The Final Execution

CHAPTER 1: THE INNOCENT HEIR

Dominic’s POV

Before I became the cold-blooded ghost of the underworld, my world was filled with light, laughter, and the warmth of a complete family.

Ironic, isn't it? Ang taong kalaunan ay mas pipiliing mabuhay sa dilim ay ang bata ring takot na takot kapag pinapatay ang mga ilaw sa kaniyang silid. But back then, I never had to face the darkness alone.

I grew up in an empire built on structural luxury, dignity, and an overwhelming sense of power na hindi ko pa lubos na naiintindihan sa edad na sampung taon.

Para sa akin, simple lang ang buhay. My world was bounded by the high golden gates of our massive estate, the sweet smell of my mom’s expensive French perfume, and the deep, booming laughter of my dad that always echoed through the marble hallways.

"Look at you, mio piccolo principe (my little prince)," my mom, Serina, smiled softly as she adjusted the collar of my white button-down shirt.She was the epitome of grace—isang napakagandang babae na walang ibang hinangad kundi ang kaligtasan at kaligayahan namin.

She kissed my forehead, her touch gentle and warm.

"Napakagwapo mo talaga. Manang-mana ka sa Dad mo."

"Of course, he looks like me, amore mio (my love)," a deep, powerful voice cut through the room.

Nilingon ko ang pinto at agad na lumawak ang ngiti ko. It was my dad, Damien Castellano. He was wearing his favorite custom-tailored three-piece suit. He looked like a king.

Sa labas ng bahay, he was a man of absolute dignity—isang iginagalang at tinitingalang negosyante na nagmamay-ari ng mga shipping lines, real estate empires, at mga mamahaling hotel sa buong mundo.

Kapag naglalakad siya, everyone bowed their heads. Not out of fear, or so I thought, but out of immense respect.

Pero sa loob ng mansyon, kapag kaming pamilya lang ang magkakasama? He was just my Dad.

"Dad!" I ran toward him, and he effortlessly lifted me up into his arms, laughing heartily.

"Always keep your chin up, Dominic," my dad told me, placing his large, calloused hand on my shoulder as he set me down."A Castellano never looks down. We look straight into the world, because the world is ours to lead. Hai capito? (Naintindihan mo ba?)"

"Opo, Dad!" I nodded proudly.

Noong araw na iyon, walang business meetings si Dad.

It was a rare weekend dedicated entirely to us. Nagpalipas kami ng oras sa malawak na hardin ng mansyon. My dad taught me how to hold a golf club, patient with my clumsy swings, while my mom sat under the shade of a large gazebo, drinking tea and watching us with a beautiful smile.

We were eating homemade pastries, sharing stories, and laughing until our stomachs hurt. It was the perfect picture of an innocent, happy family.

Proud na proud ako kay Dad dahil nakikita ko ang mukha niya sa mga sikat na business magazines. Little did I know, the real empire he ruled didn't have its name printed on glossy paper.

It was written in blood, carved into the very foundations of the underworld. He wasn't just a businessman. He was the Supreme Godfather—ang pinakamakapangyarihang pinuno ng alyansang nagpapanatili ng balanse sa pagitan ng mga de-kalibreng pamilya ng De Luca at Castellano.

Habang nagpapahinga kami ni Dad sa ilalim ng puno, napansin ko ang isang bagay. Despite his warm smiles and laughter during our bonding, his eyes would occasionally wander toward the high concrete walls of the estate.

Kitang-kita ko ang bahagyang pag-igting ng kaniyang panga at ang lalim ng kaniyang iniisip.

"Dad? May problema po ba?" I asked, looking up at him while holding my toy car.

My dad blinked, immediately melting his tensed expression into a gentle smile. He knelt down to my level and patted my head.

"Nothing for you to worry about, Dominic. Dad is just making sure that everything is secure. My only job in this world is to protect you and your mom."

"Malakas naman po ang mga guards natin, 'di ba?" tanong ko pa.

