♤PACTS♤

Chapter 43 - Producer or Dealer

Marcel Wellington's POV

It's today.

The day for me to walk back to my past started off with rain. Winter is fast approaching, and Mother Nature tries to bless the plants with plenty of rain before the cold kicks in. The cold to come already brews within me.

I try my possible best to stay in higher spirits, but how can I when I'm going back there?

My second wedding went wonderfully. If you can overlook Marci's gloomy mood throughout. She knows her wish for us to be a family won't last. All she wanted was a wonderful family, and I couldn't provide that.

A man should provide for and protect his own, but I gave them trauma instead.

No matter how much I dismissed it, I knew one day my demons would catch up to me. I only hoped that it wouldn't reach out to my loved ones. The hope died when Valentiá aimed a gun at Dinah when she was pregnant.

The woman reminded me of my younger sister. We were the closest pair among the adopted spawns of the Lealtad clan, and her betrayal dug the hole in my heart deeper.

Since it was my last day with them, Abuela requested my presence for the night with them. Given her persuasive tongue and her roll of newspaper, there was no way I could say no.

As I zip up my suit, I take a long look around the room. It was my old room, and it had many fond memories. A common one was Santiago, Valentiá, and I raiding Abuela's cellar and drinking ourselves into a stupor.

I come out of the room and take in the scene. My whole family stands there with glum faces, and I take my time to tell them goodbye as I leave.

My last goodbye.

Abuela pulls me into her arms and mutters a prayer for me in Spanish. She pulls away, cups my face, and sighs, "I hoped after all these years, he would let you be."

"Sadly, men like Sam don't work that way." I roll my eyes and pat her cheek. "Thank you."

I turn to Abuelo and say, "Thank you for taking me in and raising me as one of your own. You put up with me and my demons and turned me into what I am today. I can't express my gratitude even more than you take in my daughter and watch over her and my wife. I promise I'll keep the darkness far from this household once I can tame it."

Abuelo chuckles, "Taming darkness belongs to those who can dine with Lions and Tigers. Marcel, you're a fine spoon that's already moulded. Don't allow them to bend you to their will."

I force out a smile and approach Santiago. The man opens his arms wide and gives me a tight hug. I return the favour and slap him on his back.

"I'm gonna miss you, man," I tell him, and he tightens his hands further.

We release each other, and he cleans a tear leaking from his eye. "I couldn't have asked for a better best friend and brother. Growing up with you was phenomenal. You made every day an adventure, Sherlock. And I'm happy we continued the gang with our kids. As you leave, don't forget that you will always be a Lealtad. You've proven yourself to be loyal, and that's something I know the rat bastards in the Empire were too blind to see."

I nod at his words and ruffle his hair. Maya offers me a hug and a kiss on my cheek.

Turning to the youngest men in the Lealtad clan, I roughly grip their shoulders and bring them down to my height. I find it hard to believe that these two knuckleheads I used to give noogies are tall enough to return a favour.

"You two dimwits, take care of your sister and cousin, alright?"

Diego laughs and throws his hands around my shoulders. "Will it be bad if I give you a noogie?"