Straight on Til' Morning; Book 4 of the Love is Weakness(Carlos De Vil) series

He Played the Part So Well

A few hours later, Mal and Evie were in the kitchen taking a moment to consider everything that had just happened.

"Has anyone checked on Hartley?" Asked Mal.

"Harry's with her now." Evie replied.

"Evie, I... " Mal started, her eyes averted in deep thought.

"I know M." She cut her off, understanding her best friend.

"Even at our most evil..." Uttered Mal, her eyes widening.

"We never crossed a line like that." Evie finished her thought.

"I always thought that between the four of us, that Carlos was the most... I don't know... evolved. I mean, he played the part so well back then-- when he had to. But, honestly, I always thought that his villain side was more of an act than anything else. Like a means to an end. Today though..." Mal trailed off.

"We saw it. We saw it for real. We saw what he had it in him to truly become. If we hadn't come here, and if he'd continued to let his evil side grow... " Evie spoke, thoughtfully.

"I don't even want to think about that, or where we'd all be right now." Said Mal.

"Because of everything that he went through, it must have messed him up worse than any of us." Evie added.

"Now that I think about it...we were all ready to choose good. Carlos was the last to choose. And, he said he was close to accepting evil. I don't know if he ever planned to fight it-- until he realized that we wanted to change." Expressed Mal, fearfully.

"I can't think like that. No matter what, he's still our little brother." Evie dismissed the thought, plainly.

"But, what else could he be capable of?" Asked Mal, rhetorically.

Evie stood with Mal thoughtfully at her statement.

"So, you guys all think that I'm going to go... full-on Cruella?" Asked a voice.

"Carlos!" Evie exclaimed, startled.

"Like, maybe I should start covering myself in puppy skins, or something?" He asked, with a dark chuckle. His head down and his hands in his pockets.

"Carlos, you know that I never admit when I'm afraid, but in all honesty you scared the hell out of all of us." Scolded Mal.

"Yeah, I... I know." He accepted in a low voice, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

"What you did was..." Mal continued.

"Beyond rotten?" Carlos finished, looking like a young man on the edge, so full of shame. 

No one knew what else to say. Carlos didn't need a lecture, they could see that he was ashamed and humilated by his behavior. Evie simply looked at Mal and they shared a thought. They did the only thing they could think to do. They went to Carlos and hugged him tightly and supportively.

Jay entered the kitchen, at that moment.
"You guys didn't forget about me, did you?" And, he wrapped his arms around the VK huddle.

They stood together for a few moments letting their fear dissipate, and their bond mend. No matter how bad, they would support each other and help to pull one another back from the edge--when they wandered too far.