AZEZAL POV

Today's funeral reminded me of my mother's one. My mother's unexpected death left me so devastatedly wrecked that I became entirely numb at that time, no tear made out of my eye even at her funeral. It was unbelievable to me that I lost the one person I loved more than anything. She was the most precious gem of my treasure and the regret that I couldn't protect her is still alive in my heart.

On the other hand my emotions are completely different for this person. I helplessly lost one more person from my life who was supposed to mean a lot to me but wasn't. Antonio Pavano, the one who is my biological father by name but never couldn't be one- The father I wanted to kill by my own hands at certain time for whatever he did but refrained myself with all my might everytime.

The things he had done to me, my mother and sister is unforgivable in my eyes. He ruined my life since my childhood, engaging me into vulnerable things and involving me in his dark world. He ravaged my mother's mental health and basically his enemies killed her, who are after me now. He ruined my sister's life by forcing her into a marriage for his own benefit. How much ridiculous and selfish this man was only disgusted me as much as it disintegrated me thinking I'm his blood. And now that he's no more in this world, it feels like this world is actually a better place for now.

I'm cruel to even think that but the amount of loathe and hatred I have for this man is indescribable. He is the one to blame for taking away my mother from me, giving her the worst days of her life until she died and after that separating Leera from me. I had been blaming Leera for everything before, until I knew that it wasn't her fault rather all of it was his.

"Sir, after your car entered the mansion your father went inside and came back within almost five minutes then drove the car out of the mansion. He seemed to be in a hurry. I don't know further than that"

I closed my eyes chugging the third glass of champagne. The burning feeling of it pouring down my throat is providing me sereneness.

I suspect Antonio knew there was a boob in the car and knowing that he took my car from my basement but why would he do so? I know that the bomb was set for me and it was so destructive that death is inevitable. The question is why else would he take my car and what his motive might be? Why would he want to save me when all I knew in my life was that he was a selfish man and he never thought of anything else except himself.

"Sir, I accept you to stay back please and let the police handle the situation." I had lost my shit internally but couldn't move from my position after the blast. I thought I lost her but when I saw it was not her but a man I was almost relieved until I saw it was Antonio, my father who I never termed as a father.

Leera never left the house after our fight, she fucking went to the rooftop of the apartment building. And if I didn't trace the location of my car, I couldn't have witnessed his death.

My phone vibrates with a message notification that I ignore again. My phone has been ringing since a while and I know it's my wife who's worried for me. After the funeral I have been working and now it's all blank.

I'm filled with angst, fury, grief or guilt whatsoever. Now that I'm busy mourning Antonio's death with glasses of champagne and thoughts I don't want any distraction. Still can't believe he can even think of his son let alone save him from death. And the tangled up questions will keep bothering me until I find the actual truth. I need to put everything together and solve this maze before it's too late.

All the people involved with me is basically in the position of risk. I need to play smart protecting them cause shielding them isn't the only solution. Leera, Elena and Aaron their safety is what matters the most to me. I know whoever they are they shouldn't be underestimated cause if they can fucking plant a bomb in my car after having this much security they can do anything.

I might be stonehearted. I may have killed people in the most brutal and barbaric way but the single thought of Leera being hurt made me feel something I never felt in my entire life before. It was Fear. The word which never occurred to me once since my childhood. Fear of losing her. Fear of losing myself again.

I'm not grieving Antonio's death cause he never meant much in my life to grieve for. I have to find out why did he do so as there isn't any possibility of him risking his life just to save mine. There must be something that I can't see even though its infront of me. I'm disappointed at my capabilities. I'm disappointed at myself. How could I miss out such a thing? I wasn't using that car for a few days but when the engine of that car was started, at the same time the bomb started ticking too. I'm not afraid of death but what if Leera was in that car with me? What if It was really her who was driving the car? I can't even bear the thought of something happening to her.

"Boss, this came for you." Remor hands me an envelope. I took a puff of cigarette and opened the envelope knowing what it might be and then I saw it's what I guessed it to be.

A message from the weakling mastermind behind all these,

Mother gone. Father gone. Everyone is in danger prone. How long will you be sitting on the throne When you will be left all alone?

I cackled with laughter. This dick even got courage to send me threats about killing my other family members in poem form? Fucking coward who can only attack from back.

"Any information?" I arch an eyebrow at Remor. "The bomb was set by our own man and he escaped as soon as possible after. We found that he's in Texas by tracing. We have our eyes on him. Hopefully we will get to our target by following him" He apprises me.

Our every soldier and man has a tracker that we set inside their body without their own acknowledgement right after their enrollment.

I slightly nodded and burned the letter with my zippo lighter, watching the page flame with fire and turn into ashes as it touches the floor. My feet compressed the burned pages and the threats were just dust under my feet. And his condition will be the same soon.

