(A/n: a lot of pov changes here!)

Francesco's POV:

The drive to the triplets' house was tense, the air thick with unspoken fears and barely contained rage. I sat behind the wheel, my grip on the steering wheel so tight my knuckles had gone white. Enzo was beside me, practically vibrating with anger, while Leo and Ricc were in the back, both silent but clearly just as wound up. No one said a word, but we all knew what we were thinking.

Stacy. Our little sister. The thought of her lying somewhere, hurt and vulnerable, made my blood boil. The triplets had better have a good explanation for why she wasn't with us right now.

As we pulled up to the triplets' house, I could see Noah, Lily, and Ollie standing outside, waiting. The sight of them didn't calm me down one bit. If anything, seeing them made my anger flare hotter.

I parked the car, and before the engine was even off, Enzo was already out of the car, storming toward the triplets. I followed, my heart pounding in my chest, the only thing keeping me from going off being the need to see Stacy.

Noah stepped forward, his hands up in a placating gesture. "Cesco, Ricc, Enzo, Leo... I know you're angry, but Stacy's inside, and she's stable. We can't have a shouting match out here."

"Then let us see her," Ricc demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "Now."

Lily nodded, stepping aside. "She's upstairs, in the guest room. We'll take you to her."

We didn't wait for another word. We pushed past them, heading into the house. My mind was racing, a mix of relief that she was here, and fury that she wasn't with us where she belonged.

We reached the guest room, and I braced myself before pushing the door open.

Stacy was lying in the bed, looking small and fragile beneath the covers. The sight of her like that hit me like a punch to the gut. She was pale, her skin marked with fresh bruises, and there were bandages covering parts of her arms and face. I could feel my brothers tense beside me, their reactions mirroring my own.

I turned to Noah, my voice cold. "What happened?"

Noah exchanged a look with Lily and Ollie before stepping forward. "We found her last night, unconscious and bleeding. She'd been shot and had fallen off her bike. The Irish did this. We brought her here, got a doctor to check her over. She's stable now, but she's been through hell."

"Why didn't you bring her to us?" Ricc snapped, his anger barely contained.

"Because it wasn't safe to move her," Lily interjected, her tone firm but not confrontational. "The doctor said she needed to stay put, at least until she's more stable. Moving her could have made things worse."

Enzo clenched his fists, his face a mask of barely controlled rage. "And you expect us to just trust that?"

"Enzo," Leo said quietly, trying to calm him down, but even he sounded shaken. "Let's just hear them out."

I took a deep breath, trying to think clearly despite the rage burning in my chest. "Tell us everything. How did this happen?"

Ollie sighed, looking at Stacy with a pained expression. "We don't know the details. We found her like this. It looks like the Irish ambushed her. They've been after her for a while now, trying to get back at us by targeting her. She put up a hell of a fight, but they got the drop on her."

Noah nodded. "We didn't want to keep this from you, but we had to make sure she was safe first. We know how much she means to you guys."

"She's our sister," Ricc said, his voice tight. "She shouldn't have been here alone."

"We're not trying to replace you," Lily said softly, her eyes full of understanding. "We're just trying to help."

I looked at Stacy again, my anger fading into something deeper, something more painful. She'd always been tough, stronger than most people gave her credit for. But seeing her like this, it reminded me that she wasn't invincible. None of us were.

"Is she going to be okay?" I asked, my voice quieter now.

"The doctor thinks so," Ollie replied. "But it's going to take time. She needs rest, and she needs to be somewhere safe."

"And that's not here," Ricc said, looking at me. "We should take her home, Cesco."

"I agree," Enzo added, his voice rough with emotion. "She belongs with us."

Noah hesitated, then said, "I understand where you're coming from, but moving her right now isn't the best idea. She's in a delicate state. If you take her, it has to be done carefully."

I could see the sense in his words, but it didn't make it any easier to accept. Stacy was our sister, and she should be with her family. But at the same time, the last thing we wanted was to make things worse for her.

Finally, I nodded. "We'll wait until she's stronger. But we're staying here until then. And when she's ready, we're taking her home."

Noah didn't argue. He just nodded, understanding that this was the best compromise we could offer.

As I sat down beside Stacy's bed, I felt the weight of everything settle onto my shoulders. The Irish had crossed a line, and they were going to pay for what they did to her. But right now, the most important thing was making sure Stacy got better.

