Chapter 32
Raf Pov~
I looked down at the four boys, already knowing shit was about to rain down on them from Uncle Adriano and Uncle Matteo.
They visibly tensed, their previous fit of anger disappearing almost instantly. Now they just looked like a mixture of scared and still pissed off.
"Now what the hell happened?" Uncle Adriano asked. His voice was calm.
I looked up at the monstrous Capo standing in front of us, Uncle Matteo right behind him. The two brothers were eerily similar. Same intimidating presence. Same hard expressions. Same ability to make a room go silent without even trying.
I glanced at Leo, Marcio, and A.J. We all slowly let go of the boys at the same time. There was no way they were about to try anything in front of their bosses.
Michel looked directly at his father, not backing down even a little. "I renounce being related to these shitheads."
The room went silent. I blinked. Because hearing something that dramatic come from Michel was shocking. Mostly because he was ten years old. A literal child.
Uncle Adriano stared at him for a second before a grin slowly spread across his face. Uncle Matteo followed right behind him, clearly trying not to laugh.
Everyone looked between them in confusion. That was not the reaction any of us expected. We were prepared for yelling, punishment, or a lecture.
Not this.
"You don't have a choice, son," Uncle Adriano said, chuckling as he walked over and lightly slapped Michel on the back. "It's literally not your choice to decide whether you're related to someone or not."
"See, assface? I told you that you can't get rid of me," Dean teased, dramatically wiggling his eyebrows at his cousin.
Michel rolled his eyes.
"Trust me, if we had a choice, I would have found a better brother years ago," Uncle Matteo said with a smirk toward Dantae and Antonio.
The boys immediately looked offended. Classic. But then Uncle Matteo turned serious, looking at his son.
"Now, I want you boys to apologize and get through whatever this is. You can't let one argument destroy the bond you have with each other." The boys sighed, exchanging annoyed looks with one another.
I rolled my eyes. They were all stubborn. Way too stubborn. I couldn't stand watching them continue this.
"I'll handle them," I said, stepping forward. "We got Mrs. Hart. Damien took her into the office. She's waiting for you guys there."
Uncle Adriano nodded, his expression shifting back into business mode. "Alright."
Unc Adriano gave me a nod of approval, knowing I was the best one to talk to these boys. I seemed to be the only male in this house who wasn't embarrassed to be openly nice.
He shot the boys one last stern look, making them squirm in their spots, before walking out, the rest of the guys following behind him.
I glanced down at the four boys and nodded toward the living room. They got the message immediately, trudging over and plopping down on the couch, making sure to leave plenty of space between each other.
"Okay, who wants to go first?" I asked, a hint of authority in my voice as I crossed my arms over my chest.
None of them spoke. I sighed. "Okay, Dantae. You're up first." He shot me an annoyed look, but the moment he saw my expression, he started talking.
"Michel was in his room when we went in there to see if he wanted to come outside and play basketball with us."
I held up a hand, cutting him off, then looked at Dean. "You continue."
Dean shrugged. "He flipped us off, said some nasty things, and told us to get out of his room. So...naturally, we did the opposite and stayed."
My eyes shifted to Antonio, who seemed to realize it was already his turn. "We were trying to talk to him, and we may or may not have tackled him onto his bed because he kept ignoring us," he admitted, mumbling the last part.
"You did tackle me," Michel shot back. "And when I kicked you off me, I hurt my sprained wrist again, dipwad!" He glared at them before continuing.
"Then something just... snapped in his fat head, and he attacked us." Dean rolled his eyes. "Until we somehow ended up fighting all the way downstairs... and then you guys found us."
"You guys fought all the way downstairs?" I asked incredulously. All four boys nodded. Now that I really looked at them, I noticed the scratches covering their arms, torn clothing, flushed faces, and bruises already beginning to form.
This was another reality of being born into the mafia. These boys had already spent years training. They still had a lot to learn, but they already knew enough to seriously hurt someone if they lost control.
And judging by the way they looked, they definitely hadn't been holding back. I let out a long breath and dragged a hand down my face before sitting on the coffee table across from them.
