Enzo's POV:
Almost 10 days ago:
I tried to persuade my father about not sending Vin to college. As I promised my crazy elder brother.
He seems to have made up his mind already. He's not wrong with his decision at all. Vin needs to go outside of this house to see the real world. It's not like he doesn't go outside at all, he goes to the Mall to shop with his guards.
Laure worked real hard in pursuing him to go outside. Once she got successful in taking Vin and the other guards to a carnage festival. Vin loved singing and dancing so it's only natural that he liked the new environment, but he never went there again as he hates the crowd.
Somehow Laure proves to be such a bad influencer in my brother's life. Vin's dream is to party 'all day and all night long' and Laure shows him a whole damn world to live his good-for-nothing dream; she went too far and made Vin booking the full club for a whole night.
Sigh!
I wanted to argue with my father a little bit more but I think he was right when he told me that 'this is the only way to make Vin complete his study and get the damn degree.'
I came back to my office cursing Vin in my mind, it's all your damn fault brother...! You missed three freaking semesters for no good reason.
Vin used to be my senior in college - only for a year at least.
When I was in my second semester, he skipped his fourth semester's exam because he cried too much in sorrow when his favorite character died in his favorite movie at that time. He overdid himself in crying and fell sick. Failing a semester without even appearing in the examination hall.
When I was in my third semester, he skipped his fourth semester's exam, again. This time he pricked his whole right hand with a damn cactus. That's right. He did that to himself. He was like, "not all cacti have thorns." And then to prove his point, he holds the whole damn thing with his naked hand.
For a minute, he didn't even seem to be able to let the cactus go from his hand. He was shouting on top of his lungs. Experiencing a great agony of pain and panic.
It took more than three hours for a professional doctor to remove all of those thorns and pricks. Some spines, especially thin and barbed ones, were harder to remove and caused more pain, making his whole body shake.
He was shouting and crying rivers the whole time, making not only me but his body guards embarrassed for him too. Even Dr. Erin, his psychiatrist, had a hard time to make him calm and help him to maintain his sanity.
When I was in fourth semester, same as him. He skipped the exams again while saying he didn't get to study because of me. Seriously he blamed me with a lame excuse like, "you took my best man for working for you, now there's no one to read books to me." It was the time when I joined business officially so it was only natural that I took Robert for a while.
Instead of studying he was following his damn man around when he was working for me and spent most of his time in my office. I think he felt insecure that Robert would leave him permanently and joined me at the office. It was funny to see my brother explaining the disadvantages of a 9 to 5 job to Robert.
Where I was buried under the burden of business, Vin was busy enjoying his life with zero burden over his shoulders. He used to hang around among us the whole time, playing music to release some of our tension, ordering snacks and drinks for everyone, even falling asleep in my office.
Sigh!
If father wants him to go to college he needs to go.. period.
.
The next day his bodyguards took him to the Mall to buy stuff for the college as father ordered them. I was slightly surprised when they came without any unusual drama.
I was kinda disappointed when Vin didn't throw any childish tantrums I was expecting the whole day. He just closed himself in his room.
That night it was Nero who came up with the idea of having a small pizza party. Later Laure told me that he proposed this idea only because little Leà was craving pizza.
My betrothed seems to be too happy after sharing Nero's little secret who just glared at her laughing face. My younger brother always controls himself around her. For one she's my fiancèe, and two he's kinda lunatic who fancy Leà. He always finds it better to avoid people like Laure, also he wants to stay in her good book. Reason: Leà
.
Then came the rock, paper, scissors thing. Even though it was me and Nero who competed against each other, in the end Carl was the one who took our crazy brother to college. It was not that hard for him because Erin did all the work.
At first, I thought he would literally drop crazy Vin at the college gate and come to find me because of our little secret deal. But I was surprised when it took him a while to finally show up at my door.
He even looked quite happy and amused for some reason after coming back from college, making me a little nervous. A cold shiver ran down my backbone. I immediately wanted to go and check on my elder brother's well being, like if he's alive or not.
Whatever happened at college my devil for a cousin looked satisfied - making me curious at the same time.
I gave him Erin's childhood picture as promised. He just grinned at the photo and left.
.
To celebrate the first day of Vin's college, all of us gathered for dinner. I was utterly speechless as Carl and Vin were in the same room. And all the chaos happened. Everyone got hurt including me, but I acted tough in front of everyone.
Even the doctor felt awkward to see our dishonourable conditions. Vin's bruised hand, Carl's bitten hand, Nero's broken toe nail and Laure's bleeding nose. As if that was not enough we had to call the doctor back because of the young master's fainting.
I can't believe that my crazy brother didn't even survive one damn day of college.
