Can't Sleep

James got out of a luxury car at the international airport. He turned to the man who brought him, Edward Belgenza.

"Where are we going?" James asked innocently. Edward smiled slightly then led James to walk into the airport lobby.

"We're going to Italy," Edward answered him. James stopped walking and stood frozen. Edward walked first, then stopped and looked back.

"What's wrong, J?" Edward asked. He turned around and faced the 12-year-old boy.

"But... I live here," James slightly replied, looking at Edward with sad eyes. Edward sighed and nodded. He then crouched down to see James in his eyes.

"I've never saved anyone but you. If I didn't buy you, then maybe you're dead-bought and traded like property by now. You understand, right?" James lowered his head.

"I know your home is here. But it doesn't want you. Maybe, if you come with me, I can give you a better home," Edward continued, holding James' arm.

'Should I trust him?' James asked his heart.

"Don't you believe me?" Edward asked again as if he could read James' mind. James didn't answer and stared at Edward.

"It's good that you don't believe me. Don't trust anyone but yourself, J. Got it?" James nodded twice.

"Good boy!" Edward said, then stroked James' head. He stood up and walked back inside without bringing James. James then looked behind him and saw the passengers and the cars that had dropped them off.

"I'll be back, Joona. I will make money to find you again, my brother. Wait for me!" James muttered, then turned and ran after Edward. Edward smiled when he saw James was on his side. He had decided to leave the city that didn't take him or a family that didn't want him.

Edward accepted James as his adopted son. He has no children and lives to spend his old age with Melania. But before he could see James as successful as he is now, he passed away of a heart attack.

Edward also brought James into the circle of Il Rosso. As part of the Belgenza family, James is considered the heir. He was officially adopted by Fabrizio Belgenza, Edward's older brother. The goal is James will lead the mafia group in the future. Fabrizio loves James, especially the boy who saved his life from being stabbed by their rival.

James made himself a shield for his father's life and suffered a stab wound that nearly took his life. But James' loyalty was seen as a threat by one of Fabrizio's right-hand men, Gabriel Moretti. Gabriel joined Il Rosso when he was a teenager. He tried his best to impress Fabrizio, the goal being that the Godfather would give him power in the future.

James hampered his steps, which suddenly brought Edward to the group. James is easy to like because of his handsome face and intelligence. He went to school but also became a gangster at the same time.

Gabriel's dislike of James then made him some slander. Fortunately, Fabrizio loved his son so much that Gabriel finally took a much bolder step.

He made Belgenza's allies turn against and cause trouble. When it all comes together and messes up, he seizes the opportunity to poison The Godfather. James, who knew that because he was the one who investigated, was untrustable by the other elite members. They chose to leave the Belgenza rather than being led by James, who was 18 years old at the time.

Gabriel Moretti is tops James' most wanted list. He had sworn he would kill Moretti with his own hands. James regrouped the remnants of the Belgenza family's strength that his father left him. James rebuilt Belgenza's business and glory at Naples with his leadership skills.

Now that fifteen years have passed since the death of his father Fabrizio, James has achieved everything. The only thing he didn't get was the pleasure of being able to sleep soundly. He is constantly haunted by nightmares from the past or the trauma of seeing his father poisoned.

James also can't sleep and chooses to contact Jayden, who has moved to New York. James told me about Delilah. Jayden was kind and listened well as a good friend.

"What if she still can't pay? Are you going to mutilate her!" Jayden quipped before ending their chat.

"Maybe..."

"James!" Jayden rebuked quickly.

"Then what do you want me to do? Just let her go?"

"Let her out so she can find the money and pay it to you!" Jayden replied no less quickly.

"She's tricked me! She said he gave me the money, but I haven't even received a penny yet!" James blurted annoyingly. He sat on the bed in one of the guest rooms in his mansion.

"I wonder, how much money did she borrow from you!" Jayden asked, and James fell silent a little.

"Ehh… 100 thousand Euros. And the interest is 10 percent per day," James answered.

"That means more than $100k. And you charge her 10 percent interest per day?"

"Precisely!" said James innocently.

"James… your shoes don't even exist for 100 thousand euros. Are you crazy to trap a poor girl like that? When will she be able to pay!"

"She'll never get to pay!" said James quickly. But then, a few seconds later, he realized what he had said. James shut his eyes and took a deep whiff while Jayden was silent and didn't speak.

"James… do you like her, don't you?" Jayden asked, breaking the silence in their conversation.

"No!" answered James curtly.

"Oh really?"

"Jay, come on. I called you because I wanted to talk. I can not sleep!"

"Yeah… yeah… I'm sorry. Tell me I'll listen," Jayden said, getting ready to listen to James' story so he could sleep.

"I don't know what to say!" James replied, so annoyed.

"Then see the girl make sure that she is asleep in or not. Maybe she hasn't slept yet, and you guys can talk, hehehe," muttered Jayden teasing James.

"You are so annoying!" James grumbled, and Jayden chuckled louder. James instantly hung up the call in aggravation. Even Jayden teased him because of Delilah.

James then tried to sleep by hugging a bolster. His eyes were wide open, and he was getting exhausted.

"That girl did bring me bad luck!" James cursed, then got up and left the room. He then went into his room and found Delilah was already sleeping comfortably in the bed.

"It's good for you that you can sleep, huh!" sneered James stood by the bed with his arms crossed over his chest and watched Delilah sleeping on her side. She was calm because she was exhausted from everything that had happened today.

James continued to stare at Delilah's sleeping face like a living doll. James then crouched down to take a closer look. A smile unintentionally emanated from his full lips. James' hand reached forward, and his finger brushed against Delilah's blonde hair.

The finger dropped further and almost touched the corners of her naturally pink lips. It was thin lips with a tiny sharp nose and a small mole on one side.

"What a Candy! You can still sleep like this. Haven't you thought about how to pay off your debt?" mumbled James asked. Sighing, he stood up and walked out of the room. James never slept in the same bed with any woman. Sleep is very personal, and he never shares it with anyone.

The next day, Delilah got up early as usual. At first, she squirmed a little, then yawned and woke up from her perfect sleep. But as soon as she woke up and saw that it wasn't her bedroom, she was startled.

"Why am I still here! I thought yesterday was a dream!" Delilah said, still turning her head back and forth at the luxurious room. Suddenly the bedroom door opened and James came in a neat suit. He was very handsome.

"Are you awake, Candy? Come with me. We need to talk about your debt!" ordered James coldly and then turned to leave Delilah, who hadn't even washed her face yet.