Chapter 3

Mia.

"Dad, where are we going?" I ask a thousand and one times, but he answers with the same goofy grin he has been giving me since we left the house.

I hate surprises.

They make me so unsettled and I can't stop my curiosity and constantly asking myself what it is.

"A little more patience, baby" he smirks, enjoying the fact that I hate waiting.

"Okay, how further?"

"2 minutes"

"Yes," I shout fisting my hands and he chuckles shaking his head. I love him so much.

As my dad promised, two minutes later, the car pulls up to an enormous skyscraper in the busy streets of New York.

What catches my attention is the name written in bold on top of it. 'Vulcan's enterprise ' I didn't know we had a business going here.

" What is it, Dad?" I enquire looking around in amazement. I already love this place.

"Let's get inside first"

Father leads me to the main office on the top floor. Everything around here is amazing and extra beautiful. How come I didn't know of this?

"First, take this" He hands me a big brown envelope and gestures for me t sit on the black, swivel leather seat, which Is behind a big brown mahogany desk.

Fancy.

"Don't open it yet" I nod suddenly feeling nervous. A lot has been happening recently and I feel like life is going at an alarming rate. I don't like any of it.

"Since you were little, I never wanted my little princess in the crime world. If anything, I used to pray that you don't even learn the world like that existed, but your mum had other ideas" he gives me a sad smile and I quickly stand up to massage his shoulders. He hates talking about her. I know he will never get over Mum's death.

"I can never forget the excitement in your eyes every time you saw a car, even if it was a toy" Dad chuckles in thought, and I smile when I remember how crazy I'm still about those machines. I can never get enough of fancy wheels. They are just so breathtaking.

"She tried replacing that with guns, had you draw daggers instead of getting you toys, and the sadness in your eyes used to break my heart honey" He squeezes my hand that is still massaging his shoulder and I lightly smile. Mother was hard on me. She never saw me as a kid, but rather as her competitor for my dad's attention.

"Then she went ahead and gifted you that damn arena, the main cause of our downfall. I was so mad but that woman listened to no one. Even the man she claimed to love" Dad grits bitterly, clenching his fists. This raises my eyebrows. He never talks about Mum in this manner, is there something I don't know?

"What do you mean dad?"

"I came from a crime family, and so was your mother. That dumb arena drew all of our enemies and everyone wants it. They killed your mum for it, look at my condition sweetheart. I will never rest in hell knowing you are running that thing at your age baby, I have never been okay with it" He looks up at me and I instantly look away when his eyes start to water.

"Dad,.." I stutter blinking away my tears. I hate where this is going.

"Listen, Mia, I am setting you free" The determination in his voice causes my heart to tremble. What is he up to?

"I know everything you do and have achieved is because you don't want to fail me. You want to make me proud and I am a baby. Let's face the reality we have been trying to escape from for ages, I am dying" I completely move away from him. How is it so easy for him to say those horrid words?

"N. o" I run my fingers through my hair, setting it free from the restraint. I can't do this.

"Look at me baby, look into my eyes," Father says turning his wheelchair in my direction.

"No Dad"

"Tomorrow or the next day, I won't be here to watch over you. I want you to have a normal life. Your mum's and my time is done. Now it's just you, make your own rules, pursue what you want in life, find a boy, fall in love, and encounter your first heartbreak." the man keeps talking and his words are like a piercing dagger to my heart. The reality I have been trying to bury for a long time is finally coming to light.

"Dad, what are you saying?"

"Drop the gun, Mia. Leave that hell hole before it's too late"

"But it's our family's treasure, Dad" This is our livelihood. Holding a gun is what I know to do better.

"That was your mum and me. Let it perish with us and start your own. I know you never liked this world, you are too young and kind to be a criminal, sweetheart. That's why I have been building this company baby"

"It took me years to make it stand, and my only prayer was to remain alive until I hand it to you, honey, " my dad gives me a proud smile and I lightly return it through tears. I didn't expect this.

"I can now be at peace knowing that my baby is safe."

"What about our men dad? we can't just leave them"

"When I'm gone, they will come for you. The only thing you should protect is yourself and this building. That time you will know who is real and fake. You will know what to do with the real because I'm sure they won't be many"

"So you know his identity don't you? " The 'He' mum mentioned before dying.

"Of course I do, I didn't want to include you in the mess. Everything you need to know is in that envelope. But you have to read it when I'm not here" he mumbles looking away and once again my heart sinks.

"Can you please stop saying that? " I hate it when he keeps reminding me of what's to come.

" It's inevitable"

He wheels his chair toward the glass walls and motions for me to follow. I gasp at the sight my gaze beholds. Fucking endless yard of Cars. All kinds of brand new and shining vehicles. 

Oh God, I love them. I am sure I will feel bad watching them being driven away by the buyers. 

"So what do you think? " he smiles in satisfaction at my reaction.

"It's it's... " I place my palms on my mouth in sheer wonder. This is making me so emotional. I don't know what to say but cry.

I fall in front of my dad's wheelchair and start sobbing. I don't have a specific reason for crying because everything my heart is feeling right now is pain.

"You know I hate it when you do that right? " his broken voice whispers.

"I'm sorry " I whisper and his arms wrap me in a protective hug. He is so warm, the warmth that is gonna fade away any moment from now.

"Please don't go"I beg not lifting my head from his chest. For a year now, I have been pushing this thought away. The painful thought of what is bound to happen

I can't imagine my life without him. I will be like a helpless chick in the eyes of hungry hawks.

"I don't want to" he murmurs kissing my head and the pain in my heart intensifies. His voice says it all, he's hurting too.

My dad was a strong man. A Russian mafia Lord and also my best friend. Where will I go if he is not here to hold me?

God, I do not want to be alone, please.

"I will be all alone if you do" he doesn't answer. Instead, a sniffle from him silents me. My dad is crying.

After Godfather rescued us from that fire, I thought I could breathe again. Even though Mum was gone, it was not so painful because I had my dad with me.

My joy was completely crushed when a year ago, I learned that he had stage four lung cancer that he was hiding from me for a long time. I didn't want to believe it but as days go, his health continues to deteriorate. My dad doesn't walk anymore, he uses a wheelchair to move around and it's killing me to see him this way.

A strong man slowly reducing to nothing in front of my eyes, and I can't do anything to save him.

His condition is hard for both of us. We don't want it and I cause him more pain when I cry.

"It's beautiful. Everything is fantastic and I love it so much, thank you Father" I murmur without looking at him. I hate to see his tears. How will I live with that?

"I knew you will baby" he chuckles but I don't have to look at him to know it's a painful one. A forced chuckle to ease the intense environment.

He wants me to believe that he is not in pain, but I know how much he suffers.

Yet, I'm too mean to accept it. I'm too mean to let him go, set him free so he won't hurt anymore.

Because I'm scared to be alone.

The fierce Underworld queen everyone fear, is just a young girl who is scared of being alone.