"You're going to live with us." Jayden said, after some minutes of silence. By this time, Rose had calmed her nerves and let go of my hand.

"No." We said, together. None of us bothered to look at him but my peripheral vision told me that our reaction didn't bother him one bit.

"Yes," he shrugged. He pulled his phone out and began scrolling through it nonchalantly. "You can't protest."

"We're not going anywhere except our house. The house my Dad left for us," I stated, simply.

The audacity they have to enter our lives eleven years after and expect us to comply with everything.

"Say whatever you want, Bunny. Lucian has already decided." He stated, like that was the end of discussion.

It could be, considering Lucian liked to keep himself seated on a throne and bend everything to his will.

"Then tell him to-"

I zipped my mouth shut when the door opened. My eyes darted to the door, my heart picking up pace in anticipation.

A tall man entered the room, closing the door behind him with a soft thud. Jayden looked back once and stood up from his chair. He stepped back, emptying the only chair for his eldest brother, who strode in with such confidence, it honestly scared me more.

Jayden had a confident stride. But this man screamed danger, like he always did. He looked like he could murder someone without even blinking. Which was true, considering what he actually did.

The amount of power, danger and confidence pouring from his walk alone was enough to render me speechless; his presence was enough to zip my mouth shut. I hate this about myself. I shouldn't be so scared of him after eleven years, yet here I am feeling like hid presence in the room has suddenly made me lose my ability to speak.

I gulped down the lump in my throat and my eyes travelled up and down, studying him from head to toe. Just as I reached his eyes, I looked away.

I couldn't. A gap of eleven years should've made me capable enough to look into his eyes for a second. He had surely grown but the aura around him had grown more intense and frightening too.

And the darkness that his eyes always held had turned darker somehow. The same cold silver-gray eyes, very similar to mine, holding something dark behind that shade of the color.

"What were you saying?" Jayden asked. I glanced at him, imagining how it'd look if I were to bash his face into the wall behind him. He hid the smirk that almost spread across his face and continued in a mocking tone. "Tell him to?"

I tried to say something, but nothing came out. That's why, I just swallowed the lump in my throat again and lowered my gaze to look at the table.

"You can leave," Lucian ordered. For a moment, I thought he was talking to me and Rose so I got ready to grab her hand and leave. Run away from here and never look back at these men.

But my hopes were crushed under his expensive shoe when I lifted my gaze and saw the two officers leaving instead. A defeated sigh escaped my mouth.

If Lucian was adamant on doing something, it was bound to be done. We didn't have much chance of escaping now that he was personally involved.

I looked away from the door and towards Lucian, setting my gaze on the collar of his shirt so I could guess his expressions without actually looking into his eyes.

Lucian looked between me and Rose with a stoic expression on his face. There was nothing on his face that I could use to guess his mood or his next move.

After a while of looking between us, he took a step forward and shifted the empty chair, turning it to the side a bit.

He lowered himself into the seat. His elbow that was on the table's side, rested on the table itself while the opposite elbow rested on the arm of the wooden chair, on his opposite side.

His fist rested on the table, with the expensive watch sitting proudly on his wrist. I gulped when I saw the big ring around his ring finger.

Something about him was weird. Everything he did, everything that belonged to him seemed scary. And I found that really weird. How he could induce so much fear by simply existing is beyond me.

I accidentally glanced at his face again and nearly flinched when I saw him looking back at me.

I rubbed my now sweaty palm on my pants and tried not to show the fear and nervousness on my face. I didn't want any attention right now, not from him atleast. I just wanted to be invisible and never be heard of again.

His heavy voice did nothing to help with the inner panic that was choking me ruthlessly.

"Who the fuck do I think I am?" Lucian asked, raising one eyebrow.

That small gesture threw me into a whole pit of panic and anxiety. My fingertips had turned cold by now and I wanted to cry.

Rose grabbed my shaky hand, that was resting in my lap, not visible to the two men. She gave it a small squeeze, putting me to ease a little.

I managed to keep my face emotionless throughout the staring contest. Lucian was staring at me intensely while I was squeezing Rose's hand tight in mine and trying not to look away.

"Yes," I said, putting my head up slightly to look more confident. "Are you going to answer that yourself or do I need to show you your place in our lives myself?"

My heart was about ready to burst out of my chest, with how hard it was hammering against my ribs.

"Cute how you try to be intimidating but can't maintain eye contact," he said, in the same emotionless and straight tone.

Damn it.

I squeezed Rose's hand tighter. He can see my nervousness clearly and the inner turmoil that was going on inside.

"To answer your question," he continued, "I'm your eldest brother and about to be your guardian."

I clenched my jaw and stared at the wall behind him. I could sense the panic Rose was feeling at that statement.

"We won't agree to go with you."

