Chapter 5

Dante

The cry of agony filled the whole room as I watched the son of a bitch get his fingers burned out with the hot spanner. "Please don't kill me, boss."

He crawled towards where I was seated and held both my legs with his bloodied hands. "Please spare my life, boss!"

"Boss?" I repeated, going as far as letting a smile dangle at the corner of my lips. He doesn't know what was coming his way. He should rather drown himself in the sea than choose to betray me. And that was exactly what he did. He didn't only lie and steal, he sided with my biggest enemy, Paolo Vincent.

I gestured to Enzo to continue with what he was doing. The asshole emitted out a loud pain of agony as the pain shifted from his fingers to his thigh. I gripped his face, making him look at me the same way I was looking at him, straight in the eye. "Plead for your life again, and I promise you that will be the last time you'll ever speak." I spat. His eyes widened, and he shook his head.

My grip on his face tightened. I collected the hot spanner from Enzo and aimed it at his neck. Another painful cry erupted from him. I trailed the hot metal down to his collarbone. "You shouldn't have lied to me, Enrico," I uttered.

"You know I wouldn't mind if you had stolen from me instead, but lying? I don't forgive that. You didn't lie once. You did it again and again. And the worst of all, you conspired with the Eagle Eye. What will you get in return? Death." His body shivered underneath my hold.

"Please boss, spare my life. I promise to serve you all my life." My laughter took charge.

"Did you hear him, Enzo?" I turned to Enzo, whose expression was serious, back to the rest of my men.

"Did you guys hear this son of a bitch? He's willing to serve me for the rest of his life. What a fantastic joke." I spoke. No one did as much as make a move, knowing they are not exempted from receiving the same punishment if they dare to mess up. They knew not to mess up with me.

The hot spanner was still rested on his collarbone. "Do you want me to give you a second chance?" I asked. He nodded his head, desperation dancing over his face.

"As in you want to be spared?" I asked again, and he nodded once again. I passed the spanner back to Enzo and then leaned back in my chair, intertwining my hands on the accord.

"Let's do this..." I trailed off, fishing out my phone as it vibrated. A frown occupied my face at the content from the message.

"Seems like you don't really value your life. I don't know you enjoy being a lapdog. You're quite lucky, I must say." A look of confusion flickered on his face. I slipped my phone back inside my pocket.

"You have two options. Get your eyes gouged out or have your both hands cut off. Choose wisely." His eyes grew wider than before.

He quickly began his plead. "Please boss, spare my life, b-"

"Shut the fuck up, or you're going to get buried six feet under. Alive!" I jerked my feet away.

"Finish up from here, Enzo." I said then sauntered away. No one messes up with me and goes scot-free. It's one of the two: I eliminate them immediately or take something away from them that will make them reflect on their mistakes for the rest of their life. I don't give second chances.

My phone chimed again as I settled in the car. A frustrated hiss left my lips, making me fish out the phone and placed it to my ears without checking the caller ID. "Dante, where are you? Your father and I are waiting for you. The dinner is getting cold."

I closed my eyes and opened them again. It has started again. My mother still thinks her husband is alive. She still lives in the past. She doesn't believe father is no more. My mother was diagnosed with Dementia a few months after the demise of my father. At first, I thought her unusual behaviors were due to the shock of the incident that happened that night, but after a few panic attacks, the doctor confirmed to us that she has dementia.

"Mother, how long are you going to keep doing this? Father is no more. And he's not coming back." Although it pained me to say what I was saying, sometimes, I can't help but say the truth. There's no point in hiding the truth. It's been almost two years since the incident happened. I know it would be hard to move on as much as the killer is wandering around the world. But it's also hard seeing my mother in such condition.

Her words brought me back from the trance I ventured into. "I know this is what I would get in return. You don't care about your parents. I understand. Your father is saying hi."

What in hell? Is she now seeing things?

I heard the ruffling sound of something falling followed by the familiar voice of my Aunt. "Hello Dante,"

"Aunt Madison, what is going on? Why is mother saying father is saying hi? Is she not taking her medications?"

Aunt Madison's sigh resonated from the other end. "She is Dante, but I think you need to get down here. I'm scared of her losing her mind completely. She mistook Mr. Judge, the new neighbor, as her husband."

"But you're there, right? Aunt." I spoke, my eyes going to Enzo that occupied the empty seat next to me.

"Me being there isn't the same as you here with her. You're all she's got. Please try and come." Her voice held a mixture of sadness and plea.

I took in a deep breath before answering. "I will try." I ended the call without waiting for her response.

A moment of silence fell in the car as I collected my thoughts. Enzo also knew not to say anything. "Boss, do you think Enrico will learn his lesson?" Enzo broke the silence.

"What did you do to him?"

"I cut off his fingers."

"That should serve as a lesson. Next time he won't try to lie to my face. This should also be a sound warning to Paolo."

Enzo nodded his head. "Should I drive?" He asked. I was already seated at the driver's seat.

"Don't worry. The items should be on their way to our shipment base. Take a few men and process the rest." I said.

"Right away boss." And with that, he pushed open the door and stepped out while I roared the engine to life and drove away.

There are some days I detach myself from the noise of the outside world and confine myself alone in my comfort zone. Days like today that reminded me of the incident. Days that remind me of the situation my mother is in. Days I looked at Aria and find my heart broke at how lonely she is without her mother by her side.

"Welcome back Master." Arthur approached me as he always does whenever I return home.

"Thank you, Arthur." I answered with a wave of my hand and proceeded upstairs. Arthur didn't say anything or attempt to follow me. He knew it was one of those days when I needed no disturbance. Not from him, his wife, or my daughter herself.

I made my way to my room. I was met with total darkness. I didn't attempt to switch on the lights. It was exactly the way I wanted it. I threw my phone on the bed and crashed by the side. I sat there, gazing into space with the silence lingering in the room, making me collect my thoughts.

My eyes flickered to the photo frame of Aria taken when she was three. There was no doubt Aria had the eyes of her mother. Hazel eyes. The same eyes I fell in love with. I won't say I regret falling head over heels back then, but then, it won't happen again. No woman will be able to put me in that fantasy called love again.

My eyes lingered on the photo frame as old memories surfaced before me when I heard a sound of something falling. I was quickly alarmed. I scanned the dark room, and my eyes fell on the book on the floor. I don't allow anyone to enter my room. Not Arthur or Bianca. I tidy and arrange my room myself. So, I notice every slight change that occurs in the room.

I rose up to my feet and trekked towards the stack of bookshelves. I didn't pick up the book from the floor intentionally. I folded my arms across my chest. "You can come out now, little thief," I said.

Within a few seconds, the figure of Kate began appearing from the closet. For a moment, I had forgotten I had hired someone. 'Hi Mr. Dante,' she muffled out with a grin.

"What are you doing in my room?" I asked straightforwardly. She grinned again. "I'm... Aria-'

"Daddy!" Aria's voice sounded from the door as she ran up to me. She stepped on the book and was about to fall when I stretched my hand at the same time Kate was also trying to shield her when her legs twisted. The next posture I found myself in was my back colliding with the floor with Kate on top of me.