chapter 11: Never Have I Ever

Autumn
If anger could be expressed in words, I would have scribbled 'ANGER' in a paper for about a thousand times at least.
What does Ian think of himself? At least I came home when I was out late; it didn't matter what time. I came home. Ian didn't even return home and it's eleven in the morning. Tell me, why had I never killed him before?
I served Isabel tea and some light breakfast. She was doing better than last night. Somehow she already accepted the fact that Nora was her mother. However, Isabel booked Nora's ticket for Italy as well. So yeah, that pretty much explained about Isabel not giving a damn. I was proud of her. Ada and Simon raised her pretty well. I wondered if they were blind while raising Ian.
I called Ian again. But for the tenth time, it went straight to voicemail. I rolled my eyes.
Guess what the voicemail said?
'Ian is currently fucked up because of your nonsense. Get lost.'
First, he left without saying a word. Second, his voicemail was making me angrier. Now, give me the third reason to kill him.
I went to my room and started unwrapping a chocolate bar. I took a bite of it. I didn't go to the restaurant today as well because I didn't want to leave Isabel alone. When Aubree got home, she was so angry that she wanted to choke Nora. Steven took her with him and didn't come back.
Meanwhile, Lia didn't come home. She was staying with a friend for a few days. She was taking college preparations with her friend. She was supposed to come back today.
"What the heck is wrong with you, woman? Get the fuck off her!" I ran downstairs, hearing Isabel's yelling.
When I saw the awful scene in the living room, my heartbeat fastened. I saw Nora holding a knife at Lia��s throat. Her grey eyes were brimming with tears, and her black hair was a mess. Isabel was a few steps away from them.
"Come back to Italy with me, Isabel, otherwise, she dies," Nora let out, pressing the knife further on Lia's throat.
"Don't!" cried Isabel. "Please don't harm her. She is your sister's daughter, for God's sake. I will come with you."
I quickly hid behind one of the pillars before anyone could spot me.
"Who are you? Please, leave. Ian will kill you soon if he finds out," Lia whimpered.
I felt so bad for her. I started to walk away from the pillars, and more towards them.
"Shut up, you��" Before Nora could say something else, I pushed her hand away from Lia's throat.
I yelled, "You bloody motherfucker!"
Nora glared at me. She was about to stab me with the knife, but I dodged and kicked her leg, making her fall to the ground. I snatched the knife from her hand and pressed it on her throat before she could push me away. She was planning to; I knew it. After all, I had the experience.
She whimpered, "Please don't kill me. I swear... I will go home."
I pressed the knife more firmly on her throat. If she moved, her head would be detached from the body.
"Want to know my skills with a knife?" I asked, looking directly in her eyes. "I chop vegetables and I run a restaurant. I chop heads and I run a gang. I love chopping! Now, tell me. Which kind of chop do you want me to show?"
Her tears dried up as if she lost the stamina to cry. Now, it was the real grief of hers rather than the fake sadness she was showing to Isabel.
"Lia..." I heard Isabel.
I turned my face towards them. Lia was so shocked by what she had faced. Isabel shook her, trying to bring her back to sense.
"Autumn!" Ian's voice echoed through the living room. He ran towards us and grabbed Nora's right hand.
My eyes grew wider in shock seeing Nora had a freaking lighter in her hand. Was she planning to burn me alive? This woman was crazy.
"Ian," I called out. His eyes locked with mine for a brief moment and I was relieved.
He pressed Nora's hand and threw the lighter away. His eyes darkened when he looked at her. "How dare you?" he asked dangerously, sending shivers to my spine. Only God knew what he would do to Nora.
"What the hell?" Steven uttered as he entered the mansion with Aubree.
Aubree ran towards me and took the knife from my hand. "I'll take it from here. Leave this woman to me. I have been dying to slice her to pieces since I heard the story, " said Aubree. "Ian, leave her hand. I will throw her in the dungeon for now. Tonight, I'll show her my love in the torture chamber."
Ian wasn't leaving Nora's hand. He must have grabbed it tighter than before because Nora was screaming at this point.
"Bro," Steven said to Ian. ��Leave her.��
When Ian paid no heed, I placed a hand on Ian's shoulder. "You can squeeze mine. Leave hers."
He narrowed his eyes, nonetheless, left her hand. "Make sure she gets what she deserves, Aubree," he said and went to Lia.
Lia instantly hugged him. I felt so bad for her. She just got home and was held under a knife.
"Everything's fine. Chill out, Bel," I said to Isabel, assuring her.
