Richie sighs rubbing his eyes as he feels tired, he yawns before getting up from his seat. Walking out of the room he makes a beeline to the kitchen.
"Thank God" he speaks seeing Rustic at the kitchen.
"Thank mom, she made me stay" Rustic grumbles as he puts the packet of flour inside the cabinet.
"Well I will be sure to" he winks as he checks on what his son was cooking.
"Can I get a cup of coffee?" Richie asks before hissing as Rustic hits his hand with the spoon.
"Either you cook or let me finish before anything goes in your mouth"
"Sure thing, little daddy" Richie grumbles.
"Do not call me that, if you do not realize it because of me you are still alive" he grumbles as he checks on his food.
"And how is that?" he asks before holding the cup Rustic passes on.
"If it was not for me who would feed you"
"Ah, right" he nods.
"And because of you, I am not allowed to see my sister"
"I have not got to see her as well" he adds.
"And whose fault is it" Rustic glares at his father who raises his hand in defense.
"It's always me who has to do everything around in here, washing, cooking, cleaning and feeding you. Next time ask one of your other sons" he snaps before he closes the gas and Richie chuckles.
"Well, I do appreciate it" Richie grins.
"Why did you never tell us that we have a sister?" Rustic asks his father who sighs putting the cup down.
"Just know you would not have a sister if I did" he replies.
"Still, all these years why? I mean if we can bring her back now, maybe we could have brought her back soon, why now dad?" Rustic asks making Richie stares at the cup before a bittersweet smile appears in his face.
"I sent your sister away to protect her but when I went to bring her back someone else had a liking to her"
"What?"
"Let's just say Flora refused to let your sister go, one of her sons was infatuated with her" he sighs shaking his head.
"So, you just let her go because she said no?" Rustic stares at his father in disbelief.
"Yeah" he nods his head and Rustic narrows his eyes at his father's easy reply.
"What are you hiding dad, it's unlike you. You have taught us to make our mistakes and fight for what we feel right but you...you just so easily gave on our sister...why?" he asks, and Richie silently sips on the coffee.
"If I fought to bring Lilac back home, they would have taken away Richard. And, there was no assurance that both of them would be back alive to us...it was better this way...
I would rather have her alive"
"Even if she may have been treated as slave?" Rustic asks.
"It does not matter now, what's past is past" Richie waves his hand as he turns to walk towards his study room.
"But why can you not move away from past" Rustic demands making his father stop.
"What?"
"You have been holed up in that room as soon as mom has been gone, you have been keeping track of that woman have you not?
And don't tell it's for Richard" he speaks.
"Have you been snooping around?" Richie narrows his eyes.
"I am not a kid anymore dad, I can see and make sense of things now. For the past few days there are enormous amount of deliveries being done in your name I don't know what is in the boxes and envelopes, but I did see a name...
Lena, in one of the parcels and that's Richard's mom's name. Are you leaving my mom?" he asks and Richie stares at his son's face for a moment before he starts to laugh aloud.
"Just call me when the dinner is ready" he waves his hands as he walks inside of the room laughing.
"I will poison the food if you are planning to leave mom" he shouts, and Richie's laughter gets even louder.
"Old bastard"Â Rustic grumbles as he turns to continue to finish the dinner.
*******
Ricardo touches Richard's shoulder as the man finishes the call and he turn to face his brother.
"Everything okay?" Ricardo asks and Richard sighs shaking his head.
"It was Rustic, he says dad has been acting weird and locked himself in the study. Just gets out for coffee or food and he does not like being treated like the housemaid...
He wants one of us to come back home, so he can have some peace time"
"What's dad busy with?" Ricardo narrows his eyes.
"He has been getting a lot of mails delivered in his name lately and one of the mails had the name Lena, so he asked dad but all he did was wave him off"
"Did he check the mails?" Ricardo asks and Richard shakes his head no.
"Okay, just few more days then we all can go back home" Ricardo smiles.
"Maybe I should go, check on him. Ry is here, you don't need me, I think one of us is enough" Richard states and Ricardo sighs as he squeezes Richard's shoulder.
"Fine. We will be back once Ry and Laura's marriage proposal gets a green light. Check on dad and don't let Rust go too crazy...
And less junk food" he orders making Richard chuckle.
"I don't know shit about kitchen, and it's been years dad cooked so, our only hope is Rust"
"He has been wanting a new car, I was thinking to buy him one for his birthday but..."
"He is one expensive cook" Richard grins.
"He is keeping dad alive so" Ricardo chuckles.
"Yeah" Richard agrees.
*******
Richie pushes his specks a bit higher before he goes through the papers before he pulls out the documents out, he frowns as he picks up the old newspapers and reads the elements on it.
"Old man, the dinner is ready, and Rich is coming back home first thing in the morning" Rustic informs as he walks in the room with a tray.
"Did you just call your brother and snitch me?" Richie asks staring at his son in disbelief.
"Yep" Rustic shrugs his shoulder.
"Unbelievable" Richie groans as he starts to collect the papers and puts it in the clear bag.
