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The quiet

Logan and Adam slept until mid-afternoon, when Stella woke them to have lunch. The two ate alone, as Claudia and Luciano retired early in one of the guest rooms. While they ate, Adam continued telling Logan about his time in Italy and the things he saw, did, and experienced.

"You didn't mention how you got that scar on your neck."

Adam chewed slower. "I wanted to see you guys."

Logan thought for a second. "Did he—"

"No. It wasn't grandfather."

Logan put down his utensils and turned to his son. "Tell me the truth, Adam." He said in a stern, fatherly tone.

"I did it to myself." The boy answered quietly.

Logan touched his son's scar. "You slit your throat?"

The boy nodded.

"You and your mother." Logan sighed. "You always take the most drastic steps when things could be done simpler." When Adam turned to him confused, Logan explained. "You could have called or emailed me. I was actually waiting to hear from you not long after you left."

"I didn't know your number or email." The boy said defensively.

Logan tapped Adam's forehead with his knuckles. "You could have googled me."

"...I thought about that after...when you guys were missing."

After lunch, Adam's doctor checked both father and son. Adam was assigned painkillers for the discomfort in his throat and a diet of soups and soft dishes. Logan required special care as some of his wounds had started to fester. After cutting away the festered skin and tending to the wounds, the doctor assigned Logan painkillers, antibiotics, and bed rest for a day. Adam never left his father's side while he remained on bed rest, and father and son rekindled their bond.

Things remained in limbo at the mansion for a week. Claudia had fallen ill and remained at the house, with Luciano staying to be with her. The family heard no news from Sophia during that time, and each day left them more anxious than the last.

During that week, Logan and Adam spent every waking moment together, much to Luciano's annoyance. Logan indulged his son to play and laugh without restraint. The two would sit in the living room watching videos, reading, or drawing.

"Francesco, it's time to restart your lessons." Luciano stood over Logan and Adam as they drafted the design for a small house plan on the table.

The pair looked up at the elder man. Luciano's look was one that did not tolerate objection, but Adam met his grandfather's stare with unwavering courage.

"His name's Adam." Logan corrected.

Luciano's eye twitched at Logan's statement, and he glared angrily at the younger man. "Francesco." Luciano ordered.

"If she wanted him called Francesco, it would have been his first name. It's not. His name is Adam."

Luciano swelled his chest, but Logan stood up to meet him eye-to-eye. Adam grabbed his father's hand. "Dad, it's okay."

"It's not. He doesn't respect your mother's decisions, but expects her to trust him. He's the reason you slit your throat, isn't he?"

Luciano froze. He looked down at his trembling hands. A pained look crossed his face as he staggered out of the room, unable to look at Adam or Logan. Luciano did not interact with the two directly after that. Instead, he sent his orders through Stella. To Logan's dissatisfaction, Adam willingly picked up some of his old lessons, which left the two with less time to be together.

"There are advantages to learning these things." The boy reassured his father. "And if I can take over the family, I can take care of you and Mom. You're not rich enough to protect us."

Logan winced at the insult. "How do you know that for sure?"

"Can you make one phone call or send one email and make hundreds of people do what you want?"

Silence met Adam's question.

"When you guys were missing, he gave an order to Assistant Morbidelli, and in a few hours he was getting reports from different countries. You can't do that, Dad."

"...You're not going to take over the family immediately. What if you turn out like him?"

"I know. I won't, because you guys will be with me."

Logan looked at his son, surprised and confused.

"I want you guys to stay here with me. You've got a lot more free time on your hands, right?"

Logan shook his head. "We can't live in your grandfather's house. I won't do that to your mother."

"...Then I'll go home with you guys."

Logan hugged his son. "I don't think your grandfather will let us get away with that. We'll think about it as we go along." He kissed the boy's head.