Chapter 45

"Goodbye, kitten." I said as I dropped her off at Dalia's house.

"Bye, I'll see you at 6 p.m." She replied with a small kiss on the lips.

I smiled as I watched her walk through the garden and into the house. I pressed the gas pedal andaccelerated to the primary base. I walked into the base after parking in the dirt lot. As I passed bymy people, they looked at me with a newfound fear, knowing that I had murdered one of their own.I scoffed that they should be afraid of me because that is the only way to gain their respect.

I walk down into the underground gym, knowing that my second in command, Alex, will be there."Alex," I said as I stood there watching him punch the fuck out of the punching bag.

"Yes, boss?" he says as he looks up at me and stops punching.

"I need you to replace someone for me as well.” I said, approaching him.

As I approach him, he straightens up. "Who?" He inquired.

"Sylvester Katz," I said.

Alex nodded, and I turned around to return to my office.

Before I can even get to my office, I can smell her burnt hair and cheap perfume as I walk up thestairs. When I turned the corner, I saw Ashley leaning against the wall, wearing a poor excuse for ashirt and shorts so short that there was nothing left to the imagination. As I walked into my office, Inearly gagged at the sight but rolled my eyes and continued to ignore her.

"Andreweee.” She said in her ear bleeding voice. I turn around and glare at her, "S-sorry, Don." Shetrembled as she corrected herself.

I stepped away from her and over to my desk. She came in with me and began stroking my arm in apathetic attempt to seduce me. I stood up and moved my hand away from her touch. "Don't fuckingtouch me," I said as I pulled out my gun and rested it on her brow.

"But why?" Is it not because of her? You said she was a pointless person, but you wanted me." Sheraised her voice slightly.

"I only used you, don't fucking touch me and learn your place or I'll shoot you.” I grumbled.

"All right, Boss.” She tripped. I lowered the gun and rolled my eyes. "Now, get out of my way." Isnarled. I scoffed as she nodded and practically ran out of my office. I sat down in my chair andbegan scanning the "goods" that had arrived.

Drugs were sold.

Weapons were sold.

When someone knocked on my door, I came to a halt.

"Please come in." I said without looking up from the reports.

"Boss." As he walked into my office and up to my desk, I overheard Alex say. "What did you replace?" Iasked as I set the reports down and motioned for him to sit down.

"Sylvester Katz owns a club down in Los Angeles,” he began, and I rolled my eyes because I alreadyknew he owned a club because I had been to it. "He is 38 years old, six feet tall, and his bankstatements state that he used to have quite a lot of money but that in the past few years he hasbegun to go into debt.” He went on. I raised an eyebrow in his direction. Is this all Alex discoveredon him?

"What about buying girls, trafficking them, or having a criminal record?" I inquired.

"He has no criminal record, but he has some shady business dealings... but nothing about buying ortrafficking girls.” Alex responded.

"All right, good job. You're going to LA now to bring Sylvester here to me. Unharmed." I ordered.Alex nodded and exited my office after I dismissed him

I kept reading the reports and called a couple of other allies to discuss future meetings aboutterritory and such. I decided to go to the gym after I finished because I had about 2 hours beforegoing to pick up Ava.

I wandered down to the gym and was relieved to replace it empty. I took off my shirt and stood in frontof the punching bag, letting everything out on it.

"Sylvester will pay for his actions.”

"My Uncle has already paid for his actions, but I hope he is tortured in hell.”

"I had to be away from my peace, light, and reason to breathe for two weeks due to a familymember."

"Until the day I die, I will protect her."

“lo-"

I came to a halt and shook the thought out of my head. I can't love anyone the way I can with her,no matter how much I need her in my life. That kind of love is a sign of weakness, and I couldn't dothat to her. I hated myself for needing her presence but failing to provide her with what sherequired. I couldn't love her because I was the leader of one of the world's most ruthless andpowerful mafias. I'd have to let her go and let her move on eventually.

"Would I be able to let go of her?" I pondered.

