It has now been almost two weeks since I last saw the Marino siblings. They have been in Italy all this time collecting new targets to get to our enemy. This job has been more difficult than it seems, but because I trust their credibility, I know that it will be done on time and in the most perfect way. I can't wait to see the same fear in that man's lifeless orbs, which are usually filled with amusement and sadism.

In five minutes, I had to attend the third meeting of the day. Life as a businessman and as the boss of The WildCats was not something laughable, as no matter how much tensed you are, you still have to keep going.

But isn't that the case for everybody else?

Luca, my best friend, is the perfect example of going on. His father had died doing his duty as the member of The WildCats, when he was too young. Since then, he took up the responsibility of bringing up his little sister, and never shed a single tear.

What happened to him was not just at all, but there was no way he could revoke that, and bring back his father. There was no way an eight years old boy could protect his father, but the pain he carries is still raw and present inside his heart. It eats him every single time be walks on the streets of New York, and finds children running around and playing with their fathers. He has never fully been at peace with it, and invariably smiles at everyone. He smiles too much so that his sister, and the others can't see his pain.

He smiles so that the others shouldn't become depressed like him.

So that they can have the joy he never had in his life.

I finally received Luca's call in the middle of my meeting with some investors, which I decided to ignore because I already knew he must have reached my office. Because I work and live in the same building, it's extremely convenient at times like these.

Apparently, entering the office was a blunder on my part because as soon as I entered, I was tackled in a huge hug. By none other than our idiot, Luca.

"Tiger man, I missed you soooo much!!"

He exclaimed like he was my girlfriend.

"Stop clinging to me asshole. Get away from me."

I pushed him away but this bitch won't budge.

"Oh come on, I just came back from a two week long work vacation, and you can't even greet me properly?"

He started pouting now.

Wait... Did he just.... pout??

"Oh God, get the hell away from me and tell me how was Italy? Did you succeed or not?"

I said, clearly not in the mood for jokes and obnoxious cuddling with my friend.

"Alright, okay. I'm so done with you. Anyways, so Bria is going to stay in Italy for a while now. The search for his men who deal with prostitutes wasn't difficult, considering everyone in that town knows who they are."

"I have introduced her to one of them, who immediately took a liking to her. She will, very soon, get to him, and by then, we will already be in Italy, ready to pounce on him."

Listening to him, I couldn't believe my ears. How could he be so relaxed about all this? Even if it's an ambush, he still sold his sister to a demon, and he's... okay with it??

"Luca, what is wrong with you? Why don't you show any emotion? Why couldn't you stop her from taking this kind of a decision that day? Did you like selling her to that brute with your own hands?"

At this, he calmly replied,

"No. No, I didn't like it one bit. In fact, I wanted to punch myself and kick myself and... kill myself with a gun. But, I also know why she took such a daring decision, and why I had to say yes to her."

"Why did you have to say yes? She couldn't force you to do that!"

I asked him more eagerly, my voice raising along with my stress, which forced me to light a cigarette. Although I know it's not good for my health, and I'm pretty health conscious, I only smoke when the stress I'm having is out of control.

And this mission was not giving me good vibes at all.

"She has seen her elder brother doing all sorts of dangerous things since a very young age. I have never feared death, or torture, or getting hit by a knife or a gun. I've invariably been intrepid and brave. So, how can you expect her to not learn that? How can you expect her to just become lilly livered and not follow my footsteps? She is doing this now because this is the first time she has gotten a chance like that. And there is nothing I could do to lessen her conviction. Nothing."

I took a large amount of smoke in as I heard him speak. For the first time since that discussion, I could see genuine worry and defeat on his face. He felt like he had failed in his duties as an elder brother. He must have beaten himself up too many times and so, I didn't want him to think about that any further. He has always been there for me and today, it is my turn.

"Don't worry man. I promise you that nothing or nobody will be able to even lay a single finger on her. She is my sister too and I will be there for her protection. We will get through this together."

"Thanks man. I know I can count on you."

He said, finally returning to his old self and flashing me his idiotic smile, indicating he was about to say something really stupid now.

"But in the meantime, how about a visit to that club of ours? You know you can't say no, since you want me to be in a good mood."

He finished off with a cheeky smile, making me smile and shake my head at his antics.

I put out the rest of my cigarette in the holder and said,

"Okay you cheeky bastardo. Let's fun some fun tonight."

"Yess, let's forget ourselves tonight!!"

♤♤♤

Everything around me was black. Dark. No lights. I felt as if I was blind.

There were people around me. They were all moving, going somewhere. I was oblivious of their destination, but hyper aware of the fact that they were very near.

I couldn't step out in the light, for I was afraid that I would be seen. I was afraid that there were demons out there who would hurt me, or worse, kill me.

My mamma had told me before,

"Dear Alesso, don't come out in the light unless your mamma or dad tells you to. You will stay here and wait for us. Okay?"

"But, you will come back right?"

I asked, clutching on to her clothes, scared that those demons will snatch her away from me.

"Yes dear. We will definitely come back. Don't worry,"

She reassured me, but I still couldn't let go of her.

My hands started trembling the moment my mamma went out of my reach. I wanted her to be near me, to feel her embrace, in order to feel safe and secure. With her gone, I could already sense peril.

Our little paradise was infected.... permanently.

Suddenly, after a while, I heard gunshots. They just didn't stop. The sound was deafening, the cries of the people getting hit, even more pitiful.

I blocked my ears with my hands, trying to cope with the darkness as well as the sounds, but I was failing miserably.

The sounds were so systematic, the gunshots seemed to be so carefully planned to tempt me out of my darkness and expose myself. They were meant to instill a lifelong fear in me, to handicap me for the rest of my life, to terrorize me, and to eventually, end me, but they weren't successful. At least that is what I thought.

But nothing ever goes the way you want it to.

Suddenly, the darkness, the black surroundings disappeared from my eyes, and it was replaced with a blinding white light.

I was exposed. I was in the open, where any demon could devour me within seconds.

As I opened my eyes slowly, I looked up to see an awfully disgusting face of an old man, who sported dark greasy locks and a sinister smile. His eyes were the coldest grey color, and his voice was crueler than Satan's.

His lips turned upwards into a mocking chuckle as he saw how fear had registered in my innocent orbs, and then he said those words.

"Already afraid of me? My boy- oh no... my 'dear', you haven't even seen Roberto Alfonsi at his most powerful stage. But don't worry, for this is exactly why I'm here - to show you my power and subdue you forever."

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