Chapter 23 | The captors

When Lou spat sudsy toothpaste into the sink, blood splattered on the porcelain. He'd been brushing his teeth too hard and too often.

Going to that party the day Dominic and Cara had married was a mistake. A terrible, atrocious type of mistake that latched on him and getting out of it was the equivalent of tearing his skin.

They'd offered him drugs. He remembered refusing. For the first few times, he'd fought the temptation. But it was the sadness that cut off the restrictions. He just wanted to forget. To forget that Dom changed. That he owed Cara. That they'd married the day their father died.

And he'd said that to the girl who'd managed to make marijuana sound like the peace he'd been seeking.

He remembered, in that moment, as he watched her mouth shape the words—it'll make you forget everything—he'd given in. He'd stepped on everything Dom had ever taught him and sat silently as she brought the joint up to his mouth.

The first time he'd tried it, he experienced his first ever high. And in that despicable daze that consisted of him hallucinating and slurring, he'd found both solace and destruction.

Lou didn't realize how easily he could get addicted until it happened. The process was slow but strong. It started with "I just wanna try another one," then "I need more," to lastly "I can't live without more."

He was destroying himself and he was very well aware but he couldn't stop it at this point. He watched his bloodshot eyes in the mirror, the black shadows lurking just beneath them.

"Lou? What's exactly taking you so long?"

Lou froze. He finished up brushing then walked out of the bathroom. It'd been easy to hide the fact that he'd become a borderline addict, but now, standing in front of Dom, one scrutinizing look away from getting caught, his hand shook behind his back.

"Nothing," Lou quickly explained.

"Did you just brush your teeth? Right before dinner? Why the hell would you do that?"

"Yellow teeth aren't pretty."

Dom gave Lou a weird look. He'd sensed there was something wrong with Lou but Cara had been dismissing it incessantly. Maybe he was paranoid. Maybe he was still stuck up in the phase were Lou was a child and he needed to guide him into every step.

Dom walked to the kitchen and settled on the table beside Cara. Lou joined, eyes set on the two empty seats to his left. He looked back at Dom. The scrutiny directed at him was hypocritical. If Dom was assuming he'd gotten into drugs, did he have the right to yell at him for it?

Weren't tranquilizers types of drugs too? So, in the end, now they were both addicts.

Lou didn't exactly eat. He just fiddled with the food in his plate, bit off less than what a baby would consume, then stood and walked to the threshold.

"Where are you going?" Dom asked. "You didn't eat anything."

"I'm full I swear. I'm going over to my friends—"

"Who the hell are these stupid friends?"

This had Lou's heart dropping. He swallowed. "Just... people I know from school, obviously."

"You're not going anywhere."

Lou frowned. "But Dom—"

"I said you're not going anywhere. End of it."

"You can't force me."

"Oh really?" Dom raised a brow, this time with a tinge of amusement. "I dare you. Try to go out now."

Lou groaned, squeezing his eyes shut as he threw his head back. He glared at Dom again. "Fine."

"You sound like a bratty teen."

"And you sound like a bossy older brother."

"Aha? Well, that's what I should be when you're acting like th—"

"Boys," Cara intervened. "Stop this. Lou, your brother said no, it means no. Just sleep early tonight."

Lou left. Dom kept his eyes on him until he was out of sight, until he heard the sound of his door as it shut behind him. The playful pretense dropped and he turned to Cara with concern in his eyes.

"I'm telling you there's something wrong with him—"

Cara constantly diverted the attention off Lou because she wanted him to make that mistake. "Nothing's wrong. Teens go through weird phases."

"You know what's the biggest proof that there's something seriously wrong?"

"What?"

"That Lou hasn't been eating. He literally eats everything and anything usually. Now, he can't even finish half his food. I'm scared those friends are pressuring him into al—"

"No. There's nothing wrong. You're just paranoid."

Dom sighed. He succumbed to Cara's sayings but his heart didn't settle.

When they finished, they cleaned up the kitchen. Cara went straight to the living room but Dom headed to Lou. He opened the door and peeked into his bedroom, only to find him drawing.

