The Twin Brothers

She dresses in a beautiful brown sweater with a dark brown flowy skirt. She took a deep breath before grabbing her small bag and going out. As she went downstairs, she saw the twin waiting at the end of the stairs. Leo is the first one to notice her presence. Smiles appeared on his face and reach out his hand to her.

“You look like a princess, little one.” He praises.

Liana flustered. Enzo smirks and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Adorable.” He whispers as he sees other red cheeks. The comment only made the girl blush even more.

“Let’s go. Mum will scold us for bringing you late to them.” Leo said. “It’s not like she wants to see her son anyway. She is more attached to you.” He chuckles.

Enzo opens the car door for her and kindly helps her skirts to get in also. “Can’t ruin your long skirt, can’t we?” He jokes before closing the door. She chuckles. The twin soon gets in and Leo starts to drive. Liana fiddles with her fingers, looking outside the window.

The videotape keeps repeating inside her mind. Her father left the mafia clan, the only thing he left behind. Now, no one handles it. Alfano handling it just for a short time. Right now, this is all on her. Yes or no.

“Baby?” Enzo’s voice snaps her out of her thought.

“Hm?” She saw him looking behind.

“Are you okay? You seem like you are really in deep thought.” He said in a worried voice. They have been worried about her since her emotion is not stable right now.

“I’m f–fine. I just… t–thinking.” Liana answers.

The twin exchange look. With their knowing look. They know how this girl lied and not. Enzo took out one small plastic which contains cookies in it. “You want one? Don’t worry. We have spare water here.” He said.

When the cookie appeared in front of her, she gasp. “Cookie!? W–Want!!” She makes grabby hands.

“Bro, are you sure? She might slip into little space. Mum and dad didn’t know about this.” Leo spokes.

“It’s fine. We can ask her to slip out.” He answers.

Liana happily ate cookies. Enzo watched her with a smile. He asks himself how lucky he is to meet this girl. Even if it is not theirs yet, they still love her. It is not the right time to ask about a relationship since the situation is complicated right now.

After a while, they finally arrive. Leo pulls the brakes as he parks in front of their parent’s house. This is it, Liana let out a sigh and gets out. Someone grabs her both hands. The twin standing beside her made her between them.

“If you feel overwhelmed, you tell us, okay?” Enzo reminds her.

“O–Okay.” She nods.

They walk towards the door and Leo ring the bell. It didn’t take much time and the door bursts open. Like the brother thought, Shelly standing there with a big smile on her face. “Oh, mio bonta!! Finalmente arrivano!!” She squealed excitedly. (Oh my goodness!! Finally, they arrive!!)

Liana is pulled into a tight and welcome hug. “Hello!! We met again my sweet daughter in law!!” She swings them side to side.

“D–Daughter–what?” Liana’s cheeks slightly turn crimson. Her smartwatch let out a slow beep. That’s the cue the brothers have to stop this.

“Mum.” Leo uses a warning tone.

Shelly chuckles and pulls from the hug. “Sorry. Kinda carried away.” She grins. Before the twins could reply, she pulls Liana’s hand, dragging her in. “Let’s go, dear!! I cook a lot of food!!”

The brothers walk in and Enzo closed the door. “Sometimes, I might have to think twice to bring Liana here.” He told his brother.

“Agreed.” Leo sighs.

When they walk into the kitchen, they saw their fathers with I’m-done face to his wife. The twins took a seat beside Liana which make her between them again. Shelly put down their plate and claps her hand. “Attention. Dear, I cook all of this for you, as I said. I don’t know what you like and dont so I just cook everything in the book recipe. I even add my menu!! Oh oh oh!! I think you might like this!! This is lasagne. This is my favorite so it is one of my recommendations–and OH!! FIORENTINA STEAK!!! Italy’s best food. I also make–”

“Honey, you can stop now. We wouldn’t eat dinner if you keep going which we know, you will finish the next day.” Hower holds his wife’s arms to make her sit.

“Oops. I got carried away… once again, aren’t I?” She smiles sheepishly, biting her tip fingernails. All of them give her a nod. But for Liana, she knows this woman is just excited. She gives a welcome vibe.

“I–It’s okay.” Liana lifted her plate with a smile. “Can you… g–give anything you recommend of?” She grins. Shelly jaw-dropping. Doesn’t expect her to be okay with it.

