My phone was taken away from me for the entirety of summer break. Also, I wasn't allowed to meet up with my friends. Not even Eunha! That just went too far. I know that I misbehaved, but separating me from Eunha was just cruel. I needed her cuteness to get through my days and that became more apparent during this break.

I was mostly ignoring my brothers, especially Hector and Silas. I can't stay mad long at Theo and the same went for him. He forgave me after giving me a scolding and noticing how upset I was. He then proceeded to promise me that once I turn twenty that I'll be allowed to date. I can't wait that long!

Daniel and I really worked. We had a lot of common interests. He was thoughtful and nice. He was like a golden retriever. That type of boyfriend.

I didn't think that I'd like it that much, but I did.

So I was very sad when I had to break up with him. It was my first breakup and I didn't even get to decide it.

While I stayed in my room, I thought a lot about what Dahlia had told me. I had to find the one who has power over my brothers. At first, it felt impossible and I guessed she just spat out some philosophical bullshit. But then, the day before Theo's wedding, it all made sense.

Mama.

She'd planned the entire wedding, mostly because she couldn't stand Arianna's mother. Of course, nonna and zia Angela helped. I found her in our living room talking Theo through last-minute details. The wedding was going to be big and the event of the year. I've seen the venue and it was absolutely breathtaking, almost like a fairy tale. When I get married one day, I want my mom to plan it as well.

She was very talented.

"Baby, you should be in bed. It's already late." she smiled when she spotted me.

It was only ten in the evening, but we had to get up early in the morning. Still, I needed to talk to her.

"I need to talk to you. It's important."

Theo kissed mom's cheek and let us be. Mom opened her arms for me and I fell into them. She caressed my hair and I stayed in her embrace for a while. I'd practised all that I was going to tell her, but it came out as a sobbing mess once our eyes met. She watched me with concern as she listened to me.

I wasn't just hurt that I had to break up with Daniel, but that I wasn't allowed something so trivial. I was upset that they didn't even listen to me and kept limiting me.

"You really like this boy?" mom asked.

"For almost two years, but it's not just that. Why can't I make the decisions? They keep ruling me around as if I don't have a voice."

She nodded and cupped my face softly.

"You're right, baby. I'm not trying to justify their actions, but your brothers love you so much."

"But they're hurting me."

She wiped away my tears and kissed my forehead.

"If you trust that Daniel is a good guy and if you want to date him, I'll allow it."

My mouth fell open in shock. I just wanted my mom to scold my brothers for being impossible. I didn't expect this but I was so grateful to her.

"What about-"

"Don't you worry about it, baby! I'll make them behave," she told me sternly.

And she would because my mom had actual power over my brothers.

////////////////////

The ceremony was beautiful, despite the fact that Ariana looked like she was about to vomit. Her brother walked her down the aisle. He whispered something to her before giving her to Theo. I don't know what he had said but it made her pale.

I was one of the bridesmaids and from up close I could see how tight Theo had to hold her hands. She was swaying and I could see the worry in his eyes. The priest spoke of the important of marriage and some other things but I blocked it all out.

My eyes went to the enormous crowd in the church. All the Capo's were invited along with family friends. It was a big event but apparently not as big as Hector's wedding would be.

I had a feeling his would come soon. He had a date. Dahlia. She sat on the first row next to mom. I don't think that she did it on purpose, because she doesn't seem the type, but she outshone the bride.

The dress. Her makeup. Her hair. Just Dahlia herself.

Hector was a lucky bastard, that's all I could say.

She wore a satin pastel yellow dress with an open back. The two straps of the dress were tied around her neck which accentuated her breast. It was the type of dress you could only pull off if you had a hour glass figure.

After the ceremony was over and we moved to the venue for the party, mom linked our arms as we got out of the car. Amelia was on her other side.

"Have you seen the golden necklace Dahlia is wearing?" She looked radiantly excited.

Dahlia was wearing a golden necklace with a small C hanging on it. I've noticed it during the ceremony and I guessed that she got it from Hector.

"Your papa gave me the same when I was dating him. A month later he proposed to me." She grinned.

My eyes went to Dahlia who was now getting interviewed by both my Nonna and my granny. The elderly women were firing questions at her. Her cheeks turned more red that usual and I felt bad for her.

"How long have they been dating?" Amelia wondered.

I didn't even know that they were actually dating until this morning when he entered the church with her. I've met her before and I guessed something was happening between them, but not this serious.

"Apparently since Christmas." Mom told us.

That's almost seven months! Hector was a really private person but I'd expected him to tell his family that he's dating someone. Amelia looked equally annoyed.

"Don't be too annoyed with your brother. He's risking a lot by bringing her." Mom told us.

"Why?" I frowned.

She was just his date.

"She's the first girl he's brought somewhere publicly. And these men..." she cut herself off and squinted her eyes as she was remembering a bad memory.

Then it occurred to me what my mom meant. She was an outsider that married into this life. If anyone knew what Dahlia might be subjected to, then it was mom.

"But Hector protects the ones he hold dear." She winked at me.

He'd given me my phone back and allowed me to see Daniel again. It all happened this morning and had felt like a fever dream. I thought he got abducted by aliens or something.

