Never Judge

To Al's surprise Ray didn't stop Andres from joining them. He simply raised a curious eyebrow but let his other son sit in.

"Please be seated Mr. Jao." Al said as he gestured for Cara's father to sit in front of his dad.

Ray sat behind his desk, on a throne-like chair that made him even more intimidating than normal.

"Mr. Jao, do you know why you are here?" Ray asked as he looked Peter Jao in the eyes.

Al walked to his father's side, as he turned to face Peter Jao, he saw in the other man's eyes his fear.

"Sir, please, you can hurt me but not my daughter. I'm begging you, she's innocent. Her only crime is that she is mine." Peter Jao began to sob as he desperately begged for Cara's life.

Ray didn't say a word as Peter Jao got on his knees and begged.

"Was he good to you when you visited?" Ray asked Al as he looked at his eldest son.

"He was." Al said as he nodded at his father.

He indeed believed that Peter Jao would do anything and everything for his daughter. He would change sides just to protect her, he would be a puppet for the king of the underworld if that's what Ray Laurence demanded.

"You know about my bottom line, don't you Mr. Jao?" Ray asked as he looked down at the man.

Al couldn't help but wonder what his father was thinking at that moment. He knew his father would never harm a minor, especially one like Cara that was innocent and had a genuine heart.

"Sir, yes, your majesty. I know that you don't involve minors. My Cara is innocent in all of this, I swear." Peter sobbed as he remained on his knees.

The man that looked so tough when Al first met him now looked so fragile and breakable.

Al knew that all he had to do was reach out and harm Cara and the man would fall into pieces.

"Your daughter is safe, but I will need you to cooperate with me and answer a few of my questions." Ray said as he leaned forward and looked at the man. "Is that understood?" Ray asked as his voice echoed across the room.

"Y- y- y- yes sir." Mr. Jao said, his tone more hopeful than fearful this time.

"Aldrich, Andres, help the man up." Ray ordered his sons.

The two boys were quick to act, not wanting to make their father wait. They also didn't want to send the wrong message to Peter Jao.

"Mr. Jao, you and your daughter will reside here indefinitely. I want to be able to keep an eye on you both." Ray said in a stern tone showing that there was no space for compromise.

"Yes, sir." Peter Jao nodded, agreeing to the first term.

"I know about your son." Ray said as he waited for Peter Jao's reaction.

The man was shocked, he tried to look at Al to see if the prince of the underworld was responsible for telling his father.

"Aldrich didn't know about your involvement with the Mafia." Ray practically shouted, forcing Peter to look directly at him. "My son told me about his friend, her father, and her brother, but when it registered that you were the same person I found it quite ironic."

Ray laughed at the situation, as if it were purely coincidental, which it was not.

Al was sent to spy on Cara, his information was what brought the father and daughter duo to their home.

"My people have been watching your son, I have friends in Marina City, friends that you would fear too." Ray said as he smiled.

Peter nodded and looked down in defeat, he knew there was nothing he could do at that point. He had lost. His only way to survive was to do as Ray wanted.

"You will stay in contact with your son, but you will tell him you have gone into hiding and that he shouldn't try to find you just yet." Ray instructed. "You will give him information we feed you."

Peter looked at Ray and Al could tell that he wanted to say something.

"Speak." Ray said, giving him permission to voice whatever worry was on his mind.

"My son will be able to tell that I'm feeding him false information. There is no way for me to infiltrate any of the Mafia or gangs." Peter told Ray.

Ray nodded as he considered what to do next.

"You're actually smart, it's sad that you have a son like Colin." Ray said, sympathizing with the man. "I'll have one of your old loyal informants released by accident, he will contact you, feed you the information."

Peter nodded as he accepted Ray's plan. 𝒇𝗿𝙚ℯ𝑤ℯ𝑏𝒏𝑜ѵe𝙡.c𝐨ｍ

Ray sighed and leaned back, they would be living with Peter and Cara in the same building for the next few weeks, maybe months.

"Sir, I never wanted to betray you." Peter said as he anxiously played with his fingers like a child. "I have been loyal to the Dean Family for years, but my son is my son and I cannot just watch him suffer and die."

"Your son chose his fate, you are allowing him to drag you and Cara down by not cutting him off." Ray lectured. "I hope you aren't a bad man, Mr. Jao, there is still hope for you to return to your old life if you prove to be loyal."

Peter Jao nodded as Ray stood up and led them back out.

"Walk with dad." Al told Andres as he pushed his younger brother ahead of them.

Al walked next to Peter Jao with his head held high while Cara's father looked down at the floor.

"Do you care about Cara?" Peter asked Al.

"She is my only friend that isn't family at the moment." Al answered.

"Please protect her, I am willing to pay with my life just to keep her safe." Peter swore as they returned to the living room where Cara was waiting with Al's mother and sister.