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

The Funeral of Frankie Lino

The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn tight to block out the light from the ocean above. Don Lino sat at his desk, staring down at a photograph of Frankie, his beloved son. His heart felt like it had been ripped apart, a deep hollow ache that no words could ever soothe. He hadn't spoken much since the day they found Frankie, floating lifelessly in the water. Now, as he prepared to attend his son's funeral, the weight of everything felt unbearable.

A tear slid down Lino's cheek, landing silently on the picture. He wiped it away quickly, but the grief remained, raw and unyielding. For the first time in his life, Don Lino, the mighty shark feared by so many, felt utterly powerless. He could deal with rivals, with threats, with anything the underworld threw at him—but not this. Not the loss of his own flesh and blood.

There was a soft knock at the door, and Mr. Sykes entered, dressed in a sharp black suit with a matching tie. He moved quietly, his eyes somber as he approached Don Lino.

"It's time, Lino," Sykes said softly. "The others are ready. Dons from all over the ocean have come to pay their respects."

Don Lino looked up at Sykes, his expression unreadable behind the dark sunglasses he wore, but Sykes could sense the pain radiating off him. It was a pain he could feel too—though for very different reasons. Frankie's death haunted him, but not just because he was gone. Sykes' guilt gnawed at his insides, reminding him constantly that if Lino ever found out about Elena and the part Sykes played in all this, there would be no mercy.

But for now, Sykes pushed those thoughts down. He needed to be here for Lino, to show his loyalty, even if it was all part of a tangled web of lies.

Don Lino stood, adjusting the black suit draped over his large shark body. A gun was holstered at his side, his usual reminder of the dangerous world they lived in. His hands trembled slightly as he placed a wide-brimmed black hat on his head, casting a shadow over his face. It wasn't just grief that weighed him down—it was rage. Someone was responsible for Frankie's death, and whoever it was would pay.

Sykes stepped closer, gently placing a hand on Lino's shoulder. "I know this is hard," he murmured. "But you have to be strong for the family. Frankie wouldn't want to see you like this."

Lino's jaw tightened, but he nodded, unable to find the words. He appreciated Sykes' attempt at comfort, though it did little to soothe the storm inside him. Taking a deep breath, he straightened his posture and walked to the door, Sykes following closely behind.

As they made their way to the funeral, Lino's mind swirled with memories of Frankie—his laugh, his smile, the way he always tried so hard to live up to his father's expectations. It broke Lino's heart that he'd never get the chance to see his son grow into the leader he knew he could be.

When they arrived at the funeral site, the scene was as somber as Lino had expected. It was an open underwater clearing, with stone pillars marking the space where Frankie's body would be laid to rest. Seaweed swayed gently in the current, and soft, eerie lights cast a blue glow over the gathering. The Dons of the sea were all there, each one dressed in black, their faces grim as they prepared to say goodbye.

Lino took his seat at the front, his heart pounding in his chest. The air was thick with grief, and yet, there was an unspoken tension beneath it all—one that hinted at unfinished business. Sykes sat beside him, silent but present, his face blank as he stared ahead.