Chapter 18 Big Brother

"I was in London," Luca said casually as he leaned back in his seat. His eyes followed Gia and Daisy moving around the kitchen making coffee.

"Oh," Gia closed her hands to make sure they didn't tremble as she took the mugs out of the cabinets.

"Coffee?" Daisy turned around with the pot of dark liquid.

"Yes...." Luca nodded, his fingers drumming the counter and his calculating eyes watching the girls. "Please."

Gia stepped aside as Daisy poured three cups of coffee in silence. She passed a mug to Luca before placing the jar of sugar on the counter.

"Who's shirt are you wearing?" Luca shifted his attention to his sister.

"Mine," Daisy answered.

Luca's eyes moved to the blonde, "A little too big to be yours."

"My ex-boyfriend's," Daisy laughed.

"You kept his shirt?" Luca arched his brow.

"I keep a little something from everyone," Daisy shrugged. "You should see my storage unit."

"How many exes do you have?" Luca questioned.

"We don't have enough fingers to count," Daisy picked up her mug. "Cheers."

Luca's eyes darkened, "Why is my sister wearing your ex-boyfriend's shirt?"

"It was my idea!" Gia jumped in.

"Your idea?" Luca asked.

"Yeah," Gia nodded. "After yesterday's phone call, Dee and I were laughing about me being in a t-shirt so we were just messing around and I wanted to see what I would look like."

Luca's eyes narrowed further.

"We may have had too many glasses of wine," Gia shifted her weight.

"Your sister can not handle her alcohol," Daisy threw in. "Is being a lightweight a family trait?"

"Gia," Luca's jaw tensed, but his voice was even. His eyes were grilling Daisy as he spoke to his sister. "Go change. And bring me the flash drive."

"You know I cleaned that shirt, right?" Daisy asked. "I wouldn't let her wear dirty clothes."

"Stop talking," Luca rubbed his forehead.

Daisy gasped loudly, "Let me remind you, you're sitting in my kitchen!"

"You kitchen in my building."

"What?" Daisy leaned back.

"We own the building?" Gia asked, stepping back into the kitchen.

"Yes," Luca sighed. "It belongs to our family."

"I didn't know that," Gia frowned. "When did this happen?"

"We're expanding into real estate," Luca leaned back in his seat once more.

"Since when?"

"Gia," Luca clicked her tongue. "Get me my flash drive. I have a meeting in a few. I would like to be out of here."

"G, hurry up!" Daisy snapped. "The man wants to leave. Let us not keep him for too long."

Annoyed at not knowing anything about what her family was up to, Gia turned on her heels and headed back into the spare bedroom where she had slept the night before. She grabbed her purse off the chair and dug her hand inside to look for the small flash drive. But as her fingers moved around her lipstick, keys, cards, and earrings, Gia's heart began to beat a little faster.

"Where is it?" She muttered to herself as she walked over to the bed and dumped the content of her purse onto the sheets.

Gia kneeled beside the bed and spread out all the small objects. Her eyes bounded around each section to make sure she didn't overlook anything. A hollow sick feeling began to grow in the pit of her stomach as she realized the flash drive was not in her purse.

"Shit," Gia whispered as she searched through her empty purse once more. "Shit, shit."

Her heart began to race inside her chest. Gia searched the room thinking she may have dropped it on the floor or on the bed. Her feet and hands turned cold as she stood in the middle of the open area, letting her eyes scan her surroundings. She couldn't even begin to think of how she was going to explain it to Luca.

"Have you found it yet?" Luca's voice startled Gia. She whirled around to find him standing at her door.

With fear, Gia watched her brother's eyes scan the mess on the bed behind her. His gaze slowly made it back to her as he began to piece together her silence.

"Where's the flash drive, Gia?"

Gia rubbed her palms down the sides of her legs. She could hear her blood rushing past her ears as Luca stepped into the room.

"You have it, right?" Luca asked.

"What's...." Gia's throat was as dry as sandpaper. "What's on the flash drive?"

Luca's face fell. Gia watched his shoulders stiffen as he pressed his mouth into a thin line.

"You lost it?"

Gia hated when Luca's voice was so low and quiet. It was like a chill air that shook your bones.

"I had it in my purse..." Gia's throat tightened and the words got stuck.

"Then where is it?"

"I...." Gia looked back at the mess on the bed. "I had it."

"Gia, I'm asking you something," Luca's voice began to rise. Daisy came running from the other room. "Where's the flash drive?"

"I had it!" Gia rushed back to the bed and began to scan the items.

"I can't believe this," Luca shook his head. "If you have it, then look for it. It didn't grow legs and walk away!"

"Stop yelling at her," Daisy walked into the room and stepped around the man. "I'll help her find it."

"It has to be here," Gia said, not seeing anything in front of her as her mind shut off from the fear running through her system.

