Chapter 19 | The captors

Fourteen-year-old Luciano Alain was an embodiment of mischief and rebellion. For the most part, at least.

He broke rules and distorted moral standards just to feel the rush of adrenaline. He skipped classes and overlooked regulations and switched languages mid-conversations so he'd confuse others and amuse himself. Maybe that was despicable, maybe it was a coping mechanism, maybe it was just a facade to veil the depression.

Teachers couldn't handle him and his rowdy behavior. Principals knew that the only way around Lou's head was threatening him like this:

One more mistake and we're calling your brother.

It was the only thing that made Lou settle down. Everyone knew Dominic was the only person he listened to.

Lou could be in the middle of a party, dancing past midnight till he couldn't feel his legs, but if Dom texted him get your ass home it meant Lou was dropping everything and getting his ass home at the instant. If Dom called, it meant Lou was probably dead. A commander and soldier, or maybe a mother and son—their relationship came across as that. Whatever Dominic said, Lou did.

Dominic had always insisted on one glorious rule: never try to smoke or do drugs. Lou had agreed, sworn he'd never touch upon these substances.

But today temptation was strong.

"Come on, Luciano. Just one drag. It won't hurt."

Lou stared at the cigarette caught between his friend's fingers, offered to him. He bit his lip. Dom had warned him and he'd promised.

One drag wouldn't hurt, would it? Just for an idea of what this forbidden substance was, what it tasted like in his mouth. He could try and Dom wouldn't know. Behind the school, no one could see, no one could judge, right?

Right?

Not right. Just as Lou reached forwards, fingers just about plucking the cigarette off the hand outstretched to him, he heard footsteps behind followed by a voice.

"Lou, what do you think you're doing?"

"Shit." Lou watched the boy's eyes widen. If there was something more known across the school than Lou being a mischievous rebel, it was that his brother could break a jaw with one punch.

Dominic had enforced a policy: don't touch Lou.

Everyone knew messing with Lou was a death-wish, particularly what was about to happen to those boys who'd offered him a smoke. Lou reached forwards, pushing the boy back. "Go," he whispered urgently, anxiously glancing back. "My brother's here. Go if you don't want to lose at least half your teeth."

The boy and the rest of the group fled. Lou squeezed his eyes shut and turned around just in time to find Dominic towering in front of him, brow cocked and scrutinizing eyes hard and knowing.

"Hey," Lou greeted awkwardly, fingers fidgeting together.

Dom kept staring. "Open your mouth."

Lou could tell Dom figured he'd been just about to try smoking. "Dom, I promise—"

"Open your mouth."

Command had been set. There was no negotiation. Lou docilely opened his mouth. Dom leant forwards, quickly sniffing for any signs of smoke. He straightened again.

Lou waited for the verdict. Dominic finally said, "You didn't, but you were about to."

"Well..." Lou scratched the back of his neck. "I just was kinda tempted? Just a bit? But I'm pretty sure I would've backed out last minute, because I listen to you—"

"You're just making it worse." Dominic took a step aside, holding his arm out, gesturing Lou to move. "In front of me, to the car. Now."

Lou walked like a prisoner to their car, head hanging and eyes ashamed. Just as he stood by the passenger seat, Dom beat him to opening the door. He said, mocking yet stern, "Get in, señor. Get in."

Lou grimaced. "I can open it on my own, Dom."

"Just get in."

Lou received a swat on the head as he did. Dom slammed the door shut then climbed into the driver's seat. As the car started, reversing out of the school's parking lot, both seemed silent. Lou stared at his lap. Dom kept his eyes on the road.

"Dom... why're you not angry?"

"I am."

Lou turned so he could stare at Dom's side-profile, eyes pleading. "Oh, uh, I'm sorry? You know I wouldn't have actually smoked. Come on, Dom."

Dom didn't answer first. Then, slowly, his mouth arched into a sly smile. Barely there, but Lou caught it. He frowned. "Why are you smiling?"

"You said you wanted a six-pack like mine, right Lou?"

Lou frowned harder. "Yeah..."

"Good. You'll have one by tomorrow, I promise."

Lou watched Dom's smile widen. He knew what he meant with that. He twisted until he was facing forward again, leaning his head back, eyelids dropping. "No. Please no."

"Yes."

"Dom."

"That's what you get for being an idiot, Lou. You're not getting out of it.

*_*_*_*_*_*

"I. Can't. Anymore!"

Dom hummed mockingly as he held Lou's feet stable against the floor. "Move, Lou," he demanded, firm and final. "Only one more."

Lou let out a noise somewhere between a groan and a helpless cry. "But we've already done fifty."

"One more word and I'll make you do ten more."

Lou scoffed, head against the floor and eyes closed. Staying fit wasn't easy. He forced himself to move, bare torso forcefully arching towards his knees. He glared at Dom across him and muttered, "I hate you."

That was a solid lie. He hated the exhaustion but he'd missed Dom's attention. Which was weird because he got all the attention in school, being the only bronze-skinned half-Hispanic boy with the capability to speak with a thick accent for one second then a flawless American accent the next. It was all fickle. The only attention he really wanted was Dom's.