"Yes, we are strong," he whispered, but his tone held a rare strain of gravity. "But remember this, son. In this world, the higher you climb, the greedier other people become.Ang kasakiman ng iba ay walang hanggan. There are people out there who envy what we have. That's why you must grow up to be smart and strong."

"Gusto ko po maging katulad ninyo, Dad. Para maprotektahan ko rin kayo ni Mom," sabi ko nang buong katapatan.

My dad’s eyes softened, a mixture of pride and a strange, unspoken sadness crossing his face. He pulled me into a tight embrace.

"You will be better than me, Dominic. You are the rightful heir. Ikaw ang huling hahawak ng korona ng pamilyang ito... and I will make sure no one can ever take that away from you. La famiglia è tutto (family is everything)."

Hindi ko naintindihan ang ibig niyang sabihin sa 'korona' noon. Ang alam ko lang, ligtas ako basta kasama ko ang aking mga magulang.

Ang masayang bonding na iyon ay nagpatuloy hanggang sa sumapit ang gabi. Ang mansyon ay naghanda para sa isang engrandeng pagtitipon. The grand ballroom was soon filled with high-society music from the grand piano, the clinking of champagne glasses, and the elite class of the city.

I was sitting at the edge of the grand staircase, eating a piece of chocolate, watching the crowd from above. Doon ko mas gustong tumambay dahil naiilang ako sa dami ng taong gustong pumuri sa akin tuwing kasama ko si Dad.

"Dominic."

Nilingon ko ang tumawag sa akin. It was a man with a warm, intelligent face, wearing a simple yet tailored tuxedo.

Si Tito Stefano Sinclair

He was my dad’s closest confidant and the brilliant corporate cryptanalyst behind the complex digital security of our family's assets. Para sa akin, siya ang mabait na tiyuhin na laging may dalang tsokolate para sa akin tuwing may urgent corporate matters sila ni Dad.

"Tito Stefano!" bati ko sabay urong para bigyan siya ng espasyo sa hagdan.

"Nauupuan mo na naman ang suit mo, kiddo," he chuckled softly, sitting beside me and handing me a foreign chocolate bar from his pocket. "il mio nipote preferito (Para sa paborito kong pamangkin)."

"Thank you po!" I eagerly took it. "Tito, bakit po ba napakaraming tao ngayon? Sabi ni Mom, bawal daw po akong lumayo sa tabi ninyo o ni Dad."

Tito Stefano’s smile faded for a microsecond, replaced by a deep look of worry that my young mind couldn't fully comprehend.He looked down at the crowd, then back at me.

"Because the world is changing, Dominic. At gaya ng lagi kong sinasabi sa Dad mo, we have to be ready. As long as I am here to secure the systems, and as long as your dad stands, no one can touch this family."

Bago pa ako makasagot, isang security detail ang lumapit sa amin, bakas ang tensyon sa mukha.

"Sir Stefano, hinahanap na po kayo ng Don sa kaniyang opisina. Kasama na po ang iba pang mga pinuno."

Tito Stefano nodded, standing up and smoothing his suit. He looked back at me one last time.

"Resta qui(Stay here), Dominic. Do not wander around, okay?"

"Opo, Tito."

Pinanuod ko siyang maglakad paalis patungo sa private wing kung saan naroroon ang executive office ni Dad.

Ang hindi ko alam, ang masayang gabi at ang payapang buhay na tinatamasa ko kasama ang aking pamilya ay mabilis na palubog—at ang kadilimang kinatatakutan ko ay nag-aabang na sa labas ng pintuan.

Matapos umalis ni Tito Stefano, nanatili lang ako sa hagdanan habang dahan-dahang kinakain ang tsokolateng ibinigay niya.

Mula sa aking pwesto, nakikita ko ang sayawan sa ibaba. Ang marangyang liwanag mula sa malalaking chandelier ay nagpapakislap sa mga mamahaling alahas ng mga bisita.

Everything looked perfect, like a scene straight out of a fairy tale book.

"Dominic, il mio amatissimo" (ang aking pinakamamahal)!"

