Chapter 20

Ella

“Ella?” calls a voice, a soft but firm hand gently shaking my shoulder as the person who was speaking all but tried to snap me from my thoughts for while Reece had been doing the ceremony speech along with other things, I on the other hand had apparently spaced out threw the whole entire funeral, my mind elsewhere and unable to focused on what was going on around me.

“Huh?” I murmur having snapped from my thoughts by the hand, my eyes now moving to see Reece as he kneels down in front of me, his eyes showing that of concern as those within attendance had begun to slowly exit the funeral parlor as they all began to make their way towards the burial site, the last step in laying our parents to rest.

“Stai bene amore? (Are you okay love?)” asks Reece softly, his eyes still on me as I all but try to keep my tears at bay, attempting to be brave in front of my brothers not wanting to appear weak.

“No, mi piange il cuore, mi mancano (No, my heart aches, I miss them)” I reply, still fighting back the tears as Kris watches sadly from the side, Grant and Hayden standing next to her as they did.

“Va bene sentirne la mancanza (It’s okay to miss them)” adds Caleb, his eyes gazing softly towards me as well. “Lo facciamo anche noi (We do too).”

Feeling the tears finally fall I all but fling myself into Reeces arms, the need to feel his arms wrapped around me all but soothing, soft sobs escaping past my lips as I cling to him. Letting me cry, Reece just continues to hold me, Caleb and Dylan each standing next to us on either side until I eventually get myself back under control.

“Posso andare a casa? (Can I go home?)” I whisper not wanting to face the burial let alone the guy who was giving me a creepy vibe during the initial meet and greet.

“Sure, we’ll handle the rest and come find you once we’re home” whispers Reece as he moves to pull me back until I was all but standing directly in front of him, his eyes holding love and want before gently moving to kiss me on the forehead.

“Go, Grant and Hayden can take you back, Kris can go with you if she wants, I promise we won’t be long” assures Dylan his hand now coming to rub my back as he did.

“Okay” I whisper, Reece now moving to stand up before walking me over to Grant, Hayden and Kris.

“Grant take her home, make sure she eats and then let her relax, we’ll come find her once we’re home” replies Reece to Grant, knowing I was in good hands with his assistant and bodyguard.

“Of course Sir, come Princess let us take you home” whispers Grant as he moves to lead me out towards their vehicle, Kris and Hayden already ahead of us as we walk, each of my brothers directly behind me as they move to walk me towards the vehicle.

Approaching the vehicle, Reece all but moves to open the door for me, my body pausing as Hayden moves to climb into the backseat while Kris moves to take the passenger seat next to Grant.

“Stai attento, Ci vediamo presto (Be safe, We’ll see you soon)” was all I heard as Reece moved to kiss me gently, the kiss short yet simple before Dylan and Caleb each move to kiss me as well, my eyes gazing to them softly before sensing eyes on me yet again, a chill running through me when I notice the same man with the blue-gray eyes staring right at me a hidden expression covering his face just as I’m gently guided into the vehicle, Reece closing the door as he did before tapping the vehicle letting Grant know he was clear to leave.

Starting the car, Grant begins to head for home, my body now leaning against the back seat as I go back to trying to process everything that’s happened thus far, needing to be able to separate my feelings from those of loss for the last thing I would want to do was hurt my brothers in the end.

Sighing, I move to stare out the window instead, my eyes watching as cars and other forms of scenery move to rush by, my mind currently a mess. “It’ll be okay Princess, I promise” whispers Hayden, Dylan's assistant and bodyguard, my eyes glancing to him softly as I move to take in his appearance, now understanding why Grant and Hayden worked so well together.

There perfect for one another, I muse, my thoughts slowly drifting back to my own set of problems, my brothers and how badly I had wanted them during our shopping trip. I hope I’m not making the worst decision of my life by stepping back, it’s just, with both mom and dad gone, I just need time to myself right now, was all I could think as I attempted to push everything else away from me at the moment.

30 minutes later…

When finally reaching home, I can’t help but feel a sense of calmness wash over me, something about being here, within my brothers home seemed to bring me nothing but calm, as if this was officially my safe haven and no one was able to touch me, well except maybe Reece, Caleb and Dylan but that wouldn’t be happening until my 18th birthday, something they made extremely clear to me that day at the mall.

Feeling annoyed, I mentally make a note to figure out a way for them to touch me before then just as Grant moves to park the car. “We’re home Princess” remarks Grant, moving to shut off the car just as he and Hayden move to open the car doors, Hayden opening my door while Grant moves to open Kris’s.

“Thank you” whispers Kris, a soft smile gracing her lips as Grant moves to close the door behind her.

“Of course,” smiles Grant, his hand coming to rest on the lower part of her back making her blush, a gesture I had caught just as Hayden moved to close my door, my feet now moving to climb the stairs of the mansion.

“I’m going back to my room, if anyone needs me that’s where I’ll be” I say, deciding to give Kris some space for that day she had come to visit me was also a day I had caught her with Hayden and Grant, a feeling that they liked her just as she liked them, lingering in the back of my mind and decided to see what would become of their situation.

“Do you want me to come with you?” asks Kris, her eyes moving to watch me as I continue to head inside.

“No, that’s okay, it’s only to my room, why don’t you stay with Grant and Hayden, I’m sure they’d be up for some company” I suggest, knowing fully well just how handsy Grant and Hayden could be and if I had guessed right, Kris had walked in on one of their public displays of sexual fun, as she had been awfully nervous after that day and it got me thinking of them.

“O-Okay” is all I hear from her just as I move to enter the mansion. “I-If you're sure”.

“I am” was all that I could muster until I all but vanished from their site, knowing that no one could get me as long as I was here and with my brothers too.

“Well then, looks like it’s just you and us sweet thing” purrs Grant as he moves to look at Kris, her blush rising as she moves to look at both of them.

“I-It would appear so” murmurs Kris, still nervous about being alone with them.

“Don’t worry sweetheart, we promise to go slow” whispers Hayden as he moves to take Kris’s hand with his before both he and Grant move to lead her back inside knowing they had many things to discuss, things that were better done in private.

“Okay” was all Kris says as she moves to follow them, wanting to believe that those two could be trusted with not only her best friend but her heart too.