Mafia's Second Chance Love

Chapter 13: The Shadow World

''So, tell me. What do you want to know about me, hon?"

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the sight of Kira leaving the restaurant. Anger and frustration simmered within me, and I clenched my fists under the table, a physical manifestation of my helplessness. This meeting had been intended to mark my grand entrance into Kira's life, an opportunity to change the dynamics of our relationship. Instead, it had become a stark reminder of the complexities and harsh realities of our past.

"Perhaps we should start with my name?" The woman's voice grated on my nerves, and I could feel my irritation building.

"I do not want to know your name," I retorted coldly, my tone sharp and unforgiving. The woman seemed taken aback, her eyes widening in shock as my words hit home. Her once-confident demeanor had crumbled, replaced by the realization that her intrusion had shattered something significant.

"But, you... You're Ace-"

"I am," I affirmed, my voice cutting through any attempt at explanation. "And I have never seen you in my life to know what you want."

My frustration with the situation weighed heavily on me, and I couldn't help but wish for a different outcome to the evening.

"Is everything alright here?" I turned to the side, only to witness a puzzled Markian, the restaurant's manager, staring at me.

"Markian," I acknowledged with a sigh, my enthusiasm for the evening completely deflated. "This woman just ruined a very special evening for me-"

Before I could finish my sentence and possibly humiliate the woman further, one of my bodyguards discreetly approached me, ready to report.

"She just entered his apartment," he whispered in my ear.

The news hit me like a ton of bricks. Kira, the woman who had walked away from me earlier, was now visiting another man's apartment. My frustration and anger surged, and I couldn't help but wonder who this mystery man was and why Kira was involved with him.

Despite my extensive resources, I had found no information on this man. I had deployed private detectives and hackers to unearth every detail about him, but it seemed he existed off the grid. The absence of information was troubling and only fueled my anger and concern.

Without wasting another moment, I rose from my seat. I can't ignore that man any longer. I will go to his apartment and find out who he is. For Kira's safety, and for my own sanity.

Markian's offer to book me a private table for future visits to the hotel's restaurant went unheard, but I acknowledged it with a curt nod.

"Thank you, Markian. Please send my regards to Miss Raina," I said as I headed for the door, my mind racing with questions and my heart heavy with the weight of an unexpected revelation. I'm not sure if I'm going to that man's apartment for Kira's safety or to prove that my jealousy is correct. Now that I've been so close to her, it feels like I cannot contain myself.

It was a ten-minute drive, and all I could think was disgusting thoughts of Kira hugging with that man. I've seen him before. Back at the crossroads when I saw Kira for the first time after so long. She walked straight to his hug, giving him her most pearliest smile. She looked so happy. The kind of happy I always wanted her to be, but with me. Not another man.

I walked to his front door and knocked on it three times. My jaw clenched as I heard his voice from inside.

''Whaaat? Did you forget your phone? Cause I don't see i-'' the door opened and my bodyguards rushed inside, as they held him back.

''Clear.'' was all I could hear from their mouths. ''Bring the boss inside.''

A minute later, the scent of coffee filled the dimly lit apartment. The room was cluttered, with most of the light coming from multiple monitors on a desk at the far end and larger ones hanging from the ceiling. There was a living room area between the office and the kitchen, with two coffee cups sitting on the table. We had just missed Kira, which was fortunate for her. The kitchen appeared to be hardly used, except for the coffee pot. An open window allowed a bit of fresh air into the otherwise closed and cramped space. The most intriguing feature was a bulletin board on the wall, covered in post-it notes, newspaper clippings, and photographs of various people.

Interesting...

''Are you OUT of your goddamn minds?! WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?!'' His voice echoed through the apartment, his confusion evident.

As I stood in his living space, the weight of my jealousy was undeniable, but my primary motive was to investigate and ensure Kira's safety. Judging by what I saw here, her safety was far from guaranteed. The man had messy black hair and piercings adorned his face. He was wearing a black t-shirt along with sweatpants, and on his neck he was wearing big black headphones. His body did not look strong. He was rather slim and looked frail. His pale skin was a testament of how little the sun must have seen him. He must rarely get out of this apartment. How could this guy be involved with Kira?

"Who are you?" I inquired, and upon hearing my voice, the man seemed to regain some composure. He looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze, and a smirk slowly crept onto his face.

"You barge into people's apartments and then ask who they are? Way to go, Ace. Bra-vo!"

It was clear he knew who I was, and I couldn't help but wonder what else he knew. "What's next? Are you planning to visit my neighbor too?"

The apartment's door closed, and I began to advance toward him. His way of talking is much different than Kira's.

"It's rude not to introduce yourself, especially when you know who I am," I admonished. He took a step back, acknowledging me as a potential threat. Given the circumstances, it was a wise move on his part. His smirk started to disappear from his face.

''I-I'm going to call th-the police! They will be here in minutes!'' Ah... the police, yes. An empty threat that will never be realised.

