Chapter 3 3.

The perfect end to an overall bad night was just what I needed to momentarily forget about Emiliano's existence.

When Andrei, Milan and Maxim found Levi and I cuddled in bed with our face masks on, we eventually convinced them to watch a movie with us, resulting in all 5 of us crammed in my bed. I was lying between Levi and Maxim, Maxim lying beside Andrei and Levi beside Milan.

There was still a slightly tense atmosphere leftover from what happened a few hours earlier, though I knew better than to ask about it right then and ruin the moment. I would have to ask tomorrow morning what happened with Emiliano...

I eventually fell asleep like that, cuddled between my big brothers and falling into a dream of nothingness. I don't usually dream, I often find my sleep to be empty and void of memories or aspirations. I don't mind it, it just feels like when you go to bed in minecraft, it's dark for a minute and then you're up again.

It's come to the point where I'm comparing my own life to a block game.

Opening my eyes as the light streamed through the curtains we forgot to close last night, I notice all my brothers still draped across my bed, completely knocked out.

I smile to myself at the sight, Levi somehow having turned himself completely over, so now his head is resting at the foot of the bed and his feet dangerously close to Milan's face.

Andrei has his back turned from everyone else, obviously wanting his own space even in his sleep yet Maxim has managed to drape a leg over his body.

I carefully hop out of my bed, careful to not disturb my sleeping beauties, and grab my phone from its charger to take a few pictures.

Now that my daily dose of blackmail has been acquired, I headed over to my closet to pick out an outfit for the day and brought it into my bathroom. I took a quick shower, only washing my body as I washed my hair the previous night, and got dressed for the day.

Picking out some pieces of jewelry, I slipped those on as well and grabbed my shoes.

After 30 minutes of getting ready, my brothers were still passed out on my bed. I smile appreciatively at them, remembering how they all took the time to cheer me up last night as they always have done.

*5 years ago*

Arriving home from school, I tried my best to put on a blank face as I entered the house.

During lunch break today, a few girls from my class decided to make their opinions about me known to the entire grade.

Apparently I'm an ungrateful bitch who doesn't appreciate the brothers she has and is the hideous adoptive sibling who doesn't fit in anywhere.

I know they're only jealous of my situation, but sometimes I can't help but believe their words considering the awful start to life I've had in my 12 years.

"Carlotta?! Is that you, are you home?" 20 year old Andrei calls from somewhere in the house.

"Yeah it's me." I call back, trying to hide the hurt in my voice, just wanting to go to my room and sob in my bed.

I didn't hear any response, so decided to quickly make a pit stop at the kitchen for some comfort food, ice cream being the obvious choice.

Before I can make it to the fridge, heavy footsteps sound from down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"What's wrong baby? Who do I need to kill?" Andrei's deep voice sounds from behind me, sounding stoic and deathly calm as usual.

I turn to face my oldest brother, tears threatening to fall and lips wobbling with the force of holding in my sobs.

As soon as Andrei sees my state, his face immediately softens and he comes rushing over and pulling me into his chest, my legs dangling above the floor from our height difference.

"Oh, sweetheart. Shh it's okay." He mumbles into my hair as I finally let my sobs escape my throat.

Andrei picks me up properly before taking me into the lounge and sitting me on his lap on the sofa. He drapes a blanket around the both of us and whispers comforting words in my ear as I attempt to calm down and let the worst of my sobs out.

Eventually I calm down enough to be able to speak, "I'm sorry." I whisper slightly hoarsely.

"Never apologise for crying, Car. Sometimes it helps to scream and cry and break things before thinking rationally, never apologise to me." He replies, tightening his hold on my shaking form. "Now do you want to tell me what happened today?" He asks, slightly more sternly but still softly.

"Some girls at school said I didn't fit into our family," I began, "that I was the hideous adoptive sibling and I'll never have a place anywhere."

Andrei's arms stiffened slightly around me and I could feel his breathing becoming slightly heavier under my head where it rested on his chest.

"Listen to me, Car. You are none of those things, you've always been a part of our family, even before we found you. Before you came into our lives there was something missing from our family. After our mother died, that hole in our family gaped even wider. It was always her wish to have a baby girl, and here you are Carlotta. Family isn't always blood, sweetheart, and you sure as hell are our sister so don't let any jealous bitch tell you otherwise." He says fiercely, kissing me on the top of my head.

I smile into his chest, nodding my head at his words and chuckling a little at his finishing statement.

"Now, let's get your brothers and have a movie night, hm?" He asks, as I lean from from his hold to look up at him.

I smile whilst softly nodding my head, my tears glistening with shed tears. Andrei chuckles and wipes my cheeks dry, "so fucking adorable" He mumbles quietly, offering me a rare smile.

Snapping myself out of one of my most prized memories, I continue downstairs, painfully aware that my father is home after a long day and nights work at one of our warehouses.

Gods, I've already dealt with 4 older brothers, now I need to deal with my mob boss father. Great.

