MIRANDA"Sister, where have you been?”“I have been looking all over for you. Why did you leave me?”“Don't you love me anymore?” The voice of Karen echoed in the background.I was standing in the center of a silent road.I was immobile. Barefooted. My hair was rough and my face, was sweaty like I had run and could not run anymore.“Sister! Miranda!” the voice of Karen called out repeatedly.I could not pick where the source of the sound was from but it kept coming from everywhere.I began to feel dizzy as she kept calling my name.The snap of the finger of a young man woke me up.He held my hands and lifted me to the bed. It was a sickbed.Everything became clearer bit by bit as I looked around to see where I was.My hands were hooked to a tube and I saw a transparent liquid moving into my veins from a pole just by the bed.Then the beep sound of a machine came after.The voice of the young man took me away from checking everything out.“You must have had a bad dream. You rolled down
MIRANDAOh, the look on Antonio's face as he picked up the call.I wonder who he was talking to.He has been silent on the call for more than a minute.There seems to be something wrong with the person on the other side of the call.I lay on the bed staring, hoping, and wondering what the situation was.Rivera. That was the only and last name he called before he went silent on the call.That was the first time I was hearing such a name from him.I don't think Antonio had anyone that goes by that name.“Just hold on. I will meet up with you shortly,” Antonio said over the phone.“My boys will take you home. I need to get somewhere fast,” he said.He left hurriedly after giving me a kiss on the forehead.That was becoming a routine; the kiss on the forehead.Ever since I told him about the pregnancy, he had been acting strangely romantic towards me all of a sudden.The doctor walked in after.“Mrs. Dante, I hope you are feeling better now. You would be discharged very soon and you can b
ANTONIO“I need the boys now! Let them meet me at the usual spot.”Move like you can't be seen, act like you can't be found.A chanting that echoes in my head each time I set out to the streets.It's a war zone out there for every mafia.With our eyes at our backs and our minds always on alert every single time.It's been two nights since the incident at La Routage.There was a massive bloodshed. The Portuguese and Mafia were at war.Don Vito was appreciative of the information I gave him. Fortunately, we were able to save some of our people even though we lost so many.The Portuguese have gone into hiding after they found out Don Vito, another mafia Lord they wanted to take out of the game, was absent.This must be why Rivera wants me to come and protect her.They found out.A snitch. That's what they called her. She said so on the call.I know I am also in danger.I don't intend to inform Don Vito about this. He is also at risk of losing his life at the moment.I already advised him
MIRANDA“I unpacked the luggage for you, ma. I presume you had plans to travel before and I don't think Mr. Dante would take that lightly if he knew.” I read the note Paulo slipped from under the door.It was him. I gave a sigh of relief.The writing looked like it was written in a rush but I managed to read it out.Even though I didn't trust him. At least it wasn't Antonio.Immediately, I opened the door to thank him but he had already gone.Am I still safe? To think Antonio had not heard of this?Paulo sounded more understanding in the letter. I wish he proves it and keep this from Antonio.I still have my plans to escape but this time around, I would be more careful and smarter.I still have found nothing against Antonio.How can I buy myself out when I get to that point?He can't be too careful. There has to be something that I can use on him.The TV in the room was on and the news was buzzing loudly in the background.It was so loud so I went for the remote and the voice on the n
ANTONIOTick! Tock! Tick! Tock!The sound of the clock by the wall strolls over the silence that surrounds the room.My gun was printed at Rivera's head and I was about to shoot her point-blank in the head.But I could no longer do it.What she said caught my attention and for a moment, I paused.My gun was still in the air, pointing straight at her.“What did you just say?” I shouted at her.She kept mute.“I'm talking to you, speak!” I repeated in a louder tone.“If you want to hear more and I mean more, more than you think you know, I demand just two things,” she said in a shaky voice.The fear of her losing her life right in front of me must have withered her long-accumulated courage.She looked so weak but Rivera was the type that always had something to give.Even though I had a gun pointed to her head, I am not surprised she is thinking of buying her way out.She is built in that way. This is why everyone hires her.I scoffed. “What are your demands?”“Half a billion USD and yo
ANTONIOBlood!Rivera’s blood flowed all over the room.I maintained my stance. My mind is alert.“The Portuguese are here,” I thought.They have eventually come to take her life as a traitor that she is.Or so I thought.I notice a figure lurking in the shadows just at the corner of the room where the gunshot came from.I held my gun pointed in that direction with a mix of fright and anger.“Show yourself.”The figure walked out slowly and I was ready to shoot at any sight of Portuguese.Who I saw made me lower my gun at an instant.It was Don Vito.Don Vito himself shot Rivera with his rifle.“Don.”I put my gun back.“I was told she is giving you a lot of trouble. Why were you wasting time, Antonio?”“You growing soft?” Don Vito asked as he kicked Rivera’s body.“Never. My heart remains strong and solid, Don,” I answered with boldness.“But when did you get here?”He smiled. “Some minutes ago. You were taking a lot of time. So what was she discussing with you before I wasted her? A
