Favor of Destiny

Chapter 1 : The storm

                              Adam

"Adam, do you want some eggs?" Aurora, my sister-in-law, asked me, just like she did every morning. Even though it's been a year and a half since she married my brother Noah, and she knows I don't eat breakfast, she still asks the same question every day. And every day, I give her the same response.

"No, I'm good," I replied, as she nodded and turned away.

"Sisi, I want some! You make the best eggs in town," Oliver, my youngest brother, chimed in with a grin.

"Only in town?" Aurora smirked, playfully challenging him.

"In the whole world, Sisi," added Roland, his twin brother.

I have three brothers—I'm the eldest, followed by Noah, who's two years younger, and finally the twins, Oliver and Roland, who just turned 20 this year.

From the very first day Aurora walked into our lives, the twins adored her. She was the first girl in our household, and she turned our house into a home. Shy, calm, and lovable, Aurora brought a warmth we never knew we needed. She took such good care of Noah—he's probably still alive because of her—and I can never thank her enough for that. She even looks after the rest of us, like a real sister would.

I look around the table at my small but precious family. The twins are laughing with Aurora, and Noah is watching his wife with a tender smile, his eyes sparkling with love.

I work hard to keep them safe, to keep them well-protected. I lost my parents years ago, and even now, I still can't move on from that. The only thing I can do is work—sleep three, maybe five hours a night if my demons let me—and appreciate the home and the family I still have.

My phone rang, shaking me out of my thoughts. When I saw the name on the screen, I took a long breath. "It's Leo," I informed everyone, and the table fell silent.

I answered the call. "Leo... yes... I'll be there in 15 minutes... good."

By the time I hung up, four pairs of eyes were staring at me. "What is it?" Noah asked, his tone full of concern.

"He wants to meet. We need to talk... he'll probably bring up the favor," I said, rising from the table.

"I should come," Noah said immediately, getting up to follow me, but I shook my head.

"No, you should stay here and take care of things. I'll keep you updated," I replied, giving my brother a look.

Noah and I have been alone for a long time, taking care of things together, raising our siblings. A long, silent conversation passed between us, communicated only through eye contact.

"Take care," Noah finally said, his voice soft but firm.

"Always," I responded, and with a nod to each other, I left.

I hate being late. By the time I arrived at the private room in my bar, I found Leo Dubois already there, the capo of the French mafia, a well-respected man. A year ago, when my brother Noah was kidnapped, I had turned to Leo for help. He was a man of his word and helped me get Noah back. In return, he said he would ask for a favor someday, and since then, I hadn't heard from him.

But today was the day. Today, he would ask for his favor, and no matter what it was—even if he asked for my head on a platter—I would give it to him. That's the kind of man I am: ruthless, feared, with anger issues, but a man of my word above all else.

"Leo Dubois, welcome," I greeted him, shaking his hand firmly.

"Adam Marechtti, thank you for allowing me into your territory," he replied. His English was good, though his French accent was still noticeable, a reminder that he'd lived his entire life in Paris.