MATILDA'S POV"Keep it wet; we will make Lavey's sister when we get back," he whispered into my ears, and I giggled like a teenage girl.We quickly rushed our bath; we were running out of time, and the last thing I want is grace nagging my ass. We prepared to leave for dinner. I came downstairs to find Lavey and her nanny all dressed up. She was on the phone when we came downstairs, but quickly put the phone away when we showed up."You guys ready?" I asked the nanny."Yes Ma'am" Mace took Lavey from the nanny, and we set out for dinner.Our little adventure in the shower delayed us a little bit; when we got to the Castillo's, the room was already packed. It was a lovely sight to behold; there were no outsiders in attendance, just family. Sergio, Dad, and Ray were having a hearty conversation while the ladies were laughing over something Kimberly said."There they are," Ana announced, all smiles. I hugged Kimberly while Mace was busy speaking with Pearl.
MATILDA'S POV"Ma'am, is everything okay?" Martha asked immediately, she rushed into the sitting room. I sat down, mopping like a fool, still unable to process what was happening. I began feeling dizzy, and the whole room was spinning nonstop in my eyes."Ma'am," she called yet again, but I was slowly losing sense of my surroundings. I heard her beckoning on the guards to come, but before I knew it, I had lost consciousness.I opened my eyes, but the light was too bright. I shut my eyes, but I could hear Sergio and Mace arguing over God knows what. I managed to open my eyes, and I tried a little harder to keep them open as my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the light."Darling, you are awake?" I heard Ana's voice. I followed the voice only to see her seated on the chair next to the bed.I was a bit confused about where we were and what was going on."What happened to me?" I asked Ana. I tried getting up, but Ana held me down."Honey, please stay put." I
MACE'S POVThose very words were what I had been waiting for this whole time. I paused immediately when I heard Ray say he had found the bitch. I let out a devilish grin because I knew what I had in store for that mad bitch.She had taken more than she could chew. If she had messed with me, I would be lenient, but you mess with my family, and I will send you to the afterlife in pieces."Where?" "Right under our nose."Tilda jumped off the bed while hurriedly heading to the door"Honey, where are you off to?" Mom asked her. "To get my son!" She screamed, her voice filled with pain."Amorino," I gently called her; she didn't answer, nor did she glance my way. I touched her shoulder, and she turned towards me."I promise to bring our son home; I give you my word," I reassured her, looking her in the eyes while patting her hair."Mace, I want to bash that weirdo's head in for causing me pain.""I will make her pay for all the pain and misery she has caused
MACE'S POVI had so many thoughts running through my mind as I raced up the stairs. I prayed so hard, but it wasn't what I was thinking. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to her.I was in disbelief looking at her standing like an avenger with a gun in her hands and Sarah lying down dead beneath her. I never thought Amorino could fire a gun, but here I am looking at the very impossible staring me in the face.I ran towards her, took the gun from her, and handed it over to Ray.I looked her over before hugging her. I was glad she was okay and even happier that we both saved our son together."Amorino, are you okay?" I asked, peering into her face."I'm fine; where is Vey?" she asked immediately, looking from me to Ray."Vey is fine," Dad replied. She quickly ran to him and grabbed him from his hands, hugging him so hard."Mammy!""Mammy is here, Vey," she said, smiling at him."Hold on, were you going to accept this crazy bitch proposal?" S
I turned on the shower, and as I stood under it naked, the water trickled down my body, washing off the stains of blood.It was a gloomy day. I had killed every last one of Tigger's men and also lost five of mine. I was so angry because the bastard got away, but not for long. It was a long hunt after all, but I need to set an example for every other bastard that would want to challenge us.My enemies have grown further, and I know my life is in danger every single minute of the day, but I am more powerful than ever. I had to exercise my Dominion over New York and also send a message to every other cartel: there is no room for traitors and no forgiveness when passing judgment. New York is mine, and no one will ever take it away from me.I picked up my phone to ask Ray to set up some torture sessions when Felix's call came in."We found him, Capo, the Accountant that owes us.""Where?""Boston, Ray, and I will be heading over to Boston, Capo."Finally, something exciting to do. Someone
"Matilda! Come on out; you're taking forever in there"."Coming Dad! Let me get the last batch". I yelled as I kept wandering around the rooms like a lost soul, unable to leave the past behind. The memories I had made here were as if they were all yesterday. I couldn't believe how quickly time flies and how fleeting life is."I can't believe we are moving, with all the memories we made here, both sweet and bad, left behind". I murmured to myself. I could hear Mom's laughter as it echoed, the many birthdays I had celebrated within these walls, the many wars we had fought and conquered.I could give anything to bring the past back; how was I to face what lay ahead? No one prepared me for this; no one told me that things could take a turn so quickly. I couldn't help but shed a few tears. I sank to the ground as I remembered Mom's last moments at the hospital.She had suffered greatly and was in so much pain, looking all lean and fragile, but I still wanted her around. I prayed earnestly
