One Hundred Fiveteen

Alexander’s car sped down the empty road toward the small village where Aunt Marrie lived. Inside the vehicle, Cassandra sat silently, her eyes gazing out the window while her mind wandered far away. Her fingers fidgeted on her lap, restless, reflecting the chaos in her thoughts. Alexander glanced at her briefly, noticing the unease she made no effort to hide.

"I don’t know if I’m ready to hear this,"

Cassandra finally spoke, her voice quiet and uncertain. Alexander kept his eyes on the road, but his voice was steady.

"It’s better you know now than spend the rest of your life wondering."

Cassandra took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"I’m just afraid… what if the truth is worse than I imagined?"

Alexander finally turned to her, his eyes serious, filled with something Cassandra couldn’t quite decipher.

"No matter what it is, I’ll be here with you."

Cassandra swallowed hard. Alexander had always been there for her. No matter how many times she ignored him, pushed him away, even chose Antonio over him, he remained. But could she really allow herself to fall back into the comfort Alexander provided? Or was it just her confusion speaking? The silence inside the car stretched on, but this time, it felt different. Something was in the air—something unspoken, but undeniably present. Alexander finally broke the silence.

"Cass… after this, will you go back?"

Cassandra frowned, turning to him.

"Back where?"

Alexander tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"To Antonio."

Cassandra froze. The question struck deeper than she expected. Would she go back to Antonio after learning the truth? Or was this truly the end of everything?

"I… don’t know, Alex,"

she whispered, her voice barely audible. Alexander exhaled softly but said nothing more. He didn’t want to pressure her, but he also couldn’t ignore the small sliver of hope lingering in his heart. After a long drive, the car finally stopped in front of a small wooden house surrounded by a vast green field. For a brief moment, Cassandra felt like she had stepped back into her childhood, back when she used to visit this place with her parents. But now, she was here for a different reason—to find the truth. As they stepped out of the car, the front door swung open, and Aunt Marrie appeared with a look of surprise.

"Cassandra, my dear!"

Aunt Marrie rushed toward her, wrapping her in a tight embrace. The hug was warm, yet it hurt in a way Cassandra couldn’t explain.

"It’s been so long since you visited. Are you okay?"

Cassandra forced a small smile, though her heart felt heavy.

"I’m fine, Auntie."

Aunt Marrie pulled back and turned her gaze to Alexander.

"And who is this handsome young man?"

Cassandra smirked slightly, sensing Alexander shifting uncomfortably.

"This is Alexander. My colleague from the police department."

Aunt Marrie raised an eyebrow playfully.

"Oh, a colleague? You two seem like more than that."

Cassandra choked, while Alexander merely chuckled softly.

"We’re really just colleagues, Auntie,"

Cassandra said quickly. Aunt Marrie gave them a knowing look before offering a gentle smile.

"Of course, sweetheart."

Once they were seated in the living room, Cassandra finally gathered the courage to speak.

"Auntie, I came here to ask about something important."

Aunt Marrie nodded, watching her attentively.

"I need to know about my parents. Who they really were."

For a moment, Aunt Marrie’s face tensed. Her eyes flickered to Alexander before returning to Cassandra.

"Cass… this isn’t something that will be easy for you to hear."

Cassandra clenched her hands tightly in her lap, trying to steady herself.

"I’m ready, Auntie. I have to know."

Aunt Marrie remained silent for a few moments, as if battling with something in her mind. Then, with a heavy breath, she finally said:

"Your father, Marvin Bakker… he wasn’t just an ordinary man. He was part of the Silver Rose Mafia."

Cassandra felt the world spin for a moment. She stared at Aunt Marrie in shock.

"What…?"

Aunt Marrie nodded slowly.

"He left that world when your mother was pregnant with you. But before that… he was the most feared enforcer."

Cassandra bit her lip, trying to process what she had just heard. Alexander remained silent, allowing Cassandra to face the truth she had been seeking for so long. Cassandra took a deep breath, lowering her head. The world she had always hated, the one she had always seen as the enemy, was in her blood all along.

"So… I’m the daughter of a mafia man?"

Aunt Marrie looked at her with sadness.

"You’re the daughter of a man who tried to escape that world. But that world never let him go."

Cassandra felt her chest tighten. She had come here for the truth, but the truth was heavier than she had ever imagined. Alexander watched her carefully, trying to read her expression.

