MONALISA
“Back then. Years ago, your dad was in the same line of business that I am now in” Lucius started, his eyes searching for mine but I avoided his gaze, processing carefully all the information.
Sandro had told me this but I still held onto the tiny hope that this was going to be another version of the story, a version that would perhaps sooth the aching in my heart a little.
“And I… I was under your father for a brief while” he continued, letting his thumb swipe over my hand gently and affectionately.
“I will be nothing but honest so I am going to say the truth that your father was… He wasn’t the best person to be underneath. I spent only a few months with him but the most scars I have on my body was caused during my time with him. Your father didn’t care about a single person other than himself and his family. I knew he loved his family, everyone knew. Seb would only smile when he got a call from your mum. I only ever saw him look human when he talked to your mum. He was… Seb was a beast to everyone else. His was higher in ranking than I was and he made it a point to hate me and show off his hatred in every single way he could. He told me… Seb told me he saw a bigger monster in me and I went to Sandro after Seb attempted killing me”
“Sandro was higher than Seb was and so I got quite well protected under Sandro but when…” He took in a deep breath, removed his right hand from my hands and took it to my cheeks, lifting my head up slightly and making my teary eyes meet with his.
“I know that nothing I say here erases what I have done and how much I have hurt you” he gently wiped the tears that rolled down.
I got myself back and slapped his hand off my cheek.
“I didn’t come here for this. I came here for the truth and nothing more” I said, trying to sound as firm as possible but my voice was giving me swag badly.
It hurt a lot when the one you so want to run into when you are hurt is the same person who hurt you.
“But when Seb killed Sandro’s wife, I thought he had gone too far. Sandro was enraged and he tried killing Seb but Seb was too smart for Sandro to deal with. I had to do it. I was fuelled by my hatred for Seb and the fact that he killed Sandro’s wife. I badly badly wanted to get rid of him too and so I… I took it up. The mission to get rid of Seb and in no time, I really did it but that night that he died in my hands was the night I saw Seb look so feeble and so vulnerable”
“He… He hadn’t killed Sandro’s wife. He had kidnapped her and he had released her but to get everyone to hate Seb the more, Sandro had lied about the death of his wife. I… I regretted killing Seb and hell….” He shut his eyes for a few seconds before opening them and continuing with his words.
“I tried saving Seb. I didn’t fucking care about the fact that he had attempted killing me previously. To me, that was almost normal. What I had cared about was the wife of Sandro’s death and since that was fucking false, I wanted to save Seb but I could not. He… He asked me to go on, he told me to be worse than he was but to protect his family for him. It was with his dying breath that he asked me to protect you and your mum. I had to lie to your mum that I was his best friend. I confronted Sandro too but the bastard just laughed it away and said I had done a good job. I… I was really… I was really a fool, Lisa. I should not have killed your father. I should not have taken your father away from you in any way.”
I sobbed quietly. It wasn’t entirely his fault. It was not totally Lucius’ fault. It was more of Sandro’s fault and…. And my dad too, why had he joined the mafia in the first place? I could not understand much about the type of life my father had led or the type of life Lucius was currently leading.
I had no idea how cruel those worlds could be, how bloody it could be and how dangerous but I knew I didn’t want to be a part of it.
“I… Thanks for telling me all of this” I croaked out and wiped the tears off my face, removing my hands from his loose grip and getting up to my feet.
Devine hurried to his feet too and before I could say a word, I had been pulled into his arms in a tight hug.
“Let… Let me go” I cried, trying feebly to get out of his grip but I could not and after a few seconds of my weak willed trials, I let myself take over and I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back tightly.
“I love you, Lisa” he whispered into my ear as he drew me even closer.
“I love you so much, I won’t survive without you. Please don’t leave me”
I didn’t say a thing in response to him as I just buried my face in his chest, taking in his scent and being greatly comforted by it.
He pulled away from the hug slightly and looked into my eyes.
“Whatever I do from now on would be to make you happy. Every single step I take from now would be taken only if you are happy with it. You own me, Lisa. You control me, I am only useful when I can be owned and used by you. Without you, I can’t exist, Lisa. Fuck! I can’t do without you, Lisa. I will never ever do a thing to shatter your heart or make these pretty eyes sad and teary. Don’t leave me, Lisa”
A hand cupped my face as he said the words while the other hand was on my waist. Whatever I was thinking, I don’t know but I stood on my toes, reached my hands to his collar and pulled him down for a kiss.
It was a harsh kiss that he responded to a second later than I had initiated it. He kissed me back just as harshly as I have initiated it. My breath was short due to all the crying and I had to take breaks several times, my breath harsh against his.
Our lips met at every second they could meet. I loved him so much, I wanted to be with him so much but could I ever be?
For the whole time we kissed, it seemed like we were aware of nothing other than each other and every bit of each other and then all of a sudden, I heard a gasp.
“Li… Lisa?”
It was mum’s voice.