"Okay." I looked directly at Michel. "What's the real reason you didn't want to play basketball?" He rolled his eyes and stared down at his feet. I smacked his knee. Apparently, it was bruised because he winced.
"I asked you a question." He sighed before finally looking up at me. Before he could answer, Ales walked into the room with a bright smile on her face.
Not the best timing. She took one look at the boys, and her smile disappeared. "What happened?" she exclaimed, rushing over to them.
"We're kind of in the middle of something, Ales," I said, hoping she'd take the hint.
Instead, she plopped down beside me. "I can help too," she said when she noticed everyone staring at her. I just shook my head at her eagerness before turning back to Michel, motioning for him to continue.
He sighed. "Look... I don't mind hanging out with you guys, but I can't do it every minute of every day. You guys just don't seem to get that, so..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know. That was just my first instinct."
Definitely a Basilio. Terrible at talking about his feelings.
"Okay." I nodded. "Well, next time, just tell them. I'm pretty sure they'll listen."
"Hey," Ales chimed in with one of her warm smiles, "we all need a little breathing room sometimes, especially after being stuck in this house together for so long." She looked around at each of the boys. "So how about we make a rule? If someone says they want to be left alone, we respect that."
She raised her eyebrows expectantly. The boys exchanged glances before nodding.
"Okay, Yeah."
"Fine." They agreed.
"Good." Ales smiled. "Now apologize to each other, then come with me so I can clean you guys up. We don't need blood all over this couch."
A few small chuckles escaped the boys. I smiled too. Ales and I stepped out of the living room, giving them a minute alone. It would probably be easier for them to apologize without an audience.
"Thanks for your help, as always," I said with a smile. She smiled back before tilting her head.
"So... how's the whole big, bad mafia thing going for you?" she asked, sounding like she'd been wanting to ask me that for a while.
I let out a quiet laugh. "Okay, I guess. It's just... hard figuring out who I am." I shrugged. "But maybe we're not supposed to have that figured out until we're older."
Ales nodded thoughtfully.
"Oh, I know that feeling." She leaned against the wall beside me. "I think I know what I have to do... and who I am." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "And I think it's okay to be different in a place where... everything is so systematic and destructive."
She glanced toward the living room before continuing. "I think this place needs a little kindness, like the kind we bring. Maybe that's our gift to the mafia."
I looked past her toward the window, quietly reflecting on her words. She wasn't wrong. A slow smile tugged at my lips as I nodded. "Yeah... I think you're right." I chuckled. "Let's be honest, though. Even the little kiddies have a mean streak."
She laughed and nodded in agreement before turning toward the boys, who were finally making their way over to us. Antonio was limping. So was Michel. The moms were definitely not going to be happy.
"Come on, wolves," Ales said, resting a gentle hand on Dean's shoulder. He immediately grunted in pain. "...Maybe not the shoulder," she muttered with a sheepish smile, quickly pulling her hand away.
I smirked to myself before heading down the hallway and making my way upstairs to the office.
I knew that's where Mrs. Hart and the boys were.
I opened the office door slowly, slipping inside as quietly as possible, but they noticed me anyway.
I guess that was a good thing. They were mafia, after all.
Uncle Adriano and Matteo stood over a visibly shaken Mrs. Hart. A.J., Marcio, and Damien stood off to the side beside Unc Gio, silently watching the interrogation unfold.
"Kale doesn't have any medical condition.
He's perfectly healthy," Mrs. Hart stammered, her hands twisting nervously together.
"He doesn't take medication or drugs or anything like that.
I would know if my son was on something.
I was always at his apartment on Sundays, and I'd usually tidy up while I was there. "
She looked desperately between the two broody brothers, silently pleading for them to believe her. Uncle Adriano narrowed his eyes, carefully studying the elderly woman, trying to decide whether she was telling the truth.
Kale claimed he couldn't remember ever texting Alessandra or trying to kidnap her.
Yeah...I called bullshit. He obviously did those things. There was no way someone just forgot something like that overnight.
No. Something else was going on. It had already been a couple of days since we'd locked him in that dingy basement. He barely complained, even after taking multiple brutal beatings while everyone tried to get answers out of him.
