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CHAPTER 21
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A Second Chance CHAPTER 22
Antonio Dante's pov,Lisa and I stood, hovering over the papers that lay before us. We didn't know what to say to each other.We were just silent. Deep in thoughts.There was a knock on the door. Lisa moved to answer it before I could. The maid came into the room. She bowed her head as a sign of greeting and respect.“There is a box delivered to you. It is downstairs sir,” she informed. I looked at Lisa. Lisa looked at me.“Okay,” Lisa acknowledged.“We are coming.”A further bow and the maid was gone. “I didn't order anything, “I stated.“You might as well go and check. It could be anything of help.”I obliged. I went downstairs and the package was already on the table in the dining area.“Grab a scissors Lisa.” Lisa exited and came out with scissors shortly. I took it and ripped the box open. I was not sure how to prepare for the sight that met me. Two pairs of eyes stared back at me in horror.“Help my ass!” I hissed angrily. Lisa peeped.“Fucking hell,” she muttered. She kept
A Second Chance CHAPTER 23
Antonio Dante's pov,“Okay I'm listening.”I walked around the empty dark room with the moon only as a source of light. The once dark windows were illuminated with bright lights. Almost as if the moon was too close.The moon.Stella’s face flashed in front of me and flew out as quickly as it came. I shook my head.Lisa looked at me inquisitively, waiting for me to deliver the truth to her. I tried to remember my footing and continue from there. I took a peek at the window and slowly came back to position.“The Rocks has enough resources to raise the weakest army in the Mafia ranks to the top.”“That's how powerful he is,” I spoke. I hated the fact that I was saying this. But it was the truth. To deal with events such as these, one must make do with reality.“So what do you say,” Lisa asked. She moved closer to me. I could feel her heated gaze on my cheeks, eyes, lips…“We should go.”“After all, what harm might there be if they don't try to kill us,” I chuckled. “Okay, you're posit
A Second Chance CHAPTER 24
Antonio Dante's pov,His hair was ragged and highly unkempt. He had slices through his skin and several cuts on his face.“Did my men treat you well?”No answer. I lifted my eyebrows at him. Lisa and I walked over to him. He tried to move back with his chair in fear and it almost toppled over but my foot landed on one of the legs and I pulled it back up. He was once a handsome man. With a bright face that spoke of the country he came from. But now, his eyes revealed nothing but fear. No guilt.Just fear.And even though he tried so hard to hide it, he couldn't. It was written all over his face.Like an ink on a paper.“Let me go,” he commanded. I heard Lisa audibly gasp and I threw my head back in laughter. “The guts you have there to command me. You haven't changed Rahul.”His blood ran cold when I mentioned his real name.“Rahul?”I heard Lisa say. His attention turned to her. His chest rose up and down. Lisa turned to me and immediately understood.“It's so nice to change your
A Second Chance CHAPTER 25
Antoinio Dante's pov,“Please,” she whimpered, managing to remove her hands from the guards and falling on her knees.“Please,” she rubbed her palms together at me. Tears flowed from her eyes. Her voice was laced with sorrow and high anxiety. I saw Lisa roll her eyes.“I will advise you to tell your husband to speak up.”The Korean woman looked from me to Lisa and then to her husband. “Rahul, dangsin-i aneun geos-eul geudeul-ege malhaejuseyo. Nan dangsin-i jugneun geol wonhaji anh-ayo! (Rahul tell them what you know, I don't want you to die!)”She yelled.“English please,“ I snapped my fingers continuously at them.“My acquaintance here,” I pointed to Lisa"Doesn't understand."“Rahul, jebal,” she continued, bowing even further. Totally ignoring me!My head fell back in annoyance.“I said English!” I shot the gun at the ceiling. The trajectory caused the guards to flinch slightly. The echoes rolled through the halls before exiting loudly.“Hey,” I directed the gun at the woman. She fe
A Second Chance CHAPTER 26
