Hey. Not exactly in the mood to write recently.

The song is Lost & Found - Jorja Smith [it kinda fits with the whole concept of the story]

Not a notice today.

On with the chapter 🐝

(Can we talk about how fat the bee emoji is XD)

*****

Emilia POV

Cold and lonely, I stand in the centre of the kitchen with an entire pack of birthday cake Oreos in my hands just looking out of the window.

Something I noticed about England, it was always dark, even throughout the day, it held a mysterious and dark tone to it. It really did set the scene for a murder mystery, sure it was light, but it always held a gloomy grey tone underneath it.

Gert and Tiana hadn't come home yet, I presumed they were staying somewhere else. Mia and Luci said they would visit often to check up. They said they would every two days, Cassidy and his friends went home. And the only people that stayed were Alvaro and Piero. Nonna and Tracey went back to Italy where most of their family is.

It was two days after Christmas, I couldn't expect everyone to stay.

"Did you get taller or something? The last I saw of you, you were really short," Alvaro measures my height against his shoulders. Come to think of it, the rat was actually right for once, my trousers were getting quite short now, I'd have to ask my brothers to buy me some new ones.

In the past few months, I must've grown a few inches, and I'm proud actually.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should, anything I say should be taken as a compliment," he gives me an approving look.

"So when you and the other rat were pushing women down, I should take that as a compliment? Nice to know where I stand," I play it off like I wasn't bothered when I actually was feeling agitated. I sounded unfazed and didn't show any reaction.

"About that. No regrets. But I do however, owe you an apology, I know it's been a while since I've seen you, but I think we shouldn't live in the past," his voice lowers and softens.

"So is that an apology? Because it wasn't a good one. Don't say no regrets yet apologise for what you did."

"Yes. It was an apology."

"So where are the words 'sorry?' That's usually a key word when you're apologising to someone you've wronged," I give a pointed look.

"I'm sorry."

"Okay, I'm cold now, your presence gives me the chills," I say completely avoiding his apology, it really means nothing to me.

Walking out of the room, I go on the hunt for a blanket to wrap myself in, there was the internal heating - which was always on - but even then it was still frosty to the touch. I think the house was so big that none of the heat really stayed in.

I find a light blanket which I tie around my shoulders with a hair tie, securing it in place.

"Can I use your phone?" I mention just as I was about to bump into Elijah, he was sceptical for a moment before he squints and slides his mobile into my palm.

I thought I should finish off my 'tasks' or 'mission' off from the other night. Maybe call the last few numbers in search of the mystery person. So I'm looking for a person that knows something about a package and money. How hard can that be to find? Surely not too difficult.

I have a rough idea on who I am looking for, maybe they'll say some key words that link to this package or money. Perhaps they may even say something about Alessandro.

"Sure, but I'll need it back in a few minutes," he left me with his phone unlocked and walked into the kitchen where Alvaro was stood drinking coffee.

"Okay, I will," I sit my bottom on the steps and pull the number out of my pocket. The last that I remember, we got up to the number six since the last number scratched off.

The number rings a few times before someone picks up, that's when my stomach dropped and I felt incredibly nervous.

"Hello?" I ask in a more mature voice.

"Yello?" A gruffly voice asks me, this might be the person I'm looking for. "Can I help you," he says shorty after.

"Oh, yes. Um I'm Alessandro Russo's assistant, I was asked to call you about the package you sent him? You know anything about that?"

"Alessandro Russo? Isn't he that guy who owns the biggest business in London?" He questions me.

"Uhh yes, that's him. You know anything about this package?" I say with uncertainty.

"No. But I do know that he's a cruel dîck," he huffs sounding stressed. Bless him, he's probably working or something and I just interrupted him.

"How so? I'm here strictly on business."

"Ask that to the people who he made redundant by buying all of the other businesses. You know, I hate that guy solely for his business actions. Ask them about why you're here in business," his voice spits with bitterness.

"Elaborate please," also I didn't know what the word redundant meant so I'll have to search that up.

