Alessio frowned after I shared the conversation I had with Caio. He crossed his arms and just shook his head. 

“I’m not sure what to tell you, Matteo. Caio might see you being useful to getting a foot in on mom, but she won’t date him. She isn’t interested.”

“Yeah, you were supposed to tell me why.”

“Mom said Caio had a drinking problem when we were kids, and he was violent, and it wasn’t until grandfather found out that anything was done about it. But mother doesn’t want an angry drunk, not even a recovering or recovered one.”

“That makes a lot of sense, now that you mention it.”

“Does it?”

“Yes, it explains his very hard stance towards alcohol.”

“I would have never known until she told me, Matteo. Honestly, I had no clue.”

“It’s best to keep what you know to yourself. Caio has clearly worked hard to keep that part of him under wraps”

“I agree.” Alessio said.

“I don’t think mom had a right to bring it up to you either, Alessio. But that’s another matter entirely.” I signed. 

“Mother very much does what she wants Matteo, that will never change. Personally, I ignore her personal garbage the best I can. Gabriele is the only thing we are on most of the time.”

“Did she say much after I left?”

“Plenty. She seemed worried that you were going to make shit choices with your life, being as you were allowed to run free for three years without proper supervision and whatever the hell she was saying. By that point, I tuned her the fuck out. Lev assured her we would intervene before that would ever happen.”

“Alessio, I am perfectly alright. She does realize that I’m an adult and whether I make shit choices or not, they are my choices.”

“It’s mom. She has to be in control. You know this, I know this.”

“Well, she’s not, and hasn’t been since I left. She’s just going to have to get cozy with the idea that I am my own person.”

“My thoughts exactly. You want to fuck around and chase Caio till the end of time. That’s your choice. But I did pencil something in on your schedule for tonight.”

“My what?”

“Nikki had the night off from both Alexi and his daughter, and wanted to go out clubbing. However, I have Gabe, and I can’t. So, being as you are pretty close in age, I offered you up to my cousin as a sacrifice for the night. He was pretty happy to accept the offer.”

“Who is doing club rounds?”

“Luca, and my dad, I think. I can check if you need me too.”

“Nope, it’s fine. I’m sure I have something to wear.”

“If not, let me know. There’s an entire closet of clothing in there that you can pick from. Don’t be too shocked if I dump half of it on you. It would probably fit.”

“Alessio, please don’t do that. Not until I at least have a place of my own, where I can—--”

“You have a dresser at Caio’s. Put it in there.”

“I am living out of my suitcase, Alessio. I can’t fit anything else in it.”

“Why haven’t you unpacked?”

“I don’t intend to stay with Caio. Things are tense, and I know he doesn’t like me being in his space. He’s not comfortable, and I feel bad.”

“Right. I will do some cleaning up in the other spare room, and see if Lev is ok with you staying—-”

“No. Alessio, not happening. I want to have a place of my own. You’re married and it would just be really strange.”

“I want you to stay close, Matteo.”

“I already told you, I’m not leaving.”

“Let me see what I can do. We have empty wings, I just—--” The rest of his sentence was muttered under his breath and I got it. He didn’t want me alone. 

“Alessio. I’m not pressuring you into making these changes right away. I just need something to fall back on if I push things too far. Or Caio asks me to leave, or I can’t stand to be in the same space.”

“I get it.”

Alessio got up and walked to the door. He opened it, and let Andrei and Gabe inside. Andrei had all the ingredients for cookies, and Gabe was dancing around him. Andrei set the stuff down on the counter and looked right at me. 

“How are things, Matteo?”

I gave him a half smile. “We both don’t have the time for that in full detail. But things are better.”

“Your mother called me last night, pretty late.”

“Of course she did. What did she want to complain about?” Alessio sighed. 

“Not your brothers, you surprisingly. Something about you being so hard to talk to, you challenge her every word.”

“So in other words, this is about Matteo, and the fact that I wouldn’t let her bad mouth him or his choices and she got mad and tried to tattle to you about it?”

“I can’t tell you. She didn’t go into very many details.”

“She won’t pick a fight with me about my behaviour because she’s worried Lev will snap back, but she runs to you to whine about it.”