"I love you too." Dom smiled as he watched Lou drop back down, his chest heaving. "We're done." He reached forward and playfully touched Lou's stomach but Lou quickly slapped his hand away. "Hm, I don't feel a six-pack yet. Guess we're gonna keep doing this for a lot—"

Lou narrowed his eyes as he lifted his head off the floor just enough so he could catch Dom's gaze. "I'm never doing this again," he said. "I just wanna eat and sleep forever. I don't want a six-pack anymore and I don't wanna be fit."

"Yeah no. I'm gonna work on your strength whether you like it or not. Now get up." Dom offered his hand. Lou stared at it resentfully for a moment before finally clasping it and pulling himself until he was sitting with his spine straight.

Lou tried standing but he dropped back down. He held his waist, grunting at the cramps. "That hurts so bad," he whined. "I can't even move."

Dom laughed, reaching forwards. "Yeah, yeah. You're gonna be sore for a couple day—"

Both boys turned to the door of the basement when they heard footsteps grow closer. Cara stood at the threshold. She watched Dom's hand on Lou's shoulder, gently rubbing it. It annoyed her, their closeness.

"Hey, Dom," she said, her voice honey-sweet. She walked confidently inside and pushed Dom's hand off Lou's shoulder, crouching down beside him. She kissed Dom's cheek, her back turned on Lou. "What're you doing?"

Lou was dangerously close to rolling his eyes. She always had to intervene, appear out of nowhere.

Dom smiled at her. "I was making Lou do some sit-ups. He's not used to it."

Cara turned to Lou whilst keeping herself a bit too close to Dom. "What's with the sour face? Something's wrong?"

"Yeah. There's something wrong: you. Your presence—"

Dom gave him a death-glare. He knew he didn't like her. "Lou."

With the tip of her finger on Dom's cheek, Cara forced his face back towards her. She twirled the hair by his temple. "No worries. Lou's just not used to the spotlight not being on him." She looked at Lou again with a daring grin. "Gotta get used to it, cutie pie."

Lou's expression was scandalized. "What's with the stupid nicknames? You sound like a perv—"

"Lou," Dom repeated, this time a bit more pressing. "Stop talking. Go up and have a shower."

When Lou remained still for a second, Cara stared at him, flicking her wrist in the door's direction. "Come on, you heard your brother. Go up."

Lou didn't like being commanded by her. He gave a tight-lipped smile and said, "Lo siento, no entiendo ingles."

"Luciano." Dom glared at Lou, gesturing him urgently to move. The fact that he used his full-name was a threat on its own. "Stop this. And I said go up, alright?"

Lou surrendered. There was a degree of authority in Dom's voice and now it'd reached the maximum, after which he'd probably make him do more sit-ups. Lou docilely pulled himself to his feet and trudged past the two towards the door.

Cara looked at Dom, clasping her hands behind his neck, trapping him. "I love Lou," she mused. "But sometimes he's just annoying. I mean, how can he hate me after everything? I saved you Dom. Without me, you'd be in an asylum now, remember? You wouldn't have someone to take care of you without me."

Dom remembered. He sighed. "He's just not used to me being with someone else. Remember I've always been his mom and dad and friend and brother. All he has is me. I understand why he's acting like that."

That made sense. But that wouldn't benefit her plan, so she negotiated, "Nah, that's not it. Lou's just kinda selfish. He wants all your attention on him."

"Don't talk like that about him."

Cara frowned. "But he keeps talking about me, why didn't you—"

Dom's phone rang in his pocket. Cara pulled her arms off him, allowing him to answer. She couldn't hear what Dom was hearing but she watched his expression. It was serious at first, then it dropped, brows suddenly furrowed, eyes wide and shocked.

It worried her. "Dom," she whispered. "What's wrong?"

Dom let the phone down. He stared at Cara for a second, almost in a daze. His lips parted barely enough to let the words slip.

"Dad," he finally explained, voice sickeningly void of emotion. "He had a heart attack."

Cara smiled but he didn't. He jerked up then hurried upstairs. Cara stared at the door as she pulled herself up. Slowly, everything was going in place, puzzle pieces clicking in with life.

*_*_*_*_*

Lou sat on the cold metallic chair in the hospital, fingers lacing together anxiously. The place smelt of death and graves. Ending and beginnings. It was an odd thing, that some people died in the same place they were born.

Dom was just about to sit beside Lou when Cara hurried and clung to his side. It could look like she was being supportive. It could hide that she didn't want Dom to comfort Lou. One arm around Dom's neck, nose against his cheek. Dom leant towards her.

Lou stared at them distastefully. Looking at them like that brought back memories. He knew he shouldn't hate Cara. He knew she'd saved Dom. So why couldn't he appreciate that?

That night, years ago, when he'd been eight, they'd returned home from the beach house. They'd found George, frightened yet stern, saying: Dom, I'm sending you to an asylum. You can have all the money you want but I can't handle your insanity anymore. You're a monster.

Things had almost gotten out of control. Lou remembered he'd cried at the thought of losing his brother, having to live without him. He remembered Cara barging in, calming George down and convincing him to give Dom a chance. She'd said: I swear, I can control him. I can keep him calm. Just leave it for me. Don't send him anywhere, please.

