Leo

Maybe we where smothering him to much.

But can anyone blame us? He came to us hurt, abused, and in really bad shape. We can't help but baby him, especially since we lost that chance when our mother took I'm away from us.

But we went too far. We pushed him past his limit and now he won't talk to any of us.

My brothers and I were currently sitting in Alvaros office trying to discuss our plan for this. He's ignoring all of us. Not talking to anyone besides his tutor which I'm still grateful for, he's a smart kid, even his tutor thinks so. He's at a 5th grade reading level and he's been meeting with his tutor for a little over one week. He started off at a 1st grade level, and he's already advanced so much I have no doubt he will catch up to a normal 9th grader by the time the fall comes around.

"So what we just let him disrespect us? I understand he's frustrated but he cannot just blatantly disrespect us. What if he has more hallucinations but doesn't tell anyone?" Marco asks.

"I think he is having hallucinations. The other day I caught him in the library talking to someone asking them to come back. He said he just followed someone until he got to the library." Alvaro says.

"I don't think any of you guys completely understand what his medications are for. He's on Thorazine for his hallucinations and it stops the majority of his hallucinations but not all of them. There is no magic medicine here guys. There's multiple other parts of Schizophrenia besides the hallucinations. You're talking major mood swings, symptoms similar to ADHD, like hyperactivity, hard time focusing, zoning out a lot, and more. The Thorazine helps stabilize his brain, but it can only do so much. And he's only been on it for a few weeks now. It hasn't taken a full effect yet." I tell them.

"So can't you put him on a mood stabilizer? Like to help the mood swings?" Santiago asks.

"No it's not smart to right now. He's going through puberty and all the mood stabilizer will do is mess with his hormones and numb his feelings. If it gets really bad yes but we haven't gotten to that. Have you guys even thought of yourselves in Elias's shoes? He's been on his own his entire life, nobody telling him what to do and how to do it, and now he has 5 overprotective brothers dictating his entire life. We tell him what to do, when to do it, how to do it all day everyday. Especially since he's been injured. Maybe we've been smothering him too much. I know he knows why we don't let him be by himself for to long. He's not stupid. He's anything but stupid. He's smart, and he observes." I tell them.

They all just sit there, going through their own thoughts.

"Maybe instead of having the tutor come everyday we do 3 days a week for 4 hours. With a 30 minute lunch/break in between. We need to give him some freedom instead of making him study every second of the day."

"But he's already so behind kids his age, he needs to be studying so he can catch up to them." Alvaro says.

"Have you not been checking in with his tutor? He started at a 1st grade reading level, now he's at a 5th grade. It's been what maybe 2 weeks? He's already at a 4th grade math level, and a 5th grade science and history level. He's not stupid, and he will catch up to them in no time. He needs to be a kid. He needs to have some kind of freedom. If we keep smothering him all we will do is make him resent us more." I tell him firmly.

Alvaro is stubborn, extremely so. He believes he's always on the right track and doesn't need help but a kid needs two parents, not one. Two people to guide them into the correct path. This is one thing Alvaro cannot do on his own.

"I just don't want him to feel stupid when he goes to school. It will be the first time he will be around kids his age. His correct age. He's felt stupid all his life and I want to make sure he never feels stupid again." Alvaro says.

"I understand that but we need to back off. He needs some kind of freedom. If not he will only hurt himself more. Like the other day. I caught him in the indoor pool swimming for God knows how long. The door to the gym was also open, and the weights were messed with. I'm guessing he went to swim to col off and found the gym and decided to lift some weights to clear his mind. He was working out for 4 1/2 hours. He shouldn't be working out. Not with his shoulder. He won't even let me look at it. He's refusing to wear the brace. If we don't change something this will only continue and get worse." I plead to Alvaro.

I need them to understand what exactly is at state here.

"Fine. We back off a little bit. He can roam around the house but I will have the guards keep an eye on him, letting me know his whereabouts. His safety comes first." Alvaro tells me firmly.

"I can't agree more." I tell him while walking out of the office.

At least that conversation was productive.

Elias

I've noticed my brothers have backed off and my tutoring sessions have gone down. I'm now at 3 times a week instead of every day. And it's 4 hours a day but I get a 30 minute break.

I'll take what I can get but I have my own investigation going.

What business do my brothers work in.

I've been searching the internet for answers and I find a lot of news tabloids of legal predicaments they have been found in. A lot of them is for gambling, drug trafficking, illegal use of weapons, weapons smuggling, and a lot to do with crime wars.

So far my biggest conclusion is that they're in a gang, but it seems to be that they are the bosses so they'd have to be high up, like owning it.

So that leads me to them being Mafia boss's. Which Mafia? Well if they're at peace with the American then they aren't the American Mafia. They're at war with the Russian Mafia so not that one either.