Stella Romilly's pov,PastA story told once is a story of truth.I exited the dining hall and ran after Hannah.“Hannah,” I called as I searched through the walls. I needed to talk to her. I needed to understand what was happening. Cause I had no idea what was transpiring. I had no idea Hannah and I could be siblings.I had no idea my father had gone into the arms of another. I wanted answers. But Hannah was already upset. “Hannah,” my voice went up an octave. “Leave me alone!” I heard her distant voice from a far corner of the hall I was in. I wandered around to that place.“Hannah where are you?” I called. No answer.“Where are you?” I pleaded.“Leave me alone,” her voice was closer. I nagivated through the panes of wood and books arranged in shelves. I passed by the teacher's desk and a random room with only a table and a chair. Hannah was there. Curled up and crying. Her nose had turned all red.“What are you crying for?” I asked, genuinely confused. Her cries progressed
A Second Chance CHAPTER 27
Stella Romilly's pov,Past “That's maltreatment!” Hannah exclaimed.“What's that?” That was a very big word.“Mama told me it's something bad someone does to you.”I nodded. “Oh, I forgot,” I gasped slightly. I lifted my weight off the ground and stood up straight. I tried to reach my zip at my back. Thankfully I did. And it slid faster than I expected. Maybe because I had nothing underneath to interrupt its slide. The scar.“Look,” I pointed to the place with a long mark on it. There was no need to see it to confirm it. I could feel its embedment into my pale skin. It was imprinted into my skin like a tattoo. “What is that?” Hannah gasped, running her hands silently over my scar. “My dad used a cane on me and struck my back so hard. It was painful.”“It looks very painful Stella," Hannah agreed sympathetically. And then she was angry..“Why did he do this to you?”“He told me it was my punishment for disobeying him,” I told her again. “How can someone do something this bad?”
A Second Chance CHAPTER 28
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,Antonio Dante's pov, It had been a week since I was told that my father was in the Mafia. I had remained in my room all week even after my mother convinced me to accept my life and my fate. I refused to accept it. But deep down I knew it wasn't a choice. It was an update to the pieces of information delivered to me all my life and all I had to do was to suck it up like I did with the others. I had acquired a better understanding on my own in my room. Why my father had insisted on training lessons. Why we had to exercise… Why there were guards everywhere? It finally made sense. Mafia people do stuff like that. I couldn't believe there were multiples of them. The world was a dangerous place to live. Lisa hadn't come to visit since and I was starting to worry about her. I had texted her and she had barely replied. There was a knock on my door and I opened it to a guard who bowed in front of me. “Your father wants to meet you,” he delivered. “Tell him I'm coming.”
A Second Chance CHAPTER 29
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,Antonio Dante's pov,"We have adoption," I repeated my statement like I had won a jackpot. “We can adopt an already grown kid. We can-”“Stop Antonio!” My father suddenly yelled and I flinched at his voice. “If we had the opportunity to adopt, immediately you said you didn't want to be a part of this, we would have had adoption papers running!”My heart sank. Not because my light was dulled and my hope crushed but because he had made me feel like an option. Someone who could be tossed away if I was not of any importance to him. He was breathing hard. But my heart was beating in my ears. My mother had gone to comfort him. Instead of me.It was a business deal. Right from the start. “You are the one and only legitimate heir to this business. If you don't inherit. Our business is gone just like that,” he snapped. My head was bowed in thoughts, oblivious of my surroundings. “We need you. All our ancestors' hard work and money was put into this. We can't let it go t
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A Second Chance CHAPTER 49
