DANIEL
I have just ordered some food for my girls, and it is yet to arrive. I am in the bar room, having whiskey and smoking a cigar. I am watching the video of the funeral on my MacBook which my kids have not seen yet, and I am sad to see that Yolanda had no one. I do not understand why she took the bus instead of riding the family car with us. I specifically asked Thando and some of my family to be there for her until the ceremony was over. Did she not want to be comforted? What happened? I should ask her about it.
I cannot stop thinking about Yolanda’s mother and how she died. This is not how I expected things to end between us. I should have never kept the secret away from her, but now her death is on me.
Everyone knows about the Mafia Alpha, but they don’t know who he is because he never shows himself. He is untouchable, a murderer, a torturer, and a f*****g Billionaire. I am the Alpha of the Wolf Pack gang, and when my wife mistakenly found out after two years of our marriage, and three years of being together, she threatened to leave me.
I should have never followed her when she went down the stairs because that was when she missed a step and rolled down the stairs before she hit her head on the ground. She was hurt, but thankfully, no blood came out of her, so I carried her in my arms. I am never one to be scared, but that night, I was even trembling. No matter what; she was my wife and I loved her, and I did not want her to die, but she did. She complained of a headache throughout the night, and when I saw her pale in the morning, I rushed her to the hospital, they took her to an X-Ray, and it was confirmed that she had cracked her skull, which caused blood clots on her brain.
She was scared, crying as she held onto my hand, but what she did not know is that I was scared more than she was. She held on to my arm and told me that she does not want to die. I did not know what to tell her other than I love her, and I am sorry.
“Take care of my baby girl. Make her happy and tell her not to worry about anything. Tell her to work hard and be the doctor she desires to be. Make her dreams come true, and tell her that I love her so much, and I am so sorry. Tell the girls that I love them,”
These were her last words before she was taken to the theatre for surgery which we were told was risky, yet she still insisted to do it. The doctors stated that she was either going to be brain-damaged or die. She chose between the latter.
I was then interrogated by the doctor if I had been physically abusing my wife. Oh, that was the wrong question for him to ask me. He woke up the beast in me that had him rolling on his table before he dropped to the floor. I did not understand why he had to ask me that when my wife had already told her that she fell, and I never pushed her.
But, I told no one about the real cause of my wife’s death. Such an accusation made me realise that nobody would believe me, so I just told them she died from a headache she had been crying about all night.
When my phone vibrates, I shut my laptop and stand, leaving my cigar to burn on an ashtray and head out of the bar, going to get the food I ordered. Thando is the only one in the living room, watching TV, while her books are set on the dining table.
“Are you done with your schoolwork, Thando?” I ask.
“Why am I not good with maths like everyone, dad? It is so frustrating, argh!” She says, getting up to remove her books as she sees me holding the boxes of food.
“I told you to come to me whenever you need help with math and science. Show me what the problem is,”
“I wanted to do it by myself. I got some help from the group chat we created in class,”
“And, are you positive?”
“No. I hate Math and science,” She belligerently says.
“Thando, this is your final year in high school. I asked you in your tenth grade and eleventh grade if Science is what you really want to do; you said yes confidently. Is it not too late to change your mind now?”
Thando’s jealousy led her here, but she would not admit it. She did not want Yolanda to be smarter than her, so she took the subjects that are hard for her. My darling daughter always wanted to be a chef, but when she heard that Yolanda wants to be a medical Doctor, she decided to take Math and science as her subjects. If I can ask her what she wants to be, she wouldn’t say.
“Sweetheart, I know how hard the subjects are, but it is almost the end of the year. Please try and do your best in these subjects. I am here to help you, and if I am not, Yolanda can-“
“Don’t tell me about Yolanda. Anyway, when is she leaving, dad? The reason she stayed here is now gone. Why can’t she go to her dad?”
Hearing her talk like this about Yolanda makes my blood boil, but I do not act on it because Thando is also my daughter, but I don’t get why she feels that way about Yolanda. I thought they got along.
“Thando, Yolanda is my-“
“STEPDAUGHTER,” She spells out.
“Stop interrupting me when I speak to you, young lady. Yolanda is not going anywhere, and I should NEVER hear you talk that way about her, AM I CLEAR?” My tone is stern and angry.