We were about to have a feast in the house. I don't know whose idea it was! If I ever come to know his name then I would like to punch his damn face. Because of him all of us gathered and bad things happen one after one.
That same night, it was both Carl and Erin who ended up staying in Vin's bedroom for the whole night. I didn't get any sleep as I was worried for my brother. Even though he's crazy, he's the life of this Lucchese's house. He makes this huge house feel more alive.
Then the book thing happened. I instructed Erin to hide my secret book somewhere in Vin's bedroom. I know I can trust her. But later, I was taken aback when I saw the same damn book on my shelf at its usual place. Damn you, Carl!
.
Later that night when my brother fainted I asked Robert to give a report about Vin's day in college. I was not surprised at all to know that crazy Vin made him attend three of his classes in his place.
I noticed he was thinking about something, as if contemplating about telling me or not. Robert is a smart guy. If it's important enough for me to know then he would tell me without even having any second thoughts.
I felt a little uneasy at first to ask him to go to the college in Vin's place for a day or two because class attendance in our college is as important as getting good marks.
.
For the next two days, Robert goes to the college while Vin gives me strange looks for some unknown reason. As if I offended him somehow, did I? After getting annoyed, I tried to ask his guards but they didn't open their mouths. I'm sure they were well aware of the reason. And hiding it from me on Vin's order.
In the evening, Robert teaches everything to Vin which he learnt at college. Vin always had a bored expression on his face, but he listens to everything anyway.
.
After two days, something uncanny happened. Vin woke up early on his own and got ready for college, surprising everyone.
But unfortunately it was his off day. My crazy brother didn't even bother to check his own bloody schedule of classes.
It took almost everything for his guards to make him stop from going to college and he finally gave up.
I was ready to go college when Vin came running outside the house. I just raised my eyebrows in question though my left eye twitched.
What came out of his mouth made me stunned for a second. He wanted to go to college with me! At first I didn't even know how to reply.
Then I said, "No."
As soon as the damn word left out of my mouth, crazy Vin flipped. It took me more than ten minutes to throw that clingy brother of mine away. He jumped on my back without having a plan to ever let go. Both of us cause a hell lot of commotion in front of the house.
All the guards were looking at the scene dumbfounded. Then Laure came out hearing our strange noises but as soon as she saw us she starts laughing maniacally while slapping everyone around her.
What a way to start a day!
Dane just smiled while recording everything. There's a hell lot of CCTV cameras around us, you idiota. I nearly shout at him in exasperation but Robert took the lead and stop him while pointing at the ceiling showing a CCTV right above us. At least someone is smart around me.
"Vin! If you don't let go in a minute I swear I'll shoot you!" I growled at him in anger while trying to shake him off.
Son of a monkey!
Damn, I unconsciously cursed my own dad! Tsk!
Then I felt something... his hand went near my belt. Is he for real? He grabbed the gun in a split second and threw it towards Dane like a freaking ball.
Dane catched it unconsciously, when he realized what he caught his mouth fell open. He looked up at me, stupefied.
After a long time, Laure seems to laughed enough as she came near me and pulled Vin from behind, tightly. After that I straightened up, pulled my shirt down, tried to fix my hair, and glared at Vin who was still yelling.
He was like, "you useless brother. First you made me go to that boring hell of a place now when I wanted to go there, you are leaving me here."
Laure tried to hold him in place while my brother threw kicks in the air, only tiring himself.
"If you didn't leave in three I'm gonna let this crazy guy go!" Laure threatened me and that crazy brother of mine started counting.
"One. Two..."
I was gone before he could say three.
.
.
Last night Carl texted me that he had something to talk about. We were supposed to be meeting before class but now I'm late all because of my good-for-nothing crazy brother.
I was walking towards my faculty and saw no one. I furrowed my brows a little. Where did everyone go? As I was walking hastily in the corridor someone bumped into me.
A girl!
I just stayed in my place, but her balance was all over the place. I had to hold her in one place. Her eyes widened in horror, maybe she predicted herself falling down.
She looked up at me and then… kept looking at me. She was invading my personal space, making me a little uneasy.
"Watch where you're going." I said in my usual voice.
"Sorry sir!" She hurriedly took a step back and looked down.
Sir…? I tilted my head a little to have a better look because her fringes were all over her face. Then she looked up.
"Good morning," she said while smiling at me. Even her eyes seem to smile with her mouth.
Wow looking at her this close I found that clumsy girl has a pleasing face to look at, she looks beautiful without even trying. And that says something cause I don't usually pay attention to things like this.
