Chapter 12: chapter 9

They arrived at the mall and the triplets were terrified, they had never been around so many people. Even Alex who had been around people the most was terrified. He didn't know how to comfort his siblings when he was just as scared.

They had taken two cars as with all the stuff they needed they really didn't think it would all fit in one car, especially since they needed 3 lots of everything.

"Right kids I'm going to presume you three don't want to split up" Leo said.

They all shook their head, even Alex couldn't manage to anwser him as he looked at the amount of people inside.

"Okay so we will start of with clothes, then other other essentials, then we will take a break and after that we will go get electronics. If there is anything you want just say as long as it's child appropriate you can have it. You can shop for stuff for your room online later" Leo told them.

"Okay" Alex said feeling bad for not replying, unfortunately it came out as a whisper.

Lorenzo was the first to look at him with concern but chose not to mention it. He wanted to observe them more.

"Now it's a busy place so no wandering off, make sure you are with either one of us or at least visible by one of us at all time" Leo added.

Whilst shopping, they didn't want to leave each others side so they had gone to the boys section first, James and Alex only picked out one or two outfits and this bothered their brothers, Lorenzo didn't do anything and left it to Leo and Nico who began grabbing more clothes for the boys once they realised the boys sizes.

Alex was very reluctant and James was overwhelmed. They only really had two outfits before and had never been shopping.

Lorenzo decided to try make conversation with Skye whilst the boys looked for clothes.

"How are you feeling" he asked.

Skye didn't know how to anwser that, she was terrified of even the slightest things like  seeing someone walk past from the corner of her eye.

"I only ask because you all seem very nervous, you more than the boys though"  Lorenzo added.

"Im not nervous, sir" she whispered with a stutter.

Lorenzo wasn't happy with the 'sir' but instead of commenting on it he reached down and gently pulled her fingers out so her hand was flat, she had been clenching her fist and her nails were digging into her skin.

Little cuts were now present on her palm, he just shook his head "sorry sir" she whispered thinking he was going to lash out.

"It's okay Skye, just no more hurting yourself like this or at all. And drop the sir please" he gently told her. He knew she hadn't meant to do it on purpose but he hated knowing she had hurt herself even if it was tiny cuts.

"I didn't mean to do it sir" she said.

"I know I just don't like how you're now hurt. If you would like, when you feel nervous you can hold my hand and if you must dig your nails into me at least then you won't hurt yourself"

Skye was confused at this, why did he care so much? Surely he preferred her hurt? Why would he offer to get hurt in her place?

She wanted to trust it wasn't a trap but she couldnt. In her mind he was obviously up to something.

"Ok we are done, girls stuff next"  Leo said coming back before Skye could think anymore about it.

"We really don't need all these sir " Alex said, he was terrified that it was some sick game and they would end up hurt.

"Nonsense" Leo said dismissing his comment completely, in his opinion they hadn't gotten enough stuff. They then headed to the girls section.

Alex and James made sure to stand near Skye as she hesitantly picked out clothes. She didn't dare pick a second outfit though "you need alot more than that Skye" Leo said.

Skye looked at Alex and James, Alex hesitantly nodded telling her she should get more.

Leo and Nico would randomly put things in the basket knowing she wasn't getting enough. They added several more pairs of the jeans she picked up.

Once they were done and everything paid for they went to a few more shops for a few more clothes. They then went and got other essentials,

An awkward situation presented itself when they were shopping though.

"Should we ask if she's you know..." Leo asked Lorenzo quietly.

"She's what" Lorenzo asked not having a clue what his brother was talking about.

"I suppose it doesn't matter, we could just wait for her to tell us" he said scratching the back of his neck.

"I have no idea what you're on about" Lorenzo said.

"You know when girls reach a certain age and then every month they start to you know...." Leo trailed off.

"Jesus Leo. You could have just said. It's a normal thing" Lorenzo said realising what Leo was saying.

"It's just she hasn't put any in the basket so do we ask her, do we wait for her to tell us"

Lorenzo couldn't help but laugh slightly.  Leo looked at him with a somewhat offended expression.

"Oh you were serious...she barely talks to us as it is, she's not going to tell us" he told her.

"Then how do we approach the situation" Leo asked.

Lorenzo rolled his eyes "like this" he said and picked up a few packs of pads and put them in the basket

"You make things so difficult you know that" he told Leo.

"Whatever. Have they got everything, I'm getting hungry"

"Kids have you anything to add to the basket" Lorenzo called.

Alex came back, they were a few isles in front, he added a few essential items.