MIRANDAI pant heavily.“Where the heck is Antonio?”There is a stranger in the house and I am at the risk of being seen or worse enough, killed.He doesn’t look like a nice person and I am not sure even Xander was in his right mind bringing him upstairs.What on earth is he thinking?I had shut the door back and placed my ears close to the door to listen more to the conversation that ensued between them.“Where is Don Vito?” the strange man asked.“I have told you several times. Mr. Dante lives alone with his men. What more do you want me to tell you?”I peeped through the keyhole to see them standing not far from the room.I kept looking till I noticed something.The strange man had a gun pointed at Xander. He was holding it in a lower position.So no one would suspect, I believe.Ahah! I knew it.Xander can’t be so stupid as to bring a total stranger upstairs.There was nothing I could do other than call Antonio.I dialed his number immediately.“Antonio,” I whispered.All to make
ANTONIO’S POVThe only thing that keeps me going at this point is my unborn child.I don’t think I would be the same if I ever lost my child.All these years……Finding my sister’s killer all to no results……Living aloneHaving no one to tend to my sorrows and painI struggled and kept it all bottled in till it became my motivation and strength to keep moving.And as it stands now, I have something to live for.To fight for. To die for.Even though it is in the belly of this bitch I took as a wife, I still cherish the life living inside her.My son or my daughter, oh no, I am pretty sure it’s a boy.It has to be a boy.And I would have him succeed me, my empire. Everything I have built shall be his.He shall be the next mafia king. I and Vito would have been long gone dead.Even Vito’s bastard son won’t be able to stand him!My thoughts collapsed right in front of me when I received Miranda’s call.Her shaky voice on the phone got me a bit tensed and all I kept thinking of was how I wo
DON VITO“Sir, he already got back to us,” those words rang aloud in my ears. If Antonio wasn't there that minute, I would have hit my head angrily and pulled out a gun on the stupid guard.Antonio is a wise son I wish I had.He was smart enough to decipher the least possible code in the room in a very short time; that was how clever he was.“It's fine. I would be there shortly,” I said hastily so as to dismiss the guard.“Is something in operation that I don't know of, Don?” Antonio asked.There goes it. The very question I would have expressly avoided if not for that foolish guard. “Nothing, son. Just some calls I couldn't make before I came out here,” I answered and puffed my cigar.Clearing all doubt, I walked towards Antonio, “You seem off.”He took a step back and cleared his throat.“Do we have a pending operation, Boss?” He said, supposedly dodging the question.“Yes, we do. There is a new product coming in. I want you to be there to get it. I don't want to send the boys.”He
ANTONIO'S POVSuspicious.I just seem so sure of it. The call wasn't a genuine one.Either I am being put to the test or Don is playing a trick on me.As a sharp one, I didn't bother questioning myself for too long.“Miranda, I have to be somewhere. I will be back by evening,” I said as I put on my shirt.“And your meal? What would happen to it? You need to take something before you leave,” she said in a caring tone.The aroma of the food was already tempting but this is Don we are talking about.Who knows? He might already be on his way to the mansion. Now that he is doing things to spite me, I presume.I still don't want to believe that call was made ordinarily by Vance.“It can't be!” I snapped.Like a sudden reaction, I grabbed my car keys nearby and headed to the Ferrari parked outside the V-lodge, a name I gave my house during my time of purchasing it from another private individual.I was off to the mansion when a thought captured my attention. “What if that was actually Don Vi
XANDERI looked around. Checking to see if anyone heard the young man as he shouted at me.“I will, you don't have to shout, kid.” I said.“Kid? Don't let my young face deceive you, Xander. Pick the call, now!” He lashed back.I took a deep breath and exhaled, “You know this isn't even my phone. It's for the other guy,” I whispered.“Oh really, well you ought to know if the call is meant for you so what's your move, smart ass?”“I would pick up the call,” I muttered.I took a quick look at the number calling. It was a strange number. “Oh fuck! If this is Don Vito then I am done for!!!”“Hello?” I said slowly only to be met with a voice I didn't know.It wasn't Don Vito but one of his men.“Hello? Speak up, motherfucker. Where are you and what's happening? Don needs an update!!” The voice on the other end said.“I just wanted to tell you I am safe where I am in this new place, Dad,” I spoke stylishly.Hopefully, this guard doesn't ask further questions or perhaps decode what I just did
