Cold air whispered outside; the wind hissed. It was nearly nine when Kai looked into his father's eyes with utter terror. He had regained control of himself moments before, but everything slipped away as he realized the consequences of his escape — his father had found him, and there would be no mercy. Lorenzo leaned in close, telling him he would be punished, asking who had helped him run.
Kai stood frozen, trembling again. He had tried to steady himself and act calm, but his father made it clear: he would be held to account — here, now, and in front of Evan… in this country.
A warm hand gripped Kai's arm, but he couldn't take his eyes off his father. He felt his body being pulled; he freed his chin, straightened, and stepped back two paces, glaring at Evan with hatred. Evan had had enough of the farce. He shoved Kai aside and stepped forward, voice sharp with anger:
"What the hell is going on here? If he's really your son, why did he run away? Why won't you let him finish his studies?!"
He stared at Lorenzo seriously, demanding an answer to the puzzle that had surrounded Kai and his family. Lorenzo glanced at his son, who seemed about to speak but went silent as Lorenzo slammed his steel cane on the marble with a heavy sound, his voice deep and proud as he faced Evan.
"Don't you know who I am? Didn't he tell you anything?"
Evan turned to Kai, who looked away, unwilling to meet those questioning eyes. Then Lorenzo continued:
"I'm Lorenzo Cavallaro, the head of the largest mafia in Italy. I came to take my son and rightful heir home… after he ran from me."
Evan's shock was immediate. Kai had told him he was of Italian–French origin, but Evan never imagined his father was a mafia boss. Everything suddenly made a terrible, logical sense.
Kai's limbs trembled; he stared down and clenched his jaw. Evan finally understood why Kai had always been terrified — this was the man who haunted his nightmares. Lorenzo smiled with pride when he saw the boy's horror, but the smile faded when Evan spoke quietly:
"He won't be coming with you."
Lorenzo's expression tightened; his eyes narrowed as he stared at the boy who looked at him not with fear but with cold indifference. Evan took a step forward, and to Lorenzo it seemed like a challenge when he declared:
"He will finish his studies… he will become a doctor."
Seconds stretched. Kai turned to Evan, feeling a rush of wanting to cry — this was the first time anyone had defended his dreams and rights for him. He wouldn't cry; he had not cried in years. Instead he gave a sad, grateful look, warmth filling his chest as he stared at Evan standing bravely before his father.
Lorenzo began to laugh — a laugh that terrified Kai because it wasn't mocking so much as enraged. Evan stood his ground, serious and defiant. Lorenzo stopped laughing and spoke in a sly, threatening tone:
"So… you've invaded his mind."
Evan met his gaze with challenge. Kai suddenly lunged forward.
"No… this is none of his business, I… I barely know him—"
His father cut him off sharply.
"Do you think I found you by chance today?"
Kai's eyes widened. Lorenzo smiled with absolute malice.
"I've been watching you for over a year."
Then he turned back to Evan, who still stood unmoved.
"I saw how foolish I was among the scum here…"
Kai shook his head in denial, while Lorenzo addressed Evan.
"I don't know where your boldness and confidence come from to decide my son's fate… but you would make a good punishment for him."
Kai's heart raced; his legs felt as if they no longer held him. He whispered, pleading and terrified:
"No…"
Evan's voice was tight with concern.
"Kai… calm down."
Kai shook his head and tried to step forward, to argue for something—anything—when a sudden blow stole his breath. The steel cane sliced through the air, bypassing Evan's view, and slammed into Kai's chest.
He fell to the floor, writhing in pain, gasping for air. Evan was stunned — he had not expected, not even one percent, that Kai's father would strike him. After a moment of shock, Evan sat beside him, gripping his shoulders in panic, calling his name. Kai pressed at his chest where the blow had landed; his face flushed with pain despite the heavy shirt that did nothing to soften the strike. Seeing Kai injured tore at Evan — how could he have missed it? He looked at Kai, who managed between ragged breaths:
"Leave… just go…"
Of course Evan refused to leave, disbelief and failure washing over him for not protecting his friend as he had promised. Kai's other hand gripped his arm; he begged, trying to sit up.
