★LUCIANO★

Gripping Janie's tiny hand with all my might, I ran towards the SUV and thankfully, her short legs were doing just fine compared to mine.

My brain was evaluating numerous strategies to utilize as I opened the door to the SUV and shoved Janie inside, then I entered too.

Gerald and Glenn were swift behind us.

Glenn managed to hop into the passenger's front seat, while Gerald made for the driver's seat. Just as he was about to open the door, a loud gunshot pierced through the atmosphere.

"For fuck sake!" Gerald cried out in agony and I instantly noticed the bloodstains seeping out of his cotton beige shirt.

A bullet went through his right arm!

With haste, I removed my pistol and fired in the direction of Luigi and his henchmen, so Gerald could make it into the SUV.

Even after he managed to, I didn't relent because they had to swap seats since Gerald was no longer in a good condition to drive. Alas, my gun helped in slowing them down a little because they scurried for protection.

Swiveling the key once, Glenn ignited the engine then sped out of the beach into the highway and I watched as our attackers scrambled for their bus to catch up with us.

"Are they going to kill us?" Janie fretted beside me.

When I spared her a look, she was as shaky as a leaf. Her hands were trembling and her lips quivering, coupled with the pool of tears glistening in her eyes.

My stomach tightened.

"No, they can't kill us. As far as I'm here, we are going to be safe." I responded in a reassuring tone and she managed a hesitant nod.

"I hope so."

From her face, my eyes drifted outside the window once more and I saw that Luigi's black van was steadily closing in on us. With my fist clenched, I deliberated on what to do.

But then, Gerald's voice cut through my thinking.

"What if we outsmart them, Boss?"

I arched a brow, prompting him to go ahead with his suggestion. So he continued;

"We can keep driving to another route entirely until we have lost them. Once we are sure they are no longer on our trail, then we return to the mansion." He pushed forward.

Although his suggestion made complete sense, I couldn't risk it because of Janie. Looking at it from another perspective, leading those men in a different direction could create more danger.

What if we ended up in an accident in the process? What if they were able to catch up with us and then I'm left vulnerable?

I despise being vulnerable. My name and the word 'vulnerable' utterly repel from each other.

"No, the mansion is the safest bet. Head there." I instructed instead.

"But Boss, think about what Gerald just said, I see sense in it." Glenn countered.

"And I said no!" my voice thundered at him. "The mansion has a control panel. Once inside, all I need to do is push some buttons and the doors would be locked prior to the time I feel it's safe."

"Your wish is our command, Boss," Glenn succumbed, taking a sharp turn toward the direction of the mansion.

Meanwhile, I angled my hand out of the window, aiming my pistol steadily at the front tires. But they kept swerving to the right, and to the left to avoid being hit.

"Crap!" I cussed, feeling frustrated deep down in my bone marrow.

In no time, we arrived at the mansion. Glenn helped Gerald out of the SUV, while I pulled Janie out, myself.

"Take them inside. Then get some guns below the compartment in the lounge and join me out here." I instructed Glenn, and he hastily proceed to carry out my bidding.

So I turned and focused on the incoming black Van.

Today, Luigi would wish he didn't confront me because I'd make sure he doesn't leave here alive.

Their black van pulled to a halt just at the lawn and all six hefty men hauled themselves out. Yet they were no match for me.

Deep down, I was ready to face them and I'd already brace myself for the worst that could happen.

My attention remained unwavering as I held my gun at arm's length, aiming it at their stupid faces.

Soon, those faces would be scarred beyond recognition and I'd be held responsible.

"No, please!" Janie's squeaky voice pierced through the tense atmosphere and I whirled around quickly, only to find a man yanking her by her hair as she screamed continuously.

My mind began to run amok. If I said I was ready for the worst that could happen, it was not this.

On the other hand, another man tightened his grip around Gerald's neck, while Glenn was knocked to the ground.

My pupils dilated in horror.

How the hell did they get into the mansion?

Furious and helpless, I looked from those men holding them hostage to Luigi and his henchmen then back to the ones at the entrance of my mansion.

I have never been this vulnerable and as much as I hated this situation. There wasn't a damn thing I could do.

"Aren't you surprised, Luciano?" Luigi cackled, making his way toward me. "You have been outsmarted this time around, almighty, Luciano," he said with contempt.

