CHAPTER 2: THE MAFIA BOSS AND THE PERFECT FATHER

“Looks like you have to join your comrades in hell now, Lucas,” I said as I pointed the gun on his head.

Blood was dripping on his face as he knelt down in front of me, “I-I’m begging you, Sylus. Forgive me, please… I still have a family… I have a wife…I—

Before he could even finish what he was about to say, I already pulled the trigger and shot him dead.

“Pleading won’t work on me, Lucas. Especially for a fucking traitor like you.” I said as I tossed the gun to the floor and removed the gloves I was wearing.

“Boss, are we going to meet with Theodore Ornelli?”

“No. Let’s visit him tomorrow instead. What time is it already?” I asked Jerome, my personal assistant for ten years.

He glanced at his watch and looked at me, “It’s already six in the evening, Sir.”

“Let’s head to the kindergarten.”

“Yes, boss.”

I took off my coat that has a blood stain the moment the limo stopped in front of the kindergarten. I stepped out of the car and smiled as soon as I saw a little girl sitting on a bench waving at me. She has a long blonde hair and hazel brown eyes just like her mom. She looks exactly like her.

“Daddy!” she cooed and started running towards me the moment she saw me.

I bent down and hugged her tightly, “I’m sorry daddy is late. I just had to attend something. Did you wait so long here?”

“It’s alright, daddy. My friends accompanied me anyway while I was waiting for you. One of my best friend’s mom even bought us some sandwich.”

“Really? That’s good then. By the way, would you like to eat outside? I would also buy you an ice cream since you waited for daddy.”

Her eyes widened and eyes looked as if they were sparkling the moment she heard what I just said, “Yes, I’d love that! I want to eat ice cream!”

“Alright. Everything for my princess.”

I held her hand as we started walking towards a restaurant near the kindergarten.

Natalia is my five-year old daughter. Ever since her mom disappeared, I had to raise her on my own.

“Daddy, do you think mommy will still come back to us?” Natalie asked me as I tucked her in.

“Of course, sweet heart. Mommy will come back. You know how much she loves us, right?”

“Yes, daddy. I wonder what’s taking her so long. Maybe we can just ask our driver to pick her up from where she is right now.”

I chuckled and kissed her on the forehead, “We can’t do that, sweetheart. Maybe if you continue being a good girl, mommy will eventually come back to us. We just have to wait. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, daddy. I promise to be a good girl so mommy will finally go back to us again.”

“That’s my girl. Go to sleep now.”

“Good night, daddy.”

“Good night, my baby.”

As soon as Natalia finally fell asleep, I left her room and went to mine. I sat on the edge of my bed and reached for the picture frame which contains our family photo. It was taken three years ago when my beloved wife and the only woman I have ever loved, Charlotte Greene was still here with us.

We loved each other so much. Charlotte was the only one who taught me how to love when all I ever wanted to do was to kill all of my enemies and be alone forever. Marrying her was the best decision I have ever made. We became happier when Natalia came into our lives.

One day when she was on her way home from a business trip, the plane that she was riding suddenly crashed. Upon the thorough investigation, we have only found the body of the pilot, his assistant, and the personal maid of my wife. Charlotte’s body was never found.

That is why until now, I still believe that she is still alive and she will come back to us someday.

If that ever happen, I will promise to never leave her alone again. I will never let her go by herself anymore.

I will do everything for her to come back to me again.

“I love you so much, Charlotte. I hope you come back to us soon…” I whispered as I lay down on my bed.

***

“Sylus, I think you already need to stop searching for Charlotte. It’s been three years already, I don’t think it would take this long to find her if she is still alive,” Luke, the older brother of Charlotte said to me.

I shook my head, “I will never stop searching for her until the day I die. I still believe that she is still alive. You are his brother, why are you talking like you don’t even want to see her again?”

“Of course I want to see her again. What I am trying to say is that, do not think your world stopped just because Charlotte is no longer here. If she is still here, for sure she wouldn’t want to see you this miserable, too. You have a child, you need to take care of her and yourself, too.”

“I know what I’m doing, Luke. You don’t have to tell me what to do. No matter what you say, I will keep on searching for Charlotte. If you’re already losing hope, then I am not.”

He let out a deep sigh, “I know that you love my sister so much, but as your brother-in-law, I don’t like it when I see you miserable. You know I already treat you as my brother, too. If you really want to still search for Charlotte, then do it. Whenever you need help, just call me.”

“Thanks.”

“By the way, can I come over to your house some other time to visit Natalia?”

“Of course. She’s been looking for you, too.”