Unleash the lies

Chapter 2

Leonardo’s POV

Darkness. Darkness is all I can see. It swallows me whole creating an uneasiness in the pit of my stomach. I try to comprehend my whereabouts when suddenly a voice calls out, ‘Stop crying, boy. They’re dead. You killed them.’

That voice. The cold, evil voice that has been engrained into my mind ever since their death. The voice that sends a shiver up my spine.

Panic washes over me like a cold wave. I can hear the voice getting closer and closer but I’m frozen in place, unable to move. They’re so close now I can feel their repulsive breath in my face. That horrible, pungent smell of cigarettes and cheap whiskey invades my senses,making me feel nauseous.

I can sense their hands traveling to my neck. I step away before they can touch me but it’s no use. With every step I take backwards they take one forward.

A powerful gust of wind hits my face. And then I’m falling. Falling into a dark abyss of nothingness. I try to scream but my attempts are futile.

I jolt up in my bed, sweat trickling down my forehead. I reach over to the nightstand,checking my phone to find that it’s only 5am. After that dream I won’t be able to get back to sleep, so I decide to get up and go for a run to clear my mind. As my feet connetc with the cold, hardwood floor I shiver involuntarily. I get out of bed, groaning as I stretch my sore limbs.

As I walk into the bathroom I take in my state. Dark bags hang low under my eyes and a short stubble grows on my chin making me look twice my age. If anyone saw me right now they’d think I’m a 40 year old man, when in reality I’m only a 27 year old man who doesn’t get enough sleep. I sigh at my reflection and get on with my morning routine.

I decide to take a cold shower to relieve some tension in my aching muscles to loosen myself up before my run. Then I shave of the scruffy stubble.

15 minutes later and I’m feeling refreshed and ready to start my day. I walk over to my closet and pick out some black running shorts along with a black t shirt. Breakfast can wait, I think to myself as I make my way out of the house.

Running is a great stress reliever for me. It gives me. A chance to be alone and clear my mind. Being surrounded lots of people is hard and frankly quite annoying, despite what others might assume. I’m not a fan of crowds, I hate social gatherings and parties. They’re just not my forte. On top of that being the head of the most powerful mafia in the world and the CEO of a multi million dollar real estate company is tough.

At school I had always been a straight A student. I was never what some people may call a nerd but I was always keen to learn new things. My social interactions with people had been very limited although I never lacked in the friends department. Friends, I think to myself. Were those people really my friends? And the simple answer to that question is no, they weren’t. The only person I have ever considered as a friend is Emilio. He’s my dads brothers son and we’ve known each other since we were in diapers. We’ve been through some tough times together and he’s put up with all my s**t but no matter what, he’s always stuck by my side.

It has almost been an hour when I decide it’s time to get back. As I near my house I slow down to a jog to try and regulate my heavy breathing.

The huge, iron gates come into view as I wait to be buzzed in by my security. Almost immediately, the deafening squeak and groan of the gates hits my ears like nails on a chalkboard. I grimace slightly at the irritating sound before making my way up the drive.

As I near the front doors I instantly recognise the sleek, matte black BMW M5, and internally roll my eyes. Count on Emilio to ruin a perfectly, peaceful morning.

As I step into my house I hear rustling in the kitchen. Ah, there he is, my irritable best friend casually rummaging through my pantry.

‘What are you doing here, Emilio?’ I ask amusedly- trying to stifle a laugh at the look on his face.

He jumps at the sound of my voice and looks to me like a deer caught in headlights. His face is stuffed with lucky charms. I give up as I see his expression, laughing loudly.

He immediately scowls at me.

‘Do you want to know why I’m here or not!’ He shouts to me over my boisterous roar of laughter.

As soon he says that I immediately sober up, making me realise that he must have something important to tell me if he’s here this early. I nod my head for him to continue.

‘Well you know that rat we have?’ I impatiently wave my hand for him to get on with it.

‘We’ve found him. He’s locked up in a cell in the basement back at the warehouse.’

A wave of anger washes over me as I recall the moment an important meeting with one of our best clients got ambushed by the Russians. Someone had given them the time and location of the meet.

They stormed in catching us all off guard, injuring three of my men and killing two.They clearly weren’t given all the information though because they were outnumbered and taken down in two minutes. It wasn’t the fact that they messed up a deal, but more that the filthy scum who claimed to be a loyal member of the Italian mafia betrayed his family.

I decide to have a quick shower and change before going to the warehouse. My curly, mocha hair rests on my forehead, almost reaching my eyes. I think a long overdue haircut is in need. Maybe I’ll get one as soon as I’m done taking care of this little problem.

