Silence

{39} Hesitance

{Aspen's POV}

Caspian walks back into the kitchen where everyone is still seated. One by one they notice us enter and they look at us. All previous talking stopped and there is now a lingering silence.

"It's time we explain some things to Aspen." Caspian says, moving further in and sitting down at the dining table.

Kohen stands up from his seat at the dining table and gestures for me to take it. I sit down and look at Elias. Him and Caspian look so similar it's insane. Everything happening right now feels surreal. Caspian is sitting at the head of the table and Elias is on the other end. Jasper is to my right and Ambrose is to my left. Directly ahead of me is Balor with Sorin to his left and Kohen to his right.

I think Kohen moved so that I didn't have to sit next to Balor.

I appreciate that.

But it's a little weird now sitting across from him, having to kind of stare at him. It's better than beside him though, in my opinion.

"Aspen, you know about our business from what I've gathered." Caspian begins.

"Which business are you referring to?" I test him.

"You know which." He replies sternly.

"You'll have to enlighten me." I tell him.

Caspian is frustrated at me. I can see it. But I'm frustrated at him too. How could I sit here and be fine after all of this?

Before Caspian can reply, Elias decides to chime in.

"The mafia." He says simply.

"Ah, that business." I reply.

"Yes, that business." Caspian reiterates.

"I had my suspicions, no hard proof though." I tell them.

"I am the Boss, or Don as it is often referred to, of the American mafia." Caspian says.

So we're just diving right in.

"Okay." I reply, trying to show as little emotion as possible.

"Our father was the previous Don, but went into hiding almost three years ago, with Balor." He continues.

"Your friend Ash, his father has a gang of his own. Not quite a mafia, but a powerful gang. Balor killed their future leader, Ash's sister and was shot by Ash's father in the heat of the moment. I was also shot and pronounced dead for 5 minutes." Elias speaks up. "We cant go into great detail with everything, but we decided after that day, it was safer to act as if Balor never existed and I died. Balor was not well known so it was easy."

"So why haven't I met them?" I ask Caspian.

"I have told you on multiple occasions I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Knowing about them would have put you in unnecessary danger. It would have been pointless anyways if you couldn't even meet them." Caspian replies.

"So why am I meeting them now?"

"Ash's father wants revenge for his daughter. The only way he sees fit is through you. The reason we're here now is because you are now in hiding. We're taking you to Canada for protection, until Ash's father's gang can be taken down once and for all." Caspian explains.