All it took was the sound of clatter to ring throughout the air to disrupt my sleep. There has been so much I've seen that has lodged into my mind unable to be deleted or blocked.

Sitting upright in the bed rubbing my eyes perplexed by what I heard I looked to the side to find a cold, empty space greeting me. After spending my part of the day with Aunt Elle I had tried to remain calm when he hadn't returned.

As if sensing the concern he called assuring me that he was fine and that he would be home soon which at first had been sufficient enough but I wasn't so sure anymore. Staring at the clock on the bedside table, it was nearing four in the morning. When I heard another crash to the ground followed by a string of curses that flew out of the person's mouth I bolted out of bed once realization dawned upon me at who it could be.

Throwing on a robe I did all I could to ignore the eerie feeling. I walked briskly across the room or at least as quick as my body would allow me to towards the commotion.

Entering the partially dark kitchen the only light coming from the fridge allowed my eyes to see his hunched over figure.

He was clad in nothing but suit pants that hung dangerously low as he stood barefoot with no shirt on rummaging through it. The view would have been a pleasing if the feeling that something was off wasn't nagging me so much. When I flipped the switch he stiffened, turning to throw an accusing look at me disrupting his quest for a suitable snack.

He stood back up turning to face me completely with his disheveled hair tousled every which way. But it was the blue orbs surrounded in a sea of blood red conveying a shattered soul placed in a state of despair that showed no prospect of hope that stuck out the most.

The concern washed over me like a tidal wave and I closed the distance between us to stand toe to toe with the individual. "Baby..." my voice came out just above a whisper so as to not startle him. He reached up wiping at his face profusely as if physically removing the pain was plausible as he brushed past me, "Go back to bed," he demanded leaving nothing but an icy shadow in the spot he once occupied.

"Not until you tell m –"

"For God sake woman!" he growled freezing by the door. He turned back to me wearing a scowl that marred the usual beauty on his face but I tensed as well determined not to get intimidated when I deserved answers. "Throw a fit all you want, but if you found me lurking around in the dark crying you'd want to know what's wrong," I explained crossing my arms. As if mirroring my actions he did the same marching up to me. Widening my stance in defiance already expecting him to snap he stopped a few inches in front of me, veins bulging, anger permeating just below the surface such that I wouldn't be surprised if I could smell it.

I held my breath waiting for the retort and stood by waiting only to see as the seconds ticked by the anger deflate the longer his eyes bore down on me.

His hands dropped to his sides. The sight of them shaking compelling me to grip them as a few stray tears slipped out of his eyes. He closed his eyes shut to prohibit any more moisture from slipping out betraying his plea to come across as tough.

It's hard seeing someone you care about in pain; it broke my heart seeing him fall apart. I grew protective and ready to pounce on the source that caused his pain.

"How the hell do I go about telling you everything I thought I knew was a lie when I can hardly come to grips with it myself?" his voice came out wobbly and condensed in emotions clogging up his system making it all the more hard for him to breathe. He collapsed by the doorframe already spent until he all but sat on the floor keeping his eyes concealed from me. Falling to my knees I rubbed his arms after shifting forward to settle between his open legs.

I reached up and placed my hands on his cheeks, the action an aim to coax him gently to not hide away from me. I was aware not showing weakness or vulnerability was a system embedded into him but in a place set on breaking him down I wanted to show him whenever it was us two away from the noise he was safe. "Look at me," I demanded softly tightening my hold upon his face when he tried to look away, "Uh, uh," I breathed leaning closer to wrap my arms around him, "look at me... please."

Eventually after what felt like an eternity he opened his eyes baring himself to me. It allowed me to see swimming in the very depths of his eyes unshed tears that had gathered to form a thick line on the edge of his orbs, "W-We took him and he confirmed everything," he croaked leaning back.

"Who?"

Gulping down he answered with clear difficulty, "Lucien kidnapped Samuel Carter, the Warden and h-he confirmed everything I had been fighting against... he confirmed it was them who was involved," he shuddered breaking down in that empty space where there was nothing but a sense of betrayal and hurt over his father. "This is such a fucked up situation..." he smiled sadly causing tears to formulate in my own eyes as he looked back at me, "how the hell can we bring a child into this when there's nothing stable about our life?"

Determined to push away the defeat from completely settling inside him I replied with as much conviction as I could garner. I proceeded to answer what may have been a rhetorical question by design, "This child will be surrounded with nothing but love."

Snorting he reached up and rubbed his nose, "That's not the answer I was looking for," he frowned looking down at my swollen belly.

