Chapter 42 The funeral
“Do we have to do this?.” I asked.
“We have to, I am going to be here with you at all times, no matter what happens, no matter what anyone says, I will stand by you, I will defend you and make then suffer for making you feel unsafe.” Adrian whispered.
He never left my side since last night, I didn’t expect to wake up to the funeral today, its tradition they said, it’s rude to keep the body of a mafia king for a long time, it has never been done before, we have to respect the tradition
And because papa was- is a great leader, we have to put him at rest as soon as we can.
I stood in the presence of the mirror wearing a black dress and Adrain stood beside me in his own black suit.
“I got something for you.” He said, he placed something on my neck as my eyes met his.
“This belongs to papa.” I whispered, it’s the chain he always wears around his neck, and it has a ring on it, bis ring, no matter how much he pretended that he had moved on from mama, he never removed his wedding ring.
“Adrain.” I whispered:
“No more crying Elara, I need you to be strong.”
“I can’t be, it’s hard, it’s not easy. All I can do is think about him, and today I am forced to watch them place him into a tiny while with a room filled with people that didn’t care about him, people that are happy that he is dead, people that want to take over his mafia, what’s next Adrian and don’t lie to me, I know the guards loved papa, they cared for him and they would always respect him, but how long before they realize they need a new leader.” I asked and he didn’t speak.
This is papa’s most prize possession and I can’t let just anyone take it away from him, from us.
“Promise me you will not let them take it away, I know I can’t lead and I know the only way you can lead is we stay married, if we are married.” I breathed out.
“Elara I don’t want you thinking about any of this.” He stated and my breath hitches.
I can post pone the thoughts as much as I want. Yet at the end of it, I know that it will come rushing back to me.
This is about to be the hardest day of my life, a day I could never forget, I know for the side of the family, for the sake of papa’s allies. My family will not show that they are after money, they will pretend, they will eve weep and try to come close to me.
—-
The church was decorated in his favorite flower. I always thought we would bury mama before him, but last night I realized that. We thought it would be easy because we lived so long without her, but the truth was, the only thing that kept us going was the fact that, maybe she is out there alive.
We never said it to each other but papa and I knew better than anyone.
I shrugged off the thoughts when I saw his picture, it was one of his favorite pictures and I squeezed Adrian’s hand softly, my breath hitches as I stared at it and I looked away instantly.
In an hour, the room was filled with everyone, many of which I didn’t know, I didn’t know or they came out of respect or because they actually cared for him.
“Hello papa.” I smiled weakly. “My papa was-“ I was about saying when I didn’t utter any words, the whole room was staring at me and Adrian stood behind me because he knew I needed all of the help that I can get, he knew that I am not that strong.
“Papa will always say, the strongest person is not the person that can handle a war or take care of bad situations, the strongest person is the person that loses everything and every one and yet they find a way to still make things work, he would always say, it’s easy to lose a war but it’s never easy to lose the one you love, today I lost him, if you know papa, you knew how close we were, when we lost mama, I had thought I would never be able to love, I had thought, I would never be able to find happiness or peace but papa took care of me.” I breathed out.
I watched as they were all staring at me, even my mind filled with anger.
“My papa was killed.” I announced and the room went as twice as quite as it was, yet their eyes screamed a lot, they didn’t have to utter any words for me to know that they are thinking about it. “My papa was not killed by a mere gang leader, that person was just used as a bait, and I know that, the killer is in this room with us, I will find the killer and when I do, it would be the last thing you ever do.” I stated
I don’t care, now I know the killer would be scared, they would be worried and I knew they showed up to make sure he is really dead.
“They killed him for the mafia and for the throne, I know the men are worried as to who will handle the rest of the affairs of the mafia, they re scared of what will happen to it, my papa loved the mafia and because of him, I feel the same love to.” I stated as they stared at me.
I didn’t know when all of this anger filled my body, I didn’t know when I promised them a leader within two days, what I knew was that, I rushed out of the room the moment it was done, I may be strong but I am not this strong.