The Mafia Boss' Heart

CHAPTER 8

HAZE took a deep breath as she entered her apartment. As she entered, she felt the feeling of emptiness. Iyong pakiramdam ng nag-iisa. But she sighed seeing the dust on the floor and the furniture inside. Mukhang kailangan niyang maglinis. Mabuti na lamang at sabado bukas. Hindi niya kailangang pumasok sa trabaho. At isa pa ramdam niyang pagod ang katawan niya sa biyahe.

After putting her traveling bag on the corner, kaagad siyang humiga sa kama at nakatulog.

When she woke up the next morning, she still felt the jetlag, but she still needed to get up to cook her breakfast and clean her apartment. Suddenly, Nicolo’s face came into her mind. She stopped what she was doing as she cupped her chest. May naramdaman siyang hindi maipaliwanag na emosyon sa kaniyang dibdib habang iniisip si Nicolo. She couldn’t explain and yet she didn’t know the explanation of the feeling she felt just now.

She was in the Philippines, and Nicolo lived in Italy. At imposible pang magkrus ang landas nilang dalawa. Haze sighed and facepalmed. What was she thinking? Why is he thinking of that man? They had nothing to do with each other.

Sighing, Haze continued cleaning her apartment. After cleaning, she rested for a while before taking a bath. Pagkatapos niyang maligo at patuyuin ang buhok, bumalik na lamang siya sa pagtulog. But Nicolo’s image came into her mind suddenly. She suddenly got up and messed up her hair.

"Why does he keep popping into my mind?" She said, feeling pissed at herself because she doesn’t know the reason why Nicolo’s face keep popping into her mind.

Napabuga si Haze ng malakas na hangin. Then she received a call from Janine. Akala naman niya kung may sasabihin sa kaniya ang kaibigan na importante, ‘yon lang naman pala ay mang-aasar ito.

“You miss him?”

“Who?” Haze sighed. She pretended not to know what her friend was talking about.

“Come on, Haze. I know you know who I was talking about?” Janine said in a teasing voice. And even Haze couldn’t see Janine, she knew that Janine was smiling teasingly.

Tumawa si Janine. “You two had a wonderful date when I left you two, right?”

“It’s not a date. He just accompanied me.” Depensa naman ni Haze sa sarili dahil ‘yon naman talaga ang totoo.

Janine shook her head. “Haze, even though I’m single and I’m a woman. I can tell that he likes you. He was blushing while talking to you.”

Haze clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Did you call just to tease me?” Tanong niya sa seryosong boses. She doesn’t like to be teased about that kind of matter.

Still chuckling, Janine took a deep breath and smiled. “Don’t get angry, Haze. You know that I love to tease you. Anyway, I call you to check on you. Jetlag?”

Haze lies down on the bed. “Oo. Nakahinga ako ngayon sa kama, nakatitig sa kisame at nagbibilang ng mga butiking dadaan.”

Janine couldn’t help but shake her head. “I think you really need to rest. See you in the office on Monday, girl. Bye!”

“Bye.”

After the call ended, Haze put her phone beside her pillow and closed her eyes. Fortunately, this time she fell asleep.

ITALY.

“How was it?” Nicolo asked Alessio as he looked outside the car’s window. They were about to enter Ajello’s residence and he could see Ajello’s bodyguard standing on each side of the pathway. As if it looked like a grand entrance for him but he didn’t appreciate it. Parisi and Ajello Family are already odd since he refuses to marry Leonardo Ajello’s daughter. Actually, he’s not the only one who refused the marriage but also his father. According to his father, he’s not a tool to build more connections and power. If they want connection and power, they must achieve it on their own ability and won’t rely on others. That’s why he respects his father so much. His father is the best father for him because he knows how to think of his family’s happiness. No wonder that his mother loves his father very much. How does he wish he could have that kind of love like his parents?

“Don’t worry, Young Master. Our men were standing by and waiting for your orders,” said Alessio.

