14. Save me from Daddy

King...

It's been one month since she hasn't woken up and one month since I've spent most of my time in my room. Ronaldo and Lorenzo tried to get into my room but they couldn't access it. Even Tania's voice didn't sooth my wounded soul.

Most of the time I would leave the room while everyone was sleeping, so I could at least busy myself far away from everyone. Dorcas would bring me food or leave it in the oven. Usually, Lorenzo and Ronaldo were on the field, so they weren't there to disturb me.

" Storm, it's time to come out now," I heard Ronaldo say.

This had been the routine. They would wake me up with their banging before they gave up and left me alone to finish my collection of whiskey in my room.

" Yeah dawg, she's awake now," I heard Lorenzo.

" Yeah, she is awake fratello and we don't know what to do. We need your approval on some things, so business has been locked down," Ronaldo said, causing me to flinch.

I might have just cost myself a lot of money.

" We don't know how to attack Dominic, even fratello. You need to deal with it," Lorenzo added, and I climbed off the bed and felt the worst headache visit me at that moment.

Sucks at drinking alcohol for a whole month with one meal a day. I was grunting all the way to the door until I unlocked the door, leaving the two to open the door themselves. I strolled over to my bed and I heard the door open and they both groaned as I jumped on the bed. Lorenzo didn't even want to enter the bedroom, but Ronaldo pulled him over.

" Nah, this room stinks," Lorenzo said, covering his nose with his shirt.

" You think?" Ronaldo said, fanning the air with his hand and pinching his nose time and again.

I looked at them both before a chuckle erupted from my throat, catching them off guard before they too joined in. After a while, the laughter died down and we glared at each other.

" You good?" Ronaldo asked with a concerned face.

" I smell but I'm good," I said, my voice deeper and scarier, and they all flinched when I spoke.

" We need to get used to that," Lorenzo said, and we all chuckled.

" She's awake?" I asked.

" Yeah, uhm not exactly," Ronaldo said and I frowned.

" She is still in the clinic and she has been in and out of consciousness twice already," Lorenzo said after clearing his throat, and I nodded.

" Do send Dorcas, Clarice and Knysna to come up in thirty minutes, I'll be downstairs soon," I ordered, and they both nodded.

" It's good to have you back. Later on, we are going to Dark Crystal for a celebration." Lorenzo exclaimed.

" I agree, I need to blow off some steam!" Ronaldo added with an agitated expression, causing me to chuckle.

" I'll take a rain check. Let everyone off. Give them a day off because tomorrow we are heading back to work, but call them into the boardroom." I said and they nodded before leaving the room.

I rushed up to go to my bathroom and took a steaming long shower. I then got out of the shower with a towel wrapped around my waist. I walked over to the sink and brushed my teeth, before flossing and whitening them.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror and realised I had stubble under my chin and my curls were longer than before. I left the bathroom and went to my closet to be bombarded by various suits and tuxedos. But I decided to be semi-formal, so I put on a white turtle neck with grey chinos and put on a black winter coat paired with white semi-formal Givenchy shoes.

I grabbed my icy Rolex watch and put on my signature black studs. I then grabbed my favorite chain and put it round my neck. I grabbed my black silver rings and placed them on my fingers. I then walked out my closet and grabbed my cologne and put it on before heading out.

I felt fresh and reenergised for the day to come. I wanted to go see Tania but I thought against it so I went down the corridor before descending the staircase. When I reached the ground floor, a whole bunch of men glared at me.

" What are you looking at?" I shot at them and they all smirked.

" His back!" I heard someone whisper, causing my lips to twitch into a smirk.

Lorenzo came into sight, more soldiers following behind him. Some frowned when they saw me, while others rejoiced. Lorenzo walked up the staircase to meet me half way.

" Ronaldo and others are already in the boardroom," he said and I nodded. " You looked dressed and you smellable."

" That's not a word and yes, I could not walk down the staircase looking like a bare finger. The family wouldn't take me seriously," I scoffed, and he chuckled.

We climbed down the stairs and walked in the direction of the boardroom. Lorenzo pushed open the doors and entered before me while I followed on behind him. The boardroom was huge and it was able to carry the whole family. Those who sat at the table were very important beings in the family, while others had their own chairs situated not far from the table.