"He bought almost every high end business and low end business going, he left thousands of families redundant. Luckily that hasn't happened to my family...yet. But tell him this, he's a horrible dîck and so is his worthless father."

He cuts the line leaving me stunned and shocked, so he was familiar with Alessandro but not in the way I thought. I really don't think that he was the person who was involved with the package or whatever. I just think he hates Alessandro just as much as everyone else does. Except from his work relatives.

Going onto Google, I search the meaning of 'redundant' and figure out what the guy was saying.

• BRITISH

(of a person) no longer employed because there is no more work available.

"eight permanent staff were made redundant"

So Alessandro made families jobless? That's horrible!! He bought businesses for his own profit making families suffer. I was still so confused, I knew Alessandro was selfish bu it I had no idea he was this selfish.

Feeling a surge of confidence cursing through my body, I decide to confront him on this matter and ask him if he's just lonely or if he's just a dumb cracker.

"Al?"

He was propped up against the island with a travel mug in his hand. He looked at me with a smile but I wasn't having it.

"Yeah, bambina?"

I stop what I was saying, I shouldn't be doing this. If there is a chance of me finding everything out, I need to build a case first, and questioning him about one phone call would just ruin everything.

No doubt he would ask how I got the number, who I spoke to, and why I was asking him and why I was even asking people about himself. That would blow everything up. It would ruin everything.

I stutter at first before I recover myself, I can't be so stupid to let them know I'm onto them. "Did you- uh. Sorry. Never mind."

"Tell me," he says jokingly with a smile lighting up his face.

"I was going to say, I like your tie," the thing is, he wasn't even wearing a tie for me to compliment. "I mean your watch, it looks... subtle," yeah I was lying to myself.

Nothing about these men were subtle, especially when you can smell the money on them from a mile away. Rocking up in suits that cost more than someone's monthly wage doesn't exactly scream 'I'm subtle' does it? Sometimes I just wish they could use their money for good and donate some money to charity.

Maybe they've donated something before, I'm no too sure if I'm honest. But they really don't seem like the type that would willingly give up money (unless it was for a family member) that could help other people.

"Thanks?" With that I left the kitchen feeling relieved I didn't say anything, though it did hurt me to even give him the slightest compliment after what he's done.

"Ahem," someone coughs stopping me in a fast tracks.

"What?" I tell them impatiently.

"That will be 'yes, Elijah' next time okay? And you have my phone, gimme," he gestures with his hand for me to come closer. That's a shame, I didn't even get to finish my calls.

At this rate, I feel like the number was just a one time thing and that the person who's used to own this number, now doesn't own it.

"Yes, omnipotent and benevolent Elijah," I mock with a passionate tone.

"Glad to know you think of me so highly," he gloats smirking with his brows raised.

"Trust me, the bar is very low," I say bitterly and glaring at him. Slapping the mobile back into his hand, I keep my eye contact with him for a short moment before exiting.

"I find it hard to know when she's insulting me," I hear him say to Alvaro and Alessandro. There was one person missing however, that was Tweedle-dee.

"She's always insulting you, get used to it," Alessandro laughs at him and with a hand on his shoulder.

That's the last I heard of them before walked upstairs where it felt more homely and humble without the walking bulldozers around.

In my entire time at this house, I've only been up to the balcony above the front door once, twice if we're counting this time too. It was a beautiful sight and a beautiful evening to match.

My elbows pressed against the rough stone that was dotted with specks of black and grey. I leaned my body over the edge to look at the marbled pillars that was holding this balcony up, I didn't feel very safe up here.

It was a gorgeous evening; blue and navy bloomed the sky with their luminous specks of heavenly bodies scattering the field of unknown.

Taking a shape breath, I hold it for a moment before releasing the foggy and smoke like breath that turned into rings.

"Hello," I turn around sharply to be met with an unwanted face in my vision.

"What do you want?" I spit with so much force he staggers back putting a hand to his heart. Clearly he was being sarcastic.

"You wound me," he pities himself with a fake sob.

