42 - Treason

-Did you know? Since that day did you know? And you didn't tell me?

Nick released himself from his brother's grasp without feeling intimidated. Yes, he had felt terrible for running away from his family with the secret kept with him, but he had promised his sister-in-law not to say anything.

"I didn't want Helena to be hurt," he exclaimed defiantly.

Ivan stepped back in bewilderment. He felt his insides churn and bile rise fiercely in his throat.

“All this time… Helena had carried my son in her womb and he had been so blind that he had not been able to realize it” He thought as he felt his legs go weak from the shock.

He looked with his black eyes full of pain towards his brother.

"Did you really think I was capable of harming them?" He asked desperately, fearing the answer.

Nick could see the terror in Ivan's eyes and relaxed his shoulders, sighing heavily.

-Ivan... I am sure that behind that shell that surrounds you there is a big heart, I know that everything you do is not for you, but for me and for Helena... - he said softly, making his brother look down sadly- It wasn't because of you that I did it... it was because of father.

The raven young man looked up at Nick.

-Would I really be able to...?

He couldn't finish speaking when an unexpected voice interrupted him.

-Your brother is right Ivan, he did well to run away-

His father's voice made made them jump in place. They both turned towards the door where the imposing man who had always intimidated them since they were little was standing.

-You…. "Did you know that too?" Ivan growled, pushing Nick aside to approach his father. But before he could get an inch closer and give him the good blow he deserved, two of Mr. White's men stood in front of his boss, protecting him from his own son. "Move," he threatened, squeezing his hands tightly. grinders.

"Of course I knew it," the man exclaimed shamelessly. "We all knew it, except you," he mocked.

Ivan tried to go to his father and attack him, but Nick held him by the shoulders and the bodyguards stood as firm as a wall.

-Now are you also going to go against your own son?

-You have left me no choice, son.

The man made a sign with his hands and quickly both men grabbed his eldest son by the arms.

-What do they do?! "Let go of me!?" He shouted, trying to get out of the grip.

-Let him go!- Nick pleaded, but no one listened to him.

"You have disappointed me time and time again, son," Mr. White exclaimed as he approached Ivan. "But no more, it's a shame, I had given you the opportunity to do things right, I left my entire empire in your hands." hands, I trusted you and the only thing you did was lower my profits and impregnate the enemy's daughter- He mocked.

-If you put a finger on her...

"Don't worry, son, I'm not going to do anything to her... she herself is going to come and beg on her knees for mercy," he mocked.

The man's old, dark eyes rested on his youngest son, who backed away, intimidated by the limitless evil of his father.

-Now you are my hope, child... I hope you are not as incompetent as your brother.

-Leave it alone! "He has nothing to do with all this!" Ivan shouted.

-He is a White and although he has let him live in his fairy tale these last few years, he is done. Now he has responsibilities that you were not able to fulfill. - The man took his eldest son's face and forced him to look him in the eyes - Let it be clear that if I do this it is your fault, I promised that I would leave Nick away from the business. "If you did your part well... but you failed," he exclaimed, forcefully releasing his face.

"You," he looked at Nick, "you're coming with me, there's a lot we need to discuss."

"Don't even think about it," he said, stepping back once again. Regretting having returned home.

The man laughed loudly, mocking the youngest of his children.

-That's what I imagined. You are tough, just like I am with my father. But you're going to change... -she turned towards the door- Now come with me... unless you want your brother to suffer.

Nick looked at Ivan desperately. His older brother tried in vain to break free from the grasp of the men much larger than him.

Ivan didn't want to see his brother, he was ashamed. His father was right, he had failed, he had failed to protect Nick. And now Helena's life and her son's life were in danger only because of her.

Nick tried to exchange glances with his brother, but he avoided her.

Disappointed, the young man lowered his gaze and followed his father with his head down.

---

Helena was putting everything she needed into a maternity bag to welcome her son into the world tomorrow, just when her cell phone rang. The young woman froze in her place, she had taken the trouble to block Ivan and restrict unknown calls so that no one from Grupo Sol would try to contact her.

She alone had it to talk to Erik if he left the house or if she ever got up the courage to talk to her uncle or her friend.

She approached the cell phone nervously, thinking the worst. When she saw the number was Nick's. She thought about it for a moment before answering.

