Chapter 2

"I just colour the truth a bit, that's all"

Nickolas' eyes went to Maddius with his little towel hanging off his hips to the small girl next to his landlord and his wife again. He blinked at the girl as if he couldn't believe she was real,

Maddius watched as the cop detangled himself from his wife and walked to the girl next to his landlord. The shock that registered in Margaret's face seeing her husband transition from her arms into another's. Maddius eyebrows rose, with a smirk he continued to watch the scene unfold.

"Leighton...fucking Travis!" Nicholas scaled the counter and pulled the girl in for a hug. . Margaret watched with a stricken expression as the girl pulled away and fist pumped the thirty something year old man. Too wrapped up in the girl the lieutenant forgot all about Maddius.

Clifford Travis, Maddius' landlord, watched Nickolas with a fatherly love as he swooped the girl into his arms one more time. He shot the girl lots of questions one after another. Margaret and Nickolas were married eight years now, and he never saw Nickolas more at ease - more smitten than he was in Leighton's presence. Nickolas was a hard quiet man. So Maddius was taken severely aback when this girl brought out the boyish charm in him. So was his wife as she watched them interact.

"Pops, you didn't tell me she was coming" he smiled magnanimously at his landlord, not a bit bothered by his entrance. Clifford looked severely uncomfortable by the subject of his daughter's return but casually played it off.

"Neither did you" Nickolas was a sharp man and didn't miss the dismissive tone in which Clifford spoke. Nevertheless he had some decency to have a bit of colour in his cheeks as he was referring to his wife and himself entrance earlier on. Clifford Travis, Maddius' landlord, raised one amused eyebrow as Nicholas' wife gave an indignant look and stomped out behind him.

"Well Margaret and I were out on a date and I - " he turned around, "do come in dear- dear?!" but Margret had already disappeared into the night. Coincidentally the cop and the lawyer were neighbors living next to each other on the same street.

"Margaret? Mar?! " he called, running a hand through his hair he cursed "Jesus! Leighton - Margret -I'll be back in the morning!" he ran out chasing his wife. He pulled her in for another hug and a quick chaste kiss on her cheek. Nickolas exchanged a few words discreetly with Clifford before he was on his way out to his wife. He gave me a brief nod before he left shutting the door firmly behind him.

"Let me carry the luggage up stairs, papa"

Maddius turned and watched the girl, she was small, young and pretty, even with the dark stressed out circles under her eyes. It seems that Clifford had an eye for the exotic women, his daughter looked mixed with a race that only existed outside the Americas. He watched Clifford the protective way he held the girl and found Clifford eyes on him watching him disapprovingly. He debated and thought, what the hell and stuck out his hand, "Maddius Piotre. I live here, sorry for the lack of clothes I wasn't expecting Mr. Travis to be back"

She shook his hand, gentle but firm, not a bit shy, "Leighton Travis" she eyed him warily like he was bad news, "you'll be seeing me around."

How peculiar, he mused to himself. Maddius watched as Leighton held her father's hand with great care and told him to go sit down while she carried up her luggage. He fought for a bit, half amused, "I'm not old yet Leighton I think I can carry some damned suitcases.." he muttered as he got his way.

Maddius watched the pair with quiet admiration. Maddius' father was a slightly unethical business man to the public and Clifford had qualms renting his basement to him at first but the large sum of money worked really well in his favor. It was sketchy but Maddius knew that the money went to his daughter who at the time was having difficulties with her marriage..

The following day Maddius went into the city to see his father. He went into the large corporate building that was a front for a whole lot of danger. Maddius lived with the Italians since he was ten years old. His parents died and the Don found him roaming around the street. He remembered the feeling of dread when the Don approached him. His father could have frightened the devil himself. He was tall, muscular, and his presence sent out alarm bells of danger, His face was in a constant mask of stoicness. The eyes were brown but lacked warmth that came with the stereotype. The lips were bow - shaped - cupid like, and his sons inherited it.

Don had a reputation for violence, he did not fear the police, he did not fear society and he did not fear neither God nor Hell. But he approached Maddius - smuggled into the country alone without parents, brought him to his home and took care of him like he would for his sons.

Rounding a corner, he saw his father's familiar wooden door. He knocked before and didn't place his hand on the handle until he heard a faint 'come in'.