She smiled and wiped her tears before pulling me into a hug. "I wonder what I would have done without you."
I grinned at her words and mumbled, "I know, I am very much important. Everyone must have me in their lives."
"I am affirmative Aubree is going to take nice care of Nora." Steven sat on one of the couches. I and Isabel joined him followed by Lia and Ian. Aubree took Nora away.
"Thank you so much, Autumn," Lia said. "I am going to be forever grateful to you."
"You don't have to be. How can I let my sister be in danger? I will rather let them harm me," I said with a genuine smile. She was my family too.
I saw a smile playing on Ian's lips��a relieved smile. He was relieved that I was there to save Lia and Isabel, he knew I would always be there.
"I reached home, and this woman told me to come to her," Lia started narrating, and continued, "As soon as I got near enough, she pulled me and pressed a knife on my neck. I thought death called me home, I swear."
We laughed at her words.
"Isabel, you know. Whatever it is, you are our sister. A random stranger can't claim you. You grew with us. You will stay with us forever, right?" Ian said, afraid of Isabel's response.
She chuckled. "Do I look like I care about that woman? You guys are my lifeline. I will always choose my family over someone else," she said proudly. "And you guys are my family."
"Oh, I am so touched." Steven wiped fake tears away. "Now, enough drama for a day. Lia, what about your college? Did you apply for any or did you waste your time dating?"
"I swear, Lia, if you're dating some crap bag, I��" Ian was interrupted by Lia.
"No, my dear brother. I am not dating any crap bag. In fact, I made an important decision."
Steven waited patiently, "And that is...?"
She let out a deep breath, "I want to take an online course instead of going to college and join the gang."
Pin drop silence filled the room.
"Oh my, that's a great news! I'll have a sister with me during the missions," Aubree broke the silence as she walked through the door.
Lia chirped in, "Really?"
"No." Hearing Aubree's reply, Lia frowned.
"Why not, Aubree?" asked Lia.
Aubree took a seat beside me and started saying, "I get worried when Steven or Ian go on a mission. If you join them, I will go crazy with anxiety. What if something happens to you all?"
Steven rolled his eyes and let out, "Come on, Aubree. We are strong. Why do you get so worried about us?"
I asked in Aubree��s defense, "As if you don't get worried when Aubree goes on a mission?"
"But that's different," Ian said. "Aubree is our sister. We think of the worst-case scenarios and get worried, but she shouldn't stress about us."
"And why not?" I challenged him.
He answered, "Because we don't want her to stress about us. That will affect her health."
"Then start being cautious so that people won't worry about you that much if you do. Well, at least, inform people about your whereabouts," I stated, trying not to seem affected by his absence last night.
Ian arched an eyebrow and then smirked. "If I start informing everyone my whereabouts, how will I know if people actually cared for me?"
I was about to reply but Lia interfered, "Okay, everyone. Let's freshen up and meet here again. We will play Never Have I Ever!"
"But��" Lia cut me off.
"No ifs and buts. It will clear everyone's minds and we will get some family time too. Now shoo!"
We agreed and went to our respective rooms. As I took out my clothes to change, Ian abruptly grabbed me by my waist.
"What the hell?" I flinched at the sudden movement. He didn't say a word, rather, he leaned forward, making my breath hitch. What was he doing?
As soon as I felt his soft lips on my cheek, the butterflies erupted in my stomach. He kissed my cheek and released me. Then he took his clothes and went to take a bath. I remained steady in my place.
Did he just kiss my cheek?
Of course, he did.
My eyes fell on the mirror. My whole face turned into a deeper shade of red. Why did he pull out that stunt?
Suddenly, I realized something. I stood in front of the washroom door and knocked. "Hey, I was supposed to go first!"
"Never have I ever kissed someone. Lip to lip of course," Lia said.
All of us responded in unison by taking a sip of the soda.
"Okay, I got one," Isabel chirped. "Never have I ever fallen in love."
"Never," said Steven.
"Neither did I," this time, Aubree said. "I am thirty and still single. I'm hopeless."
"I haven't even kissed someone on the lips," Lia whined.
Steven glared at his sister. "You better haven't."
"What about you, Autumn?" Ian asked seriously.
I retorted, "Why don't you answer first?"
"Maintain the order, wifey."
I looked at my fingernails nervously. It was the question I was trying to dodge��the word I was trying not to even hear... and now, I had to answer them regarding this topic.
It is a game. I can easily lie...
"Don't lie at least," Ian mumbled. No one but me could hear because I was sitting next to him.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before answering, "I have."