She really had tried the last few months to get away from the Whites as much as possible. But with the youngest of the clan it was different, he was different from his brother and his father, he did not deserve to be ignored.

She also had to admit that he had missed him all that time, she had wondered again and again if he had managed to rebuild his life away from the Sol Group.

Excited to hear the young man's good news, she picked up the call.

-Nick? -She spoke with a little distrust.

-Helena!-The unmistakable voice of her brother-in-law sounded on the other side-So long! I thought you weren't going to help me...

Helena released a relaxed giggle and slowly sat up on the bed, holding the giant belly that made all her movements difficult.

-Tell me Nick... How have you been? What has been of your life?

-I would love to tell you everything and for you to do it too... How about we meet and catch up?

-I would love Nick... but you know- she smiled shyly as she caressed her belly-Tomorrow is the big day, I have to go to the clinic to receive my child.

There was silence on the other end and for a moment she thought the call had been disconnected.

"I... I thought he was already an uncle," he finally said, making Helena laugh.

"Almost..." she answered, amused.

-And who is going to be there to accompany you? - He sounded worried.

-With Erik… Erik Black. He…. He's my brother.

-Clear….

-I know, I know he seems crazy but he is.

-I'm really worried, you know? I have been since I left, I should have insisted more on you coming with me.

Helena smiled to herself, even though Nick couldn't see it.

"How about I go to the clinic?" The young man exclaimed. "To keep you company, I want to be there for you, you know... to help you and that..." he said, swallowing his nervousness although Helena didn't notice.

Helena looked towards the open door of the room, fearing that Erik would hear the conversation.

-I don't know Nick... you know...

-I know… -He interrupted her- But you know that I no longer have anything to do with that family, not anymore….

Helena took a moment to think it over. She was really scared by the birth, that Ivan was not there at that important moment in her life hurt her too much. Not being able to tell her uncle or her best friend also hurt, she couldn't put their lives in danger, not until things calmed down.

"It's okay," she finally said. Nick's company would be very helpful. Also, if there were two of her, they could take turns with Erik to be with her. –I will send you the address of the clinic.

43 - Im Sorry

"Are you ready, Helena?" Erik asked, taking his own bag with his personal things, without realizing that he hadn't closed the zipper and everything inside fell all over the living room floor. "Shit..." he exclaimed, bending down.

Helena, who was sitting on the couch along with her maternity bag and comfortable pajama clothes, couldn't help but laugh. Although she wanted to help, it would be impossible to bend down with the weight of her belly.

-Are you nervous, Erik? -She mocked.

The young man snorted as he put everything into his bag.

-I would be lying if I said no, I never thought about having children and I thought that then I would never have to be around something like that... -he exclaimed, closing his eye- These things really scare me.

-Erik, you're not helping...- she exclaimed annoyed.

-Sorry! But just thinking about it, the needles, the surgery...and...and...

"Stop it!" the young woman screamed. "Besides, you're not going to be there."

-Even so!-He said nervously. Then he took a deep breath and placed his backpack on his back and took Helena's bag, who was looking at him with an unfriendly face. "Okay, I've gotten it off my chest, I won't say anything more."

-Good- Helena smiled- Now help me up.

Erik took her arm and they both left the cabin where the car that would take them to the clinic was waiting for them.

Erik didn't say anything else, he didn't want to tell his sister that he was very scared, not only because the birth would have complications, but because while they were there they would be vulnerable to the Sol Group.

Yes, he had put all of his men guarding the clinic, but he was still very nervous.

He turned to her sister, and as best she could she smiled at him to encourage him, receiving a nervous smile from her.

"Everything is going to be fine," she exclaimed, begging for it to be so.

---

Nick was walking towards the car that was waiting for him at the entrance to his family's mansion. His father walked next to him holding a very expensive cane.

"Remember why you do this, son," his father said.

Before Nick got into the car he turned towards the house and looked at the second floor windows one by one, wondering in which of all those rooms his brother was imprisoned by his own father.

He felt the man's hand pressing on his back to get him into the car at once and he did.

The man leaned toward his son, showing his old, smiling face inside the car.

"Remember the plan and remember that you are a White, don't forget it," he said, closing the door in his face.

Mr. White hit the roof of the car and the driver took off, leaving with his bodyguard towards the clinic where Helena was about to give birth.

