"Why do you like

thunderstorms?"

"Because it shows that even nature needs to scream sometimes."

-E.D.

The only thing he felt was the loud beating of his heart that was trying to break out through his ribcage. The steel end of the revolver was digging into his throat, pushing him backwards towards the wall. Donghae looked into Luca's half crazed eyes that were boring two holes into his face. He hadn't realized how frail and thin his life line was

Suddenly as shock went down his entire body, dragging him along with the current, Donghae felt the cold feeling of dread and despair clog his vision. Just as he was about to give up, he heard the vague sounds of footsteps hurrying over towards them. Donghae turned to see Tanaka hurrying down the corridor, his face rapidly losing colour when his eyes registered the scene infront of him.

"Please do not hurt that child!" said Tanaka, awakening a rush of shame inside Donghae's heart... he was still a damn child who couldn't even protect himself!.. Donghae took a deep breath, mustering up his courage.

"Leave Tanaka" he said quietly, not sure whether anyone heard him. Clearly Tanaka hadn't, so he moved a step further, when Donghae felt a sudden surge of anger rush through him.. of all the fucking-

"Aiden-" said Tanaka

"I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Donghae shouted, his voice ringing through the space; earning himself a very brief stunned look from Luca; before it change back to the former hard unmoving stare

"You might want to leave Mr. Tanaka" drawled Luca, one of his hands snaking down towards the short knives he always carried with him, "before I change my fucking mind"

Tanaka looked at Donghae's eyes. They were red rimmed and dilated, but not defensive. Just tired. He saw Donghae give him a tiny nod, and Tanaka knew that the only thing the boy didn't want was him being here in the middle of this situation. He sighed in defeat and stepped back.

"I'll be there if you need me" soothed Tanaka quietly and left, making Luca let out a dark chuckle before turning to Donghae

"Like hell you'll be needing him" he snorted. Donghae realized this was Luca's way of coping up with his anger and shock.

"Just don't hurt him" whispered Donghae with his remaining ounce of strength, "please Luca-"

Luca pushed him roughly back, making Donghae's back hit the wall behind him painfully. He winced.

"So it was you huh?" Growled Luca, his eyes blazing, "all this fucking time it was you!"

Donghae could hardly breathe with the pressure of the gun at his throat. He felt the long tube shake slightly. He glanced down at Luca's hand that was shaking violently and could only guess how eager he was to pull the trigger.

'So what's stopping him?' Wondered Donghae and then he realized with cold dread exactly who was stopping Luca

It was Jake

They both suddenly heard the light muttering of two Falcon guards coming closer. Luca took one glance down the hall, and back at Donghae's big round tear filled eyes. The last thing Luca wanted was to make his people believe that the Falcon Circle was going down to hell.

He caught hold of Donghae's wrists in a painfully sharp grip and pulled him forward, yanking him off towards him.

"Dont you fucking dare play any ticks that you'll regret. Got it?" he growled at the boy infront of him who nodded.

It wasn't long before Luca roughly pushed him inside the cell that had held Tanaka a while ago. Donghae looked at him wearily as he locked the door.

"Luca-" started Donghae, but before he could say anything, Luca whirled around and puched him hard across his face. The impact sent him crashing down to his knees, tasting blood inside his mouth. Donghae breathed hard before slowly wiping his mouth, his fingers coming away red infront of him.

"Guess I deserved that" he chocked out laughing. His breathing sounded hoarse and sharp to his own ears.

"Get up" seethed Luca breathing hard, but Donghae didnt want to. His adrenalin was rushing through his body, urging and screaming at him to get up and fucking do something, but he refused. He was tired of having to lie like this.

"Fucking GET UP!!" yelled Luca, aiming the gun at his chest. Slowly Donghae got to his feet, suddenly a memory that was buried deep down inside of him rose up. He remebered training with Luca before Jake had taken that disastrous decision of making him his personal bodyguard. Luca had been angry then, but now he was angry enough to kill

"I always knew it was a bad idea to let you live" hissed Luca, slowly walking around him, before he bent down, picking up the steel rod that was lying on the floor, "I should've finished you long ago myself!"

Donghae didn't say anything

"Should've fucking known when Laverè showed so much intrest in you" muttered Luca. He sounded like he was talking to himself, and Donghae didn't dare move. Let him untangle this mess himself if he really wanted to

Donghae felt Luca press a steel rod on his shoulder from behind. He gulped, his heart racing.

"So tell me... Aiden" whispered Luca, his voice sounding darkly amused now that he could finally call Donghae by his real name "how long were you planning to lie about this? How long were you planning to destroy us just like you bloody father did?"

Anger flashed across Donghae's eyes

"He did NOT!" screamed Donghae, "he was just trying to protect me like any father would!! Just like Leonard and Natalya died to protect Jake-"

Blinding hot white pain shot through him as the hard steel rod crash across his side, Donghae doubbled over and grunted, coughing out blood

"You will NOT speak about Jake you motherfucker!" growled Luca, his voice sounding beyond rage, "Jake was never like you!"

"Luca" said Donghae, he was breathing hard, with a thin trail of blood running down his chin, his left hand clutched against his side, "dont you realize?"

