Today was my first day back at the warehouse, and to say the least, I was really nervous. I was only nervous because I hadn't seen everyone in a long time, but when I got there, I was greeted with cheers. I felt so embarrassed, but was really happy and felt loved by everyone there.

Of course I had to say a small speech and explain some things that went down. How I had been healing with family, and that I was grateful for everyone being here for me and my family, and I thanked them, receiving more cheers and whistles.

After that, everyone went back to what they were doing and now it was time for me to train, which I was dreading.

Fortunately, my uncles let my cousins come over which meant Philip was here too. He hadn't said anything to us and stuck beside Rocky the entire time we waited for Alvaro to get here.

"He's taking too damn long."

"Hey, boys."

I turned around and gasped with a smile, throwing myself at Charlie and Walter. "I missed you guys so much! I haven't seen you two in forever!"

"We missed you too, Lucio. How have you been?" Charlie asked.

"I'm alright now, but I'm really happy I got to see you guys. You guys are always usually on missions, so I see Antonio and Alejandro more."

"They tell us how much you miss us." Walter gave me a small smile as he spoke quietly. "It makes us happy."

"Of course I miss you guys! Why wouldn't I? Plus, I grew up with you two, and Antonio and Alejandro. You're family to me."

Charlie and Walter smiled and gave me another hug, while I pressed kisses to their cheeks.

"We have to get going now. I think Antonio and Alejandro will be here soon since Alvaro got caught up in some stuff." Charlie explained and I nodded.

"I'll see you guys another time, then. Good luck!" I gave them another tight hug and they smiled, walking off with some other men.

"Who are they?" Dino asked from behind and I turned to him, walking over to him and Romeo.

"Some close friends of Dad. They're a rank below Antonio and Alejandro, so they're pretty busy." I briefly explained and I sat down on the matt-covered floor. "Antonio and Alejandro are taking a while. Alvaro, Felix, and Ollie got caught up in stuff so they're coming instead."

Romeo and Dino nodded, and I held onto Romeo's hand.

Even after fifteen minutes, they still weren't here and I was laying down with my eyes closed, but then a shadow loomed over me until I opened my eyes.

"Antonio!" I quickly got up and hugged him, feeling him do the same. "Were you having sex with Alejandro or something? You guys took too long. I was ready to nap."

Antonio laughed as he rubbed the back of my head. "Don't tell my boss, alright?"

"I won't." I smiled and a few moments later, Alejandro walked over with a slightly red face. "Alejandro, took you long enough."

"Sorry, I was busy."

"Fucking."

"Shut up!" Alejandro rubbed his face and I laughed with Antonio.

"Alright, let's get started." Antonio sighed and turned to me and my cousins, quickly greeting them and eyeing Philip.

"Lucio, you, Romeo, and Dino haven't trained in two months, right?"

"Yes..." I pouted, looking at him with furrowed brows. "Don't go hard on us, we just got back."

"I won't, but..."

Antonio explained what we were going to do. Alejandro decided to take me, Romeo, and Dino to workout and then train while Antonio trained the others.

I was sweating like a pig by the end of the thirty minute jog we did and I fell onto the ground, gasping for air and then sitting up. "I forgot my inhaler. I'm going to die!"

"I have it." Romeo placed my inhaler on my chest and I sat up.

"Oh, thanks, Romeo." I kissed his damp cheek and I took a quick hit of my inhaler, acting all cool and druggy.

"Are you done?" Alejandro stared down at the three of us, and I whined. "We have to get going, Lucio."

"But I'm so tired already. I'm soaking wet in sweat."

"Take your shirt off then." Alejandro began walking back towards the warehouse and I got up, pulling my shirt off and laying it over my shoulder.

"Ugh, I need to get the muscle I had back." I groaned to myself as we followed Alejandro.

"Warm up, we'll be working out, then after an hour of that, you'll join the others."

We followed Alejandro in and I froze when I saw Dad along with about ten men pointing their guns at someone I couldn't see.

"Come on, Xavier. You should know I'm your biggest ally. I would never betray you. We both know that. I know you trust me."

I recognized the voice I heard and when I moved closer to them, my suspicion was confirmed.

"Why would you come unannounced, Milo." Dad rolled his eyes and told the men to lower their weapons. "You're causing a big scene when you could've called to let us know you were here."

