" When you lose someone you love, you gain an angel you know... "

Seven Years Ago, 

July 27, 2014,

Death's Diary                                                  Page no. 150

Today marks three years since my little sister, Aurora, passed away. The pain and anger still linger, as vivid as the day it happened.

I was only four when my father died in a car accident. It was devastating, it turned our world upside down. But my mother, Vittoria DeLaurentiis, had to make some tough choices to keep us safe. She married my dad's best friend and his right-hand man, Lloyd Colombo, to protect our family's legacy in the mafia world. But little did we know that he was behind my father's murder.

My mother found out the truth later on, but she couldn't risk telling him she knew. She was afraid he might harm me. After all, he killed my father to become the ultimate mafia king.

It's crazy to think that the man who murdered my father was the same man who became my stepfather. Before they got married, my mother made it clear that once I turned eighteen, I would take my father's place as the mafia leader, with Lloyd serving as my representative until then.

Aurora was my step-sister, my mother's and Lloyd's daughter, but I loved her as if she were my own flesh and blood. She was the light in our house, always bringing joy and laughter to everyone around her.

It's still hard for me to imagine a world without her.

When I took over the mafia business, Lloyd was seething with anger, but he was powerless against me. He had already tried to kill me before to keep his position, but my mother's secret allies in the mafia world had thwarted his plans.

I managed the business flawlessly for almost three months, and today was supposed to be the day of celebration for Aurora's 14th birthday. We had planned a surprise party for her, and everyone was waiting eagerly for her return from school. But the day turned into night, there was still no sign of Aurora.

My heart started pounding in my chest as I dialed Aurora's number for the tenth time, but her phone just kept going straight to her voicemail. Panic set in as I called her friends, praying that they would have some information that could help us find her. When they told me she hadn't been at school all day, my blood ran cold and my mind raced with all the terrible possibilities.

"Are you sure? Did she mention anything to you about not going to school today?" I asked urgently, my voice trembling with fear.

"No, she didn't say anything to us. We just assumed she was sick or something," one of her friends replied.

I hung up the phone, feeling completely helpless and scared. Where could she be? Was she hurt or in danger? I didn't know what to do, but I knew I had to find her before it was too late.

It already had been three days and I felt like my whole world was falling apart. I couldn't understand why she would disappear like this. I was angry and frustrated, constantly pacing around the house, making calls, and searching for any leads.

My mother's condition was getting worse day by day, and I felt helpless. I had never seen her so fragile and vulnerable before. Lloyd's worry seemed fake to me, but I didn't have time to deal with him.

The thought of something happening to Aurora made me shiver with fear. My mind was racing with all sorts of scenarios, and none of them were good.

On the sixth day, police found a dead body. They said it was a girl, the same age as Aurora, and she was found naked at the 31st Street beach.

I couldn't believe it, my mind was racing with thoughts and emotions. Who could have done this to her? Was it related to the mafia business? My mind was filled with questions, doubts, and anger. I felt a lump in my throat and my hands trembled as I tried to comprehend the news.

It felt like the world had come crashing down on me as I held Aurora's lifeless body in my arms. The pain was so intense, I couldn't even catch my breath. It was like a dagger had pierced through my heart and twisted it mercilessly.

The sight of her innocent face, now cold and pale, made me want to scream in agony. The memories of her laughter, her warmth, and her love, all now felt like a distant dream.

I had watched her grow up, seen her take her first steps, heard her laughter fill the house, and now she was gone. I couldn't even imagine how my mother was coping with the loss of her daughter.

The postmortem report showed that she was brutally assaulted and raped before strangling her to death. There were bruises and wounds all over her body.

The anger and frustration inside me grew with each passing day until I finally found those motherfuckers responsible for her death. I showed them no mercy, no compassion. They deserved to feel the same pain and suffering that they had inflicted on my little sister.

I remember each swing of the blade, each cut that I made, and the satisfaction that I felt with each one. I chopped their bodies into pieces. They deserved nothing less than the punishment that I gave them. I wanted their souls to tremble at the thought of ever committing such a heinous crime again.

But even after their deaths, the pain still lingered within me. It was a wound that could never be healed, a scar that I would carry with me for the rest of my life.

Today, I went to visit Aurora's resting place. As I stood there, looking at the graves, my heart felt heavy with grief and pain. My mother and sister were lying there so peacefully, while I was screaming inside with agony.