Nangatog ang aking sistema sa tuwa nang marinig ko ang malambing na boses ni Mom. Pababa siya sa pasilyo mula sa ikalawang palapag, kasabay si Dad na prenteng nakaakbay sa kaniyang baywang.

Ang ganda-ganda ni Mom sa kaniyang emerald green na gown, habang si Dad naman ay tila isang hari na naglalakad sa kaniyang kaharian.

"Mom! Dad!" Agad akong tumayo at inayos ang aking sarili.

"What are you doing here alone, son? Vieni qui (Halika rito)," nakangiting tawag ni Dad habang kinakarga ako gamit ang kaniyang kabilang braso nang walang kahirap-hirap.

Kahit bata pa ako, ramdam ko kung gaano kalakas si Dad. Ang kaniyang bisig ay tila gawa sa bakal, ngunit palaging puno ng pag-iingat kapag ako na ang hawak niya.

"Naiingayan po kasi ako sa baba, Dad. Marami pong matatandang kumukurot sa pisngi ko," pagrereklamo ko na ikinatawa nilang dalawa.

Mom gently wiped a small smudge of chocolate from the corner of my lips with her thumb.

"My little prince ay suplado na naman. But you have to be administrative tonight, Dominic. Ang party na ito ay para rin sa pagkilala sa pamilya natin."

Ibinalik ako ni Dad sa pagkakatapak sa sahig, ngunit hindi niya binitawan ang aking balikat.Tiningnan niya ako nang diretso sa mga mata—ang kaniyang mga matatalas at madidilim na mata na namana ko rin.

"A Castellano never hides from a crowd, Dominic. Marami mang mapagkunwari sa ibaba, you must face them with a straight back.Siamo i guardiani di questo regno.(Tayo ang mga tagapangalaga ng kahariang ito). Huwag mong ipakita sa kanila na naiilang ka."

"Opo, Dad," sagot ko habang pinipilit kong ituwid ang aking tindig tulad ng sa kaniya.

"Good," Dad smiled, a rare expression of warmth that he only showed to us.

Lumapit siya kay Mom at hinalikan ito nang mabilis sa labi, isang simpleng kilos ng pagmamahal na palaging nagpapangiti sa aming tahanan.

"Go with your mom to the ballroom table. Mag-uusap lang kami nina Stefano sa opisina sa itaas. I will join you both shortly."

"Huwag kang magtatagal, Damien honey," paalala ni Mom, ang kaniyang boses ay may bahid ng lambing ngunit may kasama ring seryosong pahiwatig.

"Ang pamilyang De Luca ay naghihintay na rin sa iyo sa ibaba."

"Non ci metterò molto, tesoro (hindi Ako magtatagal,honey)," sagot ni Dad bago tuluyang humakbang patungo sa private wing kung saan naroroon ang kaniyang executive office.

Mom held my hand tightly. Her palm was soft, yet her grip was reassuring. Magkasama kaming bumaba sa grand staircase upang pumunta sa VIP table ng aming pamilya sa gitna ng ballroom.

Habang naglalakad kami, bawat taong nadadaanan namin ay dahan-dahang humahawi at yumuyuko bilang paggalang kay Mom—ang reyna ng mga Castellano.

"Mom, bakit po laging seryoso si Dad tuwing may party?" tanong ko habang naglalakad kami. "Kahit po nakangiti siya, parang marami po siyang binabantayan."

Mom stopped for a moment, looking down at me with a soft, bittersweet gaze. Inayos niya ang aking buhok na medyo nagulo dahil sa pagkakakarga ni Dad kanina.

"Because your dad carries a very heavy shield on his back, Dominic. Ang mundong ginagalawan natin... hindi lahat ng nakangiti sa iyo ay tunay na kaibigan.Your dad’s duty is to keep this family safe from those who want to steal our peace."

"Kapag malaki na po ba ako, ako na ang magdadala ng shield na 'yan?" untag ko pa.

Mom’s eyes glistened with a sudden pool of emotion, a quick flash of worry na pilit niyang itinago sa pamamagitan ng isang matamis na ngiti. She squeezed my hand.