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,Antonio Dante's pov,After a few days in the care center, I was sent to my room. It was fair to say that I was still traumatized. I could barely eat. I couldn't talk. I kept looking at the floor convincing myself that it wasn't blood laced.That no blood was here and I was safe. Safe. I stared at the clock when the short hand hit twelve in the morning then twelve in the afternoon then twelve the next morning. I refused to leave the bed not quite familiar with the environment around me now. That my mother and father were this brutal. I hated my father now. And I was sure I was starting to hate my mother too. Today was different. I was lying on the bed as usual and staring at the ceiling, thinking of nothing. A knock interrupted my blankness and I turned to stare at the door. Who could it be? My mum? Or dad? They hadn't come to see me ever since I entered my room which made my hatred justifiable. "Who is it?" I called over forgetting my door was soundproof. My voice
A Second Chance CHAPTER 48
Stella Romilly's pov,"Hi," my voice croaked poorly, and even worse my voice was too small to reach her ears. Probably. I saw her. I saw her. Her gaze was low. Too low."Beer for Miss," she settled the beer bottle on the table and then a side glance. Her eyes were locked onto mine. I froze. I couldn't feel my face. Her non-existent wrinkles deepened. I tried again."Hi," I cleared my throat. She was the first to break eye contact. Her gaze fixed on something in particular for some reason. Then her eyes rolled around."I will take my leave now," her smile was so forced, I could tell she knew I knew it was forced. She came into view now, sharp and clear. I could see her tears jungle in her eyes as she poised herself. Her hair served as a shield and she turned away from me."Samantha," I whispered. It's been days, weeks, months, years. Times have passed since I met her. and while I should be feeling the dread of meeting her. All I felt was relief: relief and excitement.I stood up from
A Second Chance CHAPTER 47
Stella Romilly's pov,Samantha, Samantha.Samantha, I'm so sorry. I wasn't in my right mind.Of course, you were!You were in your fucking right mind!I swear I never intended for this to happen but- A pause.I'm sorry Samantha.You are a bitch Stella! You are a fucking bitch. I will never forgive you.Listen to me, Samantha. Shut the fuck up! You. All of you! You all are!You all are fucking liars! Big fucking liars! I swear Samantha.Stop lying Stella. I beg of you. You did this. Don't convince me otherwise.It's not what it looks like.Then what? What do you think it is? What do you expect me to believe? That you are holding a knife because you want to? That you are fucking holding a gun because you want to? Tell me. I don't want to... Samantha, I just-Cut that bull shit Stella!It's all because of you! I didn't kill-Yes, you did. Are you blind?I said I didn't! Don't you get it? Fuck you, Stella. Spare me those damn lies. Spare me.Spare me.Spare the fuck me, Stella!
A Second Chance CHAPTER 46
Antonio Dante's pov,"I never knew you could show your face here Antonio.""Given all the disgrace you have had to face.""So pitiful. I pity you."I sat at a table in the center of the living room with Marco on my opposite side.I studied his eyes and facial features which were becoming more prominent as he grew. He was becoming more resemblable.Light hair. Dark eyes. I turned to Lisa who hadn't said anything throughout my meetings but still held her face strong and passive like How any mafia would."Don't waste your pity on me, Marco.""And why should I not?"My eyeballs switched to his face, eyeing him momentarily. His black suit was adapted to his arrogant posture and his mask, long gone...I considered him for a while before putting both my hands on the table and giving him my full attention."Why should you not?" I repeated."How about because I just don't like it?"He squinted his face in disapproval."Not enough.""Because I can kill you?""Not a chance.""I have footage of y
A Second Chance CHAPTER 45
Antonio Dante's pov,We descended the staircase painted pink by light, glasses of champagne in our hands. We had arrived in the rooms with many people. Supposably Mafia leaders. We took off our masks."You're welcome Dante," a voice boomed throughout the crowd and I immediately knew it was.Light brown hair. Dark eyesLucius.Leader of The Marcos.A person I knew so well. A person I was so shocked to find out he was related. Well, not anymore."I see you haven't changed a bit Marco," I noted, sipping my wine."How can I?" he phased.I watched as he approached me. Parcafi had an astonished look on his face. I spotted Genovese who was sitting at one corner enjoying the scene."I thought maybe. Just maybe your wife's death might have saddened you," I waited to see a change in his expression but his face was solid, a constant smile lingered.He tilted his head towards me"And I see you've divorced your loving wife who can barely cope with your absence." It struck my heart deep and despit
