Sweet Revenge

XLVIII

Nicolai's POV

After handing julian to kyla I headed to the door where I found my mom, my dad and my brother.
"Ciao amore mio(Hello my love)" my mother was the first to greet me giving me two kisses on both cheeks and then a hug, immediately after my father came forward.

"Ciao figlio(Hello son)"
He said with a smile hugging me too.
"Brother "
I greeted my brother but I immediately noticed that he wasn't himself, he didn't have that usual smile of his but instead an almost blank expression.

"Hey"
"Cos'è successo(What happened)?"
I asked once we were alone but he just shrugged before he surpassed me and started heading towards the others but I wasn't having that so I grabbed his shoulder stopping him.

"Damiano"
After a few seconds he turned around and my expression immediately softened, his eyes were red and glossy, I approached him and together we went to the kitchen where we could have a conversation without being disturbed.
Opening the fridge I took a bottle of water and gave it to him waiting in silence until he was ready to speak.

"I think I love him Nicolai"
He said looking me straight in the eyes, I don't deny that it took me by surprise since my brother has never been the type for relationships but I could still notice that since Axel has been around something changed in him.

"Wow Damiano Morello finally in a serious relationship, should I call the news?"
I said smiling a little making him grin.
"It's a good thing Damiano why are you so down?"
"I'm not sure Ax wants to be with me, you know to be involved in this kind of life when he could very well have a calmer one with someone else."

When he finished speaking I looked at him long and hard before speaking back.
"Are you willing to let him go to live a "more calmer" life with someone else this easily without even fight for what y'all have?"
"Damn no I love him more than i've ever loved anyone else."
My eyebrows lifted slightly as a smile formed on my face.

"Then you have your answer. Talk about your concerns with Axel and don't jump to conclusions by yourself"
I said moving from the counter towards him.
"Grazie fratello(Thanks bro)"
I bumped our shoulders slightly smiling at him before going together to the living room where everyone was waiting for us.

Dinner went very quietly between one laugh and another, it was time for dessert which consisted of a birthday fruit tart that my mother made.
"Where did you learn to fight so well dear?"
My mother asked Kyla who was next to me.

"I was in a military camp for six years Mrs. Morello"
She replied taking another piece of tart with her fork.
"And she was one of the best in there along with Axel"
I proudly added, turning slightly towards her, lingering perhaps a moment too long on her lips which must have tasted of fruit and which I really wanted to kiss at that moment.

"Call me Chiara dear. Your parents must be very proud of you."
My mother said before I had a chance to stop her and internally scolding myself for not warning her sooner about Kyla's family situation; a hush settled over the table making me close my eyes tightly as I noticed the way Kyla stiffened next to me.

"I don't think they really were actually"
She said with a tight smile before shifting her gaze back to her plate.
"Why would you say that honey?"
I cleared my throat sending a warning look to my mother but she was too focused on the woman next to me to even notice.

"Well since my father was the one who sent me to that place I really don't think it's because he was proud to have me as a daughter"
She said gripping the fork she was holding with more strength, I placed a hand on her thigh making her turn towards me noticing she was calming down a bit.
"What about you mother darling, she didn't have a say in this horrible decision?"

"Mom please"
I told my mother that this time looked at me but with a confused expression.
"My mother died when I was little."
And once again silence fell around all of us which was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell; all heads turned towards the door except for Kyla who kept staring at her plate.

Before I could get up I was stopped by Kyla.
"I got it, don't worry."
She said giving me a faint smile before getting up leaving.

"Tesoro(Honey) I'm sorry I didn't mean to."
My mom said as soon as Kyla left.
"It's not your fault you didn't know, I should have warned you both."
Both her and my dad gave me sympathetic smiles.
"She's such a strong woman son, hold her tight"
"That's what I intend to do"
I replied to my father.

"That's my son"
He said with a smile, immediately after we heard footsteps coming towards us, we all turned around and I was surprised by who I found before me.
My brother immediately stood up with an incredulous expression before walking towards him.

"Good evening everyone, I know I showed up without any notice but I needed to talk to Damiano"
Axel said with a faint apologetic smile.
"Oh dear no need to apologize for anything, when you finish talking come and join us too we were just having dessert"
My mother said smiling at him.
"Thank you Mrs.Morello, actually what I have to say I can do it here as well."

Damiano approached Axel with a worried look until they were facing each other and after a deep sigh Axel started talking.
"All my life I've had to pretend to be someone I wasn't, I've always had to behave in a certain way, all of this just not to lose the only thing that I thought was important to me, my family.
People I thought would love me unconditionally and without any judgment but growing up and discovering new sides of myself I realized it wasn't like that.
But you changed that, with you I can be myself, I don't have to be afraid of being judged for who I am but above all it's with you that I discovered I can love without having to be ashamed of it.
It is for all these reasons that I can say that I love you Damiano Morello."

Axel said with a few tears falling looking at Damiano who was silent for a few seconds before smashing his lips against Axel's.
After a few moments the two separated and with tears in his eyes Damiano spoke.
"I love you Axel, I loved you from the moment I laid my eyes on you."

The first to move was my mother who headed towards them capturing them both in an embrace while a few tears ran down her cheeks.
Following was Julian in his father's arms that started clapping his little hands making everyone laugh starting to imitate his gesture.

"They are beautiful together"
Kyla said looking up at me with a gorgeous smile and at a loss for words at the time I nodded before getting closer to her placing a kiss on her forehead wrapping an arm around her waist.