And once she did, there would be hell to pay.

Lily's POV:

The past few days had been a whirlwind of tension and worry, with Stacy's brothers crashing at our place, turning it into a crowded, chaotic mess. Our house was big, but with four extra men around, it felt like the walls were closing in on us. Not to mention, they weren't exactly the easiest people to live with.

Francesco was the most level-headed, but even he was on edge, constantly pacing and barking orders at his brothers. Ricc was quieter, brooding in the corners and giving everyone the side-eye. Enzo... well, Enzo was like a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment. And Leo, while he tried to lighten the mood with jokes, wasn't his usual self. The stress was getting to all of us.

They might've been Stacy's brothers, but they weren't used to living under someone else's roof, especially ours. It was like having a pack of wolves in the house—territorial, intense, and always on high alert.

And then there was the constant bickering. The kitchen had become a battleground over who got the coffee first, the bathroom a war zone over shower times, and don't even get me started on the TV remote. Our parents were saints for putting up with it, but even they had their limits.

But amidst all the tension, our main focus was Stacy. She was still unconscious, and every day that passed felt like an eternity. We took turns sitting by her bed, waiting for any sign that she might wake up. The doctor came by regularly, checking her vitals, making sure she was healing, but the uncertainty hung over us like a dark cloud.

It was early morning, just after sunrise, when I found myself in Stacy's room again, sitting in the chair beside her bed. The house was eerily quiet for once, everyone either still asleep or too exhausted to argue. I was staring at her, willing her to open her eyes, when I saw it—a small twitch of her fingers.

I sat up straighter, my heart suddenly pounding. "Stacy?" I whispered, leaning closer.

Her eyelids fluttered, and for a second, I thought I'd imagined it. But then, slowly, her eyes opened, squinting against the light.

"Stacy!" I said, a bit louder this time, my voice trembling with relief. I reached out, gently brushing her hair back from her face. "You're awake."

She blinked a few times, her gaze unfocused, as if she was trying to make sense of where she was. "Lily?" Her voice was weak, barely more than a whisper.

I nodded, tears springing to my eyes. "Yeah, it's me. You're safe. You're at our house."

She tried to move, wincing as she did. I could see the pain in her eyes, and it tore at my heart. "Don't try to move too much. You've been through a lot. Just take it easy, okay?"

Stacy nodded slightly, her expression softening as she took in her surroundings. "What... what happened?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to tell her right now. "You got hurt. Badly. The Irish..." I trailed off, not wanting to overwhelm her. "But you're safe now. We've been taking care of you."

She nodded again, her gaze searching mine. "My brothers...?"

"They're here," I assured her. "They've been here the whole time, driving us crazy, but they're here. They've been worried sick about you."

A faint smile tugged at her lips. "That sounds like them."

I let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah, they've been a handful. But we're all just glad you're okay."

As if on cue, the door creaked open, and Noah poked his head in. When he saw Stacy awake, his eyes widened, and he quickly called for the others. In seconds, the room was filled with people—Cesco, Ricc, Enzo, Leo, Ollie, and even my parents, all crowding around the bed, their expressions a mix of relief and disbelief.

"Stacy," Cesco breathed, his voice thick with emotion. He reached out, taking her hand gently in his. "Thank God."

Ricc stood back, his arms crossed, but there was a softness in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "You scared the hell out of us, you know that?"

Stacy gave them a tired smile. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize," Enzo said gruffly, though I could see his anger was more at the situation than at her. "Just... don't ever do that again."

Leo, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up, his tone light despite the heaviness of the moment. "Next time you want to go on an adventure, how about you take one of us with you, yeah? Preferably me. I could use the excitement."

That got a small chuckle from Stacy, and I could see some of the tension ease from everyone's shoulders. She was awake. She was okay. For now, that was all that mattered.

As the others continued to fuss over her, I stepped back, giving them space. It wasn't lost on me how close we'd all come to losing her, and how much it had taken just to get to this point. Living with her brothers might've been a nightmare, but it was worth it if it meant Stacy was safe and on the road to recovery.

And despite the crowded house, the bickering, and the sheer chaos of the past few days, I wouldn't have traded it for anything. Because family—whether by blood or bond—was what kept us going. And seeing Stacy awake, surrounded by people who loved her, made every bit of it worthwhile.

