CHAPTER NINETEEN

LUCAS

Every time Lucas and Crystal part ways, Lucas feels a sense of quietness and relief for a while. Eventually, he finds himself missing her presence and he becomes irritated with the routine.

When he wakes up he is a little tense about Nicholas seeing Crystal's bruises. When he sees her, his nervousness reaches its peak. She hadn't even attempted to cover any of her injuries.

"Are you insane? Your brother will cut off my fingers and feed them to me if he sees your face like this!" he yells at her but she just covers his mouth with her hand and points towards the dining room. Only then does Lucas notice that his best friend is eavesdropping on a conversation Alonso and Nicholas are having with the former Italian mafia rulers.

Despite his better knowledge, he hides beside her and listens in on the discussion that happens in the next room.

"That is intense." Ignazio says as he lights a cigarette. After hearing what Nicholas found out about his uncle, Crystal raced to her room to put on some concealer. She realized today is not the right day to piss her brother off.

As for Lucas he went to the playing room to find both Ignazio and Alberto in the middle of a game of chess.

He cut their game short by telling them what he heard. Somewhere between his words, Ignazio started smoking and Alberto started drinking.

"That would be one way to describe it." Alberto agrees.

"Did Crystal know about it? I mean if Milo used to visit Nicholas then there is a chance that he saw Crystal as well." Alberto takes another large sip from the tequila bottle he found hidden in one of the closets.

"Based on how confused she was, I would say she doesn't. In the past few days, however, I have learned that Crystal has secrets of her own. Frankly, I do not have the audacity to ask her about it, I cannot risk losing an organ." Lucas steals Alberto's bottle, takes a large sip, and returns it to the glaring Italian man.

"What do you mean?" Ignazio releases the smoke in Lucas face earning him a slap on the back of his neck.

"Ow!" he yells dramatically.

The three men are sitting on a long couch as 'they watch a baseball game.' If anyone is to enter the playing room, they would assume they are staring into the void.

"Well, she claimed that she is a street fighter. At first I believed that she just said it to hurt my feelings; show me that she too has secrets. But…"

"What did you do Lucas?" Alberto forgets his alcohol for a second as he looks at the Brazilian man warily.

"Before you say anything, Alonso was there as well. Therefore, he is to be blamed as well."

"What did you do?" Alberto repeats.

"Well, Alonso and I may have taken Crystal to a street fight?" Lucas says it in a question; he knows they will both either be surprised or furious. He hopes it is not the latter.

"You let her watch such a violent thing?" Ignazio pulls the cigarette away from his lips so he can erupt in Lucas' face.

"No of course not. We let her participate in it." Ignazio immediately stands up before Lucas as he points his cigarette at him.

"Are you insane? Why would you do that?" Alberto asks before Ignazio can open his mouth.

"I believed that if I put her in a situation where she has to do what she claims to be capable of doing, then maybe she will admit that she can't actually street fight." Lucas pulls his hands up in surrender.

"It is Crystal we are talking about. Did you really think that she would back away?" Lucas has never seen Ignazio this angry before which makes him believe that his Italian friend must have gotten really close to her in the past few months.

"That is not the worst part." Lucas looks at his lap as he recalls the events of last night.

"What on Earth could have been worse than that?" Alberto asks before talking a huge sip of his bottle.

"She won." Even though Lucas says it in a small voice, he knows they hear him due to the silence that abruptly imposes itself in the room.

"Wait, I am confused... what are you saying?" Ignazio opens and closes his eyes a couple of times as he tries to comprehend Lucas' words.

"I am saying that she can indeed street fight. You should have seen it; the man she was against was bigger than nay mafia man I have seen."

"Does Nicholas know this?" Ignazio asks as he finishes his cigarette.

"Of course not!"

"He would have your head." Both Lucas and Ignazio say at the same time.

"I was planning on telling him this morning. I figured it would be better if I told him about it before he saw his sister's bruised face." Both Italian men look at him with wide eyes.

"But I think after learning what he and Alonso are planning to do, it is not the right time. He needs to focus on what matters."

