"STANDING IN MY territory, and still this attitude," Raphael laughed, a venomous laugh. "I've to admit. You got guts, haven't you?"

Those familiar pine-green eyes glared at me maliciously. His features had a cold and evil aura. He had turned into a real villain.

I was right. 

He was beyond saving.

Who wanted to save him anyway? The old Aaden was dead.

"Your territory? By deceiving and plotting against my back you got here." I spat near his feet. "That’s not surprising though. You can never defeat me in a head on fight. I'm glad to see that at least, you know your place." My voice was sarcastic.

The smile disappeared from Raphael's face, and it seemed as if my words had pierced him through. It seemed as if he was bitten by a poisonous snake. 

Immediately he rose to his feet, and looked at Raul. "Beat the shit out of him. Make sure he doesn't recognise his own face, once he wakes up," he ordered.

Raul raised his brow, and out of the blue took out a knife, and walked towards me.

"Never thought that you would fall so low." Anger fumed in my veins as I glared at him. 

"Shut the fuck up!" Raul rolled his eyes.

He took long strides and within a minute he was behind me. The tip of the sharp knife touched the skin of my neck. It's blade was cold against my warm skin. 

Raphael seemed pleased with himself, and crossed his arms over his chest, enjoying the scene. A hint of excitement appeared in his pupils as he got ready to watch the bloody scene that was going to be painted in front of his eyes.

The tip of the knife was no longer pressed against my neck. It had disappeared.

Raphael furrowed his brow and asked, "What the heck are you waiting for?"

"Have patience, Boss," Raul said. His voice was laced with fake sweetness.

I glanced at Rafe, clenching my fists behind my back.

But I was calm. Extremely calm.

I felt the sharp knife cutting through the rope that binded my wrist. It's movement was as smooth as silk. Then, my hands were free, and the knife was in my hands.

Rafe’s eyes were almost bulging out of his eye sockets. 

The table had turned.

"You could win an Oscar with that level of acting, Aaden," Raul said, squeezing my shoulder.

"You too." I flipped the knife between my fingers.

"Seize those motherfuckers, Guards!" Raphael yelled with all his might.

His order didn't receive a response. Everybody had turned a deaf ear to him. There was pin drop silence as I casually played with the knife, enjoying watching the dumbfounded Rafe.

The guards didn't move like he had expected.

Why would they move?

They answered me. Not him.

"What a fool." I laughed. "You thought you had the upper hand. Didn't you?" I walked towards him. The hilt of the knife clenched in my hand tightly.

He moved two steps back instinctively.

"Oh my. Somebody's scared," Raul chirped.

"I'll m-make sure that none of you leave alive. Dante D’Angelo will kill you all if I die here." Sweat covered his forehead as he uttered those words.

Ignoring his so-called threat, I cornered him. His back touched the wall.

There was nowhere to run.

He was trapped.

I raised his chin using the tip of the knife, looking at him like a predator. 

Sweat dripped down his face, and the colour had drained from his face. He was like a scared little rabbit, clinging on to dear life. He had realised his fate. But it was too late.

"Why?" I whispered in an ice-cold voice. "Just tell me why the fuck did you kill dad? What was that we didn't give you?" The tip of the knife was digging into his chin, and a thin trail of crimson blood pooled through the gash, travelling down the silver blade.

He didn't answer.

"Why?" I yelled, losing my patience.

"Aaden, I'm your brother." He pleaded. 

The coldness vanished from his features, replaced by a pitiful expression. It seemed as if  he regretted what he did. 

Memories of the past flooded my mind like small boats sailing in the sea. His smiling face appeared in front of my eyes. 

He joined hands with mother's killer and killed dad. He betrayed you. The devil inside me screeched.

I snapped out of the moment of daze, and laughed.

"Emotional blackmail. Is that all you got?"

In that moment, I forgot who I was as I grabbed Rafe’s arm, twisting it with full force. 

He grunted, clenching his jaw tight.

I let go. His body relaxed a bit, and then, immediately grabbed his wrist. Positioning my elbow above his elbow joint, with full force I jammed into it. 

A scream tore through his throat as a loud snap pierced the air. His right arm was broken. Just like that. 

As soon as I released my grip around his wrist, he fell face first on the ground. He withered in pain, looking at his limp and broken arm through tear laced eyes.

I bent down. "Just tell me why the fuck did you kill dad? If you don't, then, I'll break the other one too. Even if you still don't tell me, then, I'll break your legs, and your ribs. One by one." I punched the wall.

That question had haunted me in my sleep, and to this day, I didn't find an answer.  

"You were the only one that he saw. Aaden, Aaden, Aaden  That was all that he said. Did he ever care about me? I was trash in his eyes. He trusted you the most. He chose you to take his place. You were always his first choice. You had power. You were respected. It was always you." He laughed bitterly. "I killed him because I felt like it. He deserved it, and so do you." He spat.

A piece inside my heart shattered.

"You were only eight when our mother died. He was scared that the incident left a deep impact on you. He wanted to keep you away from all the dirty work. While you were out having fun, I was working hard. He scolded me while he never said a word to you. Whatever you wanted you got. Were you blind? Stop talking nonsense." My voice quivered as the past drifted in front of my eyes once again.

"I hate you. I always did. And I always will. Till my last breath." He struggled to sit up, using his working arm, laughing like a mad man.

"You've lost you fucking mind." I kicked the wall, looking away. 

"Raul, get him away from my sight, and send him to the D'Angelo residence. Also, send a note stating that Aaden Marino is back, and ready to remove the trace of Dante D’Angelo's bloodline from Manhattan. It's time to settle old  blood debts."

"As you say, Aaden." 

Raul dragged Raphael out of the room along with the guards. I was left all alone.

A misunderstanding.

It was all because of a misunderstanding. 

If he had talked about this openly, nothing would have happened. 

Only if.

I let out a frustrated sigh, punching the wall. There wasn't time to waste, so I left the room to take charge of the Marino Mafia back in my hand.

A/N: So, Raul isn't a bad guy. Alright. So, please don't hate me.

I love Raul, and even have a sort of book planned for him. Would you like to read that?

Next update on Friday.