A Sinner Like Him

Sitting on a wooden chair, he was unable to move as his body was completely chained in ropes. Almost an hour ago, he was doing his job of snapping pictures of rich and famous people and their whereabouts but now he had found himself in this dark and inky room which was looking like some kind of old and abandoned storehouse, completely chained in ropes.

The entire place was reeking of blood, dirt and terror which frightened him even more. The only source of light was a dim lamp illuminating over his head. Where was he? And why was he here? 

Suddenly his ears got filled with the sound of those heavy footsteps coming closer towards him and then that strongly expensive and manly cologne grazed against his nostrils before that huge tall figure came in front of his vision.

Because of the darkness, he could not see the face of that burly muscular frame standing before him.

"Who are you? Let me go from here," that man yelled while struggling in those ropes. Finally the lamp above him turned vigorous and spread its light all over that room, even on the face of that frame and that chained man's blood ran cold in horror by seeing that face.

"Mr Riccardo Alfanso," he uttered, petrified. Fear immediately engulfed his eyes which filled those dark brown orbs with satisfaction. The corner of his mouth tugged upward as he heard that man taking his name in utter horror, like he had seen his death in front of him.

Two of his men came forward and stood behind him. 

"He is Thomson Leu," he heard his second in command, Dario, telling him. 

"It was him who took pictures of yours in that club last night and then tried to circulate it in the public," his smirk turned iniquitous after hearing Dario but his mouth didn't utter a single word whereas his eyes were busy in analysing that fear in that man named Thomson's eyes.

Riccardo Alfanso was a very well reputed and big name, not just only in the business world but even outside it but that same exact name was enough to shiver the dark and feral walls of the underground which considered him as a vicious and most deadliest sinner of their world. But this man dared to expose his sinister side to that world which considered him as a highly reputed and powerful businessman.

"He took your pictures of entering into that club last night, boss," 

"I was just doing my work, Mr Alfanso. Nothing else," Thomas tried to defend himself. His tearful eyes were begging to him because he was aware of what brutality that brown eyes owner was capable of doing to him because he had seen it last night with his own eyes and made that mistake of trying to tell about it to the outside world.

"I ….. I have nothing against you. Pl…please let me go," he pleaded with him who was still staring at him silently until.

"Please, let me go. I have a family. I was doing all of it for them, Mr Alfanso," a tear slipped down from that man's eyes as he begged him. His words caused his smirk to completely fade from his face.

Lifting his hand up in the air, he signalled his men to free him from his ropes through his fingers. His men immediately followed his unsaid words and untied that man. 

Thomas stood up on his feet as he felt like his words had really affected him and perhaps he was not that brutal and cruel as he was thinking of him. He had a heart which melted in the name of his family.

Again using his fingers, he gestured to that man to leave. Thomas joined his hands in front of him. His happiness knew no boundaries as he felt like getting saved from the mouth of his death.

"Thank you so much, Mr Alfanso. Thank you so very much for sparing my life," saying that Thomas twirled around and attempted to run away from there as soon as possible. 

He had just reached the door and was about to step out of it when he heard the loud sound of that bullet shooting from a gun and he felt something getting painfully pierced inside his back. His whole body jolted in pain, like something started burning inside him, especially on his back.

With his jiggling legs, Thomas turned around and saw that predatory crueller aiming his gun at him which was still evoking smoke. Death was ghosting in those dark brown eyes of his whereas a fatal grin was playing on his sadistic face and at that moment, he saw the deadly reflection of a grim reaper in that sinner's serene demeanour.

"I am also doing it for my family," he finally unlatched his mouth to make those words fall out from it in his rapacious deep voice and then once again, he pulled the barrel of his gun. His bullet got pierced inside that man's heart which immediately started leaking blood.

He saw him falling on the ground with a loud thud and witnessed his soul getting snatched out of his body through his eyes. He grinned, diabolically by seeing his lifeless opened eyes which could be terrifying for any normal person but it was not for him. 

Stepping closer to that man's dead body, he saw his reflection flashing on that man's soulless eyes which gave him the satisfaction he was craving to have and that was who…. RICCARDO ALFANSO was….a treacherous sinner wrapped in the facade of a saint. 

Even for once, believing in his worst could be less harmful but even as a mistake, falling for his good was nothing but a sin…just like him.

"Burn his body alive. No traces should be found," he commanded, looking at his man, Dario. He nodded at his boss.

