Z A C
Frozen — that's the only way I can describe how I feel right now. I stare at the stranger in front of me, his amber gaze drifting towards my siblings — clearly searching for Jack.
I try so hard to protect them all, to be the parental figure they need me to be, to be the person they need me to be, but sometimes I can't help but feel as though I'm failing. That doesn't mean I'll give up, I'd never give up on them, they're my family.
My father taught me from a young age that family means everything; you protect your family at all costs and love them beyond bounds. In bad times and in good, you stick by each other, through calm or stormy waves, you sail together. I was only fourteen when I lost him, but his words, his guidance, it never left me.
He was my hero, he was everything I aspire to be.
I hope I'm making him proud, making both of them proud.
Snapping out of my shock, I turn to my family, my eyes locking on ten sets of fear struck blue eyes. I narrow my gaze, finding the petrified ocean orbs of my blonde brother. His eyes met mine, a silent promise made as we maintain contact.
"Grey," I call out for my oldest younger brother, his sole attention focuses on me.
I'm grateful for him, for everything he does, his constant support, everything he's gave up in order to help me, in order to help our siblings.
He was sixteen when I was granted custody of him and the boys.
He gave up his teenage years, his whole high school social experience. Whilst most kids were out partying, Grey would spend night and day studying. He claimed that if he studied enough and got good grades that he could get a job and help me support the boys, he wanted to help me take care of our siblings, he said that he didn't want me to be burdened with them on my own.
They could never be a burden to me.
I tried to reassure him that I would be fine, that we had more than enough money. I didn't want my sixteen year old brother to miss out on everything that I had, he deserved to live his life to the fullest.
Did he listen to me... of course not.
He continued with his routine, and after endless amounts of studying, hard work and sacrifices, he graduated high school a year early. He then proceeded to study at NYU, taking every course he needed to secure his dream job.
The day after our parents death, at eleven years old, Grey told me we were lucky. He told me; "Many times when kids become orphans, they have no one, they're alone. We're lucky Zac, we're lucky because we have each other.
After that day, Grey told me about his dream job, how he wanted to help kids who didn't have what we did, kids who'd experienced loss, kids who were born into families that didn't deserve them, families that hurt them.
I'm so fucking proud of him.
"Take the kids inside."
Grey nods at me, ushering our younger siblings into the house, whilst Callan and Carter block Jack from Harrison's view. As they disappear beyond the foyer, I turn my eyes back to the blonde haired man.
"No." I state simply, a hint of venom seeping into my tone.
Harrison looks taken a-back by my rejection, his eye brows furrowing as his eyes narrow into an evil glare, a glare so similar to that of his brothers.
I can't let Jack go, what if this man hurts him?
"No?" He scoffs, his amber eyes blazing. "Jack is my only family! He's coming with me!"
"Jack is my brother, Harrison." I state calmly, brushing the sleeves of my navy suit. "I adopted him, I'm his legal guardian, you're to late."
Harrison takes — what I think he assumes to be a threatening step towards me, kissing his teeth as he stops a mere foot in front of my built frame. "Your adoption won't hold in court! You never checked the system for his blood relatives before signing the paperwork!" He spits.
I want to laugh at his words, Jack is legally my responsibility, the adoption has already been processed, this man clearly knows nothing about the legal system. Did I check for blood relatives? No. Do I care? No. Any court who looks into Jack's history will see the trauma he's been through, they'd never send him to live with a man who's the carbon copy of the monster that stole his whole childhood.
I smirk, "won't hold up in court?" I shake my head, clearly amused by his threat. "Harrison, do you know who I am?" I ask, raising my eyebrow as I look down at the angry man.
"You're the bastard that's trying to keep my nephew from me!" He throws his hands above his head, clearly frustrated.
"No, I'm the best fucking lawyer in New York, if not the best in America." I snarl, narrowing my eyes at him. "Your empty threats mean nothing to me, take me to court if that's what you want, but if you want a relationship with your nephew, you're making a mistake, he's been though enough!"
