Stories

*Sandra* 

I helped Joseph clean up the floor, still breathless from the aftershocks. He watched me as I moved, concern on his face. “What?” I said, curiosity getting the best of me. He didn't answer me immediately, just continued to watch me. I started to think maybe his look was not about me. “What is so bad about finding out you may have family?” I asked, boldly. Joseph looked away for a moment, his jaw tightening as if wrestling with words he wasn’t ready to say. “It’s not just about finding family,” he finally responded, his voice low and weighted. “It’s about what that family might bring with it—baggage, enemies, truths I don’t even know if I want to face.” He ran a hand through his hair, the frustration barely contained in the sharp movements. I stepped closer, hoping my presence might be a quiet reassurance. I gently placed a hand on his arm. “You don’t have to face it alone, Joseph,” I said softly, my touch grounding him in a way that nothing else could. He glanced down at me, the storm in his eyes momentarily calming, and nodded. “I know,” he admitted, his voice softer this time, almost vulnerable. “But there’s a part of me that’s afraid of how this will change everything—us, the Brotherhood, the life we’ve built.” My grip on his arm tightened ever so slightly, my gaze unwavering. “Nothing will change what’s real between us,” I stated firmly, my conviction steadying him. I couldn’t understand why he felt this would change so much. Joseph inhaled deeply, allowing my words to settle within him before looking out toward the window, I knew he was already calculating the next steps he’d have to take. 

Joseph turned back to me, his eyes steady now, as if he'd decided in the space of a breath. “Whatever comes of this,” he said, his voice tinged with both resolve and tenderness, “I need you to know that you are my compass. No matter what truths or shadows emerge, I’ll navigate them for us—for you.” The weight of his words settled over me, not as a burden but as a promise, and I felt a stir of strength within myself, as though his resolve had ignited something in me. As the distant hum of the city outside faded into the quiet of the room, I realized that we stood together not just against the uncertainty of his past but in the unwavering certainty of our future. With a silent nod, I leaned into him, letting the warmth of his embrace remind me that no matter the storm, we had already built a foundation strong enough to withstand it. In such a short time, the trust and respect between us has soared to heights I had never experienced. We stood there, his arms around me, and mine around him. I listened as his heart slowed before his phone rang and he had to let me go. He answered, “You did what?” He said into the phone just after answering it. “Yes, fuck, fine, okay.” His words sounded rushed and worried. He slammed the phone down on his desk causing me to jump. After the time I have spent with him, you would think those things wouldn’t trigger me anymore, but they do.  

Joseph noticed me flinch and immediately tried to calm himself. “It’s okay. I know you are upset. Who was that?” I wanted to comfort him, I knew he was having such a hard time with all of this. “Zeus. He went back and talked to that woman. Took Henry with him.” I nodded, waiting for what was so upsetting, “apparently the news was worse than we thought, and the inner circle needs an immediate meeting.” Joseph’s jaw tightened as he paced the room, his mind racing through the implications of Zeus’s call. He had expected complications, but the urgency in Zeus’s tone suggested something far more dangerous than he had initially feared. I remained quiet, my gaze fixed on him, offering silent support as he wrestled with the weight of what was unfolding. “I need to know everything before the meeting,” Joseph muttered, his words clipped, as though speaking them aloud might help him corral the chaos brewing in his thoughts. He grabbed his phone again, his fingers moving swiftly as he messaged the inner circle to convene. I stepped forward, my gentle hand on his arm halting his movements for a moment. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, doing my best to anchor him. He nodded, his shoulders easing slightly under the weight of my reassurance, but his eyes betrayed the storm still churning within. As he moved toward the door, readying himself to confront the truths Zeus had unearthed, I followed, using my presence as a quiet reminder that he was no longer alone in bearing the burdens of his past or the legacy of the Brotherhood. Whatever the meeting revealed, whatever shadows emerged, I wanted Joseph to know he would face them head-on, with me at his side and a resolve that refused to waver. Together, we would navigate the labyrinth of what was to come, unyielding in our commitment to protect the life he had built and the future we envisioned. 

When Zues arrived, he walked straight past Jospeh into the office. Once they were all inside, he shut the door. Joseph sat at the desk, and I sat down in the chair he had put for me. He made a motion to make sure everyone had their comms out and off. This must be important. He is afraid someone will pick it up somehow through the comms. “I went to Rachele’s bridal gown shop, and she told me who your father is. I don't know if it is true, it is honestly hard to believe, but it is what she said.” Zeus held up and manilla envelope. “In this envelope is information on that very man, what she had anyway. She told us that there is more information in there, including information that proves what she is stating.” He reached the envelop to Joseph and sat back down. “She said this man was going to come for us, but she wouldn’t say why. She said it was all in the envelope. When he was with your mother, he told her his name was Nick, but he lied. He told her mother his name was Darren, that was a lie as well. Your mother did believe he had died, or disappeared boss, she didn't lie to you. He disappeared. The man she knew, I don't think he ever existed. I believe she was a cover for him, and he left before you were born.” Zeus took a deep breath; he was talking so fast that he ran out of air.  

It got quiet for a few moments as everyone took in the information they had heard so far. I watched as henry shifted in his chair and shook his leg. “I think it’s best that we go through that envelope with a fine-tooth comb before we believe anything or take it seriously, but if she is right, our problem must be kept in house. We must be smart about how we handle this information.” Henry added while Zeus caught his breath. Joseph pulled the papers from inside the folder. There was a paper stack about 25 pages or so attached to a stack of photos with a rubber band. He looked down at the mess he had now placed on his desk and didn't speak. It was eerily quiet for a few minutes before he looked up. Joseph looked from Zeus to Henry, confused, “Who the hell is it?”   Henry stood up, “Boss, she said your father was the Dragon.”