Kedrick shuddered as he stood frozen in front of the guards. They hadn't moved an inch since he hot there and he knew it would be a challenge to go through them. This was afterall the Mancini mafia's estate.
The guards did not react much to the passing boy as they got curious people walking by everyday. For the people that lived under Alister's rule, the mansion seemed more as a historical castle that had been feared throughout the centuries and treated the outside as a tourist attraction, yet none of them were ever allowed to step a foot inside the huge garden that surrounded the otherwise dark manor. Those who tried were killed on the spot and the others were to frightened to even attempt anything similar.
Those were the rules. Other than the lords, no-one goes in and no-one comes out.
Kedrick slowly chewed on his lower lip as he approached the two enormous-looking men, Kamala still hanging from his arms. As he bagan getting closer to the gate, the men huddled up closer as they looked him over suspiciously.
"Where do you think you are going?" The larger looking male chuckled maliciously as his mind drifter over to thoughts of what he could do to the unconscious woman. With Alister getting feared more and more each day, he didn't have much of an opportunity to have fun with the intruders anymore. He would settle for anything right about now.
"I-I have to talk to Alister Mancini." Kedrick squirmed quietly under the two men's gaze.
The two guards looked at each other before letting out a disoriented laugh. "What exactly for?" They asked amused with no signs of seriousness spread around their smug faces.
"T-this woman, sh-she and the Don a-are together. W-we were kidnapped by the Russians a-and they sent us b-back. She needs medical help
and-"
His words were interrupted by the booming laughter coming from both of the men.
"Get out of here kid before I slaughter both of you."
Kedrick took a step back at his words and nervously shifted around. He knew the men that brought him here were probably keeping a close eye on him and therefore leaving was not an option.
"N-no. I- She- I'm telling the truth!" Kedrick exclaimed nervously, instantly regretting raising his voice at the two men.
"You expect us to believe that Alister Mancini is with this woman who looks like you just picked up from the street?" One of the men grimaced as they kept looking over at the unmoving girl.
"Please- I- c-call anyone! Anyone who would know. I- Please. You have to believe me. Think of what he would do to you. Of what he would do to you if you make us leave." Kedrick cried out as he kept looking in between the two. They did not share the same reaction however as they were slowly loosing their temper with the pathetic boy.
"I'm going to tell you one last time. Get out-"
"What is going on here?"
Kedrick snapped his head to face the masculine voice that erupted from inside the gate, hope filling up his eyes.
"F-father?"
Cullen stood by the gate, the smirk evident on his face as he watched his son by the entrance but instantly falling as his eyes landed on the woman he was carrying in his arms.
"Sir, this man is claiming that this woman is somehow involved with the Don." The guard answered, trying to keep his snickering at a minimum at the sight of his superior.
At first, Cullen didn't respond. He was too busy staring at the woman to even notice that the guard had addressed him. His eyes were supplied with confusion and anger but his calm expression never faltered.
Cullen's appearance had changed a lot since his son last saw him. Dark circles rested at the bottom of his eyes suggesting he hadn't had a proper night's sleep in days. His usually combed grayish hair was sprung all over the face and his rugged appearance made it clear he had not looked after himself properly.
"Sir?" The guard called out snapping him out of his haze. "Do you recognize these people?"
Cullen dabbled over how he should answer, his green eyes still focused on Kamala. Suddenly, a large everlasting smile appeared on his face as he looked back at the entertained guard.
"Of course I recognize them."
The guard looked taken aback at his words, his whole body leaning onto the direction in which Kedrick was standing to try and decipher if what the young looking man said was actually the truth. Lord knows, he would be screwed if it were.
"Y-you do?"
"Did you think I wouldn't recognize the woman who is the sole reason our Don is on a murder spree at the moment?" He beamed as he heavily smiled at the who horrified guards.
One of the men quickly turned back to Kedrick.
"I-I'm so sorry. We had no idea. O-of course you can come in." The guard stumbled as he quickly opened the gate.
Kedrick quickly looked between the two large men who were continuously apologizing and he couldn't help but feel a stride of pride as the two buffed-up men were now practically on their knees at the fact that he may or may not he somehow connected to Mancini.
Of course, then he realized what going inside the castle and talking to Alister would mean for his life.
Kedrick nervously stepped inside with his father standing right by his side.
"What the fuck is she doing here?" He bellowed at his son as soon as they were out of the guard's hearing range.
"What do you mean?" Kedrick asked confused. He had known that his father had taken some weird interest in her, but surely he didn't know that she was kidnapped by the Russians. But if that were true, how was he able to bail him out of the cell they were holding him in? Ever since being released, Kedrick hasn't even thought of that. He was too happy being released to even think about what might have been the cause of his freedom. However now, all the puzzles were falling into place with another.
