Life of a Donna

Chapter Seven

Time skip: Mall

Once we were able to find a park, I underestimated how busy the mall would be. I was hoping to get in early, but even that did not work. I discussed with Michael and Anthony what my plan for today was, and they seemed happy enough. A few of the stores I wanted to go to were near or the same as they wanted to visit.

“First stop: the chemist,” Michael announced, glancing at me.

“Right,” I said, my cheeks burning. “Cool. Thanks.”

The chemist was a quick stop. I grabbed my pads, my favorite shampoo and conditioner, and a few skincare products. When I pulled out my own card to pay, Michael raised an eyebrow. “You know you don’t have to do that, right? Dad gave you his card for a reason.”

“I know,” I said, shrugging. “But it feels weird using it for… personal stuff. Like pads and shampoo. I’ll save it for the big things.”

Anthony chuckled. “Fair enough. But don’t think you’re getting out of using it later. We’ve got plans for you.”

I wasn’t sure whether to be excited or terrified. Next, we hit the higher-end stores. The boys were like tour guides, pointing out the best places and dragging me into shops I would never have dared to enter on my own. Michael and Anthony were a tag team, tossing clothes at me like they were on a mission.

“Try this,” Michael said, holding up a leather jacket that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe back home.

“And this,” Anthony added, shoving a pair of boots into my arms. “Trust me, you’ll thank us later.”

I hesitated, clutching the items like they might bite me. “I don’t know… this feels like too much.”

Michael rolled his eyes. “Relax, Bernadette. You’re overthinking it. Just try it on. If you hate it, we’ll move on.”

I sighed but gave in, disappearing into the fitting room. When I stepped out, the jacket fit perfectly, and the boots… well, they were amazing. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and almost didn’t recognize the girl staring back at me.

“See?” Anthony said, grinning. “Told you.”

“Okay, fine,” I admitted, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You were right.”

Michael clapped his hands. “That’s what we like to hear. Now, let’s keep going. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”

By the time we moved on to underwear and shoes, I was starting to relax. The awkwardness was fading, replaced by a growing sense of camaraderie. Gerard and Matthew joined us halfway through, and the dynamic shifted again. Gerard was the quiet, observant one, offering thoughtful suggestions, while Matthew was the jokester, cracking one-liners that had me laughing despite myself.

“You know,” Matthew said, holding up a pair of neon green sneakers, “these would really bring out your eyes.”

I snorted. “Yeah, if I wanted to blind everyone I met.”

“Exactly,” he said, grinning. “Assert dominance.”

By the time we finished, I had a mountain of bags and a newfound appreciation for my brothers. They were loud, a little overbearing, and definitely too much at times, but they were also… kind. And funny. And, dare I say it, fun to be around.

Our security team took the mountain of bags back to the cars, and we headed to the food court for lunch. I was not exactly starving—I have never had a massive appetite—but watching the boys eat was something else entirely. It was like witnessing a competitive sport.

Michael, Anthony, Gerard, and Matthew each ordered enough food to feed a small army. Three burgers, fries, drinks, and ice cream—per person. I sat there with my modest salad and a bottle of water, staring at them in awe.

“How do you even…?” I started, trailing off as Michael took a bite of his second burger like it was nothing.

“What?” Anthony asked, mouth full of fries. “You’ve never seen someone eat before?”

“Not like this,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s like watching a nature documentary. ‘And here we see the wild Locatelli brothers in their natural habitat, consuming everything in sight.’”

Gerard snorted, nearly choking on his drink. “Careful, Bernadette. You’re starting to sound like Matthew.”

Matthew grinned, holding up his ice cream like a trophy. “Hey, I’ll take that as a compliment. I’m the funny one, remember?”

“Debatable,” Anthony muttered, earning a playful shove from Matthew.

I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound surprised even me. It felt good to let my guard down, even if just a little. These guys were loud, messy, and completely overwhelming, but they were also… kind of great.

“You’re not eating much,” Michael said, nodding at my barely touched salad. “You sure that’s enough?”

“It’s plenty,” I said, poking at a piece of lettuce. “I’m not used to eating a lot. Besides, watching you guys makes me full.”

Matthew leaned over, stealing a cherry tomato from my plate. “You’re missing out. Food is life.”

“Food is your life,” Gerard corrected. “The rest of us have other interests.”

