Chapter 12: A Father's Worries
"So it's actually true?!" Olivia shouted in shock after executing a flawless headshot with her rifle on a holographic target in the distance.
She was currently spending some long overdue quality time with her father in the gun range of their family's estate and had just received what she considered to be a disturbing confirmation from Mal in regards to a promise that he'd made to a certain asari cousin.
"Did you hear anything I just said?" Mal replied in exasperation. "I told Zel'me that she could join one of the boys' crews once they're older but only if they signed off on it. I never said anything about 'giving' one of them to her. That girl's imagination really is off the charts…"
"That shouldn't really surprise you, should it? She's been eyeing all of them for years. It's so creepy." Olivia disdainfully replied before sitting her rifle down, grabbing a bottle of water from a nearby table and taking a drink.
"More asari, more problems." Mal joked causing his daughter to frown at him before sitting her bottle down. "So Firebrand, what else did you have in mind for today? We've still got a few hours before Vince gets here and I know you and your sisters will want to get cleaned up before we all head out for dinner later."
"First tell me what that is." Olivia said sternly while pointing to a spot behind her father. After he turned around to investigate she immediately bolted forward and leapt on his back while laughing. "I can't believe you actually fell for it, AGAIN!" she chuckled.
"Haha." Mal replied in annoyance before playfully spinning around as she clung to his back. "You're way too old for piggyback rides. You know that, right?"
"Just humor me. I'll be leaving in a few months, remember?" Olivia quietly replied before resting her head on his shoulder.
"Scared?"
His inquiry was met by the soft brush of his daughter's fist as it grazed his cheek. "My father is the Terminus Hunter, the Mercenary King of Cartagena and the Ruler of the Nemean Abyss. I'm not afraid of anything." she proudly declared.
"You mean except for losing to your Daddy in a race." Mal teased before twirling around once more. "What do you say? Once around the garden?"
"You're on!" Olivia eagerly replied. "Now giddy-up." she gleefully shouted causing Mal to sprint forward as they both laughed.
"It's about time somebody got here." Vince quipped after Lucas and Leon strolled through the front door of their family's mansion in exhaustion and made their way into the kitchen where their older brother was cheerfully awaiting their arrival.
"Oh look, the genius is back." Leon joked as Vince pulled him into a hug.
"I see the training has picked up. Mal and Leo must be pushing you guys pretty hard." Vince surmised after separating from Leon and observing how bruised and sweaty they both were before finally embracing Lucas.
"Actually, both Leo and Libra have been putting the screws to me." Leon complained before wiping the sweat from his face. "I never should've tried showing off with that biotic sphere. Ever since Libra saw me do it, she's been running me into the ground with Leo and your mother." he continued while eyeing Vince.
"Seriously? It must've been pretty impressive for mom to take an interest. As far I know, she never bothered training anyone other than me and Angelica." Vince mused. "For what it's worth, I happen to know a thing or two about what you're going through right now."
"Don't bother sympathizing with him." Lucas sternly interjected. "It's his own fault for putting all of that work into posturing in front of Keiko."
"Sticking with that, huh? And you're not worried about Mason killing you. Well, I'm impressed." Vince joked.
"I guess you of all people would be." Leon scoffed. "How's Angelica?"
"What do you mean?" Vince asked in an innocent tone but quickly dropped the act after meeting his brothers' eyes. "Fine, I guess this means you all know. Does Mal?"
"I don't think so but you should probably start thinking about how you're going to explain the situation. I wouldn't be surprised if Dad flipped once he finds out and I wouldn't blame him for it either." Lucas advised.
"Same old Lou, always the sensible one." Vince replied before taking a breath and staring up at the ceiling. "I hope I haven't messed things up between us. I owe Mal everything and more. But I love Angelica and nothing's ever going to change that."
"I can't believe you! You actually cheated!" a familiar voice suddenly shouted in a fury as footsteps began echoing across the ground floor of the mansion.
"Consider that your first lesson in playing dirty. Don't worry, Zaeed will be showing you more once you and your brothers-"
Mal promptly stopped after entering the kitchen and catching sight of his oldest son leaning against the kitchen counter. "Is that my Nemean Enforcer?!" he laughed before strolling over and pulling Vince into a hug and slightly lifting him off his feet. "I still would've preferred 'The Nemean Wolf' but whatever…" he humorously added before releasing him.
"I didn't pick the name Mal, you know better than anyone how these things get started." Vince replied in exasperation before quickly glancing over at Olivia who was covered in sweat and acting somewhat nervously. "Aren't you gonna give me a hug too, Liv?"
"Y-You're early! I've gotta go, I'll see you later!" she replied rather brusquely before disappearing from the kitchen.
"What's with her?" Vince wondered.
"Hormones probably." Mal sighed. "I remember Angelica's mood swings when she was her age and I still have nightmares." he joked. "So, how was today's practice?"
"Grueling, backbreaking and thoroughly exhausting. So, you know, the usual." Leon replied in a wry manner.
"Good, that means it'll all sink in." Mal sternly replied. "Lou, after dinner later you and me are gonna go a few rounds and I'm warning you, I'll be using my focus so you'd better do the same if you don't want anything to get broken."
"I got it, Dad." Lucas casually replied while Vince stared at the pair in utter disbelief.
"Mal, what the-"
"Don't look so surprised. Big Bro Dynamo is officially the strongest one here when it comes to raw physical power." Leon informed him.
"Don't exaggerate." Lucas told him in agitation.
Vince took a moment to observe Lucas. He was already bigger than he was despite being younger and it was obvious that Mal was taking a personal interest in his training regimen. Their father had given them all lessons but he'd always left the mentoring to his friends among the Wolves or his closest associates like Aria.
"I'm curious, where are the others?" Vince finally asked after examining Lucas and Leon.
"Nate's been disappearing a lot lately, we don't have a clue where. Ray is with Wrandok, you just saw Liv, Jordy's with Rika and Layla and Sasha are both with Hildy." Leon quickly explained.
Vince instantly put the pieces together before posing his next question after reaching a realization. "Ray and Wrandok? You can't mean-"
"Yeah, and he's serious about it. Who knows? He might actually pull it off." Leon casually interrupted before stretching. "Learning how to fight like a krogan warlord, there are crazier ambitions out there. Pop, I'm going to take a shower and a nap. Let me know when it's time to leave. And be ready to buy me the biggest porterhouse on the station. I've earned it." he cheerfully added before strolling off.
"I'm gonna go get cleaned up too, Dad. See you later, Vince." Lucas added before making his own exit.
"They're all finally getting serious, huh? So what's the deal with Nate?" Vince seriously inquired after watching his younger brothers leave.
"This stays between us, Vince." Mal warned him. "Nate's being trained by Randall."
"That stubborn SOB actually agreed to take a pupil? And it was Nate of all people?" Vince pondered in a complete state of awe. "Why would he even…Nate, what the hell are you thinking?" he anxiously whispered to himself.
"He's planning to do our dirty work when he's older. Tess and I have already tried talking him out of it but…He's not like the rest of you Vince. Neither are my little girls. I hope the underworld is ready for those three." Mal quietly joked with a trace of sadness in his voice.
"Mal, I'll keep them all safe. I promise. I don't care what it takes. The Nemean Enforcer won't hesitate to kill anyone who threatens the Terminus Pups." Vince vowed while facing his father.
Mal simply placed his hands on Vince's face while smiling. "Pups grow up way too fast."
Without another word he left the kitchen and Vince found himself contemplating the future and the dangers it would hold for his brothers and sisters. As stupid as it made him feel, it had never occurred to him until that very moment that they'd all someday be walking a very dangerous path.