"It's the only adequate answer I can give, everything else doesn't seem to be a sure thing anymore but one thing that I'd like to think is stable is the love I have for you and this child," I muttered. At that time I had all but resorted to drawing a small pattern on his arm at the sudden burst of shyness I felt in voicing out the fact I adored him. In that moment it was him who reached up and gripped my chin as if holding a delicate flower between his fingertips.

His eyes shone not just from the moisture that had accumulated in them but from what I had said, "You love me despite everything?"

Sheepishly nodding I head I replied, "Of course I do... I-I love you, Nicky. I've been dying to say it for some time and the second you said it I wanted to reply but you were out the door," I admitted watching the shock wash over him but it didn't last long as he pulled me in for a tight hug.

"Fuck, I felt like an idiot in that moment for taking so long in saying it. I have never said it to anyone besides my mother and even then she has to force it out of me," his deep voice rumbled as he breathed me in warming my heart with the fact he had been scared like I was to take the plunge and completely let go.

Pulling back to look at him, the clarity more clear in the fact that I had found what I was looking for. "I know you feel like there's no one for you to really trust but I'm here and so is your mother and every –"

"Can you promise never to hurt me?" he asked wrapping his arms around my waist allowing me to see the fear that was still prevalent inside him.

It was understandable for him to be weary to allow people close with all that we knew but even then I had to be honest in my response, "I can't promise not to hurt you. At the end of the day we're human and we're bound to be flawed in how we approach each other. But know that I would never intentionally hurt you and I can promise to heal you, my love when I do," I vowed running a hand through his hair. He closed his eyes humming in approval at the attention his scalp was receiving. In as much as I wanted to soak in the moment there was an issue staring at us waiting to be addressed.

"So what now?"

His eyes snapped open, the colour in them darkening at the question that had now been laid before us. When Matt had given Nicky the file containing the information he had been hesitant to react when he was stuck in a phase of denial. But after they heard first-hand that Damian had been telling the truth about what truly happened to his father there was no more hiding away from it. Taking in a deep breath he said in a clear voice that was stripped of the tremor and uncertainty it once held to embody that of a stone, cold mobster.

"Time to take action."

***

Samuel Carter from the outside seemed like a bland man at best with a simple outlook on life. He was a man that saw justice as a mere black and white structure that had no grey area. Being born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts after spending a considerable amount of time receiving decent education, he planned on going to college only to receive the unexpected news from his high school sweetheart that they were expecting.

With the responsibility of a child weighing on his shoulders he did the next best thing and took night classes at the local community college whilst working as a prison guard. As he rose up the ranks so did his greed in accepting bribes without throwing much regard as to whether it would ruin people's lives.

Lucien and his men had taken the liberty of kidnapping him when he was just about to leave his luxurious suburban home he shared with his wife. Ultimately after receiving a thorough beating from Nicholas and Lucien he spilled everything. He even went so far as to allow early release for the man whose confession had begun the latest chain of events that led Lucien and Nicky to join forces.

The minute Damian Volatelli walked through the doors of our home after being released an hour from prison I couldn't shake off the resemblance between him and Lucien. Admittedly I had been nervous to come face to face with the individual who Nicky met when he was behind bars. It was truly a hand of fate that directed their paths to collide to bring forth the lies certain people told.

He took a seat on the couch with Lucien following close behind and when Damian's eyes landed on me his response caught me off guard as he smiled gently, "Well aren't you an exquisite creature," he winked eliciting a growl from Nicky who moved to stand close behind me.

Holding back the urge to roll my eyes I moved out of the living room with him following close behind. In as much as Damian had been the one to confess so much about the past, Nicky was still not over his initial involvement in his father's downfall. And I had opted out to sit on the discussion.

Deep down I could tell he didn't want me to get involved out of fear he'd destroy the little purity left in me.

As soon as we reached the door he grabbed my hand pulling me in to lay a gentle kiss on my lips, "What was that for?" I asked taking in quick breaths to control how quick my heart had suddenly begun to beat. He smiled tricking me into believing he was about to say something sweet only to say, "He's looking here," he tilted his head discreetly in Damian's direction who sure enough had been watching us and I sucked my teeth at Nicky's behaviour. "You are so unbelievable; you do realize I'm carrying your kid, right? What more claim upon me do you need?"

He chuckled lightly only to grow serious once more as the situation dawned upon him, "I wish it didn't have to come to this, you know?"

My face softened and I reached out to place my hand lightly against his cheek to console him in any way I could, "I do, honestly I wish a lot hadn't happened."

Taking a step closer he bent his head down till his lips were right by my ear making the care in me for the eyes possibly watching us fade as he whispered, "I promise to get us out of this... somehow."

Though I appreciated the words, that wasn't where my concern truly lied. I looked back up at him to reveal how I truly felt, "If you promise to come out of this alive that's more than enough for me."