“Like what?” Matthew shot back. “Brooding in dark corners?”

“Exactly,” Gerard said, deadpan. “It’s a full-time job.”

I laughed again, shaking my head. “You guys are ridiculous.”

“And you’re stuck with us,” Anthony said, grinning. “So, you might as well embrace it.”

By the time we finished lunch—or, more accurately, by the time they finished lunch—I was feeling more at ease than I had all day. These guys weren’t just my brothers; they were my people. Loud, messy, and completely over-the-top, but mine.

“Alright,” Michael said, standing up and stretching. “Ready to hit the department stores? We’ve got a room to decorate.”

I hesitated, glancing at the mountain of bags we’d already accumulated. “Do we really need more stuff?”

“Yes,” all four of them said in unison, their tone leaving no room for argument.

I sighed, but there was a smile on my face as I stood up. “Fine. But if you try to make me buy neon green bedding, I’m out.”

Matthew gasped, clutching his chest like I’d wounded him. “You take that back. Neon green is a lifestyle.”

“It’s a crime against interior design,” I shot back, earning a round of laughter from the others.

As we made our way to the department stores, I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter. These guys were a lot to handle, but they were also exactly what I needed. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

The department store trip turned out to be surprisingly quick. Apart from picking out midnight blue paint for a feature wall – I was fine with the white walls, but white gets boring, and I had visions of a celestial-themed room. My brothers organized everything to be delivered. They’d even pre-selected furniture and bedding based on pictures I’d shown them. I added glow-in-the-dark stars and paint to my shopping list. I was already planning how many different constellations I could paint.

On the ride back with Gerard and Matthew, the mood was relaxed. Then, Gerard broke the quiet. "So," he began, leaning back against his seat, "there's a family meeting tonight. Same lounge room you saw the first day."

Matthew nodded, adding, “Dad wants everyone there. Apparently, it’s... important.” His tone was casual, but the way he stressed the word ‘important’ hinted at something more significant than a casual chat.

A prickle of unease ran down my spine. "Important how?" I asked, my voice a little higher than intended.

Gerard shrugged, a rare flash of something unreadable in his eyes. "You’ll find out. Don't worry too much. It's probably just some usual family stuff." His attempt at reassurance sounded unconvincing, even to me.

Matthew gave me a reassuring grin, a stark contrast to Gerard's cryptic statement. “Don’t worry too much, Bernie. We’ll be there to back you up. Besides,” he winked, “family meetings are always more fun when there’s drama.” His light-heartedness did little to ease my apprehension.

The family meeting, combined with the cryptic comments from my brothers, sparked a new wave of anticipation mixed with a healthy dose of apprehension. What exactly was so important that Dad needed to call a meeting? And what exactly did Matthew mean by ‘drama’? The image of their extravagant dinner haunted me. Was this what usually happened during their family meetings? The unknown loomed, and that, more than anything, made me nervous.

After that, there was silence before I thought of something. “Can I ask, I do not see any wives or girlfriends, and you all still live at home. Why is that?”

“We are the mafia. We have arranged marriages. Steady girlfriends will just get hurt when we are not able to stay with them. It is better to have flings until a marriage match is made. Edward and Isaiah were married, but one passed away in childbirth and the other was killed when we were facing war. Both have children, so there is no need for them to be remarried. Oliver is engaged to Don Nikola’s cousin. When she arrives, they will be married the following month. She lives in Italy. Anthony, Michael and Corey are also engaged. Corey is waiting for his fiancé to turn twenty-one. Anthony and Michael are having joint weddings as they are marrying twin sisters. It is something that is tradition for twins to marry twins. Timothy, Justin, Gerard and I are just waiting for our time.” Matthew explained.

“Oh wow. Does that mean I will have an arrangement as well?” I asked, worried. I still had not told my family what happened to me and I did not want to face the possibility of having a marriage to worry about.

“I am sure it is already being arranged since we have seen Don Alejandro more in just the last two days since you arrived.” I do not even want to think about that possibility.

“Where are Edward’s and Isaiah’s children? I have not seen any children.”

“Isaiah’s children are four and two, Edwards' child is three. They spend time with them, we all do, but we do not want to overwhelm you. If you want to meet them, they will be glad they have been asking about their aunty.”

