Chapter 19: The Dragon Brotherhood

28 YEARS AGO…

"Won't you tell me more about the Alpha Brotherhood, Dad?"

Lucio's small fingers curled around the golden key, his wide, inquisitive eyes fixed on his father, and his legs dangled from the chair. They were not yet long enough to touch the floor.

He had been waiting for this moment—waiting for his father to tell him something important.

Mr. Hernandez exhaled, rubbing the stubble on his chin. He should dismiss the question. It wasn't a story meant for children. But when he looked at his son who was so eager and determined—he hesitated.

"You're still too young to understand, my son."

Lucio straightened his back. "Dad, I know I'm just eight, but since you gave me this key for safekeeping, don't you think it's fair to tell me why? I promise I'll understand."

A small chuckle escaped Mr. Hernandez. His eldest son had always been a clever boy. He leaned forward, lowering his voice as if the walls had ears. "Alright. But you must swear—not a word to anyone. Not even your mother or little Ronan."

Lucio nodded so fast his dark curls bounced. "I promise, Dad."

Mr. Hernandez studied his son for a moment before speaking.

"This story begins with a man named Antonio."

Lucio edged closer, clutching the key in his palm.

"Antonio was a boy who never knew his father. His mother, a hostess at a bar, raised him alone. When she died of Tuberculosis, he was twelve. He had nothing—not a home, not a family, just a worn photograph of the father he had never met. For years, he wandered the streets, searching. He tried to survive by begging for food from strangers."

Lucio's brows furrowed. He could picture it—the boy, cold and hungry, clutching that tiny photograph.

"He never found his father," Mr. Hernandez continued. "But he found something else: resilience. He worked odd jobs—hauling cargo, running errands—until one day, fate intervened. A wealthy old man, moved by Antonio's struggle, took him in. Adopted him. And just like that, Antonio went from a beggar to an heir. Overnight, he became one of the richest men in Spain."

Lucio's mouth fell open. "That really happened?"

Mr. Hernandez smirked. "It did. The old man changed Antonio's name to Victorino Viaje del Cargador. His name means 'the journey of the carrier.' A fitting name for someone who had carried so much on his young shoulders."

Lucio leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Then what happened?"

"Antonio—now Victorino—attended the Academy—an exclusive school for the billionaire elite. That's where he formed the Alpha Brotherhood. It started as a secret group of wealthy men who used their influence to help the less fortunate. For decades, they funded charities, built orphanages, and aided the poor. But their movement thrived in anonymity. Not until power changed everything. You see, my son, power is a dangerous thing. And even good men can be corrupted."

The warmth in Mr. Hernandez's voice faded, replaced by something darker. Lucio noticed the way his father's jaw tightened, the way his fingers absently traced the tattoo on his left shoulder. It was a small dragon curled in ink.

"What happened to the Brotherhood?" Lucio whispered.

"Many years later, a greedy Don took control. He changed the rules and twisted the mission. He even had to murder his own father. The Alphas became something else entirely—they became a group of tycoons, kingmakers, and criminals. And then, ten years after Victorino's death, a rumor spread. A golden key existed. And whoever held it… held the location of Victorino's lost fortune."

Lucio's fingers twitched around the key in his palm. His throat went dry. "I—Is this that key?"

His father nodded gravely.

"The highest rank in the Alpha Brotherhood is the Don," he explained. "But only those with Victorino's bloodline can claim position. That didn't stop outsiders from trying. So Victorino's descendant—Don Juanito—made a choice. He hid the treasure, not for himself, but to protect the Brotherhood's wealth from falling into the wrong hands."

Mr. Hernandez leaned in, voice barely above a whisper.

"But the secret got out. Don Juanito was murdered. His son became the 30th Don—the one who turned the Brotherhood into what it is today."

Lucio swallowed hard. He could feel the weight of the key now. He wanted to ask more, but a thought nagged at him—something his father had said before. "You told me once that you're a Dragon assassin. I-is that why you have that tattoo like that?"

His father's lips pressed together.

"The Dragons are the greatest enemies of the Alphas," he said carefully. "I… was sent to infiltrate them. I had to become an Alpha to get this key for the Dragons."

Lucio's stomach twisted. "But if they find out…"

Mr. Hernandez exhaled slowly, glancing toward the window. The street outside was quiet now.

"I believe they already know, son."

A chill ran down Lucio's spine.

"I don't have much time," his father continued, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a folded slip of paper and pressed it into Lucio's hand.

"If things get dangerous, call this number. He will help you."

Lucio's fingers tightened around it. "But Dad—"

"No questions, Lucio." His father cupped his cheek, his gaze filled with something deep, something heavy. "Just listen to me. You have to guard that key with your life."

Lucio nodded, heart pounding. And somewhere outside, the night stretched still and silent, as if something was coming.

Something inevitable.