Tumango si Nicolo. “Good,” he said. He looked at the Ajello’s mansion. From one of the balconies of the mansion, he saw Lucilla, the only daughter of Leonardo Ajello. He had heard that Leonardo loved his daughter very much and Leonardo didn’t let anyone shame his daughter.

Pero hindi siya nandito ngayon sa Ajello’s residence para doon. He was just in the Ajello’s residence to finish everything that Leonardo Ajello started. One thing that his father didn’t like was that someone was sabotaging their operations. They have already lost millions because of the Ajello and his father couldn’t tolerate it anymore. His father already became lenient by sending him but unfortunately, he was not a lenient person either.

“Young Master, we're here,” Alessio announced.

Nicolo looked outside and they were already in front of the Ajello’s mansion and Leonardo Ajello was waiting for them.

“Be careful, Young Master.” Alonzo reminded him while he was sitting in the passenger seat.

Malamig na ngumiti si Nicolo. “Don’t worry, I won’t die.”

Alonzo rolled his eyes. “Drop your smile. It’s scary.”

Tumawa lang naman ng mahina si Nicolo. “Let’s go.”

Alessio stepped down from the car and walked towards the other side of the car. Binuksan niya ang pinto ng kotse at lumabas doon si Nicolo.

Nicolo fix his wrinkled coat.

Leonardo walked towards Nicolo and greeted him. “Young Master Parisi.”

Nicolo showed a fake smile and nodded his head. “Mr. Ajello.”

“Come on in.”

Nicolo suddenly dropped his eyeshades. “Sorry,” he apologized. “It slipped.”

“It’s okay, Young Master Parisi. Let’s go inside and have a talk.”

Tumango si Nicolo at bahagyang tinignan si Alonzo na nasa loob ng kotse. Tumango si Alonzo. When Leonardo turned his back on him, the corner of his lips curled up. As he entered the Ajello’s mansion, he looked at Alessio. “Relax. No need to be defensive.” Then he looked at Leonardo, “Mr. Ajello won’t harm me, right?”

Leonardo smiled. “Of course. I can’t take your father’s attack if something will happen to you in my mansion.” He gestured his hand to the sofa. “Have a seat.”

Umupo naman si Nicolo sa sofa.

Then the refreshment was served.

“Please.” Leonardo gestured his hand to the refreshments served by the maids.

Nicolo looked at the wine glass and smiled. He picked up the wine glass and so as Leonardo. They clinked their wine glass before drinking the wine. As he brought the wine into his mouth, he smelled the other scent lingering on the wine. He had a keen sense of smell and he knew that there was aphrodisiac mixed in the wine. He still drinks the wine to show his courtesy to Leonardo but he gives a subtle look to Alessio.

Alessio simply nodded his head.

Seeing the Young Master Parisi drink the wine, Leonardo smiled mysteriously. “So, why did you come here, Young Master Parisi?” he asked.

Nicolo smirked which made Leonardo feel uneasy. He had long heard about the reputation of the only son of Rafael Parisi. He’s crazy and weird. He had a kind of smile that could make anyone feel uneasy, just like him now.

“I know that you have already an idea why I came here, Mr. Ajello.” Kalmadong saad ni Nicolo.

Nakaramdam ng pag-aalala si Leonardo. “Young Mr. Parisi, are you talking about the operations that were sabotaged by my group? You know how Mafia work. Either we would become an ally or we would become enemies.”

At that moment, Lucilla was descending the staircase.

Ibinaba ni Nicolo ang hawak na wine glass sa may center table. “Mr. Ajello, I know that you have heard about my father’s reputation in the Mafia Organization. My father was not the kind of man who would back down. If you continue to sabotage our business like you always do.” He looked at the daughter of Ajello who had already descended the staircase. “I’ll kill your daughter before you. And I am not kidding.” Banta niya.

“You disgrace our family!” Leonardo’s voice rose, losing his composure.

Pero nanatiling kalmado si Nicolo. “I had never disgraced your family. You offered the marriage first and I just refused it. In my opinion, you already know that I am going to refuse so you used that to tell the world that I disgraced your family… to work against us. Mr. Ajello, I’m not a fool. Moreover, I’m not interested in your daughter.”

