Chapter 6.

"Welcome to the Phillippines,Thank you for flying with us".

The cheerful and warm greetings of the flight attendants standing at the airplane's door exit barely reaches Axel's hearing. He just came out from the business class deck of a famous international airlines. A total of six men are behind his back while he's walking the stairs getting out of the plane. The long flight has been exhausting.

Axel entered the arrival area stopping a little bit to look around the familiar place. He didn't mind the obvious stares and meaningful glances from the ladies that he passed by. His mind is occupied by the plans and the reason why he came back to this country.

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"Donte,how's he doing?

Donte's shoulders dropped, his eyes have visible dark circles and his brows furrowed.

"The doctors are not sure if he can make it, Giovann è molto debole".(Giovann is very weak)

He run his hand above his head combing it with his fingers desperately. He thought that Giovann would somehow survive but it looks like he's wrong. He looked at the old man from the thick glass wall of his private hospital room. He almost couldn't recognize his face.

Too many wires and cables attached to his body and placed beside his bed, And the beep of his heart is slowing down. Doctors and nurses are with him taking data down and checking his condition.

"Giovann wanted to talk to you so bad, boss Axel ".

He frowned and turned his eyes towards Donte. He wanted to hear what he's going to say next.

"He says he can't die without telling you the truth".

Now he is really curious as to what Giovann is trying to tell him..He felt the old man have got something that he hides from him.

"And what truth is that? Is there anything else you wanna share with me Donte, I suoi segreti?

(His secrets)

Donte moved his eyes downward and right there he knows that he can't squeeze Donte for anything. He was about to say something when the doctor came out of the private room.

"How is the patient doc?

Axel quickly drew his attention to the old man in white coat and eyeglasses. 

"The operation was a success but there are some complications.He woke up for a few seconds and is asking for someone named Axel, the patient is still very weak".

The doctor sighed before adding. "His chance of survival is  slowing down so i'm suggesting that one of his family can stay beside him as he really needs that love and moral support,it could add into his will to live."

"I am his family doctor!,i will stay beside him".

Axel immediately took the initiative for Giovann,he needs to be beside him so that if the old man woke up then he can speak to him.

"Good,well I better get going now. He is stable for the mean time and if you can just be near his bed,it will give the patient  some sense of energy and will help him regain his strength in return".

"Thank you doctor".

He nod his head and went past them.

"Boss Axel,you don't have to stay if you are busy i can keep Boss Giovann the company he needed".

"No Donte, didn't you heard what the doctor said? Giovann ha chiesto di me".(Giovann asked for me)

Donte sighed in resignation and let him stay on watched for Giovann.

"Get some sleep Donte,you looked like shit. Send Rochus and the other two men to watch the door for me".

"I can sleep in the car Boss Axel".

"What the fuck Donte! You need a bath,get yourself home and come back here with a hundred percent clear mind."

He raised his voice unmindful of their men who glanced at them with worried frowns in their foreheads. Donte will not go home if he didn't do it.

He changed into a hospital gown and went inside Giovann's room. He noticed the slow movement of Giovann's hand above the hospital blanket. He groaned, as if in pain and his eyes forcefully opened.

"Axel"...

"Hey old man,don't say anything and please focus on getting well. We have plenty of time when you leave this place."

He cleared his throat as he felt it went dry after giving so much effort to make his words sounds convincing in Giovann's ears. But they both know Giovann might not be able to make it out of the hospital. The high and mighty strong man that he knows before seems to have faded away. And is being replaced by an old weak and sickly man.

"Axel,i-may...not have much time anymore".

The old man's voice is very slow and weak he needs to bend down and listen to him carefully. Even the old man himself knew he's almost near the end.

"I'm sorry, Axel..please forgive me about your mom mi dispiace".(I'm sorry)

"Stop apologizing Giovann,we have avenged my mom and that's finished. You know we should be celebrating,because i have built a force in this place. Our numbers are high,the group is stronger than ever. We hit billions in just a couple of weeks".

He was so proud of the news,he hoped it would bring a little bit of happiness from Giovann's part. He's face just lighted up a bit and his eyes bright. But that was only for a few seconds.

"I was never wrong t-to choose you Axel,but there's something you n-need to know...it's about your real f-father E 'vivo".(He's alive)

"What!?

He clenched his two knuckles on his side. He didn't expect to hear such a shocking news. After so many years he thought of him as dead while in the mafia. Is this the secret that Donte and Giovann is hiding from him.

"He i-is in the Phillippines,D-donte will go with you when you are ready. Your father has no idea about y-you. I've kept t-this a secret from him...a-and you.B-but when i die,he would know."

Giovann started clutching his chest and the room was filled with the noise of an alarm indicating that the patient is losing his breath.

"G-Giovann,no...tell me more! Why in the Phillippines?Who is my dad?

"I'm so- sorry Axel...I didn't mean to kept this secret f-from youu..

He keep repeating those words in a weak voice that's slowly fading away. Axel shut his mouth and asked himself so many questions regarding his father. He hold the old man's hand and waited for the doctors who came in just a few seconds later.

He had so many questions that it seems only Giovann knows the answer. Because his mother never told him about his father's whereabouts when she was still alive. But those were the last words Giovann was able to tell him because a few hours after that his heart had stopped beating. And a secret funeral happened. 

Donte confessed everything to him,starting from the day they came to a province in Phillippines and found Axel's father. Until the time they came to Manila and took Axel from the slums. Everything was Giovann's plan and tactic because his father had rejected coming back to Italy.He also told him about the life of his own father and how he is innocent from the plans of Giovann to make him as the mafia's successor.

Pain and betrayal filled Axel's chest, it was excruciating like a stab in his wounded heart.He thought he doesn't want anything to do with the truth about his father's existence but he couldn't resist the attempt to visit the Phillippines after his business deal in Japan.

And now Axel finds himself stepping foot in his old country once again. He is in one of the top class five star hotel near the international airport.

"Donte,get someone to arrange a private flight for me to Butuan City. A private jet is better".

Axel thought it would be more convenient and easy for them to travel alone in a private jet. He would hate to draw public attention. His enemies are everywhere.

"Certo capo.(sure boss) Donte nod and did as he was told.