Maddius greeted his father with a regal aspect. He quietly laid the newspaper on the table. The first page had Don's face on it and Maddius as he walked his father down the court steps, it spoke about his father's winnings in the court. To his father left was his eldest son, Luca. Luca Brazi was tall and was similarly built like his father, one would say - his carbon copy.

He often spent his time being his father's backbone and helping out, like his father he preferred the company of himself and spent several hours brooding and stuck in his head. He was married with three kids and a dog. Yeah, a dog. Maddius had a good laugh about that.

The middle son was in Nevada, the Don was looking into the casinos, he was baptized Fredrico, but everyone calls him Rico, except his father. He was the model Italian son. Quiet and loyal, and always helping his mother out in any way he can. The Don often worried about his masculinity but was short lived as he mentioned it to Luca.

Cigarette smoke filled Maddius' nostrils and he looked to his left. Johnee Brazi was looking through the shutters of the blinds and taking a drag from his cigarette. Now this was the stereotypical spoiled last child. Where the older two sons had inherited Don's reserved stoic nature, Johnee was quick tempered and ill mannered. There were several dinners growing up with the Brazi's where his father had dragged him out of the dining room by the scruff of his neck for cursing in front of his mother.

Despite this - Johnee always had a place in his father's heart. A soft spot. The man was handsome, witty, a thorough charmer, and the Don always enjoyed his company. He had many faults but if they didn't affect the Don's business he had turned a blind eye.

"Good job, Maddius son," Don looked at him and motioned with his hand to sit in the chair in front of his desk. The Don always greeted Maddius like a servant who had done him an enormous service and was very familiar. It was no secret that Maddius was second favorite to Luca, Maddius was never adopted, he just stayed with the family until he started to work for his father and moved out. He seemed like a brother to the others because of his intense vitality and loyalty to Don Brazi. From the age of twelve to now he had been their beloved youngest sibling

"How's the Family, Don?" Maddius made small talk. It was evident that the family was arguing prior to his entrance, probably about Johnee. He tried to lighten the air but his father watched him grimly before wetting his dry mouth and answering, "Immovable"

This meant something had happened. It's no secret that whenever anything was slightly off with the Family, somehow Johnee Brazi was the center of attention. But like any other matter Maddius chose to give Johnee the benefit of the doubt.

"Is there anything I could do to diffuse the situation, Don Brazi?" Maddius wasn't above getting his hands dirty ; growing up he had too because it was a sign to the Don that Maddius could handle himself in the real world but now Don wanted Maddius to keep his hands clean and not be affiliated with those sort of things. He had plans for Maddius down the road.

The Don shook his head no. Instead he gazed ahead, "Johnee wants to leave his wife. "

Luca cursed and Johnee took a bigger drag and ran a hand through his hair. Where all the Brazi children had similar black curly hair and brown eyes, medium height and possessed massive build; Maddius was tall and his black hair was so black it shined blue in the sunlight and his eyes were grey. Maddius never lost his Romanian accent and refused to change his last name.

Maddius knew why his younger brother wanted to leave his wife, he was like any other man who was in a happy stable household. There was someone new. So he did not ask why instead he asked, "Who is it you're leaving your wife for?"

Johnee wasn't exactly a 'faithful' modelled husband, he went around lots of broads and lots of broads chased him. His build attracted many broads to him and he knew this so he wore short sleeved shirts to show off his impressive forearms and biceps. He smoked, he gambled and he drank. But his marriage was imperative for the family because it was an alliance with another neighboring family so his callus rash decisions were going to affect everyone.

Soon the family were going to disregard the alliance formed with Brazi family because he blatantly fucked around with broads without thought and an all out war will ensue. It didn't help that his younger brother couldn't keep his hands to himself. Liza - Johnee's wife, was a sharp tongue woman so she didn't take her husband stepping out on her lightly. Johnee tolerated her jabs at him sober but when intoxicated he slapped her so hard she flew across the room. The Don was clearly trying to salvage the marriage.

He saw the flash of rage that passed through Johnee's face. Johnee liked to keep his business to himself. A private life or affairs - maybe both. Growing up Maddius always saw through him so they fought great many times .

The Don didn't care about that, what really made Johnee a man was his ability to take care of his children and see them well off. Johnee was hardly home and it wasn't because he was taking care of the Family's' business. Liza dared not ask for her father-in-law's help or her own Family's help; such help could lead to disastrous events - besides she still loved her husband.