I've been looking into my father's death. They ruled it a gang war, mentions the Hispanics and Russians so that means they must own the Hispanic Mafia.

Our father was a Spaniard, his family originating from there. Our Mother was Mexican and after a long day spent researching and connecting he dots I believe they are the Bosses of the Hispanic Mafia.

That's also why I was ignoring them. How was I supposed to bring that up? Don't get me wrong I've killed a few people but that was because it was self defense. They kill people for fun.

Maybe they're psychopaths.

They don't seem like psychopaths?

I don't know. This is confusing.

I hear a knock on my door, I can't even say anything before someone is opening it.

That's annoying. I should get a lock on my door. Like why would you knock just to walk in?

"Hey Elias dinner is ready." Santiago tells me.

I just nod and turn back to my notebooks.

"Whatcha working on?" He asks while trying to look over my shoulder.

I slam the books shut and turn around.

"None of your fucking business. Why don't you mind your own?" I ask him angrily.

"Woah sorry, was just wondering how your writing is coming along..." he tells me.

"Well maybe you could ask next time. Ever think of that?" I ask him snarkily.

"Okay okay sorry, you don't need to get so defensive little brother. Now let's go, we have dinner downstairs." He tells me while holding my own door open.

I really don't want to go downstairs and be surrounded by my brothers who own a fucking Mafia.

But I do. I can't be suspicious.

We walk into the dining room and I see some food laid out. Some rice, seasoned meats, vegetables, etc.

One thing I've noticed is how fancy they eat. We eat. It's weird.

They always have so much food I don't know how they afford this.

Oh wait. Yes I do.

They own a Mafia.

Fucking idiot

I sit down and start to fill up my plate. Ignoring the vegetables. The vegetables they serve are weird and crunchy. Not soft. I hate it. It's weird.

"Elias you need some vegetables on your plate." Leo tells me.

"No I don't. Those things are nasty." I tell him while digging in. The meat is super juicy. It always is, and it's well seasoned.

"Well you still need to eat them they're good for you." Marco tells me while trying to fill my plate with broccoli.

"Don't put those things on my plate. They're nasty." I tell him while moving my plate away from the spoon.

"Come on Elias. Broccoli isn't that bad. Just try some." Alexander tells me while smirking.

"No they're crunchy and weird, and they taste like grass." I tell him while shoving Marcos arm away.

"Well they're supposed to be crunchy and they don't taste like grass. They're freshly grown from our garden. They're good for you and you need to eat a few. Don't you want to be tall? You need to eat your vegetables to get tall like your brothers and I." Leo tries to convince me.

"No I've had broccoli before, it's supposed to be softer than that. That's basically raw. And I will get taller, you need proteins and meat for that which I have no problem eating." I argue.

My left hand is holding my plate in the air while my left arm is shoving Marcos arm and body away. He keeps trying to put them on my plate. I won't let him. Those things are nasty.

"Elias and Marco stop it. Elias put your plate on the table and eat some vegetables. Marco leave your brother alone." Alvaro tells us sternly.

I wait for Marco to put the spoon back until I put my plate back down on the table. Santiago and Alexander are giggling like little bitches at us.

"Stop fucking laughing you brats. It's not funny." I tell them angrily.

"Elias language." Alvaro tells me without even looking up from his plate.

Fuck fuck fuckity fuck. Try and fucking stop me you overbearing asshole. I tell him in my head. I'm flipping him off with my toes right now. He can't see that.

"Why don't you put some salt and pepper on them. It's the only way I will eat them." Alexander tells me while putting a spoonful of fucking broccoli on my plate.

"I know I won't like it. Broccoli is nasty." I argue with him as he puts some salt and pepper on them.

"Just try it. If you don't like it you don't have to eat it." He tells me.

One bite and that's it? That's not bad...

I pick up a piece of broccoli and start eating it. It definitely helped.... Not that I'd admit that to them...

I look out of the corner of my eyes and see Alexander smirking. Fucking asshole....

Dinner is calmer after that, some light conversations here and there before I ask them the question I've been asking myself all day.

"So what business do you run?" I ask them while glancing up from my plate. I'm watching all of their reactions.

Everyone freezes, not expecting my question.

Alvaro answers me first. "We run a few. Things like hotels, clubs, bars, etc" he tells me casually.

"That's it? There's nothing more?" I ask him. I want answers and they're not giving me the full truth.

"Why's are you asking?" He asks me while looking straight at me. Shit. Now I've got him suspicious of me

"Well you know, you have all this security for just some businesses like that? It's kind of weird." I tell him. Holding his gaze.

He stares at me. Likely not knowing what to say.

"Well it's not just a few small businesses. It's one of the most successful hotels and bars in the world. We own a hotel company that has 5 star hotels all over the world." Leo tells me.