At that point, Lou'd been too young to understand. Today, however, looking back, he found it odd—how worried she'd been. Did she really love Dom that much? Was that why she saved him? Maybe. Maybe not. Lou couldn't figure her out.

The memories had scattered over time, little details cracking like glass. But he could still implicitly remember when Cara had taken him aside back then and told him:

"This is all your fault, Lou. Your dad wants to throw Dom in an asylum because he went crazy to protect you. He would've never flipped out on him if it wasn't for you. You're destroying your brother, you're making him destroy himself for you."

Lou exhaled. Maybe she'd been right but he couldn't find it in him to like her. Dom wasn't Dom anymore because of her. Or was it his fault? Had he really done that to him—

His musings were cut off when the doctor walked out of the emergency room, face professionally grim. All of them stood and approached.

"—he died—"

The doctor had said something else, something more, but Lou didn't hear it. Something rang in his ears, louder than his thoughts, louder than anyone's words. Lou stepped back, hand against his face, shaky breath ramming into his skin.

Death. Death. Death. Dead like their mom, dead like their happiness.

Dom was shocked but he expressed nothing else. It scared him that he couldn't feel anything. Cara smiled. When the doctor left, she stood on tiptoes, curling her arms around Dom's neck, forehead against his. She whispered, "We can get married now, Dom. Finally. It's over, it's all over. You're free."

Dom smiled, maybe just affected by her. Finally. He felt free, just not quite. Something still weighed him down but he couldn't realize it was Cara.

Lou removed his hand and looked at the two through narrowed eyes. He half-shouted, "What are you two? You're happy?" He caught Cara's arm and pushed her away so he could face his brother. "Dom! Our father just died. Died! Like, like mom. And—"

Dom's expression faltered when he saw the tears in Lou's eyes. "Shit, I'm so sorry I got distracted with Cara now—"

"Shh. Don't be sorry," Cara interrupted, firm hand against Dom's chest, keeping him from stepping forward. She looked at Lou, eyes somewhat filled with scorn. "Seriously Lou? How selfish can you be? What do you want your brother to do? Drop his girl and run to you, because Luciano Alain is the only person that matters?"

Selfish. Lou felt a pang in his heart but he remained silent. The way she worded it, it sounded foreign to his ears, foreign to his intentions.

Cara continued, this time gently cupping Lou's shoulder, anger melting, "Lou, you're crying over the same bastard who abused your brother. Just because he didn't abuse you doesn't mean he's a good man. Life isn't just about you. He was about to throw him in an asylum if it wasn't for me saving him—"

"Cara." Dom caught her wrist and pulled her away. "Stop this shit." He turned to Lou, bending just enough so he could look him in the eyes. "I know it's hard, Lou. I know."

Cara wanted to face-palm so hard. Everything she said and Dom still wasn't putting Lou in his place.

"She doesn't get it," Lou mumbled, low and barely comprehensible, wet lashes downcast. For once, he wasn't loud and rowdy. Bare and fragile. "We don't have parents now, Dom. We don't have anyone."

He let out a quiet cry when he said it like he hated the establishment. Dom chuckled to himself, edge of his mouth twitching. "God, Lou, is that what you're worried about?" He curled his fingers around Lou's chin and forced his head up. "I'm way over eighteen. It doesn't matter. You're staying with me. I'll take care of you. It wasn't like dad ever really was a father."

Dom pulled Lou to his chest. He looked at the ceiling, sighing. The bitter smile on his lips was a translation of pain and detachment at once. "We've always been orphans anyway. We became ones the moment mom died," he mumbled.

Looking at them like that, Cara felt something in her chest. The fact that she wanted to break them was somewhat saddening. But it was for the greater good anyway. She believed in her purpose.

Cara stood beside Dom, touching his arm. "Dom, leave him—"

"Cara, shut up for one second. You've said enough shit at the worst time already."

Why wasn't it working? She pretended it didn't frustrate her. "It's not shit. It's the truth. Think about it Dom, think about it. You did everything for Lou."

Dom didn't answer, didn't defend Lou. Cara hoped the idea was beginning to settle.

When Dom and Lou parted, Cara walked towards Lou with a feigned soft expression. "Lou, I'm sorry for being rude." The apology was deceit dipped in honey. She tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear whilst maintaining eye-contact. "But you have to be realistic. You owe Dom a lot. You should be happy he's free now."

Lou stared but he also didn't defend himself. He turned away without uttering a single word.

Cara watched him settle on the chair again. She'd swear she still loved him. The soft spot oddly persisted even though he wasn't a kid anymore, even though he was somewhat a hurdle at this point. But nothing topped her plan.

Not even Lou's sanity.

*_*_*_*_*_*

the part where lou remembered what happened after the beach house(after that night) was acc supposed to be a full scene in ch.17 but i decided to make it a memory here while also allowing lou to reflect his opinion. i felt it's better this way. Watcha think?

(also if u miss leo chaps im sorry, i just need to let an important incident pass until we can go back to his chaps)

thank you for reading/voting/commenting, it means a lot <33