Chapter 292

Marvin You killed Anya. You’re a killer.

One day had passed, but those words were on repeat, and I couldn’t get them out of my head. I was supposed to be angry, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t blame Tiago for reacting the way he did because I knew it was my fault.

“Are you still not moving on from yesterday?”

It was never my intention to harm Anya in any way, and I felt just as awful. “This is all because you baby him too much.” Panther stated as we made our way to the living room. “Ever since we were young, you’ve always let him boss you around-and this is what you’ve created.”

“I created?” I stopped in my steps and turned around to face Panther, seconds away from choking him. The downside of having your friend work for you was them thinking they could get away with every little thing.

“You know how unfair Mario has been, and I had no choice but to baby him!” I hissed in his face. “I give him the same treatment I give you, so the next time you want to talk about babying someone-

you should start by looking at yourself!”

Panther raised his hands in defense and brushed past me while I thought about Victor’s words.Could I really trust Panther? Wasn’t he supposed to follow me in my decisions?

“Marvin, why aren’t you in your wheelchair?” My mom approached me. She had a worried look on her face and placed her hands on my waist. “Panther, go get his wheelchair-”

“It’s fine, mom.” I pushed her off. If anyone was babying people in this house, it was my mom. “It’s time for me to pick up where I’ve left, and I think I can manage a few hours without that wheelchair.”

My mom frowned. “A few hours?” She raised her brow. “Where are you going?

“Out?”

“Yes, but where?”

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes to keep my calm. My mom’s behavior was the most challenging about my return from prison. The moment she had send me off, I was barely an adult. A lot of years had flown by but unfortunately, not for her.She was still stuck in the past.

“Okay, okay-I’m sorry!” My mom apologized. “It’s just that I want you to be careful, especially with the whole Danny Hernandez thing.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” I reassured her. I had lost my focus at the wedding because I felt obligated to protect Elena, but it wouldn’t happen a second time.

Despite having plans to visit her at work tonight, I had put my feelings aside, and I did it for a reason. I didn’t want to make a decision between Elena or my family ever again, and it shouldn’t have happened. She could be there as a friend because I treasured her friendship.

“Come on. There’s something I need to talk to you about.” My mom led us to the sofa. We sat down without giving each other a single glance and waited for my mom’s words. There was clearly a bit of tension between us.

“So, I heard you visited Tiago yesterday?” My mom asked. “Yes, I did.” I nodded, trying to ignore the image from my head.

“I know dad wants to send him to a mental facility, and I know I shouldn’t be asking this from my own son, but maybe you can talk him out of it-

“I’m sorry, a what?”

My mom’s news came as a surprise as I was not aware of it. Panther shot me a confused look while my mom seemed startled by my reaction. “He didn’t discuss it with you?” She whispered.

I balled my fist in anger. “No, he didn’t, no one did.”

I thought my dad and I were finally getting somewhere, but the only direction he was heading was Victor’s ass. Even now, I still had to live in his shadow.

“Mom, Tiago can’t go.” I shook my head. “I know.” My mom agreed.

Although I agreed that something was seriously wrong with Tiago and he needed all the help he could get, this was not it. The feeling of abandonment would only hurt him more, and Tiago was unpredictable.

“Mom, if the truth comes out about that night we can’t lose him.” I spoke, stressed. I didn’t give up years of my life, just for my dad and Victor to screw it up. My mom shrugged. “That’s what I told your dad.”

“So, what can we do to stop this?” Panther asked for the first time. During my time in prison, the person who cared for him the most was Panther, so it was understandable, “Maybe we can get him a therapist—”

“We can’t!” I snapped. One mistake could turn everything around, and I could not lose my brother.

“I’m sorry.” I apologized. “It’s just…I know he needs help, but we can’t. We really can’t.”

The thing which upset me the most was that Tiago had never been the same since the death of the DEA agent. He was in desperate need of help for several years but was forced to forget about it. He was forced to deal with his pain all by himself, and the only person he trusted was Anya.

“Please talk to your dad. He listens to you.”

