FIRST SETBACK

Groaning as he stood up, Jake tried to go after the men holding Juliet. Even though he had broken a few ribs, he wasn't going to allow them lock her up again. Just as he was about to go and attack them, the door bell rang stopping him and the men in their tracks. Watching his father-in-law glance at the maids to open the door, Jake cleaned his mouth as he looked at his daughter. He didn't want her to see him like this.

“ Is this the Fisher family house?” A man asked at the door making the air fill of tension.

Watching the maid whisper some things at the door, Jake looked around and saw that their attention was focused on what was happening. Glancing at his daughter, Jake signaled her what to do to get out of the grasp of the person holding her. Just as he had instructed, Juliet bit the hand of the man that had been holding her surprising him. The sudden scream of the man immediately startled everyone as they turned their attention towards him.

“ Was that a scream I heard just now?” The police officer asked.

“ It's not. One of the maids might have hurt herself." The maid said with a fake smile on her face as she looked at him.

“ Is that so? Either way. We learned from someone that a man by the name of Jake Moss lives here. We are here to tell him that his parents have been killed." The police officer said making all of them gasp in shock.

Hearing the news of his parent's death, Jake stopped in his tracks holding his daughter in his hands as he went cold. His parents. It couldn't be true. Slowly the maid at the door gave way also after hearing the news exposing view for the police man that was at the door.

“ It isn't true, right?” Jake asked in shock as he looked at the police man who was staring at him.

*****

The rain poured down heavily as the funeral for his parents took place. Yet Jake didn't care. He was the only one attending since his father-in-law and his wife didn't come. Crying his heart out, Jake felt a part of him had been taken away. He had been away for 12 years and he had a lot of regrets.

“Figlio." Jake heard someone call him making him turn.

He was already soaked from head to toe and his hands had gone cold. Seeing Franco in front of him felt like a dream. His godfather had never agreed to leave the prison cell even though he had the connections to do so.

“ Godfather. Is it really you?" Jake asked in tears as he saw Franco walking towards him.

Allowing him to hug him, Jake cried his heart out as the rain continued to fall.

“ From what I heard, someone might have killed them. Do you have any enemy we don't know off? You have always been kind and gentle to the people around you. It's hard to imagine that your parents were killed.” Franco said as his bodyguards served Jake some tea.

“ Last time I talked to my mom, she did it say anything about having any debts. Still, I know it couldn't be the Fisher family. All of them were with me." Jake said.

" Do you still have that thing I gave you?” Franco asked making Jake pause.

“ Is it important? You have been making sure I have it on me at all times.” Jake said.

“In the future when I am no longer here, you must take it straight to the bank. Don't forget. Now back to the topic of your parents death. You should just allow the cops to handle it.” Franco said.

Just then two cars pulled up in front of them gaining their attention. Spotting his father-in-law and his wife, Jake stood up angrily as he got ready to send them on their way. However, he saw his daughter too.

“ This must be your godfather. Mr Franco." Abraham said putting on a fake smile as he walked the towards Jake.

“ Abraham Fisher. I never thought I'd see you in the flesh. Too bad I have to get back to prison." Franco said smiling as he looked at Jake.

“ Its a pleasure to meet you. This is Jake's wife, Khloe.” Abraham said making Jake scoff.

“ My wife? Is she really my wife? The burial is finished. Yet my wife is just getting here." Jake said.

" It was raining heavily. The cold was too strong. Besides, Juliet could get sick.” Khloe said making Jake even more angrier.

Seeing the tension between them, Franco placed a hand on Jake to try and calm him down.

“ This must be our beautiful Juliet. She's very beautiful like her mother.” Franco said as he looked at Juliet.

Bringing out a necklace, Franco looked at Juliet showing her. From the diamonds on the necklace, it could be said that it was indeed very expensive.

“ Is this for me?” Jake heard Juliet ask in excitement.

“ Of course. I knew I might see you here today. You can have it." Franco said with a huge smile on his face.

“ Of course she can. You are indeed very good at giving others gifts, aren't you father?” A voice asked gaining everyone's attention.

Looking back, Jake saw her again. She was dressed in the most beautiful clothes and her walk was short and powerful.

“ Scarlett? What are you doing here?" Franco asked in shock as he saw his daughter coming.

“ I heard you snuck out of prison. How do you know this man?” Scarlett asked as she glared at Jake with distain.

She was just the same as the people from the Fisher family. They all thought everyone was below them therefore they were worthless.

“He's my godson. How did you know where to find me?” Franco asked.

“ Does that matter? You came out for the first time in forever yet it's because of a godson. What do you take your children as? Are we nothing to you?" Jake heard Samantha ask making him flustered.

He was mourning his parents yet he couldn't have peace.

“Scarlett, today is an important day for Jake. It's the burial of his parents. You should be respectful. That's not how to talk. We have guests also." Franco said.

" It's okay. It seems that you two have a lit to talk about.” Abraham said quickly taking Juliet's hand.

“I'll go too." Jake said about to leave.

" You. Are you happy? You don't have parents so you want mine too? I also don't have a mother. She died. Do you know how?” Samantha asked Jake.

“ Scarlett!" Franco shouted.

" Aren't you ashamed of yourself? After what you did, shouldn't you be kinder to us? Your legal children. Forget it.” Scarlett said before turning around to leave.

Watching Scarlett leave, Jake saw Franco wanting to follow her but stopped. It was obvious that Scarlett was a very hard nut to crack.

“ Don't take what she said to heart. She has always been like that. She didn't like sharing me with anyone. She feels I have wronged her." Franco said looking at Jake who stood silently without saying a single word.

Turning around, Jake tried to walk away heading back to his parents grave when he suddenly fell to the ground. It seemed as if his head was spinning and his vision was becoming dim.

“ Jake! Carry him." Franco said to his men as they quickly took him to the hospital.

*****

Few hours later, Jake finally woke up. Everything suddenly felt worthless to him. His mind had a lot of regrets. He had not even gotten the chance to say goodbye to his parents one last time. He was only able to see them after their bodies had gone cold. Glancing around him, there was nobody by his side. Franco had left him a letter explaining the fact that he couldn't be seen in public. He understood perfectly well.

Getting down from the bed, Jake left the hospital after changing into his clothes. He wanted to go back to the restaurant. Seeing the long restricting tap ban in front of the restaurant, Jake clenched his hand. His parents had been killed.

" What are you doing here? I thought you were at the hospital." Alexa said as she ran over to meet Jake.

It was obvious that his clothes were still wet.

" What are you doing here?" Jake asked in a voice that didn't even seem to be his own.

" I heard what happened. What's your next plan?" Alexa asked as she looked at Jake.

" I don't have any. I don't fu**ing have any! I let my parents die. While I was at that party, someone was killing my parents." Jake said sobbing.

" So what? Are you going to give up? The people to blame are the people that put you in jail. Have you gotten? You spent 12 years away from them. It's their fault. This is just a minor setback. You have to keep pushing on. I found this while looking." Alexa said as she handed over a handkerchief to Jake.

Someone had used the handkerchief to clean his/her hands.

" What's this? Where did you find it?" Jake asked.

" Near the restaurant. It's surprising that the police didn't see it." Alexa said making Jake's eyes narrow.

This was his first clue.