A/N

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• DAMIAN •

I watched the white pastel house come into view as Renzo eased the car on the side of the curb. Armando, Renzo and I, stepped out and sized up the homestead nestled around tall trees to shade it from unwanted attention. For miles, there wasn't any sign of life beyond the tree lines and vast expanse of land. A perfect place for someone to hide.

"You're sure he's here?" I cocked a head in Armando's direction. He let a long breathe of thick smoke slip from his lips, cradling a cigarette between his fingers.

"Hundred percent, my boys have been scouting the place for a while now." He threw the butt of the burning stick, crushing it with his heels as we directed our attention to the three-story building, polished and quite homely for a temporary hideout.

An unfamiliar car was parked close to the driveway. I knew the amount of cars Dario had for some reason — because he never shut up about his collection — but this one. I hadn't heard of or seen.

"Let's get his ass back to town," I muttered. We made our way to the front door and moved to knock when we heard the crashing of an object from inside. I grabbed my gun, signaling for Renzo to take the back while Armando and I took the front.

Armando cursed under his breathe, retrieving the knife tucked in his sleeve. I pushed back, kicking the door after a louder crash came from the inside. The door shattered on the second kick, and we maneuvered into the room. It was dark with all the blinds sealed shut, and I took the liberty to turn the lights on.

"What the —"

We stood frozen at the scene splayed across the floor leading from the foyer to the stairwell. A half-naked man laid on the floor, bleeding from a large gash from the base of his jaw to the middle of his abdomen. Wet Dark hair clung to his head and wide eyes stared, all the while blood sputtered from his lips.

Renzo walked down the steps, a ghostly look on his face as his gaze fell on mine. "Boss, I think you need to see this yourself."

I shared a worried look with Armando and spared the dying man one last glance before making my way upstairs. "Try and stop the bleeding before I get back." They both sent acknowledgments as I made my way to the first floor.

Almost tripping, I lowered my gaze to the floor to find two more bodies splayed across the floor, more brutally executed. Same features. "Dario." I called out cautiously, looking around the rooms on the floor before finding him knelt on the floor of an empty room, head hanging, and focus centered on the ceiling.

"Jesus, Dario." I made my way to his frame. His white tee and jeans all smeared with dark red blood. My hands found his slacking shoulders, shaking him up. He brought his eyes to meet mine, glistening with unshed tears. "Please say something, fratello. Are you with me?"

A crude smile etched up his lips. "They all look like him."

I blinked back my confusion, but his hands held unto the side of my shoulders. His head tilted, struggling to hold up properly. "I heard that some people come back after death. Reincarnation they call it." He chuckles, fresh tears falling over his cheeks. "It's been years since he died, and he finds a way to live through so many people. I kill them and they seem to multiply. Why is that?"

"Dari —"

"I'm not crazy, Damian. I swear. He's everywhere. He refuses to stay dead." His eyes widened with frantic urgency, searching mine for any signs of doubt but I don't give him time to say another word. I envelop him in a hug, and he holds me so tight, I fear it'd leave bruises. But I don't care. I just let him cry. His words aren't coherent, but I know them all too well.

Every year got harder and having to celebrate some haux death anniversary this year wasn't helping anyone. Especially Dario. I should've increased the security around him. I couldn't even place how he'd found a way to avoid being seen to get here.

"It's okay," I soothed as his body racked up with each sob. "He's dead. He can't hurt you anymore, no one can. I'm here, fratello."

After what I could assume was an hour, Dario calmed down. His body was fully exerted by the time I hurled him in my arms and took him to the car. I returned to meet Armando and Renzo with other soldiers that had come to assist, clean the mess up.

Renzo fell in step with me, "I ran a background check and most of these men had families and friends that knew that they were going to have a date or meeting with someone in this location."

I turned my alarmed gaze to his, but he met it with a smile. "We've handled it. We'll orchestrate accidents to fit the timeline before they arrived and bury the ones that don't have immediate families."

I nodded in approval, watching as some soldiers douse the house in gasoline. "Find whatever app or phone he was using to contact them and get rid of it. Nothing should lead things back to us."

Armando had joined us now in the foyer, jaw set in annoyance. I quired a questioning brow his way and he looked at his feet.

"Do you have an objection?" I feel the anger threatening let loose when his eyes meet mine again.

"Not an objection, it's just..." His eyes fleeted to Renzo, who in turn looked down. "How long do you have to do this?"

I furrowed my brows, but he continued. "It's been years and it seems to get worse; don't you think it's time to take more drastic actions and tell the boss how bad it's gotten?"

The laughter that slipped from my lips shocked them both and I could feel Renzo shuffling beside me. I knew he shared the same opinion, but I couldn't stop the anger that boils in my veins as I closed the distance between Armando and me. "Who do answer to?"

Armando looked between me and Renzo. "You."

"And Who did you swear your life to before the famiglia."

"Damian —"

"Who did you swear you fucking life to?" My voice boomed through the space, but the soldiers don't stop working. They're smarter than to react to an outburst from their superior.

Armando backed up but I closed the distance again. "You, boss."

"And when I give an order?"

"It's done without question." He replied and I sent a bright smile and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Good, don't forget it." I leaned closer to his ear. "If Leon ever finds out about today's incident, you'll be the one being buried. Am I clear?"

When he nodded, I turned and stepped out the house, the stench of gasoline almost unbearable. Renzo followed after in a rush. "There was a call from the company in your name." He called out.

"Who?" I couldn't keep the contempt out of my tone and almost laughed when he took a few cautious steps back.

"Makua." He let out. My attention turned to him.

"What did she say?"

"She wanted to give you feedback on how her day was going,"

I bit back the goofy smile that threatened to ruin my stoic composure. The gala was tomorrow and Makua had been keen to share every detail of the process from practice to how friendly everyone was. And we may or may not have had facetime calls which consisted of me figuring how to show my face without my phone falling over every few seconds. Or having to filter talking about how my day was.

But it was all worth it. She seemed excited for tomorrow and I knew she'd be the only thing to make the night bearable cause I wasn't excited in the least.

"Sir?"

I turned my attention back to Renzo. He offered a small smile as if reading my mind. I ignored it and instead got into the car. "Tell her I'll return her call later. Let's head back to mine."

I settled into the seat beside an unconscious Dario. His face was pale and his breathing barely audible. I checked his pulse in panic before relaxing against my seat. I let Armando's words play in my mind again, feeling the knot form in my throat as we left.

For whatever reason, I couldn't deny his reasoning. Deep down, I knew that I was barely enough to help Dario. But for the moment, I just wanted to be enough.

Enough to fight his demons for as long as possible.

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