The Alpha Mafia King
Chapter 11

Consigliere Emilio, otherwise known by his Russian alias name Vladimir was flown in a private jet into Italy in the wee hours of the night. He had been dead for longer than a few hours, and his body lay resting inside a golden casket. His burial was scheduled for the following day.

Emilio’s only son Carlo Randovezi arrived the following day to join the crowd of mostly men and a few women who were all dressed in black. He was putting on a black suit and sunshades. He stood in the middle of two powerful men, Bianco and Jerald.

My father had been a powerful man too but now look how he ended. Carlo thought.

Don Alonso was giving a eulogy about his father. All the good things that he said about his father were true except that a significant chunk of his father’s life had been omitted, especially the bad things that he had done. Carlo gazed around the crowd, and he never anticipated this kind of crowd to show up for his father’s burial. He caught sight of a lovely lady.

The burial procession had ended, and the excess crowd had been dispersed, leaving only the prominent family. Each car had an entourage of at least two others following them. The Don’s vehicle contained his driver, Bianco, Carlo, and himself.

Mazza rode with Taleela in the backseat, and Jerald was in the passenger seat with the driver. The cars were of different brands, but they moved together, taking every straight road or bend.

“Carlo,” Alonso said, turning his gaze to the young man. “I’m so sorry about your father’s death.”

“Hmm, there is no requirement for an apology Don,” Carlo said calmly. “In the end, everyone dies one way or another. It’s only a matter of when.”

“Yeah,” Alonso replied, refocusing on the road ahead. “You’re always going to be a part of this family, Carlo, whether or not you want to.”

“I know my place as you know yours,” Carlo said confidently. “Don, please, whatever wealth my father willed down to me should be given to charity.”

“Are you sure?” Alonso eyed him curiously. “You don’t even want to know what he left for you?”

“Not necessarily,” Carlo said casually. “If I take it, then I’m as greedy as a hawk who wants to reap where the chicken laid its golden eggs.”

“Not many men are like you, Carlo,” Alonso said. “Your father will be proud of you from his final resting place.”

Traditionally, some people loved to write their will and filed them with a lawyer they trusted if death came suddenly. In Vladimir’s case, his will had been kept within the family, in the care of the family lawyer. He had made some alteration to choice just a few months ago as if he had a premonition of his death.

Taleela did not know Vladimir, but she knew he must have been a significant person to the Don. Although the atmosphere had been one of gloom, she took time to study Alonso when he was given his eulogized speech. He seemed like an almost different person. It was as if beneath all that straight face was a soft-hearted, tender individual. She had been second-guessing everything and everyone she knew in the Marcovic family since last night.

The caliber of men Alonso associated himself with was not typical. She knew Alonso had a few guards but right now, as she stared ahead and saw the facade of the mansion, the guards tripled.

“They are going to be around for a while,” Mazza said, referring to the guards. “Their presence should not make you feel intimidated or threatened. They’re here to beef up our security.”

That was the problem Taleela could not grasp. Nothing intimidated or threatened her. It was almost as if she had lived a similar life to Alonso.

“I’m not scared,” Taleela said, making sure she sounded so.

“Alright, good!” Mazza remarked surprisingly.

Her eyes caught sight of Alonso and Carlo already going into the Mansion. Their car was parked, and she came out glad to be able to stretch and move her legs finally.

“I’m going to be joining Lady Tanya in the kitchen in case she needs me,” Taleela quickly said, making her way there.

Alonso and Carlo were seated in the living room. Taleela composed her steps to be as orderly as she walked past them. She felt their gaze trailing her. She was putting on a black gown that made her look hotter than necessary for the occasion. She wore heels that accentuated her height. Also, she was clutching a fancy purse.

“Who is she?” Carlo asked Alonso. She was the same lady he had seen earlier.

“She’s Taleela, some lady, my grandfather, took in and wants me to marry,” Alonso explained.

Carlo smiled. “And to think I was falling for her already.”

“She’s way older than you,” Alonso said somewhat defensively than he wished to.

Why should I care if you’re interested? Please take her to America if you wish. He thought.

“I love older women,” Carlo said. “I should be mourning my father, yet here I am talking about your woman, forgive me.”

“I think you’ve mourned him enough,” Alonso said. “You were not exactly close to him like we were.”

“I’m going to see Lady Tanya, and it’s been a while!” Carlo said, trying to escape the guilt of not being there when his father had needed him.

“You know where she is. Feel free,” Alonso said, feeling less concerned. Mazza, Jerald, and Bianco walked in one after another and took a seat in the same order.

“F**k!” Jerald yelled. “What am I going to do without Vladimir now?”

“Calm down, Jerald,” Mazza said. “We will replace someone to replace Vladimir with.”

“But there isn’t anybody that’s going to be like him,” Jerald stated quite frankly.

“Shouldn’t we halt on speaking about his replacement on the day he got buried?” Bianco asked. As Vincenzo was with him, so was Vladimir to Jerald.

“I agree we should,” Don Alonso replied. “We should drink; I don’t know. I feel like drinking! I can’t believe he is gone for good. The fucker called me a fucker, can you all imagine? He was right about enjoying this life on earth because we never know when our time is coming.”

