Charlotte POV
I'm not gonna lie I am kind of intimidated by all of them. I look to my left to see Bruno no longer standing there. Great I walk to the only spot which is between Bruno and a guy I haven't met yet. At least it's by someone I know.
"Hi Charlotte, I'm Giovanni I'm 27 and the oldest. I'm also your legal guardian," Giovanni says. So he's the one who Nicholas was talking to on the phone. Now that phone call makes sense.
"Hi," I say with no emotion in my voice. After that, the food is brought out. It is a classic Italian dish by the look, but I'm not sure which one. It better be good though. My standards for food are very high after living in Europe.
"Charlotte," I look around the table looking for who said my name. "We've been trying to get your attention," Giovanni says.
"Sorry," I say.
"Anyway, you want some parmesan cheese?" He asks.
"Yes, please," I say. I may not want to be here, but that doesn't mean I can't use manners my mom was very strict about manners. After I put my cheese on the spaghetti Giovanni clears his throat.
"Boys introduce yourselves," Giovanni says.
"Hi, I'm Vincenzo. I'm 25 and I'm so so happy to have you back home." The one on Giovanni's left says. This isn't home I thought to myself.
"Hi," I reply.
"I'm Nicholas as you already know and I'm 23," Nicholas says who was sitting on Giovanni's right.
"I'm Matteo I'm 21." The person who sits to my right at the head of the table says.
"Hi," I say. Everyone looks towards a guy who sits next to Vincenzo. He says nothing and everyone keeps staring. This is getting a bit awkward.
"You can say that again," Bruno says quietly next to me.
"Did I say that out loud?" I ask him.
"Yeah, but it was quiet," Bruno says back.
"Alessandro," Giovanni says in a warning tone. I kind of forgot about the stare-off happening.
"She knows my name now," the guy who I guess is Alessandro says in an annoyed tone. What's up his ass? I guess there's always that one person. It's okay if he wants to be like this then two can play at this game. My thoughts are then interrupted.
"Hi, I'm Luca this idiot's twin. I'm sorry for him by the way and we're 18." Luca says he sits next to his twin and they look like exact copies. I'm not sure how to tell them apart. They also have brown hair and blue eyes. Actually, the only people who don't are Vincenzo, Nicholas, and Matteo. They all have hazel-green eyes just like my mom, but all have brown hair which isn't too light or dark.
"I'm 17," Bruno says beside me. I think I zoned out on most of what he said. I think it's my turn.
"Hi, I'm Charlotte and I'm 16," I say in a very confident way. I finally have a chance to take a bit of my food and it is mouth-watering.
"Holy shit," I say.
"Language," almost everyone at the table says.
"I'm glad you like Sorellina," Nicholas says.
"Did you cook it?" I ask and he replies with a yes and a smile. Dinner continues with conversations. They try to get me to talk but give up when they realize I'm not in the mood. I'm far from shy or quiet, but I just want for dinner to end.
"When you're done I need to have a word with you," Giovanni says.
"Okay," I reply nonchalantly. This is gonna go either really good or really bad. Dinner ends and after we all bring our dishes to the kitchen everyone leaves. I turn to walk towards my room till I see Giovanni. I let out a sigh and walk towards him.
We walk up two flights of stairs and after a few turns, we arrive at an office. Giovanni sits down at the desk and begins looking through a folder. I on the other stand looking around the office. It has a huge desk and chair which Giovanni sits in. The walls are full of built-in shelves that are lit up by LED lights. In front of the desk are two chairs.
"Take a seat Charlotte," Giovanni says. I for once listen and do so.
"I'm sure you've heard this enough, but we are all so incredibly happy you're back home," he begins. I internally roll my eyes.
"There are a few things I want to talk about with you," he continues.
"First I have some rules. These are the following: 1. Respect your older brothers and when we tell you to do something you do it without being told twice. Especially if it's from the oldest three. 2. I would like verbal answers so I know you are listening and understanding. 3. Always let one of your brothers know when you're leaving and where you're going. 4. You can have guy friends, but no dating. 5. You can keep your phone in your room unless I see that it is affecting the amount of sleep you get."
Yeah, my lack of sleep has nothing to do with my phone.
"6. No drinking or drugs. 7. Don't lie and if you do I'll know so just don't try. 8. No going to the basement and up to this floor without one of your brothers."
Now I'm a bit curious, but I will give props to bring me to the third floor so I won't be so curious.
"9. No cursing, and lastly looking at you're grades I expect you to keep them like that," he says.
We may have a few problems with the 'rules'.
"Any rules you want to discuss?" Giovanni asks. He's not ready for this.
"Yes," I say. He gives me a look that says go on.
"1. I'll respect you all if you do the same for me. 3. I'll tell you when I leave, but you don't need to know everything I want privacy and 9. I'm gonna cuss because I know you all do and did at my age."
Six I'm just not gonna tell him which also breaks rule 7, but I don't care. I also won't do drugs because I like my body and it's so dangerous nowadays. Well, that is hard drugs. I think if everyone got high once in a while stress and worry in society would lessen a lot.
"That's it," I say. You can see it isn't the response he wants.
"We'll work on it," he says.
"Next thing is school. You seem very smart and I want you to keep that up. Although you do need to stop with the fights and stuff. It looks like the longest you've gone without detention is three days," he continues. I smile. What can I say school is boring so I make it more fun and for the fights, they all have good reasons.
"The rule is no more getting suspended and expelled, and try to limit the fights and detentions I know that may take some time," he says.
"Okay," I reply I probably won't stop, but I will try not to get suspended or expelled.
"Next thing is your arrests," he says. I knew this was coming and I'm still not thanking him like Marvin said to do. "18 in one month really?" He asks.
"Yeah." Is my simple reply.
"That needs to change no more arrests or any illegal activities. I know you did more stuff and didn't get caught," he says. How does he know that? Maybe he does know everything.
"Anything else?" I ask.
"Nope unless you have anything," he asks me.
"Nope," I say popping the p.
"Nicholas is outside the door waiting to take you to your room," Giovanni says.
"Okay," I say getting up.
"Oh and Charlotte," Giovanni says getting my attention.
"Yes," I say turning around.
"If you need anything you have seven people who would do anything in the world for you. We all love you," he says. I just smile.
"Goodnight," he says.
"Night," I reply.
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❤️Lexi
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Bulletproof Hearts
ActionCharlotte was taken away from her family at the age of two by her mother. Charlotte has become your stereotypically troubled teen and spends her time either moving or in the police station. Things only got worse when her mother died. Charlotte's f...
