CHAPTER 31

Her gaze swept over Mia, Noah, and Xan, finally landing on the one she most wanted to confront. Her world crumbled as she took in the sight of him—his body covered in blood, none of it his own.

"Out of everyone here, you are the one who owes me an explanation," she said, her voice trembling despite her efforts to remain composed. He looked formidable, almost beastly.

"I will explain, but now is not the time," he said dismissively, his focus elsewhere as he attended to his injured men.

"Xan, take Mia and Ava home safely," Ava instructed firmly.

A short while later, Xan reappeared in fresh clothes and led Ava and Mia to a car. They took their seats in the back as he drove.

"You mentioned you wanted to become a doctor," Ava said softly, gazing out the window.

"I still do, Ava," Xan replied, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Is it really so easy to switch between killing people and treating others?" she asked incredulously.

Xan's jaw tightened. "My father was killed—shot just below the heart. If only someone had known how to properly address the wound, he might have survived. None of the gang members had even basic first-aid skills. At that time, Xavier, Noah, and I were too young to help. I remember running to my father, shaking his lifeless body, indifferent to the blood. That moment solidified my resolve to acquire the skills to save lives, should such a tragedy occur again."

He continued, his voice softening, "Being in the Mafia is indeed dreadful. I agree with you. But we are not like other organizations. We are not inherently evil. Everyone endures a troubled life, but sometimes confronting the worst makes us resilient, even invincible."

"Does Amelia know about this?" Mia asked, having listened quietly.

"No, and she never will. Xavier would never allow anyone to shatter her belief in a just world," Xan said, his tone strained.

As they arrived, the girls exited the car.

"Ava," Xan called after her. "Xavier is not a bad person. He has endured far worse. Please try to understand him. While it may not be love, he does care for you, Ava." With that, he departed.

The two girls returned to their homes, one grappling with shock, the other consumed by concern.

An hour later, Ava lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. The sudden ring of the doorbell jolted her from her reverie. She rose and peered through the peephole to see Mia and her father.

Without hesitation, she opened the door, enveloping her father in a tearful embrace. "Dad!"

He returned the hug, understanding the trauma his daughters had endured due to their involvement with those boys.

Once they had all calmed down, her father spoke gently, "Girls, it's best if you stay away from them until after your graduation. You're not safe with them."

"Marc," Mia interjected, "I love Noah. I can attest that none of them intended to become involved in the Mafia. Their circumstances led them down this path."

"Dad, we need to hear their side of the story, don't we?" Ava asked her father.

"Are you both even listening to yourselves? I want you to end these relationships," he said, his voice firm.

Before either of them could respond, the doorbell rang once more. Mia opened the door and found Noah and Xavier standing on the threshold.

"Come in," Mia said.

Xavier and Noah entered, immediately spotting Ava and her father seated on the couch. Marc's eyes blazed with intense fury upon seeing the two boys.

"Before any of you say a word, I need to explain something," Xavier began. "My father, Romano Knight, was the Mafia Lord. He was ruthless but never engaged in illegal activities himself. I never desired to be part of the Mafia. After he was declared the king, he wielded absolute authority and issued an edict to end drug trafficking and human trafficking. Most groups complied, but a few continued their illicit activities covertly. When my father discovered this, he eradicated those groups. Unfortunately, an informant betrayed us, and we were all abducted—except Amelia and Xan, who were at my late aunt's house. They bound Noah and me, along with our fathers, rendering us powerless. They removed our blindfolds to show us their methods of torture. However, rather than torturing people, they subjected our mothers to horrific abuse, forcing us to watch."

Xavier's jaw clenched as he recounted the harrowing events, while Noah stared out the window, gripping the window rail tightly. Mia, who already knew part of this story, felt the pain afresh, as if hearing it for the first time. Ava and Marc were visibly stunned.

Xavier continued, "My father, sensing our fear, subtly loosened my restraints and instructed Noah and me to flee when he uttered the word 'run.' We were only ten years old, but we understood the gravity of the situation. After I freed Noah, we pretended to remain still while our fathers began to fight the assailants."

Xavier's voice grew somber as he recounted the tragic climax. "Giovanni Fallter taunted my father, threatening to capture my sister and mockingly announcing the abuse of our mothers. As Giovanni approached, my father sprang into action, killing Giovanni with a swift strike and then opening fire on the other attackers. Giovanni had been mocking Gabriel Smith, Noah's father, who joined the fray, fighting fiercely."

The scene became chaotic, with Giovanni's men entering the cabin. Gabriel, fighting alongside my father, placed his wife's head on his lap and faced the attackers with a defiant smirk. He declared, "Time to die, assholes," and detonated an explosive, obliterating the cabin and everyone within it, including himself.

As they fled, Romano, the only one left standing, held the children and apologized to them. "I'm sorry, Noah," he said, embracing both of them. "Run to your left until you find Uncle Kage. He will take you from here."

"But what about you, Dad?" Xavier asked, tears streaming down his face.

"I'm sorry, but this battle must end with me," Romano said, pushing them away. "Promise me you will take care of your sister and Xan. Tell them I love them too. And never become involved in this world."