"Really? That's pretty cool. I wouldn't expect people who work in hotels trying to hurt their competitors. I assumed you guys owned more... violent business." I tell them.

"Casinos are dangerous. People think they were screwed over so they want revenge. Sometimes going for CEOs. It's pretty common." Santiago tells me.

"You guys own casinos? That's pretty cool." I tell them. I've almost caught them.

I see my brothers glaring at Santiago. I guess he wasn't supposed to tell me that.

They all just look between each other. Not looking at me. Well. This is awkward.

I clear my throat "well. I'm going back to my room." I tell them before leaving.

They're definitely being suspicious. Being quiet, and looking at each other. Not giving me a straight answer...

If I'm going to get one of them to tell me I need to go for Santiago. I can't mention this to the older brothers...

I went back to my desk and opened my notebooks. Going back to scribbling evidence and my suspicions down.

My reading and writing is getting good. I am really happy to be able to read books, and write things down. It feels so different than I thought it would. The words actually have meaning. It creates a different world. I never thought I would be a reader but.... I might be...

Before I knew it 2 hours had passed. I looked up at my window and noticed how dark it was. I left my room and started walking towards the library. I was hoping to catch Elijah tonight...

As I was walking I heard voices towards the stairwell. I leaned near it and saw a few random guys. They looked like the security guards that always lurked in the shadows.

"So what are we waiting for? We have them scrambling right now. Why can't we attack?" One of them asked. Attack? Attack who?...

"Because we have other priorities first. There's a family meeting in 3 weeks. After that we will attack. But right now you need to listen to me when I tell you to stay put. Understood?" A voice said.... A very familiar voice....

I heard them walking up the stairs and immediately I ran for the library.

There's a family meeting? Why did I not know about it? Will Francisco be there?

I made my way to the back of the library, where the photo albums were. Waiting for Elijah.

I don't know how many times had passed when I heard him beside me.

"So did you figure it out?" Elijah asked me.

"Yeah. They're the Spanish Mafia bosses." I tell him confidently.

"Did they tell you that or did you figure it out?" He asked me.

"I figured it out. They're hiding it from me. They won't give me any information."

"Well did you expect them to just mention it if you asked?"

"No, but it was worth a try. Besides I found the weak link between them."

That got him interested.

"Oh you did? Who is it?" He asked me.

"Now I won't tell you that, you're still a stranger. Now you had told me you would explain some things." I tell him.

"Yeah I guess I did. Your family owns the Spanish mafia, your father owned it and when he died it went to Alvaro. Your uncles Emilio and Francisco are involved but Emilio more than Francisco. Francisco fucked up big time. He married Anya who is the only heir to the Russian Mafia and he didn't do it the correct way. He kidnapped her, forced a marriage and a very fragile peace treaty, and put the Spanish Mafia and the Russian mafia in tense positions." He tells me.

"Okay. So my family just allowed that? They didn't do anything to stop him?" I ask him.

"No they didn't. That's a big issue and is why the Russian Mafia doesn't trust anyone from the Spanish Mafia. Your family did nothing to help Anya and the Russian Mafia isn't happy. They want revenge. They want Francisco dead." He tells me.

"How do you know all of this?" I ask him.

"That's not important. How much do you hate Francisco?" He asks me.

"Who said I hate him?" I ask him. What the fuck is going on?

"Well considering the fact that when I caught you you looked like you where trying to strangle him from the picture, and also how he helped your mother hide you from your family for 12 years, raped you multiple times because he believed that he deserved some kind of payment and your mother couldn't pay her herself so he used you. Am I correct?" He asks me. He's smiling oh this asshole.

"How the fuck do you know that? Who told you that bullshit?" I ask him, my anger and panic coming to the surface quickly.

"We have had our eyes on him for years. Everything he does we know about. Everything Elias." He tells me sternly.

"Who is we?" I ask him. Maybe this wasn't a good idea...

"We is the Russian Mafia Elias. I thought you were smart." He tells me smugly.

I freeze. He's apart of the Russian Fucking Mafia??

"Don't panic we don't want to hurt you. We actually want to help you if you're interested." He tells me.

"Help me how?" I ask him.

"Help you kill Francisco of course."

What the fuck...

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Hehehe... what do we think? I rewrote this chapter like 4 times because I didn't like how it was turning out.

Anyways here's a cliffhanger for ya'll.... Hehehe.

Don't forget to comment/vote. Lmk what you think is going to happen next.

So one story is 'The Lost Russo' its unfinished and is about a 7ear old boy Luca who has been reunited with his dad and brothers.

Another one is 'Found family' there is a new and old version, again unfinished, and is about a boy Luca (again) who is 8 years old being placed with his brothers after finding out he was kidnapped.