~~

Rayver's POV

I felt a soft shake in my shoulder, making me groan slightly.

"Gramma Pepper... It's too early." I grumbled.

I felt the shake again and opened my eyes to glance at the buff who was shaking me.

Annoying big gu--

Wait.

What?!

I instantly woke up, wide-eyed and all, shocked to see that I was seated in an expensive looking... Plane?

I frowned as my memories came back to me bit by bit.

A throat cleared, making me look up so fast that my glasses fell from their place. Instantly, my vision blurred.

I can't live a day without my glasses.

We soon got out of the plane, and as soon as we did, I shivered from the cold.

I guess the plane was really warm. Good thing I didn't forget to bring my--

Wait.

I don't have anything with me!

I then looked around frantically, at the same time, I hoped that nobody would notice, but of course, luck is never on my side.

"Is there something wrong?" Mister buff guy asked me. I should really ask his name soon.

"Uh... I don't think I brought any of... Any of my stuff... I kinda... Forget?" I state. Well, more like stutter a question.

"We packed your things before you got back." He said nonchalantly. At the same time, I noticed a duffle bag that some other buff guy was holding. And it looked like my bag.

I didn't know what to say to that, so I decided to just shut up.

~~

First things first, New York is amazing.

I've only seen the Big Apple on TV, so it's pretty awesome. The buildings are huge, the skyscrapers live up to their names, and everybody seems so busy.

I actually thought this place was gonna look like Gotham City from the movies. With the all around crime and graffiti that's basically everywhere.

That, or maybe we're just traveling at the expensive side of the city.

I can only imagine what the opposite side looks like.

~~

Well, here we are.

I can do this.

I can do this.

I can do this.

You can't do this.

I stared up at the big, wooden doors that looked like they cost a fortune. The steps even seemed to be made of marble.

I looked back at the way we came, a circular road that had a fountain at the middle. Around the place were guards with big guns, giving me the shivers.

Well, at least I know I'm staying at a safe place...

I turned back around and stared at the doors in front of me.

This is it.

The moment I enter this house, my life will change.

Well, I am aware that the moment I got adopted my life had changed, but now that I'm actually here, it's like out of a dream.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes for a brief second, telling all my self-doubts to suck it up.

Finally, I stepped forward. One step at a time.

And no, I'm not procrastinating. I'm not.

Before I could even touch the door knobs, it opened widely by itself, making me jump like a cat.

Wide eyed, I peeked around the door, and heaves a sigh of relief. There were people who opened it for me.

For a moment there I thought this place was haunted.

Or better yet, unbelievably high-tech.

I glanced around, nervous as to what I would see, but suddenly, all nerves flew out of the window the moment I saw the lobby.

Straight form where I was, was a big white staircase with wooden rails. The stairs parted mid-way, making two separate stairs instead of one.

There was a big crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and just below of that was a small kind of couch.

Looking around more, I noticed that there were random rugs laid out on the floor.

I looked at the guy beside me in a silent question of where would I meet him.

He gave me one glance and started walking up the stairs. As we went, I couldn't help but admire every small detail which was thoroughly made.

We made our way into what looked like a living room.

I could live here.

There was a huge, long silver couch, which had grey pillows, and a black and white patterned coffee table in the middle.

A little further straight ahead was a mini fireplace, and at the corner of the room was the TV.

Contrary to what I guessed, it wasn't a huge television which could probably look like it could swallow the whole room.

Attached to the ceiling was another chandelier. This one looked like it was pure silver and had fake candlelights on top of them.

As I was still gawking at the room, I didn't notice that mister buff guy exited. I only noticed it when I heard footsteps walking to where I was.

I quickly assessed my outfit which... Wasn't the best of the best to meet someone like Ricardo Luciano.

I was wearing a simple faded grey hoodie, dark-wash jeans, and a worn-out pair of converse.

The sound of footsteps stopping made me look up, but then again, for the second time today, my glasses bounced off my head.

They literally bounced off and into the floor, making me instantly crouch and feel the floor for them.

Once I did find it, I quickly put it one and stood straight. I kept my gaze on the ground, my embarrassment stopping me from looking up at him.

Oh God.... He probably thinks you're such a wimp now... Well, not like you didn't look like one yet. You're so scrawny and also look nerdy. He probably regrets taking you in. Ugh, you should've never lef--

My thoughts were instantly ceased as I felt arms surround me. Its heat encasing my figure. He easily towered over me in six foot five, so it seems. I'm only six flat.

His hug felt like it was one of the things that were missing in my life. Like, an addition to the broken puzzle called 'Rayver Cruise's Life'.

Never would I have imagined that I would know how it feels to be embraced by my father.

He let go of me, only to take me in arm's length, his hands in my cheeks as if he was memorizing evry feature of me.

He glanced over my whole face, and stopped to stare in my eyes. I withheld a gasp once I saw his own eyes.

