Alpha's Daughter and Her Mafia Mate

LEONARD I froze watching them Lower Melissa's casket to the ground, and I couldn't breathe either. My heart pounded hard against my rib cage, and I suddenly felt like the world was closing in on me. I always pride myself on being a tough man, but on this occasion, I was no better than a schoolgirl who has lost her way home. Tears were blocking my vision, and I didn't bother to wipe them nor blow my nose. What's the use? I asked myself. My darling Melissa had left, and it felt like she was taking a piece of me with her. A big piece. I heard a child wail beside me and abruptly jerked my neck to the side. Strangely, I hadn't noticed my mother was standing next to me, clutching my one-year-old son. Looking at his helpless and clueless self just made the whole situation harder. How am I supposed to raise a toddler without my wife? She was the better part of me and the lover in my home. My son kept wailing and for a second I couldn't help but wonder if, by any chance, he did understand what was happening. Perhaps in his subconscious, he knows we are burying his mother and he will never see her again. Well, unless of course that crap about the afterlife is real, which I think not. My mother couldn't calm Max; she had to thrust him into my shaky hands. I tried protesting for I am not the most confident toddler handler, but the deathly glare she sprouted made me put on a brave face and faced my son. I attempted a smile, but gave him an unmanly squeak instead. The little rascal grabbed a fist of my hair and began pulling hard, as if I weren't going through enough pain already. “Really?” I drawled, but as expected he wouldn't understand a damn thing and just kept pulling like his life depended on it. And to some extent, I think it did, and he knew I would be a sh*tty parent to have been left with. I can't even change a diaper for crying out loud. My line of thought got me angry fast, I shook. Angry at the man who shot that damn stray bullet that pierced through Melissa's skull, taking her life. Angry at the senator who orchestrated the damn raid and also angry at the supposed heavens for taking her away from my son who obviously still needs a mother. My anger bubbled to a point where I needed to hit something or someone, preferably. “Calm down, Leo, you are shaking.” My mother whispered, taking back her grandson for his own safety, I suppose. But I couldn't calm down, not when those responsible for my misery were still breathing. I knew very well no amount of tears would bring Melissa back, so it was time for action. I exhaled deeply and turned to face my mother, “I will need you to look after him for a few more hours,” I rasped, leaning in to kiss my son's forehead and hightailed out of the cemetery like the hounds of hell were after me. I had one destination in mind, my old partner's home. He and I had a bit of a squabble the last time we were together because I was the holier than thou moron who didn't want to kill the men in uniform. Considering my line of work, which is dealing with illegal drugs and gambling, I cannot claim the Saint Leonard's award, but I can confidently say I avoid killings at all costs. But now I am not so sure. Not after what happened to Melissa. I can't promise to not kill anyone who gets between me and the bastards responsible. My chauffeur, Henry, opened the back left for me before getting behind the wheel. Once I was strapped in, he stepped on the gas peeking at me in the rearview mirror, probably to gauge my mood. “Keep your eyes on the damn road!” I barked when he almost hit a bump. He offered a sheepish yes sir, but I could tell he was still curious. Not that I blame him. It has been more than three years since I last saw or even spoke to Benjamin, and Henry knew. So asking him to drive me to the man's estate all of a sudden, just when I have lost my beloved wife, is an arousing combo. And not forgetting the fact that my wife was killed by a cop, and Benjamin is a renowned cop killer. Henry must already be filling in the gaps in his head. Not that there is much to fill anyway. “Sh*t!” He cursed, getting my attention. I didn't have to ask why the displeasure because once I lifted my eyes, there were a bunch of people blocking the road ahead, and we were in a two-way street. Just my luck! I couldn't even get to the one person I can count on to deliver at the moment. I c*cked my head to the side and my eyes clashed with a familiar figure leaning on a car just a few meters from where we were. I had to lower my window and crane my neck to ensure I was seeing the right things. There she was. The daughter of the Senator responsible for my wife's death. I knew her because I had been obsessed with the man since he brought immense sadness into my life. Of course, she had tons of security personnel shadowing her every move, but that wasn't something for me to worry about. My guys are