She nods her head quietly.
“Good, go and call them and tell them dinner is here.”
***
Yolanda decided to skip dinner and sleep early. I think that was a good thing because I feel guilty about how I feel towards her. Her mother’s last words are kind of haunting me. I am one hundred percent sure that when she said, “Make her happy”, she did not mean that I should pursue something more than that. She meant that I should be a father and a mentor I have always been to her. What kind of a man am I that falls in love with my stepdaughter? I need to get rid of these feelings ASAP.
My phone rings, interrupting me and my thoughts. I answer without looking at the caller ID before I put the phone against my ear.
“Talk to me,” I command.
“Alpha, we found him. What must we do with him?” A man’s voice asks.
“Take him to the warehouse and leave him to me. I will be there in thirty minutes,” I order before I hang up.
I walk out of my bedroom and head downstairs. I notice the kitchen light on, so I head there to see who is up. It is past eleven at night, so my kids should be sleeping right now.
“Yolanda, what are you still doing up?” I ask as I enter the kitchen.
“Uh, daddy,” f**k, she just called me daddy for the first time. I know I asked her to, but this was for my personal interest, but now I regret it. Yolanda is supposed to be my daughter, but not someone I am looking forward to f*****g and making my wife. Maybe I should start avoiding her to kill my feelings for her. How do I even do that when she lives under my roof?
“Daddy, did you hear me?” Oh, can she stop repeating that word? I am getting flustered already.
“Have you started applying for varsity? I mean, would you like to stay at varsity residence?”
Again, I caught her off guard. I need to stop doing this. She disappointedly stares down at her toes, and I am wondering what I said wrong. I thought that she would be happy to go and live her life away from here. It would be better if she stays far away from me because I am a bad man; I am the devil that I couldn’t show to her mother, so she needs to leave before I corrupt her. She is young and too innocent for me.
“Yes, I have. I am waiting on their response,” With her eyes dropped to the floor, she replies.
“Let me know if you need any help, okay?”
She silently nods her head, still not making eye contact with me. Did I upset her?
“Go back to sleep; I need to head out somewhere quick,”
“To kill them?” She blurts out with no filter. I widen my eyes at her, and she shamelessly looks at me.
“I will see you in the morning, sweetheart.”
***
I park my Lamborghini right on my spot before I jump out, excitedly and head into the warehouse where my meat is waiting for me. Oh, I am going to torture that i***t for crossing me. It does not make sense how a mission that was known only by my pack gets exposed like that. If I have moles, they all better prepare for the beast in me to come out because I do not take betrayal very lightly.
As I enter, the room falls into dead silence and while everyone is standing, I notice only one person sitting down. I don’t say anything, but instead, I head to the little bar and pour myself a drink. I down it all at once before I put the glass on the counter, making a thud noise.
I turn and look at everyone, but their eyes drop except for the one sitting down.
“Capo, where are my tools?” I ask as I pull an empty chair towards the one sitting down. I settle in front of him while Capo gets my tools and I pierce my evil eyes into his until he cannot keep up with my gaze. I smirk and lean back on the chair, folding my arms.
“What have you done, Simon?” I ask in a deep tone.
He chuckles and shakes his head.
“Jy moes cav wat gaan aan, Alpha. Why don’t you spare us both our time and just kill me?” He even dares to give me an attitude.
Capo puts my tools on the table and asks if I need anything else, but I tell all of them to watch what I do to conspirators like him. I pull out my gun and place it on the table, next to the tools.
“I heard from them, but I want to hear from you, Simon. Why would you betray the pack like that?”
“Alpha, you don’t f*****g care about us. We always go on missions without you, and we are always the ones to get into trouble while we hide your identity. We are risking our lives for you, so yes, I tipped the police to screw up this mission so that you can open your eyes and see that we do most of the work here while you put on your fancy suits and sit behind the desk all day – oh, and not to forget that you play happy family at home,”
Without having to think about it, I abruptly grab my gun and shoot him in the kneecap. He screams so loud like a p***y.
I am engrossed with rage. What f*****g twaddle is he spitting on me? If he was not happy with how I run this pack, he should have f*****g left.
I stand and walk around the room, leaving him groaning and crying in agony.
