Page 83 of Chaos
I get up, readying myself to drive to Fallingbrook and confront Midas with the truth now, but my feet give out on me again and I fall face-first into the vomit on the floor. I groan out in disgust as I peel myself off the floor and wipe the chunky goop from my face.
Ok, so driving is a bad idea. Too drunk for that.
First thing tomorrow morning, I will drive out there and demand he speak to me. He will have to. I am Dante Lupo, the leader of the Shadow Brotherhood, a syndicate of the Italian Mafia, and no one says no to me. Yes. That is it. A solid plan that has no way of failing.
There is nothing else I can do tonight, so I might as well get back to my Christmas tradition. Drink until I pass out.
A small shred of hope starts to fill my chest. Another small piece of an endless puzzle has been filled. I haven’t felt like this in a long time.
Family had always been important to me, and it kills me to know now that I could have killed my cousin because of a grudge. A grudge that I rightfully deserve to have. Zane, Ryker, and Axel have taken too much from me, and to know they have taken even more just seals their fate.
They will die for what they have done to the Lupo familia.
I wake the next morning with a splitting headache. Being hungover is never something I like to experience, but every year I do. I don’t remember getting to bed last night, but somehow, I stumbled my way up here. I had zero intentions of sleeping in here, but even blitzed off my ass I can’t stay away from the place I had my darling sprawled out on.
I roll over, wanting to go back to sleep, when something crinkles beside me. The letter my aunt wrote to my dad is lying on the bed next to me. I reread it for what feels like the hundredth time. If Midas is my cousin, that changes a lot of things. Not everything, but enough. The only thing is I need to make sure that he is before anything else can happen. I somehow need to get a DNA sample from him and have it tested. Once the results come in, and it is positive, I can make the next appropriate steps.
He deserves to know the truth about his mom. I can remember him talking about her when we were younger. He knew nothing about her. Not her name. What she looked like. Nothing. It tore him up for a long time. I have the responsibility to help if I can.
For now, this stays with me. Once I am ready to deal with this, he will know. Until then, I go about my business like usual. I can’t tell Serena until then either. If she knew, he would know and start a whole new problem for me.
I don’t understand why Michael thought now was the time to give it to me. It’s been five years since my parents' deaths. Why not give it to me then? Stop the years of hatred and resentment I felt towards them. I would have wanted to get my revenge on their dads no matter what, but it would have saved them from my ire. Hell, I have shot at them before and they to me.
Fuck.
First step today, take a shower. I wreak of something disgusting. Then, speak to Michael and get some answers. After that, who knows.
Midas
The ride back to Fallingbrook was long and tiring, but knowing soon I would be back with my angel made it all worth it.
We arrived home late Christmas evening. Originally, we planned to leave so we would be back on Christmas Eve, but after allying with Viper and his gang, a celebration was held. Drinks were handed out freely. Viper and I spoke more about what we need to do to get rid of my father. By the time all was said and done, it was late and we were drunk.
Being hungover and waking up early aren’t a combination that works. We all slept in, and the second we realized, we jumped from bed and rushed as quickly as we could out the door. Thankfully, the roads were empty, and the trip didn’t take as long without getting stuck in traffic.
By the time we arrived home, Serena was having dinner with her family. Not wanting to disturb her, we decided to stay at our warehouse. None of us wanted to go home to our fathers after we learned what they tried to do. I still can’t believe that they tried to trick us into leaving.
Well, actually I can. They have always been distant from us, but they spent time training us. We had spent our lives being told what was expected of us in the future, and none of us had ever gone against what they wanted.
I deluded myself enough into thinking that it was what I wanted to. I was that man for a long time. Doing the dirty work that he never wanted on his hands. Being his little bitch.
Not anymore. Now is the time we take them down. I don’t care how long it takes. They will be destroyed.
The warehouse only had one bed, so for tonight we will have to share. Tomorrow I will make a few calls to town and arrange for two more to be delivered.
Zeus sits in the only chair while Odin paces around the room. I choose to flop onto the bed, trying to relax. I run my fingers through my hair as anxiety builds in me. I have never been the anxious type, but every day it seems to build. Life has never been perfect. It has always been dangerous and unpredictable. I never cared before. I knew what this life entailed. I knew I would probably not live to be an old man, but that isn’t what I want anymore.
“We will have to eventually face them. We can’t hide out here. You know they will know we are home soon enough, if not already. We passed a few guys who were out for patrols.” Zeus remarks, and he tilts his head back, staring at the ceiling.
Odin suddenly stops pacing before staring at the door as if they are going to barge in at this very second.
“We will deal with them in time. For now, let’s just focus on what we can.”
“What about Serena?” Odin asks.
“For now, silence. Keep her out of this as much as we can.”
For five days, we have been hiding out. Zeus’s mom brought some food and essentials for us. She asked what was going on, but Zeus wouldn’t tell her, not wanting her to worry more than she already was. I understand. Or as much as I can. I never had a mom or someone I wanted to protect before.
