Leave Me Alone, Big Brothers! [BL]-Chapter 108: A Warm Farmhouse

Nathan and Nael both breathed a sigh of relief. They looked at each other, seemingly agreeing that the Perlich family was indeed strange. And scary.

Nael looked at him as if to say, are you sure about this?

Nathan just shrugged. He wasn’t sure himself. But this was his attempt to get Alexander to listen to him.

The black car screeched to a halt in front of a sprawling, one-story ranch house. Nathan peered out the window, his heart still racing from the escape. But he was intrigued by the situation around him at the moment.

So was Nael.

They had expected the Perlich residence to be a fortress, black steel, armed guards with rifles, and maybe a few snarling Dobermans.

Instead, they saw a farmhouse.

The land around it was vast. Gabriel explained that in the spring, the place was usually lush with vegetable patches, blooming lavender, and tomatoes.

Nael, who rarely left high-prestige places, and Nathan, who rarely left except for work, were now mesmerized by the scene in front of them.

The expanse of snow, with a few trees here and there, looked white, peaceful, and soothing.

They imagined the beauty of the place in spring. Maybe it would be just like the farmhouse in a fairy tale. They would probably enjoy running around under the trees far away.

Gabriel looked at the two of them with a broad smile.

"Welcome to the lair," Gabriel joked, though his eyes were soft.

When the car stopped, they immediately got out.

The small house, with a smoking chimney, looked so warm. Several men were seen in the small house next door, carrying buckets and talking quite loudly.

Their bodies were tattooed with scary faces. But their laughter made the atmosphere not so scary.

"Come in!" Gabriel invited.

The front door swung open before they even reached the porch. A woman with bright, smiling eyes and a broad smile on her lips, which seemed to light up the entire yard, hurried out.

"Oh, you’re here! Gabriel has been talking about you boys since he woke up!" Without a second’s hesitation, she pulled Nathan into a tight, fragrant embrace—smelling of milk and fresh herbs—and then did the same to a very startled Nael.

"Mom! Stop!" Gabriel groaned, his face flushing pink. "Don’t hug them like that. They might not be comfortable! They’re Salazars, not teddy bears."

She pulled back just enough to keep her hands on Nael’s shoulders, looking at Gabriel with an amused glint. "What are you saying? Who on earth would refuse a hug? Especially these two. Look at those cute faces." She turned back to Nathan and Nael. "Right, honey? You don’t mind a little hug, do you?"

Nael, who was used to handshakes and only hugs from his family, felt a little nervous, but a strange lump formed in his throat. "I... no, Ma’am. It’s nice."

Nathan, on the other hand, smiled happily. He was reminded of Lara.

"See?" she chirped, ushering them inside.

"Call me Kim. I’m Gabo’s mom," said the woman, her voice warm and melodious.

Nathan and Nael just nodded. They immediately liked the woman.

They looked around the interior. It was even more surprising. It didn’t look like a mansion or an orphanage. Just a simple home.

There were mismatched pillows, photos everywhere, and the smell of slow-cooked broth, warm bread, and burning wood. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

In the corner of the kitchen stood a tall, imposing man with a jagged scar on his forearm and eyes that looked like they had seen things no one should see.

Drakken Perlich.

Gabriel immediately introduced the man to Nathan and Nael. "Don’t be afraid. He is a bit scary, but he is very kind. He is my father."

Nael swallowed hard. "Hello, sir. Nice to meet you."

Drakken smiled. But his face looked even more terrifying. "I didn’t expect my son to bring Salazars home. But, well, welcome, kids. Just make yourselves comfortable. You won’t see fancy things here. But it’s what I love. I hate modern life."

Kim, who was busy with the food behind him, simply replied, "Don’t talk like you live in the Stone Age."

She looked at the twins. "We still use a refrigerator and microwave," she said jokingly.

Drakken didn’t speak, his face serious, but he gently pushed Nathan and Nael toward the dining table. "Sit wherever you’re comfortable."

When they sat down, they realized something.

The loan shark owner was currently wearing an apron that said ’World’s Best Dad’. The man returned to Kim’s side to help her.

The twins blinked repeatedly, as if they had just seen something spectacular. It was far from what they had imagined.

Kim continued talking to them while her hands were busy. Drakken prepared something on the side of the table next to him while occasionally responding.

Such a warm scene.

Gabriel appeared from another corner of the room, already changed.

"Nathan can’t take spicy food, Mom," Gabriel shouted as she began ladling the broth. "It makes his stomach hurt. And nothing sour, either. He’s still recovering from... everything. What did you have, Nathan?"

He forgot the name of the disease.

Before Nathan could get a word out, Kim waved a wooden spoon dismissively. "Gabo, since when have I ever fed you something spicy? It’s safe. It’s only chicken and sausage broth."

She winked at Nathan, her voice dropping into a warm tone. "As long as it’s cooked with love, it’ll fix your stomach better than any doctor. You’ll feel good."

Drakken remained silent, but he caught Nathan’s eye and gave a single, slow nod of confirmation. It was as if he were saying, She’s right, kid. Just eat.

Nael sat beside Nathan, his shoulders finally dropping from his ears. He looked around the room, at the messy bookshelves, the faint day light on the floor. He giggled when Drakken hovered near Kim, ready to catch her if she tripped.

"Your parents are really lovely," Nael said softly, watching Kim playfully swat Drakken’s hand away when he tried to sneak a piece of hot bread.

"Really? They really are the best, I can assure you," Gabriel said happily from his chair.

Kim placed the appetizers on the table. "Gabo, tell them to eat a lot. I will not let them leave before they empty the table."

Then she walked away with a bunch of new questions. Somehow, that woman always found new things to ask.

***

In the restaurant.

Adam looked at his phone.

Alexander.

Zane held his breath.