"How the fuck am I meant to have a relationship with him when you won't let me?" He scoffed.
"I never said you couldn't spend time with Jack." I told him simply. "If Jack wants to see you, I won't stop him."
"I don't understand." He frowned, causing me to sigh.
"I'm not giving you custody of my brother." He went to interrupt but I held my hand up, "I don't know you, nor do I trust you, but if Jack wants to get to get to know you and spend time with you that's fine. I'll be with him for the first few meetings until he's comfortable enough to be alone with you and for me to work out your intentions."
"My intentions?" He mumbled, staring at me in confusion.
"Mhm, your intentions." I repeated, "what exactly is it that you want Mr. Adams?"
"I just want to get to know my nephew again." He sighed sadly, seemingly defeated. "My brother and his family left without a word, he sent me a text three days after they disappeared telling me he'd see me again soon. That was ten years ago, I hadn't heard from him since, well... until today."
"So you know what your brother done to him?" I asked, staring at him intently.
"Done to him?" Harrison looked confused now. "Henry said that he and Kelly got into debt after Jenna's death and they avoided a shit load of taxes. Which, of course, caught up to them. He didn't go into much detail," he ran a hand through his darkened blonde hair. "That's why I came here, be told me Jack was living with strangers that didn't want him."
My fists clenched at his words, my gaze hardening as I observed him. He doesn't know about the abuse? I'm not going to trust his word. "We're not strangers, we're his family."
"I can see that now." Harrison admitted, hands raised in surrender. "I didn't mean to come in all guns blazing. Jack's all I have left and I've really missed the kid."
I studied him for a moment, not fully believing his words, I didn't know him well enough to gage if his intentions were true. If Jack wants to get to know this man, I won't stop him, but I'll make sure he's protected at all costs.
I took my business card from my pocket, handing it over to a confused Harrison. "I need to speak with Jack before we agree on anything. Call me tomorrow afternoon."
Harrison nodded eagerly at my words, quickly pulling the card from between my finger tips. "Of course, thank you."
I nodded in response, watching as Harrison re-entered his vehicle, before descending down the gravel driveway.
So much for it being over.
***
Grey approached me as I made my way to my office, a mixture of worry and fear coating his boyish features. "He won't take him, will he?" He nervously asked, ringing his tattooed hands together.
"I won't let him." I told him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder, "everything will be okay, I promise."
"Are you sure Z?" He asked, his voice strained, "we can't lose him."
"Grey," I placed my hands on his cheeks, staring into his eyes with nothing but honesty. "We won't lose him, okay? Stop worrying, I'm going to call Ryan and get a background check on Harrison."
"Why?" Grey frowned, "why would you need a background check if there's nothing to worry about?" His lip trembling as he spoke.
"He knows I have legal custody Grey, I think he's somewhat accepted that fact, but he wants to get to know his nephew again. I'm—"
"You're going to allow him to spent time with our brother?" He cuts in, clearly flabbergasted.
"If that's what Jack wants." I sighed, "Grey, I'm not a dictator, I won't take Jacks choice from him. I'm getting this background check done to make sure he's a good man, I won't allow him near Jack if I think it'll put him in any danger."
"I— okay," he deflates.
"Just trust me, okay?"
"You know I trust you Z."
I nod, "I'm gonna call Ryan, where's Jack?"
"He's in his room, he wanted to be alone." He tells me sadly.
"Okay, I'll speak to him after Ryan. Can you check on Lil for me?"
Grey nods before turning in his steps leaving me alone in the narrow hallway. I run my hands down my face, this day has been physically and mentally exhausting.
Entering my office, I slump on the cool leather chair, laying my forehead on the cold wood of my oak desk, gathering my thoughts before picking up the phone to call my best friend.
"Zac?" Ryan's voice flows through the speaker of my phone.
"Ry, I need you to do a background check for me please."
"Who?"
"Harrison Adams."
"Adams? Z, what's going on?" He asks quickly, his voice filled with worry.
Loosening my tie, I explain the full situation to Ryan, telling him the conversation I'd previously had with Jack's uncle.