My chest tightened at the thought of someone else loving her as she deserved, and I wish I could,but my father has taught me not to. I was the way I was because of my father, and he haunted meeven after he died.

"Fuck," I yelled. I looked up at the clock in the gym corner and realized I needed to go pick up Ava.I cleaned up and walked over to my car, turning the key as it started up. I accelerated out of the dirtparking lot and toward my mother's house. The guards recognized me and opened the gate,allowing me to park on the side of the house.

I entered the kitchen through the garage.

No Ava.

I went into the living room.

No sign of Ava.

I went upstairs to Dalia's room.

Still No Ava.

I began to panic as I wondered where Dalia and Ava were.

I dashed downstairs, grabbed my phone, and was about to call my men when I heard a faint laughoutside. I dashed out into the front garden, where I found Dalia and Ava playing among the roses.My shoulders relaxed, and I resumed my breathing.

Both of them were safe.

Ava was the first to notice me and nudge Dalia to turn around in my direction.

"Brotherrrrr.” She yelled, skipping over to me and hugging both of my legs. I smiled and knelt toembrace her.

"I missed you, Little one.” I spoke into her ear.

"I missed you as well. "Ava told me she's living with you; does that mean you're now friends?" Sheinquired, pulling away from my embrace.

I chuckled and looked at Ava, who was now staring at Dalia and me, and she laughed and rolled hereyes at me. "I guess we're now friends.” I informed Dalia.

Dalia screamed, "YAYAYA!" I was shocked by how loud she was. I could hear Ava laughing acrossfrom me and gave her a deathly stare, but it only made her laugh louder.

"Okay, Princess, I'm going home with Andrew." I roll my eyes again, she said between laughs.

"All right, bye bye." Dalia said as she walked back into the house. I stand up, surprised to see Avabent down over the black roses, no longer laughing as she had just a few seconds ago. I approachher and kneel down to look at the roses with her.

"Andrew?" She inquired, her gaze fixed on the roses.

"Mhm," I said

"Who did you lose?" Ava inquired. Travis must have told her what the roses mean, I sigh.

"My father," I replied, recalling all of my memories with him. I'm trying to recall some good ones butcan't think of any.

"I loved him, but he was a cruel man who made me feel neglected and unwanted.” I began bywanting to open up to her because she had trusted me with her past... "I wanted to put my trust inher." He would constantly beat me until I gave in to everything he asked of me. I didn't understandwhy he did what he did at the time, but now I know he did it to shape me for this lifestyle. Hetaught me how to run the Mafia and be a great leader, but he also taught me not to be attached orto love."

"When I was 7, he made me kill one of his whores with whom he would hook up.” He warned methat killing would be something I would have to do all the time, but that wasn't my most difficultkill. My toughest kill came when I was 13... I had to murder my six-month girlfriend. I tried to keepher a secret, but my father found out and told me to kill her instead of beating me, so I did." Icontinued, my gaze shifting from the roses to Ava's face.

She was not afraid, and there was no pity in her eyes; instead, she appeared to understand what Ihad just told her.

"So why do you plant the flowers for him?" She inquired.

"When Dalia was born, he transformed into a completely different person.” He had already "trained"me to be the next leader, so all he wanted to do for Dalia was be a loving father. Many peoplewould have despised Dalia for having the father they never had, but I was only happy for her. Iwouldn't have to shield her from her own father's horrors. But he died when she was a year old, andboth my mother and I agreed that he deserved the flowers."

"Our small meaning of the flowers is a second chance, which was ideal for him." He changed somuch, and I truly loved my father for that year because of how much he protected and cherishedDalia.” I responded.

"You're not him." That was all Ava said before wrapping her arms around my neck and hugging me.I felt relieved when she said that she knew exactly what to say to me and that she accepted me...just for me.

"Come on, kitten, let's go home." I said.

"How many times have I told you that I am not a small animal?" For the millionth time today, shereplied by rolling her eyes.

"Perhaps once more." I chuckled as I yanked her away from the roses....

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