III

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β€” XAVI β€”

"How nice of you to join me, Yakov. I know how busy your schedule can be."

It appears my now twenty-six year old brother hasn't changed one bit, as he greets me with a shake of the hand and ignores my taunting remark.

"How have you been, Xavi?" he asks me. "You look well."

I plaster a bitter smile onto my face when i see the waitress approaching, as does Yakov, and we wait until she has taken our orders before we continue.

"You know i'm not here to make small talk, Yakov."

He sighs, nodding in agreement.

"We're in danger, Xavi," he says. "Naturally, our livelihoods are putting us at risk. But i think there are moles within the business."

"What do you propose?" i ask him.

"That we merge our gangs and become one," he suggests. "We'll be stronger together. And that way, we can monitor everything much more easily."

I sigh, taking a sip of my wine as i evaluate the situation.

As much as i don't want to merge, i know we would all benefit from it.

Not only would we be stronger and be able to handle any 'danger' that comes our way, our profits would increase tenfold.

"And Zephaniah?" i ask him. "Where does he come in?"

"He agrees with the plan," Yakov answers. "Though with him joining us, our individual status would change," he explains. "You would no longer be in control of your gang, nor would i mine. Everything would go back to the way it once was..."

I groan, my jaw clenching as i internally curse my eldest brother.

With him returning as our leader, nothing will be the same. He'll make sure of it.

Not only that, but the drama that would ensue simply isn't worth it.

"I think not!" i snarl. "I have worked extremely hard to get to where i am today. We're either equals, or i'm not doing this."

Yakov's lip twitches with barely hidden amusement, as he eyes my irritated expression.

"You must know that you don't have much of a choice in the matter, Xavi," he says. "If we do not merge, you'll only be making things worse," he points out. "Zephaniah will get what he wants, either way."

I run my hand across the stress lines on my face.

"He's a cunning little bastard, that brother of ours," i seethe.

Yakov laughs, clearly agreeing with my observation.

"He makes more money than the two of us," he points out. "Perhaps that's something you should consider."

"Hm."

He offers me a small, knowing smile, as he raises his glass in gesture.

"It's good to see you, Fratello."

β€” RORI β€”

I feel the rumble of a chair being pulled out, as Christian takes his usual seat beside me.

And, for the first time in a week, i don't make an attempt to ignore him.

"Seamus told me." i face him with a solemn expression. "About who you saw at the airport."

Christian shoots me a look of sympathy, nodding his head in confirmation.

"That was the last time i saw him," he says. "I believe he has a place in Brentwood. He could be staying there."

I narrow my eyes at him, feeling extremely skeptical of the situation.

"So you think he's still here?" i prompt.

"I don't think he's leaving, Ria." he shakes his head.

My face contorts into a confused expression. Or perhaps one of disgust, it's hard to tell.

I don't want Zephaniah to remain in the same state as me.

I don't want Zephaniah anywhere near me.

"Did your brother tell you that?" i press.

Christian doesn't say anything. He simply gulps and nods his head to answer.

And suddenly, i feel myself wanting to ignore him again.

"It'll be okay, Ria," he reassures me. "No matter what happens, everything will turn out just fine."

My head snaps in his direction, as i send him a harsh glare.

The last thing i need right now is his worthless reassurance.

He doesn't know what he's talking about.

"Why do you make such comments when you know they aren't always true?" i ask him.

He shrugs, offering me a small, amused smile.

"Perhaps i see the glass half full."

I roll my eyes, redirecting my attention to my work, though i can't seem to concentrate at all.

My mind has been infiltrated by thoughts of my eldest brother and my past.

I wish i never brought him up.

"Well i don't," i tell him, rather critically, "and if you were wise, you'd know that being an optimist will lead you nowhere."

He scoffs a laugh, somehow finding me to be amusing rather than irritating.

I can't say the same about Christian.

He annoys me to a great degree.

"You should print that on the back of a t-shirt," he bites back.

"Very funny." i scowl.

We're silent for a few moments, before i turn to face him once more.

"If you hear anything more about my brother...you will tell me, right?"

He nods, though his smile falters slightly.

"Of course."

β€” SUCKER PUNCH β€”

During the last period of the day, i began to feel rather sick with worry, and so, by the time i reached home, i immediately went to bed.

Though when i woke from my nap, i somehow felt worse.

My chest felt heavy, my breathing restricted, all in all i was a complete mess.

Today was a terrible day, regardless of me feeling unwell. I'll just be glad to see it go.

I was called down for dinner not long ago.

We're having cheese tortelloni tonight, which is one of my favourite pastas.

That's the only good thing that's happened today.

"I spoke to Christian today," i whisper to Seamus. "He told me Zephaniah is here to stay."

Seamus cocks a single eyebrow at me, confusion evident on his face before it is replaced with a look of realisation.

"How does he know that?" he asks.

"Alfonso mentioned something. He didn't specify though."

Seamus nods, clearly taken aback by the revelation.

He seems just as skeptical as i.

"And do you think he is here to stay?" Seamus asks me.

I shrug.

"So long as he stays far away from our side of town, i won't fuss too much."

Seamus knows i'm lying to him, but chooses not to say anything.

He knows he was wrong for calling me out the other day, when i implied that i was ready to move on.

Xavi β€” seated at the head of the table β€” clears his throat to grab our attention.

He doesn't speak until a few seconds have gone by.

"There are some important issues concerning this family which will need to be discussed," he vaguely announces, "and that's why, tomorrow night, Yakov will be joining us for dinner."

The cutlery in my hands seems to slip from my fingers on instinct, as does my mouth open in bewilderment when i begin to process his words.

Tomorrow night.

Dinner.

Yakov.

I don't even bother to glance down at my meal, no longer feeling hungry, and instead gape at my third eldest brother, whose expression remains indifferent.

"Yakov?" Vinnie speaks first, disbelief evident in his tone. "Yakov Łabanowski?"

"That's the one." Xavi nods.

Vinnie turns to face Wyatt β€” who sits to the left of Xavi β€” pinning him with an expectant glare.

"And you knew about this, i suppose?"

Wyatt wordlessly nods, causing Vinnie to release a string of curses under his breath.

I completely tune out after that.

I don't pay attention when my brothers begin to argue with one another, nor do i pay attention when Quentin nudges my foot from under the table, i simply stare off into space and allow my brain to still for a moment.

Tomorrow night.

Dinner.

Yakov.




Somebody hand me a gun.

(Edited)


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