"What do you an by that? What will happen to Lucien? Are you planning to abandon him?" Silas shouted.
The effort sent a sharp pulse through his chest, and he flinched as the pain settled in like a warning.
"Brat, do not talk nonsense if you want your head to stay where it is," Mikhail said from behind Cesare. His voice was steady in a way that left no room for bravado.
Only then did Silas realize that every person in the room was staring at him with the sa cold disapproval.
Even Mikhail, who would probably turn the city upside down for Lucien, stood quiet and composed beside the Don.
There was no argunt, no agitation, only trust. It struck Silas deeply. If soone like Mikhail could accept the Don’s decision, then Cesare’s words carried far more weight than Silas had understood.
"If my assumption is correct, they will be the ones to contact us," Cesare said calmly. "All we need to do is wait."
A sudden burst of footsteps echoed down the hallway, quick and uneven, and the door swung open as one of the n stumbled inside, breathless.
"We received a call. The kidnapper wants to et with you, Servei. You must co alone."
"What?"
"You cannot agree to that."
"That is clearly a trap."
"We should strike first instead."
The Don lifted his hand, and every voice died instantly. He rose from his seat with a stillness that commanded the room more effectively than any shout.
"Did he leave a ssage for ?"
The ssenger swallowed before replying. "He said it is life for life, son for son."
Cesare nodded as if the words were already familiar. "I understand. I will go alone. If I cannot protect and save my own son, then I have no right to stand in front of any of you."
The room grew heavier, as though the air itself held its breath. No one dared to challenge him.
"At least allow to accompany you," Mikhail said quietly. "They will not suspect soone my age."
Cesare placed a hand on his shoulder with a small, steady pat. "Wait in the car. You will know if I need you. Prepare everything. We leave imdiately." With that, he walked out, and the rest of his n followed without hesitation.
Silas watched him go, struck by the effortless strength in the man’s presence. He understood now why people followed Cesare without question.
There was sothing magnetic in his composure, sothing that made loyalty feel natural.
Silas felt that pull too, and in that mont he finally understood why they called him the Charming Dragon.
But admiration could wait. Lucien was in danger because of him, because he had been weak and useless when it mattered most.
Silas pushed himself up from the bed, only for Adrian to catch his hand.
"I am coming with you."
"No, you are not. You are still bleeding."
Adrian frowned, stubborn even through the pain. "Your condition is worse than mine. The doctor said you survived only because of that strange trait you have."
He shifted upright, his bandaged arm trembling slightly. "This happened because of . If I had asked Lucien to stay here, none of this—"
His voice broke, and tears slipped down his cheeks before he could turn away. Silas gently brushed them aside.
"We cannot change what has already happened," Silas said, his voice firm.
"But we can still save him. If we hide in one of the car trunks, no one will notice. We are small enough to slip inside, and we might reach Lucien before his father risks his life."
Adrian wiped his eyes and nodded, resolve returning to his expression. They moved quickly, gathering what they could.
The bloodstained clothes were still on the chair, and beside them lay a gun with eight bullets remaining and the cara they had used earlier.
They slipped out into the front yard where the n were already gathering. The chaos worked in their favor.
Cesare and Salvatore were locked in a heated argunt, drawing every eye in the area. Using that distraction, the boys crept to the side of an old car and climbed quietly into the trunk, curling into the dark space just as the vehicle rumbled to life.
They know so old cars didn’t have any censors when the trunk was not tightly closed, they need it for air and to get out fast.
The car moved out of the estate monts later, carrying them toward whatever danger awaited ahead.
***
They felt the car rumble over the bridge above the sea, pass the docked ship, then return to solid land before continuing the long two-hour drive.
The air inside the trunk grew thinner with every mile. Even with the small gap they had deliberately left earlier, the space felt suffocating, and their wounds throbbed with every bump in the road.
They stayed quiet and endured it, because they knew they would regret everything if they did nothing to save Lucien.
The car eventually rolled to a stop. Voices and footsteps sounded outside as the n stepped out.
After waiting to be sure no one lingered nearby, they carefully pushed open the trunk lid and climbed out.
A forest stretched around them, dark and overgrown, with a single large abandoned building looming in the center like a forgotten relic.
They saw Cesare exit his car and walk ahead. Using the distraction, they slipped away and circled toward the back of the building, avoiding the guards posted around the periter.
A broken window gave them an opening, and they quietly slipped inside.
"Where are we supposed to—" Adrian began.
Silas suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled him behind a pillar just as two n with rifles walked past, muttering to each other during their patrol.
"I still can’t believe the Dragon’s only son is an oga. Lucero is finished," one of them scoffed.
"Tell about it. And the kid slls ridiculously good. Andrea is losing control already, but that man never had morals to begin with." The other shook his head.
A third man rushed up to them. "Where’s the boy?"
"Second floor, room two-oh-two with Andrea alone, he pushed the rest. He is probably having fun with him already," one of them said with a laugh.
"Idiot, the boss will kill all of us if they touch him!" the newcor barked, then sprinted toward the stairs in panic.
Silas turned to Adrian. "We need to hurry before this gets worse."
Adrian nodded, though fear trembled through him. At seven years old he understood only pieces of what the n were saying, but every instinct in his small body scread that sothing terrible was happening to Lucien.
The guards shifted positions, leaving gaps that the boys swiftly slipped through.
They made it to the stairwell and climbed quietly until Lucien’s voice reached them from down the hall.
"Stop touching ! You’re dirty!"
"Just relax. It won’t hurt if you stop squirming."
Silas and Adrian exchanged a look and raced toward room 202. The door was slightly ajar.
Inside, Andrea was trying to strip Lucien’s clothes while the boy lay trembling on a table, tears spilling down his cheeks.
"Cut it out, Andrea. Stop this," the man they saw earlier tried to pull him back.
"What? When will we ever get a chance like this again? You’ll enjoy it too," Andrea sneered.
The man responded with his fist, knocking Andrea sideways. "I’m not a bastard like you."
Andrea snarled, reached into his waistband, and pulled out a gun fitted with a suppressor. The muffled shot dropped the man to the floor instantly.
Lucien jerked upright in terror. His hands shook as he grabbed the nearest object, a ceramic vase.
"Don’t co closer. I’ll hit you!"
Andrea only laughed and lunged. He seized Lucien’s face before the boy could swing, and the vase slipped from Lucien’s trembling grip, shattering against the ground.
With Lucien trapped in his hold, Andrea leaned in with a sick, delighted smile. "Now we can have so real fun."
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