The night air was quiet.
Pacho sat on the curb, a few streets away from the mansion.
Head lowered.
Hands clenched between his knees.
His shoulders trembled, but no sound came out.
Just silent tears falling onto the ground.
Maxim's voice echoed in his head
"You're not even a complete boy…"
"You're pathetic…"
"No wonder no one wants you…"
Pacho shut his eyes tightly.
Like he could block it out.
But it only got louder.
"…Maybe he's right…" he whispered weakly.
His voice broke.
"I ruin everything…"
His chest tightened.
And this time
He couldn't hold it back.
A broken sob escaped.
Painful.
Real.
Footsteps approached him.
Pacho didn't look up.
Didn't want to be seen like this.
The footsteps then stopped in front of him.
Pacho wiped his face quickly, trying to compose himself.
"I'm fine…" he muttered. "Just go"
No response.
That was when he looked up.
Carlos.
Standing there.
Still.
Watching.
His eyes moved over Pacho's face.
The tears.
The trembling.
The pain he was trying and failing to hide.
Carlos said nothing.
Not a single word.
But something in his expression changed.
Pacho forced a weak smile.
"It's nothing… really…"
Carlos stepped closer.
Still silent.
Then
He crouched slightly.
Close enough to Pacho clearly.
Pacho looked away.
"…Don't look at me like that," he whispered.
Carlos didn't listen.
His jaw tightened.
He knew exactly what this was.
And who caused it.
Footsteps again.
Faster this time.
"Pacho!"
Rihanna.
She limped toward them, breathing slightly heavy.
Relief hit her face when she saw him.
"Oh thank God… I've been looking everywhere"
She stopped.
Noticed Carlos
"…Carlos…"
He stood up slowly.
Still saying nothing.
His eyes moved from Pacho
To Rihanna's injured leg.
Then back again.
His gaze hardened.
"I'll be back."
Rihanna frowned.
"Carlos, wait"
He was already turning.
Walking away.
"Take care of him," he added without looking back.
Not a request.
An order.
By the time Rihanna turned back
Pacho had broken again.
This time quietly leaning into himself.
She sat beside him carefully despite the pain.
"…Hey…" she whispered softly.
He didn't respond.
She reached out slowly
And pulled him into a gentle embrace.
"It's okay…" she murmured. "You're not what he said…"
But Pacho only whispered back
"…He meant it…"
The Dimitri mansion
The mansion doors opened.
Maxim stepped out.
Slightly uneasy.
Drunk.
He walked toward his car, keys in hand
Then stopped.
Noticed them.
Four of them.
Carlos.
Buck.
Kelvin.
Henry.
A smirk spread across his face.
"…Well, well…"
He laughed lightly.
"Did Carlos bring his dogs to fight for him?"
Maxim tilted his head mockingly.
"Or maybe…?" he continued.
"You knew you couldn't handle me alone that's smart of you?"
Carlos stepped forward.
Calm.
"Stay out of it," he said to his boys.
They didn't say a word.
They just watched.
Maxim chuckled, shaking his head.
"That bad, huh? Elder brother with no balls needs his junior brother to do his battles"
He didn't finish.
Carlos moved.
Fast.
His fist slammed into Maxim's face.
Hard.
Maxim staggered back, shocked.
"the hell?!"
Another hit.
Stronger.
More precise.
Maxim tried to steady himself
But Carlos didn't give him space.
Didn't give him time.
He grabbed his shirt
And slammed him against the car.
The impact echoed.
"YOU MADE HIM CRY MATE. HE REALLY LOVED YOU LIKE A BROTHER"
Maxim struggled, trying to push him back.
"It was just words!"
Carlos punched him again.
Blood.
"This pain you feel is nothing compared to what you did to him."
Another hit.
"You don't get to make him cry."
Maxim swung back weakly
Missed.
Carlos caught his arm
Twisted it
Then drove his fist straight into his stomach.
Maxim gasped.
Fell to his knees.
Barely conscious now.
But Carlos wasn't done.
Not even close.
He grabbed Maxim by the collar.
Dragged him up.
Forced him against the car.
Their faces inches apart.
Carlos' breathing was uneven now.
Eyes wild.
Unrestrained.
"You think you're strong?" he muttered.
"You think you can break people and walk away?"
Maxim barely responded.
Blood dripping.
Vision fading.
Carlos tightened his grip
Then
With full force
SLAMMED
Maxim's head into the side of the car.
The sound rang out.
Maxim went limp.
Unconscious.
Carlos stood there, still holding him.
Breathing hard.
Then slowly
He let go.
Maxim collapsed to the ground.
Lifeless for now.
Buck shifted slightly.
"…Carlos"
"Not a word from any of you."
Carlos didn't look at them.
They fell silent instantly.
Carlos looked down at Maxim.
Expression empty now.
But his voice
Still carried that edge.
"If he sheds one more tear because of you. You won't be waking up next time."
He turned.
Walked away.
As his boys followed behind.