I finally reached the head of the table; everyone was standing waiting for me to greet them and acknowledge their presence. Ronaldo and Lorenzo were both standing beside me.

" Familiá," I said, my voice shocking a few, and I mentally chuckled.

" King," they all roared in unison, their voices echoing.

" You may be seated," I said and everyone fell down on their seat and I pulled my throne back before taking a seat at the head.

I turned towards Ronaldo and Lorenzo and they gave me approval just by their nods. I know I'm the Don but they were my advisors and, for some reason, I saw them as my equals.

" I know you know I was gone for a whole month, so I won't say much on the matter. I would like to apologise for my absence, which has led to a lot of delays. I hope you have followed the orders of my second in commands because they hold as much power as I do. Now, this gathering is not about work or anything but my dismissal of you guys, " I said, before turning to Lorenzo.

" Familiá," he said seriously.

" Zeus!" they sang in unison, acknowledging his power.

" We have given you guys a day off today. But tomorrow it's work as usual. Tomorrow at five am, you are summoned to this boardroom for registration and to be handed your assignments. Now, be wary of your surroundings, because this day off doesn't necessarily mean that our enemies, too, thought they would give you a break, but it means to relax and calm your bodies and souls with loaded guns ready in your hands.

Please, we don't want the Feds up our asses and we don't want unnecessary drama and if drama is to be brought up tomorrow, Ghost and King will go savage, so that not even your God will recognise who the fuck y'all are, capisci?" he said calmly yet he came with a promise rather than a threat.

" Si!" they chanted and I turned to Ronaldo but he shook his head no. He had nothing to say.

" You are dismissed," I said and everyone stood up and piled out, leaving only me, Ronaldo, Lorenzo, Alberto being one of the family's commanders, Weston and Valentino being our tech guys.

" Weston?" Lorenzo said, turning to the blonde.

" Oh yes, Valentino and I found something a few weeks ago. There was footage taken of a funeral back in the Los Angeles cemetery. With enough research, the funeral was for Anastasia's grandmother. There is no evidence of her death, but what's weird was how at her funeral a convoy of cars had stopped by her grave and the cars belonged to Dominic Santiago." He said, and we all frowned.

" They only came when the funeral came to an end and everyone had left. They were probably holding their own private funeral. But what's weird is how they only came after the funeral and not during...so the connection might be between the grandmother and Dominic or there's some other story missing," Valentino added.

" What does that mean?" Lorenzo asked.

" We aren't ideally sure but we think there's a connection between Dominic and this specific family." Valentino stated, and I seethed.

" So, what are we going to do?" Alberto asked, glaring at me.

" We will deal with this tomorrow. I have paperwork to handle and deals to pull through. Valentino, Weston, I want you to examine the footage and hack into all the systems to check where they had gone after they left the cemetery. I want to know if they are still in Los Angeles and then the rest of you make use of this day off. Relax and enjoy this day," I said before standing up and leaving the boardroom, heading to my office.

I entered the familiar yet unfamiliar place and sucked in a deep breath before walking over to my desk. A new laptop was on the desk and the desk was also brand new. This is not the first time it has happened, but Weston and Valentino always fix my tech problems. I unlocked the laptop and glared out to make sure everything was there and it was.

As I was going through emails, a knock grabbed my attention and I called the person to come in. Ronaldo and Lorenzo stumbled into the office, both wearing black turtle necks and black ripped jeans as well as Timberlands. I glared at them with a smirk on my face.

" Okay thing one and thing two," I mocked, and they frowned.

" He copied me," Ronaldo whined while Lorenzo rolled his eyes.

" Yeah no, I didn't. I just happened to see your outfit on your bed and I was like hey, you inspired me," Lorenzo scoffed, and I chuckled as Ronaldo frowned.

" Do you still want to stay inside this office and work?" Ronaldo asked.

" Yeah, I have so many emails to attend to and things to sort out before tomorrow. I need to be prepared," I said, looking at them and they nodded.

