Is It Enoguh?

Stepping Back

It had been a week since their little chat with Thomas, and they still hadn't talked about what they were going to do. Things with Vegas's business were getting tough, and he was focused on fixing it. Pete was spending more quality time with Venice, but he and Vegas barely saw each other, they talked on the phone and through messages, but Pete was starting to worry, he could feel Vegas was distant, and he was starting to think Vegas was leaving him behind... Again. He didn't want to think like that, but he couldn't stop the memories coming back to him...

Finally, James' sister was okay, so James went back to work, but that night there were two fights, and he asked Pete for help.

"Venice, love, we can't sleep together tonight, papa has to work." Venice pouted, he wanted to spend more time with his papa Pete, "Don't pout my son, papa has to work to spend tons of money to buy tons of toys for my little pince, na?" said Pete kissing Venice's head and face, Venice giggled.

Pete took Venice to the house, he hoped to call that place his home one day, that Vegas would ask him to move in with him... But  Pete wasn't. Maybe Vegas hadn't changed, if he was honest he didn't want any real change in Vegas, he just wanted Vegas to consider him his life partner in every way, for Vegas to trust him, to respect him and take him into account when making his decisions. But maybe the reality was different, no matter how much Vegas loved Pete, or how much Pete loved Vegas... Pete shook his head to clear those thoughts, and rested his eyes on Venice, who had fallen asleep in the car. He couldn't hurt his little boy again, he would talk to Vegas before.

After tucking Venice into bed to sleep, he was talking to Rose and making time to see if Vegas would show up, he had written to him but had received no reply, when Bear came over, "Khun Pete, can we have a word before you go?", Pete nodded and went with him. They went to Vegas's office in the house, "Tell me" Pete said leaning on the desk. Bear handed him a folder with information on a middle-aged woman, Pete read it with a frown, from what he was seeing she was a close friend of Vegas's mother before she married his father. "That's all the information we've been able to find so far from the boxes of Khun Vegas' mother's things," Bear said. Pete looked at him, still frowning, "Why are you showing me this?", Bear also frowned and looked at the ground, after thinking for a couple of minutes he looked back at Pete, "Can I speak freely?". Pete nodded.
Bear sighed, "With the problems and last night's attack on one of the clubs, Khun Vegas has too much to handle. I know it's not my place to say you anything but I think it would be best if you help him... I don't know what kind of relationship you have now, but Khun Vegas is better when you are here, Venice is happier when you are here, and even Khun Macau gives us less trouble when you are around. They suffered a lot, and they deserve the happiness they have with you...," Bear's voice trailed off, Pete could see that the bodyguard was embarrassed saying all that, no doubt they had done a good job choosing the bodyguards. But Pete couldn't let the first thing go, "What problems and attacks?", Bear was confused, "The ones at the Devil and the Sin, there's been a problem with the accounts at both, and last night a gang selling drugs attacked the Sin, there were no casualties on our part or with the clients. Khun Vegas left this morning to send a message to those who want to try again..." Bear shut up as he saw Pete's face, "I... I thought Khun Pete knew it, I shouldn't have said anything...", Pete was furious, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he didn't want to scare Bear, "You haven't done anything wrong. Don't worry, I'll make sure no one punishes you for doing your job... Even if it's the last thing I do in this house and for the Vegas family," Bear went pale listening to Pete, "Khun Pete." "I have to go," and he left Bear there, went to Venice's bedroom, kissed the boy on the head and headed for his car. He called James, "James, one of the fights is mine, or both, if you can", "What happened?". "I'll tell you when I get there", and he hung up.

Pete was trying to breathe, mostly because he didn't want to have an accident, not for himself but for Venice and for the possibility of hurting someone innocent.... He was so angry, he wasn't disappointed yet, just angry, furious with Vegas....