue to skate your whole life and we will not give a damn" I gave her two options. Which is the most important to her.

"Ana" one of the guys called out to her as she started to come towards me.

"No," she stopped him from speaking more.

"Good decision" I sneered as she took out her skates.

I carried the skates and walked out. I set the skates on fire right in front of her, ignoring the tears rolling down her cheeks. I shoved and helmet down her head and got onto the bike. I drove back home, speeding all the way. She kept silent through it all. She did not speak a word.

Back to Ana's POV

I have to give up the one thing that means the world to me. I have to give up the one thing that keeps me sane. He made me choose between a family that showers me with love and something that made me happy.

I always choose family. I had to give up skates, cause I think I love my brothers, and if they hate figure skating to the core, I cannot hurt them for my selfish reasons.

They need to be happy, and I have to be a good sister to them. Alessio just pushed my decision-making time faster and earlier.

It has been a month since that night. Arjuna and Vijay have been trying to convince me to not give up skating. But I kept shutting them off, I know they know how much it means to me.

"There as to be a way where you can choose both. What if you tell your brothers, maybe because of you they might learn to love it again" Arjuna tried to reason with me again,

"No, you do not have their level of hatred towards it, I have seen it when someone brings it up randomly. Glasses are broken with holes in the wall" I recalled a recent incident when a couple of helpers were talking about the recent Figure skating competition. Both the ladies were fired right away.

"But" Vijay started,

"No, guys, I am quitting that is the final decision. I need this family to work, you both know that" I begged them silently. They turned sad, knowing what I meant.

"But throwing away your life for your family's happiness is not right" Vij whispered sadly.

"Anyways, when are you coming over to meet Ma and Pa" Ar changed the topic,

"Soon, I hope, I have to ask Vincent first," I said as we exited the school. They nodded and waved as they walked towards their car.

Without them, I started to feel lonely again.

"They seem to be nice friends," James voiced as he drove me back home, as the twins had practice after school.

"Yeah, they are. Their parents took great care of me when we were neighbours" I smiled reminiscing.

"Well, then, we should invite them over someday to thank them" he suggested. I smiled at him while inside I knew they cannot meet Ma and Pa. The brothers' parents like to show off my skating skills. It is not a risk I want to take at the moment.