I make my way downstairs and find Emilio standing by the door, scrolling through his phone. He looks up at the sound of my footsteps and tells me he’ll meet me there.

I head to the garage and contemplate which of my many cars I should take today. I eventually go with my polished, custom designed, silver Aston Martin DB11 V8. This is one of my favourite cars in my collection.

I get in and start the car. The engine comes to life with a thundering roar. I shake my head with a small smile on my face. It gets me every time. I speed down the drive, through the gates and make my way to the warehouse.

Fifteen minutes later I finally reach my destination. I park my car, grab my gun and holster it.

As I walk into the warehouse I instantly spot my consigliere, Luca standing by the pool table with a few other members.

As soon as he sees me he approaches me.

‘Shall we go down, Capo?’

‘Si, lets go meet this idiota.’

Our footsteps echo in the cold, dark basement. This basement isn’t any ordinary basement, no. It has cells lining the walls and at the end a large shooting range comes to view. This is where our members and new recruits train. We also keep all our weapons and ammo in here.

I decided that it would be a good idea if the cells and training space are in the same place- especially when the new recruits are down here. They get to see first- hand what happens to traitors.

Making may way to the cell the boy’s being held in, I hear the loud screams and groans of pain from the other people held here.

We reach the cell and I motion for the member with the key to unlock it so I can get in. Luca stays in the corner, letting me do my thing.

The boy is tied to a metal chair in the middle of the cell. His head hangs low as blood covers his clothes and skin.

‘Look at me’, I calmly say to him.

He doesn’t listen and I sigh impatiently. I reach forward and grip his hair to make him look at me.

His eyes are both swollen shut and his nose is spurting with blood.

‘Do you know what happens to traitors?’

He finally opens his eyes to look at me, his fear palpable. He still doesn’t speak but he tries to cool his expressions as he sees the amusement on my face.

I love it when people are afraid of me it makes me feel powerful. It makes me feel like I’m doing my job right.

I dismiss his unwillingness to speak because it makes it all the easier for me. I have things to do and people to see. Oh and I have an appointment with my barber in an hour, better make this quick.

I reach for the table behind me and retrieve my favourite pair of gold knuckle dusters. I slip them on before I begin.

‘So you thought you could double cross me and get away with it huh?’ I ask the i***t. He just whimpers in response.

‘And look how that worked out for you.’ I laugh maniacally before smashing my fist into his face repeatedly until I hear a pleasant crunch.

I remove the weapon from my knuckles and place it back on the table and fetch a knife instead.

The sharp edge of the knife glimmers under the light.

‘Do you think a person can live without their fingers Luca?’

I turn to see the entertained look on his face before he replies with, ‘I’m not sure boss should we test the theory and find out?’ I give him a small smirk before turning my attention back to the boy who is now shaking in his seat.

I sit down in my chair and grab his hand, placing it on the small table besides me. I slowly bring the knife towards his finger and at the last moment I raise my hand again and chop straight through the bone of his finger. He lets out an agonising howl of pain. Tears run down his face at a rapid pace as they turn red, mixing with his blood.

‘You have five seconds to tell me why you betrayed me starting now if you want the rest of your fingers.’

‘They said they would kill my sister if I didn’t tell them where you were going to make the deal with the Americans.’ he tells me hurriedly.

‘Please I had to do it don’t kill me. I’m all my sister has she’s only 18.’ He begs helplessly.

‘You signed omertà you swore your loyalty to us and you know what happens when you break omertà.’ I tell him

‘I- I know and I- I’m sorry,’

I cut him off before he can say anymore.

‘You could have come to me I would have helped you.’ I tell him because it’s true I would have. This mafia is like one big family- we all protect and help each other.

‘But you didn’t and you decided to give information to our biggest rivals.’

And with that I grab my gun from my holster and unload a bullet right between his eyes.

I turn to Luca and he just stands there on his phone, patiently waiting for me to finish. Once he hears the gunshot he looks up taking it as a sign that I’m done. He nods his head to me, letting me know that he’ll get this cleared up.

With that sorted I leave the basement to find Emilio. That moron is probably in the kitchen again stuffing his face since he didn’t eat anything back at house, except the lucky charms of course.

As I make my way through the warehouse (which looks more like a house on the inside) I pass by many of the members who stop and greet me.

Once I reach the kitchen I see Emilio sitting on the stool shoving his face with pancakes. I shake my head with a small smirk as I walk up to him.

‘Want some?’ He gestures to the enormous stack of pancakes on the plate. I give him a look as if to ask him if he’s serious and he just laughs at me, whilst sliding the plate over.

Today is going to be a good day I think to myself as I eat the mouthwatering pancakes.