Hiding in the Dark

Chapter 8

Three hours later, I'm standing in front of the five men once more. I managed to finish all my work and it was time to get ready. I go to my father's office per his instructions while the other guys suit up. He was working on his computer when I arrived.

"Nico. Come take a seat." He demands. Sitting down, I wait for him to tell me what he needs. 

Opening one of his desks drawers, he pulls out a gun and lays it in front of me. "I want you to take this as a precaution."

"I've never used a gun before." I inform him but he doesn't seem too concerned.

Father takes the gun before pointing out certain things. "This is how you open the gun to see the ammo. Right here is the safety and this is the trigger. After this mission, you will go to the gun range and begin target practice."

He hands me the gun and I turn the safety back on before putting it in my back pocket. "Was that all that you needed?"

"Yes. Now get going. I expect you to be back in two hours." I nod curtly before leaving his office.

On the way to the warehouse, all the men were chatting happily for some reason. I was the one driving since we had to take my car and stayed silent the entire car ride. Some of the other guys tried to get me to talk but stop trying once they realized that I wasn't in the mood.

At the warehouse, we all tread lightly as we move into the building. There were large crates that lined the walls and nothing was out of the ordinary. I made assigned each guy a crate to examine before going to one of my own. Opening the top of the crate, I moved around the little foam balls to check the inside. From what I could see, there was only some antique vases and a look at the other guys told me that their crates held the same thing.

Once verifying that there was nothing concerning in the warehouse, I turn to leave. However, a gunshot had stopped me in my path. Immediately, I go behind one of the crates and pull out the gun in my back pocket. As father had shown me, I turn the safety off and hold the gun so that it is aiming at the floor. I wasn't able to see any of the guys from where I stood but I hoped that they were safe.

I looked around the crate before pulling back quickly after hearing the gun fire again. Although, this time, I noted where the shot was fired from. Moving back slightly, I peered around the crate once more before aiming my gun in the direction the sound came from. Shooting three times, I hear a thump and all the other guys cheering.

Confused, I walk over to where the group was standing, which was right near the body. I just stared at the lifeless body that was covered in blood as Mario patted me on the back.

"Congrats Nico. You passed." He says with a smile but I didn't return it.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I said, my hands shaking to the point where the gun falls.

"There was no threat from the Demoni Della Notte. Your father set this up to see if you had what it takes." He replied, not sensing my anger.

My hands tighten into a fist. "Are you kidding me? So the guy isn't actually dead?"

"Oh, you actually killed him. It was some guy who wasn't pulling his weight in the gang so your father decided to sacrifice him." Ares explains.

I look at the dead body once more before running out of the warehouse. I get into my car and drive the hell away from the building after turning off my phone. The guys can figure out their own way home. As I drove to an unknown destination, my mind was working in overdrive. How the hell can they cheer about me killing someone? I'm freaking the fuck out and they were congratulating me? They are such assholes.

Eventually, I find myself sitting in a parked car in front of a bar. Continuously, I bang my hands against the steering wheel until they were bruised. I just killed a man. I deserve to feel pain.

Inside, I ask for a beer and sit at the counter, drinking myself away. I was on my third when my mind felt numb. I was on my fifth beer when I sent a text to Gabriel. I was nursing my sixth when he finally arrived.  

Gabriel sits down beside me and plucks the bottle out of my hand. "I don't know how much you have had but I can tell that it is enough. Pay the bartender and let's go. You can stay at my place tonight."

It took a few attempts to get my wallet out of my pocket but I finally was able to and gave the man his money. I swayed a little once I stood up and Gabriel placed a hand on my back to guide me to his car.

The drive to his place was silent and once we got there, he helped me up to his apartment. He sat me on his couch before going to his kitchen to get me a glass of water. I take it from him and drink the entire cup.

"I'm sorry." I say, finally looking him in the eyes.

Gabriel sighs, running his hand through his hair. "What's going on, Nico?"

"I can't tell you."

"You can trust me. I promise." He assures.

"I did something bad." I admit.

He wraps his arm around my shoulder and lets me lean on him. "What did you do?"

"You'll hate me."

"No, I won't."

I stare at my hands, tears forming in my eyes. "Yes, you will. It was really bad." 

"Nico, nothing will make me hate you." Gabriel says.

"This will. I don't want to talk about it. I just want to sleep." I tell him.

He nods. "Okay. You can take my bed tonight. I'll take the couch."

Gabriel tries to get up but I hold on to him tightly. "No, we can share the bed. I want you to hold me."

"Wow, you are affectionate when you're drunk. Come on, let's go to bed. I'll give you something to sleep in." He pulls me up with him and takes me to his room.

I get changed into a solid gray shirt and pajama pants before climbing into bed. Gabriel turns off the lights and climbs in next to me, pulling me so that I'm laid against his chest.

"Goodnight Gabriel." I say, cuddling further into his chest.

"Goodnight Nico."

In the morning, I wake up to the smell of bacon and a painkiller on the nightstand with water. I immediately swallow it and the pounding in my head dims quickly. Getting up, I follow the smell to the kitchen, where Gabriel was cooking breakfast.

"Good morning." I greet, walking over to him.

"Good morning. Are you feeling any better?" He asks as he hands me a piece of bacon.

I nod, gobbling down the bacon that tasted amazing. "Yeah. Sorry about last night. I was a mess."

"It's okay. Do you want to talk about it now?"

"Not really. Someday, I'll tell you. Just not today."

"That's fine. Why don't you sit down? Breakfast is ready."

------

After eating, I got dressed in the clothes I was wearing yesterday and Gabriel drove me to the bar so that I could get my car. We said our goodbyes and he told me that he would text me later.

When I got home, I knew that I was in trouble. Entering the house and all my older brothers plus father pacing in the living room confirmed my thoughts.

"Nicolas Morelli. Where the hell have you been?"