"You will," he stated simply, before turning his head ever so slightly and addressing Jayden. "Take them home, Jayden."

He turned back to face me.

"Change that attitude on the way there," he said. I simply stared at the wall, acting unbothered, while everything was on high alert inside me.

Among all the intruding thoughts, one stood out the most and it terrified me to the core. He still scared me enough to have me shaking.

He rose from his seat slowly, adjusting his coat and smoothing the fabric down for any creases. He looked at Rose for a second too long before turning on his heel and walking out; taking the scary atmosphere with him.

I scowled when Jayden moved forward and put both his palms on the table. Leaning forward a little, he let a smirk show on his face.

"Let's go." He said, with a light jerk of his head towards the door. Rose looked at me questioningly. A nod was all she got as an indication to just go with what he says for now and accept our fate.

She stood up and slid her hand in mine when I followed suit. Every step I took towards the door with Rose walking a step behind me, made it seem like my heart was thundering louder.

Jayden smiled a little as we crossed the table. That little smile looked more genuine than his entire existence. He chose to walk ahead of us, his walk pouring that same confidence again.

I hope someone slams the door in his smug face.

Exiting the building, he opened the car door for us and stood there until we were seated comfortably. Rose sat close to me as she watched him cautiously. No words were exchanged as him and the driver settled into their respective seats and the vehicle started moving.

I don't want to live with them.

"I don't want to," Rose mumbled, looking at me pleadingly. The look on her face was asking me to do something, but there was nothing I could do at the moment.

"I'll handle everything, Rose. Don't worry." I muttered, wrapping my arm around her shoulder for comfort. She leaned into the touch and let out a breath. "We're together."

"We're together." She reassured herself. Her soft voice sounding as comforting as it had always been.

Her eyes fluttered close slowly. I looked out the window, paying close attention to the way.

"It's a long drive home," Jayden said, turning slightly to look at me then at Rose. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

How could it be long? It shouldn't be much far away unless they moved or something.

I still don't know why Lucian is our guardian. It should be our father unless...

I blinked when that point actually got highlighted in my mind.

"You should sleep, bunny," he said, seeing that I wasn't even trying to get some sleep. A frown covered my face and before I could try to keep the leash in my hand, it slipped.

"You should mind your own business, Jayden," I snapped. That earned me that pointed look, with a raised eyebrow where I knew I was about to get 'told off'.

"Lucian wants everything reported to him and he will not be happy with the way you're talking right now," Jayden said. That only annoyed me further.

"Then you should not tell her what to do. She will sleep if she feels sleepy," Rose defended me, her voice sweet and calm like always, unlike my rude one.

Jayden just shook his head and turned to stare ahead. My eyes rolled heavenwards. For the rest of the way he talked to the driver quietly. It took about one and a half hour for us to reach their home.

The sun was beginning to rise now. The rays peeking from the horizon and falling like a soft over the greenery around the house. As the soft light fell onto me through the car window, my mind lingered onto the warmth I was greeted with. But the cold reality that was piercing through my heart made me remember all the events that constituted the past hours. I wonder why destiny had to play such a dirty game.

Two of my brothers were in the city we live in, last night and one of them coincidentally found us. What are the chances that you break into a house in a big city and meet your sisters, who you haven't seen in about eleven years.

As the car pulled up into the driveway of the mansion, I tried gathering courage to wake Rose up. I didn't sleep through the ride, but she did. Her head rested in my lap while she held my hand tightly to her chest. I stroked her hair with my other hand.

No matter how much I tried, I couldn't get myself to wake her up when she was sleeping so peacefully.

Jayden had dark circles under his eyes now that I noticed it in more light, through the rearview. Oh well. Should've listened to his own advice.

"Rose," I called out. I shook her slightly, hesitantly.

"I can carry her inside. Don't wake her up." Jayden opened the car door and proceeded to climb out of the vehicle.

"No. She'll not like it," I said, quickly. "I'll carry her."

He stopped where he was, about to open the door at her side. The hurt on his face did not go unnoticed but he masked it quickly and replaced it with the same annoying expressions, he held all the time.

"Are you sure?" He asked again, questioningly. I didn't bother to answer him. His hand lowered slowly and hung back by his side.

A soft sigh left his mouth and he started walking towards my side of the car, probably to open the door.

Rose woke up with a jerk when I pulled my hand out of hers, so I could pick her up.

"Shh. It's just me." I ran my hand over her head, in order to comfort her and get her out of that panicked state.

She closed her mouth and nodded, sitting up simultaneously.

"We're here. Will you be able to walk? It's okay if you're tired," I offered. She shook her head.

"It's okay. I'm not tired," she said, just as Jayden opened the door to my side.

We turned to look at him together. He let out a small 'oh' when he found Rose awake and stepped back.

