Domenico's POV:
"Will that be all?" the barista questions as she taps the screen.
"Yes, thank you"
"Your total is three dollars and ninety-nine cents, you can wait right over there your order will be ready shortly" she says while pointing to the counter.
I pull out my wallet and take out a five dollar bill.
"Keep the change" I say while nodding and walking away.
I walk over to where the lady indicated, lean on the wall and set the bag curently resting on my shoulder onto the floor. Aimlessly scrolling through my phone and answering a couple texts, I soon hear my name being called and walk up to the counter to grab my things.
I give a curt nod to the employee handing me my coffee and food and turn to leave knowing the earful I'm going to get once I get back in the car.
"What the fuck took so long?" I hear Francesco question as soon as I open the door.
"Long line" I say simply as I sit down and shut the door.
"You have class today?" I continue.
"No, tomorrow. There's this huge test coming up soon and I'm stressed out of my mind"
"Study"
"Why's that your solution to everything?"
I turn to him with my eyebrows raised and daring him to continue.
He looks at me for a second before deciding not to add anything more, which is probably for the best.
I start the car and drive towards the office. Francesco and I have always been close. I'm close with all my brothers but Francesco and I have a different understanding with each other.We're the oldest out of our siblings, me being 26 and him being 24, so it's only naturel I guess.
We grew up fast, had to take care of the people we love . He's my right hand man, the underboss I never wanted him to be.
I was put into a lifestyle I never wanted to be in and Francesco being Francesco came too. Then all the others just naturally followed.
Let's be clear, I resent the fact that I was forced into what I am today but I do not regret it. I would do it time and time again if it meant having what I have today.
"Did I talk to you about the changes that were made to the menu?" Cesco said breaking me out of my thoughts.
Our family runs chains of hotels and restaurants on the legal spectrum of our businesses. My name is on the paperwork but they pretty much belong to Francesco as he's the one running them. I'm involved in big decisions but my brother's got it handled.
We speak about several changes he wants to make during the ride before finally making it to the office. Cesco leaves quickly as he has a meeting to attend while I take my time.
I make my way to the elevator with a blank expression on my face. Nodding quickly to the people who greet me.
Standing in the elevator, I listen to the soft generic music playing in the backround of my thoughts. Waiting a few moments, then elevator doors soon open and I walk to my office nodding again to my secretary.
Once inside, I release a sigh sitting down and observing the mountains of paperwork I must get through. I pick up my pen, about to start as my phone rings.
I look over and find the name of the boys' school plastered on the screen and pick up.
It was the secretary informing me that Valerio was not at school.
I'm only slightly irratated, knowing Valerio's history.
Valerio is the youngest out of the boys along with Valentino. They both haven't changed much since they were kids, because they didn't need to. They grew up differently than us.
They're trouble loving but both have very different approaches to it. Very different personalities but still the same. I guess it comes with being twins.
I pick the phone back up and call Angelo but the call goes straight to voicemail. Did he hang up on me?
My phone makes a sound as a notification appears.
"Sorry, I'm in class. What's up?" The text reads.
That slipped my mind. Angelo matured at a young age being the third oldest. After everything happened, he was the person that looked after us emotionally, I guess you could say.
Being third oldest, he only partially shared the responsibilities Francesco and I had but took care of everything else without being asked to. He watched after the boys, cooked, cleaned all while going to school.
"Nothing important" I send back.
Thinking for a moment again, I scroll through my contact list and land on Raffaele's name.
He picks up on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Are you doing anything important?"
"Uh," he hesiatates "just... painting."
I furrow my eyebrows, knowing he's lying but decide not to push the subject.
"Valerio's not at school, find out where he is please."
There's a small pause before he speaks again.
"Yea" he agrees.
"Thank you" I say as I hang up.
Raff contrasts vastly to most of our family, he truly is the middle child. He always helped Angelo like Francesco helped me.
I set my phone asside picking my pen back up ready to start when a picture catches my eye. The one I stare at the most.
There's six boys at the park wrestling each other in a park. It's easy for me to tell them apart as I easily recognise the individual features of my brothers . I'm sitting there looking at the camera, I remember the two loving faces of my parents that were not captured because they were behind the lens. The twins are rolling around on the floor nearby as Francesco is yelling at them animatedly while keeping an eye trained on Raffaele and Angelo.
Not too far away the both of them are seen playing gently with the sand on either side of a little girl. I smile fondly at the memory of my baby sister. Adelina, the most precious little thing, is building a sand castle with the widest grin on her face.
I miss her.
I turn away from the picture trying not to let the memory of her kidnapping invade my thoughts. I set my eyes on the paperwork on my desk and begin reading.
I end the day when it's already late and most people in the building have gone home, including my brother. Getting in the car my phone rings and I look over to see it's an unknown number.
I'm slightly suspicious but nevertheless pick up the phone.
"Hello?" he cold voice rings out.
"Hi, may I speak to Mr.Domenico Bianco?"
"Speaking, who is this?"
"Hi my name is officer Cohen from the Cottonwood police departement"
My emotionless expression remains as I wonder what the boys have done this time or what the police think they have on me.
"What is this concerning?" I say my voice never wavering.
"It has come to our attention that a missing persons report was filed by your family 10 years for a 5 year old Adelina Bianco, is this correct?"
My face does not change but I try to mask the evident shock in my voice.
"Yes," I ask "yes, that's correct. Why?"
"A 15 year old girl by the name Adelina Bianco matching the description of your missing person report was brought into the station yesterday morning."
____________
Surprise!
I thought it would be intresting to get a feel of the brothers before they reunite.
What'd you think?
Comment your thoughts!
Also, sorry the chapter is a bit late. A lot has been happening recently...                   and I kinda suck at schedules but we don't talk about that ;)
Thanks for reading!