I made my routine to get up early trying to avoid any interaction with anyone around in this place. The same was for today. I woke up around 4:30 and went downstairs to make myself some breakfast. The only proper meal I would have was breakfast and lunch. Dinners were a skip as everyone was around by that time and I did not want anyone to get close to me or talk with me. Call me rude but this place had made me into a living dead.
The only person I got along was Noona. She was a middle aged women who helped cook for everyone who lived here. Well.. that is for Me and Albert. She was extremely sweet and would let me help with anything in the kitchen. I would make myself busy with the smallest things to keep away from being bored. She never said no to me and helped me cook different cuisines. Well she definitely was a pro at every type of food. You would just name it and she knew how to make it.
Speaking of Albert, after that night I hadn't seen him around much. He sure was a weird man! I would get a peak of him from the top stairs giving orders to his men about keeping things in control but never for once did I dare to face him one on one. I wasn't scared of him, I had spent years with a beast, but I did not want to interact with him. His presence alone was annoying for me. The sense of him being around the same place as me had me feeling disgusted. Looking at him, made me want to think of ways to escape this maze.
He sure was a wealthy man, busy most of the times with work, on calls, dealing with business people and I had barely seen him eat anything at home. Cause anything being cooked was a single serving mostly, and it was clearly for me. But again obviously people like him would spend their evenings at 5 star restaurants to get the best of what they eat. He was never seen at home for breakfast and lunch. For dinners he would show up once in a blue moon. And Noona had to rush to make him something that would calm his hungry stomach.
I would usually see all this from the library window. Libraries were my biggest escape from the outside world. It was a different kind of safe that I felt in a library from a very young age.
When I came across the library here, I was in awe. The library was big enough for more than thousands of books to be placed in here. The smell of fresh and new books made me extremely happy. And to be standing in a place like this made me feel like I was in heaven. I would spend most of the day in the library only to return to my room for sleep.
***Albert POV***
Things had been a little awkward after that night. She tried her best to avoid me as much as possible. She did not even give me a chance to explain anything. She would take a few glances at the dining area from her favourite spot at the library.
Obviously I knew how much she loved books and how crazy she was for reading. More than being a regular student, she was a regular visitor at the library. Never missing a day! I got the library ready at my place so she could enjoy her time being here.
I had been extremely busy with work these days. There were new business coming in and many other things that I had to deal with. But obviously I had eye on my Baby Girl 24/7 not missing any second of what she did. I saw everything from her getting up at 4 in the morning to avoid me to her missing dinner and staying late at the library. I knew everything and I kept my close eye on her. I had lost her before but now... Now I was never going to let her go. Never again!
"We need to get this matter solved as soon as possible. This time he can't run away easily," Mark got my attention by speaking aggressively to someone on his phone.
I understood immediately to what he was referring as soon as the words left his mouth. The whole situation was repeating itself. I fid not want things to ruin anymore. It was already at a dead end and I simply wanted to win it this time.
"You understand how serious it is?" Mark got my attention by the sudden question.
It was never like I was not prepared, but this time it had my baby involved and I did not want her to get hurt in any way. She surely was a pure soul.
"I do..." I sounded uncertain of myself as if the words just left my mouth unwillingly...
"Listen bro, we need to get our hand on him before he takes another wild step" Mark said pacing back and forth in my office giving me anxity as well.
"I will make sure to give him the taste of his own doings. Dont worry" this time I was sure of what I said. I was not letting things go out of my hands anymore.
Not when they were related to my Baby Girl.
***FLASHBACK 2 YEARS AGO***
"Do Not leave any soul behind. We will begin our attacks from the west and," Albert continued in a low and firm tone, "REMEMBER. Nobody among them comes out alive. I want the den cleaned up."
What he said was precisely what his team heard. They were after the biggest mafia leaders and making mistakes was not affordable.
Being a mafia king himself he was well aware of the politics that was being played inside the closed doors. Allowing even a single person to live could cost them their lives in a worst case scenario.
"Albert... are you sure about all this.... I mean I am not saying we can't handle it but dont you think it's too much of a risk for you and her." Mark made a very valid point with his visible concern.
"Are you doubting on my abilities to protect her?" Albert shot a glare at Mark.
Mark did not give up on convincing him to retreat. Be it how strong he is, his brazen personality is enough to wreck him completely.
And considering how 'she', his only weakness is in their possession, the risk was too big!
"Albert! Do you not understand! It's the mafia king! If not for yourself think about her and your comrades. DAMMIT!"
"I said! I can protect them. I have the strength. Fuck! Do not make me kill you before them."
"Go ahead. If that is what makes you stop."
Taking long steps, Albert grabbed Mark's collar when a member of the team,
Vincent, held Albert back, while another named Leonard held back Mark who was preparing to throw a punch or two himself.
"This is not the time to be arguing. Mark, we will follow what boss says. The worst that could happen is us losing an arm at the least. We can surely clean out their den in the blink of an eye." a female comrade named Luciana chimed in.
Mark was at a loss for words. He released his anger on the poor wall beside him as he heard his team agreeing to risk their lives on the word of their boss.
He was not angry at them for agreeing. Nor was he angry at Albert for being the one to make them do this crazy wreckless work. He was angry at himself for not being able to make them stop.
Despite, being aware of the dangers in this line of work, he never mentally prepared himself to lose the friends he made. But he had to give up.
"Fine! Let's go and clean up this mess!"
***FLASH BACK ENDS***
Albert sighed heavily as the fragments of the nightmare never left him. The dreams were a constant reminder of the days he dreaded the most...
But after all the pain one thing he was sure about was the girl he wanted to protect was now under his wings.
And nothing on the planet could hurt her when she was in his domain... Hence Albert started working on his plan to satisfy his vengeful soul...