Lou glanced back. "What?"

"Nothing. Just checking on you. You're not gonna go, right?"

"You said I can't."

Dom frowned. Usually, Lou listened to him. So this was normal. Why wasn't he convinced? Like something was wrong, something he couldn't quite pinpoint. "Good," he skeptically said then turned and left.

Dom passed by the living room. Cara was watching TV. When she noticed him at the threshold, she gestured him over.

"Nah," he said. "I just... I'm tired. I'm gonna sleep."

Cara frowned. She glanced at the clock. "It's just nine. Isn't it too early?"

"Nah," he curtly repeated and headed to the bedroom. After barely two minutes, Cara followed him. She climbed and sprawled beside him on the bed.

"Still worried?"

Dom showed her keys. "I took the keys so he doesn't try to sneak out. I have a feeling he's gonna do it."

"He won't." She knew he would.

Cara leant her head against the headboard. She felt bad for sacrificing Lou like that but it was ultimately his fault. It was his fault for trying to fight against her. "And if it makes you feel better, I'll check on him at night."

"Wake me up when you do."

Cara remained awake until Dom fell asleep. When he did, she carefully slipped off the bed and tiptoed to the door.

She headed straight to Lou's room and when she peeked in, she frowned. Lou wasn't there. She looked at the window, only to find the corner of the curtain caught outside.

"Lou, Lou, Lou," she mumbled to herself. She hurried to the foyer, pulled out a coat and threw it roughly over her pajamas. Snatching the keys to her car, she ran outside, shutting the front door gingerly behind.

She knew where she'd find Lou. She'd eavesdropped as he'd talked to someone on where they'd meet. And back then, when she'd heard his hushed voice, the secrecy and vague references, she'd confirmed he'd gotten himself into drugs.

Which was great. Sad, but great. She knew how to use that against him.

She drove over to where she'd heard and surely enough, the designated house was the only one with windows lit bright yellow and a hum of music already resonating from inside.

As soon as she parked, she marched over to the door and knocked twice, firm and demanding. The door swung open. The blond boy in front of her had to be drunk. Which was a good thing, because otherwise he wouldn't have been as easy to shove aside and step in.

The living room was stocked with drunk teens, all of whom seemed older than Lou. Around early twenties, a bit younger. How fifteen-year-old (almost sixteen) Lou could fit here was a mystery.

Cara pushed off the people who were swaying around her as she stepped further inside. Her brows arched.

Lou was slumped on a couch, head leaning back, lips pulled into a drunken smile. Beside him, a tall girl with chestnut hair was pulling his sleeve up, angling an injection into his skin.

"Hey, hey! Hands off him!" Cara hurried over and pushed the girl, knocking the injection down. "The hell are you doing?"

"The hell are you doing?"

Cara took a deep breath. She had every intention to punch her across the face. She said through gritted teeth, "I'm taking him home, that's what I'm doing."

"Yeah, no. He's mine," the girl sneered, hand possessively laying on Lou's shoulder.

"I'm married you dumbass. And he's a minor." This time, Cara shamelessly shoved the girl back and caught Lou's arm, hoisting him up. "Try stopping me and I'll call his brother."

A boy sauntered closer, cigarette in his hand. "What's going on here?" He pointed the tip at Lou. "Who's this kid?"

"He's called Lou. I invited him."

"Why would you invite a kid—" the boy choked on air when he focused on Lou. "—wait. Wait. Isn't this Luciano? Luciano Alain? Dominic's brother?"

The girl didn't seem to have a clue. Cara nodded.

The boy was just about to faint at the revelation. "Get him out of here! His brother's a psycho, he'll kill us if he knows!"

"Too late. He's gonna be pissed." Cara steadied Lou against her and dragged him outside, stopping right by her car.

It was hard to open the door with him against her side, harder to seat him in. But she managed. She pushed his legs inside then closed the passenger door and hurried to the driver's seat.

As she started the engine, she looked at him. He was laughing and crying at the same time and she couldn't tell why. She reached past him, gripped the buckle and crossed it over his chest.