" Well, we will tell you about our day when we come back," Lorenzo said before hopping out of the office. Ronaldo followed after, now both leaving me to do my work. I sighed out loud at the thought of working in my office, so I grabbed my laptop and the files before heading up to my room.

When I reached the room, I threw everything on the bed. My room is now clean and it smells nice. The linens were changed and all the windows were opened so fresh air would be able to invade the room. I removed my shoes and jumped on the bed before I opened up the laptop and started working.

-----------------------------------

I didn't know when I fell asleep but I felt someone shake my body multiple times, causing me to groan. I slightly opened my eyes and saw Ronaldo hovering over me. I groaned out before shoving him off.

" What the fuck dude?" I seethed, sitting up.

" Dawg it's four am and in an hour, you must hand out tasks," he said, reminding me of the work I had today.

" Oh yes," I said, climbing off the bed and stretching.

" Did you see her?" he asked, and I frowned.

" Who?"

" The girl you almost killed," He said bluntly and I shook my head no.

" I'm too busy," I said, waving him off as I headed into my bathroom to refresh myself.

After my routine, I headed back into my closet and grabbed out a black Daniel Hector suit and crispy white shirt with an open collar that revealed a bit of my tattoo on my pecs. I put on my accessories and grabbed two, undetectable 9mms and hid them behind my jacket.

I then strutted out the room and before you know it, I bumped into a tiny figure. I glared at her in her pink night dress and she held the carnival teddy bear in her hand. She was wiping away tears from her eyes and sniffing. Her face was pale and her facial features were red.

" Principessa? Why are you awake at this time?" I asked her gently, kneeling in front of her. I might have been a bad dad these last couple of weeks, but I still try to make up for being one.

" Daddy, I miss you," she said, suffocating the human-sized bear in her tiny arms and I sighed loudly.

" Daddy is sorry, okay?" I said and she nodded. " Go into my room and sleep there, I'll join you when I'm done."

" No," she said, giving me puppy eyes and I sighed. She sure did get the stubbornness from me.

I stood up and offered her my hand as we walked hand in hand towards the boardroom. When we reached the first floor, it was empty. Not even the house help was there, so we continued to walk to the boardroom. I pushed open the doors and let her through before I went after.

Lorenzo and Ronaldo were already standing by their seats and everyone else seemed to be there, and they were waiting for me. I reached my throne and picked Tania up before placing her on it. Lorenzo and Ronaldo gave her playful winks, causing her to giggle and I saw love in everyone's eyes. She sure could melt even the coldest hearts.

" You may be seated," I said, and everyone sat down.

I noticed a few chairs at the back that were empty. Three of them carried no one and I frowned. I glared at Valentino and motioned him to come up to me, and he quickly stood up and rushed to my side.

" Did everyone clock in?" I whispered in his ear and he started fondling his tab before glaring at me.

" No. Three members still haven't checked in. Paul, Kenneth and Metelus," he said, and I nodded with a frown on my face.

" Do a clear checkup and find which vehicles they took and track them down. Weston will fill things up for me, you may be dismissed," I said. He nodded before walking out of the boardroom.

All eyes were on him, Ronaldo and Lorenzo gave me questionable looks before I motioned them to both stand up and when they did, they saw what I saw. They both hissed at the same time. I wasn't going to be stupid and think they were still alive because I knew; they were probably captured or dead. But I hoped they just forgot to clock in.

" I hope you all enjoyed your day off?" I said and everyone nodded. " Good because today we are all going back to work but only after the task team fills us in."

" Weston," Ronaldo called out.

" We tried hacking the systems but they had disappeared into thin air. There was no sight of their cars anywhere in this area, so they vanished and went incognito," He said and I groaned out of frustration.

" Alberto?" I said, turning to face him.

" I organised a task team after we got word that they were at the funeral. The team hasn't brought back yesterday's report," he said. I could see the tension in his muscles.

" Weston, do another perimeter check on the area where the team was last seen. Alberto will appoint the coordinates of the last place they had been," Lorenzo ordered and the blonde nodded

" I don't want any disturbances for the rest of the day and I can only be disturbed if the situation is rather important or if it is a life and death situation. Oh, and Ghost, do gather up the weapons and courier them to the harbor. It's a hand in transaction. Take a team with you, I don't trust those wannabes," I said and he nodded. " Zeus and Ghost will take over and assign the teams."