Suddenly a sound caught my attention. It was soft, like a whisper, but unmistakably the sound of someone crying. I turned to see who it was. I saw a young girl maybe around eighteen or nineteen sitting alone, sobbing by a nearby grave.

"Why did you save me? I hate this life without you!" she cried out, her voice filled with anger and pain. "Dad is forcing me to marry a stranger, and I have no choice. He's changed so much since you died, and I don't know what to do..."

I listened to her words in silence. But then, I heard a soft whisper in my ear, almost like a gentle breeze.

"Save her, Ash. She is the light you're searching for."

It was like Aurora was standing right next to me, whispering in my ear. Her voice was so faint and distant, yet so clear and distinct.

I stood frozen, rooted to the ground, unable to move. As I watched her cry by her mother's grave. I could feel her pain and desperation from a distance. I wanted to comfort her, but I knew I couldn't.

I turned to leave, but I couldn't help but take one last glance at her. And at the same time, she looked up, and our eyes met for a second. I quickly looked away and walked out of the graveyard, feeling a mix of emotions inside.

_________________________

⁕ 𝖠𝗌𝗁𝗍𝗈𝗇 𝖣𝖾'𝖫𝖺𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗂𝗌 ⁕

"I don't have time for your bullshit," I snarled at the guy tied to the chair, my grip on his hair tightening. "Tell me who sent you, or I'll make sure you never see daylight again." My anger was boiling over. This guy had messed with the wrong person.

I received a piece of information from my confidential sources about a covert informant in my office building. It was found that someone accesses the server room every Sunday night and transfers data to an undisclosed IP address. Last night, during a fire alarm triggered by a small short circuit, maybe he was caught off guard and as he was in a hurry, he couldn't cover his tracks from the server logs, and that's how we found him.

"Fuck you! You cannot kill me, Ash," he spat out with a mocking chuckle, trying to hide the fear in his eyes.

I leaned in closer, pressing the gun against his neck. "You think I won't do it?" I smirked. "I've got nothing to lose. So just tell me Andres, even if this is your real name! Who do you work for? before I lose my patience." This guy winced in pain, but he still refused to talk. 

"You leave me no choice," I said, putting the gun to his head. "Adios per sempre, amigo! (Goodbye forever, friend!)"

With one swift gunshot, he was lying on the ground, his blood seeping into the carpet.

"What'd you find, Felix?" I asked, my voice tense.

"I didn't find any connection between Andres and any mafia gang," Felix said as he entered my cabin.

"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock," I said, frustrated. "This is something else, something big. We need to be on our guard from now on." He nodded, examining the dead body carefully for clues. I noticed him pulling something out of his pants.

"Check this out," he said, setting a pendant down on the desk. I picked it up, studying it closely.

"I'll send a few of our boys to hunt down the owner of this trinket. You should get some rest," he advised, taking the pendant back and moving toward the door.

"And what about Denver? Any updates?" I inquired before he left.

"Probably got his cock worn out from banging all night," he laughed before disappearing out the door.

Now, let's see what you're up to, Miss Walker. I dialed Jane's number. Whenever I think about Jane, that fire explosion just flashes before my eyes. One part of me says that what I'm thinking can't be possible, but another part of me—the part that died with Samantha—now feels like coming back to life. 

"Bradson Hospital Chicago. How can I assist you?" answered the receptionist.

"Could you please connect me to Dr. Jane Walker? She's treating my son Matteo Jackson. I'm Louis Jackson, his father," I informed her. To maintain a low profile in public places, we use fake names. After verifying the information in her system, she complied with my request.

"Hello, Mr. Jackson!" Her voice sounded cheerful.

"Hello, Dr. Walker. I apologize if I'm interrupting you. I just wanted to inquire if I can bring Matteo in tomorrow. He's been complaining about itching and pain in his fractured hand," I explained.

"Yes, certainly! You can bring him in tomorrow... let me check... " It seemed like she was checking her schedule, "How about 3:00 in the evening? I happen to be free at that time. If it's inconvenient for you, I can try to adjust the appointment—"

"No, that works perfectly. I'll be there. Thank you, Doctor." I told her

"No problem, Mr. Jackson. See you tomorrow at 3, then," she replied before ending the call.

The only way I can learn more about her is by closely observing her, spending more time with her. Yet, I can't jeopardize Matt's safety if this situation turns out to be a threat or something else entirely. Matt believes Jane is his mother. What if she isn't?.... Or maybe she is... I don't know, but I will.

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Now I think you all know why Ash went to the wedding seven years ago. How was the chapter?

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Happy reading🌸∽Nisha