I got out first and held the door for Rose, standing between her and Jayden. Jayden closed the car door behind us as we stepped away from the car, to stand facing the huge mansion they called home.

Jayden came to walk ahead of us towards the wide stairs, that lead to the big front doors of the mansion. We followed a few steps behind.

"I'm scared," Rose mumbled. She had to tilt her head a little to look into my eyes. I was a bit taller, compared to her.

But my height didn't matter, as the giant walking ahead of us stood more than six feet tall at age eighteen.

"Don't worry. It'll be okay." I smiled a bit, trying to calm her down.

Jayden was just two years older than us. He has a twin, Josiah, who is two minutes younger than Jayden and our fifth eldest brother.

Jayden opened the door and held it open for us, greeting us with one of his genuine smiles as we let ourselves in. He closed the door softly and smiled a little wider.

"Do you want to eat something?" He asked. I looked at Rose for an answer, which caused Jayden to look towards her too.

"I don't want to. Do you?" She asked, quietly. She was trying to hug my arm and hide behind him from the extra attention she was getting.

"No. We're not hungry," I answered. I turned my head to face Jayden. He nodded and was about to say something when he was cut off.

Rose stepped behind me instinctively when a new voice entered the conversation. I stood a little straighter to hide her completely as well as to try and look over Jayden's shoulder to see who exactly this third person was.

"Why are you back early?"

"Something happened," Jayden answered, stepping to his side to make the owner of the new voice come face to face with me.

There stood Damien, also known as Dex. The third eldest brother and the owner of a lifetime of scowls. He was wearing a loose sleeveless with shorts, showing off the tattoos he had all over his body.

A big contrast to the ten year old I remembered.

His eyes widened a fraction. The way his head moved, as he looked wide-eyed between me and Jayden, was comical.

"Bunny?" He finally found his voice. He looked at me for a long moment, like he was wondering if I was real or not.

"Amira Levi Verlice," I corrected through gritted teeth. I don't know what it'll take for them to know that I don't like that nickname.

"Mazzanti," he corrected me, with a scowl on his face.

"I'd like to keep my father's name. Thank you," I said, pushing my head up more and staring at him emotionlessly.

"Your step-father," He corrected me again, clenching his jaw making me clench my fists in anger.

"My Dad," I stated, feeling hands clench my shirt in fists from the sides of my stomach.

His gaze lowered to the sides of my stomach and he frowned.

"Don't hide behind her, Rose," he said. His tone was demanding, which didn't sit well with me.

"Do not talk to her like that," I gritted, putting my right hand on my side, on top of her fist.

"I'm not talking to you, so shut up," he snapped at me. His eyes bore into mine, as he stood to his tall height, a few feet away. His gaze was challenging; challenging me to push it further and treat him like I was doing.

"Why don't we just calm down and continue the meet and greet later?" Jayden stepped in, before it escalated further. "They're tired."

Damien just clenched his jaw and slowly, reluctantly, moved his gaze from me. He turned around without waiting for a second and left.

"Go a little easy on us. We're your brothers," Jayden muttered as he started walking. With a little twitch of his hand, he indicated the little instruction, asking us to follow him.

"Oh?" I feigned confusion. That made him turn his head to frown at me, getting exactly what I was mocking in what he said.

They suddenly remember that they're our brothers now. How very fantastic. They suddenly want their sisters back after ignoring them for eleven years and never checking to see if life was going okay for them.

When he was met with a mock confused tilt of my head, he let out a defeated sigh.

"Let me just show you your rooms," he said. He had this weird expression on, which I couldn't put a finger on. That was surprising, considering I could read him easily since we met.

"Our room, you mean. We'd like to share a room," I said. It didn't exactly come out as a request. It came out as an order. They had no right to distance me from my twin.

"Okay. As you wish," he complied. We reached a hallway, with doors lining the walls on both sides. Jayden stopped before a door at the far end of the hallway and turned the knob.

"It's been cleaned last night." He told us, stepping aside to let us have a look and explore our new room. This was a kid themed room, with bright colours and little doodle painted gracefully.

It was too bright for my liking; both in lighting as well as the colors.

Jayden looked at me for a response or a simple reaction.

"Okay," was all he got.

Rose looked around silently, liking the room far more than I did. I was close to hating it right now but Rose looked to be in awe as she looked around at every component of the room.

"You can customize it later." Jayden said, looking at Rose with a smile. Rose was still oblivious to the attention she had as twirled around, taking in the cheerful vibe the room gave.

"Okay. We have to rest now," I said, dismissively. Jayden took the hint thankfully and nodded.

"Sweet dreams," he said, waiting for some time. When he didn't get a response, verbal or non-verbal, he simply shook his head and left.

-