ROMAN EMPIRE (Mafia Series 7) (The Emperor of Alpha's Empire) (On-going)

INTRODUZIONE (Omicidio)

“K-Kuya, why did you take so long to answer my calls?”

Kairo let out a sigh as he heard his sister Astrella's worried voice. She had been trying to reached him, but he purposely ignored her calls to avoid any disruptions. Lately, he's been pushing himself too hard, trying to keep up with tasks that leave him drained and exhausted. The lack of proper sleep due to his insomnia has taken it's toll on him.

He find himself caught in a cycle of overworking and neglecting his well-being, a pattern that has become all too familiar. It's now 6 in the evening and he doesn't know why his sister called him.

“I'm on my way home. Don't worry, I just need to—”

“K-Kuya.” -Astrella cut him off. “Oh god. Kailangan mong umuwi, ngayon na.”

He hopped into his car and locked the door. “I know, I know. Uuwi na ako.” -napahilot siya sa sentido ng kumirot 'yon. “Are you okay? Mm? Why am I hearing something strange in your voice. Ayos ka lang ba?”

“Si Mama...”

He sat up straight as he heard her voice sniffled. “What happened?” -he immediately started the engine and connected the call to his earpiece. “What happened to Mama?”

“We need you. Please? Please, I... I need you.”

His heart clenched as he heard the sound of her voice. The tremble in her words about their Mama and Papa made his stomach churn.

Why the fúck she's crying?

“Where are you right now?”

“N-Nasa bahay po ako ngayon. In the living room to be exact. Kasama ko si Mama saka si Papa.”

“Bakit ka umiiyak? Did they scold you again? Is that it?”

“K-Kuya...”

He eased off the gas pedal, slowing down the car. “Astrella, that's warn one. You're scaring the shit out of me.”

“Kuya kasi...” -napahinto ito. “Si Mama at si Papa...”

He gripped the steering wheel.

“What about them?”

He didn't hear any voice on the other line so he spoke again. “Ella, I said, what happened? What about them? May nangyari ba?”

“W-Wala... w-wala na.”

Nangunot ang noo niya. “Anong wala na?”

“P-Patay na po sila. T-They're deàd.”

He felt a shiver down his spine as his sister words sank in. The peaceful breaths he had been taking were suddenly replaced by a suffocating sensation, making him difficult to breathe normally. The air in the car felt dense. And he feels like there's somethings wrong with his tongue, he can't say anything nor even puzzle a word to answer her.

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He blinked his eyes repeatedly, yong mga kamay niya nagsisimula ng manginig. Hindi niya alam pero para siyang nakarinig nang kung anong klaseng malakas na pagsabog, tipong parang mabubuwal siya sa kinauupuan niya.

“Ella. That's not a good joke.”

“N-Nagsasabi ako nang totoo. Yung katawan nila, n-nasa... n-nasa sahig, p-puno ng dugo. P-Patay na sila, Kuya. P-Patay na.”

He felt like his world shattered when he heard the last line. Again. Tila ba nawala siya saglit sa realidad. Yung tipong parang gumuho talaga ang mundo niya na kanina lang ay mapayapa. The horns behind him blared one after another as he suddenly hit the brakes. He didn't bother hearing those horns and just sat still while absorbing the unsettling news.