*Knock* *Knock*
Lewis suddenly rose from his bathtub, startled by the incessant knocking on the door.
"I asked not to be disturbed."
"We've been waiting for hours, show some respect for your father, Lewis."
Lewis clicked his tongue in annoyance as he wrapped himself in a towel.
"For you, Catalina, it's Mr. DiAngelo." He said, opening the bathroom door.
Catalina, or rather his stepmother, sized him up from head to toe with an inquisitive gaze. Lewis had neither a good nor a bad relationship with his stepmother; he didn't really care about her.
"Mr. DiAngelo, you've grown so much! The last time I saw you, you were cute as a teddy bear." She said with a smile, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"That must be it, yeah. Can you please leave so I can get dressed?" He replied, ruffling his wet hair.
"Alright, we'll wait for you in the office."
Lewis didn't respond as she left the room.
He dressed simply in a plain T-shirt, cargo shorts, and sandals.
Lewis walked calmly down the corridors, reminiscing about the past.
'This place hasn't changed at all. If I remember correctly, Valdes' office should be down this corridor, turn left.'
With each step Lewis took, armed men stood ready to take down any intruders. Finally arriving at his father's door, he entered without knocking.
***
A cold winter night, in a discreet hospital located in Germany.
The hospital, chosen for its isolation and discretion, had been transformed into a fortress that night. Armed men, loyal to Don Valdes, patrolled the corridors and guarded the entrance to the room where Johana, Valdes' wife, was about to give birth to their first male child, the presumed successor to Don Valdes. The medical staff, aware of the power of the mafia family with affiliations throughout Europe, specifically in Italy and Germany, and even in the United States, worked with almost military precision, fearing the slightest mistake.
The birth was delicate, but the skill of the family doctor ensured that everything went smoothly.
Johana, a young blonde with blue eyes, exhausted but radiant, looked at her son with infinite tenderness and softly pronounced, "Lewis."
As the child let out his first cry, the doctor held him in his arms and, in a whisper filled with respect, declared in German, "Das ist der kleine König" ("This is the little king").
It was at that moment that Don Valdes entered the room. In his thirties, his imposing presence was undeniable, and despite the chaos outside, he seemed perfectly calm. Upon hearing the doctor's words, a smirk appeared on his face.
The DiAngelo family had made their fortune since World War II by selling weapons to the Germans. Over the years, they had earned the title of "Kings of Arms Dealing."
"He won't be a König," he stated confidently.
"He must surpass his father and elevate our legacy into an empire. So, I shall name him Kaiser, the next head of the DiAngelo family."
Don Valdes took the newborn into his arms, kissing his wife Johana, who was resting on her forehead.
"As your younger brother, you should protect Johana and Serena. It is your first duty as a DiAngelo, my son Kaiser." Valdes fixed his gaze on the crying baby with much expectation and pride before handing him to a nurse.
....
"Don DiAngelo!"
"Don DiAngelo!"
"Dear?"
Catalina gently shook her husband to wake him from his daze.
"Ah, I dozed off. You can continue, what were you saying earlier, Antonio?"
Valdes smoothed back his sleek black hair, which had a few graying strands. His fierce gray eyes fixed on Antonio's soul, who was sitting across from him.
"As you wish, Don," Antonio replied before continuing his report.
In Valdes' office, Antonio, the Don's right-hand man, was giving his weekly report, while Catalina, like a secretary, read the documents, noting important information before passing them to her husband. When the door suddenly opened, revealing Lewis' silhouette.
Antonio immediately stood up and bowed at a 90-degree angle. "Welcome, little king."
"Antonio, I presume... I hope I'm not interrupting."
"No, on the contrary. Don Valdes, I'll come back later to finish my report. Please excuse me."
Having obtained Valdes' approval, Antonio gently closed the door as he left, leaving Lewis standing in the middle of the room, staring coldly at his father.
Catalina sat down on the sofa beside her.
"Come sit down, Lewis." She said, patting the spot next to her.
"It's DiAngelo for you, I don't want to repeat myself. And you're not my mother, so stop acting like one."
'This little bastard!' She cursed in her mind, even though her facade remained smiling.
Catalina always tried to maintain a good front in front of Lewis, especially when Valdes was around, but the boy made it difficult for her.
Valdes sighed, he poured himself a glass of whisky and leaned against the desk.
"How are you doing?"
"Since mother died or since you forced me to come here?" He asked in a sarcastic tone.
"Look at yourself, Kaiser. The education from your aunt has only made things worse for you. Sending you to Ashtanshire is the right decision. You can develop your innate skills. Matilde, on the other hand, let you drift into drugs. You're much thinner than in the photos." Valdes shook his head, his gaze was severe but still contained disappointment at seeing his son so weak that he had become a junkie.
Lewis returned his gaze.
"First of all, don't call me Kaiser anymore, and secondly, you have another son. You can leave me alone, I don't need your help, Valdes."
"SPEAK TO YOUR FATHER WITH RESPECT!" Catalina raised her voice, and Lewis gave her an annoyed look.
"Shut up, you're giving me a headache."
"That's enough, Catalina." He raised his hand to stop their bickering and continued:
"It's true, in fact, your half-brother is also at Ashtanshire. You two can get closer. After all, he will be your right-hand man in the future."
Catalina couldn't help but clench her teeth in frustration, which didn't go unnoticed by Lewis, who loved observing others' expressions.