Valentino

The following morning, my cousins and I faced off with our dads in the living room while Aiden, Diego, and Emilio sat on the steps. Why? Our dads didn't like the fact we kept information from them about dealing with a psychotic demon.

"Tino, we sent you and your cousins to school with the idea you would call us when you ran into trouble," my dad said.

"And what would you have done? It's not like you or my uncles can defeat it. It's a demon, Dad," I said.

"You should have still told us!"

"Then what?" Nixon asked.

"Is it really wise for you to ask that question?" Uncle Pat asked.

"Better than sticking my head in the sand like this family enjoys doing."

"Really? The last time I checked, we protected your asses," Uncle Rafe snapped.

"Oh, you mean suffocating us with your stupid rules," Noah retorted.

"Watch your mouth."

"No, you watch yours!" Nathan bit out.

"That's enough, Ryan!" Uncle Romeo shouted.

"Yeah, okay," Nolan scoffed.

"Do you have something to add, peanut gallery?" Uncle Marty asked.

"Oh, I have a lot to add. How about you're acting like we're defenseless babies who can't do anything for ourselves? Wait." Nolan started pacing while wagging his finger at our dads. "I have a better one. While you were so busy dealing with your trauma and projecting it onto us, we had a psychotic demon trying to take out Nash."

Our dads' heads snapped to Nolan.

"You heard right. Did you think we ran around using the names you bestowed us?" Nolan laughed humorlessly. "Oh, that's so cute that you forget who we are. We didn't return for you to shove us in a box while a monster waited to have his fun with us. If you want to take us on, go ahead. It won't end well for you."

My cousins and I looked at our dads, annoyed they lacked faith in us.

My dad rubbed his forehead before dropping his hand. "While you're navigating your return, so are we. Do you think raising the Gray brothers as your children is easy?"

"Hell, no, it's not easy," Uncle Romeo scoffed.

My dad and uncles looked at Uncle Romeo.

"Do you mind?" Dad asked.

"Not really." Uncle Romeo shrugged. "I got stuck with Nathan, of all people. He could have given me Noah."

"Thanks a lot, Dad," Nathan said with an eye roll.

"Can we discuss the possible switch at birth with your and Rafe's boys later?" Uncle Pat asked.

"Christ," Dad said.

"Our lord and savior, you heathen!" Nix snapped.

Dad glared at Nix.

"Don't take the lord's name in vain." Nix shrugged.

I rubbed my temples because fighting was getting us nowhere except more issues. "Look, we can't call you to save us against a psychotic demon. You don't have the capabilities to defeat it. We do. Last night was a rough night for me. I saw things I didn't want to see. But I understand now why we need to defeat this thing."

"What do you need from us, Tino?" My dad asked.

"Reassurance and faith. I don't need the family fighting." I glanced between my uncles and cousins. "Whatever happens from here on out is the path given to us. You need to trust us."

"You're asking a lot from us," Uncle Rafe said.

"It's all we need right now."

"We'll trust you, but you need to tell us everything. And I mean everything, Tino," my dad said.

"Take a seat. Shit's about to get real."

My dad and uncles exchanged glances, not liking what was coming.

******
After telling my dad and uncles everything that happened and what we saw, they looked like someone gut-punched them. Yeah, I felt the same way after what Aunt Liz showed me. My cousins were pissed, not at our fathers but at the demon hell-bent on destroying our family.

"I thought we moved past that. I guess not," Uncle Pat said with his arms folded.

"I need air," Uncle Rafe said, getting up and leaving the house.

Uncle Romeo rubbed his face while Uncle Marty avoided eye contact while bouncing his leg. My dad sat in the chair deathly quiet.

You can't blame my dad and my uncles for their reactions. I doubt they wanted any of us to witness what happened to them, but unfortunately, I was the one who did.

******
Misty

I left the house to check on Nash when I saw Rafe standing outside, pale as a ghost. I walked toward him as he tried to keep from wrenching. It didn't work, as he vomited in the bushes. I walked over and rubbed his back while he emptied the contents of his stomach into the front bushes. "Rafe."