* * * * * *



It was late when I returned home, finding her in bed without me for the first time. She always waits for me until I come home even if I tell her not to. I couldn't talk to her properly since yesterday after our fight. At first the hospital then the funeral. And then I disappeared for the whole day.

I squatted down infront of her to see her face properly. Her hair strands were obstructing me to have the perfect view of her face. So I pushed the strands back gently with my fingertips and smiled as my eyes contemplated her dream alike exhausted face.

I didn't tell her that it was my car and the bomb was planted for me actually. I don't want to scare her. She's already petrified a lot. And I don't need her to be worrying for me everytime I leave the apartment. All I need to make sure is she is safe and sound.

"non posso vivere senza di te. non posso perderti Ti amo tanto." I lightly caressed her face with the back of my hand.

(I can't live without you. I can't lose you. I love you so much.)

After taking a shower I lay beside her holding her close to me and making sure I don't wake her up but this closeness doesn't feel close enough. I held her closer letting her lavender scent confine me somewhere in her and kissing her hair one last time it didn't take me long to drowse.

* * * * * *

LEERA POV

I broke apart from my sleep as the sunlight directly hit my eyes through the window ajar. His side of bed is empty. Maybe he didn't come home last night? Is he grieving his father's death? I thought but he didn't like him enough for that either. He didn't reply to my messages and calls last night and eventually I fell asleep because of tiredness.

I spent my whole yesterday with Elena, consoling her for her father's death. How bad she weeped for the father who didn't even care for her. I felt dejected seeing her in that condition. But truly his death was so terrifying and scared me to the core when I heard about the incident. I asked her to move in with us but she refused saying she wants to live in that mansion for now. I just hope she is better now.

It's quite early. I checked my phone to see if he called back or left any message but sadly there was nothing. The first thing I did is cleaning myself up and then getting downstairs I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"Goodmorning Mrs. Pavano." The housekeeper greets me. "Goodmorning. Did Azezal come home?" I ask her as I pour water in glass, knowing well that I'll get a no in answer.

I gulp down water and halt in the procedure when she says, "Yeah. He's in the gym I guess." I feel relief washing down my soul. Setting down the glass I immediately rush towards the gym which is opposite of the swimming pool area.

Reaching the entrance, my feet cease at the door watching him doing pullups. He's wearing a trouser with no shirt on, bare chested. His back is facing me. His back muscles flex with every slight movement he makes. This version of him is devilishly sexy at another level and I know I shouldn't be thinking about it now but I can't help myself.

As if he can notice my presence, he gets down from the pull-up bar. "You woke up too early today." He says as he grabs his protein shake and chugs down the whole bottle at once. "Where did you disappear last night? You Didn't answer my calls and messages." I query him with worry evident in my voice.

He sat down on a bench tossing the bottle down on the mat. "Come here." He utters glaring at me. I listen to him as I move forward and sit on his lap after he gestured me to. His hands wrap around my waist, securing me in place. "I'm sorry for yesterday Amore"

I lick my bottom lip not knowing what to respond him. "I know how much you love what you do and I shouldn't have said what I said. I just couldn't explain it to you properly. You can continue your education and career but not now. It's very risky. You can understand that after yesterday's car incident, can't you? That's why I'm asking you to wait for some time. Until I get them in my hands. Then you can do everything you want, I would never stop you."

"What do they want from us? Why are they doing these?" My hands wrap around his neck as I hug him. Tears make their way out, down my eyes and I can't help weeping "I'm scared, Aze. I'm scared."

"Nothing will happen to you love. I'm always here for you, you know that. If anyone wants to harm you, they have to pass through my dead body first." More tears rush down my eyes.

I can't breath as I keep sobbing silently, "That's what I'm scared of. I'm not scared for myself. I'm scared for you."

"I'll be safe. I'm always with you, Leera. Nothing will happen to me." He tells me with assurance but still the ominous feeling isn't letting me take a peaceful breath.

He pulls apart and wipe off my tears. "Don't tell me you're crying because you're still scared." "Yes I'm." I laugh through my tears and he chuckles after me. "Oh My silly girl." Pulling me closer he sets a soft kiss on my lips as if kissing my fear away.

"And where were you last night? You didn't answer me." I fold my arms on my chest, changing my expression to a typical vexed wife and his lips stretches to a smile. "You know the company issues I'm going through and then this accident. I'm looking after the case. So I was extremely busy and couldn't text back or receive your calls. And it was really late when I arrived home. Sorry for that too."

"I thought you were mad at me after the fight. And to be honest I was also very vexed at you. So vexed that I went to the rooftop to avoid seeing you until you go to office." He stares at me for a moment and holds my hand in his big ones "I can never be angry with you even if I try to." A small smile forms my lips.