"How the hell did you pimps get to know about the mansion?" I snarled at him.

Luigi chuckled, signaling his men at the entrance of the mansion. Thus, two people emerged from inside.

"Mia?" I growled in disbelief. While another armed man held his gun to the back of her head.

"No please, Luciano. I will never betray you." she fidgeted while speaking. "I took Luigi as my friend, but I never knew he has something against you. if not, I won't have befriended him." She narrated with tears pouring down her cheeks.

Wow! And she expects me to believe that bullshit?

"What are you saying, Mia?" Luigi chimed. "Didn't you enjoy the steamy sex we had?"

"You are an asshole!" Mia spat back.

"I hear that countless times." Luigi snickered.

"Luciano, I am deeply sorry. Luigi posed as your childhood friend, that's why I allowed his men into your mansion as I came for a visit this morning."

"Yet, you couldn't consult me first?" I fired back at her.

She lowered her head in shame. "Please forgive me."

Luigi paused a few feet away from where I stood and his eyes were solely on mine.

"You know, Luciano.....it was not that difficult to get to know where your fucking mother was. I realized she had been in a coma for years and I decided to make things easier for her." he paused a moment while the dumbfounded thought struck me.

Luigi killed my mother!

"I did." Luigi chirped as if in he knew what I was thinking. "I killed your mother," he revealed the dreaded truth.

My blood boiled with seething rage. Without thinking twice, I pressed the trigger, hoping to blow off Luigi's brain. But a sharp pain engulfed my arm and the pistol fell to the ground.

The next thing I noticed was the heavy amount of blood spluttering out of my arm. The exact spot I got a knife wound.

Although, a wave of excruciating pain overwhelmed me, the fury burning through my soul consumed it all. All I wanted was to see Luigi dead at this very moment. So I attempted to pick up the pistol, however, two shots were fired at once. One on the same arm, and the other on my right leg.

I grunted lowly, trying my possible best not to let the pain consume me. Three bullets weren't enough to bring me down.

That's why, I am Luciano Pavarotti.

Nonetheless, Luigi was fast in kicking the pistol out of my reach.

"Don't you want to know how she died first before getting in a hurry to kill me?" Luigi demanded and I twitched my jaw, wishing I could break every single last one of his fucking bones.

I lurched forward and backward, inhaling the smell of my fresh blood. Yet I didn't let them deter me.

Luigi cackled again. "Alright Alright....it was a simple procedure. All thanks to Mia, I was able to find the hospital and the ward your mother was in. I removed the oxygen mask and voila, mama went straight to heaven!" His laughter intensified and so did my rage.

"You motherfucking piece of shit!" I cussed and lunged forward, only to land on my knees because another shot was fired straight into my left leg.

I groaned in anguish.

My eyes drifted to Janie. Watching the tears trickle down her cheeks, somewhat left me in pain more than the gunshot wounds I had.

"You better stop acting all worked up, Luciano, or else, I won't hesitate to end your pathetic life just like you did to my brother." Luigi boomed.

"You might as well finish me off now!" I roared.

Luigi chuckled wryly. "No, I won't. Have you forgotten how you made my brother beg and beg for his life, yet you killed him right in front of me?" His voice cracked. "Killing your mother isn't enough for me. I have waited for years to get back at you and I don't intend to stop easily. I would make sure to hurt everyone around you. Especially that belle over there" he pointed at Janie and my mind became numb for a moment.

Not that I felt anything for her, but she is too young and innocent to be going through this shit.

"Do not hurt her!" I warned between gritted teeth.

"And who is going to stop me?" Luigi snorted. "You? Common, you are as good as dead right now. But you know what? I'm going to make your death painful. I won't kill you and your miserable men now, because I want you three to suffer the pain my brother did overnight. For now, I will just leave with the beautiful damsel." he did a silly dance move. "Ouuuh, the weather is somewhat chilly. I hope she knows how to arch her back when my cock fills her wet pussy."

With that, his men dragged Janie and Mia to the black van.

"Please don't let them take me! Please I don't want to go with them, save me, Luciano!" Janie cried out.

However, I couldn't even lift a finger. It was pointless, trying to fight them when I'm outnumbered, so I watched them all get into the van until it zoomed out of my sight.