the devil's son

Don’t I know it, you’re a dang knuckle head sometimes, but at least you’re a loveable knuckle head.

Now, don’t go making me blush. I’ve kinda got a reputation here of being a stoic no-nonsense doctor and I’d hate for little red cheeks to soil it.

I can show you just how loveable I am.

Depending on opinion, I am the party.

Sure you’re in the shape for one? I’m a lot to handle.

I should have expected you’d come hanging around like always.

Enzo remembered his sister’s advice, don’t be crass, and the worst thing he could do in that moment besides the situation itself is lie. “See, here’s the thing,” The man slowly rose from his chair and turned to walk a few steps away before turning around, “Before the Greenpoint takeover, I got involved with Eleanor Cabello in a way that wasn’t…sane. I knew how it would look to the faction, to you and Oliver, but I have to leave. Drake, I,” Enzo struggled to spit the words out, “I can’t stay here. And Sid, don’t punish her for this.”

Drake stared at Enzo, not taking a single moment to process what the man had just said; he didn’t need to. “Get the fuck out of my territory.” There was a lot of freedom his inner circle had, but mingling with another faction was the highest of treason. “You take your bike and you ride to Greenpoint or I’ll have someone dump your body there. If I ever see you here, I’ll cut out your girlfriend’s eyes and feed them to you. You understand?”

I wonder which kid she gave that trait to.

“I found more than that.” Enzo mumbled, dreading the part of the conversation he promised Sid he would have with the leader. “Drake, I did something and I can’t take it back. I need you to hear it from me first before word gets out and I’m fucked.”

Drake had had a rough time of it since waking up, knowing that the world had gone to shit in his absence didn’t sit well. The last thing he expected to see was the discomfort on one of his most loyal friend’s face. “What the fuck is going on, Enzo?”

There was a part of her that remembered the Savitri post about Eleanor being seen near Drake posing with a blonde wig. Ryan wanted to ask him about it, but the moment that her brother hugged her back, it all went out the window. That wasn’t the most important thing to her at that moment, Drake was. She couldn’t help but sob into his chest as he spoke to her, cementing that he was alive and awake after thinking that she’d never hear him speak to her again. Eventually Ry was able to pull away, wiping the evidence of her tears from her face with the back of her hands before reaching down to hold his hand in hers. “Are you okay? Do I need to get Sid at all?” Ryan asked, even though she knew that the doctor always wasn’t too far away, “or I could call Ollie and have him bring over Abel if you’re up to seeing him?”

Drake ran his hands through his sister’s hair, holding her close as she cried. It broke his heart to hear her heartbreak. He always wanted to protect her, and he knew that he went to an extreme measure to do so. But he would always go to the extreme, he would do anything to protect his sister and not have to let her go. “I’m better with you here,” he said into her hair. The thought of having them all here with him made Drake smile. “Yeah, that’d be nice.”

A shame, I already ordered the catering. The people need to see their king.

He enjoyed spending time with his grammy and Uncle Ollie, but he missed his father. Did you want to see him?

Catering? Now that just doesn’t sound like us.

The return of a leader doesn’t happen every day. Your mom’s already on the party planning war path. God help us.

Get that shit emblazed on our jackets. The boys missed the fuck out of you, Drake…so did I.

Not even God can help us when she gets an idea into her head.

Not right now, but once you step foot out the door, that’s a different story. Everyone’s going to swoop in like buzzards. I can sabotage the prep if you want?

I’ve got something for you, though– the keys to your baby. I’ve been keeping her shiny and in great condition while you slept.

I’d owe you one. Whatever you want, it’s yours.

He can, but nothing can change your mom’s mind once she gets on something.

Only a little. I couldn’t let my best guy just waste away when I have the superpower of modern medicine.

She’s stubborn, it’s clear where I get it from.

“Drake… you really are awake,” Ryan said in disbelief as she entered his room, running over to his bedside before she flung her arms around his shoulders. She held him as hard as she could without hurting him and agitating his injuries, but Ryan needed to hold him to remind her that him being awake wasn’t a dream. “I’m so sorry.”

“Ry,” he sighed in relief. This time it was actually her, not a blonde imposter. He wrapped his arms around her weakly, tightening his hold as much as he could. His hand rubbed up and down her back, tangling in her hair as he pressed a familiar kiss to the crown of her head, like he always had growing up. “It’s okay... I’m here.”

It is cause for celebration, isn’t it?

Welcome home, baby.

Yeah – it’s just too bad I feel like shit.

Not unless you’re going to sulk in a corner. Don’t blame you, neither of us are in the partying mood.

You made it through hell, man.

Here I thought my return from hell would be worth celebratin’

You really think you can wake up and not get a welcome party? Knowing your mom, she’s probably putting one together right now.

I missed you, punk, welcome back.

A man can wish, can’t he?

                                               All men of action are dreamers.

She may be smart, but family blinds her, but don’t worry, this will be a skirmish all in the Vincent’s favor. You have to think though, Drake, will Ryan come home because of just a few scrapes and bruises? You gotta think drastically to get drastic results. You want her to come home, make it to where she wants to come home.

Then I’ll place my stomach aside if you put me to work. What is it I can do you for, Mr. Vincent?