Inquest

"I am here to see you." Jacob removed his mask. Behind the mask was a broad-faced man, with a golden-coloured Italian beard, he had wheat-toned skin, and his height was almost five feet ten inches. His eyes were also marbled brown coloured and glistened after seeing his beloved Katherine.

"You shouldn't have come here," Katherine said worriedly.

"I should have Katherine," Jacob said while holding her hands in his.

"Why don't you understand me?" Katherine said while looking into his eyes helplessly.

"I do understand my dear, why don't you understand me?" Jacob said passionately.

"What should I understand?" Katherine looked away from him and said.

"Katherine why can't you see it in my eyes, my love for you." Jacob tilted her face towards him.

"I know Jacob, I know the feelings you have for me." She said in her cunning sweet voice.

"Then?" Jacob asked.

"But we can't love each other." She said in her manipulating voice and her actual manipulating self reflected in her expressions but Jacob was blinded by his love for Katherine.

"Why Katherine Why because I am not as powerful as Leonardo?" Jacob said while lowering his eyes and in a deep tone.

"Huh?" She flinched.

"You don't like me because I am not like Leonardo, I am not the Mafia King right?" He said angrily.

"No, no it's not like that." She tried to make him understand.

"Then? What is it like?" Jacob asked.

"My heart only beats for you but." Katherine stopped.

"But?" He looked into her eyes and asked.

"This cruel world will not let us live. Our boss won't allow this for us before our goals." She said while leaving his hands.

"I know about our goals but you are more important to me than some ridiculous orders." He affirmably said.

"Jacob whatever I am doing is for our benefit. You know that right love?" She put her skinny hands on his cheeks.

"I know." Jacob held her hand.

"Please don't make it difficult for me, you know our mission right?" She said in a lowered voice.

"I don't want to continue this mission now," Jacob said while despair gleamed on his face.

"We have to, not for Leonardo, Boss or anyone but for us." She said politely.

"Hmm. But remember I am always with you." He said while looking at her with love in his eyes.

"I know dear, I know you are my protective shield." She said while brushing dust off his broad shoulders.

"When will this end." He asked her in a saddened way.

"Soon it will." She said.

"I hope so it happens before I die-" Before he could say anything she placed her hands on his mouth.

"Don't say it ever again." She said while tears dropped from her black eyes.

"Hmm. I want my love." He wiped her tears and stroked her silky, straight black hair.

Katherine smiled at him.

"I need to go now." He said abruptly.

"Where?" She asked.

"To your boss's office." He replied while hatred was visible in his tone,

"Why?" She asked as her eyebrow raised.

"Leonardo had sent something for him that is the reason for seeing his ugly face again." He said while his eyes darkened,

"What has he sent for him now?" She inquired about it in her sly voice.

"Leonardo is becoming the new" As if he was about to speak he heard his men calling from behind.

"Sir Jacob!" He cried.

"They are finding me you should go." He quickly said it to Katherine while patting her shoulder.

"Ok, I will see you in Edmondson's office." She said.

"Hmm." He said.

He nodded and went inside, she straightened her hair and dress while hurriedly going inside to the receptionist. When she went inside she saw Jacob going towards Edmondson's office and both exchanged looks.

"Mam?" the receptionist said in her sweet voice.

"Yes?" She flinched and look at her.

"You were looking for me?" She said while seeing Katherine's shocked face.

"Hmm yes come with me." She took her to her office. And looked back at Jacob waving him bye.

Jacob knocked on Edmondson's office door while looking at Katherine who looked behind him.

"May I come in sir?" He said in a respectful voice.

"Yes, you may," Edmondson said hoarsely while looking at the new file of Lorenzo's men's corruption and other illegal activities cases. He looked up and saw Jacob coming inside.

"How are you, sir?" He asked while smiling.

"I am fine," Edmondson said rudely and continued doing his work leaving Jacob unnoticed.

"Why are you standing on my head, sit," Edmondson said while pointing at the seat in front of his desk.

"Thank you, sir. He quickly said and sat down. " Edmondson kept looking at his new documents and signing them while didn't even bother Jacob's presence. After a long silence, he said hoarsely,

"What brings you here?"

"Leonardo Armani. " He said in a serious tone which made Edmondson's ears alerted and his pen suddenly stopped from signing the document. He left his pen and joined his fingers while putting one leg in another and picking up his cigar.

"What's the fate of Sicily?" He asked while looking at him.

"Bright as a beam. " Jacob smirked,

"Hmm, so has the sunset?" Edmondson asked.

"The new sun has about to rose now, it's the time of twilight." He replied coldly.

"When is the invite?" He asked in his hoarse tone,

"At the first day of spring." He said in a straight tone.

"My presence should be awaited," Edmondson said arrogantly.

'It certainly will be." Jacob nodded.

"Do I await another message?" Edmondson asked Jacob.

"No, this was the only one." He said.

"Good day then, to Lorenzo. Bright Future to Leonardo." Edmondson said and had his cigar,

"Sure, farewell." Jacob bowed.

"You too. " Edmondson said and Jacob stood up from his chair. Straightened his hat and went outside the office.

"Hmmm." So the new sun has risen, Finally. Edmondson said while rubbing his chin and his evilness was evident behind his smile.

[Back in Samuel's residence]

"This?" Samuel's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes sir." Alessio nodded.