"Jesus... can't that kid ever catch a break!" He all but growls,
"Tell me about it." I agree, "so... will you do it?"
"Of course I will, I'd do anything for you guys, you know that."
I sigh a breath of relief, "thanks man, I appreciate it."
"You don't need to thank me Z." He tells me softly, "how are you doing?"
"I'm fine Ry, I'm just worried about the kids, especially Jack and Lily."
"I know, but they have you guys now, don't stress yourself out, okay? I'm always here for you fratello."
"Thanks Ry, I'm gonna speak with Jack."
"Call me if you need me."
***
"Jack," I call out as I knock on my little brothers bedroom door. He doesn't respond but I can hear the faint sniffles in the background.
Sighing I open the door, the sight before me causing my heart to clench in pain.
"What are you doing!?" I pull the clothes from his arms before he can get anything else in the black suitcase that's sitting on his bed.
"Packing," he whimpers, rubbing his reddened under eyes with shaky hands.
"Why the fuck are you packing?" I ask him a hint of fear in my voice, throwing the folding clothes to the floor I pull his trembling figure to my chest, wrapping my arms around him.
"You're sending me with him, aren't you?" His fingers tightly gripping the fabric of my shirt.
"Do you want to go?" He shakes his head against my chest.
"Thank god!" I exhale a breath of relief, when will this boy realise how much he means to us?
I've felt protective of Jack since the moment I heard they'd been taken to hospital, maybe even before then. When the boys told me that they thought Lily was our sister and they'd mentioned she had an older brother; one who's eyes filled with love each time he spoke of her, I knew in that moment I classed him as family.
Getting to know Jack has made me love him more than I thought was possible, I love him just as much as I love the rest of my siblings.
After coming to know of everything he's been through, of everything he's suffered, my protectiveness sky rocketed. The strength this kid has never fails to amaze me, the shit he deals with and how he handles it all whilst still finding the time to smile... I can't help the pride that swells in my chest — I'm so fucking proud of him.
Jack lifts his head, looking up to me with his bloodshot blue eyes, his eyebrows scrunched in clear confusion.
"Jack, I'd never send you away, this is your home." I grip his tear stained cheeks softly, "I'm going to tell you the same thing I've told you all day. You're my brother, my family, I'll never leave you, okay? I fucking love you!"
"I— but, that man..." he stammers, his blue eyes widening as though he were shocked by my exclaim.
"Is your uncle yes, but I'm your legal guardian, not him."
"You won't let him take me?" His voice laced with a mixture of hope and fear.
"I'd never let anyone take you, I promise." I told him, meaning every word. "He wants to get to know you." I tell him softly.
"I don't know if I want that." He whispers, moving to sit on the edge of his mattress.
"That's okay," I take a seat beside him, "you don't have to do anything that you don't want to."
He smiles softly at me before sighing, "Do you think I should? Get to know him I mean?"
"It's not my decision fratello, I think you should do whatever you want to do. If it helps, I've asked Ryan to do a background check. If everything shows up clear and you choose to spend sometime with him, I can be with you, you don't have to do it alone."
"What if he's like him?" He whispers fearfully.
I place my left hand on his shoulder, "I'll protect you, Jack. I won't let him hurt you, I won't let anyone hurt you."
He smiles slightly at my words, "if the background check is fine and you're with me, I'd like to talk to him... but I never want to be alone with him, at least not anytime soon."
"That's okay bambino, whatever you want, it's your choice." I smile, pulling him into my embrace.
"Zac?"
"Hm?"
"Thank you... for everything." He turns his head to look at me, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "I fucking love you too."
I grin widely, clearing my throat I put on my best Grey impression as I mock scold him, "Language!"
He laughs loudly, causing me to fall into laughter with him.
We've sailed many of storms and together we'll sail many more... but in the end, we always reach the clearer skies.
As long as we have each other, everything will be okay; La famiglia è per sempre.
_______________________________
End of chapter seventy one.
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Translation — family is forever