"I hope you never have to carry the heavy parts, my love. But if the time comes, I know you will be strong. Sei un Castellano and De Luca, Sangue del mio sangue. (Isa kang Castellano at De Luca, dugo ng aking dugo)."

Nang makarating kami sa aming mesa, pinaupo ako ni Mom sa tabi niya. Binigyan niya ako ng isang baso ng matamis na fruit juice at isang plato ng masasarap na pastries.

Sa mga sumunod na minuto, nakikita ko si Mom na nakikipag-usap sa mga asawa ng iba pang malalaking negosyante, ang kaniyang boses ay puno ng talino at dignidad.

Paminsan-minsan ay tumitingin ako sa itaas, sa direksyon ng opisina ni Dad.

Kahit napapaligiran ako ng marangyang tugtugin, masasarap na pagkain, at masasayang tawanan ng mga bisita, may kakaibang pakiramdam na unti-unting bumibigat sa aking dibdib.

Ang inosenteng isip ko ay hindi pa marunong magbasa ng panganib, ngunit ang aking instinto bilang isang Castellano ay nagsisimula nang makaramdam ng lamig.

Hindi ko alam na ang mga tawa at ngiting nakikita ko ngayon ay ang huling alaala ng kapayapaan na matitikman ko.

At ang bawat segundong lumilipas habang masaya kaming magkakasama ay ang huling patak ng buhangin bago tuluyang gumuho ang mundong kinalakihan ko.

The luxury surrounding me started to feel stifling. Habang tumatagal ang gabi, mas lalong dumarami ang mga taong lumalapit sa mesa namin upang bumati kay Mom. Every single one of them had the same rehearsed, plastic smiles.

Masyado akong bata para basahin ang totoong motibo ng mga tao, but even at ten years old, my skin crawled under their intense scrutiny. Nakakapagod palang maging isang Castellano kung kailangan mong maging perpekto sa paningin ng lahat.

"Mom," bulong ko, pulling lightly on the elegant silk fabric of her emerald green gown. "Can I go to the restroom po? Medyo masakit na po ang tyan ko sa dami ng nakain kong chocolates."

Mom turned her gaze to me, her beautiful face instantly softening with maternal concern. She placed a gentle, cool hand on my forehead to check my temperature.

"Are you alright, il mio bambino(my baby)? Do you want me to come with you? O kaya ay pasamahan kita sa mga personal guards natin sa labas?"

"No need na po, Mom. I can manage naman po. Mabilis lang ako," pilit kong ngiti para hindi siya mag-alala. Ang banyo ay matatagpuan lang sa dulo ng pribadong pasilyo malapit sa grand foyer. Alam ko ang pasikot-sikot sa mansyon na ito na parang likod ng aking mga kamay.

"Alright, but do not wander off, okay? Non allontanarti (Do not wander away). The mansion is filled with too many strangers tonight," paalala niya bago hinalikan ang aking pisngi at hinarap muli ang asawa ng isang mataas na politiko mula sa Rome.

I slipped out of my chair, avoiding the attention of the surrounding guests as I blended into the moving crowd. Nang makarating ako sa grand foyer, imbis na lumiko pakanan patungo sa mga pampublikong banyo, my feet brought me to the left.

It was the heavily carpeted, dimly lit corridor leading straight to Dad’s private executive suite.

Curiosity was eating me alive. structural curiosity is a trait inherent to every child, but for a Castellano, it was an unyielding instinct.

Bakit ganoon na lamang ang seryosong pahiwatig sa mga mata ni Dad kanina?

At ano ang ibig sabihin ni Tito Stefano na may kailangan silang ihanda dahil nagbabago na ang mundo?

The long hallway was quiet, a stark contrast to the booming classical symphony playing in the grand ballroom.

The sound of my leather shoes was muffled by the thick, crimson Italian rugs underfoot. exclusive guards were stationed at the entrance of the wing, but they all knew me.

They simply bowed their heads as I passed by, assuming I was just looking for my father.

As I neared the heavy, mahogany double doors of Dad’s study room, napansin ko na hindi ito nakalapat nang husto.