''Judging by the multi-thousand monitors you have there, I don't think you will call them.'' His eyes were fixed on me. I could see the uneasiness spreading to his body. ''The photographs on that board are all people I know.'' I pointed with my hand. People that had the police in their pockets. They were all tied to the underworld of England. ''From what I can understand, you work or worked for them. You are more afraid of the police than I am.'' His gaze finally lowered. His defenses were gone. He has been exposed. No other threat came out of his mouth.

''I must give it to you though. You must be really good at your job. I couldn't find anything on you. Everyone I employed failed.'' I admitted.

''Then how did you find me?'' his voice was bitter, almost disappointed with himself rather than the situation he is in.

''We have a common person in our lives. A person I hold most dear in my heart, to the point where I prefer to have myself killed than see them suffer.'' The man's eyes shined at me in shock. He knows who I'm talking about. ''She led me right here.'' I said and took a step closer to him. Kira's image appeared in my mind. A second longer pondering on her image and my heart would be warmed. But this is not the time. Just thinking she is involved with this guy makes my stomach sick.

''Kira...'' he whispered almost in fear. I nodded. ''B-But how? We have been staying in the shadows. Walking in the shadows. How could you find us!?''

''The shadows betray you because they serve me.''

My answer must have shocked him. People who appreciate the light cannot work in the shadows. I was born in the shadows. I was born in a family whose trade was favored and done in the dark. The shadow world is my home. I can see fear in his eyes. He is scared of something. One thing I am good at is finding out the weaknesses of someone. Everybody has one, but to find it, you must be observant and keen.

''You know the 'Irishman'.'' I stated. His eyes lit up in horror before he tried to mask his expression with indifference.

Right next to the television, there was a casing with a pistol inside. Someone would simply disregard it as a peculiar house decoration, but I am not someone. The urge to just shoot this guy grew inside of me. My jealousy is trying to take control. But shooting him point blank won't solve my problems and won't answer my questions. Not to mention the effort to cover up someone's death in today's world.

''This...'' I said and walked closer to the pistol, ''is a Cabot 1911 pistol.''

''I-it was a gift.'' he quickly answered, as if this excuse would save him. Unknowingly, it simply dug him deeper.

''On the grip panel, the woman drawn, is Morrigan, the Irish Celtic Goddess of War. On the other panel, is Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.'' The man was shaking his head. ''This is a handmade weapon only given to the most capable people near the 'Irishman'.''

With a swift punch, the casing shattered, leaving the gun on its stand as I took it in my hand. The green clover of Ireland was encrusted in its steel, another prime characteristic of the Irishman's craftmanship. This guy must have helped with something major for the Irishman to gift him such a thing.

''I was also gifted one. On my 18th birthday, by the same man you got it from.''

I remember the Irishman. Still in his prime, the leader of the Irish mafia as he is today. Older, but not weaker. He was and still is a very close family friend. I never had a grandfather, but he was the closest one that I thought of replacing that figure in my life. Always kind to his people and merciless to his enemies. A man feared and loved at the same time.

''You know the Irish people give the best toasts.I'll never forget my birthday one. 'Here's to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one'.''

''Couldn't they give you a smartphone or something?'' His sarcasm did not go unnoticed, signalling the return of his confidence.

''This pistol was made specifically for one reason. When your enemies reach you, and you have no hope, when you can't see a way out...'' I pointed the gun to him. ''You pull the trigger.''

His eyebrows frowned. This gun does not belong in the casing. It belongs somewhere that is easy to grab.

''It is gifted with one bullet inside.'' I continued and opened the loading part, revealing the bullet. I took it out and swirled it around. ''Engraved on the bullet are the words, 'Sweet release'. I'm sure you understand why.''

I placed the bullet back to the caliber. Quietly and efficiently, I loaded the gun and pointed it again at him. After a second, I pulled the trigger, yet he did not even flinch.

''I'm not afraid of you, Ace.'' his tone was serious. His gaze was now fixed on me.

''Oh, I know that.'' I answered with a smile mirroring his own that started to appear on his face. ''But what if I call the Irishman?'' his smile was now frozen. ''Maybe I'll tell him that you snitched. He won't bother finding out the truth.''

''Is that a threat?'' he inquired with a hint of fear in his voice.

''Did it sound like a compliment?'' I was growing impatient. He won't fear me, but he is scared of the people he works with. He knows their abilities, what they do to snitches, and that is only because he hasn't worked for me, to know that I am worse than them. But right now, I can't prove that, so I cannot use it to my advantage. Know your battles. Or better, know your enemy. And right now, I know nothing about this guy other than his connection with the 'Irishman'. It's either this, or nothing.

''This is the last time I will ask you. What. Is. Your. Name.'' I can see his hands trembling as he tried to hide them in his pockets. But my jealousy is starting to take over me. ''Sebastian, call the Irishm-''

''Ethan!'' he blurted out in panic. ''My name is Ethan!''

Ah... So now, I know the name of the person I want to kill. The person that laid his hands on my Kira.