"You had it in your purse, right?" Daisy asked. "What did it look like?"

"It was small and silver," Gia said. "There...there was a key chain on it."

"Did you drop it at the club?" Luca asked.

"No," Gia shook her head. "I put it in my purse. I remember."

"How did you two get home last night?"

"We took an Uber," Daisy said quickly.

"I need the license plate," Luca pulled out his phone.

Gia felt her heart stumble as Daisy looked at her.

"What was the number?" Luca asked.

"I don't know it off the top of my head," Daisy said.

"Well, then find out!" Luca yelled.

"Who the hell d-" Daisy stepped forward just as Gia pulled her back.

"It was actually our friend's car," she said.

"She just said it was an Uber," Luca's eyes narrowed like a hawk.

"Our friend who drives an Uber," Daisy snorted. "Relax, I'll call him and ask him to look in his car."

"Call him right now," Luca commanded.

"Alright, relax," Daisy huffed as she pulled out her phone.

Gia watched her best friend as she pulled up Daniel's unsaved number and dialed him. She brought the phone to her ear and crossed her arm over her chest.

"He might not pick up," Daisy muttered. "We all had a long night yesterda-"

"Hello?" Daniel answered.

"Hi!" Daisy straightened up and gripped the phone. Gia stepped closer to make sure she could hear. "It's Daisy. Gia's here with me too. What's up?"

"What's going on?" Daniel asked. "Is Gia okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. We're fine," Daisy laughed. "Thanks for last night. Hey, just wondering....did Gia drop a flash drive in your car?"

"What?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah, it's small and silver and has a small key chain on it," Daisy nodded. "Her brother flew in all the way from London to come get it......I know, I guess he never heard of dropbox or something."

"I didn't see anything," Daniel said. "Where's Gia? Give her the phone."

"Oh, you'll go look right now?" Daisy's eyes flickered to Luca. "Thank you so much! Yeah, we really appreciate it. Oh! And while you're at it, can you please return that underwear you stole last night? Okay, thanks! Bye!"'

Before Daniel could respond, Daisy hung up the phone. She gave Gia a small nod before turning to face Luca.

"What?" She asked, noticing the evil look in his eyes. "He took my underwear."

"I need that flash drive by noon," Luca said, his ice cold voice returning to freeze both the girls' hearts. His eyes were heated as he stared at Gia beside Daisy. "You hear me?"

Gia nodded. Daisy reached down and took her hand as Luca continued.

"I can't believe you would be so reckless," He hissed like a snake through his teeth . "I told you a million times how important that was to me. I trusted you to get it for me safely."

"She didn't do it on purpos-" Daisy began when Luca cut her off.

"Stay out of it," he warned.

Daisy clamped her mouth shut.

"My sister would never be this irresponsible on her own," Luca had Daisy pinned to her spot. The rage in his cold eyes was frightening. "You're a terrible influence on her."

"Luca, stop," Gia spoke up. "This isn't Daisy's fault. She's trying to help us!"

"Look at yourself, Gia," Luca said in anger. "You're wearing someone else's ex-boyfriend's shirt, you're drinking all night, you're hanging out with Uber drivers."

"What's wrong with Uber drivers?" Daisy asked. "It's an honest income. That's more than what you can say about yourself."

"Luca, you're being an ass," Gia felt her eyes watering. "Stop it."

"Go get dressed," Luca ordered. "Maria would have a heart attack if she saw you like this."

"Stop ordering her around," Daisy clicked her tongue.

"I told you to stay the fuck out of this!" Luca yelled, losing his control. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Someone who's trying to help you look for your stupid flash drive!" Daisy yelled back. "Get the fuck off your high horse. You're not a gentleman, you're a fuckin' criminal so lower your tone when you speak to me."

"Excuse me," Luca's voice did that ice cold thing again that made Gia tremble with fear. "What did you just say?"

"We're leaving," Gia said before Daisy could say anything. "I'll be ready in five minutes."

Luca didn't look away from Daisy. His eyes were lit with raging fire. If they stayed in the room together for any second longer, Gia was afraid Luca would have steam coming out of his ears. She quickly pulled Daisy out of the room in a desperate attempt to separate the two.

"Did he say he'll look for it?" Gia asked as she rushed into Daisy's bedroom.

"Yes," Daisy said, her mind distracted by Luca and his rudeness.

"Can I borrow something to wear?" Gia looked around, her hands shaking.

"Yeah, take whatever," Daisy waved. She plopped down on the bed and began to chew on her fingernail.

"If Daniel doesn't find it, I'm screwed," Gia said as she pulled on a pair of Daisy's jeans and a black button down shirt.

"It has to be either at the club or in his car," Daisy said. "Roll up the legs of the jeans."