I grabbed the five-year-old and strutted out with her, going to my room. This time I used the elevator. When we reached my room, I tucked her in bed and she immediately fell asleep. She surely has been tired for a while now but she down played it because she wanted to be around me.

I sneaked out of my room and rushed down to the elevator, as it led me downstairs. I rushed into my office and opened the safe to grab out my mask. I couldn't risk going to the clinical centre just to be recognised. I put on the mask, letting it cover my face before rushing towards the clinic room.

There were two soldiers guarding the door and they bowed their heads before opening the foggy, glass door for me. I entered the room and realised she was still lying in the same position but her back had healed. Only a few scab marks and what seemed to be scars.

There wasn't a bandage wrapped around her head and I noticed that she didn't have band aids on her face any more. She rather had a little bit of color on her skin. I grabbed a seat next to her and glared at her. She still looked weak but the slashes were less angry. I groaned at myself and I heard her whimper.

She caught me off guard because I thought she was unconscious.

Maybe she is gaining consciousness again?

She continued to whimper and it was like she was having a nightmare. I wanted to wake her up, but what if it was because of what I had done to her?

What if I was the monster in her dreams?

I let her be. I couldn't wake her up only to realise she was not exactly dreaming that this was her reality.

" No! Let me go!" I heard her groan under her breath.

I felt guilty because she probably was talking to the monster in her dreams. In which case it is me. I glared at her as she groaned and muttered inaudible words under her breath. Her back arched and I swear I saw her flinch in pain.

Maybe the slashes weren't fully healed?

Her brows were furrowed and I realised she was sweating. This was my fault. I held her hand in mine and I saw her flinch. I was angry and frustrated at that point.

" Let me go!" she groaned again. This time I felt like she was talking to me so I unhanded her.

She continued to whimper and to groan, fighting the inexistent force in her mind.

" Daddy please, let me go!"

Daddy?

I don't know whether I should be confused about the fact that she might have just called me daddy or the fact that this dream was probably about her father.

I probably wasn't the monster in her head but someone she had referred to as daddy. She continued to shiver, whimper and arch her back only to flinch in pain, her neck was glowing with sweat and her hair stuck to the beads of sweat.

" Mama!" she roared loudly and I felt like I needed to wake her up.

Her nightmare was way too deep for my liking and it wasn't about me but the people she had referred to as Mama and Daddy.

What happened to her as a child?

I don't know if I should feel sorry for her or try to help her deal with her family problems. Her breath hitched and I saw tears running down her closed eyes.

Is she conscious?

" Daddy, you hurting me!" she said softly, she was crying. She probably must be awake.

" Anastasia?" I called out to her but she wasn't answering. I traced my hands along her skin and she shivered under my touch.

" Save me," she said softly, and I frowned.

I felt like that was meant for me other than everyone.

" I'll save you, tesoro," I said softly, tracing my fingers on her hot, wet skin.

Her body began to relax and her whimpers became silent. She seemed relaxed and at peace. She moaned slightly before she arched her back, causing her to flinch in pain. I mentally punched myself to the realisation I had caused her pain. I noticed her bed had become wet because of her sweat and her pillow was wet due to her tears.

"Nonna,I'm sorry," she softly said.

I glared at her as tears fell from her sealed eyelids. She kept murmuring inaudible things in her mouth as she was crying.

What is up with this girl?

I wanted to wake her up but that would be too much. I stayed back and watched her become restless. I held her hand in reassurance and felt her body relax yet again.

" Save me from Eric," she whispered, and I frowned.

Whose Eric? And what was he to her?

" Whose Eric?" I asked her, as if she was awake and fully aware of my presence.

Daddy.

" Daddy?" I managed to say but I was cut off by a knock on the door and I removed my hand from hers' immediately. " As in."

" King?" I heard Alberto call out and I glared at him.

" What?"

" You need to come and see this" he said, and I frowned.

" What's so important that needs me at this time?" I said, glaring at him.

" Dominic was in contact with the boy," he said, and I frowned.