"Cass…"

Cassandra closed her eyes, then whispered.

"I need time."

"I need to know more."

As Cassandra stepped out of the car, the scent of damp earth and fresh air greeted her instantly. It had been a long time since she had set foot in this place—Aunt Marrie’s simple wooden house, filled with warmth and childhood memories. In the distance, soft grunts and the familiar snorts of pigs echoed from the pen. Cassandra smiled faintly as she saw Aunt Marrie’s pigs, still plump and healthy, roaming in their enclosure.

"They’re still here,"

she murmured. Alexander, standing beside her, turned and raised an eyebrow.

"You really like pigs?"

he asked teasingly. Cassandra let out a small laugh, the first in days.

"I grew up with them."

It didn’t take long before the front door swung open, and a middle-aged woman with a warm smile stepped out. Aunt Marrie was still the same—kind, affectionate, and always knowing how to read Cassandra’s emotions.

"Cassandra, my dear!"

she called, opening her arms wide. Cassandra smiled, then jogged toward her and embraced her tightly.

"It’s been so long, Auntie."

Aunt Marrie stroked Cassandra’s hair gently before pulling back to look at her.

"And who is this handsome young man?"

she asked, her eyes glinting with amusement as she glanced at Alexander. Cassandra stepped back slightly and smiled.

"This is Alexander. My colleague from the police department."

Alexander extended his hand politely.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Aunt Marrie."

Aunt Marrie shook his hand but instead of just a brief handshake, she patted the back of his hand gently. Then, with a sly grin, she turned to Cassandra.

"Oh, a colleague? Cassandra, darling… are you sure he’s just a colleague?"

Cassandra choked, her face flushing slightly.

"We’re just colleagues, Auntie."

Alexander chuckled softly but didn’t deny it.

"Yes, just work partners,"

he said casually, though deep inside, a small part of him wished for something more. There was a tiny hope within him that maybe, just maybe, Cassandra would consider the possibility. But before she could respond further to the teasing, Aunt Marrie’s expression shifted to something more serious.

"And what about Antonio?"

The air suddenly grew colder. Cassandra stiffened for a moment before finally answering in a barely audible voice.

"He… he’s fine."

Alexander noticed the subtle change in her demeanor. He could hear the shift in her tone, the way her eyes dropped slightly at the mention of Antonio’s name. He wasn’t sure what hurt more—the fact that Cassandra still thought about Antonio or the realization that there was nothing he could do to erase the man from her heart. Aunt Marrie nodded slowly, sensing something was wrong but choosing not to press further. Instead, she gently patted Cassandra’s hand.

"Baby, no matter what happens, remember that you always have a home here."

Cassandra gave a small smile, even though her heart was still filled with confusion. After they sat down in the living room, Alexander couldn't hold back his question any longer.

"Cass… you still care about him, don’t you?"

Cassandra blinked, staring at Alexander with an expression that was hard to read.

"I don’t know, Alex,"

her voice was tired.

"I want to hate him… I want to believe that he’s the one who ruined my life. But a part of me still hopes he didn’t lie to me."

Alexander let out a long sigh, feeling a pang in his chest at her words.

"You know I’ll always be here for you, right?"

he asked softly. Cassandra looked at him, then gave a small, weary smile.

"I know, Alex."

Aunt Marrie, who had been quietly listening from a distance, finally cleared her throat.

"Cass, I don’t think you came here just for nostalgia, did you?"

Cassandra sighed, then nodded.

"I need answers, Auntie. I want to know who my father really was."

Aunt Marrie fell silent, her expression turning more serious. She looked at Cassandra, as if debating whether she should say something or not. Finally, in a low voice, she said,

"Alright, sweetheart… I’ll tell you everything."

Cassandra clasped her hands tightly in her lap, bracing herself for the truth. Outside the house, the sky began to darken, as if nature itself could feel the tension thickening in the air. Aunt Marrie took a deep breath before finally nodding slowly.

"Yes, Cass… your father used to be a field agent for the Silver Rose Mafia."

Cassandra felt something sharp pierce through her chest. Even though she had suspected the answer, hearing it confirmed by someone she trusted made it hurt even more.

"So he wasn’t just a victim…"

Cassandra's voice grew weaker. Her hands clenched on her lap, emotions boiling beneath the surface.

"He was one of them?"