"Please… you don't know my father. He won't listen to you. He is—"
He stopped mid-sentence as he felt his body yanked. Panic flared in Evan when the young man called Jovalían suddenly appeared, his hand materializing from nowhere to pull Kai away and, with his other hand, level a gun at Evan. Evan could not bear to see Kai taken like that — he would not allow anyone to hurt him again. Ignoring the gun pointed at him, Evan lunged at Jovalían without hesitation. Jovalían's eyes widened in shock at the boy's audacity; he did not expect such a move.
Seconds later, Jovalían hit the floor hard with Evan on top of him. Kai watched in disbelief — he had not expected Evan to act that way. The gun had fallen away and, furious, Jovalían found himself on the receiving end of a heavy punch from Evan.
Kai propped himself on his elbows, stunned, while Evan scrambled to pick up the fallen gun and point it at Lorenzo. Lorenzo watched, impressed by the boy's courage and boldness. Jovalían felt both embarrassed and furious — how could someone younger than him ambush him like this in front of his master? The enormous guard sneered at him openly. Jovalían clamped his hands together, and as he tried to rise, Evan trained the gun on him.
"Back off…"
Through clenched teeth, Jovalían spat, "You bastard, I will—"
Lorenzo interrupted with scorn: "Jovalían… step back, and spare yourself the disgrace."
Jovalían shut his eyes to smother his rage, vowing silently to tear Evan apart when the chance came. He retreated behind his master, glaring. Meanwhile Evan bent toward Kai, who was coughing.
"Are you okay?" he asked, anxious.
Kai nodded, pale, then took the gun from Evan's hand with a weak voice:
"I know how to use weapons…"
Evan didn't object; he handed it over. Kai fixed his father with a distant look.
"You know how well I can use it… leave. Leave me alone."
Lorenzo's expression cleared from its daze into a proud smile. He stepped forward as Kai and Evan backed up. Kai's voice had gained a strange, heavy authority; he no longer trembled.
"Don't come any closer… I'm not joking."
Evan felt intense tension as he watched Kai, who seemed detached from reality. He was no longer afraid; his eyes were sharp, lethal. Evan feared Kai might actually fire at his father, and worried he might be the cause of escalating this into something worse.
Lorenzo approached with blind confidence. Kai shouted louder:
"I said back off!!"
As Kai pulled the safety off the gun, the personal guard warned nervously:
"Sir…"
Lorenzo raised a hand to stop him and moved even closer until he stood directly in front of Kai. Kai trained the gun at his father's head and barked, voice like ice:
"Get out of my life, or I'll kill you!"
Evan stood beside him, terrified and ready to stop him — he would not allow Kai to kill his father; that would be a disaster. Lorenzo stared at Kai, speaking in a venomous calm:
"Will you kill me… like you killed your mother?"
A long silence followed. Evan's eyes widened at what he had just heard. He looked at Kai's hand; it trembled. Fear overtook Kai's features. He shook his head, denying it, but the horror was written across his face. Lorenzo snatched the gun from Kai's hand and tossed it; Jovalían deftly caught it.
Kai was shaking; Evan could not understand what the vile man had said to make Kai like this. He gripped his shoulder.
"Kai…"
Kai stared into empty space while Evan glared at Lorenzo, who smiled maliciously and said:
"It's time for your punishment…"
He pointed to the hulking guard. Evan, tense, pulled Kai by the shoulder — he would not allow him to be hurt while breathing. Kai seemed disoriented, barely aware of where he was. Lorenzo ordered:
"Take Kai."
Evan's grip tightened; fear raced through him as he wondered what to do. The massive guard stepped forward with his powerful muscles. Evan warned sharply:
"Stay away… I won't let you near him."