I couldn't leave her as of yet. Her unconscious self was to reveal her secrets to me. I groaned at myself before turning to face her whimpering body. She was still uneasy. I turned back to Alberto and I sighed out loud while pinching the bridge of my nose.

" Let's go," I said, pushing myself up from the chair and exiting the clinical center going towards the lobby.

I froze at what I saw. One of my soldiers was kneeling down. His dark brown hair was damp and he was covered in blood. His white shirt was now a darker shade of pink and he seemed like he had a few cuts and bruises. His skin was now black from dirt and he looked tired.

" What happened?" I demanded.

" King." He said, glaring up at me. " We were burned. But we only realised it too late. We were being followed by a white Sudan all the time; we were oblivious due to the task at hand. Yesterday, the boy and his friend came into contact with Diego. They were ushered into black SUVs and were driven back to the residence that the boy currently lives in. Seemingly, the parents and Diego have a connection."

" Meaning?" I seethed.

" They were talking. For a very long time before, Diego handed them something. One of my partners was recording the whole thing but the footage is gone," he said.

" Where is it?" I snapped.

" A bomb was placed under the base of our car. We realised it too late when the Sudan sped off. I was outside the car for a bathroom break and I saw it when they placed the bomb. I tried to go save them but the bomb was already triggered and I ended up flying across the road and blown into an alley. Luckily, some lady saw me and helped me," he explained, and I nodded.

" What's your name?" I asked him and he frowned.

" Sir?" he asked, confused.

" What's your name?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

" Christian," he said, and I nodded.

" Alberto, take Christian back to the clinical centre. Tell Danté to handle him." I said and he nodded.

He helped Christian up and placed his arms around his shoulders before carrying him out of the lobby and going into the clinical centre . Danté came down the staircase before he stood in front of me with furrowed eyes.

" Alberto said you called me," he said with furrowed eyes.

" There's a burned soldier in the clinical centre. I want you to give him the truth serum and then call Alberto for an analysis," I ordered and he nodded before leaving me alone in the lobby.

I headed down towards my office. I pushed open the doors before gliding over to my throne. Lorenzo barged in and I glared at him as I took a seat. He ruffled down his hair and took a seat on the visitors' chairs.

" Alberto called me over. Told me about the news," He said and I nodded before leaning back on my throne. I was worried about other things, in actual fact, things that didn't involve Diego but things that involve Anastasia.

" Weston and I are doing an investigation on the Asian family," Lorenzo said, and I nodded. " Your mind is somewhere else."

" I know," I admitted bluntly and he frowned. " What? I'm being honest."

" You thinking about other things when the family is being attacked?" he asked with furrowed eyes.

" No. It involves the same members in actual fact. It is just I have many questions that need to be answered." I said and he nodded " Is Ronaldo back?"

" Nope. What do you need him for?" he asked, leaning against the desk.

" I want us to visit the boy and his friend. Maybe he has answers for me that his unconscious sister can't answer." I said, and he nodded in approval.

" Yeah, maybe he knows more than her," Lorenzo said, and I shook my head.

" I highly doubt it. " I said, fiddling with the pen in my hand.

" What do you mean?" he asked.

" They both probably have the same amount of information but their knowledge differs," I answered him and he had furrowed eyebrows.

"Should I order my task team or will you just take yours?"

"I will probably take mine; I need an elite team to handle it. I want a clean job and I don't want something that will get attention," I answered.

"We never go unnoticed though?" He joked.

"And that's what I will need for today's job. I want you to tell Gio that I want him to look at the Reines. Their association with the boy isn't just a mere coincidence and I want to clear up everyone who isn't supposed to be on my territory," I said and he nodded.

"Did you see her?" he asked.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes, it does. I want you to see that her still being unconscious at a time like this, makes her an innocent," he said.

"She might be an innocent, but I would be foolish to think that all this was a mere coincidence. If Dominic might have a connection with their grandmother, don't you think there is a slight chance they know about him?" I enquired.

"I understand, I will tell Gio," he said before he walked out the office and left me to my own devices. I tried to finish up my work but my mind was filled with the thoughts of the woman in the clinical centre suffering from nightmares