" The Boss .. " - A Shark Tale Story ( Mr Sykes x Don Lino )

Jealous Of A Dead Woman

Don Lino stood frozen by the window, the voice of his wife reverberating through the waters like a haunting melody. His massive form, always so strong and commanding, now seemed small and vulnerable. He hadn't heard that voice in years, and it was impossible—she was dead. Yet, there it was, faint but clear, whispering his name.

"Lino..."

His chest tightened, and he felt a chill run down his spine, one that had nothing to do with the cold water beyond the reef. He swallowed hard, his eyes scanning the murky depths, as if expecting to see her silhouette emerge from the darkness.

"Lino?" Sykes' voice was soft, hesitant. The pufferfish hadn't seen Lino like this before, and it unnerved him. "Are you okay?"

Lino barely heard him. His mind was trapped in the past, back when he and his wife had ruled the undersea empire together. She had been his anchor, his equal—smart, ruthless when she had to be, but always compassionate in a way he could never quite replicate. Losing her had changed him, hardened him into the relentless force he was now. But hearing her voice again? It cut through his armor like a sharp blade.

Sykes floated closer, concern deepening in his eyes. "Lino, talk to me. What's going on?"

But Lino still didn't respond. His thoughts were racing, memories flashing before his eyes. The way she used to laugh, the way she had stood by his side through every storm, every battle for territory. And then, her death—sudden, brutal, the one thing in his life he couldn't control, couldn't stop.

The voice came again, soft, lilting, almost as if carried on the currents of the water itself. "Lino, my love..."

He blinked, finally snapping back to the present, but the weight of that voice still clung to him like a second skin. Slowly, he turned to face Sykes, who was watching him with wide eyes.

"I heard her," Lino said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sykes tilted his head, confused. "Heard who?"

Lino's jaw clenched, and he looked away, ashamed of the vulnerability he was showing. He was the Don, the predator, the one who ruled these waters with absolute authority. He wasn't supposed to hear voices—especially not from the dead.

"My wife," Lino muttered, his voice gruff but shaking with something that sounded like doubt. "I heard her voice. Just now."

Sykes blinked, trying to process what Lino had just said. "But... she's gone, Lino. I—"

"I know!" Lino snapped, his frustration boiling over. "I know she's dead. I saw it with my own eyes." He turned away, his broad back heaving with the effort to contain the storm of emotions that threatened to break through.

Sykes hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The room felt charged, the tension between them thick and almost suffocating. Finally, he spoke again, more gently this time.

"Maybe it's just... the stress. With everything going on, maybe your mind is playing tricks on you. It happens."