A knock on the door interrupted my cleaning midway. I opened the door, and a girl about my age, putting on a purple and white flowered gown, was at the door. I took in her appearance; she had a set of Brown eyes, and her black wavy hair was tied in a high ponytail. She looked a bit simple, but she was beautiful in her cheap clothes."Hi, I am Grace!" She said this while smiling at me warmly. I was surprised at how forward she sounded, but I guess it's their way of greeting and meeting the new occupants. I just stood still, holding a mop stick in my hand, while staring at her."We live opposite you, just me and my grandma," she announced excitedly as she pointed at the door opposite us."Hi, I'm Matilda." I smiled at her. I know it's a bit strange, but I kind of liked her energy. I guess my smile made her feel relaxed and a little more chatty."There has never been a young person packed in, so I wanted to be friends with you," she went on, but this time around the smile on her face dis
"Shaving honey!"This is the first time I have seen Dad shave off his beard after we lost Mom."This is a good development" I whispered to myself. I work two part-time jobs with my best friend Grace; it hasn't been entirely easy, but I am having the time of my life. I know it wasn't what I had planned for my life, but I was kind of grateful that we kept taking one step at a time.Dad works as an accountant at a local shopping mall; the pay isn't much, and I don't know why he chose this small, unpopular town out of all the places in the county. I mean, we used to live in New York City, and my dad was a successful accountant before we sold everything to save my mom from cancer. I sometimes wonder why he chooses to live from hand to mouth when he can actually walk into any accounting firm and get a job offer immediately. I did not want to complain, but I couldn't help but pity my dad.I think he just needed a fresh start, to breathe new air, and needs a break from all the city hassle. W
MACE'S POVI had so many thoughts running through my mind as I raced up the stairs. I prayed so hard, but it wasn't what I was thinking. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to her.I was in disbelief looking at her standing like an avenger with a gun in her hands and Sarah lying down dead beneath her. I never thought Amorino could fire a gun, but here I am looking at the very impossible staring me in the face.I ran towards her, took the gun from her, and handed it over to Ray.I looked her over before hugging her. I was glad she was okay and even happier that we both saved our son together."Amorino, are you okay?" I asked, peering into her face."I'm fine; where is Vey?" she asked immediately, looking from me to Ray."Vey is fine," Dad replied. She quickly ran to him and grabbed him from his hands, hugging him so hard."Mammy!""Mammy is here, Vey," she said, smiling at him."Hold on, were you going to accept this crazy bitch proposal?" S
MACE'S POVThose very words were what I had been waiting for this whole time. I paused immediately when I heard Ray say he had found the bitch. I let out a devilish grin because I knew what I had in store for that mad bitch.She had taken more than she could chew. If she had messed with me, I would be lenient, but you mess with my family, and I will send you to the afterlife in pieces."Where?" "Right under our nose."Tilda jumped off the bed while hurriedly heading to the door"Honey, where are you off to?" Mom asked her. "To get my son!" She screamed, her voice filled with pain."Amorino," I gently called her; she didn't answer, nor did she glance my way. I touched her shoulder, and she turned towards me."I promise to bring our son home; I give you my word," I reassured her, looking her in the eyes while patting her hair."Mace, I want to bash that weirdo's head in for causing me pain.""I will make her pay for all the pain and misery she has caused
MATILDA'S POV"Ma'am, is everything okay?" Martha asked immediately, she rushed into the sitting room. I sat down, mopping like a fool, still unable to process what was happening. I began feeling dizzy, and the whole room was spinning nonstop in my eyes."Ma'am," she called yet again, but I was slowly losing sense of my surroundings. I heard her beckoning on the guards to come, but before I knew it, I had lost consciousness.I opened my eyes, but the light was too bright. I shut my eyes, but I could hear Sergio and Mace arguing over God knows what. I managed to open my eyes, and I tried a little harder to keep them open as my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the light."Darling, you are awake?" I heard Ana's voice. I followed the voice only to see her seated on the chair next to the bed.I was a bit confused about where we were and what was going on."What happened to me?" I asked Ana. I tried getting up, but Ana held me down."Honey, please stay put." I
MATILDA'S POV"Keep it wet; we will make Lavey's sister when we get back," he whispered into my ears, and I giggled like a teenage girl.We quickly rushed our bath; we were running out of time, and the last thing I want is grace nagging my ass. We prepared to leave for dinner. I came downstairs to find Lavey and her nanny all dressed up. She was on the phone when we came downstairs, but quickly put the phone away when we showed up."You guys ready?" I asked the nanny."Yes Ma'am" Mace took Lavey from the nanny, and we set out for dinner.Our little adventure in the shower delayed us a little bit; when we got to the Castillo's, the room was already packed. It was a lovely sight to behold; there were no outsiders in attendance, just family. Sergio, Dad, and Ray were having a hearty conversation while the ladies were laughing over something Kimberly said."There they are," Ana announced, all smiles. I hugged Kimberly while Mace was busy speaking with Pearl.