Aunt Marrie looked at her with deep affection, but also with profound sadness.

"When your mother was pregnant with you, he decided to leave and disappear into this small town."

Cassandra let out a short laugh, but there was no joy in it.

"Leave?"

she repeated the word, her voice filled with disbelief. She looked at Aunt Marrie sharply.

"Auntie… did he really leave? Or was there something he was still hiding?"

Aunt Marrie shook her head, but Cassandra could see the hesitation in her eyes. Placing down her teacup, Aunt Marrie gazed at Cassandra with more intensity.

"Cass, there are some things you can never fully walk away from… especially if you've been part of the mafia world."

Cassandra swallowed, her chest growing heavier.

"So, even though he left that world… was he ever truly free?"

Aunt Marrie remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head.

"He tried, Cass. But that world never lets you go so easily."

Cassandra bit her lip, her eyes stinging. It felt as if the world she had known her whole life was crumbling in front of her. As a child, she had always believed her father was a victim—a good man whose life was stolen by the cruelty of the mafia. But now…

She realized he had been part of that darkness all along. Alexander watched Cassandra carefully, noticing how she was beginning to lose her composure. Finally, he reached out and placed his hand over hers, offering a small warmth amidst the chaos in her mind.

"Cass… are you okay?"

Cassandra looked down at their hands, intertwined, then took a deep breath.

"I don’t know, Alex."

She closed her eyes, trying to calm the storm raging inside her.

"If my father was one of them… does that mean I’m one of them too?"

Alexander shook his head quickly.

"No, Cassandra. You are not your father."

But those words weren’t enough to soothe her. Because deep inside, a part of her was beginning to fear that no matter how hard she tried to escape that world… The blood running through her veins would always pull her back. Cassandra lifted her head, her eyes sharper now, filled with something new. Determination.

"I need to know more."

Aunt Marrie looked at her with worry.

"Cass, sometimes knowing too much will only bring more pain."

Cassandra shook her head firmly.

"I've lived in lies long enough. I need to know everything."

Alexander nodded, supporting her decision.

"Then let's dig deeper."

Aunt Marrie let out a long sigh before finally saying:

"Alright… I’ll tell you how your father met your mother."

Cassandra took a deep breath, knowing that what she was about to hear might change her perspective forever. Outside, the wind blew harder, as if signaling that the real storm was just beginning. Cassandra stared at Aunt Marrie, anticipation filling her chest. Since childhood, she had known very little about her parents. She had always believed that her father was just an ordinary man, not a hired killer. But the truth she had learned today changed everything. Aunt Marrie exhaled deeply, then set her teacup down on the table.

"Your father wasn’t a good man, Cass,"

she said softly, but with absolute certainty.

"He killed without hesitation. Until he met your mother."

Twenty-five years ago, New York was a much darker place than it is now. The mafia controlled most of the city, and the law was nothing more than an illusion for those wealthy enough to manipulate it. Amidst all of this, there was a man known as the most ruthless executioner of the Silver Rose Mafia. His name was Marvin Bakker. He wasn’t just any hitman—he was the executioner who never failed a mission. Every target ended with a single bullet to the head or a knife straight through the heart. But one day, he was given a mission that changed everything.

"Kill the lawyer,"

his boss ordered.

"She’s interfering too much with our clients’ business."

His target? A young woman named Annalise Carter. The best damn lawyer in New York. Marvin observed Annalise for days, searching for the perfect moment to strike. But the longer he watched her, the more he began to see something he never expected. Annalise wasn’t just a lawyer. She was a fighter for justice, someone who truly believed in the law and in doing what was right. In a world drowning in corruption, she refused to give in. And before Marvin even realized it, something inside him started to shift. On the night he was supposed to kill Annalise, he saved her instead. She had just left her office when several men in dark suits ambushed her in a narrow alley. She fought back, but she knew she couldn’t win against four armed men. Just as they were about to grab her, gunshots tore through the darkness.

BANG! BANG!

One by one, her attackers collapsed to the ground. Annalise froze in place, her breath coming in sharp gasps as she watched someone step out of the shadows. Marvin. He was dressed in a black leather jacket, his eyes sharp and cold as death itself. But when he looked at Annalise, something in his gaze was different.

"You okay?"

Annalise struggled to catch her breath and stared at the man before her, wary.

"Who the hell are you?"