"Boss, your wife, Mrs Alfanso is continuously calling me as she could not reach your phone," Dario informed him, earning a curt nod from his boss. 

Turning around, Riccardo walked out of that storehouse. He took out his phone from the pocket of his coat while walking towards his expensive dark black car. His driver opened the backseat door for him. 

Getting inside his car, he switched on his phone and saw his wife's ten missed calls and 5 messages which made him clench his jaw. 

He was ordering his driver to drive away when again his wife's name started flashing on his phone's screen. Exasperated, he finally picked up the call.

"How many fucking times I have to tell you to not call me when I am at work, Valery?" He growled, irritated and enraged. His driver started the engine as per his order.

"I am sorry, Riccardo. It was just I got worried because you didn't call me after reaching Spain," he heard his wife telling him. 

"Cut this fucking sweet bullshit of yours and come to the point, Valery," he warned her because he knew she had some intentions behind her desperate calls. After all, they both were married for almost 2 years now. He was aware of her nature and character. He heard her sighing on the other side.

"Tomorrow is the inauguration of my exhibition hall, so…."

"I will reach Italy tomorrow, so stop fucking calling me over and over again," growling that he hung up the call and exhaled a heavy breath.

Leaning his head against the seat, he spread his legs wide and just closed his eyes. Italy….his home country but did he miss anything about his home? No fucking way but at that moment, he was not aware that that thought of his was going to change completely tomorrow in that inauguration of the exhibition hall of his wife….

……………..

"Wow, Aniya. This painting is looking really very beautiful," 

A smile formed on her face, hearing her friend, Niova, praising her painting.

"Do you think anyone would like to buy it in that exhibition?" She asked, a little self dubious. No doubt she used to love art a lot, especially giving a picture to her emotions with the help of her painting but still, she lacked confidence in her own self a bit. 

"Of course, Ani. You took 4 months to complete this painting of yours and it's just looking magical," Niova tried to boost her confidence.

"And that's why look, it got selected for such a big exhibition centre in just one application," Aniya heard her 

"The Valery Alfanso exhibition is going to be one of the biggest exhibition centres in our country and your painting got selected for tomorrow's inauguration ceremony. So this proves the worth of your painting," 

Aniya flashed her a smile and nodded. Maybe, Niova was actually right. She should feel confident about her hard work.

"I just hope someone would buy it tomorrow for a good price so that I could use that money for Flora's treatment," she uttered, honestly. She did earn well but still it was not enough for the expensive treatments of Flora's diagnosis.

"Hope so. You will receive the highest bidder for your hard work," Aniya smiled at Niova's words and then looked at her painting. Hope so, she would get a great possessor for her possession. Only if she knew.

"Has Flora fallen asleep?" Aniya nodded at Niova's question. 

"Yes, I made her sleep early today because tomorrow she has an early appointment with her doctor in the morning and for that reason, I have also taken a day off tomorrow from my work as in the morning, I have to take her to her doctor and in the evening, I have that exhibition," 

"Oh…okay. Don't worry, I will come with you if you want," Niova's words melted her heart. She was really an amazing friend and had always supported her in her good and bad. Aniya had met Niova in a restaurant almost a year ago and from that they both became very good friends. She even took care of Flora when Aniya went to her work without asking her a single question. After her daughter, Niova was a blessing in her life.

"No, I can manage the doctor's appointment in the morning but I will be grateful if you could come with me to that exhibition," she requested as she knew she needed someone to handle everything there in that foreign place.

"Come on, Ani. Just treat me with a burger and a lot of kisses from my princess, Flora, then watch me sell my neighbours house for you," both the girls chuckled at Niova's sarcasm.

"Okay then bye. I will see you tomorrow, Ani," Aniya wagged her head at her which made Niova leave. 

After locking the doors and windows, she went to their bedroom and found her little angel peacefully sleeping. Aniya slipped down beside her on the bed and under the duvet.

Gently pecking the crown of her daughter's head, she engulfed her into her warm arms because she was her life. Flora slightly shifted and hugged her mother by wrapping her legs and arms around her.

"Good night, momma. Love you so much," she uttered in her half sleepy baby voice. Aniya smiled and started patting her back.

"Good night, Ora. Love you more, my baby," saying that she closed her eyes and went to her sleep while thinking about tomorrow as it was going to be a very big day for her which was the truth. Tomorrow was going to be a life changing day for her.

A day which was going to light up a new beginning for Aniya Meier by ending her with the darkness of Riccardo Alfanso.