Chapter 4 Assassination

“Alright, I’ll reach out to you shortly to go over the wedding details.” Serena embraced Julia warmly. Just as they were about to leave the Sherian mansion, the sound of heels clattering caught their attention. They turned around to see a frantic figure hurrying towards them.

Upon seeing that everyone was staring at her, Larisa abruptly halted in her tracks. The moment she looked at her father, she noticed his jaw clench and his eyes throwing daggers in her direction, but within seconds, he softened and gave her a loving smile.

“Larisa, is everything alright?”

She swallowed hard. “I’d like to present this to Sebastian,” she showed them the canvas wrapped up all pretty.

“Lovely!” Larisa’s attention shifted to Nina. “I never knew Sebastian had a thing for paintings! That’s so sweet of you.” She further added, her gaze sweeping across the faces in the room.

“Let’s head out and give some moment to the new couple.” Her smile faltered as her gaze met Sebastian’s, who returned her smile with a piercing glare.

Sebastian couldn’t help but notice his black mamba ring hanging around her neck as she walked towards him.

“I had been painting for a long time and finally, someone appreciated my work for the first time. This is for you!” With a gentle gesture, she extended the present in his direction, which he graciously accepted.

“Thank you,” he said nonchalantly.

Larisa thought back on their time together and couldn’t recall a single moment where he had cracked a smile. “You never smile?” She asked politely.

Sebastian lifted his eyes to her. “I don’t smile for no reason. Goodbye.”

Luca had his eyes fixed on them and he watched Sebastian handing the gift to his bodyguard on his way out to join his parents.

He made his way towards him. “You seem to be completely smitten with her already. Well, who wouldn’t fall for such beauty?” He flashed a creepy grin.

Sebastian stopped and cast a fleeting glance in his direction. A ghost of a smile crossed his face.

The shock was evident on Anton, Serena, and Nina’s faces as they saw Sebastian warmly embracing Luca. However, their shock turned to fear as Sherian’s armed men reacted swiftly, pointing their guns at Sebastian.

In a tense moment, Genovese’s armed men brandished their guns too and aimed at them.

Larisa’s lips parted as Sebastian’s enigmatic gaze met hers, his chin resting on Luca’s shoulder. “If you ever tried to touch what is mine with your filthy hands. Bro, you won’t have them to jerk off next time.” Sebastian’s voice was so deep that it sent a shiver down Luca’s spine, leaving him motionless.

Sebastian smoothed out Luca’s jacket and straightened his collar before heading towards his car. The families exchanged uncomfortable smiles, both avoiding any mention of the incident.

Nina gave him a sharp look, her eyes narrowing. “What?” Sebastian arched an eyebrow.

“You haven’t hugged me like that ever!” She complained.

“You should thank me for that or your bones would have screamed for life.”

Nina slapped his arm playfully and was about to climb next to him in the backseat when Anton showed up. “Sweetie, I would like to have a conversation with Sebastian, and your mother wishes to discuss some hearsay with you.”

Nina let out a chuckle. “Alright, Dad!” she said, making her way to the car parked ahead of them.

Larisa smiled watching their car leave the driveway with a content smile on her face.

***

“So do you like Larisa?”

Sebastian’s empty eyes stared at his father. Anton found it difficult to read him, even though they were close. “How does it matter? If you don’t let me take charge, marrying her is inevitable.”

“I can't bear to throw you into the treacherous waters, infested with hungry crocodiles. It is not the right time. At least not before the wedding.”

Sebastian let out a sigh at Anton's response and looked ahead, his eyes catching sight of two cars packed with their bodyguards zooming past in the opposite direction, ensuring a safe path for them.

“Don Vitalino Genovese,” Sebastian quickly looked back at his father, his brow furrowing in response to Anton mentioning his father, who was known as the most ruthless mafia boss in history.

“He had a broad spectrum of illegal activities, ranging from murder, extortion, labour racketeering, loan sharking, drug trafficking to woman trafficking. And he single-handedly brought down several mafia families.”

Sebastian kept his eyes fixed on him. “Yet, I opted to be a catalyst for change.” He said, and Sebastian caught a glimpse of the bodyguard’s cars disappearing behind them. “The memory of holding Nina in my arms for the first time still fills me with warmth.”

Sebastian’s gaze flickered back to him. “I can’t forget that feeling! She was my prized possession. And then the doctors told me the heartbreaking news that she had two holes in her heart and she needed surgery. That was the day when I went against your grandfather and stopped women trafficking. He opposed it and I was ridiculed by many for my sensitive disposition. Your grandfather said that one has to be merciless to be the Mafia boss. Little did he know, I aimed to be the Mafia King.”

“It took me decades to eliminate crime against women and kids. I won’t hurt them, no matter what, and although our enemies use them against me many times, I’m glad I never played below the belt. Our brothels employ women who choose to work as sex workers and are not coerced into it. In Africa and Nigeria, we’ve adopted many orphanages. And that’s my repentance for being born into this world.”

“Do you regret being born into the mafia?”

“Not a bit!” Anton flashed a surreal smile. “Anyone can become a mafia boss, but to be a Mafia King, it takes everything. Now you know why I have such high expectations from you.”

The car jerked to a stop, and Sebastian glanced out the window. “Airport?” He looked bewilderedly at his father. “Why are we here? Where are the bodyguards? We are out of our territory!”

A note of panic crept into his voice, and Anton couldn’t help but smile. “If you happen to forget, your mother is a Mafia queen, and before that, she also happens to be a merciless Mafia princess. I had to think of a plan that would go unnoticed by her watchful eyes to send you away. She is more implacable than I am.”

Anton had been waiting for the glint to appear in Sebastian’s eyes, and finally, it did. “No. It’s not what I think!” Sebastian was taken aback.

Anton pulled out his ticket and passport from the inner pocket of his black jacket and handed them over. “You have three years. I won’t give you more time.” Sebastian’s eyes were fixed on his hand. “Live your dream.”

Sebastian met his gaze. “I promise that my return will be nothing short of impressive.” Taking the ticket and passport, he stepped out of the car and was greeted by the hustle and bustle of the airport.

He walked briskly, taking long strides, before suddenly stopping in his tracks. Anton noticed him and then stepped out of the car to follow him.

Sebastian turned around to see him walking in his direction, and as they met, he pulled him in for a warm hug. “When I said I would hate you, I didn’t mean it. I can never hate you. Thank you for understanding me.”

He slowly squeezed his hands and disappeared inside the airport, while Anton stood there watching him go. “He didn’t smile again!” Anton thought bitterly.

The chauffeur approached him surreptitiously and whispered. “Boss, we should leave now. It is risky to venture out without the bodyguards.” He cast his gaze around while Anton remained unresponsive and rooted to his spot. It wasn’t until Sebastian’s flight ascended in the clear blue sky above him that he started to move.

“Let’s go.” He strode forward, his chauffeur trailing behind, scanning the surroundings. As Anton made his way to his car, a thunderous gunshot rent the atmosphere. The crowd at the Airport was thrown into utter disarray and scrambled to escape.

Anton frantically scanned the area as he reached for his gun, but it was too late. Another bullet struck his chauffeur, and he died on the spot. More men dressed in black, with leather jackets and silver masks, appeared from their hiding places.

Though he was certain he wouldn’t make it out alive, Anton fought with all the strength he had. He put forth a valiant effort to reach his car, but his steps slowed as he felt the sharp sting of a bullet in his chest.