My mom’s request sounded like a desperate plea for help. Going against Mario was beyond my power. The only reason why he let me take the lead on the Danny Hernandez matter was to protect my good name.

As long as Mario Castillo was still alive, no one else would be in charge.Not even Victor.

“I’ll try, mom,” I reassured her. It was an impossible case, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t try. She pulled me into a tight hug and thanked me over and over while all I could feel was guilt. All had I made were false promises.

I knew Mario didn’t care about Tiago spilling the truth or going to prison because he never cared about him anyway. Tiago, who had always been excluded in everything, didn’t know enough about the family business to throw us all under the bus, so the only person he could hurt was himself.

“You have fun tonight. I’ll leave you to it. My mom left the room. Panther shot me an unimpressed look and hummed in disapproval.

“What?”

“No, nothing.”

“No, what?”

Panther stretched out his arms and sank into the sofa. “The world would be a much better place if people were honest.” He yawned. “You should’ve told your mom straight up. We won’t be able to do anything for Tiago.”

“Oh, shut up!” I lost my patience. It might’ve been the truth, but I didn’t want to hear it.

“Who knows.” Panther continued. “Maybe it could be good for him, and don’t get me wrong-I’m just as scared as you are because, believe it or not, I do not want to lose Tiago.” He explained. “But we’ve already lost him, and I don’t think Tiago would want to go to prison either, so he’ll keep his mouth shut.”

“My brother will not go to a psychiatric hospital.” I explained calmly. “Tiago will stay right here, and I will make sure of it.”

Panther gulped, understanding the message. “I hear you.”

“Hear you about what?” Victor invited himself to the sofa. Panther and I shared a look as Victor looked back and forth between us. “Come on. I want to be part of the conversation.” He stuffed his mouth with some chips.

I was only a shotgun away from shooting holes through this man’s body.

“I think you know what I’m talking about.” I raised myself from the sofa and brushed off my hands.

“Hey, you’re not in your wheelchair,” Victor spoke with his mouth full, unaware of what I was about to do to him.

“Marvin, leave it.” Panther whispered, but all I could do was ignore him. “I’m talking about you and dad leaving Tiago to his fate.”

“Ah, the facility,” Victor spoke unbothered. “Yes, we weren’t sure at first-but after his ungrateful response towards my brother, we thought it might be good to get him some help-

“Help?” I muttered under my breath. “Please help me explain. Since when have any of you ever cared for Tiago’s health?”

Victor chuckled. “Marvin, Tiago is my brother.” He put on his best act. “Of course, I care about my brother’s health.”

That was it.

I lunged forward and grabbed Victor by his collar to drag him from the sofa. “Marvin.” Panther sighed.

“No, don’t Marvin me!” I looked into Victor’s eyes. The smirk on his lips bothered me the most. It showed me that he just simply didn’t care.

“What are you going to do? Hit me?” Victor challenged me. I had no idea who he had been dealing with for these past years, but he got the wrong one. Without giving it a second thought, I connected my fist with Victor’s jaw and punched him, but his beating was short-termed as Panther had already pulled me away.

“Marvin, this is not prison-you can’t behave like this.” Victor laughed, brushing his hand against his jaw. This man was sick. He was sick.”I know it’s been a long time, but this is not your cage, and out here in the real world-we don’t behave like animals.”

“He’s just trying to get to you. Let’s go.” Panther whispered. If anything, his reaction had surprised me the most. The same Panther who had always been ready for a good fight did not do a thing.

“Elena is waiting. Let’s go.”

The moment Panther mentioned Elena’s name, it was as if a feeling of calmness had washed over me. Just her name was enough to keep me from losing it, which was something strange and had never happened to me before.

This was why I needed her by my side as a friend. She was the key to my calmness-the key to my victory.

Panther’s words made sense, I made a promise to Elena and I did not want to keep her waiting.

“Victor,” 1 called out his name. “Hmm, yes?” He raised his brow with a confident smirk on his face.

“You and I.” I announced. “One day you will finally know your place in this household, but today is not that day.”