"I'm so sorry, Lou." She could've stopped this the moment she'd heard him talking on the phone. She could've saved him from this, from becoming an addict.

Shame. Still his fault.

He was oddly silent throughout the ride. Halfway through, she called Dom and told him about this, just about inducing a heart-attack.

When she swerved into the compound of their house, the headlights of the car cast upon the porch and painted Dom in yellow. He was already waiting outside, heart in his throat.

As soon as the car parked, Dom hurried over, keeping the door open, and opened the passenger door. Dom's chest tightened, eyes almost glossing.

"God," Dom mumbled. "God, Lou." He reached a hand forwards and combed Lou's fringe off his forehead. "How did this happen?"

Lou lolled his head aside so he could look at Dom. He smiled. Then laughed. Then said, "I'm sorry, Dom. I just wanted to forget," as if he was aware he'd messed up despite the subconscious state.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." Dom quickly slipped an arm under Lou's knees, another behind his back and scooped him out of the car bridal-style.

As soon as he was standing with Lou, he laughed bitterly. "You're heavier than I thought."

Lou blinked then leant his head against Dom's chest. "Remember when we were kids, Dom? Remember when we were happy? I miss those days."

"You were happy, Lou. I wasn't."

Dom carried Lou inside, to his bedroom, then lowered him on the mattress and sat beside him. He looked at Cara. "I told you, I told you he was up to something. I shouldn't have listened to you, I should've trusted my gut—"

"Shh." Cara gestured at Lou. "We kinda have a situation here. Let's just hope he's not in too deep. Let's hope he can recover on his own."

"You don't think he's completely addicted..."

"We'll have to wait until he wakes up."

*_*_*_*_*_*

Dominic was nervously waiting in the living room for Lou to wake up, elbow into his thigh, thumbnail between his teeth.

Cara watched him. She glanced at clock. It was already eleven in the morning and Lou still hadn't woken up. For a second, they'd think he was dead, only until he showed up.

Lou walked in. Casual. Not as if they'd caught him yesterday shot up in someone's house. He smiled. "Hey."

Dominic blinked whilst staring at Lou. "Hey? Hey?"

"Yeah."

"What the hell do you mean hey? Lou, we kinda found you in a situation yesterday." Dom stood and approached Lou urgently, eyes narrowed. "Do you even realize how dangerous drugs are? Did you see yourself? Now if you're addicted—"

"I'm not addicted," Lou interjected. The look in his eyes seemed exhausted but the furthest thing from genuine. Something about him wasn't convincing. "I messed up. I just tried it. And it didn't end well. I'm sorry."

This didn't make sense, how simply Lou was viewing the situation. Dom gripped Lou's arm, pulling him closer at one angle. "Apologize to yourself, Lou. You hurt yourself. Promise me you won't ever try doing that again."

Behind his back, Lou's hand was shaking. Itching. Longing from substance to flow in his blood. The lie in his eyes was concealed by a smile. "I promise."

Dominic didn't trust him one bit. He knew he'd try to do something again but this time, he'd keep a steady eye on him.

Lou seemed deceivingly relaxed when he drawled, "Come on, let's eat. I'm hungry." He walked to the kitchen.

Dominic turned to Cara. "He's lying. I know him. He's up to something else."

"Just go with it now. We'll see."

For the rest of the day, Lou seemed normal. A bit fidgety, sometimes strained. None of that went unnoticed by Dom but he pretended it did.

He knew. A part of him knew what Lou was going to do.

At seven p.m. Lou was already in bed because he was "tired" which was just another lie for the day.

Dominic knew how to deal with it. He stood by Lou's bedroom door silently. He touched the knob, tried twisting but it was locked. Everything clicked.

"Lou?" Dom called. "Why's the door locked?"

Silence. Then shuffling. Then rattle of keys. The door opened and Lou stood there, desperation for drugs in the way he constantly tapped his foot against the floor.

Dominic didn't need to ask. He pushed Lou out of the way and barged straight in.

"Where are they?" Dom asked as he frantically pulled drawers open, hands searching the contents.

"Where are what?"

