"Thank you, Heidi," I said, about to Leah the police station, my hand intertwined with Adrian's.

She smiled. "Good luck in Boston," she said, and Adrian led the way out of the room, slinging my backpack over his shoulder.

My brother strode forward, nodding to Tobin. Tobin smiled at me but looked at Adrian with a hard, cold stare.

"Thank you, Tobin."

Tobin smiled at me. "Take care, kid."

Outside the police station, Adrian led me to a BMW 3M. I felt my heart sputter with anticipation. "Go on. Seat belt on."

"Nice car," I said, sliding into the passenger seat. My brother tucked my backpack into the backseat before getting behind the wheel. He jammed the key onto the ignition and revved the engine, looking across at me.

"Do you have your license?" He asked, and I shook my head. "Why not? You're sixteen."

"My mom thinks ... thought I was too young."

"When we get to Boston, and you settle in, we can get you your permit. I mean, that's if you want to," Adrian said. I nodded, liking the idea. I wanted to have my own car, specifically a 1987 Chevelle - my dream car. "As long as you promise not to get any speeding tickets."

I smirked. "I make no promises."

He groaned but his lips twisted with amusement. "You remind me of Kieran already."

+++

We got on Adrian's private plane, and the pilot welcomed us.

Adrian greeted him with a handshake before glancing over his shoulder at me. "Take a seat anywhere. Have you been on a plane before?"

"Yes. We travelled a lot, actually." I slid into a leather seat at the back of the plane, dropping my backpack between my feet. Adrian slipped off his leather jacket, revealing many intricate tattoos on his arms. He took the seat across from me, tossing his jacket onto the seat next to him. "Why do you have your own plane?"

He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I like to travel in style. What can I say?" I gave him a pointed look, letting him know I wanted a serious answer. He sighed. "I own a security business and have to travel for work sometimes. I also hate commercial flying. People are awful."

I chuckled. "Fair enough."

We lapsed into silence as the plane took off, and I stared out the window, mentally saying goodbye to my home. Adrian leaned forward and held out his hand. "Let me see your phone, please," he said, nodding to my phone in my lap. I handed it to him, curious as to what he wanted it for. He typed quickly on the keyboard for a minute before handing it back. "I added my number as well as Nico and Kieran's."

"Oh, thank you."

"They are really looking forward to meeting you, Izzy," he murmured, "you have no idea. We've been searching for you for a long time."

"What are they like?" I asked, swallowing nervously. I was eager and anxious at the same time. "Nico and Kieran?"

Adrian smiled. "Nico is an overprotective ass, but he won't let you see it. Don't be startled by him. He means well, but, well, you'll see what I mean ... as far as Kieran goes, he's an interesting human being. I'm betting he'll be your favourite ... I mean, after me, of course."

"Can I ask you something?"

Adrian nodded, leaning forward a bit. "You can ask me anything, Izzy."

"Heidi told me what happened to our father, Lorenzo. He died in an accident, right?"

Adrian's jaw clinched but he nodded. "That's right."

"What about our mom?"

Adrian's face twisted into pain. "Our mom died about seven years ago by suicide."

I swallowed hard, a lump in my throat forming. "Because of me, because someone kidnapped me?"

"Mom struggled after you were kidnapped," he murmured. "She developed depression. She loved you so much, Izzy. Don't ever think she didn't."

+++

A car waited for us when we got off the plane in Boston. Adrian slung my backpack over his shoulder, leading the way to the driver. "Abel, good timing," he called, nodding to the man. "Izzy, this is our driver and head of security."

"Head of security?" I mimicked as Abel took my bag from my brother, popping it into the passenger seat and holding the backseat door open for my brother. Adrian glanced back at me as he paused, and I almost ran into his back.

"Yes, Abel is head of security for our family. You can trust him with your life." Adrian gestured for me to enter the car before him. I scrambled in, sliding across the seats as Adrian followed me. When the door shut, my brother eyed me, clicking his tongue. "Now, what would you like for dinner? We'll stop for whatever your heart desires."

I chose Chinese for dinner though I wouldn't eat it, and Adrian claimed he knew the best restaurant in the city. After stopping to pick it up, we were on our way home, as Adrian put it.

My brothers lived in luxury. That was clear as we arrived at a gated community in Boston, Abel pulling up to a locked gate that required him to enter a code. He typed it in quickly and drove up the driveway, tires crunching against the gravel, a house appearing as we approached. Not a house, but a mansion.

The house was two storeys, white, with dozens of windows. Abel pulled up near the front door, a large archway with a wrap-around porch with columns lining the house. It was beautiful and grand, something I never expected. Adrian didn't wait for Abel, opening the door before the car barely stopped. "Adrian, I told you to quit doing that - wait for the damn car to stop," Abel snapped, but his words fell on deaf ears as my brother held out his hand, urging me to follow him.

I had a feeling Adrian did what he wanted when he wanted. I suppressed a chuckle and reached for my brother's hand, letting him pull me out of the car. "Our brothers are inside, waiting to meet you ... you have nothing to worry about with them, okay? I promise."

His words didn't really help - my heart was beating in my chest as if it would burst at any moment. Adrian and I walked to the front door, my older brother reaching for the handle just as it was thrown open, and a wide-eyed man stood in front of me. He grinned when he noticed me, eyes softening.

"Bella- I'm Kieran, your soon-to-be favourite brother."

+++

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- Charlie 🧡