Stacy's POV:

Waking up was like crawling out of a deep, dark pit. My body felt heavy, my mind clouded, but the pain was unmistakable—a sharp, insistent reminder that I was still alive. I opened my eyes slowly, taking in the familiar surroundings of the triplets' guest room. The soft light filtering through the curtains told me it was either early morning or late afternoon. Hard to tell. My head throbbed, but the fog was lifting, and with it, my instincts kicked in.

I heard footsteps outside the door, the sound barely registering before it creaked open. Lily's face appeared, her eyes widening when she saw me awake. She played her part well—concerned, caring. I almost felt bad for deceiving her.

"Stacy?" she whispered, stepping in carefully, as if afraid I'd break. "You're awake."

I forced a small smile, the innocent, naive girl they all thought I was. "Lily... what happened?"

She rushed to my side, pouring water and holding the glass to my lips. I took a few sips, grateful for the cool liquid, and handed it back, my hands trembling slightly. Not from fear, but from the sheer exhaustion of keeping up this charade.

Before she could say anything else, the door burst open, and my brothers stormed in. Cesco was in the lead, his face a mixture of relief and anger. Ricc, Enzo, and Leo weren't far behind, their expressions equally intense.

I made sure my eyes widened in fear and confusion, shrinking back against the pillows. "Cesco... what's going on?"

Cesco approached cautiously, his usual cold demeanor cracking as he reached for my hand. "Stacy, we've been worried sick. You... you were hurt."

I looked down at the sheets, pulling them tighter around myself, playing the part. "I don't remember much... there was a fight... I tried to run..."

Enzo clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. "You were shot, Stacy. Do you even realize how close we came to losing you?"

I flinched, more from habit than actual fear. I'd faced far worse than this in my time as Donna of the Greek mafia. But they didn't know that. They couldn't know.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, letting tears well up in my eyes. "I didn't mean to cause trouble. I was just trying to get away."

Leo, ever the joker, tried to ease the tension. "Well, you sure know how to give us a heart attack, sis. Maybe next time, just stick to shopping sprees, okay?"

I gave a weak laugh, as if I hadn't heard that a hundred times before. "I'll try."

Lily cleared her throat, sensing the tension. "I'll give you guys some space," she said, backing towards the door. "Just call if you need anything."

Once she was gone, the room became suffocating, their concern pressing down on me like a weight. I let a few moments of silence pass, letting them think I was fragile, before I made my move.

"I need to tell you something," I said, my voice small.

Cesco frowned, his protective instincts on high alert. "What is it?"

I hesitated, letting them see the doubt, the fear. "I know... about everything. About you being the Italian mafia. About the triplets being in the British mafia."

Their shock was almost comical. Cesco's eyes widened, Ricc went pale, Enzo looked like he might punch something, and Leo's mouth dropped open.

"How...?" Ricc started, but I cut him off, letting a tear slip down my cheek.

"I've known for a while," I said, my voice trembling. "I didn't want to believe it, but... the signs were all there. I was just too scared to say anything."

Enzo took a step forward, his anger giving way to desperation. "Stacy, we were trying to protect you."

I let out a small, bitter laugh. "Protect me? By lying to me? By keeping me in the dark?"

"Stacy," Cesco started, trying to keep his voice calm. "It's not that simple."

"Then make it simple," I challenged, my eyes wide and innocent. "Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you didn't trust me."

Ricc's face softened, and he stepped closer, reaching for my hand. "We love you, Stacy. We didn't want you to get hurt."

I let him take my hand, feeling the warmth, the strength in his grip. But inside, I was calculating, planning my next move. "I love you too," I whispered, letting the tears fall. "But I'm scared. I don't want to lose you."

Cesco leaned in, his voice low and soothing. "You won't. We'll protect you, no matter what."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. Not from fear, but from the thrill of the game. They had no idea who I really was, what I was capable of. And I intended to keep it that way.

"I'm tired," I said, letting my voice waver. "Can we talk about this later?"

"Of course," Cesco said quickly, standing up. "You need to rest."

The others murmured their agreements, backing away from the bed. I watched them go, my eyes wide and innocent, my heart cold as ice.

Once they were gone, I let out a breath, closing my eyes. The truth was, I didn't trust them. I couldn't afford to. In my world, trust was a weakness, and I had no intention of being weak.

