Chapter 5: Don't Miss The Funeral

It was rainy and the mansion was unusually quiet. I was in my room watching the downpour worsen and my mood completely turned sour. I was 12, I wanted to go out and play when the wretched rain destroyed my afternoon plans. 

As the only heir of the Rossi family, I was surrounded by security 24/7, I had befriended most of my guards and treated them all as my big brother just like my father, but today only three were assigned to follow me around. 

"I want to learn how to play with that."

Pointing to the army knife, Gerard was holding. He smirked and drew close to where I was seated, 

"If the young master agrees to call me "Master" then I will teach you."

"What kind of master-slave contract will that be?"

He guffawed and ruffled my hair my mom took a sweet time styling. 

"My mother will get mad if my hair is unkempt."

"Your mother will be mad if she knows you did not finish your homework."

I rolled my eyes at him and decided to grab a book my mother was reading before she left for another engagement on her foundation.

"When Auntie Erin marries will her children live here?"

"Your Auntie Erin has a peaceful life outside the family, but I'm sure she will visit you every day."

"She seldom comes to the mansion…"

I was too young to understand the complexity of our situation but I was fully aware that I was not born into an ordinary family. I knew long before people were automatically scared when they heard my name. 

Having friends was a great deal for me, no one dared to speak to me at school, summer camps, and even the club. So, I stopped going. 

Another hour passed by but the downpour became heavier and heavier until a loud ring broke the silence in my silent room, 

"Hello,"

[Son, put Gerard on the line.] My father's weak voice resounded from the other line. 

I did not hear what my father said but when Gerard placed the phone down, he immediately grabbed a suitcase and prepared my things. 

"What is going on?"

"You'll know when we get there."

"Is something wrong?"

He paused and gave me a sympathetic look and ruffled my hair once again, Gerard was one of my closest bodyguards and a dear friend to my mother, so when he heard she died that evening he tried his hardest to put up a front without breaking down.

"Whatever you hear from the news, the people outside, the police, or even the tabloids, remember your mother was the best person we know."

"Did something wrong happen?"

"Your father will meet us in the intersection and he will tell you."

Gerard prepared most of my things and the next thing I knew I was being chauffeured off to the airport, my father did not arrive until the last minute of my flight. He looked older since breakfast, his clothes were dirty and his hand was blood red. 

He came up to Gerard and gave him a folder when he received a hug from him, they spoke in a minimal tone and their eyes were red. 

"Listen, Dominic," my father dragged me to the VIP lounge, and the people inside it were escorted outside. 

"Always remember your mother was the best person we all know."

"Where is she?"

"She's on vacation." my father tried to put on the fakest smile he could conjure when the news of my mother's suicide was flashed on the screen. 

I was young, not dumb, I was young, not deaf and I was young and not ignorant. My father shouted when he heard my mother's name on the television and immediately grabbed his gun and shot all television in the VIP lounge which caused people to panic. 

"Gerard!!!" 

That was the last time I saw my father's weakest side. I was sent abroad while my father mourned for my mother. There was a huge change in the family, my father struggled to keep his position as reform after reforms were implemented by my grandfather to protect the family from becoming vulnerable. 

I was able to go back to the country when I was 18 and there was a huge change of power. My father had to tolerate members who used their influence and power to oppress him. I saw him pour himself into work as he continued to miss my mother. 

"Ivanov will pay…" 

Countless times I had heard my father mention Viktor Ivanov's name in his sleep and when he woke up he poured himself a drink and immersed his attention to work. He was obsessed with bringing the control of the Rossi on his hands and when he finally did it - he became a changed man. 

A distant memory of my father who was madly in love with my mother had slowly changed and became more distant to me and my grandfather. Our weekly dinners had become more formal and we spoke to each other less and less.

At the age of 20, I was sent abroad but this time I was on my own. It was as if my family had thrown a problematic young master abroad to fend for himself. I joined my first gang and even had the chance to unalive a person. 

I tasted drugs and became an alcoholic and the best part was, that I was used and betrayed by my own people. 

