Gracious

Chapter 18

A/N - that damn assignment gave me writers block but here we are 🫡🫡

A/N - scenes of violence this chapter

‼️probs typos in this I was eager to post it and didn't proof read‼️

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"New year, new us, new beginnings, new haircut-", it was ten in the fucking morning, I was exhausted, and Enzo hadn't stopped talking since I'd arrived at the not-so-rundown building that was due to become our club.

"New haircut?", I frowned, "you look the same". He pressed a hand to his chest in offence, shoving my shoulder slightly.

"You wound me", he scowled playfully, "whatcha think of the place?". I had to give it to him, although it was obvious we still had a while to go, he'd made some major progress in here.

"I feel like I've done nothing here", I told him, looking around in a slow 360. The bar, the smell of paint filling my nose, this was actually happening.

"And you think I have?", he snorted, "I've been barking so many orders that I feel like my Dad".

"At least you've been here", I shrugged, "sorry".

"I'm not the one raising five kids and looking after himself", bold of him to assume I was looking after myself, "don't apologise for that shit- actually, I wanted to speak to you about something".

"Go ahead", I nodded, watching his lips lift into a smile- who knows what he was gonna say.

"The name of the club", okay..., "I think you should pick it".

Come again?

"Why?", I asked and he snorted.

"Why not?", he shrugged, "takes two to tango Zane, you pick the name".

"Right now?", I frowned and he shook his head instantly.

"Think about it, brainstorm it or whatever", he suggested, "but you're naming it".

"I can do that", it was the least I could fucking do.

"I know you can", he ruffled my hair before sighing, "wanna get McDonald's? I'm craving a cheeseburger".

"It's ten in the morning", I deadpanned and he waved me off, "you're crazy".

"Don't you know it", he grinned, how had I gotten myself into business with him?

~~

"Cousin", I stepped through Marco's front door, he'd summoned me while I was eating McDonald's with Enzo, "isn't it a beautiful day?".

The smile on his face was anything but friendly.

"What have you done?", I rolled up my shirt sleeves and eyed him cautiously, especially when a small chuckle came from him.

"So little faith", he tutted, urging me to close the front door before he waved a hand loosely, "late Christmas present, if you will". He didn't say another word, just opened the door to the basement and entered, not even sparing a glance over his shoulder.

"The boys are at school?", I asked, closing the door behind me and descending the concrete steps, it smelt like death down here.

"I hope so", he scoffed, "you drop them off, hope they enter the gates, next thing you know I've got someone telling me Emiliano was spotted at the park". He didn't give a shit about their education, another thing that made us so different.

I turned the corner and paused at the sight before me, a guy no more than a year older than us, tied to a chair, being gagged, a nasty cut oozing from his temple.