DON VITO“Hmmmmm……”“Maybe I need to pay a visit to Antonio's mansion.”“I can't keep waiting to hear from that good-for-nothing fellow.” I said to myself as I caressed the gun in my left hand.Perhaps he thinks I am joking with all of this.“Hahhahahha.”“I need to teach him a lesson. Maybe I will just start by beheading his father.”That should signal to him what I am capable of. It looks like his company with Antonio is giving him some liver or low thoughts about what I can actually do.Or could it be that Antonio knows about him?Naaaa…Xander won't be stupid enough to blow it all.“Boss, Antonio just drove in. You gave an instruction not to let anyone know you in, does that include….?”“Why do you think you find it hard to complete that sentence?” I cut him short all of a sudden.He gave no response. “Exactly. That man there is my godson. Don't do beyond yourself, Mafia,” I warned.I walked to the curtains, slightly looking through to see Antonio.“Hey you, bring the girls here. I
MIRANDAHe is just perfect when he handles me.It's more like he knew where to touch and how to touch.He knew all of my hit spots, and he never hesitated to exploit them.He placed his hands on my hair and massaged them. “Have you seen the ‘cook’ I got for you?” He asked.“Oh yes, she looks friendly. I like her already,” she said.“Friendly? I didn't get her to be friendly. If she doesn't do well enough, just let me know,” he answered.“Antonio, don't worry. I know she is good,” I said to him.He was so unpredictable. For all he cares, he wouldn't hesitate to relieve her of the job at that very moment.“Let me check on her and probably have her fix something or am I allowed to cook?“Get her to cook and don't be silly,” he responded in a harsh tone.He spanked my ass as I stood up from the bed. “Pffff,” I mutter“Whatever this is, I am beginning to like and enjoy it.”Not only am I treated like a queen but Antonio now respects me and handles me softly, at least better than how we sta
MIRANDAI paused after asking that question.I never expected him to answer. He wouldn't stop kissing me even after I asked the question.He proceeded to kiss my neck and suck on it till it started to hurt.The pleasure was intense and for another moment, I began to fantasize about lying with him.This time passionately and not forcibly. Ignoring my question, he carried me and laid me on the bed. His gaze was fixated on my body and I could imagine what was going through his head already.“Even with the fact that you have a baby growing inside of you, you still look so sexy as always,” he uttered.“Come here,” I said to him. That must be my urge speaking out loud.I pulled his shirt and put his arms around my waist. He held them so tight and in the blink of an eye, he lifted me and put me down properly on the bed.He came on top and I whispered into his ears again “Go gently, Antonio.”“Don't you trust me, Miranda?” He asked seductively as his eyes peeped at my cleavages.I don't even
MIRANDAAt least, Xander is alive and well. “This shouldn't feel like another prison,” I pondered.Once again, I took a deep sigh of relief that I was not kidnapped and yes my baby was fine.Antonio had already made arrangements for my transport to the City hospital to keep up with my weekly appointment with the doctor.I sat on the bed in the room that was prepared for me and for a moment, I saw the image of the driver who was killed flash before my very eyes.“Madam Dante,” a voice from outside called.“Who is there?” I responded sharply.The door opened wide and this lanky bodyguard came in. I don't remember seeing his face amongst the others but his uniform made me know he was one of the bodyguards.It looked like the rest of them. He walked in and just kept staring at me like he knew me before.I glared at him and said, “Can I help you?”The shocking thing is his boldness to actually come into the room I was in.If not for anything, at least the respect that I was his boss's woma
XANDERMr. Dante can't be serious with the decision. He has to be testing me.Not only has he restricted my movement but also kept me away from my sister.First and foremost, I don't even know where I am, how I got here, and the route that leads to here.How do I……?Antonio stood up all of a sudden and walked up to me.“I don't care whether you are pleased with what happened here or not. Your allegiance is to me so watch it, Xander.Watch it.”“Yes, boss. I'm sorry,” I said.Antonio signaled one of the men and he walked up to me grabbed me by the arms and lifted me.“Can I trust you, Xander?” Antonio said.I stuttered at first. Why would he ask me such a question? I have been nothing but loyal or does he suspect a thing?“My phone,” the thoughts rang out aloud in my head.Where is my phone?Oh my…I hope he hasn't gone through it.“Do you have something to say or are you going to keep quiet even to the question I asked?” Antonio said in a loud tone.“Boss, you can trust me. I will do a
XANDERA few hours back,Jocelyn wouldn't stop tapping my shoulder repeatedly.“What is it? Can you just let me be for now?” I shouted at her.She suddenly stepped back. At first, I thought that was her simply respecting and obeying me but I noticed how she kept looking above my head like someone scary was approaching.I turned to look and three hefty men were approaching us. “Where did these ones come from now?” I thought.Their faces didn't look good and they didn't look like men working for my boss or even Don.“Jocelyn, run,” I whispered, but it was already too late.A man had already grabbed her from behind. I didn't realize we were being attacked from both sides.“Where is your boss?” One of them asked as he made me kneel before him.“Who are you to ask that?” I summoned the courage to question him despite his huge size.I thought I was going to receive a hard slap or perhaps a death punch on the face but to my surprise, the man signaled to the other two who stood gallantly besi