The Mafia & The Billionaire

Serenes’s POV

Daisy’s words, which cut right to the heart of my insecurities, caused me pain and hurt. Alex’s constant gaze made me aware of his concern, and I knew Enzo and Patt were worried too. Yes, they were there; I was certain of it. Unfortunately, they couldn’t accompany me to the penthouse, so I insisted they go home.

Alex remained outside, likely wanting to ask how I was feeling. But I refused to let him see my vulnerable side. I feared he would be like Lorenzo, taking advantage of my weakness, just as he did with my mom.

After bathing, I succumbed to the call of the bed. I lay down and closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind and let go of all my worries. Sleep was my escape-a way to forget everything that troubled me. Otherwise, Daisy’s words would linger, and I couldn’t guarantee that I wouldn’t confront her, along with Mavie and Lorenzo, in a fit of rage.

*** Dream ***

“Serene, you must stay strong and not let anyone take what is rightfully yours,” Mom’s voice echoed. I recognized this scene. I was six years old, and it was just before we were supposed to go to the amusement park. That was the day she passed away.

Dad was in their bedroom, getting ready, while Mom came into my room to chat with me as we waited for him. “Who is going to take what’s mine?” I asked innocently. She always showered me with love and affection, and she taught me to be kind but never a pushover.

“Whoever crosses your path, I’m sorry that I may have to guide you towards something you may not like in the future, but it’s necessary. Be true to yourself,” she replied, smiling as she kissed me. I smiled back, even though, in my young mind, I didn’t fully grasp the meaning of her words.

Then, the scene of her untimely death unfolded before me. The moment she fell to the ground, I abruptly opened my eyes. Already, with tears streaming down my face, I aspired to prevent Alex from being awakened.

*** End of dream ***

As I woke up from my emotional slumber, I slowly rose from bed and got dressed for the gym. With tears streaming down my face, I unleashed my frustrations on the punching bag, imagining Daisy, Mavie, and Lorenzo’s faces with each powerful strike. The tears continued to flow uncontrollably, refusing to be held back. Exhausted, I eventually found myself on my knees, then lying down on the floor.

In my weakened state, I felt myself being lifted and carried by someone. Despite my emotional turmoil, I let their arms envelop me, finding solace in their warmth and feeling secure.

When I finally awoke, I found myself back in our bedroom, confused as to how I had returned. I remembered my emotional outburst at the gym, but who had carried me? I looked across the bed, anticipating Alex’s presence, but he was nowhere in sight. I got up, left our bedroom, and found my husband at the dining table.

He was already prepared to eat, but his gaze was fixed on me as I approached. I went to the fridge to grab a drink before joining him. When he jokingly mentioned that I was heavy, I denied it, but he laughed heartily and admitted that he had indeed carried me.

I wasn’t sure if I should thank him or not, so I simply continued eating. After all, it wasn’t a big deal for him to carry me from the gym back to our bedroom. I am his wife, after all. I mentioned that I would see Patt later, and he agreed.

Alex left first, already dressed and ready for the day, while I stayed behind to wash the dishes before preparing to leave. I couldn’t help but marvel at how independent he was. Most CEOs I knew had assistants to take care of everything for them, but Alex was different. He only relied on Von when they were together.

My usual attire consisted of slacks and a long-sleeved polo, paired with stilettos. I preferred to dress like any other career woman, as I didn’t want to attract unwanted attention by wearing something that might intimidate others.

“Boss,” Enzo said, opening the passenger seat door for me. I nodded and smiled at him before getting in. “Are you alright?” he asked, concern evident in his voice. I looked at him and nodded.

“I just had a dream about Mom and got emotional,” I confided in him. I didn’t want to burden him, but I was accustomed to sharing my feelings with Enzo. He was like an older brother to me, along with Patt. They were among the few who knew what had happened to me and my family, and my grandparents trusted them implicitly. In fact, they treated Enzo and Patt like their grandchildren.

“You don’t have to dwell on what Daisy told you,” he reassured me, but it only brought back that painful feeling. How could I not think about it when it consumed me from within? “I’m certain Aunt Rissa didn’t want you to feel that way. She believed in you. That’s what she always told me when she asked me to be there for you,” he added. Enzo referred to my mom as Aunt Rissa because that was her preference for him and Patt. Only those closest to her called her that, which made me wonder if she was never close to Lorenzo. Wasn’t he supposed to be the closest person to her, as her husband? The words from Enzo offered some comfort, but the questions still lingered in my mind.

“Why wouldn’t Grandma let someone look after Mom when she leaves?” I asked, curious about the situation.

“They had someone. How do you think they knew you were coming back when you were a kid?” Enzo replied, making a valid point.

As we made our way to Patt’s place, our conversation revolved around Mom. I found myself longing to talk about her and hear stories of her usual antics once again. “You need to pay for what you did,” I told Patt as we entered his apartment.

“Okay, boss,” he replied. “I think it’s a good idea for you to get to know him. At least you’ll have something to say to Grandma when she asks,” he added. I sat down on the couch, feeling the weight of the day on my back and arms.

“Let’s not let them know everything that’s happening here. They’re old, and I don’t want them to worry,” I said, and both Enzo and Patt nodded in agreement. “Let’s focus on why we’re here,” I continued, and they began gathering all the necessary papers, documents, and files for the upcoming board meeting.

Once we were done, we decided to go out and grab a bite to eat at a restaurant. Since it was past lunchtime, the place wasn’t too crowded, allowing us to have a conversation that was safe for others to hear. We enjoyed a delicious meal and left the restaurant feeling satisfied.

As we walked through the parking lot, Patt playfully pushed me, causing me to stumble into Enzo. But when I looked at him, I saw that a man had already stabbed him. Anger and darkness filled my face as I tried to go after the man, but a passerby had already apprehended him.

I asked Enzo for the car keys after we put Patt inside. “Make sure you find out everything about that man,” I instructed him before taking the wheel. The hospital wasn’t too far, and I didn’t care about not having a driver’s license. Saving Enzo was my top priority.

When we arrived at the emergency room, a doctor attended to Patt while I anxiously waited outside. Whoever did this would face severe punishment. He had aimed for me, but Patt had managed to intervene.

As I stood there, someone touched my shoulder. Instinctively, I grabbed their hand, ready to defend myself, but they were prepared too. “It’s me,” the person said. I turned to look at him and was surprised to see Alex. Why was he here?