Never Judge

The entire family was gathered in Mountain View mansion, all their security teams were on high alert.

One of the biggest, most well kept secrets of the Reyes family had just been leaked and they couldn't figure out who had done it.

"I want everyone that knew about Emilio and Al rounded up and brought in for interrogation!" Ray shouted, furious that even his son was placed at risk.

"Calm down Ray." Ayanna Laurence scolded him as she patted the spot next to her on the couch. "Sit down, everyone is doing everything to find out who was behind this."

Ray frowned but didn't say another word, he simply walked over and sat next to his wife.

Emilio nudged Al with his elbow and nodded towards his Uncle Ray.

"What?" Al asked his cousin, annoyed that Emilio would bring things up now.

It was already a high tension situation with Ray being furious and Cedric trying to get to the bottom of the problem.

"Now's not the right time." Al hissed as he looked around, making sure that none of their uncles or aunts noticed anything suspicious.

"It could be relevant." Emilio warned his cousin. "If you don't tell him, I will."

"It might not be. They were after you, not me." Al grumbled. The chances that Emilio's identity being revealed was due to Al was very low.

"Everyone knows the two families are connected." Emilio whispered to Al.

"What are you two whispering about?" A domineering female's voice said, making Emilio and Al sit up straight and freeze.

"Why are you scaring the kids, Katerina?" Cedric asked as the clicking of Katerina's heels echoed across the room as she walked over to give Cedric a hug.

"I just landed and guess what I see all over the news." She asked as he crossed her arms.

"It's nice to have you back, Kat." Ayanna said as she stood up and hugged one of her best friends. "You have impeccable timing."

Kat smiled and hugged her friend back, happy to be home.

She then turned her attention to Al and Emilio, raising an eyebrow at the two young men.

They looked at each other and shrugged, neither was willing to admit what their conversation had been about. There was still a possibility that their Aunt Katerina had not heard what they were talking about.

"It's either you tell them or I do." Katerina suddenly said, making Emilio look at Al.

"It's your secret." Emilio said as he feigned innocence.

"Emilio, Al, what is your Aunt Katerina talking about?" Ray asked in a stern tone, making Al frown.

At first Al wanted to remain silent, he didn't want to get a scolding from his father in front of the entire family.

"Al has a secret that could or could not be related to this shit we are in." Katerina said as she grinned at her nephew.

Al frowned and turned pale, he didn't think that his Aunt would actually tell on him.

"Katerina, language." Cedric's wife, Adrianna, scolded her friend.

"They are old enough, Emilio is twenty two, the twins are sixteen and Al is fifteen. Don't tell me they don't curse yet." Katerina pointed out, making Ray roll his eyes at her. 𝗳𝒓𝚎e𝚠𝒆𝐛𝐧𝐨v𝚎Ɩ.co𝓶

"Fine, fine, I'll tell you guys." Al said as he shifted the topic and the attention to him.

"Well?" Ray asked his son.

"Dad, I've been part of the Dean Family Mafia for at least a year now." Al confessed.

"I don't see how this is relevant now, Al, but I'm very disappointed in you! I will be having a word with your Uncle Seth as well after this." Ray hissed as he glared at his son.

It was clear to everyone in the room that despite Ray trying scold his son, he was actually happy as the corner of his lip twitched to a smile, only for him to frown again.

"Dad, it's not just that, listen." Al said with a sigh as he took a deep breath.

He looked to Emilio and the twins for emotional support, the cousins nodded, encouraging Al to speak up.

"Dad, my current mission in the Dean Family Mafia is to get close to Cara Jao, she's a student in my school. It was her place I went to last Saturday." Al said as he looked down, embarrassed about using his friendship with Cara and embarrassed that he had lied to his father.

"Jao?" Ian Lim said, entering the room, looking as menacing as usual. "Peter's daughter?"

"Who was your handler in the Dean Family Mafia?" Ray asked his son, furious that he was allowed to go on a mission.

Al nervously looked at Emilio afraid of putting his cousin's friend in the path of his father's wrath.

"The guy's name is Hendrick, he's Emilio's friend." Ian answered, making Al's eyes go wide with shock.

"Continue." Ray told his son, shifting the attention back. "I'm assuming you learned something."

Al nodded as he looked at his father nervously.

"You'll be king of the underworld someday, don't let people see your fear." Ray scolded his son as he walked up to Al and lifted his chin. "Speak."

"Cara has an older brother, did you guys know that?" Al asked as he looked between his father and Uncle Ian.

"She did." Ian said with a nod.

"Did?" Al questioned.

"Colin Jao died four years ago. He messed with the wrong people in Marina City, he was killed by the Essen Mafia." Ian explained to Al.

"Uncle Stephen's people?" Al asked, shocked that a familiar foreign Mafia had been mentioned.

Ray nodded.

"Why do you sound so shocked Al?" Ian asked the young man.

"Colin Jao isn't dead." Al said as he balled his hands into fists. "He is the one working with whoever is after the King of the Underworld. He is the one forcing Cara's father to leak information, he is using Cara to threaten Peter Jao."

"Why would he want to hurt his own sister?" Ian asked. "I'm not doubting your information, Al, it just doesn't add up. Colin Jao was known to adore his younger sister to the point that she never left his side."

"Adored?" Al scoffed, making his father raise an eyebrow at him. "Colin Jao hates his sister, he blames her for his mother's death."

"Get Peter and Cara Jao away from Colin. I want a word with them." Ray hissed.

Ian nodded and left, off to do the King's bidding.