"Bravissimo!!!" Sergio clapped from the balcony as Ghost's clothes caught fire, and Franklin's muscles flexed in his arms as he stood straight, exhaling calmly.
Every human has likes and dislikes, and for him, people like Ghost are his greatest dislikes, people who think they own the universe after tasting a little sprinkle of power, people who think they can treat others like shit cos they're in a slightly better position than others, the type of people who got his parents killed that fateful day.
He's here now, no turning back, at least his wretched life will end, if he gets to live the life of luxury he has always dreamt for himself and Serafina, then he's all in for it.
It was Sofia who got a water pipe, and she quickly poured water on burning Ghost, putting out the fire on his body.
His clothes were already in tatters when the fire went out, and part of his skin got ruined.
He was looking so weak as Sofia helped him up, and the smile on Aurora's face got wider.
Sofia turned to Franklin and gave him a resentful look, a look that means 'This ain't over'
It lasted for a minute before she finally took Ghost in, and Franklin faced the rest.
"I'll take over now, buddy" Armani told him and led the way in.
Franklin followed, then Aurora went in last.
"He's just like you described" Barnabas said beside Sergio.
"I wouldn't recruit shit yunno? He's what I've been looking for, exactly what I need in this organization" Sergio replied with a loud grin as he settled down in front of a stool.
"And why the f**k are the stools empty!" He shouted, and three maids came in with different bottles of alcohol.
In the castle, maids aren't allowed to cover skins, so they're wearing just thongs to cover their p*ssies and shinny stones attached to their n*pples, the rest of their bodies are bare.
They served the drinks, and as the men drank, they stood behind them with the bottles, ready to pour again if the men run out of drinks in their cups.
"He should handle Joseph" Barnabas said, and Sergio grinned again, resting back on the fur couch he's sitting on.
"Rocco could pass as my advisor, he said same thing"
"Joseph might be a lunatic, but this Franklin guy is a greater lunatic I must admit" Barnabas talked again.
"Are you already in love with him?" Sergio smirked.
"He's far from my type" Barnabas replied, and Sergio laughed.
"Enough of the talks about Franklin, feed me on the information about the girl Romeo will be meeting tommorow"
Barnabas snapped his fingers, and one of the naked maids brought his bag which was beside the balcony door.
He placed it on the stool and unzipped it, bringing out three documents which he handed to Sergio.
There's every information about the girl on the papers, then her pictures.
"Roselle Gambino?" Sergio squeezed his grey brows.
"Yes, her father is a corny barrister. That's where her use comes in. If she gets married to Romeo, then any court shit is done, barrister for a in-law is cool" Barnabas smiled, and Sergio grinned again.
"You think he'd be ready to leave his daughter to Romeo once he hears Romeo Maranzano?"
Barnabas brought out another document from the bag, handing it to Sergio too.
"Pedro Messina" Sergio raised his brows.
"Yes, that'd be his name at the lunch tommorow, I forwarded same name to Roselle's family" Barnabas replied, and Sergio smiled.
"Romeo...why do I feel like that bastard is gonna ruin everything" he muttered suspiciously.
****
TOP BODYGUARDS QUARTERS**
Armani arrived at a free room with Franklin, and immediately he opened the door, he faced him.
"Here's it, welcome to the organization" he smiled brightly, and Franklin looked around in amazement.
It's big like a normal room should be, then a spacious bed and a mirror beside the closet.
He walked to the closet and opened it. Surprisingly, there's every clothing he'd ever need, and below the closet, there's a collection of various shoes, all black as if they know it's his favorite color.
He closed the closet and opened the adjoining door which led to the luxurious bathroom, and when he finished checking that out, he faced the room again.
"Still remember my name? It's Armani" Armani said.
Franklin stared at him for a while before starting to walk out of the room.
"Boss told you to rest. It wasn't for joke, first days are always rough here so it's really gonna be tough tommorow" Armani said.
Franklin stopped and looked back.
"Everyday has always been tough for me, it's nothing new" he said, walking out eventually.
He met Aurora by the door. She's standing by the wall, resting her back on it with her arms folded on her chest.
He stopped to look at her for a second, and immediately their eyes met, he rolled eyes and walked away.
"He's too strong-headed, is he always so frowny? Does he even smile?" Armani wondered loudly, coming out of the room.
"Aurora?" He said surprisingly when he saw her waiting.
Aurora stood straight, leaving the wall to take a step forward.
"There's no reason for a wretched person to smile, there's too much pains in his eyes" she said and began walking down the corridor.
Armani tried to think about the meaning, but when he got none, he rushed after her, following her out of the quarters.
*****
CASTLE LAKE**
Franklin came there straight, and he sat alone by the shore.