Everyone nodded in silent agreement. Alonso brought the wine out himself. He fetched the glasses himself, all from the minibar he had in his living room. He handed his granddad his glass first and then to every other man, and in the same order, he poured wine for them. He served himself last.

“Where is Carlo?” Jerald asked.

“Forget, you know Vladimir wanted him to be different from the rest of us,” answered Bianco.

“Gentlemen, let’s make a final toast to our departed brother!” Alonso declared, lifting his glass.

Meanwhile, Carlo was in the kitchen talking to Lady Tanya and passing sublime gazes at Taleela, who sat down eating from a salad bowl.

“Carlo, why are you here? Shoo! You ought to be with your father’s friends,” Lady Tanya said.

“Aw, come on, Lady Tanya, you know I do not want to participate in their thing,” Carlo answered, sounding discreet.

“But it’s your father’s burial, and you should at least be more inclined to share in his rite of passage to the afterlife!” Lady Tanya chimed.

“I’ll say a prayer for his soul,” Carlo said and gestured to Taleela. “Lady Tanya, wouldn’t you introduce me to your friend?”

“She is right there in front of you, Carlo! If you have something to tell or ask of her, then make your move,” Lady Tanya said as she took some pieces of fried chicken to offer the guests.

Carlo walked up to Taleela’s and said, “Hi there, my name’s Carlo, and you are?”

“Taleela,” she answered with a soft smile. Carlo wondered what kind of name she bore.

“Oh yes, I forgot! So how are you getting along with Don Alonso?”

“What makes you think we’re getting along?” Taleela questioned surprisingly.

“Well, he told me his grandfather wants to get you married to him!” Carlo said sharply.

“Did he say that?” Taleela was even more stunned.

“Yes, why do you seem stunned?”

“Nothing. We are getting along quite well, I suppose.”

“Don’t act smart; I can tell when you’re lying!” Carlo smirked.

“Well, that’s just awesome,” she replied. “Carlo, is it?”

“Yeah,” he replied. “I just said so five seconds ago!”

She laughed. “So what kind of job was your father into for the Don?”

“Yeah, right, like I would be the one to spill the beans!” She grins sheepishly as his cute face glows in grace.

“What do you mean? I only asked a simple question.” Taleela rolled her eyes at Carlo’s awkward reply.

“Nothing is simple around here, so tell me, where are you from, Taleela?”

“I have no idea where I’m from.” She started, calm as ever.

“Are you amnesiac?”

“I don’t know what that means, but yeah, I’ve amnesia,” Taleela said.

“How come?” Carlo asked; he looked concerned.

“I think I drowned, but I don’t even remember how that happened when I awoke. Alonso’s granddad was carrying me away.”

Carlo’s gaze narrowed. “I’m a doctor, and I can try to help you recover your memories. However, some people living with amnesia have it as a permanent condition.”

Taleela wondered why the hell she had not even been to the doctors before. Mazza had not suggested she should see one. She felt if Carlo could be of help recovering her memory, then she would accept the use.

“Well, I don’t mind if you say you can help,” Taleela said, touching the back of her head.

“Gotcha!” Carlo cried.

“What? Are you not a doctor?”

“No, not that; I’m a doctor! Why would I even kid with such things? I mean, I made you mirror me when you touched the back of your head. It is called the mirroring effect.”

“Oh wow!” Taleela blurted out, realizing it was true, and he smiled.

“So, do you have a phone? You know so that I can give you my number, and we can talk about ways to help you recover your memory.”

“Sure,” Taleela said, reaching into her purse to retrieve the phone. “Here it is.”

With the skilled precision of a professional Casanova, Carlo imputed his number, slipping her back the phone. Lady Tanya had returned, and she eyed Carlo suspiciously. He smiled at her.

“Carlo the Don sent me to get you,” Tanya announced.

Carlo pecked Lady Tanya on both cheeks and waved to Taleela.

“Alright then, talk to you later, Taleela. Lady Tanya, I want to let you know that I’ll miss you and your tasty meal. I’m returning to America tomorrow. I love America, and God bless America.”

“He talks too much,” Lady Tanya said once Carlo had left the kitchen.

“He is a budding young man. What would you expect?” Taleela said.

“Oh dear, I am so exhausted!” Tanya complained, face-palming herself and groaning.

“Sorry, you can rest, and I’ll take over.”

“You will? Wow, thank you so much.”

—

That night Taleela stayed up in bed trying to recollect any memory of her past. She was trying too hard to recall who she was. She felt thirsty and decided to go and get water from the kitchen.

However, as she got to the kitchen, she started feeling wobbly, and she collapsed on the ground before she could even turn on the lights.

Alonso was having a sleepless night, and he wanted to go to the poolside to think and get some quality fresh air. He took a detour to the kitchen so he could get water. His nose picked up Taleela’s scent, and Alonso put on the light. He flipped her around, and by the hotness of her body, he carried her into her room.

Alonso stumbled upon a drawing of him. He flipped the drawing pad and saw different pictures of him and her. He also saw a picture of Mazza and Tanya too. He surprisingly dropped her down slowly on the queen size bed.