After a tortuous journey, they finally arrived, parking a little far from the clinic. His father's men were not stupid, they knew that his enemies would be surrounding the entire establishment to protect the brothers.

"I'll go first," Nick informed them, following the plan as his father had told him.

It was obeying or having his brother become just a memory.

---

Erik was at the reception with his sister when his cell phone rang. He took the call without flinching while Helena watched him out of the corner of her eye and surreptitiously. He could see how his brother's face paled as he listened to what they were saying on the other side.

"Okay, I'm going there," he exclaimed, cutting off the call.

-Who was?

"Nothing important," she lied.

-It's about Nick, right?

Erik couldn't help but be surprised by that.

-H-how do you know?-

-Okay Erik, let him pass, I told him to come.

"No, no way," he growled, remembering the grudge he had with the Whites.

"Erik, Nick is your friend, you yourself know that he is not like Ivan and his father... he no longer wants to have anything to do with them," he said softly.

-Even so…

"Please," he begged with his bright honey-colored eyes. "I want him to be here..."

Erik sighed exhaustedly, he knew that he had a weakness for his older sister, feeling like a miserable only child for so many years and suddenly knowing that he had a sister had been the best news of his life. Now he felt like he couldn't say no to anything she asked of him. He was lost.

Erik took his cell phone and dialed a number.

-Okay, tell him to come to the reception. Yes, I'm sure, just don't let your guard down...-he ordered, cutting the call.

Helena smiled widely and sat in the waiting room awaiting the arrival of her brother-in-law. On the other hand, Erik couldn't sit still, he kept looking in all directions with paranoia, fearing an ambush at any moment.

-Helena!-Erik turned towards the voice that he knew perfectly.

He couldn't help but become defensive, clenching his fists as Nick approached them. But when he saw his friend's face and his wide, bright smile, his fists unclenched. He had always set Nick apart from his family, he had been a great friend of his all his life. He saw beyond his last name.

"Hello Nick!" the young woman exclaimed happily.

Nick waved at her.

-But he just looks at that belly! -He exclaimed happily. Then he timidly looked at his friend.

-Hello Erik…

"Nick," she said.

-I know you don't trust me and I understand it. – He began to say – But believe me, I am not like them….

Nick felt shit about lying to their faces. He looked at his friend's belly and her radiant smile, and prayed that they would ever forgive him for his betrayal.

They couldn't say anything else because a nurse came over with a wheelchair for the young woman.

-Are you ready miss?

Erik and Nick looked at each other before helping her into the chair.

"Ready," she said with emotion as the three walked towards the maternity section along with two other bodyguards that Nick knew he had to get rid of to continue with his perverted father's plan.

---

Erik was sitting on a stool in the maternity waiting room while he waited for news about Helena. In front of him stood two bodyguards, one on each side of the surgery.

Nick arrived with a cardboard tray with four coffees.

"Here... you need it," he exclaimed, placing the glass of steaming coffee in front of Erik's face.

The young man removed his hands from his house and looked up at his friend, who was smiling sideways. He looked at the glass and wrapped it in his hands, feeling the comforting warmth of the drink.

"Thank you..." he murmured, taking a sip of coffee.

-A lot is missing?

"I shouldn't… they must be finishing already," he exclaimed thoughtfully.

Nick approached the men and handed them two coffees.

The bodyguards seemed unfazed by the glasses in front of them, completely ignoring the young man.

-Okay, drink some, it's going to be a long night.

The men obeyed and drank their coffees, nodding their heads in gratitude.

Nick sat next to Erik and silently watched him drink every last drop of coffee.

"Everything is going to be fine," Nick exclaimed.

Erik didn't say anything. That phrase was beginning to make no sense to him. Everyone said that, even himself. But would everything really turn out well? Until he was back with Helena and the child, far away from there and away from danger, he would not feel calm.

He suddenly began to feel the edges of his vision turn black and a tiredness overwhelmed him. He looked up and rubbed his eyes hard against his heavy eyelids. He watched in bewilderment as both men slid down the wall until they were sitting limp on the floor.

"What do I..." he could barely say, his tongue feeling numb.

He shifted his blurry gaze toward Nick, meeting a look of…

Blame?

-That…?

"I'm sorry, Erik," he exclaimed with a broken voice. "I'm very sorry."

The last thing the young Black saw before falling unconscious was the face of his friend with her eyes full of tears.