Marvin didn’t answer right away. After a few seconds, he simply said,

"Someone who was supposed to kill you." Cassandra’s eyes widened.

"He was supposed to kill her?"

Aunt Marrie nodded slowly.

"Yes. But he couldn’t do it. Because for the first time in his life, he found someone who made him want to change."

Alexander watched Cassandra curiously.

"And what happened after that?"

Aunt Marrie leaned back in her chair, her expression growing even more serious.

"He lost his status in the mafia. But Antonio’s father still saw value in him, so instead of being eliminated, he was only demoted."

Cassandra felt ice run through her veins.

"So… Antonio’s father knew my father?"

Aunt Marrie nodded again.

"More than that… they used to be very close."

Cassandra clenched her hands tightly on her lap.

"They were friends?"

Aunt Marrie gave a bitter smile.

"They were brothers in the mafia, Cass. Marvin was one of Richard Franches' most trusted men—Antonio’s father. They fought together, they killed together."

Cassandra felt nausea creeping up her throat. Antonio’s father. And her father. They didn’t just know each other. They had probably shared the same secrets, the same blood, the same world. Aunt Marrie looked at Cassandra with a serious expression.

"Cass… your father’s connection to the mafia runs deeper than you think."

Cassandra stared at the table, her mind spinning with endless unanswered questions. If her father had once been one of Antonio’s father’s most trusted men… Did that mean Antonio knew more than he let on? Was this all just a coincidence, or was there something bigger, something still hidden in the shadows? Alexander watched Cassandra closely, seeing the confusion and frustration on her face.

"Cass…"

She raised a hand, stopping him.

"I need time to process this."

Aunt Marrie sighed heavily.

"Cass… the deeper you dig, the more likely you are to uncover things you were never meant to know."

Cassandra met her aunt’s gaze, unwavering.

"I don’t care. I need to know the truth, no matter what."

Outside the house, the wind howled louder. As if warning them that a much bigger storm was on the horizon. After they married, Marvin and Annalise never truly found peace. They tried to live a normal life, far away from the shadows of the mafia that had haunted them for so long.

Marvin left the darkness behind, building a simple life in a quiet town with Annalise, who was pregnant with their child. But his past never let him go. Every time he walked down the street, he felt watched. Every night, he made sure all the doors were locked and that his gun was within reach. Because he knew—sooner or later—that world would come for him again. And he wasn’t wrong. Even though Marvin had left the Silver Rose Mafia, his old enemies were still after him. Especially the client who had once ordered him to kill Annalise. They hadn’t forgotten that their target was still alive. And now, she was the wife of the man who had once been their most ruthless executioner. One mistake, one moment of carelessness, and both of them would be dead. But Marvin had made a promise to himself. He would never let anyone lay a finger on his wife. Not as long as he was breathing. One night, as Annalise was preparing dinner, Marvin found an envelope slipped under the front door. His body tensed as he picked it up, carefully unfolding the paper. The message was written in red ink.

"Annalise Carter still has a debt to pay. Don’t think you can protect her forever."

Marvin’s jaw clenched, his fingers tightening around the paper. They had found him. He walked into the kitchen, where Annalise stood at the counter, calmly chopping vegetables as if nothing in the world was wrong. His heart pounded—not from fear, but from rage. He knew… They wouldn’t stop until they got what they wanted.

"Annalise."

His voice was low, but tense. Annalise stopped, turning to him with a frown.

"What’s wrong?"

Marvin took a deep breath, hiding the note behind his back.

"I need you to start packing."

Her brows furrowed.

"Marvin… what’s going on?"

He stepped closer, cupping her face gently—but his eyes were filled with something raw. Something terrifying.

"They found me again."

Cassandra listened to the story, her breath caught in her throat. Her entire body tensed as she started to grasp just how dangerous her parents’ lives had been. They weren’t just victims. They had been players in a much bigger game. A game where she still couldn’t see who was pulling the strings. She clenched her fingers tightly, whispering under her breath,

"I have to find out who really killed them."

Alexander met her gaze, his voice steady as he said, "And I’m going to help you." Aunt Marrie looked at them both with worry.

"Be careful, Cassandra… If you go too deep into this, you might not be able to come back."

Cassandra turned to her aunt, her eyes burning with determination.

"I don’t care. I will find the answers—no matter how deep I have to go."

Outside, the wind howled even louder. As if warning them… That this journey was only just beginning.