Killed On Purpose

12

I didn't get the chance to see Lazzaro the following morning. 

Once dad and I woke up, we scurried around the apartment and turned all the switches, electronics and water off before heading out at 7 am. I didn't know how long I was going to be away so I couldn't risk something bad happening and the apartment catching fire.

Silvio was waiting for us on the jet and once we were on, it didn't take long to take off. According to dad's contacts, we had taken off close in time to Lazzaro's flight so we were going to land not long after him. In those seven hours in the air, dad and Silvio stayed mostly on the subject of Silvio. Dad was trying so hard not to say something offensive because with years of active lawful duty his brain was programmed to do the opposite of helping someone get away with murder, even if said guilty person was twelve and doing it to save a life.

We had two meals in that time we were up and after the second meal, Dad signed out for a bit to take a quick nap in the closed bedroom, leaving me and Silvio alone. I was sitting on the chairs, having just finished my food, and Silvio had relocated to the couch with his laptop. He was beyond stressed. I couldn't even imagine the pressure he had on his shoulders to get his little brother out of this mess. If he could change places with Lazz I knew he would, but there was something else on my mind for the past few hours, a small poke that told me he'd do something entirely self-sacrificial concerning his uncle. Not having the nerves to ignore it anymore, I opened my mouth to ask him,

"Silvio?" I waited once he looked up from the screen of the laptop and I had his attention to continue. "What will you do with Tito once you meet with him?"

He was quiet for a while, going over his plan in his mind and probably thinking if it was even smart to share it with me. 

"If I can I'll even kill the bastard," he said, voice so low it was barely recognizable. His eyes glinted venomously as he continued. "I may have had the connections to help Lazz in the past, but not anymore. I lost many allies these past two years, but Tito had gained them. He pushed Lazz into this hole but he also has the means to help him if I probably give him what he wants. And I know what he wants."

"What's that?"

"My title, gattino. He's wanted it since the beginning. He thought since our dad was dead and I was his little bitch he could take over but I had the men on my side then. He backed off. He didn't have a choice so he went underground like a mole. Until now. I just can't fucking understand how I didn't see this coming," he rushed his hand through his dark hair, successfully disheveling it, and let his head fall on the sofa's headrest. Perhaps it was a bad idea, but I stood up from my chair and took a seat next to him. His smell overpowered me, that usual mix of earthy and pine notes that had me weak in my knees, and I involuntarily leaned towards him oh so slightly to be closer to that familiar and lovely scent. 

"You couldn't have predicted this, Silvio," I muttered and instead of leaning more onto him I chose the back of the sofa. He turned his gaze to me, those brown eyes shining with some unusual emotion, and I gulped softly. Silvio's hand reached out to touch a flyaway strand of hair and tucked it behind my shoulder softly. His touch, even in these circumstances, buzzed my body alive and I had to keep myself from sighing at his touch.

"Maybe," he whispered while keeping eye contact. I hated seeing him--seeing both the brothers actually--like this; anxious for their own lives, and careworn. I wanted to do something to help them but I had no idea what. A thought raced through my mind that I should maybe go with him to meet with Tito, but what would I bring to the table except for emotional support and keeping Silvio from spilling even more blood? But maybe that was enough. Maybe I should actually go. Tito deserved the worst things for playing his nephews like this just for some shitty title of power, but his death was not worth the additional problems.