The Mafia Don's Affection

“DON,” the second-in-command bowed his head to the Mafia Boss. The Mafia Boss was sitting on his swivel chair. Nakatalikod ito sa kaniya ngunit kailangan pa rin niyang yumukod bilang respeto kahit hindi ito nakatingin sa kaniya. “What is it?” a deep and baritone voice asked. “Don, isa sa mga tauhan natin ang nagsabi sa kalaban ang tungkol sa lakad ng grupo kagabi. That’s why we are sabotaged, and it caused our group to lose five soldiers last night.” Imporma ng second-in-command. “Nahuli niyo na ba siya?” tanong ng Don. “Yes, Don. He’s in front of the villa and kneeling.” The Don turned his swivel chair and looked at his Chief Advisor, “Our family was betrayed, causing us to lose five soldiers. Ano sa tingin mo ang dapat na parusa sa isang traydor?” The Chief Advisor smiled. “Death.” Aniya. Napailing siya. “Kahit naman hindi ko sabihin ganun pa rin naman ang gagawin mo hindi ba?” Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ng Don. “You’re right.” Tumingin sa kaniyang second-in-command. “Gather all our subordinates. I want everyone to go in front of the villa and watch what will happen to the traitor of our group.” Yumukod ang second-in-command. “Yes, Don.” The Don looked at the Chief Advisor. “Bring Austin with you and compensate the family of the dead subordinates.” The Chief Advisor bowed his head. “Yes, Don.” “Let’s go, Monti. I want to see this traitor.” Monti bowed his head. Pinauna niya ang Don na lumabas bago siya sumunod. Napailing naman ang Chief Advisor. “Monti, don’t make it too bloody.” Paalala niya. “And tell Andrew to clean the mess afterward.” Kumunot ang nuo ni Monti. “Halata ang pagtataka sa mukha nito. “What do you mean, Chief Advisor?” Umiling ang Chief Advisor. “Just go.” Tumango si Monti saka sumunod sa Don. When the Don arrived in front of the villa, a chair was prepared for him. Umupo siya doon at tinignan ang traydor sa kanilang grupo na nakaluhod sa gitna at ito rin ang siyang dahilan kung bakit limang kasama nila ang namatay sa lakad nila kagabi. They were ambushed, and the goods were also destroyed. “Tell me, who’s family are you?” kalmado ngunit mapanganib na tanong ng Don. Natahimik ang lahat. The Mafia Don was greatly respected and widely feared by his subordinates. Not just his subordinates, but also the other Mafia family. The other Mafia families feared the Mafia Don because he was capable of destroying someone with just a flick of his fingers. Nang hindi sumagot ang lalaki, tinignan ng Mafia Don ang kaniyang second-in-command. “Monti, I hate waiting. Do your job.” Aniya. “Yes, Don.” Monti, the second-in-command, walked towards the man kneeling in the center. Tinutukan niya ito ng baril saka binaril ang ulo nito. The Don didn’t blink as he watched the man fall on the ground with blood flowing out from his head. Tumayo ang Don. “That’s what happened when you betrayed me.” Malamig niyang saad. Yumukod ang mga tauhan at walang nagsalita sa kanila. Napabuga na lamang ng hangin si Monti. “Don, should we bury him or burn him?” “Whatever makes you sleep better at night.” Saad ng Don saka umalis. Kapagkuwan napatingin siya sa bintana ng kaniyang opisina at nakita niya ang Chief Advisor niya na nakatingin at napapailing ito. The Chief Advisor, Lorenzo Greco, could only sigh as he watched the traitor's body being dragged away by Andrew, one of the third-in-command. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang plano rito ni Monti. Sunod niyang tinignan ang Mafia Don na papasok sa loob ng villa. The Mafia Boss, or they call him ‘Don’, Joseph Alejandro De Luca, has no emotion while walking back to his office. He is the boss of all Mafia Bosses throughout the whole world. He is the head of the entire organization. And he has the power to order anyone from the organization. He is greatly respected, and widely feared by his subordinates and other Mafia families. It is not only because of the wealth that his family possesses but because of what he is capable of. He was powerful, ruthless, influential, dangerous, invincible, untouchable, and universally feared. He could destroy someone with just a flick of his fingers. Next to the Mafia Don is the Chief Advisor, Lorenzo Greco. He is the Don’s right-hand man. He plays one of the most important roles in a Mafia family. He is the close trusted friend and confidant of the family boss. The Chief Advisor is meant to offer unbiased information based on what he sees as best for the family or the Mafia Don. The Underboss or the second-in-command, Monti Vitale, his job in the Mafia family, is ready to stand in for the Boss at any moment. Siya ang gagawa ng trabaho ng Mafia Boss kapag wala ito at ito ang magsisilbing Boss kapag wala ang Mafia Boss. After the second-in-command is the