Andrei washed his hands and rolled up his sleeves, while Alessio got out bowls, spoons, and other kitchen tools. Gabe was staring at me, his eyes just like mine. 

“Matteo.”

“Yes, Gabe?”

“Where were you?”

“I had to go back to Italy and finish school, and I didn’t have much time to tell anyone. It was a last-minute choice.” I lied to him, unable to tell him the full extent of the truth. Not even sure if he would understand. 

“Ok. I’m glad you came back.”

He ran off towards one of the bedrooms and came back with a picture in a frame. I knew the picture by the frame alone. It was one of all of us, even my father. Gabriele wasn’t even born yet. Mom found out about him days after this was taken. But even here, Alessio was hiding wounds from our father.

“Where did you get this?” I asked when he handed me the picture.

“Your room. Mom keeps the door closed and I’m not allowed to play in there.” He took a deep breath before he spoke again. “Mom doesn’t know.”

“Why did you bring this?” I asked him again, trying to keep the anger from my words. He didn’t understand. Alessio reached over and took the picture. His nose wrinkled, but he smiled. 

“Hey Gabe, did you know that this was just before mom found out she was carrying you?”

“No. Really!”

“Yes, Really. You were about the size of a coffee bean then.” Alessio laughed, giving me back the photo, and whispering in my ear. “He doesn’t understand, Matteo. He doesn’t remember anything about your dad. We want to keep it that way.”

“Thank you for bringing me this.” I smiled at him, and set it on the countertop, face down. 

Alessio put the tv on for him and went to watch it. I didn’t have many photos in my room, two or three, most of the three of us. This was the only one I had with mom, and him, but I kept it for mom. 

“Hey, don’t worry about it, Matteo. I’m not that bothered by it.” Alessio said, reaching for the photo, and I pushed it farther away from him. 

“I’m bothered by it.” I said.

“Be bothered by it if you like. But I’m keeping this.” He said, snatching it off the counter and walking away with it. I didn’t get why he wanted to keep it. He returned, and the photo was gone. 

“Where did you take it? Why do you even want it?”

“It’s a family photo, given not a good one but—--”

“Get rid of it, Alessio. We can make a new one, or—--”

“I don’t want to get rid of it, Matteo. Yes, I’m not a fan of it. But again, we can’t go back on what happened. We can only move on.” Alessio said. 

Andrei looked a little uncomfortable with the conversation, but he didn’t say anything. I felt that. I stood up, washed my hands, and stood beside him. 

“Me too, Andrei. Me too.” I whispered, and he looked at me. He gave me a soft smile. 

“Ok, Let’s get this cookie decorating underway.” Alessio declared. 

He washed his hands, and got started on his own cookie dough. Andrei was pretty much done making his cookies. He just had to chill the dough and cut it. Before he could roll it up, I snatched a chocolate chip out of the dough. 

“You know that’s one less chocolate chip that Alessio gets.” He chuckled. 

“His ass won’t miss that one chocolate chip.”

“Excuse you?” Alessio said, offended. He whipped a handful of flour at me. It coated not only me, but Andrei. 

“Really? How fucking old are you?” He groaned. 

“Old enough to know better.” I snickered. 

“So are you.” Andrei said, looking at me. 

“Yeah, but your crotch goblin is older.”

“His what!” Alessio yelled, before he started to howl. 

“He called you my crotch goblin.” Andrei chuckled. 

“It’s the truth.” I laughed, dusting the flour off me once I finished my dough. I dumped tiny chocolate chips in, and mixed it again before letting it sit. Alessio picked up my bowl and tucked it into the fridge. Gabe made himself known again. 

“Cookies done, Sio?”

“Nope, soon though, I promise.”

“Ok.”

He went back to his TV show, and I looked at Alessio. “What time should I get ready to go out with Nikki, and what do I tell Caio?”

“I’ll handle Caio, and probably eight.”

“Seven thirty. Nikki is catching a ride with me. Alexi doesn’t want him driving in case he decides to have a drink or two. So you can go with me too.”

“Alright. Sounds good.”

I abandoned Alessio and Andrei to hang out with Gabe. We laid on the floor and watched his tv show. He was pressed up against my side the entire time.