I hold onto his hand that is on my face, "Don't you miss your dad?" He remains silent for a while as I ask him that out of no where. "You know he wasn't really a person who is worthy enough for anyone's missing." I silently nod, well informed of what a person he was.

Then his large hands hold my face as he stares at me intensely. "You will rule me, Leera. Everything will be in your control. I'll bring this world at your feet. If I could name the entire universe after you I would. The world is a better place because you're in it. You are my world, my everything. I would never let you down. Trust me on this and just give me a little time to make things right." His grey orbs hold promises that are meant to be kept and pledge that he will reach every hell to fulfill them. I slowly smile as his every word outstretches my heart and enlighten me from within. He returns my smile whole heartedly caressing my hair.

"I'll make you breakfast, let's go." He starts to carry me in bridal style with him. "Ew. You stink. First take a shower." I make a disgusted face as he holds me tighter to his chest and I keep trying to push on his sweaty cheat to get away. His arms and whole chest is wet due to sweating while working out.

"Yeah. That's what we are going to do first." He chuckes carrying me to our room.

"I'm not showering now." I say and he starts kissing my neck and rubbing his sweat drenched face across my neck. "Aze!" I utter his name annoyed at his frisky and mischievous acts. "Guess you'll have to now."

******

2 days later

"Which flavour do you want Aaron?" I ask Aaron as he tiptoes and sneaks a peek at all different flavours of different colour Gelatos. He remains in indecision for a while as he keeps wondering which one he should pick. "This one!" He finally points at one after almost thinking for a minute. "You want cotton candy Gelato?" "Yes. Cotton candy. I want 2!" He says and shows me his two tiny fingers in certainty. I smile, "Alright."

"And Elena?" I practically had to drag her here after she kept resisting for not coming but I had to make her feel better. "I guess butterscotch." She says after taking a quiet peak.

I ask the seller for one mint chocolate gelato for me, 2 cotton candy gelatos for Aaron and one butterscotch gelato for Elena.

We are currently enjoying our gelatos in icecream parlour. After a lot of convincing, my husband agreed to let us out and have a fresh recover but with several guards surrounding us. It's actually awkward how people are staring and it is making me curse those black suited unstable assholes mentally. What can anyone do to us in public place afterall? Sometimes Aze is just excess.

"Yummy!" Aaron utters elatedly, taking small bites of his two cotton candy gelatos at the same time. Elena and I laugh as we watch him fill his face with cream.

After finishing my icecream I excused myself to go to the restroom.

I was washing my hands when my phone lightened up with a new notification.

I check my phone and that's when I see it's a message from an unknown number.

Unknown - There is a phone at the left side of washstand. Check it.

Confusion consumes me. Who sent the message? But I still do as it said and I found a phone. Who's phone is this?

As I start the phone I see its unlocked and suddenly a picture of a news article pops up which appears to be of half a month ago as I can interpret from the date.

The head title of the article read out, "Car crash into lake and one lost life" There is also a picture of the car which was pulled out from the lake after the accident.

Why does this car look so familiar? Wait? Isn't this Levi's car? My eyes widened. I started reading the news article and my heart clenches tight as I read out every word. It says it was a late night accident and nobody noticed or witnessed it happen. The person was highly drunk as per the report says and he was driving his car at ultimate speed. Then the car crashed into the lake as he lost his control. The car was found after twenty four hours of that accident.

My heart sinks completely when my eyes trail along the next words. "Locals informed the police and a person was found dead inside the car as he couldn't make his way out. His name was Levi Miller."

The phone slips down as my hands start to tremble. "No this can't be true. This can't be-" I'm in clear denial. This is fake. It fucking can't be true! Tears flow down but I keep refusing to believe this shit. This can't be the same Levi Miller I know and that car can't be the same car in which we used to roam the whole city. Levi must be alive and safe. "This isn't him. This can't be him." I say to myself trying to convince myself not able to recover from the utter shock.

The phone again blinks and I see a video showing in the phone surface by it's own.

With shaky hands I try to pick up the phone and then abruptly another hand of a person comes in view as he picks up the phone for me.

"You're right. This isn't him but I want you to watch the next video." The voice which sounds to be familiar says out of the blue and he shoves the phone back to my hand.

Hearing that somehow made me calm for the shortest period of time until another jolt of surprise catches me as I see the face of the person. "Louis?"

______________________________________

Not edited.

Oml! Who's back? What are you guys expecting now? The bomb is dropped now lmao. Leera will know about Levi's death. Now what? Idk either lol. So let's see what happens :/

And guyss! Only a few chapters are remaining, so show some love in the last few chapters cause this book is going to end real soon :((

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