~Leonardo

I looked towards Aria, silent tears streaming down her perfect face. I reached my hand towards her cheek and wiped her tears.

"Baby?"

She looked up at me, her innocent green eyes leaving me in a trance, even when they were full of tears.

"Collect whatever you need mi amore, you're staying with me so I know that you're safe." I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead. She nodded, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards what I assumed to be her bedroom.

When we entered, she gasped, leaving my side. She walked towards her wardrobe, opening a small box hidden underneath some other items. She opened it and a sigh of relief left her pretty little lips.

"I still have it." She turned towards me, the biggest smile on her smile. She's so pure. Someone has destroyed almost everything she owns and she still manages to find positives.

I slowly walked towards her, gently kneeling down next to her. "What is it baby?" I asked, putting my arm around her shoulder which made her lean on my chest.

"The only thing I have left of my family." She answered. "My parents, they- they passed away when I was 15. That's why I live in LA. My only family left was my mother's best friend, my Aunt Ophelia. So I came here to live with her. I also have, well, had an older brother." She continued.

"Had?" I asked. I wasn't trying to be nosey, I just wanted to get to know her.

"Yeah he, um, left. a few weeks after he turned 18, he just, left. He didn't say goodbye or anything. He left me in April and my parents died 6 months later, in October. That was eight years ago."

"I'm so sorry baby, you shouldn't have had to go through that, but don't worry, you'll have me and the guys now, I promise."

She looked up at me, happiness shining through her eyes. "Thank you, Leo. I've never had friends before." She stroked my cheek. That movement alone could've made me fall asleep. We sat in silence for a while.

"Leo?"

I hummed in response.

"Today would have been Theo's birthday." she whispered. Theo? As in the Theo that is back at the house? I have to be honest, there was a resemblance and Aria did seem a little lost after she said hello to him but I just assumed it was because she was shy. Was Theo her brother? Now that I think about it, he never spoke about or visited his family and he always dodged any questions on that matter.

I looked down at the beauty and realised that she had fallen asleep in my arms. I stood up, careful not to wake up Aria. I picked up the small duffel bag and box that she had packed. Her room seemed to be quite bare and she seemed to only have packed what was necessary and important to her. I looked around her apartment one more time, clenching my jaw again at the message on the wall before walking out with my world in my arms. When I got to the car, I laid her down on the back seats and sat in the driver's seat. I pulled out my phone to text Enzo.

L: Is it Theo's birthday today?

E: Uh, Yeah, Duh. You've been friends with him for 8 years. Jeez, what a friend.

L: Shut up. Are you all back at the house?

E: Yeah. We did all the training and stuff this morning so we could chill this afternoon.

L: Okay.

I then opened Theo's contact on my phone, ignoring Enzo's following messages.

L: We need to talk. Wait In my office. I'll be there in 10.

~~~

I carried Aria up to our room, ignoring the others. I gently placed her on my bed again, covering her with the duvet. I then left the room and headed straight to my office.

When I entered, Theo was sitting up straight in a chair in front of my desk. He turned his head at the sound of the door opening and closing. He stood up instantly, showing no emotion on his face.

"Capo."

"Theo. Sit down."

"Have I done something wrong?"

"No. Now, speak to me like a brother and friend, not your boss. Aria. You know her don't you?"

"I-" He stopped himself.

"Theo, She told me today how her brother left her family 3 months after his 18th birthday. In April. April of 2014. You joined my Mafia in April 2014. Explain. Now."

He sighed, running his hands through his hair before looking up at me. "I fucked up. My family were the most important thing to me, and my parents, they had some money problems. Aria didn't know. I had to help them, so I decided to join the Mafia.

I was going to send them payments every 6 months, from someone anonymous. I didn't expect them to grieve so much, especially Ari. When I heard that they passed, I wanted to find Aria so badly, I just didn't know whether she would be safe in our world.

Then, when I heard she was with Ophelia and she was doing kind of okay, I didn't find her because I didn't want to ruin her now patched up life. We were so close when we were younger, so when I left that night, I couldn't have said goodbye to her. It would have made it feel too real and I would never have done what I did.

I didn't want to bring her into this world, but seeing you with her makes me know that I was wrong. You and her seem to be perfect for each other and I can't thank you enough for these past few weeks, looking after my baby sister when I couldn't, and for letting me see how much she's grown up." He had tears in his eyes by now, I was about to reply when I heard a small sniffle from behind Theo.

Aria was standing in the doorway, cuddling my pillow and tears streaming down her face. She stared directly at Theo. She must have only heard the last part Theo said because otherwise I think she would be running for the hills knowing we're all mafia men. 

"Theo?" She whispered, edging herself closer to her brother, who was also standing now.

"Yes, it's me, Muffin. It's me." He replied, opening his arms. She dropped the pillow and threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face. He spun her around, her face buried in his neck.

He looked at me, "Thank you." he mouthed.

~~~

"Blow them out, blow them out!" Aria squealed as she stood in front of Theo, my arm wrapped around her waist. After their hug and catch up over the last 8 years, Aria insisted that she made her brother a cake, and also insisted that we all help make said cake. It's safe to say:

It was hell.

I've been in fucking battlefields and even they were cleaner than our kitchen. 'Making the cake' involved Aria actually cooking, Enzo eating the ingredients, Killian standing to the side, silently observing the chaos, Theo and Gio arguing over measurements and me laughing at Theo and Gio, whilst also watching the tiny girl giggle over their antics.

Still, we managed to get it baked and decorated and Theo had just blown out his 27 candles that my baby had expertly placed around his cake.

"What'd you wish for?" My baby squealed, yet again.

"It's a secret muffin, I'm not telling." He teased, sticking his tongue out which made Aria copy him in return.

~~~

A few hours later, everyone was in their own rooms and Aria was snuggled up to my side.

"Baby?"

She looked up at me and smiled. "Yes?"

I gulped. "Do you maybe- um- do you- want to go on a, date, with me?" I mumbled.

Her face broke out into a huge grin and she squealed before wrapping her arms around me.

"YESYESYESYESYES!!" she yelled, placing a quick peck on my cheek.

"Good. Be ready by 7 tomorrow night mi amore." I replied.

She snuggled further into my chest, letting out a cute little yawn. "Thank you Leo." she mumbled.

"For what, My love?"

"For bringing me back to my family."

~~~

Author's Note:

Slightly delayed, oops. I have exams soon but after that, I'll update even more regularly

Vote! pretty pls

<3