Mafia's Second Chance Love

Chapter 18: Caged Birds Don't Fly

I sat in the quaint coffee shop, my mind a chaotic whirlwind of emotions, my heart heavy with the unexpected revelation Luise had dropped like a bombshell. Her words seemed surreal, impossible, and my initial reaction was one of disbelief.

People avoiding me because of Ace? It didn't make sense. Ace's family had been the most prominent and affluent in that small town, virtually responsible for funding and building much of what existed there. Their influence was immense, and the idea that they'd be the cause of me feeling isolated seemed implausible.

I knew Ace had always been the talk of the town. His charisma and charm had captivated everyone's attention, and his actions had kept them entertained. I never quite fit into that picture.

But why would people avoid me? The question lingered in my mind, a persistent thorn that I couldn't ignore. I couldn't accept that it was the reason. I had been willing to start anew in London, to escape the painful memories of that town and my tumultuous relationship with Ace. The revelation left me feeling hopeless, speechless, and doubtful.

I took another sip of my coffee, hoping it would help clear my mind. My doubts and disbelief were rampant, and I couldn't fathom the idea that Ace's reputation had caused my isolation. True, he was the talk of the town, the charming and charismatic young man who captivated everyone's attention, including mine. But the notion that this had driven a wedge between me and the other townspeople was a stretch.

Luise continued to regard me, as if she were gauging my reaction. The silence between us grew, heavy with unspoken thoughts. My frustration and confusion were making it difficult to find the right words.

''Luise... Frankly? This doesn't make sense," I finally managed to say, my voice carrying a tone of skepticism. I couldn't comprehend the idea of Ace being the reason for my alienation, especially considering his family's immense contributions to the town. "Ace? Because of Ace? His family built the town," I emphasized, desperately hoping for her to offer a plausible explanation, one that would allow me to dismiss this revelation as a misunderstanding or a far-fetched rumor. "I don't need excuses to make me feel better. I was the new girl in town. I understand people not wanting to talk to me."

Luise took a deep breath. Her hands were being warmed as she cupped the tea she was holding.

Luise let out a deep breath, and her hands cradled her tea as if for warmth. Her gaze remained steady, unwavering.

"Since the moment you came to town, Ace had his eyes on you. We all knew," she confessed, her words hanging in the air between us.

I couldn't help but wonder what this meant, and my thoughts raced. Why would Ace's interest in me result in people avoiding me? I was desperate for answers, for a logical explanation to bridge the gap in my understanding.

As if reading my inner turmoil, Luise leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "Kira, there are things about Ace's family that not everyone knows. They have a different side, one that's hidden from public view. They're involved with some very dangerous people, connected to a criminal world that most people wouldn't dare to associate with. The mafia."

The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Ace's family had ties to the mafia, a revelation that sent shivers down my spine and turned my world upside down. The doubt I'd felt moments ago now seemed insignificant in the face of this startling revelation.

''Th-The mafia?'' My voice trembled with disbelief. My mind raced, struggling to accept the shocking revelation that Luise had just shared. I looked at her with wide, disbelieving eyes, searching for any hint of deception in her gaze, but found none. Her face remained resolute and sincere.

''Did you ever ask him? About his family business?'' Luise inquired, her tone filled with an earnest curiosity.

As I delved into my memories of Ace, I was transported back to every moment we'd shared – in the library, on the streets, at the little donut shop, and at school. I ransacked my recollections for any hint or mention of his family's involvement in this dark world.

''Yes!'' I exclaimed, trying to find some solace in the thought that perhaps Luise was mistaken. ''I remember him saying that his family was big into transp... transport...''

The word lingered heavily in the air, as if some invisible force was guiding it into my consciousness. My voice wavered, and I felt a rising sense of unease. What did they transport? Why hadn't I pressed for more information? Did my mind know before my heart?

''Half truths,'' Luise replied, her voice low and sympathetic. ''Honey, the Sullivans – Ace's family, and those before them – are one of the most prominent mafia families in all of Britain.''

The very idea that Ace's family was involved in such dangerous activities was beyond comprehension. My mind struggled to reconcile the charming, charismatic young man I'd known with this newfound revelation. But then again, what do I know about these matters? He played me like a fool. He made me think that he loved me. And when I went to see him again.... That scene hasn't stopped playing in my mind since that day a year ago.

''They transport drugs all over Britain.''