Ngumisi si Leonardo. “Even if you are not interested in my daughter, you have to marry her.”

Nicolo started to feel his body’s temperature rising. Umeepekto na ang alak na ininom niya.

Leonardo’s men suddenly entered the mansion.

“Nicolo,” Lucilla walked towards Nicolo, “you can’t escape today. You have already drunk the wine.”

Ramdam ni Nicolo ang pagkahilo. Pasimple niyang hinilot ang sentido. He pushed Lucilla’s hand that was touching him.

“Take him down!” Leonardo ordered his men but Alessio withdrew his gun.

“Young man, we have surrounded you,” Leonardo said.

Nicolo started to breathe heavily but took a deep breath and looked at Leonardo. He smiled coldly. “You lost.”

Leonardo laughed. “Young Mr. Parisi, we obviously know that you lost—” he stopped talking when they heard a voice in the intercom.

“Sorry. But I have already tapped into your system, Mr. Ajello. Looks like you buy our Young Master act,” said Alonzo.

Muling ngumiti si Nicolo. “Mr. Ajello, I already know what you are planning to do and I have already taken precautions before I entered your mansion. Do you think I didn’t see your men hiding? I have already given my order to my Chief Advisor before I entered your mansion,” he showed his shades.

“You!”

Nicolo smirked. “Kill them all.” He ordered.

Nicolo’s men attacked Leonardo’s men. And gunshots could be heard everywhere in the Ajello’s residence.

Leonardo was quick to escape but he was blocked by Nicolo’s men outside the mansion. It turns out that Nicolo’s men already surrounded the mansion.

“No!” Lucilla screamed. “No!”

Alessio pointed the gun at Lucilla to stop her from attacking Nicolo.

Nicolo just sighed and closed his eyes. He was dizzy and he felt his world was moving.

“Nicolo, you monster!” Lucilla screamed in anger.

Nicolo was calm as he opened his eyes. He smiled evilly at Lucilla. “If your father didn’t sabotage our operation, I wouldn’t do this. Blame your father.”

“I’ll kill you!”

Nicolo shrugged. “If you can.”

Lucilla was about to attack Nicolo, but she was shot by Alessio in her shoulder. She screamed in pain.

Then the gunshots stopped.

Alonzo entered the room and gave Nicolo a bottle of water. “Drink it.”

Nicolo quickly drinks the water in the bottle.

“Can you stand? Leonardo was captured outside,” said Alonzo.

“I can,” Nicolo said and stood up. He looked at Lucilla. “Kill her! I don’t want her causing any trouble for me in the future.”

Alessio bowed his head and shot Lucilla on her forehead.

Nicolo stepped outside the mansion and walked towards Leonardo who his men captured. He smirked. “You didn’t expect this, right?”

“You’re a monster.”

Nicolo chuckled. “You’re more like a monster than me, Leonardo. Do you think that I didn’t investigate about you? I have already given you three days to apologize for sabotaging our operation but you didn’t so I came here to finish your life.” Tumingin siya kay Alonzo. “Tell him what he did that was unacceptable.”

“He raped five women. Those five women were killed by him and were disposed of by Leonardo brutally. Three of them are mothers and the other two were a breadwinner of their family,” said Alonzo.

“You’re lying!” Leonardo tried to defend himself.

Nicolo took the gun from Alonzo’s waist and pointed it at Leonardo. He didn’t hesitate to kill Leonardo as he pulled the trigger. After killing Leonardo, Nicolo gave back the gun to Alonzo. “Accompany me to the car.”

Namumula na si Nicolo at pinagpapawisan.

“Alright.” Alonzo supported Nicolo so he won’t fall on the ground. He looked at Alessio. “Take care of everything in here.”

“Don’t worry. Leave it to me.”

“Young Master, you have to drink a lot of water for you to clean the drug in your body,” Alonzo said.

Nicolo nodded. “Take me home first.”

“Yes, Young Master.”