Midnight Tears

Kaito let out a sigh of relief when the court case was adjourned until further notice. It had been a great day for his team, and they were slowly wearing down the defendant, trying to get him to confess to where he had buried his client's daughter's head.

The defendant was a man who shouldn't be allowed to walk free, and he was putting everything he had into the case. Kaito was a man of his word, and if it meant billing his clients less than he normally would, then so be it.

He was a father to a 9-year-old girl and had nieces to protect from men like that. Unfortunately, the defendant was trying to claim insanity, which made it harder for his team to prosecute. Kaito wanted the man to rot in prison until his dying breath for what he did.

The upsetting part was that there were more girls out there who had fallen victim to the man's twisted ways, and only part of their bodies had been found. He kept a few body parts for trophies and thought he had gotten away with it until the neighbours complained about the putrid smell coming from his apartment.

Kaito looked over at the man being shackled again, the police leading him out, but he didn't miss the smug look on his face when he glanced their way. He clenched his fists under the table and watched him with a cold expression as he was led away.

"That bastard," Max muttered.

"I can't wait to see his face when he gets a full life sentence," Phillip scoffed, "He might have the money to pay for decent lawyers, but they aren't us."

"Correct," Annabelle said, pushing her glasses back up her nose and looking at the heartbroken couple beside her, "I know that this decision wasn't one you wanted, but it gives us some more time to come up with a plan. The jury knows he is guilty of his crimes; however, with the new plea of insanity, we need to bring in our psychologists to give a thorough interview with him. I'm not sure how long this will take, nor will we know the outcome."

"As far as his plea for insanity," Kaito said, crossing his arms. "I believe it's a move by his legal team to distract everyone from what has happened. If you don't mind my language, it's bullshit. I, for one, will fight tooth and nail with his team to prove to yourselves and the court that he is of stable mind. If their psychologists bring something to the table of a mental illness, then ours will prove there is nothing wrong with that man's mind."

"Thank you," Mrs Maynard sniffed, drying her tears, "I...I just want that man locked away forever so he doesn't do this to any other girls,"

"And we will make sure that happens," Kaito smiled tightly and got to his feet. "I will leave you with my team. I will have my secretary arrange another face-to-face so we can discuss this further."

Kaito sighed out the smoke from his cigarette and stared at his brother's front door until it finally opened. Isabella stood there with a small smile, her hair pulled up in a messy bun, with flour dusted across her body. The apron she wore did nothing to protect her clothes.

"Are you not supposed to put the flour in the bowl?" Kaito asked.

"Shut up, you," She chuckled, and he kissed her forehead as he walked in, "We were trying to bake cakes, but your no-good brother decided it would be better for me to wear the cake mixture."

"That sounds about right," Kaito shook his head and looked around his brother's new house. The penthouse suite they used to live in was now being rented out to his eldest son and Hina's eldest daughter. The kids were both studying at uni, and Ren offered them their place so they could study away from the madness.

Of course, they studied when they weren't drinking and partying.

Ren had bought a 6-bedroom house with a huge garden on a private estate. Despite it being overly large for the family of 4, Isabella made it feel homely and always welcome. She had a bedroom specifically for Kaito when he needed a break from life, and he was always surprised to wake up to breakfast in the morning.

Kaito had always loved Isabella. She didn't take any shit from his brother and fit into the family perfectly. She was charming, sweet and gorgeous. Someone perfect for his younger brother.

He was jealous, of course, he hadn't been able to get a second date for a few years due to his dysfunctional relationships with his ex-girlfriends. His kids always came first, and most girls he dated didn't want to take on the responsibility of someone else's kids.

Not even an owner of a very successful law firm could convince the woman to have a second date.

Kaito let out a sigh, and Isabella nudged him, "Sorry. I've had a long day in court."

"Can you not have a break?" Isabella asked.

"For a while," He nodded, "It's been adjourned, but I still need to work on it. The life of a lawyer, eh?"

"You can never say no,"

"What can I say?" Kaito grinned and threw an arm around her shoulders, "I'm a people pleaser."

"Hands off my wife," Ren said as they walked into the kitchen.

"We have decided to run away together," Kaito said, making Isabella giggle, "We can't stand being around your ugly face, and we will start a new family. The kids are ours,"

Ren scoffed, "Have fun. I'm sure you will have fun with Hana and Kimi."

"I'm sorry, Isabella," Kaito sighed, "I'll have to cancel our plans. I forgot your girls are fucking feral,"

"I can't disagree with that," Isabella smiled, "Anyway, dinner is in the oven, so grab a drink. I need to get changed, and babe, can you please get Hana to brush her hair? Kaito, I'm telling you, that girl was a cavewoman in her past life."

Kaito laughed and grabbed a beer from the fridge. Ren cleaned the kitchen, looking out the window to watch his kids run around the garden, their dog, Beef, chasing them.

