Chapter 6 HIS BROKEN HEART

ITALY

A WEEK LATER

Burial Ceremony**

He felt lost.

Lost in his head. Lost in this place.

He felt like a stranger even though he was the host of the party.

Host of the party...that sounded like an irony.

Mikhail has never for once taken his eyes from his wife's opened coffin.

Guests walked down to the altar, placing down their flowers as they paid their last respect to the deceased.

Some guests came down to him to talk but he gave none of them listening ears.

He was beyond heartbroken.

How could she have left him like this? She promised to be with him forever. Was this her forever?

Mikhail stormed out of the hall unnoticed.

He needed his own space and privacy. He could feel the dangerous daggers stabbing his heart continuously. He can't hold it in any longer.

Mikhail's Bedroom**

He rushed into his bedroom and closed the door, shutting out the rest of the world.

He was hyperventilating and that was something that has never happened to him before.

Mikhail loosened his necktie and took it off, tossing it aside. He shrugged off his suit jacket and his shoes then walked inside the bathroom.

He turned on the shower and sat under the running water.

He should never have left her to go to the hospital alone. He should have been there with her.

Why did he let her go all by herself? Just why? He was sole to be blamed for his beloved wife's death.

Will she ever forgive him? No, the question should be...will he ever forgive himself?

Mikhail screamed at the top of his lungs, punching the wall beside him. He ignored the pain he inflicted on himself as he kept torturing the poor wall and himself.

His knuckles were bleeding now but that didn't stop him.

The white wall was now painted in red...his blood.

But he knew that the pain he was feeling on his knuckles was nothing compared to the pain she felt when she got shot in the chest twice or when she lay on the hospital bed, fighting for her life.

Mikhail lay down, balling up himself in the bathtub as he cried harder, letting the cold water drown him. But the water wasn't the only thing drowning him, the guilt and pain were likewise drowning him.

Maybe...just maybe if he had broken his promise to Diamond and killed that f*cker, his beautiful wife would still be alive. Or maybe if he had followed her to the hospital, she wouldn't have died.

"I'm...I'm sorry." He cried. "It is all my fault, Amore. I'm sorry."

How was he going to pay up for his sins? Even God will never forgive him.

Mikhail sat upright and pulled out a small pocket knife from the back of his pant pocket.

His gaze lingered on the cold steel. Fresh tears trailed down his face.

He wanted to feel the pain that she felt...he deserve to be punished but God won't come down to punish him, Mikhail decided to punish himself.

He sliced his wrist with the knife and watched as blood gushed out. He felt no pain or remorse. He just sat down there like a log of wood, not taking his eyes off the injury.

He deserved the pain and more.

*****

ONE MORE WEEK

Kitchen**

"How is he?" Evelyn asked calmly.

"He hasn't left his room since the burial," Marcello answered.

"Are you sure he's still alive? He could kill himself." Evelyn choked out.

"He won't." Marcello disagreed.

"How do you know that?"

"The boss I know will never kill himself. He has a lot of responsibility. His daughter to be precise and catching the b*stard that killed Mrs. Cassano. Yes, he might hurt himself but he would never go beyond that."

"And is hurting himself okay as well?" Evelyn frowned.

"There's nothing we can do. I can't barge into his bedroom." Marcello said.

Evelyn sighed. "Fine." She started walking away.

"Where are you going?"

"The baby needs me." She simply answered before rushing upstairs.

Marcello let out a deep breath, running his fingers through his hair.

****

Aurora's nursery**

Evelyn walked in and was in shock to see the scene in front of her.

Mikhail had his baby cradled in his arms. He was standing by the window, gazing out at the dark sky.

Evelyn turned to leave when she heard,

"You can have her." Mikhail approached her and handed the beautiful baby to her. "Take care of her, okay?"

Evelyn collected the sleeping child from her father as she studied him closely.

He looked so pale and weak. His lips were dried and his face was white. He had a bandage over his knuckles. His hair was left messy and so unkempt. He was barely recognizable.

"Mikhail...you haven't eaten. Should I get you..."

Mikhail quickly shook his head. "I'm not hungry."

"It's over two weeks now and you haven't eaten. I'm worried that you might fall sick."

"I'm not hungry." He repeated.

"Mikhail..."

"Stop talking or you will end up waking her." He walked past the woman and left the room.

*****

Mikhail's Office**

"Anything?"

"Nothing Capo." (Boss). Marcello answered.

Mikhail groaned under his breath, taking out a bottle of whiskey.

"Keep searching until you find that f*cker." He uncapped the bottle and took a large gulp.

"I'm sorry to say this but...should you be drinking?"

Mikhail shot him a hard glare, taking another swing of whiskey.

"You haven't eaten for two weeks now...you shouldn't drink on an empty stomach."

"Did I ask for your f*cking opinion?" Mikhail snapped.

Marcello bowed his head. "I'm sorry."

"Stick to the assignment given to you and stop saying sh*t." He growled.

"Yes sir." Marcello left the office.

Mikhail sunk into the seat and took a large gulp of whiskey, staring blankly at the ceiling.

*****

A FEW DAYS LATER

Aurora's Nursery**

Mikhail cradled his child in his arms, singing to her a lullaby.

She was fast asleep in his arms, her full pink lips parted a little as she breathed softly.

Mikhail loves listening to the sound of her breathing. They were like music in his ears.

There was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in."

Marcello walked in. He bowed a little.

"I'm here with good news." He said.

Mikhail placed Aurora gently on the cradle bed and turned to Marcello.

"Let's go to my office and talk."

"Yes sir."

*****

Mikhail's Office**

"What's the good news?" Mikhail asked, grabbing a bottle of tequila.

He has been drinking a lot lately. And there are some changes in him too. Everyone in the house was afraid whenever they see him around. He's totally different from the boss they once knew before their madam died.

"It's about Octavius." Mikhail paused as soon as Marcello said that.

"Octavius?"

"Yes, boss."

"Where is he?"

"Las Vegas."

Mikhail frowned. "Las Vegas."

Marcello nodded. "Yes sir."

"Wait, he has been in Las Vegas all this time and it took you this long to find out?"

"I'm sorry boss." Marcello bowed deeply.

"Alright then. Get everything. We are leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow."

"We?" Marcello repeated.

"I met Diamond in Las Vegas, and honestly, it won't be a bad idea if we relocate to Las Vegas. I want my daughter to grow up in her mother's country." He paused. "We are going to live a simple life there while we find that b*stard discreetly. We won't raise alarm or suspicion that way."

Marcello nodded in understanding. "Okay, boss."