"I want everyone to see us together." Milo smiled that familiar smile and I turned away.

"I think I'm going to barf."

"Why?" Dino asked, and I shook my head, then smiled.

"When Milo rescued me, he asked me to have sex with him because I look so much like Dad." Dino's eyes turned dark and he glared Milo's way, pulling me closer, but I patted his chest. "Relax. He's too into Dad to actually do something to me."

"Still." Dino kissed my cheek and I smiled, pulling Romeo closer and kissing his cheek.

"He doesn't matter since Dad is dealing with him."

I watched Dad lead Milo into the elevator and I met the former's eyes, watching him deadpan while Milo got close to him and he shook his head. I chuckled at that and imagined how Dad and Milo were when they were younger.

"Come on, guys." Alejandro called us over and I willed myself to follow him where the gym equipment was.

Alejandro had us warm up while he explained what we were going to do, and I may or may have not tuned him out while we worked out.

I knew my stamina ran out much quicker than five months ago, and knew I would have to put in more work to get back to the body I wanted. I had definitely gained a little bit of weight which I didn't mind, but I preferred to have my toned body.

"Alright, now that you guys are done, stretch for a few minutes and join Antonio."

I sat on the floor for a few moments slowly drinking water and catching my breath, then stretched with Romeo and Dino before joining Antonio and the others.

"Ow, you dick!" Vito glared up at Tony, who was shirtless and still wearing some marks Gio left him, but it seemed he didn't mind.

"That's what you get, V." Tony laughed and got up, helping Vito up, but then getting tackled.

"Come on, Philip."

I looked over at Rocky and Philip and saw the latter glaring at my cousin. "This isn't fair, our height difference is too wide."

"I'll go easy on you, I swear."

"No, I'd rather train with someone who puts all their effort rather than just me." Philip turned away and Rocky rolled his eyes playfully.

"Antonio!"

I immediately knew where this was going and tried running away, but I was called back. "Lucio, come here!"

I silently screamed and turned around, making my way to Antonio. "Yes?"

"You'll train with Philip. Romeo and Dino will train together. Rocky, you'll train with Frankie."

"I only came to train with Saint." Frankie said from the floor and Antonio shook his head.

"No, your dad specifically told me to make sure you train your fighting skills, not just your weaponry skills.

Frankie scoffed and got up, walking over to Rocky and immediately being jumped. "The hell?!"

I chuckled at Frankie's face and then turned to Philip, seeing that he was staring at Rocky.

"So...are we fighting, or...?"

Philip didn't say anything and continued to watch my two cousins. I cleared my throat to make sure he knew I was here, and then put my eyes on Rocky and Frankie.

"Uh, they don't like each other like that." Philip's head snapped my direction and my eyes widened. "What, was I wrong to assume?"

Philip didn't say anything and glared as he watched the pair. "I'm supposed to marry a girl soon. My...parents had set up a wedding already with a girl."

I exhaled and placed my hands on my hips. "And you don't like the girl, specifically women, because you like guys. Why are you all the same?" I rolled my eyes and Philip raised a brow.

"You're one to talk?"

I chuckled at that and turned to him. "At least I know what I want and make the move to get what I want. Cancel those plans, and do what you want. Your parents may have wanted something for you, but you want something different. Do what makes you happy. Plus if it's arranged, you really think the girl wants to agree with the marriage? She's totally got better dudes waiting."

"She's lesbian."

"She's totally got better girls waiting."

Philip chuckled at that, but then sighed. "I don't know what I want. Right now with what happened to my parents...I-I'm just sad and don't know how to feel."

Over the weekend, we had a funeral for Philip's parents. It was just the five families, plus Antonio and Alejandro, and of course Philip who went, but Rocky's family made sure Philip knew he wasn't alone. We were all here for him even though he would bully us, but that wasn't the point.

"Then take your time to grieve and once you feel better, come back to it. I mean, unless Rocky finds someone else before then."

"What?"

"Probably not."

"Wait a minute-"

"Hurry up and let's fight before we get yelled at by Antonio."

"I don't see you two fighting!"

"Philip was telling me about his deepest secret, sorry, Antonio!"

"Hey!"

_________________________

It had been a little more than a month since I had gone back to training, and I could tell I had made some progress. Of course I knew it would take time and consistency working out, but I was proud of myself and how much change there was. I had even lost about a few pounds already.