"Your eyes have the Luciano gene. Mio figlio." He said the last part with an intense emotion, but sadly, I couldn't understand what it meant, causing my brows to slightly crease. {My son.}

He didn't notice it —I don't know if that's a good sign or not—, but then backed away, as if to give me back my personal space.

He still had that soft, fatherly smile on his face, as he stared at me. A second later, he looked like he was going to say something, but was cut short from a voice behind him.

"Padre? Cosa fai?" {Father? What are you doing?}

We both turned around, and what I saw shocked me more than I was when I found out that I had a biological father.

Why? Well, I just found out that I have a biological sister.

She looked at me, I looked at her.

She stared at me, I stared at her.

She was confused, I was shocked.

She rose a brow, I shrunk back. She looked back at Mr. Luciano —still calling him that in my head—, and said something in a language I had no idea of.

"Cos'è questo? Cosa sta succedendo?" {What is this? What's going on?}

Mr. Luciano gave her a wide smile, teeth and all, and replied, "Reg, questo è tuo fratello." {This is your brother.}

I really wish they would speak English already.

Shock crossed her expression before it hardened and her eyes formed into a scowl.

Now that I pay attention to it, her eyes at like Mr. Luciano's. They were silver, fading into red.

"Central heterochromia." I muttered to myself, but apparently, my voice was audible.

They both snapped their eyes to my direction, different emotions coursing through them.

Mr. Luciano's were soft and caring, while her's were hard and and filled with emotion. And not the good type of emotion.

She took long strides to my direction, her glare never faltering, making me shrink more into myself as she neared.

When she stood face to face with me, I subconsciously noted how very near our height differences were.

She's probably 5'8 or higher.

She looked into my eyes, dislike clear as daylight on her own eyes, making my insecurities come back full force.

They even brought new members

"Ugh, why did you even bring him here, Padre?" Finally some Engli-- wait, what did she say?

Mr. Luciano snapped his gaze to her, frowning slightly, "Regina stop treating him like a pet."

"Padre, a pet is what would be presented to a person while they are in a certain age, a twin is someone who is supposed to be there since birth until they die." She turned her gaze to me again, full of disgust, "This is no twin of mine."

With that, she spun around began walking to the door. Mr. Luciano sighed and looked at me, saying, "Stay here for a bit, alright? I'll go talk to her."

And so, he left me, calling my sister's name. While I lost my strength, my knees buckling, making me sit in the couch.

You aren't enough for them.

No.

They want you gone.

They don't.

She thinks that you're useless. She is telling her father to take you back.

N-no... He won't believe her... Would he?

Of course he would, that's his daughter who he's been with her entire life, while you just arrived.

And so it continued like that, me feeding my insecurities as the time passed by.

~~

Regina's POV

"Regina, wait! Regina!" I heard him calling after me as I walked away.

Paying no attention to my padre, I continued on, but unfortunately, he caught up to me and held my forearm.

"Cosa vuoi?!" I snapped at him as I turned around. {What do you want?!}

He sighed and silently led me to his office.

Once we got there, I stood in front of him and slammed my hands on the table, glaring at him. But unfortunately, only my father is the only person who is immune to my death glares.

"Padre, che cazzo?! Who the fuck is that and why did you say that we're... Related?!" I said with disgust. {What the fuck?!}

He sighed and calmly clasped his hands together, placing his elbows on the table. "What I said was what I said, Reg. That is your brother." Before I could get a word in, he continued, "And I expect you to be nice to him."

I raised a high eyebrow. Me? Nice?

As if he heard my thoughts, he corrected, "Alright, I meant that you tolerate him and try to not kill him. Please?"

"Ugh, fine! But like you said, I'll try. No promises though." I spat out.

"Regina." His voice held a warning.

"What? You can't tell me what to do!" I snapped.

"Oh, and Regina?"

"Cosa vuole da me?!" My patience is seriously wearing out. {What do you want from me?!}

He stood up and walked to me, and to my shock, he hugged me. I stood there motionless, waiting for him to let me go.

Probably noticing that I didn't recuperate his embrace, he stiffly let go. He slowly then let go and looked at me in the eyes. I didn't back down from his stare, though. I stared back defiantly.

After a few seconds, he sighed in defeat. I know why. He was most likely looking at me for a clue or a hint of emotion, but I know, and he does too, that some things are just impossible.

"Please show Rayver around, will you?" He requested as I turned around and opened the door.

I walked outside, not bothering to look back at him as I replied, "Vaffanculo." {Fuck off.}

With that said, I slammed the door with my usual force and walked to my room, not bothering to go to that stranger.

~~

[2106]

{A/N: Quick note, Regina's name is pronounced like 'Re-hi-na', but when she's being called Reg, it's pronounced like 'Redge'.

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From Me To You,
Z}