***

Teet…teeet…teeet…

'Fuck'

The beam of sunlight escaped from the blind of my window and awakened me from a dream, there was a faint noise in my room. I was not even interested in checking who or what was it. I focused on getting more sleep when this faint sound became louder and her smell enveloped the air. 

I could hear her hum as the sound of scissors cut through a piece of clothing. A cold but soft touch on my abdomen, 

"This seemed to be healing alright." A sweet voice resounded which forced me to open my eyes, 

"I know you were faking the sleep, did you have a good dream?"

"I had…it was from a memory." 

"Ohh, is it good or bad?"

"My mother's death…"

Isabelle gave me a sympathetic look and continued to tend to my wound. Her expression softens as she finishes changing the dressing, 

"Your wound is healing alright, you can go back to your dirty work in no time." Isabelle's snide comments were becoming more interesting as I spent the majority of my time with her. "So, am I allowed to go back once you are healed?"

"Are you that desperate to dissociate yourself from us?"

"No," her voice became defensive and I could see her calculating her next move before answering the question honestly, 

"Yes, I am desperate to go back to my old life. Away from you and all the mess you caused my life."

My eyes became somber and the thought of letting her go, probably, against my own will sickened me. 

"Don't worry, our plan is going smoothly. You'll be out of this prison in no time." I muttered as I slowly tried to put on a facade. 

I reached out for my phone and sent instructions to buy Isabelle's building and add more security details in her village. If Antonio could kill me, he definitely would not leave Isabelle unhurt. 

"Ms. Isabelle's place is now secured, sir. We have placed people nearby to check on her." 

"Good, is there anything else you want to discuss with me?"

"Antonio has requested a closed-door votation tonight."

My morning went from worse to worse; the time frame Richard and I planned had been cut short. Antonio's people had moved quickly this time and went to publicize my death from the shooting on the pier 3 weeks ago. 

The 'missing' Dominic Rossi was now found dead and Porta Sole was in peril. My death as the head of the family was controversial, the police's connection to the shooting was publicized too and that caused chaos. 

"Your cousin is truly a hard worker, isn't he?" Code X sarcastically remarked as he continued to busy himself monitoring the cameras we set up in one of the many rooms of this apartment. 

"Does he have any code name like you two?" He continued to ask as he looked at me, "I mean, Dominic "Shadow" Rossi is popular all over the country, and your assistant was sometimes called "Rock" or the infamous "Stoic Gun of the Rossi". So it should be right that Antonio should have his own code name, right?"

"If I give him one, will you shut up?"

"Probably," he playfully answered and sucked on his lollipop. 

"Turd,"

"Well, that suits him well. Anyway, I found more illegal connections between Antonio's secretary and the head of the Cartel. These phone records are shreds of evidence, should we express deliver it to your lieutenant friend back in the department?" 

"No, this time I need to go back. That fool has become more comfortable without me. Any news on Antonio, Richard?"

"They have chosen the venue for your burial, boss. Antonio wants to have the vote tonight with the excuse of the stocks dropping."

Antonio Rossi had finally grown some brains, with my absence he managed to manipulate the stocks of the company, bought some of my executives, and now staged my death. This rat had been eating the right food the last month, hadn't he? 

"The leaders of the different branches are in attendance tonight, sir. Bear and Whale masters will also join the meeting this time."

"Second Uncle is back in town, who will represent him?"

"Your cousin, Edward."

If my memory serves me right, Edward has a quick wit but is temperamental. Eddie was famous for dating a lot of women in the industry, his long list of exes had tormented my grandfather.

"Antonio invited Edward personally this time and sat down with him over coffee. His schedule was packed since last week and spent time convincing the rest of the family to name him the next heir to the family."

"Mmm, that turd has finally blossomed. That's a surprise, that turd had a brain." I took a quick sip of my espresso and continued, "Unluckily, turds cannot live for too long. Richard, prepare everyone, we will go back to the mansion tonight."

"Excuse me?! But what about me, boss?"

I looked at him and smirked, "I don't want to miss my own funeral, do I?"