The last time Gael went to the Bunk was when he had to get some liquid cash to give away to the homeless people during their feeding program. And the time before that was when they had a sit-down on the last week of November before he flew to Esmea. It had only been a month, and it felt as if it had been longer than that.

The leaders of their family usually had regular sit-downs here. But due to Alessandro's brother being sick, they spent more time in Italy recently, so Gael and Giovanni had to fly there more often.

The office in the bunk was located on the third floor of the brownstone where only highly selected soldiers were allowed to enter. There was only one window, mainly for emergency exit purposes, and it's always drawn closed with a thick curtain that blocked the sunlight from entering. It wasn't convenient to have an open office, given the nature of their business. The walls and pieces of furniture were made of heavy wood with a brown finish. The mahogany desk was placed diagonally at the corner of the room, and the walls behind it had floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with hardbound books and family pictures.

Alessandro headed for the liquor cabinet as soon as they entered. He poured one finger of whiskey into three glasses and gave the two to Gael and Giovanni as they settled in the L-shaped fine leather couch. He then lit up the fireplace as the room was chilly. Gael hesitated to drink the whiskey, but with their current situation, he needed the distraction.

"How's DL coming along?" Alessandro asked when he sat in the leather armchair across the couch.

"There's some last-minute paperwork I need to take care of, but it should be settled in a month," Gael answered.

His father nodded, glanced at the orange liquid in his glass, and took a shy sip. "How confident are we to let go of Gaseda for the Russos and focus on DL?"

Giovanni smiled, setting his glass on the coffee table. "Come on, brother. We're talking about your genius son here. Are you questioning your own genes?"

Alessandro shot his brother an annoyed glance before looking at Gael. "I'm not questioning your capabilities. You know how I am. It's my job to worry for our family."

Gael didn't mind his father's question at all. For many years, his father had been so used to underhanded methods to earn money for the family that it was understandable to hesitate in trusting something new. Though this wouldn't be their first legitimate business in recent years, this would be their biggest investment. Gaseda was the oil company that they partnered with a Russian mafia for many years. It's the same oil company that they planned to bargain with the Russos later.

He swirled the whiskey in his glass and subtly nodded. "It will be a big transition, but nothing we can't handle," he reassured.

After a few moments, he cast a glance at his uncle and then his father. "I spoke to Gabby last night, and she told me something…strange."

Giovanni cocked a brow. "Strange?"

Alessandro didn't say anything, but he kept his gaze at Gael, waiting for him to continue.

"Apparently, she had met Mariano before…" Gael then recalled what his sister told him, not sparing any detail. His sister being kidnapped was a sore subject that hurt all of them—his father the most. But they had to talk about this objectively, so he breezed through the story and focused more on the question he had in his mind since last night. "Isn't he the favorite son? It seems odd to me that you'd lock up your own son like that."

"It wouldn't be odd if the son disobeyed the father," Alessandro lightly said, taking a sip of his drink. Gael narrowed his eyes at him, but he ignored it.

Their family wasn't free of violence. But blood was thicker than water, so if one made a mistake, they were more likely to be lenient if they shared blood.

"What are you thinking?" Gael probed when Giovanni was in deep thoughts.

Giovanni blinked and shook his head as he pulled himself out of the trance. He took a long swig of his drink, nearly finishing the contents of his glass, and then wiping his lips with the back of his hand. "I just remembered something."

"What is it?"

"Back then when…" Giovanni swallowed, looking as though he didn't like what he remembered. "…when Lia was here. She said something about having a dysfunctional family—that her father was a scum who took advantage of everything. And that her brother had always wanted to change the family or something."

Alessandro got up from his seat and refilled his glass. "Was this before or after you shoved your small dick into her?" he said with his back facing them.

Gael rubbed a hand over his lips to cover the grin that's threatening to show. He glanced at Giovanni, and the latter rolled his eyes, clearly irritated that his older brother had to remind him of his mistakes. What happened between Giovanni and Lia nearly cost their family, but they didn't blame all of it on him. Giovanni wasn't entirely at fault. They all should have been better. But what's done was done.

"Hilarious. My dick is obviously bigger than yours," Giovanni remarked, got to his feet, and elbowed his brother when he stood next to him by the liquor cart. "Moving on. If what she said then was the truth, then that could explain why Mariano was down there. If he crossed his father, then he got what he deserved."

"But they're still putting him up in the ranks? How does that make sense?" Gael questioned.

Alessandro turned around to face them. "Gael's right. Marino Morelli is a doubtful man. He'd never trust anyone who had already betrayed him once—even if it's his son, Mariano. He's a selfish bastard. He wouldn't give up his throne if it didn't benefit him. I believe there's more to the story."

Standing up, Gael put his unfinished drink on the table and buttoned his suit jacket. "Then let's ask someone who might know."

Without any questions, Giovanni and Alessandro followed him out of the office. The three of them headed down to the basement of the Bunk where they kept a captive.