A sliver of warm, golden light cut through the darkness of the hallway, directly illuminating the floor near my feet. ang mabibigat at seryosong boses ng mga lalaki sa loob ay lumabas sa maliit na awang ng pinto, cutting through the heavy silence of the corridor.

I crept closer, holding my breath. I hid behind a massive antique ceramic vase, pressing my back against the cool wooden wall beside the door frame.

My heart was hammering inside my chest like a trapped bird. I knew spying on my dad was a grave mistake—un peccato grave (a grave sin)—but my gut told me that whatever they were discussing inside would change our lives forever.

"...I rapporti goliardici dai moli orientali stanno peggiorando, Damien (The reports from the eastern docks are getting worse, Damien)," isang baritono at magaspang na boses ang narinig ko. It was Uncle Kein Blackwood, ang pangatlo sa pinakamataas na pinuno ng alyansa.

"L'altra organizzazione... stanno colpendo le nostre linee di rifornimento senza preavviso (The other organization... they are hitting our supply lines without warning).

Non lasciano testimoni, non lasciano prove, solo una scia di ceneri e corpi giustiziati (They leave no witnesses, no evidence, just a trail of ashes and executed bodies)."

"Stanno spingendo troppo oltre i nostri confini (They are pushing too far into our borders)," dagdag ng isa pang pinuno na bakas ang galit sa boses.

"La Sombra. Stanno invadendo i territori che appartengono a L'Ordine Oscuro da decenni (La Sombra.They are invading the territories that have belonged to L'Ordine Oscuro for decades).Non rispettano più i vecchi trattati (They no longer respect the old treaties). Sono avvoltoi assetati di sangue! (They are bloodthirsty vultures!)"

Napatakip ako sa sarili kong bibig. My small hands were trembling. La Sombra? Supply lines? Avvoltoi? L'Ordine Oscuro? Ano ba ang pinag-uusapan nila? Akala ko ba ang negosyo ni Dad ay tungkol sa mga barko, hotel, at legal na kalakalan sa buong mundo? Why did they sound like general officers planning for a literal war?

"Calmatevi, tutti quanti (Calm down, everyone)," my dad’s voice boomed, rich, deep, and absolutely commanding.

Rendering total silence across the room with just a single sentence, his presence alone was enough to dictate the atmosphere.

"L'avidità de La Sombra è senza fine (La Sombra's greed is endless). Pensano di poterci dissanguare perché preferiamo la pace allo spargimento di sangue non necessario (They think they can bleed us dry because we prefer peace over unnecessary bloodshed). Ma hanno calcolato male la nostra pazienza per debolezza (But they have miscalculated our patience as weakness)."

"Damien ha ragione (Damien is right)," Uncle Stefano Sinclair’s intelligent voice chimed in. Bilang pangalawa sa Godfather, siya ang utak ng buong operasyon.

Rinig ko ang kaluskos ng mga papel at ang pag-click ng isang keyboard.

"Non possiamo eguagliare la loro forza bruta senza sacrificare troppe vite civili (We cannot match their brute force without sacrificing too many civilian lives), ma abbiamo qualcosa che non possiederanno mai (but we have something they will never possess). Dominio intellettuale (Intellectual dominance)."

"Cosa intendi, Stefano? (What do you mean, Stefano?)" tanong ni Uncle Kein.

"Il registro digitale che ho sviluppato (The digital ledger I developed),"Uncle Stefano explained, his tone shifting into absolute seriousness.

"È finalmente completo (It is finally complete). Ho centralizzato con successo tutti i beni, le transazioni bancarie e le reti nascoste della nostra alleanza su un unico nucleo crittografato (I have successfully centralized all the assets, banking transactions, and hidden networks of our alliance into a single encrypted core).

Ma non è tutto (But that is not all). Sono riuscito a violare il mainframe classificato de La Sombra (I managed to breach La Sombra's classified mainframe).