The guard paused, and Evan thought he'd succeeded — but he was naive. Lorenzo spoke in a chilling tone:
"Evan, right? I have an offer for you…"
The guard stepped aside. Evan eyed him warily as Lorenzo continued:
"You seem to be a good fighter. How about you fight me? To be fair: if you can knock me down, I'll let Kai finish his studies. But if you give up, I'll take Kai."
For a moment, Evan felt a flicker of hope — he thought he could do it. Lorenzo smiled slyly, convinced Evan didn't know how dangerous he truly was. Evan relaxed his hold on Kai and stared at Lorenzo. Lorenzo was taller and powerfully built, but Evan was a trained young man hardened by fighting. Before Evan could respond, Kai's trembling, strained voice cut through the air:
"This won't happen! I won't let you do this, Father! You're toying with him!"
Evan looked at him: Kai was pale, sorrowful, agitated. Lorenzo answered with cruel sarcasm:
"Did you not hear the terms, son? If he knocks me down, you will remain."
Kai's anger flared; he knew his father well. Evan stepped forward, grasped his shoulders firmly, and spoke in a calm, reassuring tone:
"Kai… it's okay. You know I'm skilled at fighting. The condition is only to knock him down and—"
Kai shoved Evan's hands away violently and snapped, voice sharp:
"Enough… I don't want your help."
He said it harshly, eyes full of pain, grief and anger. Fear, buried deep inside, overwhelmed him. Evan smiled sadly, then Kai furrowed his brow and hissed with agitation:
"Don't smile like an idiot… leave, just—"
Before he could finish, the guard's massive hands bound his body from behind. He began to struggle, but the guard barely felt it; Kai was small and slight compared to him, not a threat. The guard dragged him away as he yelled for Evan not to intervene, to leave. Evan felt a pang of sorrow seeing him pulled like that; at least he felt some assurance that he would not be harmed — for the moment. Kai cried out pleadingly:
"Evan… my father is deceiving you… you don't know him…"
Evan turned to Lorenzo, who handed Jovalían the cane, shrugged off his long coat, and readied himself for a fight. He glanced back at Kai, who kept shouting at his father:
"Father… this is between you and me! Leave him out of it!"
Lorenzo ignored Kai's pleas.
"Shall we begin?"
Evan swallowed and nodded. Kai shrieked hoarsely:
"Evan, don't do it! Please! You know you can't beat him…!"
Evan shot him an irritated look.
"Maybe… but I can't leave you."
Kai's body went limp; his voice trembled.
"He'll kill you…"
Evan smiled again and said nothing, only turned toward Lorenzo. Kai fell silent, an overwhelming dread rising inside him. He wanted to scream, curse, spit — but he didn't. He knew his father as well as he knew the palm of his hand. Jovalían watched with a cruel smile as he sat on the bed, savoring the scene, eager to witness his master's dominance over the boy named Evan. The guard hauled Kai toward Jovalían; as he was dragged, Kai tried to free himself, spitting and cursing. Lorenzo leaned in, whispered into his ear:
"I warned you I would punish you… Believe me, if you keep insulting, I will be harsher with him."
Kai fell still, staring at the floor in silence while Lorenzo smiled in victory and turned back toward Evan, who had no idea what he had said to calm Kai earlier. Evan took a deep breath and looked at Lorenzo, wondering how he might be bested.
Lorenzo spoke with mockery:
"Let's see how long you can hold out, boy..."
Kai trembled with anxiety, struggling to free himself, but it was useless. Ivan assumed a fighting stance, staring at Lorenzo with unwavering eyes. He knew he was just a boy facing a gang leader. He knew he might not have a chance, but he didn't care—he wouldn't let Kai go so easily.
Ivan charged at him, trying to strike, and Lorenzo smiled cunningly, surprised by the boy's courage—he had expected him to retreat, surrender, or at least hesitate or show fear. Lorenzo dodged Ivan's punches and then kicked his leg, knocking him to the ground.