significantly superior to those clowns anyway. I quickly fetched my phone and took a discreet photo and forwarded the image to Henry. Immediately his phone pinged, he hastily picked it up and stared at the screen briefly, probably studying the image, before giving me a quizzical glance through the rearview. “I need to know her every move,” I said calmly, averting my gaze to look at the woman again, but she had got into the car. “At the earliest.” I added, facing forward, just as police patrols began pouring in to move the angry mob away. “Yes sir,” Henry responded dutifully. “Anything else?” “Yes, head back home.” I saw his instant confusion, but I wasn't in the mood of explaining myself to my chauffeur, who also happens to be my head of security. But of course, he wasn't dumb. “I am guessing she will pay for her father's sins,” Henry murmured, which meant he had been investigating how to avenge Melissa too, to have recognized the senator's daughter. “Do you have any objections?” I retorted with a scowl. “Only one,” mumbled, holding my gaze through the mirror. “Why didn't you think of it sooner?” I smiled. I knew he too was mourning. When I said my wife was the lover, I meant to everyone, family, friends, and employees alike. And everyone loved her too, greatly. **** We had barely got home when my phone roared. My mother's name flashed nonstop, and there was no way I could ignore it. “Come and get him,” she snapped, immediately I muttered a bored, hello. “Mum ple…” I began, but she interrupted firmly, “now, Leo!” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. It was definitely going to be a long night, I thought in dismay as I instructed Henry to drive us to my mother's mansion instead. From the gate, one could hear the loud wailing, which made me grimace. It's like Max had got a new set of lungs, and he was trying them out for the first time. Even she, couldn't handle him, and she had raised me. Henry gave me a knowing stare. It was more of a challenge, daring me to get in and take my crying son. I marched forward with my head raised high, for I couldn't let him think I was freaking out, though I was completely freaking out inside. I heard him snicker behind me, but I kept stepping forward and rang my mother's doorbell. When I heard footsteps approaching, I almost turned but remembering Henry is standing just a few meters behind me ready to have a field day made me hold my ground. That courage was rewarded when the maid opened the door with my mother in tow. My wailing son quietened, immediately his gaze fell on me. My mother's questioning gaze zeroed on me, and I couldn't help but shrug. The proud smirk on my face though couldn't be masked. I took Maxwell in my arms, propping him on my shoulder the way I have seen Melissa do countless times and the boy sighed in contentment. I rubbed his small back soothingly, turning to shoot Henry a, I didn't even have to try, look. He chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender and stepped forward to accept Max's diaper bag from my mother. “Thank you,” I told her, leaning in to kiss both her cheeks before heading to the car. I didn't even have a car seat, so I just sat holding my boy tightly, as Henry ignited the SUV to life almost immediately. We pulled out of my mother's driveway and into the now busy streets and got stuck in a traffic jam for more than an hour. But I didn't mind, in fact, I enjoyed the peaceful moment with my son who fell asleep after a while probably from all the crying he had done. The little man was still clutching to my finger and anytime I tried to wiggle it he stirred. I was so lost in my thoughts staring at my son that I didn't realize when we pulled into my compound until Henry prompted. Most of my employees just gawked seeing me carrying Max in my arms. I couldn't blame them though, outside the house I have never really held the toddler. Melissa handled everything. “Welcome home sir,” Lenah, my housekeeper, greeted us the moment we stepped into the foyer. She offered to take Max from my hands, but I shook my head, surprising me more than her and Henry. “Will you please teach me how to take care of him?” I asked, and Lenah nodded enthusiastically after the initial shock wore off. “It will be my pleasure sir,” “Thank you, Lenah.” I smiled briefly at the older woman. She was almost the same age as my mother. “I think he is hungry,” I eyed my boy, and Lenah was quick to assure me that she would prepare something for him to eat once he woke. Just then, Henry's phone rang. I left him to answer and began on the stairs heading to my room. “What?” I heard Henry bellow and I halted, turning to look at him. I knew that voice too well. “How?” He rasped, pacing impatiently. “I will tell him,” he answered after listening to the person on the other side of the line for a while. After hanging up, he turned to me, “We have a problem.” What more could go wrong now?