MATILDA'S POVI brought my hands to my mouth in awe; I couldn't believe my eyes. I never expected that he could be this sentimental. I guess being a father comes with some changes."It's beautiful," I said, smiling at him as he held me in his arms."I wanted to give our prince the best," he said proudly.It is the best nursery I have seen. There was a beautiful white baby bed at one end of the room. The wallpapers were so beautiful. I couldn't get my eyes off the drawing of a lion's head and the family motto written boldly on the wall."A lion?" I asked Mace while pointing at the drawing."Yes, Amorino, we need to always remind him that he is a hunter," Mace replied while kissing my hair."Of course," I said, rolling my eyes."Do you think Lavey would love it? I painted the room myself," he whispered.I was a bit surprised to hear he did all this by himself. I brought his hands close to my lips and kissed him."He will adore it," I said to him, and I went
MACE'S POV "What lady?" Ray asked, giving me the What the heck are you talking about Look. I read the room and didn't ask any further questions."You got this, right?" I asked Ray, pointing at the building."Get the hell out of here, tell Tilda that I will be right there."I quickly entered one of the cars, leaving Ray behind to clean up the building.I got to the safe house. Jumped out of the car the minute I turned off the ignition. I ran into the house frantically in search of Amorino. I met Ray's mom in the hallway, all smiles."You made it, Mace, this way," she said, pointing to one of the rooms at the end of the hallway.I opened the door to see Mom seated next to Amorino on one side of the bed, while Grace sat on the other side."Ocean!" mom screamed. I went over to Amorino; she looked a bit worn out, but I was glad she was ok."My love here is our son," she said, holding our peanut wrapped in colorful clothing. I couldn't contain my joy when I s
MACE'S POVI rushed to the torture room, where I found Dad seated. I told one of our men to lead Dad into the room and away from Ricci's minions. I came closer to see a dead body lying on the floor. I guess one of Ricci's fools thought he could kill Dad seeing he was wounded. I went over to his side; he was losing a lot of blood. I got more worried. What pained me most was how to explain to Mom that Dad got hurt. Why would he take the bullet,"It should have been me," I kept whispering to myself.I fished out my phone from my pocket to call a doctor, but my dad wouldn't let me. He grabbed my hands, looking me straight in the eyes. I could tell the amount of pain he was in."Don't," he said."We should get you a doctor, dad.""I'm fine, ocean; the bullet just grazed my skin. Patch me up or get our men to patch me up, and I will be good as new." I was lost for words, looking at my old man asking to be patched up the old-fashioned way. I sometimes forget he
MACE'S POVI was still at the study sipping a glass of whiskey while Dad had his face buried in a piece of paper he was holding. I didn't bother checking what he was reading because I had a lot on my mind.I couldn't get the thoughts of Amorino off my mind. I was missing her badly. The picture of her sleeping soundly in her lingerie kept playing in my head. This is the first time she is sleeping outside the house after we got back together. I was fighting the urge to go get her. I knew I couldn't bring her home just yet, not when the baby could pop out any day from now. I can't give her the attention she needs right now, and besides, Francesco won't go easy on her if he ever finds her.I need to put an end to this shit as fast as possible. I was still lost in thought when Ray called me. I looked up to see Kieran standing next to Ray."You're here," I said, looking at Kieran. He nodded."I heard how things went in Italy," he said.I smirked, pointing at
MACE'S POVI woke up the next morning to the beeping sound of my phone. I checked the time, and it was 5 a.m. I pulled my fingers that had been buried under my pillow out and got off the bed to prepare. I had some scores to settle this morning. It was time to rain blood on Ricci and his minions. I warned that fool that I might be my father's son, but I'm not my father. I was already prepared to leave, but I was checking out my outfit when Ray called to inform me that he was downstairs.I turned to the bed to find Amorino still soundly asleep. I didn't want to wake her, so I wrote a note on a piece of paper and placed it on the bedside table where she could easily find it before leaving. I came downstairs to see Ray sitting comfortably while munching the last bite of the cornflakes on his plate."Making yourself at home," I asked him."What can I do?" he replied, wearing a smirk."Besides, I need all the strength I could get, you know."I wasn't ready f