Kai's eyes widened as he watched his father lift his foot, trying to stomp on Ivan's body. But Ivan surprised everyone by spinning his body swiftly, slipping out from under Lorenzo's foot, rolling back, and standing gracefully again. Kai relaxed in astonishment, as did his father, who smiled while preparing his fists:
"Strong boy… I like that."
Ivan attacked, barely avoiding Lorenzo's blows. A fleeting look of despair crossed Kai's face, but it vanished when he saw his father's fist descend forcefully on Ivan's body. Ivan bent under the blow, feeling pain tearing through him, breathing rapidly, while Lorenzo spoke with sly and biting mockery:
"Are you giving up now? Shall we stop here, and I'll take Kai?"
Ivan felt his blood boiling, but despite the pain, he straightened up and delivered a sudden, powerful punch to Lorenzo's jaw. Lorenzo's face jolted, and he turned his head to the side. Kai's eyes met his father's at that moment, and he felt a thrill of fear as Lorenzo smiled sadistically, then turned to Ivan, rubbing his cheek, saying:
"Good… very good…"
Ivan couldn't believe what he saw. He had struck hard enough to knock Lorenzo down or at least make him bleed, yet he stood before him smiling as if unaffected. Ivan looked at his own fist—had he grown weak, or was the man before him invincible?
His thoughts were cut short by Kai's scream of his name. His heart raced in fear. He turned quickly, but within seconds, before he could react, he felt his body fly through the air and hit the ground, receiving a violent punch to his face. Ivan's heart raced, tasting blood in his mouth before he could do anything. He saw Lorenzo's foot crash down violently onto his chest. Lorenzo said coldly:
"We've just begun."
Kai screamed again:
"Leave him! That's enough… damn it, you've won!"
Lorenzo turned to Kai, speaking with mockery and pride:
"Alright…"
Kai calmed for a moment, feeling relief, thinking his father would truly stop, but Lorenzo didn't. He looked at Ivan with that wicked smile, pressing his foot harder onto Ivan's chest, speaking in a low voice:
"Will you surrender?"
Ivan showed no sign of pain, which irritated Lorenzo. He said quietly, attempting to reason with himself:
"No."
Kai went mad, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Ivan! Enough! He's beaten you!"
Ivan ignored him, grabbing Lorenzo's leg with both hands, a smile forming that made Lorenzo sense danger. But he couldn't react in time; Ivan twisted swiftly, pulling himself from under Lorenzo's foot, almost toppling him. Lorenzo staggered, shocking Giovanni, who gasped. Even the personal guard let out a sudden gasp, but Lorenzo quickly regained his balance. Lorenzo's admiration for Ivan grew, but a sense of humiliation crept into his heart. A small boy had almost brought him down in front of his son and his guards… he couldn't believe it.
Kai, stunned, whispered:
"How did he do that?"
Ivan glared at Lorenzo sharply, who advanced without hesitation. With a simple maneuver, he kicked Ivan violently, lifting him slightly before he crashed to the ground. Ivan coughed from the blow to his chest, struggling to stand. Lorenzo approached, his expression threatening. Kai's heart tightened, sensing the worst was coming. Weak and afraid, he watched his father approach Ivan with those mad eyes—and he was right to fear. Lorenzo didn't wait more than a few seconds.
He advanced, attempting to strike Ivan again. Ivan held out for a while but then felt a brutal hit to his stomach. He doubled over, clutching his stomach with both hands, in severe pain. His mind couldn't comprehend feeling this weak from a single punch. His uncle had fought boys his age or older, but none had made him feel this powerless from one strike. Lorenzo gave him no chance—he grabbed Ivan by the hair, lifted his head forcefully, and punched him violently in the face. Ivan fell to the ground, trying to rise on his knees, but a violent kick to his side made him cry out.
