"Took you long enough," Alvaro called out as he saw Tobias, throwing his cigarette to the ground as he jumped from the booth of the car.

Tobias had never hidden his distaste for cigarettes and his hatred for secondhand smoke.

"I know," He answered, lifting himself up the car and onto the booth while Varo leaned on the side of the vehicle. "And put that knife away." Tobias glanced at the small knife Varo was holding between his teeth.

The knife was small and very portable but it sure could cut a bitch. It was given to every member of the family during their initiation. His family's emblem, a sliver tiger head, glistened against the moonlight as Varo sighed and removed it from his mouth.

"I just had it cleaned," Varo explained tucking it back in his dark linen sleeping robe. This man loved the fancy life. "Where have you been, boss?"

Tobias had gotten distracted by his sister who had called him to give him unnecessary details on the outcome of the fashion week.

She sounded drunk and Tobias had spent the next 30 minutes sipping a cup of coffee and trying to convince her that she needed rest.

Tobias appreciated the distraction though. It kept his mind off Eniola and her surprising tactics for a little while.

"I... was busy." His voice faltered, remembering the millisecond that his lips had brushed against hers, and the other millisecond her lips almost touched his. Her very soft lips... He tiredly rubbed his eyes with the back of his palm like it would erase the image.

"Mmm." Varo hummed, not completely believing his boss. "Why are you so red the—"

"We need a house." Tobias interrupted quickly, pulling out the pack of gum he had taken from the cop car. He had almost forgotten about it.

"A house? For the family?" Varo finally dropped the topic and asked, watching him play around with the tablet of mint-flavored gum before popping one open.

"Yes. I want you to go out with Clara tomorrow. I have a property in the Bronx... About an hour from here. It's big enough for the Cinco Grande and a few others." He listed, drawing the gum to his nose and subtly sniffing it before chewing.

"Just that? What about the others in Spain and Cuba?" Varo took the strip that his boss was now offering him and did the same.

The five of them, los cinco grandes, as his grandfather, Alejo Fernandez had called it, were the founding members of the family. The foundation of the entire union— his non-native schoolmates he had met at the University of Oxford in the 1920s. The original members were long dead and for some reason, getting into the council was a do-or-die affair for most family members. He didn't understand why it was so important. Granted, his and Alvaro's last name granted them automatic membership into the inner circle but if it didn't, he was not sure he would care.

"We'll arrange for them later. When the need arrives." He said, sucking in the cold air before continuing, "I don't think it's ideal moving every single member here. The estates should be enough for them for now."

"So do you want me to contact the remaining four? Miguel won't be difficult to reach. He's currently staying at a hotel near here." Vero mentioned blowing a bubble and popping it, much to the annoyance of Tobias who just and looked away.

"I'll do the contacting. Just go and rest. You have a long day tomorrow." Tobias finally answered Varo who just nodded and tried to hide a yawn.

"You do know the court trial is the day after tomorrow?" He asked his boss who nodded and rubbed his face.

"I know. We'll see what happens then." He didn't know what would happen then. All he knew was he needed to keep his eyes peeled and get the family ready.

He was finally calm enough to reason if a dialogue with Berlusconi would add meaning to the nonsense.

"Okay, Goodnight, boss." Varo huffed loudly and dipped his head at Tobias for a moment. Tobias stopped him.

"Varo?"

The lawyer raised a brow. "What's up?"

He did not know how to approach the topic but smiled a little. "Are you feeling well?"

Alvaro seemed confused for a moment before he slowly nodded and gave him a thumbs up. "Never been better."

"Alright then. Goodnight, Varo loco." Tobias said to his friend-turned-brother who chuckled and walked back to the house.

His smile vanished immediately Varo closed the door behind him. He was a good liar but Tobias knew better than to believe his curt answers.

He shook his head.

The last thing Varo would want was pity.

He pulled his phone from his pockets and decided to contact one of his trusted brothers and also his godson— to his greatest pleasure—, Luca.

"¿Hola? ¿Quién es?" The boy's light voice sounded from the phone and almost returned Tobi's smile.

"Hola, Luca- " The boy sharply exhaled as he heard the voice and it eventually cracked Tobias's frown.

"Jefe? Dios mío! Dónde has estado? Espera a que se lo diga a la familia!" Boss? Oh my God. Where have you been? Just wait until I tell the family! The boy gushed excitedly from the other line.

"Si, it's me. How have you been? How are your studies?" Tobias said after the boy had calmed down and he could still hear his breathing from the other line.

"I've been doing so well. I haven't missed college so far and we are on a holiday!" The boy explained in English making Tobias grin. He was doing so well and he hadn't even been in England for up to a year.

"Still on computer engineering?" He asked him, knowing how indecisive and easily frustrated Lucado could get.

"Well, no... I have changed to English Language. It is much easier when I am trying to learn the language too." He said carefully hoping not Tobias was upset but he didn't know he was one of the last persons Tobias would ever be upset with.

He was like a child to him.

"That's fine. As long as you enjoy it. I have no problems with that, Luca." He said and the boy muttered a 'gracias jefe'.

"You used to call me one time in a week. And you have called me one time on Sunday. This is the second time. I hope there is no problem?" He said slowly, trying his best not to stumble over his words. He had always been known to bare his mind.

"There is no problem, I just needed you to do something for me. You're on break, si?" He asked the boy who was quiet for a while.

"Si."

"I'll fund your bank account, I need you to come to New York," Tobias said to the boy. Luca could immediately read the meaning of the sentence behind his voice. He knew exactly what his boss needed; arms.

"¿Cuantos?"

"Twenty to fifty? Nothing too much." Tobias answered after thinking for a moment.

Maybe he didn't really think it all through. It wasn't really necessary if he just wanted to talk to Berlusconi but he needed to be prepared for anything.

"Cuando?" Luca asked again.

"If there's a plane leaving in the next five minutes, I want you on that plane." He answered and could instantly hear shuffling and scurrying on the other line.

"I'll be in New York as soon as possible, jefe." The boy answered breathlessly after a while.

"And Luca?" He paused and continued, "Speak more English? You're doing really well."

"Pido disculp- I mean, I'm sorry. I will speak more English." Luca stuttered.

"See you soon, Lucado."

The kid was adorable.

It was sad to see such a young boy in his family. A shame he had to replace Felicio.

Eniola crossed his mind for a moment.

The oblivious woman was probably in a deep sleep, unaware of all that was happening and was going to happen.

He wished he could keep it that way but knew it was impossible. She had to know about Berlusconi and Dave, the family, the full reason why he left.

She deserved to know everything. For her own good.

He sighed, rubbed the tiredness from his eyes and turned his phone on again.

One down, three to go.