A Second Chance CHAPTER 44
Antonio Dante's pov,FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,My head wouldn't stop spinning. My voice seemed to rise octaves high as I watched those lifeless eyes stare back at me. I didn't know how or when I stumbled and fell on one of the bodies. Darkness consumed me thereafter. “Antonio! Antonio!”My mother's sounds became distant and faded. And I was moving further away from her into the black world. —---“Is he awake?”“Give me a few minutes.”“Calm down.”I heard voices but I couldn't decipher who it belonged to. There was a slight ringing in my ear. My eyes were blurry and as much as I tried to open them to see clearly, they wouldn't.So I decided to use my voice instead. I made a slight hum and hoped it was loud enough. It was.Two faces sprang up from opposite sides of me.“Oh gracious, he's awake!"“He's awake!”One blonde on my right. The other brunette on my left. I instantly recognized them.The brown and blue eyes were starting to come into focus.I moved on the bed, trying to adjust m
A Second Chance CHAPTER 43
Antonio Dante's pov,Mafia is taking your time. Mafia is smart. Mafia is about being calculative. Mafia is chess. It is about selling drugs. Selling weapons. Getting debts. And most of all, fighting your enemy. An enemy is made when he poses a fight to demolish you. No mafia wants a competing mafia. No mafia wants another mafia. A Mafia wants to be the one and only. We get rich this way. In the underworld. While we keep a clean surface on top. A nobody surface. I broke the nobody on the surface rule of conduct. I'd become a billionaire on the surface and a billionaire in the underworld. And I was yet to see the person who would point it out for me. Mafia is NOT a game. And once you are in it, you can't escape. And if you want to, We kill you. But that's not all. We all have our superiors. In particular situations like Blackmail War Money The safe way out if you don't want any of these is alliance. Alliance. By marriage Sacrifice Ch
A Second Chance CHAPTER 42
Stella Romilly's pov,Past.I stood there while I listened to my mom’s scolding. Telling me I messed everything up.“I'm sorry to intervene but she was abused.”My teacher stretched the last part ‘abused’ to hint to my mother that it was a problem. But my mother was far from listening to her. “Go.”She grabbed my hand.“Go tell them you were lying.”“That you hurt yourself.”“Go tell them,” She was about to lead me to what I would presume was the police station when my teacher fully intervened. “No. She isn't going anywhere,” she said sternly grabbing my other hand and pulling it back. “Your child has been abused and the offender has been put behind bars. I don't know why you keep telling her to lie but I won't tolerate you traumatizing her any further.”Flower blossomed in my heart and I felt full. I had never experienced this kind of love from my teacher. Was this what they called motherly love?It was nice. My mother turned towards my teacher and stared at her deep into her s
A Second Chance CHAPTER 41
Antonio Dante's pov. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,There was a knock that interrupted my thoughts. From atop the staircases, there was shuffling of chains. Clinking of metals. A loud noise that could be heard even from the basement I thought was soundproof. A pair of blue eyes peeked, her dark brown hair falling behind. My mother. “Antonio?”No answer. I just sat there, stunned by how long she took to see me. “Antonio, are you there?”The window had cast a shadow on me camouflaging me completely.“Ant-”“I'm here.”She jumped, startled. I saw her clear her throat as a way of composing herself before gently making her way inside. “Took you long enough huh?” I muttered. She closed the door and opened it immediately. Her face scrunched up as she shakily descended scanning around. “I'm sorry Antonio. Your father won't let me see yo- goodness what's that smell?”She looked into the darkness as she placed her hands over her nose tightly, contemplating whether she should breathe. I couldn't