They might be my brothers, but they didn't know me. Not really. And I intended to keep it that way.

the door creaked open again, this time more quietly. I didn't even have to look up to know who it was. Noah's footsteps were light, careful, like he didn't want to disturb me, but I could feel his presence, warm and familiar.

He didn't say anything at first, just walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge. I could sense him watching me, trying to figure out how I was feeling, if I was okay.

But I didn't need to be handled with care, at least not in the way everyone thought. I was far from fragile, far from the scared little girl they believed me to be. Still, I knew Noah's concern was genuine, and I couldn't deny that it meant something to me—more than I wanted to admit.

"Hey," he finally whispered, his voice soft and full of that protective tone I was so used to. He reached out, brushing a stray hair away from my face, his touch gentle.

I opened my eyes and met his gaze, trying to keep the turmoil inside from showing. "Hey."

"You doing okay?" he asked, his brows knitting together in concern. He always had that way about him—so earnest, so caring. It made it harder to keep my guard up, harder to keep pretending.

"Yeah," I lied, my voice barely a whisper. "Just tired."

Noah didn't look convinced, but he didn't push. Instead, he shifted closer, sliding into the bed next to me. His arms wrapped around me carefully, and I couldn't help but lean into his warmth, into the comfort he always brought. It felt safe, even if nothing else did.

He held me close, his chin resting on top of my head, and for a moment, I allowed myself to just be in the moment. To feel his steady heartbeat against mine, to let the tension ease from my body. I didn't have to keep up the act with him. At least not entirely. Noah was one of the few people who saw me, who understood me, even if he didn't know the whole truth.

"I'm here, Stace," he murmured, his voice a soothing hum in the quiet room. "You don't have to go through this alone."

His words hit harder than I expected, and I felt a lump rise in my throat. I buried my face in his chest, closing my eyes tightly, not wanting to let the tears fall again. Not in front of him.

"I know," I managed to choke out, my voice trembling. "Thank you."

We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other in the silence. I could feel the weight of everything—the lies, the secrets, the dangers—pressing down on me. But with Noah here, it felt a little lighter, a little easier to bear.

Eventually, the exhaustion took over, pulling me into the darkness of sleep. Noah's arms around me, his warmth, his steady presence—it was the last thing I felt before I drifted off, letting the world and all its chaos fade away, if only for a little while.

For the first time in days, I felt... at peace. And as much as I hated to admit it, I needed that. I needed him.

Noah's POV

Last night, as I made my way to Stacy's room, I couldn't shake the knot of worry in my chest. Ever since she'd been brought here, battered and bruised, I'd been restless. She was the strongest person I knew—unbreakable, or so it seemed—but seeing her like that... it messed with my head.

I paused outside her door, hesitating for just a second before pushing it open. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the nightlight casting long shadows on the walls. Stacy was lying in bed, her face turned away from the door. Her breathing was steady, but I could tell she wasn't asleep. She was too still, too tense.

I walked over quietly and sat down on the edge of the bed. She didn't move, didn't acknowledge me, but I knew she was aware of my presence. I reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Her skin felt cool under my fingers, too cool, and I frowned.

"Hey," I whispered, my voice softer than I intended. "You doing okay?"

She opened her eyes slowly, meeting my gaze. There was a flicker of something there—something she was trying to hide. "Yeah, just tired," she replied, but the way she said it, I knew she was lying. She always tried to tough it out, to pretend like everything was fine, but I could see through her.

I didn't push her, though. I knew better than that. Instead, I slid under the covers beside her, pulling her close. She didn't resist, just melted into me, her head resting against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her as tight as I dared, not wanting to hurt her but needing her to know I was here.

I felt her relax slightly, her breath evening out as she leaned into me. "I'm here, Stace," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "You don't have to go through this alone."

For a moment, I thought she was going to push me away, but then she just nodded, her face buried in my chest. "I know. Thank you," she whispered back, her voice so small, so vulnerable.

We stayed like that for what felt like hours, just holding each other. I could feel her heartbeat against mine, slow and steady, and it brought a sense of calm that I hadn't felt in days. Eventually, her breathing grew softer, more even, and I knew she'd fallen asleep.

I stayed awake for a while, just watching her. There was something about seeing her like this—so peaceful, so unguarded—that made me want to protect her even more. She was always so strong, so fierce, but I knew there was more to her than that. There was a part of her that was still hurting, still scared, and I wanted to be the one to help heal those wounds.

