The Twin Brothers

He throws the paper across the room. Now, he’s late. Anger rushed inside his body just thinking of killing the twin and Darliana. “I should have killed them when I have a chance before!!” Damien yells.

The news that Liana has already signed up to be the next leader only makes him mad. He walks back and forth in his office, trying to calm his nerve down. The door bursts open revealing Alex.

“Is it true that bitch already taken over the clan!?” Alex asks.

“Yes. And it’s all your fault!!” He points it out. Alex jaw-dropped. “You should have killed that girl when I told you to. Not to make it more dramatic and chatting!!”

Alex glares at him. “How about you? You should have killed the twin first. Without the twin, Liana wouldn’t make it.”

“I know.” He sighs. His hands-on desk. This is all because of the twin. If the twin are not beside her, all of this wouldn’t happen. “Change the target.”

“What?” The boy frowns.

Damien turns around and steps towards him. “Change the target. Forget about Rosie for a while. We have to end the twin’s life first. If they keep clingy to that girl, we will never have a chance to be near Rosie.” He explains.

“You know how hard to kill those two? They just like a brick, you know?” Alex grunts.

“We need a plan. Something that can make them come towards our trap.” Damien smirks. ” I have a job for you boy. And this time, do it properly.”

__________________

Liana woke up by a loud sound from downstairs. She sits up, looking at the clock on the wall. It is already 4 pm. Such a long nap she had. She doesn’t remember anything except the unknown guy coming in that’s time.

THUD!!

The sound makes her flinch. She quickly gets up going downstairs. Getting near the living room, she can hear people bickering and yelling. Her eyebrows furrowed.

“Leo that’s enough!!” Alfano yells.

“He really crosses the line.” Leo’s dangerous calm tone spoke.

She peeks from the door and saw Enzo holding his twin from Asher. Alfano standing between them. “Listen. I know you don’t like Rosie, Ash. But that didn’t give you any reasons to be rude to her. She’s our leader.”

Ash scoffs. “Leader? If she is a leader, in another week, trust me, this clan will be ruined.” He crosses his arms. Not gonna deny it, those words hurt Liana’s heart.

“So, you saying that Liana is not suitable for a leader than who?” Felix asks who sitting on the single couch.

“Someone who is not weak and soft.” He answers keeping his glare.

“Liana is not weak.” Enzo gritted his teeth. “You know nothing about her, boy.” He added.

“If Liana is weak then who do you want to be a leader?” Adam butt in. He stood up with smirks on his face. “The way you protest this is just like… you want to be the leader. Is that true?” He asks.

Ash’s expression becomes pale. He looks everywhere but their’s eyes. Alfano squinted his eyes on him. “Ash. Is that true?” He asks slowly.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t want.” He denies it. Andreas who watching the argument was just silent. He look at the door and saw Liana peeking.

“Then??” Al arches his eyebrows.

The boy gritted his teeth. Clenching his fist.

“So it was true that you want to be the leader. No wonder why you trying so hard to convince people how bad Liana is.” Enzo chuckles darkly.

The living room door slowly opens. Everyone attention to that person. Liana shuffles inside. His gaze only looks down. Enzo is the first one to spokes. “Baby? You should call us if you are awake.” He moves towards her and picks her up to his hip, thinking she is still in little space.

“See? No leader being babied like that!!” Ash points out.

Leo gives him a sharp glare. “Everyone needs a comfort zone. Unlike you. I think that’s the reason why you throwing tantrum.” He scoffs.

“I’m not in little space, Ennie.” Her soft voice spoke.

“Little space?” Alfano asks.

“She has little space side. Sometimes she fell into it to feel comfortable and safe. She’s not doing it too often recently. Maybe because all the training keeps her busy.” Enzo explains.

“Leader has little space? For real? What the fuck is that!?” Ash still with his protest.

This time, Liana spoke. “Y–You really want to be the next leader, aren’t you?” She asks. The boy didn’t answer but just glares at her. “If you want then take it.” She taps Enzo’s shoulders to put her down.

“What?”

“You said you want to be the next leader. Then, be.” Liana takes off her necklace and gives it to him. “Take it. You said you want to be one.” Asher hesitated to take it. “You can judge people who can be a leader and who can’t. Take it.”

Andreas who saw it was amused. smirks slowly appeared on his face. “A leader wouldn’t give it up too fast, you know that.” Ash clenched his fist.

