𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 ✍︎

10| 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚔𝚢

Dove's POV
Age: 10
Location: Petrov's Penthouse, New York

My parents say goodbye to the Petrovs and they grab their stuff.

Ella and I exchange a few quick words before my parents whisk me away into the elevator.

'Trust' Ella mouths to me as the elevator doors close.

My parents lead me to a black limousine that is waiting for us outside of the building.

The chilly wind of fall hits my face. I can't stop the small smile that slips onto my face as I tilt my head up to look at the sky.

I stop walking and just stand there, my face turned to the sky. It had been so long since I saw the sun.

Sir stopped sending me on missions a few months ago. I hadn't been outside in a long time. I haven't seen the sun in even longer. Sir didn't like sending us on daytime missions.

"What are you looking at principessa?" My father asks me quietly.

"The sky," I respond, not moving my head. "It's very blue."

My father laughs. "It's supposed to be blue."

"Ella says that the sky can turn pink. When does that happen?" I ask, turning to look at my father. His warm smile falters slightly.

"During sunrise and sunset. Have you never seen it before principessa?"

I shake my head. "We were never allowed out until after dark."

My father's eyes darkened. I sucked in a breath. I shouldn't have said that. Me and my big mouth. "Now that you're back home you can go out whenever you want, okay?"

I'm shocked by the passion in his voice and turn to face him. He has a determined look in his eye.

"Okay," I respond quietly.

"How about tonight we watch the sunset with the others? Does that sound good?"

A small smile tugs at my lips. For once, I give in and let it show. "That sounds amazing. Thank you."

My father smiles at me. The amount of love and affection he's showing me is slightly shocking. Okay, very shocking. I remind myself, once again, that my father isn't like the men back on base.

"Let's go home, hm? Your brothers are very excited to meet you."

He walks over to the car door and holds it open for me as I slide in. As soon as I'm inside I climb to the window seat.

I hear my parents laugh quietly and a pair of hands close around my waist gently. I flinch away at first, but calm down when I see it's just my dad.

"Wouldn't want you to fall," he says with a wink. I give him a grateful smile and lean against the glass, looking up at the sky.

The clouds look so fluffy...I wonder if they feel fluffy.

I lean forward more, making my father's hands tighten around me slightly. His hand squeezes the knife in my bandages.

"Principessa...what's this?" He asks, tapping the small lump the knife has made in my bandages. I panic slightly, but when I see his concerned expression I relax slightly.

Sheepishly, I lift up my shirt and pull the knife out. At first both of my parents are speechless, then my mother starts laughing.

"Definitely a Ricci," she says with a smile on her face.

"Oh your brothers are going to love you," my father says quietly.

I'm silently thankful that my parents think my brothers will like me. If they think so, it must be true. They know my brothers better than anyone, right? Ella says that how parents are supposed to work.

The car comes to a stop and I look around to see a giant, modern-looking mansion with a large lawn stands in front of us. I gasp quietly at the sight. It's so beautiful.

"Welcome home principessa."