When James and Domenico returned to the mansion, many bags were hanging around the hitman's arms. They weren't as heavy as they seemed, though. Deetra rushed to help her boyfriend, but he insisted he was fine with a smile. Domenico pushed the brand new pair of headphones over his head and put on an alt-rock song.

"Where's Damon?"

"In his office."

"Great, I'll go and see him! James, just get my things to my room."

"Oh, screw off!"

James left the bags on the floor, his muscles relaxing in seconds. Domenico groaned and grabbed them with difficulty.

"I am not your bodyguard nor your slave, kiddo. Go on, time to learn how to be independent."

"Ugh, fine...."

He rolled his eyes and walked upstairs with quick steps, almost tripping. Deetra giggled softly, putting her hand in front of her lips while James didn't hold himself back and just laughed loudly. The boy turned his head and glared at him for a second before growling at James. Then, he continued going his own way.

"So, are you ready for tomorrow, darling?"

Deetra turned her chin towards James, who was smiling at her. She nodded and smiled back at him.

"Oh, yes! Are you in the mood to prepare your suitcase or you'll leave it for tomorrow?"

"I'll probably do that tonight, so we'll be ready for tomorrow."

James held her hands and rubbed them softly; she looked at his eyes with a stupid smile. They haven't seen Domenico, who was hiding at the corner of the stairs peeking.

"I'm a bit nervous... about the meeting part."

"You don't have to worry, Deetra... I promise, my parents aren't bad people...."

She sighed and glared away; James grabbed her chin and turned her face back to him with a smirk.

"For real, no worries. They will be too focused on Sebastian to care about us."

"I guess...."

She agreed with him before he kissed her softly, the same idiotic smile playing off his lips.

"Should I bring the rope I have along?"

James asked; Deetra stared at him, confused.

"Which rope?"

"The one I'll use if DOMENICO KEEPS EAVESDROPPING US!"

James turned his head with a sharp movement; the boy hid behind the wall holding his breath.

"I don't know what you're doing around your parents, Domenico, but these cheap tricks don't work on a hitman."

James laughed as he groaned and mumbled, "fine". Soon, he heard him walk away, trying to find Damon's office. Deetra scoffed and turned to her boyfriend, raising her eyebrow.

"How did you understand him?"

"It's my job to understand anyone that can sabotage me, sweetheart."

He kissed her cheek and walked upstairs, ready to prepare his suitcase.

Domenico started looking around, finding Damon's office after a while. He knocked on the door and walked in only when he received an answer from his cousin.

Damon lifted his head and took off his glasses with a soft smile; Domenico waved gently at the man.

"Hello Domenico, c'mon have a seat!"

Damon crossed his hands on the office as the boy sat at a comfortable chair opposite the drug baron's office.

"Hey, Damon!"

"Did you have fun? Did James treat you well?"

"Mhm! Everything's alright, no worries! He told me that they'd be away for a few days with Deetra...."

"Oh, yes, I guess it will be only the two of us here...."

Domenico nodded and started studying every detail of the room. There was silence in the room except for some papers that Damon was moving around searching for something.

"So... Domenico, I was wondering... if you'd like to come to a bar tonight with me...."

"Bar, you said? That would be wonderful! I mean, back in Italy, my father would murder me with his own hands if he saw me drink any alcohol but yes...."

"Your dad isn't here, so you have nothing to worry about, Domenico...."

Damon smiled tiredly at his cousin, who nodded again. He was still quiet around the kingpin even if he felt comfortable with him. Damon leaned back on his leather chair and sat comfortably before clearing his neck.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"Well, depends on what is on the programme...."

He raised his shoulders, stressed about the following day. He started playing with his fingers; Damon understood that his cousin was anxious.

"We will go around talking with various people... You will just help me when I need you. You don't have to talk a lot."

"Thank God...!"

Domenico sighed with his palm against his chest, feeling already better. Damon laughed and scratched his nose before looking outside.

"You never told me what you bought."

"Oh, mostly clothes, this pair of headphones and a skateboard!"

"Skateboard? I didn't know you could skate."

Domenico moved his head "yes" and looked down. "What's wrong?" Damon mumbled, pulling the boy's attention back to him.

"Well, I had one, but I was using our pool as a skatepark, and my parents weren't really... happy with that."

"Did you keep emptying the water from it?"

"Mhm!"

Damon laughed, imagining the redness and anger on Lazaro's face as he shouted and swears. It would be amazing.

"What happened to it?"

"Um, one day, my dad returned home with nerves, and the skateboard sounds just made his mood worse, so he... broke it in half...."

"Wow, that's so mean of him."

Domenico gasped softly and nodded, happy that someone was finally agreeing with him except Hoplite. Usually, he was the wrong one, and his opinions didn't matter. Having a real person by his side for once was something new.

"What will you do in Italy with the skateboard?"

"I'll just hide it and find the closest skatepark, so both my parents and I are satisfied."
He chuckled as Damon smiled politely at him.

"What about we go out around nine pm?"

"Sounds good to me!"

