Never Judge

"I'm here to apologize." Benedict said with a frown as he took a step closer to Cedric, who was seated on his bed.

Cedric watched as the guards tensed up at Benedict's actions. He knew these men were trained to consider everything to be a threat, and right now Benedict seemed dangerous to them.

"Relax." Cedric said to the guards, they however remained on alert.

"It's okay Cedric." Benedict said as he gave Cedric a sad look. "I know I am a threat right now. Both Camilla and I could be a danger."

"Are you?" Cedric asked Benedict. He trusted the man enough to expect him to speak the truth.

"I think I am not, but emotions are a dangerous thing." Benedict said, shaking his head. "I cannot deny that I am hurting."

"Benedict, your brother just died. It's normal." Cedric said with a nod. He understood what Benedict was going through, he recently lost his mother, and the pain of losing a loved one was just insurmountable. 

"My brother was not a good man." Benedict said, shaking his head. "His death was not a loss to humanity."

"It was still a loss to you." Cedric said with a sigh. "You said you came to apologize?" Cedric asked, returning their discussion to the main topic.

"Yes, I came to apologize on behalf of our whole family." Benedict said with a hopeful look in his eyes. "Our family has caused too much pain to yours and with Aiden's death I want to promise you that no one from our side will go after yours."

"Thank you, Benedict." Cedric said with a nod as he smiled at both Benedict and Camilla. 

"We've buried Aiden." Camilla informed Cedric. "We placed him in the Ortiz family crypt. We plan to tell our grandfather tonight."

"I'll also tell him that Camilla didn't die, that she is here, alive." Benedict told Cedric. 

"What of the Carpios?" Cedric asked Benedict.

"I guess we have to inform our auntie that we are alive." Benedict said with a sigh. "They will see it as treason that we both work for you." Benedict said with an awkward laugh.

"You need to convince her first that you really are your mother's children." Cedric teased. "As far as the Carpios know, your mother only had Aiden."

"Well, it's nothing that a DNA test can't prove." Camilla said with a shrug. "Plus we will try to ask grandfather to accompany us."

"If you need anything, tell me. " Cedric said with a nod.

"Actually there is something we need your help on." Benedict said nervously.

"Anything that I can do, I will." Cedric said with a nod. He considered Benedict to be a friend, plus he was Camilla's brother.

"We need you to come with us to speak to our grandfather, actually we need you to speak to our grandfather for us." Benedict said as he scratched his head.

"Why would you need me to do that?" Cedric asked with a laugh.

"Well if grandpa saw me and Camilla, he will think he is already dead." Benedict said slowly, trying not to laugh as well. 

Cedric burst out laughing, it was a valid idea, it was just too funny.

"I'm sorry, I know it's serious, but still." Cedric said. 

"Will you go with us?" Camilla asked, slightly annoyed with Cedric.

"Yes, of course." Cedric said with a laugh, amused at Camilla's expression. "We just need to get clearance from my doctor."

"Miguel should let you go. Your injuries are not that bad." Benedict said, looking at Cedric's shoulder that was currently immobilized.

"Well, I don't want to talk to your grandfather with this damned thing on." Cedric said, pointing at his injured shoulder. "I at least want to look intimidating. Not like some weak second generation heir."

"You men and your pride." Camilla said, rolling her eyes.

"You can go in a week." Miguel said as he entered the room, surprising everyone. 

"I thought you were still at the field hospital?" Cedric asked. "Are all the men patched up?" 

"Yes, I am not needed there." Miguel said with a nod. "I was in the other room, checking up on Alexi when I heard that Camilla and Benedict were in here. I caught enough of your conversation to know that you need to help them."

"The others will not want to be left behind." Cedric said with a sigh. He knew his friends would not be satisfied by taking a back seat in this mission.

"Well Alxi will have no choice but to stay." Miguel said with a shrug. "Aiden's men got him pretty good. But Alexi's team killed all of their attackers."

"Did you call home to tell them we are fine?" Cedric asked Miguel, realizing that he had forgotten.

"I called them." Camilla said. "I knew you forgot, being shot and all."

"I'll give my wife and father a call after this." Cedric said with a nod. "Thank you Camilla."

"It's nothing." Camilla said with a smile.

"Cedric." Ian said, knocking on the door of his room.

"Yes?" Cedric asked.

"The Lobos are here to visit you. Amanda and Tony are with them as well." Ian said. 

"We'll go on ahead." Benedict told Cedric as he nodded towards Camilla, signalling for her to leave.

"Alright." Cedric said, allowing the siblings to leave.

As soon as Cedric gave the go signal to Ian, Amanda came running in, hugging Cedric.

"My cousin is going to kill you for getting injured like this." Amanda scolded Cedric.

"When did you arrive? I thought you and Tony were in the capital." Cedric said as he greeted them with a friendly smile.

"We visited your home only to find Adrianna and Emilio there, without you." Tony explained. "Adrianna told us about your plan to capture Aiden and send him to prison, we just had to go home."

"My parents didn't even tell me that you contacted them!" Amanda complained. 

"I asked them not to. I didn't want to get your hopes up." Cedric confessed.

"Did you get him? Is Aiden Ortiz really going to jail?" Amanda asked as tears welled up in her eyes.

"No Amanda, I didn't capture Aiden." Cedric said.

He watched as a heartbroken look crossed all of their faces, he knew how angry the Lobos had been since they found out Aiden had been behind Jam's and his mother's deaths.

"I didn't capture him, but I killed him." Cedric admitted.

Amanda gave him a blank look before finally bursting into tears, hugging Cedric. This time it wasn't tears of pain, but tears of joy.

As much as Cedric wanted to be happy about Aiden's death, he still felt like something was tugging at his heart.

He should have been happy, he killed the man behind so many deaths. He saved so many people that could have died at Aiden's hands.

But why did he feel more pain at killing Aiden? Why was he being eaten up by guilt? He had to kill Aiden, it was either kill or be killed and he only acted in self defence.

All around him people were celebrating, rejoicing that such a dangerous man was gone. Even his own siblings felt like they had been set free with their brother's demise. Why was he feeling different? Why wasn't he happy?

Why did he feel guilty for Aiden's death?