THE DON’S DAMSEL

Sunlight splayed through the trees onto the cemetery floor, silhouetting each shade of black. Black hearts, black suits, black dresses. Polished shoes and hats.  An overwhelming feelings of numbness and weakness washed over me as I stared down at the coffin that held the body of the man that's become more like a father to me. I still couldn't bring myself to agree that Andrei is no more. That the man I've come to look up to whenever I am down, the person that made me push through when I thought things were forever crumbled.  Death is a brutal reality that life is too short to spend it on unnecessary suffering and stress. There are things that you cannot ever change no matter how much you try to avoid them. Like Andrei's sudden illness when he'd held her hand and told he he was going to die a happy man. That he's fulfilled all the things he's ever dreamt about. "Don't allow yourself to live with regrets, dear. Make sure you get that bachelors degree you've been working your ass off for. And don't you dare say you give up on love again, you're too young for that. Push through." He'd told me while smiling at the monitoring machine.  The tightness in my chest wouldn't lessen no matter how much I tried to make it clear out. Ever since I heard the news of his death a week ago, everything started to murky around in black and whites. The cafe was shut down because it's owner is no more. Every single person in Saint Petersburg is mourning the death of Andrei Visilios.  Kiera wrapped an arm around me, I lean my head on her shoulders so I could keep standing or my knees will give out. I've been sluggish and weak with lack of sleep and appetite, things were hard on me. Because I was all alone. It is like losing my father all over again and it's safe to say this hurts more than my biological father’s.  With the sounds of my heartbeat slowing down, I could hear other noises all around us as mourners cried and sniffed, people speaking in low voices, whispered prayers, the rustle of dead flowers being removed, a priest conducting the funeral, the wind whistling through grass and trees, birds and small animals that squeak and chirp.  The atmosphere was tensed with death hanging around them.  Then came the a disturbing noise from the gates as it got pushed open by a group of men in all black. My head was bowed down but at the sight of them from my peripheral vision, my shoulders tensed just like everyone else’s in the cemetery. We knew who that person was, who doesn't actually?  Andrei was a don so it's safe to say we were all expecting his family to be there for his funeral even though it's said that they all lived in big cities leaving him here to deal with his small business as his days scrape by. Selfish children in my book honestly. I've met none of them and I've been working for him for almost three years now.  Hushes and whispers grazed the entire place as everyone stared at the intruders. They were even late to their father's funeral! My dislike for both his children was immediate even as I recalled how fondly Andrei spoke about them. The cousins and uncles all together.  "It should be Leonard and Asher right?" Kiera whispered in my ear so I stood up straighter on my kitten heels to observe them as well.  "I think so. He said they were all very tall and I can tell from here that they are giants." I murmured lowly that my lips barely moved.  We watched as the men came to stand right in front of the coffin that was lowered to the earth and one of the men bent down to throw sand first. Wait, no prayers or parting words for their father? Something gripped my stomach making anger roil in my chest. They do not deserve a father like Andrei if this is how they treated him.  My hands tight in fists, I watched the handsome men with aviator glasses covering their eyes as they detachedly and nonchalantly stepped back after splashing the sand in the grave. That was it? They were not going to at least force the sympathy out for the sake of people and media all around? What sort of world do they live in? I felt something dark enveloping our surrounding when they came but I’m not sure how abysmal their dark world is.  Of course, what did I expect from a don and his younger brother? They were all bunch of heartless people from the looks of it though I knew none of them. I only heard about their names from Andrei and sometimes Kiera when she is stalking her crushes on social media.  I had no idea they were going to be handsome Adonis but here they are with wide shoulders, stern faces and glasses shielding their eyes from crowd.  "Is this how it works in the underworld?" I heard a woman whisper from behind me. It was Mrs. Lucas, a nosy woman in the neighborhood that wouldn't allow anyone to rest.   “I’m very sure they have guns in their pants right now.” Another muttered in fright making my eyes widen too. She is right.  "His sons are extremely handsome just like him. Look at the taller one. I bet his eyes are lively blue behind those glasses like Mr. Andrei's." This one's voice wasn't familiar and it didn't matter.  My attention fell on the one she's just talked about and I suddenly couldn't breath. Was it just my imagination but was he staring at me behind those glasses? His gaze was burning my skin in this hot sun and the hairs around my nape stood at attention. That only happens when someone's gaze is on me and that too, intensely.  Wrinkling my nose in his direction, my eyes fell on the expensive million dollar coffin. I stepped forward and kneel down in front of it, whispered how much I was going to miss him and how much I loved him. The eyes I felt earlier was still on me and if anything, it is sizzling with more intensity that I started sweating. And it had nothing to do with the weather.  After I prayed and poured sand on the coffin, I stepped back with a raised chin just in case if the taller son is still looking at me. They should remove those damned sunglasses and act like humans for their father. Dammit, I'm so disappointed and angry at both of his sons.  Soon all his family members from all over the world —ones and I know and the ones that I don't— poured sand on him while I choke back on my tears. I cannot believe Andrei is gone for good, it makes my chest hollow and ache.  Not wanting to embarrass myself, I turned around and left the cemetery. Because I knew I was going to cry like a baby in front of those powerful men and I don't want to appear weak in front of either of them. There was just something about the way my pulse raced and nape tingle that I didn't like. One of them is giving the psycho vibes and I don't appreciate being around such people.  People started leaving soon after while I sat inside my beat up cheap Jeep Wrangler nursing on my tears. I need hot and strong coffee that is only available in the cafe but it's locked. But then again, the keys have always been with me so I turned the ignition on and zoomed out watching the expensive SUVs the don drove.  I rolled my eyes at the obvious show off. This is their fathers funeral and the least they could've done was show up in a less formal way.  I parked outside the cafe and hopped out of my car, locking it before trudging inside the cafe fighting back more tears. I've cried so much I need some strength.    When I decided to come to the cafe for our special coffee, I had no idea Andrei’s don was going to trap me inside and threaten my life. I’ve never been threatened and I didn’t take it lightly.