Nothing. He just seemed... distant. Like he wasn't really there.
"All right, Mrs. Hart," Uncle Matteo said, gesturing toward the door. "Will you come with me? There's something I'd like to show you." My eyes widened. They were taking her to see her son.
I immediately looked at Uncle Adriano, silently pleading with him not to do this. Mrs. Hart wouldn't survive seeing Kale like that. She was too old... too innocent. This was wrong. Cruel.
I understood why they needed answers, but why drag Mrs. Hart into it? Even Uncle Adriano knew she didn't know anything.
He met my gaze...and answered it with a hard glare. Uncle Matteo led Mrs. Hart out of the office. Uncle Adriano and Uncle Gio followed behind them. I shook my head, letting out a frustrated groan.
A.J. walked over and rested a hand on my shoulder. Normally, I would've appreciated the gesture. Not this time. My anger got the better of me, and I shrugged his hand off before walking out the door after the Capo. I wasn't going to let Mrs. Hart get hurt. This wasn't her fight.
We made the long trek down to the basement. I felt A.J. right behind me the entire way, but I ignored him. The moment the doors opened, the smell hit me.
Blood.
The cells came into view, and my stomach twisted. I watched as Mrs. Hart looked inside her son's cell. The gasp that escaped her was immediate.
One hand flew to her chest as she stared at her boy curled up in the corner, his body shielding itself from any possible threat. Matteo quickly grabbed her arm to steady her.
My anger only grew. Before I could think twice, I walked over and took her from him. His eyes snapped toward me, and the deadly glare he gave me sent a chill down my spine. I was terrified of that look. But right now, making sure Mrs. Hart was okay mattered more.
She was trembling. And now that I focused, I could hear her whispering to her son. Trying to reach him. But there was nothing. No response. "Why?" she sobbed. "W-why would you do this to my boy?"
My heart cracked slightly at the pain in her voice. Kale was far from innocent, but seeing a mother look at her child like this was something else entirely. I forced myself to stay composed before speaking. I could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on me, the bosses watching my every move.
Honestly, I was surprised they hadn't already dragged me away and told me to stay out of it.
"Mrs. Hart..." I started gently. "Your son tried to kidnap my cousin." Her eyes widened. "We found out he had been harassing her for months, even before we arrived here. We caught him, and we've been trying to figure out why he did it, but he refuses to talk."
I paused. "We need to know what your son knows and what his motives were." She immediately shook her head. "No. Not my Kale," she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief.
I nodded slowly.
She took a step away from me and turned back toward her son. "Open the door," she said. Everyone froze.
"Open it," Uncle Adriano ordered. Uncle Gio stepped forward and unlocked the cell door.
Mrs. Hart hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.
Slowly, she walked toward her son. She lowered herself to the ground and gently placed a hand on his arm, the same arm he had been using to shield his face.
"Kale... look at me," she whispered. Nothing. No movement. "Look at me," she repeated, her voice growing stronger. That finally got a reaction. His eyes lifted to hers. Wide and terrified.
I glanced behind me and saw A.J. standing there with a knowing smirk. I rolled my eyes and shook my head as he walked up beside me. Of course. I ignored him and turned back toward the cell.
"Did you do these things, Kale?" Mrs. Hart asked. Her voice trembled. "Don't lie to me, boy."
Kale remained frozen. Then she shook her head slowly. "I can't believe it..." she whispered. The heartbreak in her voice was almost worse than her anger. "I didn't raise you like this." She swallowed hard. "How could you try to kidnap someone, Kale? Why would you do that?"
His mouth opened. For a second, it looked like he was going to answer. But then he stopped. His tears fell silently as he looked away. "You need to leave, Mom," he whispered.
Everyone went still. "This wasn't supposed to happen." His voice cracked. "They were supposed to find me and get me out." He looked around the basement, fear taking over his expression. "They promised they weren't going to hurt you."
Adriano stepped forward. "Who?" Kale's eyes immediately snapped toward my uncle. Fear was the only emotion visible on his face.
"Clara."