With a sigh, the air palpable and stuffy. This was supposed to be a casual lunch with his father not this tense atmosphere. The deep in thought father got up, "Maddius, we will have to reschedule, I have to go to see an old friend now."

Maddius bowed his head as a sign of respect and shook the Don hands. "Thank you Don Brazi."

His brother and Maddius waited until the Don was out of the room before Luca lunged at his brother. Two hulks clashed before Luca had his brother in a choke hold, Johnee still struggling.

"We're coming to you, approaching you with the utmost courtesy" Maddius began, "I'm making it plain that I would not interfere with your personal matters if it didn't affect father's business."

"This is all this is, Johnee-boy -business" Luca momentarily eased his hold on his brother to tap him on his head - the brother tried to retaliate and reach for the holster on his pants. Quickly Maddius kicked his shins and Luca had him in his hold again. Reaching down Maddius to hastily disarm his brother.

"My advice is for the sake of your well-being and the Family's. Either you outright kill Liza, divorce her or promise to never ill-treat her again"

"Beatings pose a threat to the Don's business relationship and infidelity is not tolerated within the Families. An enraged wife can give certain mutilating information to the other Families - we wouldn't want that, now?" Luca got off him and straightened out his silver satin suit jacket. .

The Don had given Maddius a car to drop him off. Luca was accompanying him as well. During the drive he and Luca didn't speak and he suspected that both of them were thinking about Johnee's situation and how callous in hindsight they dealt with him. The driver dropped him off in front of the building steps. He told Luca to stay with him for a while.

They had the driver park in front of the building. Luca followed behind him as he bought a sandwich for his brother and himself. Luca scanned the area, his eyes skeptical as he sat down on a bench in front of the waterfront and ate. His brothers' form was stiff as he half expected to be ambushed any minute.

Curious thing, Maddius chuckled as he watched Leighton returning home with groceries when something caught her attention. She stood outside the dirty alleyway for almost thirty seconds deliberating. He watched as the gages turned in her head, slowly with calculating movements she jogged up the steps and secured her grocery and returned to the alley way.

Maddius waited five minutes before he heard a bang. He felt an ominous strike of fear in his stomach as he waited with his tongue stuck in his throat. A few deadly moments passed and a body stumbled out and into the main road, there were sounds as drivers hit the brakes and yelled. The man stumbled across the road and Leighton emerged looking disheveled. Her movements were deadly as she stalked up to the man, sending him a kick that had him hunching over on his knees.

Maddius eyebrows rose and he let out a laugh as he watched a man twice the size of a girl get his ass handed to him. There wasn't any strategic way in which she was punching; she was just throwing punches dirtily and bouncing on the balls of her feet. The fat man was slow so she dodged his punches easily and upper cut him now and then. An old fashioned kick ass in the middle of the street, he laughed. She was gaining spectators. Even Luca Brazi was watching the scene unfold, leaned forward in his seat looking entertained. Maddius was wondering why no one pulled her away from him. Soon people stood beside Maddius and his brother.

His landlord, Clifford came out to see the commotion and leaned forward on the porch watching with mirth within his eyes munching on something while the scene played out. He sported a knowing grin on his face.

"Is that the woman you're living with?" Luca asked humorously, "She looks like a handful" he noted. His eyes were bright with delight as he watched. There was a shout before Nickolas Caphrey pulled her away. Slowly the crowd dispersed but the small group stayed where Maddius and Luca sat, their ears opened for any string of information that could be useful.

"Leighton Travis - you aren't twelve anymore you can't be causing a scene in the streets- fighting of all things!!" Nick held on to her and was firm.

"That's the same ol' Leighton for you" He heard members of the crowd say and laughed knowingly.

"Why Margaret has her same ol' competition back in town" another one laughed as a group had handled near Luca and Maddius. Leighton broke free from Caphrey's held and glanced around her eyes locked with Maddius and she licked her lips, Maddius was familiar with the gaze, often when women gazed at him he felt an image of him was imprinted in their but with this particular he felt her undressing Maddius with her eyes he felt naked. Leighton broke free from Nickolas' hold and went back to the alley. She returned with her arms filled with fur -

"All that commotion over a fucking dog??"