He half expected them to take the stuff out and throw them at him or yell but neither of them said a thing, they didn't even look at what he'd put in. "Where are the others" Leo asked just as they came round the corner.

"Um nevermind" Leo said.

Lorenzo didn't comment, he just went off on his own to pay because at this point he was done with Leo.

After buying the items he went back to the group. "Right, so we will do a quick trip to the car and then go get food"

The triplets were suprised that they were on about food again, they had already had breakfast.

They realised they probably meant for themselves.

Once the bags were in the car they made there way back inside.

When they entered the food court, the triplets were terrified. The amount of people was overwhelming. Skye looked up at her eldest brother who was walking a little ahead of them all. She remembered what he had said earlier. He had not hurt her yet of course she didn't trust him but he seemed okay for now.

And maybe a tiny part of her wanted him around. She hated to admit it but a tiny part of her trusted him. She loved Alex and James but she hated going to them for comfort, she hated opening up to them because she felt guilty, they were going through the same if not worse and she didn't want them to worry about her or take the beatings for her. She wanted to show them she was just as strong.

Without thinking much more, she quickened her pace a little so she caught up to Lorenzo which wasn't hard, and hesitantly she took hold of his hand. Lorenzo glanced down, he didn't say anything he just smiled at her.

Skye appreciated how he didn't make a big deal of it.

When Skye had walked off from her brothers, Alex was about to go after her but stopped when he saw what she was doing. He and James were watching hoping Lorenzo wouldn't do anything, but they were ready to jump in if they had too.

Leo and Nico stood staring at the two.

"Did he just smile at her too" Nico said.

Leo nodded "he doesn't even hold Jessie's hand"

Nico snickered"you're right"

Alex and James who stood next to them were curious as to who Jessie was but didn't ask questions.

"I thought you were hungry Leo, stop gossiping like old women and get walking " Lorenzo called.

The four boys then quickly caught up to Lorenzo and Skye.

"What food does everyone want" Lorenzo then asked.

"McDonald's?" Nico was first to suggest.

"Why don't we let the kids decide" Leo said.

"Anything is fine" Alex said looking around the food court, he was looking for anyone who he thought was a risk to himself, James and Skye, anyone who could hurt them, he also memorized the exits and looked for possible hiding locations.

What he didn't know was that Lorenzo had also done the same. Leo didn't bother as he left that up to Lorenzo knowing he had it covered.

Thankfully they managed to have lunch without anything going wrong. The triplets couldnt finish half their meal which concerned Leo and Lorenzo as McDonald's portions were small to begin with.

"Right electronics now. Also I forgot to ask do you have any hobbies"  Leo said as they headed out.

James shook his head. They weren't allowed hobbies.

"Ok no problem. I'm sure you will quickly pick up something you find interesting"

The store they went to was big and spacious. It looked expensive and the triplets felt out of place straight away, the three of them felt guilty for the clothes and now this, it was too much.

The only good thing about the store was that there was only a few customers and it was quiet.

"We really don't need all this" Alex tried.

"It's too much " James added

"And we won't use it" Skye added.

"Ok but you need a phone to contact us and when you make friends to contact them. And you need a laptop for school work" Leo said.

The triplets looked conflicted now.

"Look we are getting the items either way, you might as well pick out the type you like" Lorenzo said.

"Ok" Alex hesitantly said.

"Great. I need to make a call. Skye can you let my hand go"  Lorenzo said, asking Skye in a gentle tone. She had taken his hand again after they got up to leave the food court.

Skye let his hand go, Leo gave a curious look so Lorenzo anwsered "dad messaged something about going on another trip" it wasn't unusual for Rafael to go on trips. He didn't spend much time at home now that the boys could look after themselves.

Lorenzo was hoping that would change now they had the triplets back.

Lorenzo stepped out of the store to take the call.

"Ok kids why don't you go off and have a look we can see you wherever you go so have a good look round, just don't leave the store"

The triplets stayed together at first Leo and Nico watched them carefully but they were in no danger so they stopped watching them and looked around themselves.

"I don't get them, they are giving us all this stuff but why" James said as he read about the laptop that had caught his eye.

"I don't know but it's best to go along with it for now" Alex said.

"Maybe they are being nice" Skye suggested as she looked at the laptops.

She wasn't watching where she was going when she ran into a man.

She gulped and backed away.

"Not even going to apologize, how disrespectful" he said.

"I'm sorry sir" Skye coward under his presence

"Whatever kid, Im going to have you removed since you obviously can't afford anything from here" he said and pushed past her. Only she was shaking so bad that his push past ended up with her on the floor.

Alex looked and saw his brothers had their backs to them at the oppersite end of the store. Despite being terrified, Alex wasnt about to let this man hurt his sister.