"Don't be stupid, Kedrick. Now tell me, why the fuck is she here!" Cullen blared as he took his son by the arm which was still wrapped around Kamala's waist and pulled him into one of the abandoned alleyways.
"T-the building got blown up. She barely survived. A-anyway, I think that they were scared o-of what the D-Don would do next because they called me back to return her as a peace offering." Kedrick explained to the best of his abilities. Even though he hated Cullen with passion, he still couldn't help but want to make him proud.
"Fucking bitch just can't give me a break!" Cullen yelled out as he punched the nearest wall, right above Kedrick's head.
"D-dad, did y-you have something to do with the kidnapping?" Kedrick asked hesitantly, praying he was wrong even with all the clues presented right in front of him. He knew his father wasn't a particularly good person, but he would never imagine him trying to harm an innocent girl for whatever petty reason that he had.
"That's none of your fucking business now is it?" Cullen snapped, his head quickly turning over to his son with his eyes wild with anger.
Kedrick hated when his father was in one of his moods. His could change at any moment and most of his family was used to walking on eggshells around him. Cullen would loose all control of himself and act impulsively, which usually mean Kedrick would try his hardest to quietly retreat from the situation.
"N-no father. I- I think I'll just go now. I..uhm.. have to bring her to the Don and-"
"ARE YOU A FUCKING IMBECILE!" Cullen yelled at the top of his voice. Kedrick knew that they were too far away from the other people for him to keep his voice down so he knew that he was in this alone.
"IF YOU THINK THAT THAT WHORE WILL EVER SEE THAT MAN AGAIN, THEN YOU ARE DUMBER THAN I THOUGHT!" He exclaimed, piercing Kedrick's ear in the process.
"And to think you are my son."
"C-calm down, I don't have a-"
"Bring her to my room." Cullen announced suddenly, his heated eyes on Kamala once again.
"W-what? No father. Look, I don't know what you did but whatever it is, we can work it out together." Kedrick offered, his stomach turning at the thought of giving Kamala to his own father. Even through all the denial that he kept locked up in his heart, deep down he knew exactly what would happen if he gave her to the care of his father.
"Oh, through the power of fucking love and friendship? Grow up! Your mother had really done a number on you." He called out loudly, although calmer now than before.
"I'm s-sorry but I can't do that. Th-they will kill me-"
Those were the last words that left Kedrick's mouth before a rough hand grabbed him from around the neck, crushing Kamala's body in the process.
"What about me? DO YOU WANT THEM TO KILL ME? HUH?" Cullen snarled at the trembling boy in his hands as some of his spit landed on his forehead.
"Father, I-" Kedrick tried to speak but the tight grip that was slowly suffocating him to death didn't allow him such a privilege.
"THAT FUCKER TOOK YOUR SISTER AND YOU WANT HIM TO HAVE A HAPPILY EVER AFTER, DON'T YOU! AT THE SAKE OF YOUR OWN FATHER!" He growled into his ear as the grasp that held its own around his throat never stalled.
"DO YOU WANT THAT! HUH? ANSWER ME!"
"N-no." He inaudibly croaked out.
"WHAT WAS THAT?"
"N-no!" He managed to get out, his voice louder with determination this time.
At the sound of those words, Cullen finally released the hold on his throat. Taking a deep cough, he straightened himself to look appropriate while his son was desperately gasping for air, however, his grasp on Kamala's waist never failing.
"Bring her to my room. Make sure no-one sees you and then place her on my bed. If I find my bed empty in about twenty minutes, only God will know what I will do to you."
Kedrick tearfully nodded and watched as his father walked away.
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Kedrick walked around the long hallway, tears glistening in his eyes.
He didn't want to do this. Who would?
He couldn't even count how many times he had hurt Kamala, but this one surely got the cake.
But this was his family.
He never really knew Naeva. It wasn't as if Cullen was keeping him a secret from her. He wasn't. He didn't care enough about his mother and him to even attempt to hide them. Cullen kept them mostly separated and it was very obvious which one of them he favored more.
He had met his older half-sister three times, and yet they had only exchanged about fifteen words. It was obvious she hadn't taken much of an interest in him, and even though Kedrick was fascinated with the idea of having a sister, he too had to admit he hadn't thought much of her.
But she was still his sister. His own flesh and blood.
He had to do this. Even if it would cost him his own life.
He stepped up next to the big suite that he knew with certainty belonged to his father.
He was about to knock when a growl-like roar erupted from the back of the hallway.
Kedrick froze in place. After what happened in the kitchen, he could never forget that voice again. The voice that he prayed he would never have to hear again.
With wide eyes, he slowly shifted to the left from where the powerful, intoxicating presence was coming from.
Alister stood there, his whole body shaking with anger as the murderous intent was written all over his face.
And he was staring directly at Kamala.
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This chapter was very Kedrick related so I will be posting the next chapter in one or two days.
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