Though it was his first time there yesterday, but he wouldn't deny the peace it brought him when he knelt in the lake, and that's why he chose this place again after leaving his room.
A dry smiled formed on his lips as he stared at the lake, but it disappeared as fast as it came when the breeze whizzed past. It's like the breeze blew away the smile, and he brought out the handkerchief from his pocket.
He almost lost it yesterday, but luckily he didn't. Seeing it brings him pains, but he embraces it everytime it comes. It's part of his memories anyways, he can't just sieve it away.
It was given to him by the woman he still loves till now... Azura.
Whenever he remembers the day she broke up, he cries painfully, and right now as he reminisced, he couldn't stop the lone tear which fell from the corner of his right eye.
FLASHBACK, MONTHS AGO**
"What do you mean you're done with me? Zura...
"I said it's over! Can't you see what I mean? I don't love you anymore!!!" Azura screamed.
"Don't give me that crap Zura! You love me too much to say this bullcraps! You still do and I see it clearly in your eyes! Stop f**king lying!!!" He yelled back, breathing high and low as his heartbeats became irregular. He might just pass out.
"Try to get what I mean Frank!!! I'm breaking up with you and I mean it!!" Azura shouted, and Franklin rushed into the kitchen to get a knife.
"Frank!!" Azura shouted and began rushing to him, but before she could get to him, he already stabbed himself with the knife, on the wrist.
"Frank!!!!" Azura screamed in horror.
FLASHBACK ENDS**
Franklin inhaled and looked at his wrist. The scar is still there, glaring boldly at him.
He blinked back his tears, and just like yesterday, he heard movements behind him.
No need to look back cos just by the sound, he knows it's the same person.
"Stop sneaking around, I'm not deaf" he said, and Mia came out of the darkness.
"I'm not sneaking, this is my favorite place to be in this castle apart from my room. You're the pervert who stole my spot" she said slowly, different from the way she spoke yesterday.
Somehow, there's fear in her voice, maybe because of the scene she saw some hours ago.
Franklin stood and faced her. She quickly shifted back from him, and he scoffed.
"Stupid" he muttered and began leaving.
"I'm not stupid" Mia replied, and he stopped.
"Dwarf" he talked again, and her eyes widened.
"Dwarf?"
"You're short enough to be one" he replied grimly and finally left.
"He talks like he was payed to say the short lines he says, why is there pains in his voice?" Mia muttered, finally realizing.
****
DAYBREAK, PILGRIMS HOSPITAL**
The time was 8:15 when Franklin walked into the hospital with Armani who insisted on accompanying him even when he declined.
He went to Serafina's ward, but she's not there anymore..."She got moved to the VIP ward after the bills got settled last night" a nurse told them, and they were led to the ward.
Surprisingly, it was guarded by two guards by the door, and when they went in, they met four more guards, and a nurse is sitting with Serafina, feeding her breakfast.
"Franklin!!" She waved from the bed, and he walked to the nurse, taking the plate of food from her.
"I'll handle the rest" he told her, and the nurse stood beside the bed as he took over the feeding.
"This ward... it's prettier than the former" she smiled, and Franklin managed to smile a little.
"So he smiles" Armani muttered from where he stood.
"Do well and respond to treatment, that's the only way you can help me. And survive the surgery" Franklin said, and she nodded thrice consecutively.
"The surgery is scheduled for tommorow, I mean the brain tumor" the chief doctor came in, and Franklin stood.
"What about her liver? No donor yet?" He asked.
"I'd have informed you if there is, but you don't have to worry, she won't reach the critical stage till after two months, so put your mind at rest" the doctor patted him, and she turned back to Serafina who's getting fed by the nurse again.
He spent thirty more minutes with her before leaving the hospital with Armani, and immediately they entered the car together, he sighed.
"Boss likes you no doubt. None of us received the special treatment you're receiving, now I get why Sofia and Ghost are mad" Armani said.
"I think I traded my life for the special treatment" Franklin heaved.
"What do you mean?" Armani asked.
"We both know the castle is not for jokes, only the strong survives" Franklin replied, and Armani bit his lip as he drove them out of the hospital.
****
2PM, KINGS HOTEL**
The door to the richest lunch room in the expensive hotel opened, revealing the barrister family.
Mr and Mrs Gambino, then Roselle, the daughter who'd be meeting Romeo today.
The whole family has been waiting since thirty minutes ago since the lunch was supposed to start by 1:30, but Romeo isn't on seat.
"I have a court session by 3, I'm afraid I can't wait ten more minutes" Mr Gambino said, and Mrs Gambino faced him.
"It's the future of our daughter we're talking about. You know how paranoid she is about men, we should try to make this click" she said pleadingly, and the man rested back on his chair.
Roselle on the other hand only sat calmly, expecting what the man would look like.