"I can't believe you let your daughter name the dog," Kaito said.

"I had no fucking choice," Ren muttered, "It was either Beef or Vagina."

Kaito coughed out his beer, "Vagina? Where the fuck did they hear that from?"

Ren smirked, "I may have gone a little too hard on Isabella, and they heard her complain about her vagina being off-limits."

"I shouldn't have asked," Kaito laughed, "How is she? Isabella, that is?"

"She's doing as well as she can," Ren grabbed another beer. "It isn't easy losing a parent."

Kaito nodded. Isabella's mum passed away a few months ago from a short illness, and it was hard on the family. Her mum was loved by everyone, and it was a shock to everyone when they heard she had passed away. Her father had become a shell of a man, and Isabella and her sister were doing their best to keep him afloat. Robert was a strong man, a man who didn't always like help, but when he realised he couldn't do it alone, Ren had a house built at the end of their garden, so he was never alone.

"How's the case?" Ren asked.

"Don't fucking ask," Kaito ran his hand through his hair, "I shouldn't talk to you about it, but I trust you, and social media will twist everything. That sick fuck is pleading insanity now. My clients are already heartbroken, and the case has been going on for too fucking long. Then the defendant's team decides to make it even fucking longer by making that plea,"

"I'm sorry,"

"I am putting everything I can into this case, and it has turned around and bit us in the ass."

"You'll get it, brother," Ren said, "He will be locked away for what he did. You know what happens to men like that in prison,"

"That is if he goes to fucking prison," Kaito snapped, "They are trying to get him locked up in a fucking psychiatric hospital like he didn't kidnap, beat, rape and chop up young girls. That man is mentally sound, he's just-"

"Uncle Kaito!"

Kaito looked up and grunted when Hana ran full throttle into him, her head hitting his nuts. He groaned and almost dropped to his knees. Hana kissed his forehead and ran away from him.

"I hope you don't want more kids," Ren laughed.

"I'm 3 years from 40," Kaito winced, rubbing his nuts, "I doubt I'll find a girl who wants more kids."

"Hey, there are plenty of men out there who have kids in their 80s."

"And will die before they graduate college," Kaito said.

Ren folded his arms as Kimi hugged Kaito, "You need a break. Have you thought about having a night out?"

"Yes, but I remember what happened last time we went out drinking,"

"Ah, yes. Aiden and Emi outdrank us, and we have never heard the last of it," Ren grinned, "I blame the cheap shit they were drinking."

"So do I!" Kaito said, "We have expensive taste."

Ren nodded and drank his drink, "Or because we tried to keep up with them and have those fruity little shots. I was throwing up blue,"

"Mine was bright pink. I thought my stomach had burst and I was dying,"

"It was a great night."

"Best I've had in years,"

Once everyone had finished dinner, Kaito's kids were running around after Hana and Kimi.

Isabella groaned and dropped onto the sofa, wiggling her toes and smiling slightly, "I've missed having family dinners. The hustle and bustle, the unwanted loud noises and contagious laughs,"

"Then maybe you can have Kara spend the night," Tony muttered, running his finger up and down his wife's arm. Ellie snuggled closer to him, and Kaito spun the beer bottle in his hands.

He was the only single one sitting in their front room and felt like the third wheel. His sister was in Japan again, trying to convince her good-for-nothing husband to sign the divorce papers so she could get on with her life with her new man. Her husband didn't want that because he was losing the control he had on her. Ren and Kaito knew their marriage was set to fail the moment they announced they were married. Kaito had warned his sister he was a dick, but she didn't listen.

For the last 2 years, they have been living separately. Her ex was living with one of his bitches he had on the side, and Hina was left to raise her 5 children alone. Their dad didn't want anything to do with them because his interest was in chasing skirts and girls who were barely legal.

Kaito ran a hand down his face. "I'm going to head off."

"Are you sure?" Isabella said, "We still have pudding."

"I'm okay. I'm tired and need to get some rest before I start it all over again," Kaito said, and Ren glared at him.

"Keep Saturday night free," Ren said, pouring himself another whiskey, "We are going out. Tony as well,"

"Oh, fuck," Tony said, "I'm not drinking with you two again. I was almost arrested last time."

"I still haven't forgiven you for that," Ellie narrowed her eyes at Ren.

"I didn't think a cop was walking around the corner," Ren grinned.

"I was almost arrested for public indecency!"

"Good thing the cop was a woman and you have a big cock then,"

"Oh, my God!" Ellie exclaimed, "Ren! Shut up!"

"He isn't wrong," Tony said, and Ellie punched him in the chest, making him grunt.

"Well?" Ren looked at Kaito, "Are you in or are you out?"

"I am going to regret this," Kaito sighed, "But fine. I'm in, but if anything happens like that again, you and I are no longer brothers."