Lorenzo, smiling sadistically, hissed:
"More…"
He kicked him harder, making Ivan scream in pain, writhing under Lorenzo's relentless blows. Kai had frozen, breathing rapidly, watching his father beat Ivan mercilessly. The sound of strikes and Ivan's moans filled the room. Giovanni swallowed hard, feeling guilty watching the boy suffer.
Lorenzo suddenly stopped, taking a deep breath while watching Ivan clutch his side, groaning softly. He turned to Kai, who was frozen in place. He smiled victoriously and approached him, speaking in a calm yet cruel voice:
"My son… if you hadn't run… you wouldn't be striking this poor boy."
Kai looked into his father's eyes but said nothing. He remembered the nightmares about his father and Ivan—could they come true? Could Ivan be killed brutally before him? He shook his head in terror. Lorenzo patted his cheek mischievously, speaking again:
"Do you want me to stop?"
Kai shook his head quickly. He wanted it, no matter the cost. He just didn't want his nightmares to come true.
Lorenzo grabbed his jaw firmly, speaking with clear malice:
"Do you think I'll forgive you so easily?"
Kai breathed quickly, shaking his head:
"No, Father… I'll do anything, I'll come back…"
He fell silent as his father grinned crazily and turned back toward Ivan, who was trying to stand but couldn't. His lips were bleeding, his cheek swollen. Kai watched in concern, fearing Lorenzo intended to harm him, but he calmed when he saw Lorenzo return to him.
The guard holding Kai noticed his body had gone limp; if he hadn't held him, he would have fallen. Kai said nothing, only watching his father, who approached Ivan, grabbed him by the hair, and looked at his face, smiling sadistically:
"I told you to surrender."
Ivan whispered weakly, barely audible:
"Damn you."
Lorenzo's smile widened as if enjoying Ivan's weakness. Ivan barely opened one eye from the pain of Lorenzo holding his hair:
"Kai… he won't be like you… and he won't come back to you… even if his body is bound, his soul will not be."
Kai heard Ivan's words and wished he could respond, do something. Ivan's words struck his heart deeply, making him want to cry. He stared, wishing he could study with him without this torment and fear.
Lorenzo's face twisted with extreme anger, shouting:
"Stop spouting nonsense! Kai, my son, I know what's best for him… don't decide my son's fate."
Ivan tried to lift his hand, attempting to free his head from Lorenzo's grasp, but Lorenzo caught his outstretched arm. Ivan panicked at the sick grin on Lorenzo's face. Lorenzo twisted his arm, flipping him onto the marble floor, pinning him, and continued to twist it sadistically. Kai watched, trembling, while Ivan struggled. The weight of Lorenzo pinned him down, and the twisting intensified. Ivan groaned and screamed in pain as he felt his joint break. Giovanni covered his ears, expecting to enjoy watching his master punish the boy, but he hated his master's sadism.
He approached cautiously, hesitant, while Lorenzo let go of Ivan's arm after breaking it. Ivan writhed on the ground, screaming, while Kai's heart felt crushed. He whispered his name barely audibly, watching him writhe:
"Poor boy… seems like he'll kill him, Kai."
Lorenzo eased the pressure on Kai, who felt his heart stop. He wanted to scream but fell to his knees, still watching Ivan suffer. The guard hesitated—should he make him stand or just watch? He sighed and decided to just observe.
Lorenzo smiled with pleasure watching Ivan suffer. He didn't stop at breaking his arm; he began kicking him violently, repeatedly, until Ivan's painful screams rose again. Lorenzo bent down to pull Ivan. Kai watched his father holding Ivan by his clothes; he was struggling to breathe, unable to move. Lorenzo stared at him, smiling ecstatically, and said calmly:
"Tell me, will you surrender now?"
Giovanni watched angrily mixed with pity. He sighed in relief—he would surrender now and wouldn't need to intervene.
