Leaving the complex, I was livid, but I would try not to take it out on my brother. Yes, he had done something so stupid. The worst part was, I would have done the same thing if given the chance. Now, I had to be the one to explain to him why this wasn’t right. If our mom had to be the one to explain it to him. He might not go back with her. I couldn’t look after him. I was having a hard enough time looking after myself.
Matteo was going to get it from our mother when she came to get him. There was little I could do about that. At the very least, this time she could think about her words before she said them. That way, things didn’t get any worse than they were.
Lev had wanted to come with me, but I asked him not to push his wounds and just to relax. I had this covered. I didn’t want Lev to be present if I ripped into my brother by mistake. Lev already wanted me to have therapy and thought I was immature. I didn’t need to add to that. I felt bad for leaving the position of the mafia boss on my brother, but I knew he could handle it. Even if he thought he wasn’t the right one for the position.
The differences between the way my grandfather and Maddox did things were vast and there was no way after living within the walls of the Vincent family that I could go back to that. Maddox had moved the family forward, and it made all the difference. He gave those who earned it the praise and positions they deserved. It was different. That’s why the Vincent family wasn’t well liked by those who preferred the old way of business.
The airport came into view and I took a deep breath as I found a spot to park my car and head inside to look for my problematic little brother, Matteo. Heavens above, may whoever is stuck with him be strong willed.
Inside the airport, I didn’t have to look very long. Matteo was sitting on the benches, looking more relaxed than I was sure I had seen the kid in a while. When he looked up, he sighed.
“I know, I know. This was a shit idea and I’m sure mom is just beside herself because I’m missing.”
“You know it. So why?”
“I wish I could give you a straight answer, Sio, but I can’t. We were fighting and when she left, I took off. I didn’t want to be there anymore. She pushes me so hard to be the perfect Don and I don’t know how much more I can take. I can’t even have friends anymore. She has cut me off everything. I’m allowed to study, practice and stay in our home. It’s not fair to me, and I can’t—-”
“Come along. Tell me about it in the car. I have to call mom and tell her you’re safe. Before she kills us both.”
“Right.”
He stood up and brushed off his jeans before grabbing his bag and following behind me. I hated the fact of how smart this kid was, but I knew it would keep him safe.
In the car, I dialed our mother and waited until she picked up.
“Alessio, did you find him?”
“Yes, I did. He’s going to hang out here with me for a couple of weeks. You can come and get him then or I’ll bring him home, but regardless, some space apart might be the best thing for you both.”
“Alessio, He—Yeah, that might be best for him to stay there for a bit. Two or three weeks, he definitely deserves it. He has been working so hard on studying and training.”
“He will be safe here. You have my word.”
“I know. Just tell him I love him, and I am livid with him. He could have told me he wanted to go, not just leave with no word or notice about it.”
“I’ll have him call later after I get him settled in, alright?”
“Ok.”
I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye. She hung up on me and I set my phone in the cup holder and turned to look at Matteo. He looked at me, expecting to be yelled at, no doubt.
“Alright, so mom said she’s livid with you and she loves you. But also, you can stay for two or three weeks. You deserve it after all the hard work you’ve put in with training and study.”
“Thanks.---”
“Oh no, Don’t thank me. You’re still going to be doing your training and study. I will see to that.”
“I will take you over, mom. She is a demon with all that.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. He was talking about it, and I knew exactly what he was talking about. I had lived through it for way more years than he had. With no options to run away. He was lucky. She had mellowed out a little with him, then she had with me.
The problem now was that I wasn’t sure where to stick him. Besides the couch and then that meant Lev would have no choice but to sleep with me in the bed, even though he was still mad at me. I grabbed my phone again and called Maddox. I hoped he wasn’t terribly busy with something else and I was bothering him, but he needed to be made aware of Matteo staying for a few weeks.
“I was waiting for your call, Alessio. Did you find your brother?”
“Yes, and I want to make sure it’s alright for Matteo to stay here for a few weeks. I’ll try to keep him out of trouble and—-”
“It’s not a problem. I’ll speak with your mother and let her know he is welcome in my home and I will keep him safe.”
“Thank you.”
“Once you get him settled in, head to my office and we can have a quick chat. Maybe I can help a little with your brother.”
“Sounds good. Thank you Maddox, I really appreciate it.”
He also hung up on me without so much of a goodbye.
“Sio, It weirds me out, Don Vincent, I mean.”
“Why?”
“He accepted you called him Maddox, Not Don, Don Vinent, Boss, Don Maddox.”
“Maddox doesn’t do things the old way here. He cares more about all of his family members, regardless of status. It’s an agreeable change.”
“Oh. Strange.”
“It can be, but you will get used to the change and like it.”
“If I do, maybe I won’t want to go home.”
“Not happening, brat. You have your responsibilities and I have mine, and you’re not of an age to make your own choices, yet.”
“I’ll be an adult at some point. Then there’s nothing any of you can do if I choose to leave.”
“You’re not wrong, but there’s still time before you become an adult. So don’t rush it, sometimes it’s not worth it being an adult. Let me be truthful with you. Once you’re an adult, you’ll miss being a kid.”
“I’m not even a full adult yet and I miss being a younger kid already.”
“Get used to it.”
Starting the car, I pulled back out onto the road and turned up the music on the radio. Matteo wasn’t speaking anymore, and I was ok with that. But something else seemed to be on my mind.
“How did you even get into the country?”
“My fake ID and passport and a letter with mom’s signature.”
“Did mom actually sign it, or did you fake it?”
“She signed it, thinking I needed it for something else. Then I used it. I know again, it was bad.”
“We are going to keep this information between us, because she will murder you, Matteo. What the hell were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t. I just wanted to go.”
“Please be on your best behavior when you get to the complex where I live and work.”
“I will. You worry too much.”
“You can’t blame me.”
“I can’t wait to meet everyone that you’ve talked so much about, like your dad and his partner!”
The damn kid was practically shaking in the seat beside me with excitement.
“Relax. No need to be so excited.”
“Maybe for you. This is exciting for me. You’re used to all this. I am not.”
“I know, I know. Just please be careful. I don’t want you to get in the way.”
“I get it Sio. I’ll be on my best behavior and out of the way, you have my word.”
I was praying to whatever god or goddess was there and available to listen. Hoping brother actually did as he promised. I had so much riding on his behavior; I needed all this to work out in my favor. It already worried me about how I looked in Lev’s eyes.
“Sio, How are you? Like really?”
“I’ve been better. It’s hard letting go of everything.”
“I haven’t experienced loss other than grandpa, but I know how badly that hurt and I just want to make sure you’re ok. You’re my only big brother, and I care about you.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that more than you know. I’m doing better, slowly each day.”
“I was worried you would be alone with your loss and pain, but mom says you have a friend staying.”
“How did mom find out about my ‘friend’ staying?”
“Guy on the phone.”
“Right, guy on the phone. I have a couple of guesses, and both are related to me.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, Alexi, who you met before I left, and then my father, Andrei.”
“Yikes, mom just had to keep up with the A’s, didn’t she?”
“You’re telling me, seems that is a thing.”
Matteo gave me a look like he was pitying me and it took all I had not to flip him off. Deep down, it thrilled me to have my brother here. I missed the brat, for all the world.
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