"This is an important document about your father's case son, give it to me please," Samuel said and Alessio handed him the document.

"Is it special?" Alessio asked curiously.

"Hmm, indeed really special." Samuel looked at the document and replied in his deep husky voice.

"Why so?" Alessio asked and his eyebrow raised.

"This is the Suicidal note of Hernandez the butler in Lorenzo's household," Samuel exclaimed.

"What?" Alessio's ocean-blue eyes widened.

"Hmmm." Samuel nodded.

"What is in it?" Alessio asked abruptly.

"I thought I lost it but-" Samuel said while smiling.

"But?" Alessio asked.

"It was hidden in these documents," Samuel said and placed the document aside,

"How would it help us in this case?" Alessio asked,

"You see there were many things in the case that we didn't know earlier. We believed what was told and concluded our case. When." Samuel said,

"When?" Alessio frowned.

"This note was found by a lady working in the mansion while she was cleaning Hernandez's room," Samuel said.

"But how did you get it?" Alessio asked.

"We had our last meeting with Lorenzo and were leaving when she handed me this note and said it may prove beneficial in our case. She was right about this, it did help us. It changed our whole perspective of ours towards this case." Samuel exclaimed.

"Mr Samuel?" One thought struck Alessio's mind and he asked.

"Yes?" Samuel replied.

"Was my father killed by the shootout or murdered?" Alessio asked in a low deep voice and looked at Samuel. Samuel's eyes widened with shock.

"You don't....know Alessio?" He said shockingly.

"No, I don't," Alessio said.

"Then why were you fighting for your father's justice?" Samuel asked.

"I was so naive as I was just seven at the time of my father's death. All I could remember was my father's funeral. I asked my mom how he was killed so each time she told me that he was killed in a shootout. She told me that for them we are nothing more than pests. They use us when they want to and then get rid of us. Instead of being grateful for my father's loyalty, they loaded an extra burden on us. They made the interest on our loan multiple many times, I worked for him just to pay the loan and feed my family, my mother was treated like a maid in the mansion and so was my sister. One day my patience ended and I resisted their hostile behaviour one of his men threatened me that my end would be the same as my father's. That thing clicked with me that they killed my father intentionally. Then I wanted to investigate, I went to your law firm and when I inquired about who was handling the case. They told me that the man didn't complete the investigation and left. I was still not sure that was he murdered or killed. I decided to believe my interpretation until I find the truth." Alessio said.

"He was..... murdered, Alessio," Samuel said while hesitating.

"What?" Alessio's eyes widened.

"Hmm." Samuel nodded.

"By...Lorenzo? Means.... my interpretation was right? " Alessio said while his voice slightly raised.

"Hmmm and way worse than your interpretation. " Samuel said in a lowered voice.

He stood up angrily and went outside hurriedly. Samuel went behind him to stop him, but his rage couldn't be cooled now.

"Stop Alessio," Samuel said from behind.

"I won't." Alessio looked back and said.

"Where are you going?" Samuel asked in a raised voice,

"To kill Lorenzo with my own hands." Alessio clenched his fists so hard that his nails pierced his palms.

"Alessio-" Samuel tried to stop him.

"I won't hear another word now," Alessio said in his deep tone.

"I didn't tell you to see you would react like this," Samuel said in an angered tone.

"What am I to you guys huh?" He shouted and looked back at Samuel.

"What do you mean?" Samuel asked him while his eyes squeezed.

"Am I a toy to you all? Am I not even worthy of knowing the cause of my father's death? Even the criminal is asked about his last wish before death! I am not even that worthy? " Alessio said in an emotional voice while tears formed in his eyes.

"Alessio you are not a toy at all, I didn't know that you weren't aware of all this in all these years," Samuel said while putting his hand on Alessio's shoulder.

"You need to get yourself together for your mother and sister who are in Sicily. I know you weren't told this before and how hard it is for you but please don't do this. We are too close now, we will get your father justice." Samuel said firmly and looked into Alessio's eyes like a father.

"Hmm?" Alessio said,

"Yes, this Suicidal note tells us a lot which we didn't know," Samuel said,

"But what would be the purpose? We can't defeat him by Law, this is all pointless." Alessio replied annoyingly.

"No, it is not pointless," Samuel said in his husky deep voice.

"What will you do huh?" Alessio shrugged his shoulder and asked,

"Doesn't matter how dark it is, even a little gleam of light lightens it up. I have the plan to get your father justice. Just believe me huh?" Samuel said.

Samuel tried to calm him down but he went inside his room banging the door behind him. Samuel sighed looking at Alessio's broken self. Alessio stood strong but sometimes it's a lot to bear for a young soul. Samuel sat on the sofa worriedly thinking about the case.

"This had to happen one day, how long can we hide it from him? It is his right to know about his father. I know it will be hard for him but he needs to fight for himself. May God give him the strength to bear this all." Samuel sighed while looking at Alessio's room door.

[Inside Alessio's room]

"UGH!" Alessio shouted throwing the stuff from his table onto the ground.

" So you killed my father, Lorenzo, Even after he served you tirelessly for years. How could you do that you vile man? How can you become so heartless? How? You used my father as a shield against yourself and killed him when you wanted. My father worked for you without caring about his life and you did this in return? Why did you kill my father ?" He banged his hands on the table and his eyes were filled with rage for Lorenzo, his heart was burned and behind were left ashes.