It was the weekend and we were having a barbecue. Me and Philip, surprisingly, were getting closer. We had been talking and training together, and earlier today, he told me he was going to confess to Rocky. When I read his message, I chuckled and wished him luck, telling him that I would see him later in the day.

Which was now.

Our entire family came over for the barbecue. Amir, my two other uncles, and even Andrea were here, but he was sitting in the corner alone watching while the rest of our cousins were grouped up together talking.

"I want to swim!" Vito pouted and Dad came over.

"You can if you want. We're still preparing the meat and other food, so it'll be a while before all the food's done."

Vito got up and immediately stripped down to his boxers. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to swim."

Rocky, Mattia, and Tony followed him in, but I decided to sit and enjoy the warmth of the sun on my skin. Plus, Frankie wanted to cuddle on the pool chairs since he was feeling lonely.

"Aren't you hot, Frankie?" I eyed the sweatshirt he was wearing and he shook his head.

"I'm ok." He laid his head on my shoulder and closed his eyes, so I knew he was going to nap for a short while.

Romeo was cuddling with Dino in the chair next to me, and I decided to snooze for a while, simply closing my eyes and almost falling asleep but still listening to my family talk around me.

"Rocky, can I talk with you alone for a bit?" I opened my eyes and saw Philip shyly meet the former's eyes.

"Yeah, let's go over here." Rocky led Philip away after I gave the latter a thumbs up.

They walked about twenty feet from us and I decided to watch them talk, seeing Philip look down at the ground with a red face. Rocky's brows raised and then a big smile grew on his face.

I knew he liked Philip, we all caught on that they liked each other. Even Rocky had told us and our cousins that he had been thinking about asking out Philip, but since I knew the latter was planning on confessing, I decided not to tell Rocky.

Rocky spoke after Philip finished and he quickly looked up at my cousin with a face of surprise. His face turned a darker shade of red and Rocky moved closer to Philip, his arms wrapping around him to hug him.

"They finally confessed, huh?" Georgie asked from the pool steps, and I nodded.

"Yup, but you know what comes next."

I watched Rocky walk past us while Philip waited and I met his eyes, wiggling my brows and watching him blush.

A few moments later, Gio and Marco walked out as they followed Rocky over to where Philip was. I could tell the latter tensed up and tilted his head down when the three of them neared him.

"You think he'll run away, or be ok with it?" I asked Frankie and he hummed.

"If he wants to be with Rocky, he'll have to accept the fact that our parents act that way with us."

I agreed and watched Philip's eyes slightly widen, Rocky's face going a light red as Gio's left arm hooked around his son's shoulders before pulling him in to share a short kiss.

I couldn't hear what Gio said but his thumb pointed over at us, and I awkwardly looked away. "He definitely just told him that we do the same with our parents, right?"

"For sure. Philip looks confused as hell." Frankie chuckled softly at that and cuddled more into my side. "Oh well, if he doesn't like it, he can leave."

I hummed, watching Philip talk and then Rocky smiled. He pulled him in for another hug while Marco rubbed Philip's back.

"Looks like all is well." I said to no one and turned to Romeo and Dino. "You guys think it's weird what we do with our family?"

Dino shrugged, turning to look my way. "Like you've said before, I try not to think about it because it is weird. I don't care what other people think because it's what makes us all happy and that's all that matters."

I chuckled at that and nodded. "Yeah, I'm right."

"When is it your turn to find someone, Frankie?" Vito asked from the edge of the pool and Frankie rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry about it."

I gasped, looking down at him. "You've met a guy?"

"No..."

"Have your parents met him?"

"No..."

My jaw dropped and I got up, walking over to the grill where my uncle Eddie was talking. I scooted closer to him and eyed him up and down.

"What?" My uncle looked at me suspiciously and Frankie stomped over, pulling on my hands.

"Frankie has a boyfriend?" I asked and Eddie's eyes moved to Frankie, a smirk growing on his face before shrugging.

"Let Frankie answer that for you."

I gasped, glaring up at Frankie. "You have to introduce him to us!"

"No!"

______________________________

Well well well, Rocky isn't the only one who's recently gotten into a relationship! (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ

What do you guys think?

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed! See you all next time, BYE!!! :))

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