The revelation struck me like a sledgehammer, sending chills down my spine and filling me with a paralyzing sense of dread. It couldn't be true. Ace was not a drug trafficker, was he?

''What... What does that have to do with me?'' I stuttered, my voice trembling as the implications of her words began to sink in.

Luise hesitated for a moment, then sighed. ''Kira, Ace's family has a history of finding young individuals who've just moved into town. They offer them jobs, opportunities, and a place in the community. It all seems so normal on the surface.''

I tried to grasp the significance of her words, and for a moment, I thought that maybe it wasn't so bad. But then, Luise continued, her voice heavy with the weight of the truth.

''What most of those young people don't know is that they're transporting drugs to major cities in the country. Some of them never return, others stay and become dealers on the streets, and some...'' She paused, her eyes filling with sorrow. ''Some simply vanish.''

As she spoke, I felt a shiver run down my spine. I couldn't help but remember the three people from my school who had disappeared without a trace. The terror welled up inside me as the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together. The reality of my situation, and the dark secrets that had surrounded me in that town, were finally starting to emerge.

''Ace..?'' I stammered, my voice a mere whisper, my mind still reeling from the enormity of what Luise had disclosed.

''Stay away from that town, Kira.'' Luise cautioned, her tone grave and full of concern. ''We thought you would be gone too. But thank God you are a smart girl.''

''Why don't you.. g-go to the po-police?!'' I suggested, my voice laced with concern. I can't imagine what those people must have been through! Ace's family taking advantage of their vulnerability only to give them an uncertain future worse than the life they already had!

''Kira!'' Luise brought me back to my senses as she squeezed my hand. ''The own the police. Do not do anything stupid.'' Her voice was now scaring me. How could I be so naive!?

''We were hoping that when his father dies, Ace would be a better person. But... Now he has...'' Luise's voice trailed off, and a heavy sadness filled the gap. I sensed that there was more she wanted to say, something she feared revealing.

''I know about the blonde woman, Luise. I saw them.'' I confessed, my voice trembling. The sight of Ace with another woman had been a devastating blow, shattering my belief in love. I never thought I would say such words out loud.

''She's not good for him, Kira.'' Luise murmured, her eyes pleading with me to drop the subject.

''Then they deserve each other.'' I retorted, my words tinged with bitterness and uncertainty. I wasn't sure if I truly believed what I was saying, but it was the only response I could muster. ''He replaced me as if I was nothing. So now. He is nothing to me.''

It had been over a year and several months since I'd tried to forget Ace, but seeing him with that blonde woman had driven a final nail into the coffin of our past. The man who had once shown me what I believed was true love had moved on as though I had meant nothing to him.

As the memory of my conversation with Luise faded, I found myself back in the cozy coffee shop in London, clutching my cup of hot Americano. The weight of the past revelation still bore heavily on my mind, but I couldn't stay lost in the memories of that dark secret.

The years passed, but Ace still managed to creep into my mind and this time in my life too. I had made it my mission to provide support and resources to those who faced the harrowing effects of substance abuse. Every time I encountered a family in crisis due to addiction, I couldn't help but draw a connection to Ace. His actions had etched a deep-seated aversion to drug-related problems within me. I couldn't forget the words Luise had shared about the sinister nature of his family's business.

Throughout my studies in psychology and sociology, I had come to realize that Ace was the embodiment of my past trauma, a constant reminder of the suffering I had endured. I felt a compulsion to unravel the tangled web he had woven in my life.

The moment I felt free was the moment he trapped me. I thought he loved me. The feeling of love made me believe that I was finally free from all my suffering. I truly believed that he was the person for me. My person. The one I could feel safe in being myself. He knew everything about me.

But in reality, I was trapped. He managed to put me in a cage disguised as love. He never really loved me. It was a cruel twist of fate. The love I believed he once offered me had only ensnared me further, becoming a cage that imprisoned my emotions. He had known my deepest vulnerabilities and insecurities, exploiting them for his own gain. His motives remained a mystery to me. Was it the excitement of having a newcomer in town, a sense of thrill of flirting and manipulating? I may never truly understand.

The moment I saw him with that blonde woman when I returned to town, the instant Luise disclosed the dark secrets of his family's involvement in the drug trade, it was as though the final pieces of my shattered heart had disintegrated. I was not loved or free, but rather a fool who had been preyed upon by deceit.

Yet why, after all of this, do I still believe he can help the organisation?

Maybe it's time to put everything in place. Maybe it's time to face the past.