“ABSOLUTELY, DEAR!!” Shelly clapped her hands.

Hower looks at the girl with a gentle smile. No wonder why this is Thaver’s daughter. She got a sweet attitude from her mother. The way she smiles, it looks much like Thaver. Her vibes, soft-spoken person, strong, sweet, everything like her parents. There’s no doubt. AT ALL.

“You sure you can eat all of this, baby?” Enzo asks in an unsure tone. There’s a lot of food on the girl’s plate.

“It looks delicious.” She licks her lips and starts eating. Leo chuckles and kisses her forehead.

“Let her be, En.” He said.

Hower just smiles at the scene. “You have a great daughter, T.” He mumbles before starts eating.

The dinner went smoothly. Laughter always fills the room. There’s no tension. Not a bit. Cheerful vibes are hanging around them, more like family time. Liana thought, she wouldn’t feel this again. But she’s wrong. There’s always a second chance for her. Soon the dinner ended, and she sat on the rocking chair on the balcony of the guest room.

Stars are everywhere in the dark sky. Her parents appeared inside her mind. Then, her foster parent and lastly Ivan. They all died. Because of one same person. She reaches her hands out to the sky. “Am I doing the right thing?” She asked more to herself.

Her loved one died.

By one same person.

That ruin her life.

Her hands clenched into fists. Suddenly, a larger hand wrapped her tiny cute fist making her snap out of her thoughts. She looks beside her and saw Leo. “Hey, Lili.”

“Little one.” He picks her up from the seat before he’s the one who sits there.

“Hey!! T–That my sea–” She got cut when Leo pulls her to his lap. He wrapped his bulky arms around her tiny waist and snuggles her face on the back of her neck. “Where’s Ennie?” She asks.

“Downstairs. Talking with dad.”

“Hmm.”

The silence between them. It’s not awkward or anything. It’s just a peaceful one. But then, she broke the silence. “Lili. Can I–I ask you something?” Her fingers traced the tattoo on his veiny hands and arms.

“Sure, little one.” He whispers.

“Is it… b–bad if I… agreed to take over… m–y father clan?” She asks, in a nervous state. Afraid if he thinking opposite of it.

Leo’s movement stops. His body was tense and Liana didn’t know if that was a good sign or a bad sign. She was almost at the edge of crying. He turns her around to face him and straddle him.

“Little one. Are you sure?” He asks with a blank face.

“I… I–I don’t know what happened. But… the t–thought of losing someone I love again makes me scared.” Her tears slid out of her eyes. Leo’s silence makes her continue. “When my parents and step-family d–died, killed by t–the same person… make me…” She couldn’t continue her sentences. As if she doesn’t understand what happened to her.

“You are angry.” Leo spokes.

“W–What?”

“You are angry. You want to make revenge. You want to end all of this. You want to let the pain out to the person who kill your loved one. You want to be relieved.” He spoke in detail.

“Revenge? I–I want… revenge?” She frowns.

“Yes. You are probably the pure and sweetest girl which makes you always think positively about people.” Leo caressed her cheeks. “Do you understand?” He asks when earning a silence from her.

“I–Is it… a bad thing?” She asks.

“Not really. Everyone does feel like that. Now, are you sure want to be the next heir of your father’s clan?” Leo asking.

Difference from how she answered before, this time she answer with full of confidence and sureness. “Yes. I will be the next leader of my father’s clan.”

Leo smirks. He can’t believe he and his brother got this strong and brave baby girl. “You heard that En, she will be the next queen.” He spokes making Liana confused. Enzo steps out of his hiding place with a smirk.

“My baby is the next leader now, huh?” Enzo pats her head.

“It–It didn’t bother you?”

“Bother us? Pfft. We more than like it. We are proud of you, love. You took the challenge. You took the stand for your loved one.” He kneels in front of her, “We don’t have anything to say but proud. Such a brave baby, aren’t you? Your entire family must be proud of you, baby.” His comfort and gentle words just make the little girl feel even better.

“But… I–I don’t know where to start.” She pouted.

The brother’s exchange looks with knowing smirks. Look like they have to be their girl’s personal trainers. “Don’t worry, love. We will handle that for you.”