DAMIEN: Book 2 of The De Luca Brothers Series [COMPLETED]

12:

I laugh. I don't know why, don't know how I could at a time like this, but I manage to laugh anyway. It bubbles up from my chest, the ridiculousness of this situation getting to me, I can't help but let it escape my lips and fill the tense silence of the hospital room. I snort which only makes me laugh harder, my stomach clenching as tears prick my eyes and one slips down my cheek. Meanwhile everyone stares at me in either concern, weirdness or fear. I can't blame them, I look like a madwoman who just thought of something crazily brilliant.

I come down from my high and shake my head, "You can't be fucking serious."

Leone raises a brow, "I'm always serious."

"No," I glance at Gufo's pensive expression. "No, hell no. I'm not joining a fucking gang! I-I can't. I want to graduate and become a scientist in chemistry, live a legal life without drugs and have a baby that's— no. I'm sorry but I can't join. I decline! I'm off," I got to get up from the bed, however my stomach and head disagrees so I find myself reversing.

"Chlo, please don't do this," sighs Damien.

My eyes snap to him, "I even told you I didn't want to join!"

"I know, and I'm sorry but I thought if I could persuade you with the idea of joining the gang then we could be together with our child. You have to understand that I really like you Chlo and I really want to be in our baby's life because I want to be a father, with you as the mother and we can have our own little family—"

"A gang Damien," I whisper hoarsely, eyes wide. "A mother fucking gang."

"It's not bad," Zac intervenes and my sharp gaze pierced his warm one. "I-It takes a lot of adjustment, however it's like having a second family. They protect you, you protect them. You can carry on with your studies, however you always have the gang's support."

"They sell drugs!" I exclaim. "They make drugs!"

Gufo has the audacity to look hurt, "It's not all about crime."

"No, it's just about people who want money and power so they decide to try and kidnap gang member's pregnant women," I snarl. "Definitely not all about the drugs."

Gufo closes his eyes for a second and slowly exhales, "Chlo. I'm sorry that you got hurt because of me, however you can't just judge something based on a couple of news articles and books you've seen. Being in a gang is much deeper, it means that you won't ever be alone."

My eyes swell with tears and I draw my knees to my chest, resting my forehead on my knees. Having been alone for so long, it's difficult to let people back in, especially those who claim to be like family and will want to support you. Protect you. The last time I had people close to me, they hurt me. Hurt me so bad that I moved and started a new life at a young age just to escape.

"You need someone Chlo," whispers Damien, gripping my arm. "You can't pretend you're okay alone."

I sniffle and tears begin to flow, cascading down my cheek like waterfalls. I don't make any noise, I just allow the tears to roll down my cheeks whilst the others watch us unsurely. Leone remains with his back pressed against the wall, narrowed gaze staring holes at me as if he's plotting something. I just hope it's good.

"You study chemistry?" He asks curiously.

I swallow and nod once.

"Interesting," and with that, he pushes off the wall and leaves the room leisurely.

Zac sighs, "He takes time to get used to, but he means well. He put me in position as the gang-mother which is the person you go to talk to for advice, concerns or pep talks. I also manage gang arrangements like parties, events and whatnot."

"Oh," I respond quietly realising that he suits the title very well. "What are you Toro?"

"Muscle," he grumbles which causes a small smile to glitter over my lips.

"And you?" I ask Damien, looking at his solemn expression. My heart clenches and I want to hug him, however I want to smack him as well. Bastard. What a dickhead for stealing my heart.

"I'm the person who deals with the technology," he responds after a pause. "I hack, search databases, monitor on CCTV, all that tech stuff."

I nod, so that's how he got my information.

"Please don't be mad at me again, I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything but I didn't want you to run away," he sighs and I bite my bottom lip, gnawing at it thoughtfully.

"Minstrels," I say.

"Sorry?" He asks.

"Minstrels, as in the chocolate. Buy me twenty bags of them and you've got yourself a satisfied girl," I say.

He jumps up and goes to rush out of the room.

"And pickled onions!" I exclaim and blush red. "I've been really craving pickled onions lately with chocolate. A jar and a fork should suffice."

Zac laughs and even Toro cracks a smile as Gufo salutes before mock marching out of the room. I turn to Zac and offer him a tight lipped smile, "Did you know that this would happen?"

He sighs and nods, "It wasn't my place to say. That's why I tried to persuade you into willingly join, especially since you never really had a choice in the matter."

I close my eyes and sigh, "I suppose it's best for the baby."

"It is, let's face it Chloe," Zac sits down once again. "You're not financially stable, a basement is no place to raise a baby and with danger from opposing gangs lurking around the corner, this is the best place for you."

"What about school?" My voice betrays me as it cracks. "I can't give up my dreams Zac, I've wanted this for ages."

"Still go to school," Toro orders. "I'll have my men watch over you. You come back to the mansion though and stop living in the basement."

I blink, never properly hearing Toro speak such lengthy sentences before. I nod, "Thank you."

Zac grasps my ankle and lightly shakes it, his face contorting into a dazzling smile, "I told you everything would be okay!"