She got her answer when the guards opened the door, and Romeo stepped in, but he's not alone.
He's with two b**ches, and immediately they came in together, he kissed the one by the right, and the one by the left began caressing his open bare chest.
"Who the hell is this?" Mr Gambino stood shockingly.
Romeo broke the kiss and scoffed.
"Weren't you expecting Pedro Messina? Here he is" he said.
"What!" Mrs Gambino spranged up.
"My father told me I'd be meeting with a chic here, she won't mind becoming my number three right? Cos as you can see! I have two queens already" he said loudly, hanging his arms on the shoulders of the b**ches.
"This is the height of it, call Barnabas! Right now!' Mr Gambino yelled, and his wife dialled Barnabas immediately.
"Barnabas? What the hell did you send over! You mean to tell me this is the psychopath you recommended? How come he looked normal in the pictures but right now I'm seeing a whore! He f**king came here with two b**ches!" She yelled, and Romeo laughed.
Roselle was smiling on her seat as he stared deeply at Romeo.
Maybe this is for the best, and she's even glad she came here cos right now, she wants him already.
He's just the bad boy she has been craving for, she loves bad boys.
Obviously Barnabas couldn't calm her angry mum, so she hung up and grabbed her hand.
"Let's go Roselle! You surely can't be with a scum like him!" She spat, pulling her out of the room.
Roselle secretly winked at Romeo as she left with the mum, and Romeo grinned.
"You're a joke" Mr Gambino said to his face and left too.
"Of course I am" Romeo cackled, settling on a chair.
"Come on queens!" He hollered at the b**ches, and they came all over him.
He began taking turns to kiss the two, and within five minutes, his pants went down, and his d**k spranged out.
They began playing with it, taking turns to suck his c**k while he grunts to their touches.
"F**k!" He grinned, grabbing their hairs.
Two servers entered the room, and their eyes widened at the scene
"Sir, you're not allowed to...
He drew his gun before she could say the rest, and the two ladies rushed out of the room.
****
MARANZANOS CASTLE**
"I knew it, he's a bastard after all so he's bound to show the traits" Sergio said after Romeo was reported to him.
He stood from his throne with a smirk.
"Bring him to me before 6pm, I should make him scream in agony for an hour" he ordered, and six guards rushed out of the palace to fetch Romeo.
Sergio left the palace immediately, making his way to the dinning hall with four guards.
All the guards lined at the corridor had their heads bowed as the devil walked past.
Who'd dare look him in the eye? The penalty is death. Even when reporting anything to the king, your eyes must be on the ground.
Mia was already seated when he got to the dinning hall, and she's obviously shivering as Sergio settled down.
Lunch takes only fifteen minutes, and she can't wait for it to be over so she'd sneak back to the corner of her room or go back to the lake again.
She was still thinking about that when Franklin came in surprisingly.
Sergio must have invited him cos no one gets in here without his invite.
He sat across her, and she began staring at him, though he's not looking her way at all
What can she do to stop herself? He's too perfect to not stare, even though she promised herself to stop crushing, but she has no control over her eyes right now.
"Your first mission is tonight" Sergio said as the maids filed in to serve lunch.
"Underboss 1 told me about it" Franklin replied bluntly, looking at Sergio directly in the eye.
Sergio smiled, liking him more. He dared look the devil in the eye? He broke the record since his first day here.
"Rocco is back to the castle?" Sergio said surprisingly.
"Yes"
"Cool, you'll receive the full details by 5, let's eat for now" Sergio said, and the maids filed out after serving lunch.
"It's not important to know, but you should still know, she's my only daughter. Mia" Sergio talked, gesturing at Mia.
Franklin looked at her, and when he saw how shaky she is, he began wondering why.
They began eating, but Franklin barely touched his spoon. He was staring at shaking Mia, trying to pinpoint just why she's fidgeting like this in front of her father.
Mia barely ate two spoons from the food when she suddenly began coughing as a result of fear.
She quickly took the cup of water to drink, but her shakiness made the glass of water fall from her, shattering on the ground.
Her eyes widened immediately, and she stood, going straight on her knees.
"Dad I'm so sorry! It won't happen again i... I... please don't punish me I promise the mistake won't repeat itself, I...
"Stand" Sergio cut her off without looking at her.
He was still eating as he spoke, his eyes fixed on his plate as he stabbed his omelette with the fork.
Mia stood slowly, and Franklin looked at Sergio, wondering what he's trying to do.
"Take off your shoes" Sergio ordered again, and Mia quickly put them off.
She was already crying, and Franklin rested back on his chair, waiting for what's next.
"I...I ...too...k them off al.. ready" Mia stuttered.
"Start walking on the broken glasses, you can't stop till your blood forms a river" Sergio commanded.