Le informazioni che ho ottenuto... contengono i loro segreti più oscuri, i nomi dei funzionari corrotti sul libro paga e le posizioni delle loro cellule fantasma (The information I obtained... contains their darkest secrets, the names of corrupt officials on their payroll, and the locations of their ghost cells)."

Isang kolektibong singhap ang umalingawngaw sa loob ng silid. I risked a quick glance through the sliver of the door opening.

I saw Dad sitting behind his massive mahogany desk, his hands clasped together, his face stone-cold under the dim study lamp. Tito Stefano was standing beside a laptop, pointing at a flashing screen of codes.

"Quel registro è un'arma a doppio taglio, Stefano (That ledger is a double-edged sword, Stefano)," Dad muttered, his voice dipping into a dangerous pitch.

"È una bomba a orologeria (It is a ticking time bomb). È una leva definitiva per tenerli a bada, ma se scoprono che ce l'abbiamo, ti daranno la caccia fino ai confini della terra per cancellare quei dati.(It is the ultimate leverage to keep them at bay, but if they find out we have it, they will hunt you down to the ends of the earth to erase that data)."

"Sono consapevole dei rischi, Damien (I am aware of the risks, Damien)," Tito Stefano replied without an ounce of fear.

"Ma la famiglia è tutto (But the family is everything). Ginamit ko ang aking buong buhay bilang cryptanalyst para protektahan ang imperyong itinayo natin. As long as this digital ledger remains encrypted and hidden, they cannot touch us. I hold the ultimate trigger. Kung burahin nila tayo, I will release this file to the highest federal authorities, and their entire network will undergo a total lockdown within minutes. It's a mutual assured destruction."

Dad stood up from his leather chair, walking toward the large glass window that overlooked the sprawling estate. He looked out into the stormy night sky, his broad shoulders carrying the invisible, crushing weight of his hidden world bilang pinuno ng L'Ordine Oscuro.

"Se mi succede qualcosa in questa battaglia... se la loro avidità raggiunge la fase peggiore (If something happens to me in this battle... if their greed reaches the worst stage)," Dad paused, his voice cracking with a sudden, rare vulnerability that sent a cold shiver down my spine.

"Quel registro sarà l'unica protezione per mio figlio (That ledger will be the only protection for my son). Dominic è il legittimo erede (Dominic is the rightful heir). È l'ultimo a detenere la corona di questa famiglia (He is the last to hold the crown of this family). È completamente innocente dei peccati oscuri di questa linea di sangue (He is completely innocent of the dark sins of this bloodline). Deve essere protetto dalle ombre a tutti i costi (He must be protected from the shadows at all costs)."

Tears pricked my eyes. My dad... the invincible Godfather... was talking about his own death? Sinasabi ba niya na nasa malaking panganib ang aming buhay?

My young mind couldn't fully process the massive concept of the mafia underworld, but I understood one thing clearly: my dad was willing to dye his hands in blood just to keep me in the light.

I felt a sudden, desperate urge to throw the doors open, to run into his arms and beg him to leave this terrifying 'empire' behind. I didn't want a crown. I didn't care about being the rightful heir ng pamilya namin.

I just wanted my Mom and Dad to be safe, to return to that peaceful afternoon sa hardin kung saan walang ibang mahalaga kundi ang saya naming magkakasama.

But before my small foot could even take a step forward to reveal my presence, the temperature in the long hallway seemed to plunge into a freezing, synthetic cold.

The lights inside the study suddenly flickered, buzzing weakly before completely shutting off, plunging the entire room and the hallway into a pitch-black abyss.

"What happened to the power?" Kein barked inside.

"The secondary generators should have kicked in by now!" Tito Stefano yelled, ang takot sa kaniyang boses ay tuluyan nang lumabas.

Then, from the grand ballroom far down the corridor, an eerie, deafening silence fell over the mansion—followed immediately by the most terrifying, systematic sounds I had ever heard in my ten years of existence.

RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!

The heavy, unyielding roar of automatic rifles shattered the night, accompanied by the high-pitched screams of the innocent guests below. Ang digmaan ay narito na, at pinasok na nila ang aming mismong tahanan.