The Return of The Gangster Lord; Mark Smith

chapter 7

Mark's point of view 

It's been a week since my smile lost its way home and my happiness got drained away. My home looks exactly how she had left it and I was afraid a little change of movement will annoy her.

She loved it like that and I want to keep it like this for her.

I was still immersed in her picture when I suddenly heard my doorbell ring. I was shocked but waited patiently to see if it was a mistake but it rang again.

I don't have anyone or better still friends in here. I have never had a visitor except Sara and I have laid Sara off work since the incident as I made a choice to close up the gallery.

My inspiration died, so does the gallery!

I stood up reluctantly and checked the see-through hole but I didn't see anyone. I opened the door and for the first time since I locked myself inside the house for a week. I received the natural air.

It was calm but not as refreshing as it used to be. I stepped out to see who rang my bell but I didn't see anyone around. 

It was like it was a prank call or I must have heard wrong. I tried walking back in only to see an envelope laying on the ground.

I immediately became alert as I looked around but it was still dry. I picked the letter and immediately walked back in and locked the door. I ran to my phone and checked the surveillance camera at the entrance to see who had dropped the letter.

But to my shock, there was nothing there! I could tell someone must have tampered with the recording. 

If that is the case, then the letter isn't ordinary. But did the person who did these don't know who they are messing with?

I immediately activated my work mode and being a tech guru, it was easy for me to tap back to the original surveillance camera and funny it was just a delivery man, who seemed in a haste to get some other things delivered in the neighborhood.

But regardless, why will there be a network jam when he dropped the mail? And there is a mailbox outside, why not use that instead?

And why a delivery man and not a mail person??

I went back to the sitting room and picked up the letter. The seal was so familiar and I could easily pass it for my family's seal but the color is odd.

Purple!

Odd!

I broke the seal and brought out the letter. Neatly folded and smells like cigar! The sender obviously smoked heavily while writing or packing it.

I opened it slowly and my eyes popped out.

“Don't you think it's high time you quit your shenanigans and come back home. The pillars have fallen and you should see their ashes.

The caterpillar said they will come back for more. I hope you won't want that!

Barbara”

That was all on the plain sheet. My body felt nothing but chills as sweat broke out on my forehead. 

How is this possible??

Pillars! My parents!!

Ashes!! Their dead bodies!!

Caterpillar!! That should mean nothing but our enemies but how come.

The Brantford family isn't that trivial to be crushed by anyone! Who did this??

I immediately ran to my phone and made a call to the number I once detected but the line rang for a long while and it was not picked up.

“Mum, please be safe!” I muttered as I tried once more before giving up to call Uncle Barnabas. He better inform me that it was all a joke! 

I called once before he picked up and went all silent like he wasn't even there. “Tell me you are lying?” 

I said with my little faith dangling before my eyes. “It is pleasant to know you still care about your family after all!” He replied with a very sarcastic tone.

“Tell me what I want to hear!” I yelled impatiently and he snapped back at me unexpectedly. “If you were here and responsible as their only soul and heir to their empire, just maybe, they wouldn't have died in the hands of a mere seventh grader mafia group!”

His words felt like ice cubes were poured into my heart. Sharp, harsh and hurting. “I don't know how long you want to keep up with the tantrum you threw but you have to be responsible and come back home.

Even if it isn't for the empire, do it for your biological parents!” He yelled and hung up the phone.

My phone fell right from my hand as soon as the line went out. I rushed to the wall and punched in as hard as I could.

No!!!!!

How could this happen? Father was the strongest and ruthless Mafia lord in town and accompanied by his fierce wife, they were unstoppable.

How could they be plotted against and killed just like this? How??

How did they succeed in doing something like this right under their noses? “Jeez!” I said again and punched into the wall and this time I heard my neighbor screaming from his house.

“Stop it right now or I will call in the police for you, Mr Mark!” He yelled and I fell on my knees thinking about everything over again.

If I didn't leave, they might still be alive? We might have flourished and broken the mafia system with some humanity and intelligence.

I was so stupid! I left without thinking twice just for what?

For art? The same thing that made me and broke me??

The same thing that found Jocelyn for me and took her away from me??

I'm just a fool!!

Speaking of art and death, did the seventh Mafia lord kill Jocelyn??

My heart stroked at the possibility as I ran back to my phone and called Sara.

“Come over right now!”