"This is the cheesiest thing I have ever said, but Nicolas you are scaring me!" Lucas claims as he and his boss walk around the house in random directions. Eventually they stop a few miles away from Alonso's parents' house.

"Nicholas! What is this all about?" Lucas begins to get frustrated.

"Alonso and I talked this morning and…"

"I know, I heard, and before you ask so did Crystal. So whatever you are planning please do not make a stupid decision that will worsen things." Lucas begs. A part of him cannot believe that Crystal actually forgave them, he was absolutely certain that she would disown them for the lies they fed her. Therefore, he doesn't want to push their luck.

"Well, it is a little too late for that…" Nicholas gives Lucas an apagogical look.

"What did you do?"

"Alonso and I decided to go to Greece… tonight." Lucas' rapid heartbeat tells him that he still hasn't heard the worse part yet.

"We don't want Crystal to know about this."

"Nicholas! Are you serious right now? Have you not learned from the wound on your shoulder? She deserves to know what is going on!" Lucas has never raised his voice at his best friend, but he cannot understand how Nicholas is intent on doing the same mistake twice expecting Crystal to overlook it.

"She will never forgive you." Lucas grits his teeth. Too late does he realize the anger in Nicholas' eyes.

"You might be my best friend and my most trusted man, but I am your Don. If you talk to me like that again, I will remind you of your place." Lucas cannot help the hurt and surprise that he feels. Nicholas has never pulled the Don card on him even when the situation was ten times worse than the one they are in at the moment.

He knows that it is no time for emotions, but he cannot push his feelings away. Thus, he let them guide his actions. After all, Nicholas has made a decision without him; he doesn't need him to help. The Brazilian mafia boss has been acting out of character ever since they arrived to Italy, and Lucas has a feeling that his best friend will not be himself for a long time. The thought both worried and unnerved him.

"Understood Don. It seems you are fully capable of handling the preparation for your departure. Don't worry; I will look after the mafia while you are gone. Also, I will keep an eye on Crystal. A few hours after you leave, I will tell her of your plan since you are way too cowardly to do it yourself." Lucas starts to make his way to the house and perhaps punch someone but Nicholas grabs his shoulder stopping him mid-step.

"Lucas listen I didn't mean…"

"Yes you did." Lucas shakes off his boss' grip on him and he points a finger at Nicholas' face.

"For days I have tolerated your mood swings, your odd behavior, and you unbearable attitude because I had known and understood how challenging everything has been. I cannot do it anymore because you are crossing the line. If you want to go through with this, fine go ahead. You, however, and only you will be held responsible for it. Years ago you asked me to lie and betray my best friend for everyday for the rest of my life. You knew that I didn't agree with it, but I said yes because I trusted you, I trusted your judgment. Now, I will not allow you to drag me down with you. If you are willing to lose your sister, that doesn't mean I am willing to lose my friend."

"Crystal is no better than us Lucas. She has secrets of her own. God, I wouldn't be surprised if she knows something about the Russians that we don't." Nicholas replies with coldness in his voice. In the many years the two men have known each other; they have never talked to each other in such a manner.

Lucas doesn't even know why exactly he lashes out on Nicholas. All he knows is he can't take stop himself from doing so. He cannot silence or filter his mouth.

"I know she does, and the only people to blame for that is us. Do you seriously expect her to be honest with us when all we ever given her is fabrication and deceit? Look at yourself…" Lucas throws his hand towards Nicholas with disgust in his face.

"You claim to do this for Crystal; to save her life. And yet, you are standing here calling her out for the things she has done; the things that she did in retaliation to your actions. You have no right to judge her; you have no right to judge anyone… You…" Lucas receives a punch in the face. Hence, he takes a few steps back in surprise.

"I love Crystal, she is my sister." Lucas looks at Nicholas to see his fist raised ready to deliver another blow. Lucas is prepared this time, he hits his friend on the wound he has on his shoulder causing the Brazilian mafia boss to hiss in pain.

��Then start acting like it." Lucas doesn't look back to see if Nicholas is truly injured as he walks away. Before he enters the house he wipes the blood off his lips; he doesn't want anyone asking him about the last few minutes.