"I want mom to have my custody though" he states munching on his dinner.
"You are too old for us to fight for your custody" he sighs.
"Oh well then, I want this house, when mom leaves you"
"I am not leaving your mom" Richie grits through his teeth.
"Because she is a good cook" Rustic deadpans.
"You know what, your mom can keep you. So, don't show me your face" he warns and Rustic gasps.
"I knew you were divorcing mom after all these years of feeding you"
"Shut up Rust"
"I am calling mom"
"Don't you dare" Richie warns and Rustic grins.
"Only if you tell me what you are up to" he asks.
*******
Richard picks up his bag as he walks out of the room he was staying at, he walks towards the elevator and gets in before pressing the floor number. He waits for the door to close and just as it goes to shut a familiar figure walks past him.
Richard stands frozen not believing his eyes as the elevator door shuts and it move down, he gets over the shock before pressing the stop button of the elevator. He walks out of the elevator and looks around for exit. He runs towards the staircase before he runs upstairs back to the floor, he was staying it.
Slamming the door open Richard looks around frantically searching for the person, he stops breathing hard as he finally finds who he was looking for and he cannot believe his eyes as it was her.
"Mama" he breaths feeling nostalgic as he follows the woman, he wants to scream for her, but words gets closed in his mouth.
But before he can call for her, she stops and stands at a door before she puts the keycard in and walks inside of the room locking the door, so he hurries to the door only to stop as he sees the door number.
*******
Alana puts the flower her daughter brought on the vase and touches smiling as she smells it once again, turning around she walks towards her drawer to pull out her jewelries.
She hums a song feeling happy after her meeting with her daughter she cannot believe she had a daughter who was so beautiful and perfect. But the thought of Lilac not being in her life for so many years makes sadness fill in her heart as her mind races to her husband.
One she has not called for days and who has not called to even ask if she was doing fine. She promises to make her husband pay for what he did once she gets back home but before that she needs to finalize Ryman's bride.
Pulling her earring out, Alana puts it in the box before she goes to unlock her necklace. She pulls out the pins from her hair and let it flow down.
"Someone is in good mood" a voice makes her turn at once startled before she gasps at the woman in front of her.
"You"
"Hello Alana, it's been a while" Lena smiles as she points a gun at Alana.
*******
"What are you doing here?" Alana asks shocked to see Lena after such a long time.
"What not happy to see me or is it this?" Lena asks shaking the gun.
"How did you get in?" Alana demands.
"The keys, it's easier to get in and our when you work here" Lena grins making Alana narrow her eyes.
"Work here?" Alana asks and Lena looks around the room before she sits on the bed.
"Comfy yeah? I have been dreaming of the day when I will be able to see you again and the day has finally arrived" she grins.
"What do you want?"
"Oh, not much just you in a coffin? While I have been working day and night as slave you have been enjoying everything that should have been mine" she shouts hitting her hand on the bed.
"What do you mean?"
"These sheets you have been sleeping on do you know who washes it? Me, these clean floors you walk on is polished by me...
All these luxuries that should have belonged to me all ruined by you...
When I heard Liam talk about you all being in this hotel I could not believe, for a second I was stunned but then I realized all these years of being treated as a slave to this family I was finally given a chance to get my revenge on you" she growls as she gets up from the bed.
"Wait, what do you mean? You work here?"
"Yes" Lena speaks before she pulls her cloth a bit before revealing a mark and Alana shudders.
"The mark of Lucero's, this is what happens when you are a slave to them. They mark you with their family stamp, burning your body, the pain the screams mean nothing to them until the mark is settled and your life is forever in their hands...
This is what I have been from the moment you send me away, Spencer, he promised me a life full of luxuries, but I was theft of my own identity and things got even worse after Salvatore died...
All the slaves were called back to the mansion and we had to live there with new set of rules. That bitch, Flora Lucero, if my life was not already a mess, she made it worse...
I have been working my ass off to survive, these hands that should have been soft are dry and cracked" she shouts as she shows her wrinkled hands before she walks towards Alana and holds her hands.
"Lena, calm down" Alana tries to make her see but the woman shakes her head looking wild.
"You have everything and look at me, you took it away from me"
"Lena, how can I take anything away from you?"
"You took Richie and then Richard. Oh, I had this perfect plan set but you ruined it all, why did you had to forgive him? Why?" she screams.
"Then you sent me away, but I came back, came back to ruin the perfect motherly figure you had in Richard head, my son...
Poor little boy, he thought I was back for him, I would have been if he was not so in love with his dear mommy...
It took me months before I could make him go against him, yet he came back crying not wanting to be a bad boy, wanting to just stop making you cry, until he too pushed me away...
He wanted to stay with me and stop hurting you but where would I take him when he was my return ticket to Richie's life...
But before I could do more, Richie was in to, I had to run away before my secrets were out. You are one lucky bitch" Lena sneers as she pulls the gun towards Alana once again.
*******
Liam stops the car as his phone starts to ring, he checks the name before a frown forms in his head. He turns to face Lilac who was half asleep on the car seat.