"I was about to," Gia bent down and quickly rolled it up. "I'm so sorry about what Luca said. He can be an ass but he's worried right now-"

"Don't make excuses for him," Daisy shook her head. "He's a grown man. He knows what he's doing."

"I'm still so sor-"

"Gia!" Luca's low voice came with a warning. "Hurry up!"

Daisy's eyes narrowed like a snake as she shook her head. Her mouth twitched as she sat glaring at the door as if Luca might walk in any second.

"I can't stand him," she said.

"Stay in touch with Daniel?" Gia asked as she quickly rushed over to the door. "Let me know if he finds the flash drive?"

"Okay," Daisy nodded. "Are you sure you want to go with him right now?"

"Gia!" Luca called again.

"I have to," Gia frowned.

"You don't have to do anything," Daisy said. "You can stay here."

"That's going to make things worse," Gia shook her head. "Please just call me if he finds it."

And with that, Gia ran out of the room and towards the living room where Luca waited for her. He looked up as she rushed in and grabbed her purse off the counter.

"What's this?" He asked, looking at her clothes. "Where are your clothes?"

"They're dirty," Gia lied. Her clothes were in Daniel's hotel room. "Daisy said she will wash them."

"The car is downstairs," Luca yanked the door open. "Let's go."

"Luca, I am so sorry ab-" Gia began but was cut off as Luca closed the door behind them and marched on ahead.

"Not another word," he said. "This can cost us millions, Gia. I can't believe you couldn't handle picking up a flash drive."

"I did pick it up!" Gia followed her brother into the elevator. "I swear I kept it safe. It was in my purse."

"Then where did it go?"

"I don't know," Gia frowned. "I'm sorry."

Luca let out a deep sigh and shook his head. He muttered under his breath as the elevator doors opened on the first floor and they walked out.

"I don't like you hanging out with Daisy," he said. "She's reckless and irresponsible."

"This isn't her fault," Gia said. "Don't bring her into this."

"Maybe you would have been more careful if you weren't out running around with her," Luca pulled the car door open and gestured for Gia to step inside. She followed without hesitation.

Gia's head was beginning to throb from the stress she had been housing. Her chest felt hollow and heavy at the same time as Luca climbed in behind her and they set off towards their townhouse. Her eyes shifted towards her brother several times as he made phone calls about delaying some meeting. When they finally arrived at the house, Luca didn't bother waiting around for Gia to get out of the car as he made his way inside and into the small study they used as a home office.

"What's going on?" Carla asked, walking into the living room where Gia stood awkwardly.

"I misplaced the flash drive," Gia frowned.

"What?" Carla's eyes widened. "You lost it?"

"No!" Gia shrieked. "I misplaced it. I'll get it back soon."

"Gia," Carla said with disappointment.

"I don't even know what's on it," Gia complained. "Why is it so important?"

"You brother and father are trying to make a deal with the Irish," Carla said. "That flash drive had information on it that they needed to make sure the deal happened."

"I'll find it," Gia didn't think it was possible for her heart to beat any faster but it was. "Daisy is helping and I know it'll tur-"

Carla shook her head silently. She took off the glasses she had been wearing and pinched the bridge of her nose. Gia watched her silently feeling sick to her stomach. She wanted to excuse herself to her room and call Daniel when Luca came out of the study and held out his phone.

"Dad wants to talk to you," he said.

Gia felt the blood drain from her face. Her legs shook and her throat tightened up as she immediately took a small step backwards.

"Does...." Gia couldn't find her voice. "Does he know?"

Luca wouldn't meet her eyes as he nodded, "Yeah."

"You told him?" Gia felt her eyes water.

"Take the call," was all Luca said as he handed Gia the phone.

Everything around the room began to spin. Gia felt her lungs struggling to take in air as her chest tightened and her eyes watered. Her hands shook and her belly felt funny. She slowly brought the phone to her ear and whispered.

"Hello..."

"How can you be so irresponsible?" Gia shut her eyes and flinched at her father's harsh snare. Her eyes flickered up towards her brother who looked away, his jaw clenched.

"Do you have any idea how hard Luca worked to get that information?" Angelo, Gia's father continued.

"I..." Gia's voice shook. She looked to Carla who gazed back at her with sorrow and pity in her eyes.

"I can't believe this," Angelo yelled. "How could you let this happen? You stupid irresponsible girl! We gave you one job!"

"I'm so sor-" the words never got a chance to make it to Gia's lips as her father cut her off and continued.

"Your brother and I have been working at this for months and in a single night you ruined everything!" Angelo continued to yell, his voice like nails against a chalkboard. "Get off the phone! I don't want to hear your childish excuses. You're good for nothing. I'm just wasting everything on you. You're just like your mother!"