“I created this pack from scratch, I made this pack to be what it is today. Before you all f*****g joined me, I was alone, and I made my first f*****g million ALONE! I worked my profession during the day but at night, I would hustle, bomb ATMs, rob banks, and steal from jewellery shops all alone. I have seen prison a couple of times, but it did not break me, it f*****g made me! That was years ago, and now I am a Billionaire. When you all here met me, you were nothing and you had nothing.” I bark, aggressively. I am going to teach everyone a harsh lesson today – a lesson they will never forget.
“You found me with money; I told you all what I am about. I am the wolf in no sheepskin. I was very discernible to you all and I f*****g told you all that once you are in, the only way to come out is when you are a corpse. I did not put a gun on your heads and force you to join me and create this pack with me. Simon, you betrayed me, and I do not take betrayal lightly. To avoid more betrayals, if you feel that this pack is too much for you, this is your chance to leave. Get the hell out of my sight before I change my mind. You have ten seconds to do so,”
What they don’t know is that this is a dare. I just want to see who is brave enough to walk out of here because they know very well that no one leaves this pack alive.
I sigh, disappointedly when I notice the Delta that I thought I trusted most, walking towards the exit. He was my caretaker and protector over my territory. He is followed by an Omega that I care less about. Just before they could reach the door, I stop them.
“Before they walk out of that door, this is the last chance for you to decide. The ten seconds is almost up,"
They all stay stationary, so I nod.
"Alright. I have something for you two, then," I point my gun at the Omega and pull the trigger, shooting him between his eyes. He drops dead to the floor, and the Delta gets scared, trembling on his spot.
"Andrew, the Delta. I am so disappointed in you. I f*****g trusted you, and I had hoped that you would become my Beta someday. What went wrong?" I ask, calmly.
He starts crying and shakes his head. He and Capo are the ones that came to my house earlier to warn me about the mole. Why is he f*****g doing this now?
"I am, sorry, Alpha,"
"Hell f*****g no, you are not. You knew that there is no getting out of here alive. I cannot risk my business going down, so I am going to have to kill you,"
"I will never betray you or say a word about you to anyone, Alpha, please," He goes down on his knees.
"Pathetic. See you in hell, Andrew!" I shoot him in his chest three times, cold-bloodedly.
I turn and look back at the rest of the pack.
"Now, do you all see what happens when you want to be my enemy? Simon, I would love to spare you, but you are useless to me. I like your honesty, but you know the rules in this pack. If you want to be the Alpha, you will have to kill me first, but the pack has a right to vote for who becomes the next Alpha. From where I am standing, you will never be an Alpha,"
"Go to hell!" He whimpers.
"I am the Devil himself, Simon. Goodbye," I then shoot him by the balls, making him fall off the chair, unable to contain his breathing. I walk up to him and step on his injured knee. I end his pain by shooting him in his chest a couple of times until I run out of bullets.
I let out a breath of relief as I turn around and place my empty gun on the table.
"Okay, gentlemen. I guess we have all learned something from this, and I do not wish to repeat it. Think twice before you think about betraying me. Three down, nine left. We need to replace the two Deltas now. Capo, you are the Beta, so I will leave that to you. Clean up this mess; I am out of here. Oh, and take care of my gun."
***
As soon as I get to my house, I shoot upstairs to my bedroom to take a shower, but as soon as I enter my room, I see the shock of my life. This can't be real, can it?
There she is, sleeping peacefully on our bed, wearing her favourite purple nightdress that I liked so much. It shows her too much of her brown soft skin. I slowly make my way to the bed and take off my shoes quietly. I might have had a couple of drinks today, but I am certain that I am not dreaming. This is real.
"Mary," I softly call her out, nervously. It would be rude of me to disturb her in her beauty sleep, but I need to touch her to see if this is real or not.
My hand reaches her exposed leg. She slightly moves, confirming her existence. I normally never slept in the same room with my wife after I just committed murder, but today is different. I thought we had buried her, or is my brain playing tricks on me?
I get behind her and hold her in my arms.
"Mary," I call out, getting emotional. "I am so sorry," She squirms in my arm and finally says something in her sleep.
"Daddy."
I quickly jump out of bed in shock and stand a bit of a distance away from the bed.
WHAT THE f**k!?
Aksara