"The drugs, Lou. The goddamn drugs you're hiding here. You think you can lie to me?" Dom slammed the drawer shut and turned to glare at Lou. "I know you better than I know myself."

"I'm- I'm not hiding anything, Dom."

Dom finally looked at the bed and the mere action induced a sickening silence on Lou's part. Dominic caught the mattress, lifting the edge, only to find several injections hidden underneath.

He gathered them in his hand, turned, and brandished them before Lou's eyes in a shaming mannerism. "This," Dom said. "You're fifteen, Lou! You're just fifteen! This shit can kill you!"

Lou flinched, mostly because of Dom's loud voice. The weight of his brother's gaze on him made his ribs crack, collapse on his heart. Lashes downcast, he didn't utter a single word.

Dominic shook his head like a disappointed parent. "I'm taking this shit. What else are you hiding?"

"Nothing."

Dom caught Lou's arm. "I said, what else are you hiding?"

Lou seemed unbearably fragile, unbearably child-like as he shook his head. "I told you nothing."

Watching them fight like this made Cara happy.

It was breaking them, breaking both of them. Which was what she needed. Two versus one was hard. One versus one then one versus another one, against two weaker than Cara—that was a guaranteed victory, a golden ladder up to the top of the hierarchy.

Even if it meant stepping on Lou.

"He's clean," she said. "Leave him."

Dom kept his eyes on Lou. He sensed the lie. "He's not."

Dominic stepped forwards, looked Lou in the eye, then quickly searched his pockets without giving him a chance to protest. Lou stood resignedly still as Dom's hand dove in. Surely enough, he found plastic bags filled with white powder.

Dominic stared at the bags, glared at Lou for around the tenth time this day, and turned.

He hadn't taken two steps past his spot when Lou gripped his arm with the urgency of someone holding back departure.

"Don't take them, Dom, please," Lou said, eyes on the floor but hand firm on Dom's arm. "I- I need them. Please. Just one shot."

"Do you really expect me to give you the drugs? With my own hands?"

Dom continued out of the door so he'd discard the injections and bags, but then he heard something behind. Shattering. Clattering. Something collapsing.

Cara and Dom gave each other a look then quickly barreled into the room again. Their jaws unhinged. They watched Lou's shoulders heave as he stood with his art supplies scattered on the floor.

When Lou looked up at them, his eyes were wild and desperate. "I need them. Just give me one, just one, I'm begging you."

Cara seemed concerned. Just a little. She wanted to be happy that this was all going to backfire on Lou, but seeing him like this broke her heart.

Dom held a hand out. "Lou, careful, there's glass on the floor, don't step on them." Carefully, like he was avoiding explosives, he strode past the mess on the floor, nearer to Lou. This close, he saw the tears in Lou's eyes and it killed him. "Lou, calm down, yeah? I know it's hard, but giving you a shot won't help. It'll make it worse. If you can't stop on your own, we'll get you in a rehab—"

"I don't wanna go to a rehab. I can stop, I promise. I just want one last shot."

"No. Stop lying to yourself. You're gonna keep saying one last shot and then get yourself in deeper."

Lou seemed still for a moment. Then suddenly and unexpectedly, he jerked forwards, a desperate attempt at breaking free and grasping the injection Dom had left at the dresser.

"Lou." Dom grasped Lou again, letting him struggle against him uselessly, then pushed him back until his calves hit the edge of the bed. His voice was strained as he spoke, "For God's sake, Lou. Please stop doing this."

"You stop doing this. You- You don't get how much I need them."

Dom's chest constricted. Sighing halfheartedly, he forced Lou onto the bed and pinned him down against. "I'll help you through this, I promise. But please cooperate."

Cara watched Lou thrash. "If keeps doing this we'll have to tie him up."

Dom turned to her with an incredulous expression. "I'm not gonna tie him for shit. I'll keep holding him down until he's calm."

Cara's voice was steady. "Good for him if he calms down. If he doesn't, we'll have to do it."

"If he doesn't, it means he needs a rehab. I'm not gonna tie my brother up!"

"He doesn't need a rehab. He just needs to stop being spoiled. Just a little help and we'll get him back to normal." Ironically, she knew he needed rehab. But she wouldn't let that happen.

