Kudos of Mafia

'XXI'

Senor reached Agatha's house. The nightlife had started in some parts of town whereas most of it was filled by silence and peace as it was almost half-past eight. Senor stood in front of the house but the door was opened surprisingly. The concern for the door being open plagued Senor from inside. Senor rushed inside the house trying to figure out what had happened.

Agatha and Mazina seemed carefree about the door being open at that time of night. Both were gossiping as if nothing happened. For a moment, Senor felt relieved to read their face with no worries but the skepticism Senor had, needed some immediate attention.

"Are we doing all right?", asked Senor thundering into the hall echoing the corners. Senor seemed worried as well as furious."Why is the door open?"

"Oh- Alberto had just gone out.", replied Mazina with welcoming eyes."And I forgot to close it as I got in talk with mam." Mazina headed to lock the door.

"How are you, Senor?", Agatha asked knowing Senor might feel better than the day before. Yesterday, being the first day Senor saw Agatha in fifteen years moved him badly. Agatha didn't want to introduce her to Senor but the circumstances did. As a result, the unexpected confrontation took place.

"I guess better than yesterday, mentally!", replied Senor as he made direct eye contact with Agatha. Senor experienced a long-awaited heartbreak the other day but at the same time he got clear in his destiny he conflicted with, for so long."By the way where did Alberto go?"

"To get the plane tickets.", Agatha answered rubbing her palms as the door had been open for a while.

"Plane tickets?", Senor mumbled.

"Yes!", continued Agatha nodding her head."We decided to return to America tomorrow. Alberto finalized the dealings of this house earlier. There is no doubt, we would love to stay here for a few more days but the situation here has frightened us. The foremost priority is the safety of our daughter and we are in no shape to compromise."

"Oh, yea. You are right.", Senor said dribbling in his tone as their departure was unexpected to him.

"If you wanna take my suggestion then you should leave Palermo for a few days.", suggested Agatha as her eyes blazed with concerns. Agatha too wished the safety of Senor. The worst was committed in the past and it couldn't be further elongated. Agatha knew it.

"Do you want me to abandon this place and people?", Senor worriedly said with some bitterness in his voice.

"Senor, I understand you are concerned about people but there is nothing much we really can do. You see the Governor doesn't give a shit about innocent lives. Plus it isn't even possible to warn people without the help of officials. Moreover, I believe the security of the town can defend most of the strike."

The reply triggered Senor but at the same time he accepted the fact Agatha whispered. Senor remained quiet in the absence of any ideas to prevent it. Agatha requested Mazina to help Christie sleep. Mazina moved upstairs.

"Do you think they will attack?", Agatha lifted her eyebrows in curiosity as well as some degree of fear.

"There exist no significant possibilities of attack for me, at least. I mean what motives drove them to end up in Palermo.", muttered Senor in frustration."Paulo filled him with poison. I shouldn't have let him take Olivio in first place.."

"May I ask one thing if you don't mind?", Agatha gawked at Senor.

"Yes please."

"Did you ever come in contact with Red Mafia by any means?", continued Agatha as her jaw clenched."When Mazina returned, she reported me you being more frightened than she expected. Why were you so afraid then? I know you took care of Olivio for a while but it shouldn't be big of a deal for you. Then why such nervousness?"

"No, nothing like you assumed. A man gets nervous as he ages.", replied Senor biting his teeth.

"Please Senor!"

"Yes I met once Olivio.", Senor accepted his guilt. "Once Olivio visited me. He needed some money in order to begin some cloth business. I couldn't deny a boy I missed every day since he was taken away. But my blind eyes didn't know he had already turned into a beast. With the money I provided, he bought guns to rob a store where two officers were killed. Later, detectives inquired me as they found Olivio visiting me. I faked all the incidents but I knew I was the one who blessed Olivio to kill those innocent officers."

Agatha stunned with these revelations from Senor. The outcome of that help turned out to be a greater consequence than thought. Senor had failed the people whom he loved. Olivio happened to be another name on that list.

"Senor, it's not your fault. You helped him but he denied your intentions of help.", consoled Agatha."You didn't know his moves. Who would have even dreamt of his monstrosity? He led his fate not you."

Senor glared into the eyes of Agatha. The nostalgia of old days grasped both in a conflicted scenario. Slowly, the surrounding heated up. The moment turned out to be exotic but, there still existed some portion of regret in the eyes of Agatha and Senor. Both got trapped. But Senor pulled himself to realism.

"How could you do this to me?", Senor repeated in immense agony."How could you?"

Agatha lowered her sight."Senor, I had no choice."

A series of gunshots were heard. The blazing gunfire alarmed both Agatha and Senor. It all happened in snap-of-a-finger.

"Senor, what's happening?", screamed Agatha. She instantly got terrified.

"Calm down, Agatha.", Senor tried to console Agatha but the gunshots were fired randomly. Senor had no idea what was going on. He made a rough guess. "Is it governor again?"

"I am afraid not. Mafia's attack??", Agatha lost her sense. "Alberto is outside!"

Senor ordered Mazina to stay with Christie upstairs. Agatha lied unconscious on the couch. Senor searched for water and sprinkled over Agatha. Agatha got some consciousness and the sound of gunshot calmed in the town.