“That is great, I have a certificate in early childhood. I could help out with them, and you said the eldest is four. I could help them start to get ready for school. Oh, this is going to be so much fun. I cannot wait.” Gerard and Matthew laughed at my excitement, but I did not mind this time. Young children are so full of life, they have no worries. Being around a child lightens my chest and everything just feels better after being around them. Maybe they could give my life purpose again.

Once we arrived back at their home, we parked in the area near the door. Gerard asked the guards if they could take our bags up to the rooms, and we headed into the lounge. When we entered, I stopped. It seemed everyone was here. Even Don Alejandro and Don Nickola and a few new faces.

“Oh wow, you do not joke around when you call a meeting, do you?” I thought as I took a look at just who was in the room.

“How went the shopping trip? You did not spend much.” Dad inquired as I handed him his card back.

“I got a few personal items I felt uncomfortable having you pay for. But otherwise, I did spend a lot, so we might have to talk about what you consider to be a lot. I got the clothes I need. Any more and I will not wear everything, and I think that is just wasteful. Why buy something just to wear it once or only the possibility that it might be worn out. No, thank you. If it needs replacing, I will replace it at that time. If I need something different, or I do not have, I will buy it then. Besides, I mainly wear hoody’s, sweatshirts, tracksuit pants, sports clothing and occasionally jeans and shorts. My room costs the most, but I cannot wait to start on my night wall. I used to love climbing on my roof and just spent hours looking at the sky. Now I am going to have the sky on my wall. I cannot wait. I have even looked up constellations I can copy so it is exact. Glow in the dark stars and paint will really give it an amazing effect too.”

“What personal items did you not feel comfortable having me buy? I am your dad; I should be able to buy you anything.” I was touched that he wanted to be so involved, it had been a long time since anyone showed any interest in me. It would take me a while to get used to how much these strangers are trying to break down my walls.

Leaning over, I whispered, “sanitary items.”

“What?”

“Pads dad. I need pads for my periods.” I replied louder than I had intended, judging by the looks on some of the others' faces as there was a mixture of disgust, embarrassment and amusement.

“Oh, yes, well. That is definitely going to take getting used to again. Talia has not had to worry about periods since her complications during the births of Gerard and Matthew. Anyway, I am glad to have one sensible person when it comes to spending, but that is something that you do not have to worry about. Unless I cannot understand the purchase, I would be fine with whatever you spend.”

“I know, but still, I guess it is just different circumstances and all. I worked for what little I received, and I guess it has made me overly cautious when it comes to spending money. I am not saying you do not work; I am just saying our rewards for working are different. So, some of us do not care and others are overly cautious. By the way, I want to meet my nephews or nieces and this meeting. Am I needed here?” I rushed on, I was still not used to the size of my family and I could see by the look on Talia’s face she would rather not look at me, and I was fine with not being around her. I turned to face Don Alejandro when he took it as his cue to start speaking.

“Yes. This meeting is about you. Today I was contacted by a rival mafia, Don Alberto is requesting a meeting. When I asked for a reason, he claimed that we had recently taken guardianship of his granddaughter.”

The room fell silent. A hush descended, heavy and suffocating, replacing the comfortable murmur of earlier conversations. My laughter, a nervous, high-pitched sound, echoed strangely in the stillness. It was a reaction born of disbelief, of sheer, unadulterated shock. I hadn’t intended to laugh; it just... happened. A nervous tic, a release of tension I hadn’t even realized I was doing.

My father, his face a mask of controlled fury, stared at me. Michael’s jaw was clenched, his usual jovial expression replaced by a grim set to his lips. Anthony looked stunned, his eyes wide, while Gerard and Matthew exchanged a look that spoke volumes of unspoken apprehension. Even the usually unflappable Edward looked... unsettled.

The silence stretched, thick and heavy, before my Don Alejandro spoke, his voice low and dangerously calm. "This is not a joke, Bernadette. Don Alberto has claimed that you are his granddaughter."

The absurdity of the situation hit me then, washing over me in a wave of disorientation. A mafia granddaughter? Me? It was ludicrous, unbelievable, a plot twist from a badly written novel. Yet, the grim expressions on the faces of everyone in the room told me this was far from fiction. My laughter died in my throat, replaced by a cold knot of fear. This was real. This was happening. And I had no idea what to do.