Gia couldn't stop the tears that rolled down her eyes. She looked up at Luca once more and watched his eyes soften as she handed back the phone. Carla looked from the brother to the sister before taking a step towards Gia with her arm raised.

"Honey..." she said softly.

Gia stepped back from the woman. Her chest felt hollow and her stomach churned. She felt the hot tears rolling down her eyes as the back of her head began to throb painfully.

"Why..." Gia struggled to breath properly for a second. Her cheeks were like burning coals. "Why did you tell him?"

Luca ran a hand through his hair and then rubbed his jaw, "He wanted to know why the meeting was delayed."

"So you told him?" Gia's voice cracked. "You know he hates me! And you still told him!"

"He doesn't hate you, Gia," Luca's shoulders stiffened.

"He does..." Gia's voice was barley a whisper.

She remembered the way her cheek stung the first time her father had struck her across her face at the age of five. Gia was visiting Del Mare and in her careless age she had knocked over a cup of coffee on Angelo's desk. The tall man had jumped up from his seat and his ring clad hand flew across Gia's face faster than lightning.

No one in the house dared to come forward to stop Angelo as he grabbed Gia by the arm and threw her out of his office. He called her stupid and pathetic through his teeth as he threw her to the ground and shut the door in her face. Gia could still hear the way the door frame had rattled. Her heart flinched every time she thought of that day and all the other days where Maria had to nurse a bruise on Gia's face.

"He does hate me!" Gia felt anger boil up inside of her as she stared at Luca.

"What did you want me to do?" Luca asked. "Lie to him?"

"Yes!" Gia yelled. A dam broke inside of her as she raised her voice and shouted. "You should have lied! You should have protected me, Luca!"

"You were being irresponsible-"

"The one time I mess up!" Gia stepped forward. "I'm so sorry we can't all be you!"

"Gia, honey," Carla stepped in between the two. "Calm down."

"No!" A sob rose to Gia's lips as she shook her aunt's hand away. Her fear of her father made her want to find whatever outlet she could to get out all her emotions. "No, I won't calm down. He's my big brother, he's supposed to protect me! He threw me into the shark tank!"

Luca and Carla exchanged glances with each other as Gia's speech fumbled. She swayed slightly as her skin paled and she began to sweat.

"Gia..." Luca held out his hand, palm up.

Gia shook her head. Her whole body trembled as she grabbed the side of the armchair beside her to keep herself from falling over. Her vision was beginning to blur.

"You never say anything when he yells at me," Gia sobbed. "Even when we were kids, you never said anything when he would throw me out of the room or slap me."

"Gia, I'm so sorry," Luca moved forward and caught his sister.

"Why did you tell him?" Gia pushed at his chest. "Why?"

"Carla," Luca looked over his shoulder to his aunt. "She's overheating."

"He's going to hit me," Gia grabbed Luca's shirt and pulled herself closer. She looked up at him with her wet red eyes and deep frown.

"No, no," Luca shook his head. "He won't. I won't let him. Ever."

Gia couldn't stop hearing her father's words. She knew if he had been in front of her, he would be looking down at her from his height with a cold look in his green eyes. She had never seen him smile as a child. He never sat with her to ask about school or friends. Some years he never spoke to her for the entire summer that she was there. Even years later she couldn't stop the hollowness inside of her from growing. She felt completely useless.

"Gia?" Luca's voice called to her.

Gia's strength was nonexistent. She could barely keep her eyes open as she collapsed against Luca. She didn't want her father to be disappointed with her. It was supposed to be her first shot at doing something right and showing her father she was grown. But she had no idea what she was handling. If only she had known why the flash drive was so important.

"Carla, tell Manny to bring the car around," Luca instructed as he picked Gia up and carried her to the door. "Look at her. Is she okay? Why is she trembling like that?"

Gia could't tell if she was trembling. She couldn't feel anything beside her tears sliding down her face and slipping into her ears.

"We need to take her to the hospital," Carla said as they marched down the stairs.

Gia screwed her eyes shut as Luca carried her out into the car. She felt sick to her stomach as they zoomed down the streets and drove to the hospital. She could hear her brother and aunt talking as Luca held up a bottle of orange flavored drink to Gia's lips.

"Drink," he said, supporting her head.

"Where's Daisy?" Gia asked. Talking took a long time and it felt like she had to use every bit of strength in her body to make words.

"She can meet us at the hospital," Carla said. "We need to check you in first, okay?"

"Carla," Luca lowered the bottle in his hand. His eyes were on Gia's neck, "Look at this."

Carla pulled back Gia's shirt to catch a glimpse of her flushed skin and the small bumps.

"What is that?" Luca asked.

"Heat rash," Carla said. "She'll be okay. We just have to hurry."

"I want to see Daisy," Gia said.

"You'll see her soon," Luca held the cold bottle against her neck. "I promise." 

Poor Gia :/