third-in-command. Unlike the second-in-command, two third-in-command will work under the Mafia Don. Andrew Bianco and Austin Bianco are twins who grew up under the care of the Mafia Don. They are young but they are already skilled fighters. The third-in-command can report directly to the boss or underboss. Under the two third-in-command, the soldiers or the Mafia’s subordinates are under their command. The subordinates of the family do the majority of the work for the Mafia. Aside from the Mafia Don’s family in the organization, there are other Mafia families who support the Mafia Don in the organization. Sa bawat pamilya na kasapi ng Mafia Organization, may sarili rin silang mga underboss, chief advisor, third-in-command and mga tauhan na siyang gumagalaw para sa kanila. “Naihanda ko na ang pera na maibibigay sa pamilya ng namatay nating kasama. Gusto mo bang tignan ang halaga ng pera na hinanda ko sa bawat namatayang pamilya?” tanong ni Lorenzo nang makapasok ang Don sa loob mismo ng opisina nito. Umiling si Joseph pagkaupo niya sa kaniyang swivel chair. “No need. I trust you.” Tumango si Lorenzo. Tinignan niya ang Mafia Don. Halata sa hitsura nito ang pagod. “Take a rest. You looked tired. Wala ka pang pahinga mula kagabi.” Joseph just nodded his head and closed his eyes. But he couldn’t sleep. Malaki ang nawalang pera sa kanila kagabi at may namatay pa siyang tauhan. At dahil ‘yon sa traydor na nakapasok sa kanilang grupo. Someone really wanted to destroy him. At nagsisimula na sila na pabagsakin siya. They were now targeting his business. They wanted to take him down. Pero hindi niya hahayaan ang mga kalaban niya na pabagsakin siya. He’s been in this organization since he could remember. Alam niya ang kalakaran ng ganitong negosyo. Nagmulat ng mata si Joseph nang maramdaman niyang may presensiya sa labas ng kaniyang opisina. "Come in, Jacqueline.” Pagtawag niya sa nakababata niyang kapatid. Mula sa pintuan, sumilip ang kapatid niya at ngumiti ito. “Fratello.” Sinenyasan ni Joseph ang kapatid na pumasok. “Did you kill someone again? I saw your men cleaning the blood in front of your villa.” “I didn’t kill anyone.” Depensa ni Joseph sa kaniyang sarili. “Yes, you didn’t kill anyone but the order came from you.” Rason ni Jacqueline sa nakatatandang kapatid saka tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. Hindi na niya tinanong kung bakit may pinatay na naman ang kapatid niya. Sanay na siya. It’s either that man stole money or he betrayed the Mafia Don. Napailing na lamang si Joseph. “Bakit ka nandito? Anong kailangan mo?” tanong niya. “I know you’re not here to ask for money. I know you have money.” Ngumiti si Jacqueline. “I’m planning to go to Sicily for my art gallery next week. I know that the world is dangerous. So, I came to ask you a favor if you could lend me a bodyguard.” “Sure. I’ll let Andrew come with you and some of our men. There will also be a bodyguard who will protect you secretly.” Agad na sabi ni Joseph. He wanted his sister to be safe. At nakakapagtaka lang dahil lumapit ito sa kaniya at humiling ng bodyguards. “What happened to you?” Nagtataka niyang tanong. “Dati tumatakas ka. Anong mayroon at gusto mo ng bodyguard?" Nagkibit ng balikat si Jacqueline. “Kahit naman tumakas ako, mahahanap mo pa rin ako, fratello.” “You’re right. Baka hindi ka pa nakakalabas ng bahay, nahuli ka na ng mga tauhan ko.” Nakangising saad ni Joseph. Kapagkuwan kumunot ang nuo niya. “Why are you here to ask a bodyguard to protect you? How about Dad?” “Oh, Dad and Mom went traveling.” Napatango si Joseph. Kaya naman pala. “But Mom had a message for you, Fratello.” Kumunot ang nuo ni Joseph. “What message?” Tumikhim si Jacqueline. “Mom said that you need to find a woman to marry as soon as possible. If not, she will be the one who will arrange you an arranged marriage.” Napailing naman si Joseph. Umalis na si Jacqueline. Joseph could only sigh. He wanted to have a family too. He wanted to have an heir that could inherit his legacy and his wealth. However, he knew that women were only after his money. Yes, he’s a bad man for doing illegal business, but he’s not a fool to let pleasure destroy him. Kahit naman papaano, naturuan naman siya ng ina kung paano i-respesto ang mga babae. He is the Mafia Don and his life is valuable, but he needs to take precautions. What if the woman he will sleep with is from his enemy and sent to kill him? “Don.” A knock on the door made him go back to his reverie. “Come in.” Monti entered his office. “Don, an invitation has arrived.” Inabot niya sa Don ang hawak na imbitasyon. Kinuha naman ito ni Joseph at tinignan. Natawa siya ng mahina. “An invitation from the Buencamino Family in the Philippines.” Looks like I will have a trip to the Philippines.