Domenico's eyes were focused on one of the books hiding in the bookcase in front of him. Damon raised his eyebrow and turned around before smiling. "Did something catch your attention?" he mumbled as the boy nodded and pointed at a book with his index finger.

"Is that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?"

"Yes, my father had a lot of classic English literature."

"Wow... Can I borrow it?"

His eyes were shining under the yellow lights, and a toothy smile was decorating his lips. Damon held the book between his fingers and handed it to him. Domenico coughed, feeling the dust in his nostrils before wiping it clean with his palm. He extended his arms and glared at the book in the distance with the same smile. It's been a while since Damon saw a young person being so excited about something that simple.

"Thank you so much, Damon! You're the coolest!"

"No worries, kiddo."

"I wish you were my brother...."

Domenico puffed with half-opened eyes and a sad look as he held the book against his chest. Damon narrowed his eyes, feeling the atmosphere heavy. He didn't enjoy seeing people sad.

"What's wrong, Domenico? Your father told me that you don't really... fancy your brother."

"It's just a kid that I have nothing in common with. Dad was giving all his attention to me, we were having so much fun, and after his birth... everything went downhills... I know it sounds dumb - I shouldn't be jealous of a child, but... I miss... dad. All he does now is yell at me for not wanting to be a mafia boss and create chaos...."

Domenico sighed and stood up, ready to return to his bedroom; Damon also stood up and stayed beside him with his arms behind his back.

"Look, Domenico, in the end, all you'll have is your brother, though."

"It's just not fair!"

Domenico started raising his voice without understanding. Small tears were being created in the corner of his ocean blue eyes.

"When I was young, my father was spending so much time with me, just playing video games and going on walks, and when I started having my own opinions and thoughts on things... he was hating me. To him, I'm a black sheep because I want a piercing, and that's for girls, according to him! I'm useless to the family because I don't want blood on my hands like him!"

He looked down with an angry face; those tears were rolling down his cheeks now. He was holding onto the book with all his strength as he closed his eyes, breathing heavily.

"Domenico...."

"I'm tired of hearing again and again that I shouldn't express my feelings nor cry because I am a man. I'm tired of his silly stereotypes. I am not his reflection- I am a different person than him. I don't want to look in the mirror and face him- I want to see me."

Damon tried to hug him, but he pulled away. He took a big breath and closed his eyes one more time, trying to stay calm. The drug baron knew that it was horrible for the young man to keep his emotions bottled up.

"Domenico, do you talk to anyone about your... emotions?"

"To who!? I have no friends! If I want to express my feelings, I just look in the mirror and talk! Or have a small conversation with a girl I met through an online chatroom...."

"Online chat room, hu? It's been a while since I've used one...."

Damon rubbed his neck in thoughts as Domenico rolled his eyes.

"What girl, though? I hope you don't give away any sensitive information...."

"Are you dumb, Damon!? Of course not! Jesus!"

"... Is she cute?"

Domenico puffed in anger and crossed his arms.

"I don't know! We just talk here and there...."

"Okay, okay... How about you go to your room, relax for a bit... Have a shower and enjoy your book, and then we'll go out for a drink, as I said?"

"Yeah, sure...."

"Great!"

Damon smiled wide, pushing his hands against each other with force, a loud noise echoing through the room. The boy sighed and left the office, going to his bedroom with quick steps. Damon's smile disappeared as it was his turn to sigh. He held his head between his hands, knowing how much trouble and trauma Lazaro had caused in his son's life. Lazaro wasn't way different from his own father, and he could see it.

Domenico turned on his laptop some seconds after arriving at his room. He smiled softly when he saw a message pop up. He opened the chat room and read it loudly.

"Hoplite02: How's the UK, dude?"

"Dom444: I like it so far, and my cousin is pretty cool! He'll take me out for a drink!"

"Hoplite02: I wish I could join you, but Edinburgh is pretty far away from London!"

"Dom44: What a shame, I'd love to meet you"

"Hoplite02: m2, maybe another day, mate. Hope u have fun w ur cousin tho!"

"Dom444: Thanks! How's your father?"

"Hoplite02: Getting on my nerves. He caught me having a cigarette today, and he grounded me."

"Dom444: Not allowed to go out?"

"Hoplite02: Not allowed to use my laptop from tomorrow till next Friday."

"Dom444: Shit, are you gonna be okay?"

"Hoplite02: yeah, I'll be fine... Hope London treats you well unless me...."

Domenico stared at the screen for a split second, ready to type. He didn't know what to say, though. He decided not to ask her about the last message.

"Dom444: I hope that too; good night, Hoplite."

"Hoplite02: gn Dom"

Domenico sighed and turned off his laptop. Hoplite wouldn't be around for a week, so that meant he'd have to spend every second with Damon. It's not like he hated it, though.

He lay back and closed his eyes before setting the alarm on his iPhone. Some relaxing wouldn't hurt him. A small smile took over his lips as he pushed his arms lazily behind his neck.

"I'll miss talking to you, Hoplite."

He turned to his soon and closed the lights. Soon after, he was fast asleep. Maybe Damon wasn't as harsh as he thought.