Ivan opened his eyes with difficulty, blood covering most of his face. He saw Lorenzo's smile, the madness in his eyes. He wouldn't give up, he wouldn't let him take Kai even if it killed him. He searched for Kai with his eyes, barely breathing. Lorenzo realized he was looking for Kai and threw Ivan's body toward him. Kai gasped seeing his friend crash onto the marble nearby, lying still, barely breathing. His clothes bore the marks of the blows; his face swollen, bleeding from his nose and mouth, a trickle of blood running from his head to his chin, his arm appearing broken from the middle.
Ivan barely opened his eyes, glancing at Kai out of the corner of his eye, who stared blankly. Lorenzo approached slowly. Kai, kneeling, stared at Ivan. Lorenzo placed his foot on Ivan's side, mockingly saying:
"Come on, tell me, will you surrender?"
Ivan groaned in pain. Lorenzo smiled sadistically:
"Alright, if you..."
Ivan interrupted, struggling to speak:
"No…."
Lorenzo felt rage. Ivan seemed finished. The boy was barely moving, barely breathing. Why wouldn't he surrender? Did he want to be killed? Didn't he feel fear? Lorenzo smiled with admiration, thinking of what he would do next.
Kai whispered Ivan's name weakly, trembling. Ivan looked at him. Kai's eyes widened seeing a faint, sad smile barely visible through the destruction on Ivan's face. Ivan whispered sadly:
"I… s…or…ry…"
Kai shook his head, unable to scream or stand. He saw Ivan smile at him like that while he was collapsing in front of him, powerless.
Lorenzo spoke calmly, yet more madly:
"Alright, let's try something new…"
Kai looked at his father, unsure what he intended to do with Ivan, who closed his eyes slowly. Kai shook his head pleadingly. The words got stuck in his throat, full of grief and sorrow; he just shook his head beggingly in front of his father, who smiled sadistically.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned—Giovanni had swallowed hard in fear:
"Sir…"
Lorenzo snapped sharply:
"What…?"
Giovanni hesitated, standing before him, speaking clearly for everyone:
"The boy fainted. I think this is enough…"
Kai was stunned, staring at them. Lorenzo smiled beside him, pulling one of his hands back:
"Didn't I ask no one to intervene…?"
Giovanni swallowed:
"Sir… the boy has lost and this…"
He stopped, no one realized what had happened. Lorenzo had thrust a knife into Giovanni's side in a split second. Giovanni's eyes widened in shock as he realized it. Lorenzo placed his other hand on his shoulder, whispering in his ear:
"You shouldn't have interfered…"
Kai's eyes widened in terror as he saw his father pull the knife from Giovanni's body and push him aside. The knife dripped blood. Giovanni held his side with both hands, shocked, not expecting to be stabbed. Blood stained the marble as he tried to control his breathing and stop the bleeding, while the guard remained unmoved.
Kai crawled toward the unconscious Ivan, trying to act as a barrier between him and his father, who sat looking at him with a mad smile. Kai shook his head in denial, holding his hand out, knowing his father might thrust that knife into Ivan's heart and begin tearing him apart. He knew his father well. His father's eyes were fixed on him as if telling him what he would do this time. Tears gathered in his eyes, fear that his father would realize his nightmare—something he couldn't bear.
He bent toward his father, grabbing the arm holding the knife, screaming in plea:
"Please… stop!"
Seconds passed. Lorenzo's eyes widened in shock. He lowered his head to look at Kai, who was crying and holding the arm. His tears soaked the arm. He loosened his grip, letting the knife fall.
For a moment, Lorenzo thought he had killed Ivan. He looked at the body behind Kai—he was breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead. His eyes were closed, but he was certainly not dead. Kai kept holding his arm with both hands, tears falling heavily, whispering again in a crying voice, embracing the arm tightly:
"Father…"
Lorenzo looked at Kai in shock. When he found no reaction from him, he let go of the arm and hugged him tightly, burying his face in his chest while trembling, whispering in plea:
"Please… Father…"