Suddenly I heard a loud laugh, I raised my eyes to look behind her, she heard the disturbing sound too but didn't turn to look back. Smart girl!
"Carl! What are you doing here?" I asked a little loudly.
"I should be leaving. Have a nice day sir!" I heard her clear voice. Before I could even say anything she dashed out.
I was still standing, kinda confused for no reason.
.
"You are late. Sir." Bloody Carl came to mock me.
"Ha ha funny." I just shook my head.
"So...what do you think.?" He nodded at the way where that girl disappeared.
"About her? Why?"
"Per curiosità." He lied about his so-called curiosity.
"Volto nuovo, look nuovo." New face, new look. What else can I say?
"Non così ordinario, in my opinion." He sounded thoughtful and amused at the same time.
"È importante?" I lifted an eyebrow. He won't indulge me to talk about a girl if she wasn't important.
"Maybe... I don't know!" He answered vaguely.
"As you saw I only saw her for like a minute. I can't say anything about what I think of her."
"I'm not buying that." He walked ahead ignoring me.
"Should I call, Erin?" I tease a little.
"Ha ha now who's funny." He rolled his eyes.
We walked a few steps without speaking. Then I started again.
"I noticed how your mere presence frightened all of the students in the corridor."
He smirked a little looking around, finding not a single soul wandering. He then shook his head and... smiled?
Maybe I should get serious now because Carl is not someone who'll be interested in some random... in a girl to be exact.
"How did you come to know her? I don't think I saw her before."
"She's not in our faculty. Her major is Literature." He said, making me stop on my track.
"Same as Vin?" I lifted my eyebrows.
"Same as Vin." He repeated with a smirk. "So what do you think about her...now?" He asked again, looking at me intently.
"As in...? Is this about my brother?" I narrowed my eyes on him. He just grinned at that, getting all of my attention now.
"Tell me, caro cousin, are you planning something?" He gave me a look like I was the dumbest guy he had ever seen on earth. How dare he? I just lifted my eyebrows in question.
"You know what... forget it!" He said flatly, giving me a look that I don't really like.
We just stare at each other for a good minute. Then I backed away frowning.
"Fine. So what is it about? Why did you text me last night?"
"Non è niente." He started walking.
For nothing? Is he for real!
"Now you're making me laugh." I said seriously in my deep voice, almost growling behind him.
"Then laugh." He glared back equally and left.
Now what in the hell was that? I kinda felt stupefied standing alone in this long corridor. I glared at his back.
Bloody devil's unwanted child!
.
After that day, I didn't see that strange girl again, I was even about to forget her. Carl didn't mention her either, maybe because we were not talking at all.
I even heard that Vin wasn't complaining about the college thing anymore. Which is a good thing for everyone, but why did it make me feel anxious?
This was supposed to be his second day at college. Everything was going smoothly but later that day I heard that our people took two stalkers from our college to the warehouse.
I was furious and annoyed at the news, not a day passed without causing a headache.
Why is my life so tough! I was relieved to know that our troublemaker is fine and unharmed. I'll be lying if I said I didn't see that coming. Whenever Vin went outside things like this happened all the time. Even my crazy brother stopped reacting to this at one point.
I wanted to break all the bones in their damn bodies. How dare they follow my brother! Especially when he's not a threat to anybody.
.
Even though he seems fine after coming back from the warehouse, I know him better. Something is disturbing him but what? I tried to talk to him but he just kept yelling about stupid stuff.
I'm not that clueless as they think. Just because I'm not saying anything doesn't mean I didn't notice them at all. He's trying his best to hide something. Should I force Robert and Dane to spill everything they know?
At the warehouse, I noticed him closely, for the first time ever in his whole damn life he didn't seem afraid or annoyed by the people who came after him. He looked them in the eye. I felt his anger, he's a chill guy who doesn't give a damn about the world or its inhabitants.
He even told me to kill the guy which is not that surprising as he wanted to swap half of the annoying and boring world away, like Thanos, by snapping his fingers.
Maybe I should talk to Dr. Erin about everything personally. No one can read Vin better than her, his psychiatrist.
.
Later that night when we came back from the warehouse, I asked Robert to come to my office who looked slightly nervous for some reason. At first, I wanted to ask about what Vin was whispering to him earlier but on second thought, I think I should stay down a bit and observe everything. Maybe I'll catch the whole thing later.
I'm not so oblivious as they think I am. They get that impression because I give space to everyone and observe things from a distance.
I asked Robert to make sure Vin goes to all of his classes from now on, and never to leave him alone outside the faculty area.
He just bowed down and left, feeling visibly relieved.
Yes, they're definitely hiding something.
Sighing, I kept staring at the door while rotating my signet ring.
****