Never Judge

Cedric watched as Kenneth jumped in his seat from the impact of the ice and cold water that was poured on him.

When he saw Alexi and Benedict sitting across him he began to panic.

"You can't do this to me! You can't hold me captive like this! It's against the law!" Kenneth began to scream.

Cedric heard Ray laugh, it was cold and unlike his friend's normal laughter. 

He watched as Kenneth's once brave expression changed to one of fear and worry.

"Do you really think we care about the law?" Alexi asked as he stood up and grabbed a fistfull of Kenneth's hair, slamming his head down on the table in front of him.

"Mr. Cruz, even if we take you to court, you will end up back here, with us." Ray said in a cold tone. "You know how the underworld works, having been a part of it yourself for so long."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Kenneth Cruz said as he spat out blood. 

"Don't play innocent Mr. Cruz, we know what you are, who you are." Alexi said with a laugh. "No matter how many times you scrub yourself clean, the stench of a street rat remains the same."

"You have no proof." Kenneth Cruz said angrily.

Ray threw his head back and laughed.

"You really think there is nothing we can do to find all those dirty secrets you are hiding Mr. Cruz?" Ray asked. "You are a fool to think you can hide things from us."

"I hid my boss long enough, you didn't find him till he allowed himself to be found." Kenneth said in anger. "Aiden remained hidden because of me! He showed himself to you on his own terms."

Cedric sat up at the confession, he was expecting Kenneth to deny working for Aiden, or at least to try hiding the fact from them. But now, without even being asked, Kenneth had confessed to working for Aiden.

"So would you say you are his right hand man?" Alexi asked with a grin.

Kenneth's eyes suddenly went wide with shock, it seemed that he didn't realize that he had just confessed to working for Aiden.

"It's too late for that now Kenneth." Ray said, laughing at the man's expression. "Either you cooperate with us and no one gets hurt, or you resist and we make you wish you were dead till you speak."

Kenneth sat, considering his options, Cedric was hoping that Kenneth would just give them all of the information they needed, but he also knew that Kenneth would never do that.

The man knew that he was doomed no matter what. He had crossed the five princes, there was no escaping their wrath. The best that he could do was to keep his mouth shut and hope for rescue.

When Ray and Alexi noticed that the man would not speak, they smiled at each other.

Cedric knew it was just an act, but he couldn't help but think that these two men were acting like deranged blood thirsty criminals.

"Take him to the back!" Ray ordered. "Don't kill him but let him feel all of the pain."

At that command. Ray's men nodded and untied Kenneth. They picked him up like a rag doll and dragged him to the back of the interrogation room.

Ray and Alexi decided to take a break and returned to the connecting room where Cedric and the others were watching.

"Do you think he will crack soon?" Cedric asked as Alexi dropped himself on the couch and Ray unscrewed a bottle of water.

"He slipped and let his pride get the better of him." Alexi said in a tired voice. "I think he will be on his guard from now on."

"Why not use his family against him?" Benedict asked.

"It doesn't work that easily." Alexi said, shaking his head. "We need to time it properly. We need to make sure that he is broken enough before threatening to take those that he loves."

"Add to that the fact that Lorisa annoys him, they don't have the best relationship you know." Ray said with a shrug.

"And what of Anton, and his grandson?" Cedric asked. 

"Those two matter to him, we just need to know if it's all transactionary for him or if he does care about them." Alexi said with a nod agreeing with Cedric.

"I don't understand how parents can hate their own children." Ram said with a frown. "They are your flesh and blood."

"Sometimes our true families are those that we choose and not those that we are born into." Benedict suddenly said as he got up and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

"I got this." Ram said, chasing after the person he had just offended. "He misunderstood what I said."

Cedric nodded letting his friend rectify the situation. 

Outside, in one of the many gardens, Benedict looked up at the stars. 

The Mountain View community was far enough that light pollution failed to dim the bright lights above them. Benedict sighed as he sat on the manicured lawn.

"You misunderstood me." A voice suddenly said, making Benedict turn around. When he saw it was Ram he turned his eyes back at the stars.

"I don't think I did." Benedict said with a sigh. "It just still hurts, it's been years, but it still hurts."

"I wasn't talking about your parents." Ram said, joining Benedict on the grass. "I'm not an Abad by blood." Ram confessed.

"That didn't come up in my investigation." Benedict said with a laugh. "I guess I'm not as good as I think I am."

"Don't worry, no one figured it out either." Ram said with a smile. "Ever since I could remember, I've always wondered why my birth parents gave me up."

"Did you ever find them? Your birth parents I mean?" Benedict asked Ram.

"No, I never really looked for them." Ram said with a shrug.

"Why not?" Benedict asked, giving Ram a confused look. "Isn't it normal for children to look for their parents? Why didn't you look for yours? I'm sure you have the resources to do so."

"Because it doesn't matter." Ram said with a sincere smile. "My family, my adopted family is my true family. Veronica is my sister, Victoria is my mother, and James is my father. They chose me and they love me."

"I'm sorry that I assumed you were being inconsiderate." Benedict confessed.

"It's normal." Ram said with a laugh. "No one has ever suspected me being adopted."

"Camilla is the family I choose, and well whoever I marry in the future, they will be my family." Benedict said in a determined tone.

"Good." Ram said as he got up. "I'll head back in. Join us when you are ready." 

Benedict could sense as Ram left him alone. Benedict closed his eyes and took deep breaths. Growing up he never felt loved or cared for, as a matter of fact, Cedric and his group had shown Benedict more love than his own family.

He was glad he abandoned his brother, he was happy he had found Camilla, finally he could live a peaceful life.

After a few minutes Benedict stood up and returned to the interrogation room, his mind clearer than it had been in years, like a load had been lifted off of him. 

"You're back." Cedric greeted with a nod as he gestured for Benedict to take a seat. "We were about to begin again."