"Realize what?" Growled Luca, his fingers gripping the steel rod tightly,

Donghae laughed again, making his split lips ache with pain, "Don't you think Jake would've been already dead if it wasnt for me?"

Before Luca could answer, Donghae cut him off. He was sick of all this, tired of his mother's constant nagging, Laverè's sly treats, trying to hide his identity just to survive and being someone who he wasn't

"You heard me talking to Tanaka" said Donghae tiredly, "you dont know how many times I had to lie to Cosa Nostra Luca" he chocked, tears forming in his eyes

His pain awakened his deep rooted anger gradually, until Donghae found himself almost crying with frustration. His voice trembled when he talked again.

"You dont know all that fucking shit I had to go through! I was supposed kill Jake! I was supposed to finish off the Falcon Circle but I fucking didn't, instead, I became the protecting half of Jake, sharing his Falcon tattoo! I hated those assholes who not only stole our family hairloom but killed my father and freaking lied about it! I did it for Jake, because ironically enough Luca, we both had nothing to do with all the god damned shit that happened before we were even born!! I let him believe that his fucked up family is a bunch of bloody angels when they were clearly NOT!! So DON'T come into conclusions without knowing all the shit that has happened!"

Donghae felt tears streaming down his face. He hadn't realized he'd started crying. His heart hurt so much that it was like a physical pain that was ripping him into shreds, making him sink down to the ground.

He looked up to see Luca staring at him, his face looked impenetrable, but through long experience, Donghae knew he was just processing what he had said. After a short while Luca scowled at him, placing the steel rod above Donghae's delicate throat

"Or you could have been waiting for a chance to kill him" he deadpanned growling, "your pretty lies wont get you anywhere"

"I'm tired of this Luca" sighed Donghae, looking away "I never wanted to hurt Jake..not after I realized that we were both living in a lie.. If I wanted to kill him, I would've done that easily....and a long time ago"

Luca crouched down infront of him. His tattooed fingers gripped Donghae's chin and lifted his face so that they were both staring into each other's eyes. Luca grimly watched the blood stain on Donghae's lower lip, his breathing was fast and strained and his hand was still clutching his waist out of pain. For a moment Luca wanted to believe him. But it was impossible, what he had said to Laverè resurfaced in his mind like a ripple of water

Betrayal never comes from the enemy...

"Why didn't you kill him then? Is Jake too smart for your worthless self?"

Donghae stopped breathing hard, raising those fresh tearful brown eyes to Luca,

"I'd do anything in the world for him" he whispered finally sounding tired, "anything"

"Anything you say?" Whispered Luca and Donghae gulped, nodding slowly.

"Then disappear from his life before I fucking make you Aiden"

Time stopped. He couldn't even feel the pain anymore than he could comprehend what Luca had asked him to do. Leave Jake? He tried to calm down his racing heart, slowly shaking his head as he stood up; looked dead straight at Luca's eyes.

"No" he said, wiping off the blood from the back of his hand, smiling maniacally, "I wont do that, sorry Luca"

Luca snarled so fiercely that Donghae felt the hair rise on the back of his head. Suddenly one of Luca's hands shot out and grabbed him by his neck, pushing him back towards the wall. Both Donghae's hands flew up to stop Luca's iron like grip before they snapped out his windpipe.

"Why not?" Seethed Luca, eyes bulging, tightening his fingers around his throat. Dark spots started appearing from the corner of Donghae's eyes. He knew he was about to faint. But before Luca could do more than just accidentally killing him, Donghae kicked out at Luca's gut with all his strength, making Luca wince and loosen his grip from his throat. Donghae yanked Luca's hand forwards and pulled it in to a painful wristlock, at the same time pushing him to the wall just as he aimed a second kicked at Luca's knees. Luca dropped onto the floor grunting in pain, with the steel rod clattering on the ground beside him.

"Please I don't want to fight you Luca! Try to understand me!" gasped Donghae before slowly loosening his hold on Luca's hand. The effect was immediate. With an inhuman growl, Luca was just going to grab the steel rod when Donghae kicked it up to his own hand in a lightning fast movement. He aimed the cold makeshift weapon at Luca's throat; the cold steel inches away from smashing his throat. Just like Luca had done to him.

"Don't forget that you trained me" smirked Donghae, breathing hard.

"So I did" panted Luca while looking up at him as if he was seeing someone for the first time. "I can't believe I didn't recognize you" he said wincing. "You look just as ruthless like your father"

Donghae snorted before slowly placing the steel rod on the floor. He needed to make sure Luca didn't feel threatened by him.

"I didn't even know about Cosa Nostra until Laverè told me" he said, his voice sounding distant and tired, "and I don't give a fuck about that organization, because I never knew about it. If Jake should know who I am, it must be me and no-one else that should tell it to him. Got it?" he said, his voice levelled. Luca glanced up at his commanding tone

"So why don't you say it yourself already? Scared?" He asked, raising an amused eyebrow; but Donghae didn't smile back

"I am" he admitted, looking straight at Luca, "I don't want to lose him"

Luca snorted, but he looked away.