"Good, I hope it hurts."

He stands next to me and leans on the same ledge that I am, feeling repulsed, I move away to the left a few inches since he was on my right.

He doesn't make a sound for a few minutes, and I was glad too. It gave me a chance to admire nature for its true beauty. When living in a metropolitan city, it's hard to find the last traces of nature.

"You hate me don't you?"

"It's no secret that I loath and bane your existence. It's also no secret that I want to push you over this balcony right now but the police sirens in the distance advise me not to," I smile wickedly at the scenery.

"You scare me. A lot," he gives me a nervous chuckle.

"And you scare me. In fact your entire presence makes me feel contaminated and endangered."

"How so?" He straightens his posture, squaring up in front of me.

"Let's take a replay what happened a few months ago. You're superior right? That's funny," I scoff at him.

"Oh right. It's not exactly a reason to be scared of me though is it? I admit I was wrong, so were your brothers but I'm admitting it now."

"You want a medal? And yes, I have every right to be frightened of a man who doesn't believe in equality. Who knows what you'd do to me," I look him up and down with a sour face.

"I deserved that-

"And you deserve a lot more."

"Yes. You're right. I deserve a lot of things and I know I do. But I came to ask for your forgiveness," he holds his hand out for me. I not so politely decline.

"I'll accept your apology when I being buried six feet under. Remind me when you come to my funeral. Resurrect me from the grave and beg me then. Okay?" I blow him a kiss then walk away from the beautiful and stunning scenery.

"Umm sure... stop saying stuff like that. You confuse me. I just wanted to ask if you're okay? I know a few things might be confusing to you."

"If okay means losing my mind every time one of you lies to me then I'm okay. Let's not forget about the fact that I'm still unsure about what happened around a month ago where I remember nothing then yeah, I'm feeling fûcking great!" I continue walking out of the balcony where I'm met with a curious Blade who was clearly listening in.

"What?"

"Who put your panties in a twist?" He stands guard not allowing me to pass.

"Me this morning when I put them on."

I was feeling moody and maybe I did want to shove someone's head in the pool, but it was manageable. It's just so frustrating to me how they continue to lie and cover it up, but it's also hard trying to identify what's a lie and what's the truth. I feel like I need just a little of something else to get me to the answer.

Let's recap: the phone calls, the coded message (which I deciphered), the day that I cannot fully remember, Felix's unknown reason as to why they hate my family so much, the kidnapping which I almost forgot entirely about, the smelling of pork which I now discovered was a corpse but let's not jump to conclusions. Yes, I'm doing fan-FÛCKING-tastic. Thanks for asking.

"Where are you going? Why don't you ever forgive anyone. I've noticed that about you, you never forgive anybody - you still haven't even forgiven me when I apologised a week ago." He follows me after I elbowed him in the upper arm.

"No where," I take and few sharp turns trying to lose him from my trail," and nobody deserves my forgiveness unless you truly regret what you did. You in the other hand, think you can apologise and then everything will be butterflies and kittens. I hate to break it to you, brother, that's not how forgiveness works."

"Well Alessandro wants to speak to us all. Downstairs, right now so you're coming with me," he pulls me back by my waist and pushes me in the correct direction. I try to bite him but he wrestles me to the floor.

He pressed two firm, sharp elbows in the centre of my spine making me cringe and howl in pain.

"Get... off... of... me... you... dollop... of... poop!" I pant trying to crawl out from underneath him.

"Stop biting. You're not two."

He places two hands on my shoulder blades keeping me close to the ground. Slowly, he releases me and helps me up swiftly.

"Al needs to talk to us. Now come with me," he holds my hand the entire time it takes for us to walk down and into the living room where Alessandro stands with his hands behind him back.

"Stand next each other, and look at me," he commands us all, so we all stand in a straight like like soldiers. Blade kept in glancing down at me with a sinister smile playing on his expression, quite often he would pinch me and press his heel into my toes.

"Stop," I growl.