"Hey, what is it?" Liam asks as he pulls his jacket from the back seat and puts over Lilac.
"Did you see my gun?" Lorenzo's voice makes Liam frown.
"Your what?" he asks again.
"My gun, I left it at the drawer but it's not here"
"I did not touch anything. Did you check it properly?" he asks.
"Yeah but it's gone, you and Leif were the only ones who used the office today and I checked all the drawers"
"Was it loaded?" Liam asks and Lorenzo sighs.
"Bloody hell, bro. What have we told about loaded guns?"
"I know, I know. I just forgot to put it away"
"Fine, hold on a sec I am on my way back. Ask the security to check all the staff, maybe the cleaners put it somewhere and you just wish it's not used...
Else my belt and your skin will have an up-close personal relation"
"I am not scared of you, big brother"
"You better be, little brother" Liam grins as he hears Lorenzo chuckles before he starts the car and turns back to the hotel.
"Umm, what?" Lilac wakes up as she looks around.
"We are going back to hotel, then going back home, rest for now. Because when we reach back home, I need to teach you some lessons" he smiles as he caresses her cheek.
"What?" her eyes widen.
"I am angry Lilac, I am very angry" he speaks and Lilac sighs.
"When are you not?" she mumbles, and he pinches her nose.
*******
Richard curses as he had heard enough, he tries to open the door but cannot, he pulls his phone out and dials his brother's number.
"Hey, did you reach the airport?" Ricardo asks.
"Mom's in trouble" he breaths as he steps away from the door in case he is heard.
"What?"
"Ma...Lena she is in mom's room and she has gun. The door is locked, and I don't know how to get in without startling them...
And I am afraid if I move then..."
"On my way"
"No, no, don't, don't hang up, please" Richard pleads.
"Keep talking" Ricardo whispers before he eyes Gabby who was laughing at the show she was watching.
"Babe be right back" Ricardo calls as he moves to get her phone.
"Where are you going?" she asks.
"Richard, he forgot his watch in his room, I am going to get it before it's lost"
"Oh, okay. Be back soon" she smiles as she continues to watch the show and Ricardo hurries as he locks the door and dials Leon's number.
"She, she used me to get to mom" Richard's words make Ricardo pause before he starts to rush towards his mother's room.
"Leon, it's Ricardo. Someone is in my mother's room with a gun and I need a key" Ricardo does not wait for him to speak before he rushes it.
"I am on my way, one of my brothers is in the hotel, let me get to him, stay on hold" Leon speaks before Leon contacts his brother.
"Ricardo, you there?"
"Yes?"
"Listen, I think I know whose gun that person is holding, my brother is on his way to your mother's room with a master key...
I am on my way as well" Leon assures before the line in off.
Ricardo stops running as he nears his mother's room to find Richard pacing the hall.
"Rick" Richard breathes in relief as he hugs his brother and Ricardo grabs the back of Richard's head.
"Pull yourself together" Ricardo asks, and Richard nods his head as he rubs his face.
"Russo" Lorenzo calls as he makes his way towards them.
"I am so sorry man" Lorenzo apologizes before Richard takes the card and unlocks the door and gets in.
*******
"Lena, calm down" Alana asks before she yelps as Lena fires.
"Don't ask me to calm down, you bitch" Lena screams as she aims once again at Alana.
"Please" Alana pleads.
"Beg me you bitch, beg me for your life" Lena shouts before a shot is fired and Alana gasps as she falls down on the floor wide-eyed.
The gun in Lena hands down with a thud before she coughs and touches her stomach as blood runs down, she turns around to find three men standing but before she could make who they were she falls down on the floor, cold fish dead.
"Mom" Ricardo whispers as he rushes to go to her and Alana sobs shivering while her eyes stay at Richard with his hands still in air with the gun, he fired the bullet with.
"Angel" Alana breathes as she stares at Lena's body.
"I am so sorry, my Angel" Alana cries burying her head on Ricardo's arms.
"Stay right there, Lilac, for god's sake" Liam shouts as he enters the room.
"Did you call someone?" Liam asks as he grabs his brother's shoulder.
"Leon asked not to, someone's on their way if any casualties" Lorenzo states before Liam checks on the scene.
"How the fuck did this happen?" Liam curses as he runs his hand through his hair before eyeing Richard.
Ricardo puts his mother on the bed before he walks towards Richard who was frozen with his eyes glued on Lena.
"Hey, hey, it's over. It's fine, Rich look at me" Ricardo whispers as he walks to his brother before slowly touching his hand and Richard jumps as he points the gun at Ricardo.
"It's okay, it's me" Ricardo whispers as he pulls the gun away from Richard's hand before pulling his brother in his arms.
"It's going to be fine" Ricardo whispers as he holds Richard, knowing well things will never be fine, not for a while.
Note: You all are welcome and let me boast that this version is wayyyyyyyyyyy better than last one...or?? Heheheheheheheeeeeeeeeeeee....am I not the best! I outdo my own self ah my brain and a big ego on going here ;)