A Touch of Saintwood (Wattpad Version)

The search

Frazier knocked on the door to Angelo's place and he answered it. He waved us inside and we walked into the house.

"We heard what happened. I need to talk to Xavier," Frazier said to him.

"He's upstairs," Angelo said. We walked towards the stairs and up to the room Xavier was in. Frazier knocked on the door and Xavier opened it. He looked like hell.

"Frazier?"

"Hey buddy. I heard what happened. Can we talk?"

"Yeah sure," he turned and looked at Leslie who was being consoled by Maggie. He stepped out and closed the door. "What's this about?"

"It's about your son."

Xavier looked at us as Frazier started to explain everything. He looked at us shocked and didn't want to believe it until, we showed him proof. Then he broke. He fell to the floor and cried. Frazier crouched down and wrapped his arms around him.

"Shhhh, it's okay."

He looked at Frazier, "my boy is alive?"

"Looks that way."

"Please bring him home," he begged Frazier.

"We're going to try. But you have to give us time."

"Please Frazier."

"Xavier, just know he is alive and if we have to work day and night we will bring him home," Frazier reassured him. He nodded.

Angelo came upstairs and Frazier handed him off to Angelo. Xavier looked at Angelo, "Zander is alive."

Angelo looked at us, "please tell me this is not a joke."

"It's not," Jordan said.

"Angie, my boy is alive." He cried as Angelo comforted him.

"Bring my nephew home," he said to us.

"We're going to try but if we don't we won't give up. I guarantee you," I reassured them. He nodded knowing that no matter what they had to wait.

We walked down the stairs and out the front door. I hated this. To have to look for someone's child, I didn't want to give false hope. I was hoping we weren't doing just that.

We headed back to Mason's house to figure out a plan. Luis needed to be searched for. The fucker was smart. I would give him that. He would make sure to hide, knowing we were on our way. But we had to be smarter.

We walked inside and I called Ace to meet us. He was worried about his family so, I checked with Mason and he said to have them bring them. Apparently he owed Brian a favor from years ago.

They all showed up and the house was filled to the max. He, along with Chase and Brax followed us into Mason's office and closed the door. I didn't want Alex to worry.

"Okay, so we know Luis is going to call in favors," Mason started, "but that's going to be tough considering majority of the favors won't happen."

"What do you mean," I asked him.

"He fucked the Garcia crew when he sent you guys. The Mendoza crew has the feds up their ass. Most of the other crews have been fucked over by the Santiago's one way or another."

"They've made enemies," Ace added.

"More than they can count. They got greedy. Rule number one, never get greedy."

I stood there thinking. I had no idea what my family had been into. It wasn't until this, that I realized how deep they were in.

"The Santiago's we're behind it all, weren't they?" My voice was barely a whisper. Everyone turned their attention to me. I looked at Mason. I needed to know how deep we were in. "They we're behind everything. Why?"

"Do you really want me to answer that," Mason asked with a look.

I slowly walked towards him, "my life and family has had to deal with the fallout for years. I've had to watch my wife cower in fear. My kids do things they shouldn't have. My best friends get dragged into a mess that was created years ago. Now I want to know why?" I demanded an answer. I was owed an answer.

"Because when you make a deal with the devil, it's never a sure thing that you will be safe," Mason danced around my question.

"Not good enough. My old man did this shit and because of the secrets and lies, we dealt with the fall out. I want the truth Mason." My voice started to raise.

"You want the truth?"

"Would be nice."

"Fine. Here is the truth, the family has been involved with underground dealings for years. Way before you all came along. When you do business and become powerful, you have no choice but to make deals and form allegiances. You also kill. When you shot Bella in the head, how did you feel?"

I looked at him. My fists were clenched.

"Did you enjoy it? Did you like to see her drop in front of you? Did it give you a satisfaction?"

I stood there stoic. After that night, I had nightmares. Her face haunted me. Alex, spent many nights comforting me as I woke up in a cold sweat. I knew how she felt when she killed Ashley.

"Because your not a killer Ryan. Jordan and Frazier," he turned his attention to them, "What about you? You've killed before. How did you feel?"

"Nothing," Jordan said.

"Relief," Frazier added.

I looked at them.

"Ryan, we react differently. We handle things differently. Jordan and Frazier have had to deal with things they didn't want to do they turned off their conscience because of their upbringing. You? You were different. You had the protection, they didn't get."

I continued to look at my best friends. Who stood there casually. Mason was right. They had a different upbringing than I did. They killed with no remorse, to survive. I did it to protect my family.

"Ryan, you can stand there and demand answers and make judgements but if you want this to finally end, then I suggest you get your shit together and finish this," Mason said with a coldness to his tone. This was the one time I understood why people were truly afraid of him. It was a coldness that was only brought out when he was in these dealings.

"Fine. I will finish this but then we are out."

"Oh my dear boy, you have a lot to learn. You're never out. There will be new threats coming." Those words shook me to my core. I knew he was right and I hated it. Every last bit.

I turned to the boys, "let's finish this."

They all agreed and with that we left. What did we get ourselves into? After this, a new threat awaited for us. I had a feeling it was one I wouldn't like.

We left the office and went to our families. They needed to know what was going on. We told them as much as we could without revealing everything. The girls were not happy but knew what needed to be done.

As we walked out and the door closed behind us, Alex looked at all of them, "I guess we fight."

"Alex, let the boys handle this," Elena told her.

"Elena, even if they get rid of Luis, someone else is coming."

"How can you be so sure," Marissa asked.

"Because I know," she said as she turned and walked away leaving them stunned.