"Tomorrow, we will be going on a trip, correction - you, the twins and Blade will be going on a trip - so tonight you'll need to get packed, okay?" He says to me, the twins and Blade who were given no context and where we were going.

"Why?" I say sharply.

"Because we have some... repairs being done for the next few days and there will be high fumes. I don't want you to sleep through that, it can make you very ill," he tells me graciously hoping I'd understand.

"Where're we going?" I was beyond frustrated, I didn't want go anywhere whilst it was this cold. I'd rather stay toasted in my blanket which was slowly falling from my shoulders.

"Camping," he throws me a cheesy smile, smirking at my dropped face.

"You can't be serious?" We all moan ms stomp our feet.

"Very much so, invite who you like, but Blade you're eighteen and I expect you to be responsible for your siblings," Blade soon switches up from frowning to grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

"Invite who we like? This is going to be fun," he snickers nudging Diego in the arm, who didn't look too pleased.

Alessandro dismisses us with a pleased simper wrenching on his face. He knew I didn't want to do this so that's probably why he was so pleased with himself.

"Excuse me!" I wave my hands in front of his face.

"Yeah, bambina?"

"Don't you 'bambina!' It's like two degrees Celsius outside and you expect me to go camping?!" I pull my fists to my hair.

"Exactly. Maybe it'll sort your attitude out. Actually come with me," he swiftly clutches into my wrist pulling me along despite my protests.

I groan as he pulls me in his direction. I'd stopped walking a while ago, I was just sliding on my socks.

He quickly takes me into the kitchen slamming the door shut. Maybe we can leave the door open for my safety?

"Can I help you?" I fold my arms and lean on my hip.

"You can actually, that is if you're willing to help me. You don't seem to be in the right mood for me to ask you something," he takes a tea bag out of the pot and places it into a cup. He pours the pre-boiled water and pours it into the cup.

"Tell me then. I don't have all day."

"I have a late shift tonight, I'll be home at eleven-ish so I need you to run upstairs and grab my brief case and blazer if you would?" He nods cordially to the door and sips on his tea. At least he gave me permission to enter his cave.

"Fine," I pull the door open and make my journey up to his bedroom, I couldn't spend too long in there, but I was planning on searching through his bag and maybe I'll find something else.

Clasping onto the cold handle, I give it a slight push and it reveals his magnificent bedroom which is a chamber of secrets. So many lies and mysteries are held captive in this room, and tonight I plan on giving it a deep look.

If I'm lucky enough and have as much courage and confidence, I'll try have a brief look at the sacred third floor.

Checking behind me once more, I carefully shut the door, cringing when it made a creaking sound.

"Where do I start?" I murmur to myself taking in the vast room. I only had like a minute, but I'm going to make the most of it.

Scanning the room, I search rapidly for the leather case. And when I find it, I was extremely disappointed.

"Damn it," I curl my lips inwards and clench my fists.

It was just a laptop and many receipts from Starbucks. There was also a file that really meant nothing to me, it was just about wages and other complex shît I'll never understand.

Next I go by where all of his coats and blazers are search the deep pockets but yet again, I'm disappointed and find empty gum wrappers. Lastly, I go back to to the draws I once checked and I want to scream.

They were all padlocked this time with a chain looped through numerous times through the handle. I couldn't even take a peek inside it was locked so tight. He must've known I was searching for something else other than paper the last time I was in here.

If this room holds no value for me, I'll just invite myself to the third floor and see how he likes that. This desk was his personal desk and not his office. I'm pretty sure she mentioned something about his office being upstairs. I'll just wait until he leaves for work and sneak up here.

Taking one last look, I drape a random blazer over my arm and secure my fingers around the brief case then make my way back down stairs where Alessandro and Blade stand.

"I'm putting you in charge. Axel and Elijah won't be in. I'm counting on you," Al points at him and Blade nods showing his understanding.

His face lights up when he sees me; he grins and caresses my cheek just before kissing my head.

"Thanks, bambina. Behave please. I'll be back in a few hours," I follow him to the door and don't waste time shutting it behind him.