But he just had a talk with mom.

He'd already arrived at the venue to make sure things were set and his men would behave. Gatherings were always difficult to organise when it concerned men who carried weapons and huge egos.

I saw him walk out of the venue. He went to Dahlia and finally freed her from our noisy grandmothers. She still looked terribly flushed and I wondered what they've been talking about. We neared them and I got why she was blushing so much.

"You'll have gorgeous babies! She has good hips as well!" Nonna spoke with a thick Italian accent.

Dahlia looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

"I think you picked well, Hector." Granny winked at him.

My mom's mom was a lot calmer and less pushy about marriage than nonna, but she'd also expressed her wish for her oldest grandchildren to settle down.

"How many babies, nonna?" Hector smirked as he laid his hand on Dahlia's stomach.

He actually smirked. Amelia and I made gagging sounds while our grandmothers gave us stern looks.

"A lot!" Nonna smiled.

"You see, mia cara, we'll have to start soon to satisfy my nonna." He smiled against her ear.

Hector was smiling. I swear this day was just getting weirder and weirder.

He really must've been abducted by aliens.

"Mia cara?" Amelia snorted.

Mom nudged her with a glare but I'd caught it as well. He called Dahlia his love in Italian.

Shit, how serious were they?

"If you want babies, get pregnant yourself." Dahlia snapped at him.

I tried to bite down my laugh but I couldn't. Amelia joined and even mom was trying to push down a smirk.

"You have a masters degree in math and computer science but you have embarrassingly little knowledge about biology." Hector pecked her cheek.

"Don't push it, idiot, you promised me food. You know what happens when I'm hungry." She glared at him.

If Hector would ever marry Dahlia, I really wouldn't mind.

"She gets even worse than when someone steals Elena's cake pops." Hector informed us.

That statement alone told us a lot. I turned into a monster when someone took my cake pops. Like I'd actually kill people if I could.

Don't touch my fucking cake pops.

"Elena gets it." Dahlia nodded and smirked at me.

I was reminded by how she helped me through my attack months ago. Even her advice has helped me. I was grateful for her.

"That's why I like her more than you." She winked at Hector.

Obviously, she liked me more than Hector. He's my brother but really basic. I'm fucking fabulous.

////////////////////

Hector's playful mood immediately disappeared when we entered the venue. His face grew more and more emotionless during dinner which told me that he was contemplating murder.

We were sitting at the head table with our two families combined. Theo sat next to Ariana. They've had some time alone and she looked a lot more relaxed. He was softly encouraging her to eat more and distracting her from her dumb mother.

The bitch originally planned on wearing white to her daughter's wedding.

Once my mom heard, she threatened her so harshly that even dad was appalled.

But who the fucks wears white to a wedding? Especially their daughter's?

What made Hector angry was Diego Ricci, who couldn't keep his eyes off Dahlia. She was gorgeous, I understood why she would capture your attention, but she had a boyfriend.

A boyfriend that would most likely rip you to pieces if you ever thought about taking his girl.

It all got worse when the dancing started. After dancing the first dance with his sister, Diego asked Dahlia for a dance. I was standing next to her as we were watching Ariana dance with Hector. Apparently it was tradition that the Don would be one of the firsts to dance with the bride.

"No." Dahlia told him.

"It's rude to refuse a dance." Diego held on.

It wasn't. If she said no, he had to accept her answer and move on.

"She said no." Silas appeared behind us.

He must've caught Hector glaring daggers at Diego. No one wanted a fight to erupt at a wedding.

"I just-" Silas cut him off.

"Let's dance before your boyfriend loses it and commits murder." Silas pulled her towards the dance floor.

Which left me alone with creepy Diego. He held out his hand for me with a smirk. Sadly, I couldn't refuse. I knew that I'll have to dance with him because our families united today.

He put his hands on my waist but at an appropriate height. My brothers were watching him like a hawk and so was my dad. He couldn't possible take on seven angry men.

But Diego was a creep after all.

"How old are you, Elena?"

I swear that I did not have the strength to deal with an asshole today.

"Sixteen."

That should've been enough to make him back off.

"You're turning into a woman."

Ew.

When was this dumb song going to end?

"I can help you, hm. I can turn you into a woman." He whispered it into my ear.

I froze and tensed up.

What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

"I'm taking over."

Nicolas.

"The song hasn't ended." Diego told him annoyed.

"I wasn't asking." Nicolas pulled me away from Diego.

I fell into his arms and felt safe there. I laid my head against his strong chest and closed my eyes for a while. He softly wrapped his arms around me, careful not to squeeze me too much.

"Thank you." I whispered.

If I'd stayed with Diego a second longer, I would've had an attack. I couldn't have one in front of all these people.

"I'll always protect you, baby." He kissed my forehead.

Nicolas had changed a lot but in his core he was still my loving brother. He was forced to grow up so suddenly because of what happened to him. I kept comparing him to his old self and that was wrong from me.

I couldn't be the me before Ronan too, so I shouldn't expect the same from him.

"I love you, Nico."

"I love you too, Elena."