When I finally drifted off to sleep, it was with the sound of her breathing in my ears, her warmth against my side. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was going to be okay.

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I had woken up earlier, feeling Stacy's steady breathing against my chest. She was still asleep, her head resting on my chest, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of relief that she was here, safe, and alive. But I also knew her well enough to know that the moment she woke up, she'd try to push herself harder than she should.

Sure enough, as soon as her eyes fluttered open and she realized where she was, I could see that familiar stubbornness flicker in her gaze. She didn't say anything at first, just sat up slowly, testing her movements. I could see the wince she tried to hide, the tightness in her jaw as she bit back the pain.

"Morning," I said softly, watching her carefully.

"Morning," she replied, her voice still rough with sleep.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, clearly intent on getting up, but I wasn't about to let her. Not after everything she'd been through. "Stace, you need to rest," I said, my voice firm but gentle.

She shot me a look, the one that usually made people back off. But I wasn't just anyone, and I wasn't about to back down. "I've been resting," she said, her tone sharp. "I need to get up, move around. I feel like I'm going to lose my mind if I stay in bed any longer."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "You were seriously injured, Stacy. You need to give your body time to heal."

"I'll heal better if I can work off some steam," she shot back, already trying to stand up.

I quickly moved to her side, gently but firmly placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're not going to the gym," I said, my voice leaving no room for argument.

She glared at me, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Noah, I'm fine. I've handled worse. I need to do something, anything other than lying in bed."

I knew that look, that tone. She wasn't going to back down easily. But I wasn't about to let her push herself to the point of making things worse. "Stacy," I said, trying to keep my voice calm, "you need to give yourself a break. Pushing yourself too hard now will only set you back."

She crossed her arms, clearly unhappy with my answer. "I'm going to the gym, Noah. You can't stop me."

"Wanna bet?" I shot back, my tone firmer now. "If you try to work out in your condition, you'll end up back in bed for even longer."

She opened her mouth to argue again, but I could see the weariness in her eyes, the pain she was trying to hide. I softened my tone, trying a different approach. "Stace, I'm not trying to control you. I just don't want you to hurt yourself more. Can we compromise?"

She frowned, clearly not thrilled about the idea, but I could see her considering it. "Compromise?" she asked warily.

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "How about this: you skip the gym for now, take a shower instead to help wake up, and then we'll go down and have breakfast together. If you're feeling up to it after that, we can talk about what you can do today."

She hesitated, clearly weighing her options. I knew she wanted to push back, to assert her independence, but I also knew she wasn't stupid. She knew I had a point.

"Fine," she said after a moment, her voice reluctant. "Shower first, then breakfast. But I'm not staying in bed all day."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Deal," I said with a small smile.

She nodded, slowly getting up from the bed. I was ready to catch her if she wobbled, but she managed to stand on her own, even if it was a bit shaky. I didn't offer to help her, knowing she'd refuse it. Instead, I just watched as she made her way to the bathroom, her stubborn determination making me both proud and worried at the same time.

While she showered, I quickly changed out of my sleep clothes and into something more casual. By the time she emerged from the bathroom, looking more awake and a little less pale, I was ready.

"Feel better?" I asked, noting the slightly improved color in her cheeks.

"A little," she admitted grudgingly.

I nodded, offering her my arm. She hesitated for a split second before taking it, and together we headed down to the kitchen. The house was quiet, the morning routine not yet in full swing, and I was grateful for the peace.

We settled into a comfortable silence as we walked, and I could feel her starting to relax a bit. Maybe it was the hot water from the shower, or maybe it was just having someone there who wasn't trying to push her or demand something from her.

When we reached the kitchen, I made us both some coffee, handing her a mug as we sat down at the table. She took it with a small nod of thanks, sipping it slowly as she stared out the window.

"Thank you," she said suddenly, her voice soft.

I looked over at her, surprised. "For what?"

"For being here," she said, not meeting my eyes. "For not pushing me too hard, but not letting me be stupid either."

I smiled a little, reaching over to take her hand. "Always, Stace. You don't have to do this alone."

She didn't say anything, just squeezed my hand in return. And for now, that was enough.

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A/n:

another long one for you guys!

I'm thinking of doing a time skip to move on a bit would you guys like that? Also what would you like to see more of in the upcoming chapters!? Let me know!

Love you all tysm for reading don't forget to vote and comment!

WC: 4835