“I’m not a leader. You say it by yourself.” She was done with this boy’s harsh words. It was time for her to speak. “You take it, people will target you. I’ll be free and live with the others. While you handle yourself being LEADER.”

Her words give effect to him. He’s too afraid to be in that position. Where you are being targeted your whole life and always have someone want to kill you. He’s not ready for that.

“A leader can handle all the pain. Patient. Thinking about their people. Are capable of that?” Liana narrow her eyes at him. “Yes, I’m soft. Maybe weak. Have little space. But that’s how I am. That’s who am I. You or I or anyone can’t change that. But I can fix it.” She wear the necklace back knowing he wouldn’t take it.

“Everyone needs a comfort zone. Where you can take a break from everything.” She sighs.

Without any words, Ash stomps out. It makes the girl guilty. “Am I… too harsh?” She asked everyone.

“No. No, you are not. Enough to hurt his dignity.” Adam spokes. Leo picks her up and brings her to the couch, sitting her on his lap. “But that was awesome anyway.”

“You did great, baby. You don’t even stutter.” Enzo kisses her forehead. Sitting beside her.

“But I feel bad.”

“No need. He should learn his lesson.” Alfano spokes.

“I–I’m sorry if I have lit–”

“Oh no. Don’t even apologize. What you said is right. Everyone needs a comfort zone.” Alfano smiles.

Andreas chuckles. “That was really an amazing argument.”

That voice.

She recognizes it. It was the same as the unknown man before she take a nap just now. Her gaze fell on him, tilted her head in confusion. Who is this? When Andreas notices her gaze, he smiles.

“Hello. I will introduce myself properly this time. Since you were in little space at that time. My name is Andreas. The King of mafia here.” His smile was so kind.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“King?”

“Do you remember the round table I talk about, baby?” Enzo rubbed her thighs. She nods. “Andreas, the king, and the head of the mafia. That’s mean, he’s on the top.” He explains.

Liana looks at him from head to toe. He looks around 50 like that but his young look makes him around 30. “H–Hai. I’m Darliana. Or Rosie. Whatever.” She mumbles the last part.

Andreas chuckles. “It’s okay. Anyway, I really want to talk to you about your father. If you don’t mind?” He asks.

“My father? What is it?”

“There’s something you still didn’t know.” He pulls out one piece of paper and put it on the coffee table. Liana frowns and looks at him. “This… These are the last words from Thaver. He doesn’t want you to handle it alone. He doesn’t want to give you a burden. He wants someone to help you.”

A partner?

“What do you mean?” She asks as she grabs the paper. It was the agreement of having a second partner.

“Darliana. Your father really wants to give you this clan. But. He can’t risk your life doing it alone. Not think you are weak or something but he just really loves you. In easy words. He wants someone to help you.” Andreas explains.

“So, you want her to choose the second partner for handling this clan? Like that?” Felix asks.

“Yes. Not me but his father.” He replies.

Liana jus stare on it. Who else is capable and comfortable to be with? The only one is the twin. But does the twin want it? They have their own clan and what if they reject it?

“I… I don’t know. Can I have some time?” She asks.

“Sure, sweetie. Once you are done with it, inform me, okay?” He states. Liana gives him a nod. “Oh well. My work here is done. I happy to see you, Liana.” Andreas moves toward her and pats her hair.

“Hehehe. T–Thank you for telling me this.” Liana smiles.

“No problem, honey. See you later. Take care of her, Lorenzo, Leonardo.” Andreas reminds them. Suddenly, he grabs Liana and put her on Enzo’s lap. At first, it’s confusing. But then, he wrapped his arms around Leo’sneck and ruffles his hair.

“Ughh!! Uncle!!” Leo grunts.

“Awww, I know you two wouldn’t think to visit this old man. Your favorite uncle.” He chuckles.

Liana frowns. Uncle? “Uncle?”

“No, baby. When we are children, we always stay with him, kinda close to him like a family. Our parents are also close with him. Since child already we always call him uncle.” Enzo explains.

“I–I thought he was your real uncle.” She giggles.

Leo pushes the old man away. He fixes his hair. “Not gonna happened.” He mumbles. But in his heart, he loves his uncle Andreas.

“You also can call me uncle, little Rosie.” Andreas gently brushed her hair. The girl smiles and giggles.

Andreas gives them a last goodbye. Liana stares back at the paper. A partner? She looks at the twins who talking. Do they want to be her partner in this? Look like she has to think before asking.