Rafe finished heaving before sitting back on his legs.

I handed him a tissue from my pocket. "Here."

He took it from me and wiped his mouth. "Thanks."

"Nash told you, didn't he?"

Rafe looked at me and nodded.

I moved and sat on my knees. "It's okay, you know?"

"What is?" He knitted his brows.

"To worry about them. They're a special group. They can infuriate you and make you love them at the same time. But they're also stronger than anyone understands except me." My lips quirked into a smile.

"I didn't want River to experience what I did as a kid. None of my brothers did. We had our innocence ripped from us. It jaded us. We couldn't form normal relationships with anyone, including our own damn family." Rafe balled the tissue and threw it in anger. "How is that fair?"

"It isn't. Not really. Children shouldn't live in fear. They shouldn't experience atrocities from adults. They shouldn't lose their innocence at the hands of a monster. It should have never happened."

Rafe scratched his earlobe before running his hand through his hair. I noticed he did that when he became stressed. I stood up and held out my hand to him. He glanced at my extended hand.

I wiggled my fingers. "Come on. It's time you and the others learn a little information about the family."

Rafe hesitated before taking my hand and standing. I led him into the house to find Val and his brothers looking miserable while the cousins looked pissed. I gestured to a space on the couch for Rafe to sit.

Once Rafe sat down, I got down to business. "We have a problem, and I have a solution."

Everyone looked at me.

"An asshole caused more issues for this family than needed. It hurt many innocent people. It's time we get even." My lips curled into a devious smile as everyone stared at me.

If I knew anything about the Gray brothers and the Harpers, they deal with assholes their way. They just needed to work together.

Nash got up and led me to the couch, pulling me onto his lap and wrapping his arms around me. His body relaxed, and his heartbeat stopped racing.

First, I needed to calm the most powerful person in the room before the house exploded. How do you explain to the campus rental that your occupant blew up your home? That's a bit tricky.

Next, I needed to help Val and his brothers avoid reliving that horrible nightmare. I closed my eyes, relaxed my mind, and projected love toward them—unconditional love since they were descendants of mine. My locket vibrated and glowed brightly as warmth flooded the room. That should help.

******
Valentino

My cousins and I watched our dads taste Mags' love and reassurance. Light shrouded them as their breaths caught in their throats before dimming and vanishing.

Confusion flooded my dad's face. "What was that?"

"That was Maggie showing you why Nash loves her," Nix said.

"Wow," Uncle Romeo said, rubbing his chest where his heart lay.

"How is that possible?" Uncle Rafe asked

"It's Maggie. She's always been the heart of the family," Noah said.

"Grammy Maggie," Uncle Pat breathed.

Mags smiled. "Patrick, it's been a while."

My uncles stared at Mags with watery eyes. Only Dad and a few family members knew about Mags' return. My uncles glanced at Dad and realized he had known all along.

"You knew and didn't tell us?" Uncle Pat asked.

"And tell you what? Surprise. More of the family had returned. Rafe would have questioned everything because he's a skeptic ass," Dad said.

"Can you blame me? I'm not the only person who doesn't believe in this shit," Uncle Rafe huffed.

"No, you're one of the people who need irrefutable proof," Uncle Romeo said.

"With good reason. People will burn your ass if they could."

"I think it's cool," Uncle Marty said.

We looked at Uncle Marty before shaking our heads.

Mags got off my lap, walked toward Uncle Rafe, and rubbed his head gently. "Such a good boy."  Then she hauled off and smacked him, shocking the hell out of us. "Snap out of it, Rafael!" She stood before my uncle with her hands on her waist and raised a brow.

"Did you just hit me?" Uncle Rafe asked.

"She didn't just hit you. She made you see the galaxy twice over," Uncle Romeo said.

"Yo, peanut gallery. Stop being bystanders and join our freak show," Nathan yelled to Aiden, Diego, and Emilio, sitting on the steps.

They got off the steps, walked toward the couch, and stood behind us.

"Oh, good. Now we can get down to business," Mags said with a smile.