How would she seem the hero that way?

Dominic remained beside Lou, pinning him and watching as he fought until his energy drained and thrashes waned. Eventually, he was just crying and breathing heavily until he fell asleep.

Dominic kept his eyes on him. He let go of Lou's wrists, only to realize he'd left red marks. The constriction in his chest turned into pain, like something was sawing his ribs.

Cara gestured Dom to follow her out. Dom did, but this time without a sense of slavery. This time, with malice bubbling in his chest.

In the living room, Cara settled down and said, "We can fix him. We're gonna have to be kinda harsh but we can fix him."

Dom narrowed his eyes at her. "What? So we just tie him up every time he goes through a craze like that? We should send him to a rehab—"

"We're not sending him anywhere. Rehabs treat addicts like shit." This wasn't a stable fact. While some rehabs weren't the epitome, generalization wasn't possible.

The only reason Cara didn't want to send Lou to a rehab was this: she wanted to help him out of this herself. Make him owe her. Drown him in abstract debts and let him feel like a worthless piece of shit. Guards down, fight down. Conquering easier for her.

Dom didn't say anything for a moment. After around a minute of dreadful silence marred with only the sound of him nibbling at his thumbnail, he blurted, "This is your fault, Cara."

Cara arched a brow and twisted in her place so she could look at him. "What?"

"I told you there was something going on but you convinced me there was nothing. Now, now look at him. Look at him!"

Cara's expression was unamused. "It's his fault. He can't handle himself. He did that. You weren't there to babysit him and oh look—" she snorted, voice mocking "—Lou's gotten himself into addiction. That just shows you how much of an idiot he is!"

Before she could react, Dom was lunging at her, fingers locking around her forearm. He hoisted her to feet, nose hovering just about hers. "Stop talking like that about him. It's not his fault he's emotional, it's not his fault he feels too much. He's just hurt and I did that to him. I made him depend on me with everything and then suddenly I leave him on his own. Of course he won't know how to handle himself! Not after being used to me beside him all the time."

Dom let go of her arm, thrusting her back. He turned and pressed his palms to his face. His sigh echoed with tremor. "I should've never listened to you. I should've—"

Cara had been surprisingly calm through his outburst, so it wasn't a surprise when she finally gripped his bicep and turned him back towards her. "Dom, look here." There was a threat in her grip or a threat in her voice, a reminder of greater authority. "Don't blame this on me. If anything, it's your and Lou's fault. I didn't force you to leave him. Tell me, why didn't you check on him if you were that worried? I never physically stopped you."

Keyword: physically. She was better at setting mental barriers then acting like an innocent. In this sense, she was right and Dom couldn't counter.

The silence was the prod, and she continued, this time voice softening, fingers loosening. She careened him to the couch and sat down with him.

"You have anger issues and Lou's an idiot. I'm the only sane one. Without me, you'd be in an asylum and Lou would've killed himself with drugs. I saved you. I saved you both."

Dom turned his face just enough to look at her. Before he could speak, Cara cupped his jaw and pulled him closer, pecking his lips. Her expression was deceitfully soft when they pulled apart.

She maintained eye-contact and said, "But I love it. I love helping you. Because you're my husband. And Lou's your brother so even if he's stupid, I love him and I want to help him. And that's exactly what I'm gonna do now. I'm gonna help him out of this situation. And he'll return to normal. Just like I helped you with your anger."

Her hand on his knee wasn't just to show support. It was yet another signal at how she owned him, and consequently owned Lou.

Dom didn't say anything. Then, he stood, silent, and headed to the front-door.

Cara frowned. "Dom?"

"What's the address?"

"Huh?"

"The place where you found Lou."

"Dom... let's calm down—"

"You just tell me and I promise I'll only have a tiny little completely harmless chitchat with them."

*_*_*_*_*

so this was the important incident. This is something that cara will constantly hold against lou and which will be referenced in leo chaps hence why i wanted to let this pass first. Anyhoo, next chap is about leo and his first day!

thank you for reading/voting/commenting! <3