"I think you should apologize, you have clearly hurt her" he said pulling his sister up.

"Go away you little bitch" he snapped.

"No. Apologize. now" Alex said firmly.

The man raised his hand to hit Alex and Alex closed his eyes waiting to be hit only it never came, he dared open his eyes and when he did he nearly closed them again.

Lorenzo had finished the call with his father and was already a little annoyed only to grow angry when he entered and saw a man talking to his younger siblings. He walked over as the man raised his arm he increased his speed and made sure to grab his hand before anything could happen.

He looked across and saw his brothers not watching and testing out some headphones. He was pissed at how irresponsible they had been but even more pissed this man tried to hit Alex.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing"

The man struggled but turned around. His face dropped when he saw who it was.

"Oh god. Mr Romano, sir. I was just...I was just...." The man was terrified.

"You were what" Lorenzo was getting bored.

"These dilinquents were about to rob the store, I was just making sure they don't"

"We werent. I swear we are not like that" James quickly said, he feared the worst and scenarios of what they could do to them if they thought this man was telling the truth filled his head.

"From my perspective it looked like you were about to hit him, they don't look like thieves to me "

By this point Leo and Nico had turned and quickly come over to see what had happened. "What's going on"

Lorenzo glared at Leo. He should have been watching them. It angered him knowing how careless Leo was, if he hadn't have come back in the store, the man would have hit Alex. "This idiot dared to raise his hand to our brother" Lorenzo snapped.

Hearing the word brother made the man's face pale. He was almost shaking. Lorenzo smirked slightly, he enjoyed seeing people fear him.

"What happened Alexander" Lorenzo asked.

Alex didn't know how to anwser. He was still in shock that he didn't get hit, that Lorenzo had stopped it. He didn't understand why Lorenzo was bothered, it was just a hit.

"Skye? James?"

Skye burst out into tears "I'm sorry sir, I'm so so sorry" she cried to Lorenzo. Lorenzo let the man go and without hesitation took hold of Skye and hugged her.

She panicked at first but eventually after 10 minutes she relaxed into it. "I accidentally walked into him but I apologized" she whispered.

"And he knocked her over and so I told him to apologize"  Alex added.

Lorenzo smiled, Alex was only 14 but he had a lot of courage. Despite finding him annoying at times, Lorenzo definitely respected him.

"I see. Skye it's okay, you're not in any trouble." Lorenzo started and stopped the hug. He turned to Alex and gave him a nod "neither are you" he added then turned to the man.

"Same can't be said for you. How dare you raise your hand to a child. How dare you even think about hitting a kid. You are nothing but scum. You fucked up"

The triplets were shocked to hear this. It sounded like he was saying child abuse was wrong. But surely that wasn't right?.

"Continue shopping and Leo don't fucking take your eyes off them again. I'm going to escort this man to security. Can't have him causing anymore trouble with anyone"

He soon dissapeared with the man.

"We are so sorry" Leo said feeling like shit because he almost put his brothers and sister in danger.

"Yeah it was my fault I was showing Leo the new headphones I wanted and so we never heard. I'm so so sorry" Nico said.

"It's okay" the three whisper at the same time.

"Ok let's get you some technology, then we can get school stuff"

The rest of day passed quickly, Lorenzo never returned until the very end of the shopping trip.

"Sorry I was so long, I had a work thing" he apologized.

"Well we have just about done now. Is there anything else you three want" Leo replied.

"We are good. Thank you for everything you have gotten us though"  Alex replied for his siblings.

"Oh no need to thank us, it's good to finally spend money on you again. If we are all done. Should we head back?"

"Yeah" Lorenzo agreed

On the way out Lorenzo and Leo began having their own private conversation.

"I need to see Jessica soon. Will you be okay watching the kids until I'm back"

"Is dad not in"

"No he's on a business trip"

"I'm so glad I'm not you" Leo said knowing that when their father was away, Lorenzo was in charge and he took that very seriously.

"I won't be too long" Lorenzo said.

"Really? You don't even want to spend the night with her"

"She's needy, you know I'm only with her because of business "

"Yeah I don't get why? You're a millionaire, you have two companies, why do you need her"

"It's called business"

The two dropped the conversation then. Leo went back to his brothers and sister who were walking a little behind.

"Oh and Leo make sure Marco knows to be in my office when I get home" Lorenzo said quietly so only Leo heard. Leo nodded "will do"

Ok so this was quite a long chapter alot going on. If it's not clear, Jessica is Lorenzo's girlfriend who he dislikes but he's with her for business reasons.