My father, Luka Vasiliev, is a terrifying man. Being the mob boss of the Russian mafia, he has no mercy for anyone who crosses him. That and his 6 foot 6 ginormous frame and dark intimidating features.

With me however, he's probably the biggest softie I've ever met.

"Dad?" I ask hesitantly, as I spot him working on his laptop on the kitchen island.

As soon as he hears my voice, his head whips in my direction and a look of relief washes over his features.

"my baby, are you alright?" He asks as he gets up from where he's sat and wraps me in a big hug, his frame practically swallowing mine.

I nod into his check and hear him sigh out a breath of relief. "Your brothers told me what happened, I promise you I will find him Car and I'll rip his balls from his-"

"Dad, wait, what?" I cut him off, before he got too graphic in his description, "What do you mean when you find him? I thought Lani, Lev, Maxi and Andi found him yesterday. Is he not detained at one of our warehouses?"

"We couldn't find him." A deep raspy voice says from behind us.

I turn around to see all 4 of my brothers looking at us tiredly, obviously just having woken up from bed and come down to hear the last part of our conversation.

"We went over to his apartment and the fucker was gone. So was most of his shit. It was like he was expecting us." Milan continued.

"Why the fuck would he flee, he's never been afraid of you guys before." I exclaimed, pissed at his cowardice.

"Language." Andrei scolds me sternly, "The fuckers always been a coward, he's just had you to hide behind before."

I mentally roll my eyes at his hypocritical ways, and try to process what I've just been told. It doesn't make sense. Why would he flee after I ended things with him? Not to have a god-complex or anything, but also yes to have a god-complex, I would've expected him to grovel at my feet the next day, apologising and asking for me to take him back.

"We'll keep searching for him дорогой, we won't let him get away with this shit." My dad reassures me whilst kissing my forehead gently, right above where my eye has begun to bruise.

"Now, I'm fucking starving, what do you want for breakfast Car?" Levi asks, breaking the silence.

I smile at him, "I can make everyone pancakes, if that's good with everyone?"

A chorus of yes's (and a "fuck yes baby" from Levi) told me all I needed to know. I got out the ingredients I needed to make pancakes and got to work, Maxim helping me as the primary chef of the household.

As I'm measuring out the flour, I peek a glance over to what Maxim is doing. He's currently on his phone, smirking at whatever or whoever he's texting.

Hmm. Does little Maxim have a secret lover?

As his little sister, I need to bully him.

I grab a handful of flour and hold it behind my back, slowly walking up to him. "Hey Maxim...?" I ask slowly, a shit-eating grin starting to cover my face.

He 'hmms' and looks up from his phone to acknowledge me, but his face drops when he sees the evil smirk I have plastered on my face.

"Oh shit Car. No. No don't you dare. Whatever you're planning, stop." He starts, backing up from me.

I grin wider and launch my fistful of flour at him, running away before I can assess the damage.

"CARLOTTA!" I hear Maxim roar lividly, as heavy footfalls sound from close behind me.

"I'M GONNA GET YOU YOU LITTLE SHIT! I DON'T CARE THAT YOUR HURT, I'LL DO WORSE THAN EMILIANO!" He shouts, obviously knowing it's soon enough to start making jokes about the dickhead.

I laugh at his threats and continue running through the house, jumping over furniture, and avoiding guards stationed around the house. They send me smirks and winks as I go by, hinting to me where Maxim is and how to get away.

Stan them for clear skin.

"You're getting old Maxim! You used to be good at catching me!" I yell behind me, only enraging him more.

"I'M 20 FUCKING YEARS OLD!" He retorts.

I run and stand on the back of the sofa in the lounge, gaining the high ground. I see him follow after me, skidding into the lounge and glaring at me. He had a large flour stain at the front of his black vest, some of it having drifted down onto his grey sweatpants. His fists were clenched, straining the cords in his neck and forearms. I'm kinda shitting myself.

"Maxim!" I exclaim tauntingly, "Oh my god, is that a grey hair?"

"CAR!" He yells, lunging for me, but I thankfully dodge his attack and continue my escape into the foyer, breathing slightly heavier now.

As soon as I enter I skid to a halt, not having noticed the people present in the foyer. My father and other 3 brothers were standing there, looking at me wide-eyed in some kind of warning. I looked to the front door, where there stood a man and woman, dressed rather formally, badges pinned to their uniforms.

I squint slightly to try to read them, making out the letters 'C', 'P', and before I could see the last one, a loud voice sounded from behind me.

"Carlotta you little shit, I'll kill you!" Maxim raged, lunging at me once again and this time knocking me down, flipping us over at the last second so I don't actually get hurt knowing we're just play fighting.

Laughing slightly, which sounded more like a groan of pain, I look up to my brothers and father, who look between Maxim and I and the two people at the door slightly angrily and worriedly.

Confused as to who the fuck these people are, I look back at their horrified faces and then down to read the rest of their badge.

'S'

My eyes widen dramatically.

Fuck. My big brother just tackled me to the floor infront of the CP fucking S.