I arrived home, and took a few slow breaths before getting out of the car. I needed to act ok and not like I had been shot 24 hours ago. This matter needed to stay between me and Damien before I got all the facts right.

I opened the front doors to my home and was greeted by an eerily quiet house, knowing well that people were inside it. Perhaps there all busy doing stuff that doesn't concern me.

"Onyx to the family room" my father called as soon as I shut the front door. I clicked my tongue as I hoped I could slink to my room. He must've been waiting for me when he realized I don't come back last night. I began to walk towards the family room wondering what was so important to talk about.

My father sat on the couch with a grim expression as well as my brother who sat besides him. While Dolce who stood up on the one side of the couch had a annoying grin on his face. I started to feel nervous as the paranoia nipped at my back.

"Where were you." He asked blankly, and I sat on the couch in front of him.

"No where father, I was just doing my nightly rounds. Took longer then usual" I lied and he slammed his fist on the coffee table. That's a bad sign.

"Don't lie to me boy. I should've known something was a miss when you started neglecting your responsibilities" he growled out and my eyes flickered to Craven who gave me an indifferent look.

"I don't understand-" I played dumbly.

"To associate with an Arif, does our family mean nothing to you? All the work we've done and you are ready to throw it all away." He spat out and my eyes widened, how did he find out? Was it craven? Did he tail me to Damien's house? But that means he would've seen me at the warehouse, no way he would've seen me injured and not help out- right?

"Who told you that-" I went on angrily.

"It doesn't matter who! I should've left you in that cell years ago if I knew you were going to whore yourself to the enemy. I should've known something like you couldn't ever be a man" he said angrily and I fell in shock.

I forgot about that incident years ago, the incident that lead my father to take me in. Back then I vowed I'd never do such a heinous thing again but look at where I am now. But to think he'd use that against me- it hurts.

"Listen to me father, there's something more going on. I believe someone is framing the Arifs-" I tried to explain and he raised his hand to shut me up.

"To think this twisted puppy love would make you so delusional... Craven escort him out. Onyx youll be shunned till I feel like dealing with you. Dolce and I will speak about where to put your work load" he said heavy sighing and standing up. I sat there in shock, realizing that this was exactly what I wanted to avoid.

He left the room with his creep of a side man following behind. I took glared at craven now, he was the only one who could've known!

"You bastard we're you trailing me last night?" I seethed and he gave me a nasty glare back.

"So you were meeting up with that bastard, I told you it wouldn't be good." He challenged, he wanted to act as if he knew everything.

"So you went and snitched?" I said standing up and grabbed him by the collar, but i immediately faltered as pain shot up in my leg and I fell besides him back onto the couch.

"Whats up with you?" He barked back, but showed a tinge of worry on his face, he know stood up and looked closely at my leg- a tinge of blood showed through my pants.

"Just tell me, did you snitch" I growled out, sitting forward and trying to compose myself.

"No you idiot, I would've handle that my own. Why the fuck are you hanging with Damien? Even after all he did?"

"Listen there's something more going on, and you have to believe me." I told him truthfully and he looked at me in disbelief and shook his head.

"You should've thought about telling me this before, now you've put our family in danger." He said and grabbed my arm pulling me up off the couch and I took my arm away feeling fully capable of getting up myself.

"I'm trying to help the family. You'll see- I promise you this" I swore, and I started to walk and he followed behind me.

"I can escort my own self out" I seethed, giving him a death glare.

"Then don't come back till you've got your head screwed on right" he gritted back. I didn't even look at him as I continued on my way, how could I have been shunned by my own father?

Most importantly... if it wasn't Craven who snitched, how the fuck did father find out?

"Hello" I said right back at Damien's door. Having only left a couple hours ago I was already back- no where else to go. Yea sure Ramos was an option but did I really want to stay in his dirty studio apartment, not really.

Damien blinked in surprise, as if he wasn't expecting to see me at least for another couple days.

"Did you miss me so soon?" He asked calmly and I pushed besides him, letting my own self into his house.

"I was thinking maybe we should be roommates again. Just like old times" I dryly joked, walking in like I owned the place.

"Did something happen?" He said immediately and I scratched the back of my head and heavy sighed.

"Someone told my fucking dad they they saw us together- I don't know how but I'm now banned from the Giotto family club" I sarcastically bit at him entering his kitchen and stopped in my tracks at the presence of a woman.

"Your fiancés here. Great" I said my face dropping. I immediately turned around ready to limp my way out of the house. I'll sleep in my car.

"Oh hi Mr. boyfriend" she said and Damien immediately spun me around and gently guided me back to the kitchen. I eyed her suspiciously, she knows?

"We're not dating" I corrected and she raised her eyebrows.

"We'll that's not what he told me, you know it took me a bit but I remember you. You were at that party years ago, I couldn't remember you at first since you so much more... Macho now..." she trailed off then sipped some sort of smoothie.

"Thank you I guess- but why are you ok with this situation" I questioned, and Damien folded his arms.

"I told you we weren't together really" he butted in. Let the woman explain!

"I've come to learn that it wasn't Damien I loved but the title, I mean who else can brag their engaged to the Don of the Arif family? I'll keep up the charade as long as I'm acknowledged and compensated" she said happily, stirring her smoothie and I didn't know if I should be relieve that it's fake or horrified by this woman's thought process.

"I see... Damien why didn't you tell me that in the first place?" I asked him and he glared slightly.

"Because if I did you wouldn't believe me"

"Well I'm off, nice to meet you again onyx- oh and by the way the names Rebecca. Don't you fucking forget it. Ok bye bye!" She said happily and stood up and walked out of the kitchen.

"Does she just show up and leave?" I asked and he nodded.

"Pretty much and I've lost the drive to stop her. She only appears when she argues with her partner" he said as he maneuvered around so he could be behind my back.

"Her partner" I questioned moving my head to the side, feeling my cheeks heat up a bit.

"Yes her girlfriend. Now what do you mean your father banned you" he questioned as he guided me to the living room, as if I'd fall on my face. I sat down and heavy sighed at the chain of events that happened.

"Somebody tailed me last night, I don't know who. Craven says it wasn't him and he can't lie for shit so he's telling the truth" I explained and Damien sat besides me and leaned back into the couch.

"You think your father had you under watch?" he inquired and I didn't awnser, it wouldn't be farferched to beleive that but I didn't think that was the case.

"But why? I've never given him any reason to be suspicious. Regardless of it all, this means we need to figure this out so I can prove your innocence and in return my own" I said, I am a Giotto and I want to continue to be one. If I'm able to solve this, to show there's another person involved causing us problems he'll take me back in and forget about this stupid feud.

I threw away my old name for a reason, I'm no longer Smit, I'm a Giotto. I won't be thrown out so easily not without a fight.

"Then that's what we'll do" he said and I couldn't help but grin.

"Then we should get started on it now" I said going to stand but a hand went to my thigh and squeeze the wound. I yelled and bent over glaring ag him.

"Your in no condition. So for now? Relax" he said removing his hand and placing it on the back of my head, caressing my hair. My cheeks flamed as I hit him in the arm, but he just continued knowing damn well where he wanted this to head to.

What a little shit...

....

I don't think I proof read this very well and for that I'm eternally sorry!

8 more chapters to go !