"Cosa Nostra is a ruthless organization. They don't care about the sacrifices they have to make inorder to gain power. I will make Laverè pay" said Donghae, "and I will protect Jake with my life... even if he doesn't want me to"

"How can I trust you huh Aiden?" asked Luca who was still looking amused. It was bone chilling, "how do I know if you arn't lying through your pretty teeth?"

"I've already lied to my mother every fucking time" sighed Donghae, extending his hand to Luca, "you just have to trust me"

Luca ignored his outstretched hand and got up on bis own. He glared at Donghae for a few minutes with pure loathing.

"Your father was Leonard's biggest mistake" he growled, "I won't let the same thing happen to Jake. I'm letting you go because of him. But remeber-" seethed Luca, coming close towards Donghae, he picked up his fallen gun and aimed it at his forhead. Before Donghae could realized what was happening, Luca lowered his gun pulled the trigger. The ear spliting loud bang echoed off the walls, steam and stench of gun powder filling the air around them.

"-One wrong move, this will happen. And it will not be the floor that I'll be aiming next time"

With that, he took one look at Donghae before thundering out of the door, banging the doors open in his wake. Donghae's hand crept to his chest, as he breathed to calm his racing heart. He really thought he would simply die of shock. His whole body shuddered, dragging him down to the floor. Donghae simply stopped listening for any sounds for a while. His own laborious breathing was more than enough at the moment.

After what seemed like an eternity; he felt someone tugging his arm, pulling him up off the floor. Donghae didn't resist. If it was one of those Falcon guards that Luca had sent to kill him off, Donghae knew he simply didn't have the energy to fight them..

"Dear god child!!" said a voice which Donghae finally recognised as Tanaka's, "I thought that man put a bullet through you!"

Donghae winced as he got up. Every limb in his body felt like a bloody dead weight. He let Tanaka hold him before the old man started gently dragging him out of the ill fated room.

"Let's clean that blood off your face" said Tanaka kindly and Donghae could only nod before he burst into tears

♤

Luca stormed down the hallway breathing hard. For once he didn't know what to do.

That little motherfucker! The fucking nerve!-

If it really wasn't for his respect for Hyukjae, he would've already shot that son of a bitch into smithereens! Luca looked up at the double doors that separated the eastern hall from the conference room where he had left Jake. Luca stood outside, wondering what he should do next. He wanted to tell Jake what was really happening... his fingers gripped the door handle but stopped himself

What would happen if he tell Jake?

Luca glanced down at his shaking hands, he badly wanted to smash something. He took a deep breath and pushed open the double doors. Without raising his head Luca entered the room and stood infront of the conference table.

"Hyukjae I want you to know some-"

He looked up and was caught off guard. Jake was sprawled on top of the table like a cat. One of his slim tattooed hands were tucked under his head, with his midnight black hair cascading all over his half closed eyes. Luca watched his gentle breathing, his long eyelashes fluttering as he dreamt in his sleep. Luca cautiously edged closer; a lump forming on his throat. Jake looked so tired that Luca let out a sigh. The boy didn't deserve to be woken up from whatever world he was escaping to in his sleep.

Luca carefully slid his hands under Jake's tall slim figure, easily picking up the boy without waking him up; just like he had done this a hundred times when Jake was much younger. Luca was suddenly pulled back from his revive when he heard the light words that escaped from Jake's lips.

"Donghae" crooned Jake in his sleep, unaware that Luca was holding him. He turned his midnight head towards Luca's broad chest and went back into a deep sleep.

It wasn't long before the maid was sliding the key to the keyhole of the black glaze door. After opening the door for them, she left; bowing twice to Luca and to Jake although he was fast asleep in Luca's arms. Luca walked inside the room and gently placed Jake on his own bed where he groaned and rolled over to his side, kicking away the dark blue bedspread like he always did in his sleep. Sighing heavily, Luca picked it up and placed it on the other side of the bed...well away from Jake. It was after 15 years Luca had brought him again to his own room. Jake had simply refused to sleep here after his parents' murder, he'd always ordered to keep his previous room untouched, but the room looked just like it did 15 years before.

The walls were still drapped with pictures of expensive cars and light blue wallpaper. The dark cream coloured curtains gently swaying to the light breeze that came from the nursery window next to the floor- length mirror. On top of the huge empty clothes cupboard sat the original scaled Viennese toy train set his father had bought him for a colossal sum of money.

Evening light filtered through the windows, falling in sharp lines across the guilt framed hand painted portrait that hung on the wall infront of Jake's bed. Leonard Maranzano was putting a loving arm around his wife's shoulder; and they were both smilling. Natalya's slim, graceful hand was lightly touching their son's raven black head, holding him in place. 5 year-old Jake sat in the middle. His startling steel blue eyes seeming to penetrate through the hard material of the canvas.

'Jake's gonna kill me when he wakes up' thought Luca shaking his head.

😭 🤧 I cant believe we only have a few more chapters to go... and The Boss will finally come to an end

Thoughts?

Hope you guys enjoyed! Sorry for any grammar errors! Pease vote and comment if you can🤧

😳

Stay safe everyone! bye for now ig💙

~Shadows