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I admire Lila as she peacefully sleeps in my arms. Her clean proclain skin glows from the sun. I run my thumb across her cheekbone and tuck a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. She stirrs slightly before snuggling clsoer to my chest.

After yesterday's incident, I haven't felt comfortable leaving her side. Jaxon was the heir for the Millas but we've never seen his face before. No heir to the mafia families are announced until the position is declared publicly.

I've never even seen Lila this afriad before. I wanted to rip Jaxon's eyes out and listen to him beg for his life. The fact that he was shooting at my sister and Lila enraged me. I sigh knowing I can't be in this position for longer and needed to ask Lila what her history is with Jaxon.

I continue to softly caress her cheek until her eyes fluttered open revealing her gorgeous hazel eyes.

She gives me a tired and lazy smile as her eyes struggle to stay open.

I can get use to waking her up like this.

"Good morning." She sighs

"Morning." I reply as I continue to trace patterns on her cheek.

"We have to go downstairs amore." I whsiper into her ear as I notice the skin of her neck develop goosebumps. I smirk inwardly at this.

She lets outs a soft okay before going to freshen up.

Once we are both ready, I grab her hand and walk in step with her down the stairs to be greeted by everyone already sitting on the couches.

All eyes snap up to us as our footsteps echo.

Lila stiffens beside me and I give her a reassuring squeeze as we both sit on the empty space in one of the couches.

It's silent for a moment before Lance speaks up, "Lillies, could you tell us what happened yesterday?"

Lila gets even more tense before nodding her head.

"You don't need to if you aren't ready." I whisper softly to her.

She sends me a sad smile before shaking her head and taking a deep breath.

"Jaxon is my ex-boyfriend." She begins, "I met him back in California when I was just starting out my medical school at Stanford. At first, we were fine and great friends. Eventually we started to like each other and I kept telling him I wasn't ready for a relationship because it's not for me and I wanted to focus primarily on medical school. He kept insisting everyday and I guess I felt almost obligated to because he was also the first person I opened up to about the death of my parents. My parents were murdered and to this day the police don't care about finding the murderer. So I agreed to a couple of dates and eventually we became official.

It started off amazing. I felt like he really did care about me but then I started noticing weird things. He was staying out more often than usual and he was always avoiding me and my questions. He told me to stop worrying so I just left it at that. But one night while he was showering his phone kept ringing. I decided to pick up and it was a girl on the other line talking very flirtatiously. I confronted him about it and..."

Lila takes a deep breath and starts fiddling with her fingers. I enterwined our fingers together and she sent me a small smile.

"That was the first time he showed any violence towards me. He threw the phone directly at me and it hit me on the head. The phone actually shattered from how hard he threw it at me and my head started to bleed. He then cursed at me and called me all these things."

I feel my jaw clench and my anger was bubbling inside of me. Fuck. I need to calm down.

"I started to cry that night and the next morning he apologized to me and I always had hope it'll be the last time. That he was being honest. So I gave him another chance. Then it happened again. and again. and another time. It eventually got worst and I was afraid of him but I couldn't leave because he said he was a powerful man and he can easily make me out to be a lunatic so no one would believe me.

Eventually I gave up trying to call for help. He isolated me from my friends and teachers. I started to fail medical school and was given warnings from Stanford saying that they'll have to kick me out if I don't bring my grades up. Just like my grades, my mental health started to deteriorate. He called me all these things. Worthless. Disgusting. Pathetic. He kept coming back and apologizing and I kept hoping that he'll mean it and stop. But it never stopped-"

Lila's voice cracks at the end and she lets out her first sob. My heart clenches at the pain she was showcasing for the first time I've met her. I wrap my arms tightly around her and push her head against my chest. Her body breaks out in sobs as she clutches onto my shirt.

"You don't need to continue amore." I whisper softly into her ear as I run my fingers through her hair.

She shakes her head, "No, I-I have t-to."

She takes a brief moment to recollect herself before speaking again.

"It started off with words. Then it escalated to punches and smacks. Then it got even worst and started off with belts. I remember one night he kept throwing glass plates, bottles, vases. Anything glass and breakable at me to cut me. He told me if I was filled with scars I would be stuck with him forever because nobody would love me like he did.

I was utterly helpless. I was so frustrated with myself because I was stuck. I lost everything. It got so bad to the point that I thought that was love. That that's how people are suppose to show each other they love eachother. I eventually began to hate myself. Why couldn't I be enough? Why was I so ugly and disgusting? Why me? So I cut. I scratched. I clawed. I tried overdosing one too many times.

One day he grabbed a knife and dragged it diagonally across my right shoulder to my back and left hip. It's the biggest scar I have.

He gave it to me because I spoke to a waiter. He said I was a whore and being unloyal so I deserved it. That was also the day I couldn't take it anymore. So I ran.

I left a note saying we were over. I ran from California all the way to the UK and then spotted him there. So I ran from the UK to China only for him to spot me again. I kept running and running until I finally settled in New York. I hadn't spotted him for a while so I thought I was finally safe. I continued Medical school since I was able to bring my grades up. They allowed me to do it online. But now he's back."

Lila finishes as her entire body is now shaking uncontrollably and her voice is cracking with every word she utters. I cup her face and feel my heart collapse. My throat constricts at the sight of her.

She looked utterly broken.

"I-I'm so s-sorry. I-I didnt k-know that h-he was part of the M-millas. You g-guys can do w-whatever y-you want with me." She whispers as she continues to sob into her hands.

"Do not." I pry her hands from her face and wipe away her tears. "You do not understand how incredibly brave you are amore. You are so beautiful, courageous, and utterly amazing. I have so much admiration for you since the very first day I saw you. Do not think for a second we will hurt you because you are part of our family know. We will protect you. We will cherish you. Most importantly, you deserve to be treated like a . You are and I will always be here for you. So get those thoughts out of that cute ass head of yours." I declare as I lay my forehead against hers and bring her petite frame impossibly closer to me.

"You will continue to do amazing things. I have never doubted you for a second amore." I kiss her cheek, temple, the space between her eyes brows, chin, and nose.

"Lila, we are family now. We'll always be here for you." Nathalia concludes as she walks over to us and hugs Lila.

Zion then follows suit along with Lance.

"Can't believe you dated that delusional dude. He is so fucking dusty and musty." Damon says while puffing his cheeks out and comes over to Lila giving her a squeeze.

Lila giggle quietly while she hugs everyone back.

"C'mon I made some blueberry muffins before." Damon says with a reassuring smile as he disappears into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Damon comes back out with a tray of blueberry muffins and hands one to Lila. She takes a bite before scrunching up her face and spits it out on a tissue.

"I think you mistaken the salt for sugar Dam." She says while suppressing a smile.

Everyone bursts out laughing while Damon stands there in disbelief.

I continue to tighten my grip on Lila as she lays her entire weight on me. I watch as she stares at everyone with relief flooding through her. She seemed to be finally letting go of that weight on her shoulder and seemed lighter.

Either way I will forever cherish this precious soul. She deserves all the love.

I knew for sure I'll be completely obliterating any peace left between the Millas and the Barachi family. They will be given no mercy and if they continue to ignore my warnings I will gladly go to war.

Once I get my hands on Jaxon, he'll be begging for mercy.

Nobody hurts my donna.

Nobody touches her.

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