Adonis POV
“That’s the last of it! Come on guys! Move the truck. We’re going home.” I heard Luca say to the men as they loaded the final bags into the truck.
Looking around me, my eye caught the unconscious figure of three men heaped on one another in front of a warehouse. I took a drag from my joint and puffed.
Smoking wasn’t something I regularly did but rather when I had a lot on my mind, and I had a lot on my mind.
Scratch that, I’ve had a lot on my mind for a while now. A certain five-foot-five beauty had decided to make it her home. That should be normal. I thought about a lot of things regularly. But the fact that it was rent-free made me unsettled.
I don’t do anything or give anything for free.
I took a drag again.
So I decided to go after the shipment myself tonight. Maybe it’d surmise as a distraction.
It was a known fact! No one who dares to cross me would be free, but they do it anyway. I shook my head at their stupidity.
An entire shipment worth fifty million? Moreover, who steals and hides it in plain sight?
Fools…
“So what’s next? We’re done.” Luca asked as he walked up to me. Plucking the joint out of my hand to take a long drag before dumping it back.
I smirked.
“You know what’s next. The men are gone?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s time to pay the bastard a visit.”
And with one last drag, I squashed the joint beneath my feet, and we both stalked towards the tall building that was about two miles from the warehouse.
We got to the rundown building, and Luca knocked on the old worn-out door once.
The door opened to show a leanly built man. He raised one eyebrow at us.
“Yes? How can I help you?”
“Is your boss in?” Luca asked.
“Yes. Why are you asking of him?” He eyed us with uncertainty.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw his hand inconspicuously slip into his back pocket. Within a millisecond, I had my gun pulled out and pointed at his head.
“Don’t you dare.”
His eyes widened, and he raised his hands in surrender.
“How many of you are in there?”
“Why would I tell you? You wouldn’t make it out alive any-
Bam!
“Ah!” He screamed, holding onto his bleeding thigh.
“Idiota (Idiot), get out of my way.”
I pushed him aside before storming into the rundown building. There was no time to look around. The second we stepped in, we were attacked. Everything was a blur. From gunshots to knife slashes, blood was spilt everywhere. For every man we took down, he was replaced with two.
Where the hell were they coming out from?
My back was against Luca’s, and I had just raised my gun to fire at my next target when a voice boomed.
“Enough!”
I looked up and, behold, a middle-aged man stood on the second floor. Looking down at us.
“What did I say about wasting bullets? Do you know how much it costs?” He reprimanded his men and if it wasn’t for the serious expression on his face and the hard tone behind his words, I’d have taken his words as a joke.
A strict leader? Good. I can give my warning and be out of here promptly.
“Moreso, he’s family. We don’t shoot at family.” He added.
I take back my word; he was unserious.
The man turned around and began to walk down the stairs, more like a hurdle. He had a crutch in one hand, and every step he took resulted in the stairs squeaking.
He walked up to me.
“Adonis. You’ve grown. You were just a boy when I saw you last.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. What was he on about? Had he heard about me?
“You don’t remember me? I feel offended. Your grandfather really kept his word. He said he was going to make you forget it all.”
“What are you talking about? You know what? Forget it all. I’m here to tell you and your men that the next time you touch anything that belongs to me, I won’t be so merciful.” I turned to leave when he replied.
“My boys did not know that the Bernardis do not like to share. I would relate that to them. Also, we’re family after all.”
I rolled my eyes at his repeated words. I thought his leg was the only disabled part of him. Did it affect his brain too? Nevertheless, I gave no reply.
My work here was done.
“Come on, Luca.”
I’d barely made it to the door when he spoke up again.
“How come you never came to check up on your mother?”
I spun around.
“It was funny at first, but drop it!”
“Ahhh, “he sighed dramatically. “You thought it was a joke? I’m serious.” He scrutinised me and then inhaled in realization. “You don’t know anything? My God Dimitri was thorough.”
Why does he keep mentioning my grandfather?
“Stop speaking in parables and blurt out whatever it is you have to say.”
Luca shook his head at me. “We don’t have to listen to his bullshit Adonis. Let’s go.”
The man let out a loud laugh! It made me irritated, and my face was quick to let it show. I huffed in annoyance, flipping a finger at him.
“F*ck you.”
“Oh, I did your mother.”
“That’s it!” I stomped up to him, baring my teeth in his face. “Do you have something to say to me?”
“Let it go, Adonis,” Luca called. “He’s just trying to rile you up.”
The man looked behind me, straight at Luca.
“Is that what you think? I just want to reconnect a son and mother.”
“My mother’s here?” I asked in disbelief.
“Nah. She’s home, getting stoned. For some reason, she can’t seem to do without it.”
I couldn’t believe it. He was right. He knew my mother.
“How do you know her? Why is she with you?” I demanded.
I shouldn’t care, I know. She wasn’t a mother to me, I know, but I can’t help but be curious.
“She has always been with me. Mine.” Then his face scrunched up as if he had eaten something bad. “Until your father took her away. But love always wins. She couldn’t do without me, and I got her back.”
“What are you trying to say?” I gritted out.
“Your father! I hate him with everything in me! He took away my love because he had some spare cash and thought he could keep her forever. But she chose me in the end! She came back to me!” He thundered. “Your old man couldn’t take it! I heard he almost killed you. He lost his wife and son and couldn’t live with the guilt.” He gave a scornful laugh. “I’m guessing that’s why he bought all those drugs to overdose himself on purpose. Didn’t your grandfather tell you? He found out the truth when he traced your mother and saw she was with me.”
My eyes widened, my legs suddenly felt like jello, and I stumbled on my feet.
My father killed himself on purpose? Nonno knew but didn’t tell me? Was that why he always defended that dad did all he could for me?
I set my eyes on the man in front of me. It was taking me a lot not to explode in rage.
“Two questions. Why are you telling me this now?”
He gave an annoying smile. “It feels good to gloat. I won, the Bernardis lost! So stop acting all high and mighty.”
Adonis nodded quietly.
“And how did you know it was suicide?”
The bastard grinned at me.
“Guess who switched his sleeping pills for drugs? He was going to die anyway; better to make it fun.”
My last restraint broke.
I’m going to kill this lunatic…