PRIDE AND LOVE

Kelvin's POV

It was supposed to be a peaceful Sunday morning.

I had barely gotten out of bed when loud cries shattered the silence. My mother's wailing echoed through the house, followed by the soft sobs of my younger siblings.

My heart skipped. What's going on? I thought, throwing off my blanket and rushing into the sitting room.

Something wasn't right. I could feel it.

Maybe... just maybe, my father had messed up again. He worked for a mafia group, not just any, but one of the deadliest in New York. And his boss, Lord Sampson, was known to be ruthless. Father had crossed him a few times before... but always managed to survive.

This time felt different.

"Good morning, Mother. What's going on? Where's Dad? Why are you all crying this early?" I asked, but my words fell on deaf ears.

She didn't answer. Instead, she stared at me with red, swollen eyes and broke into fresh sobs.

I turned to my siblings. "What happened?" I asked again, hoping at least one of them could talk. But they just looked down, weeping silently.

I moved closer to my mother and gently wiped her tears. "Please, tell me what's going on."

She struggled to speak, her voice cracking. "Your father... he's been taken. Lord Sampson's men came for him."

"What? Why?" I asked, confusion twisting in my chest. "They work together. I mean... they're partners, right?"

Her lips quivered. "They said he betrayed the group. Accused him of conspiring with an enemy. They dragged him away... said he'd be executed."

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I knew the mafia world didn't forgive betrayal. And if Lord Sampson made the call himself... then it was already over.

My father had been with the gang for over two years, ever since he lost his job as a chef. Things changed fast after that. He became involved in shady deals, and suddenly, we had more money. But we also had more fear. We lived in constant hiding, watching our backs, dreading police sirens.

Now... the life he chose was about to claim him.

"Where is he now?" I demanded.

My mother looked at me, alarmed. "Kelvin, even if you knew, what could you possibly do? They're not men you go after. Not even the police dares to stop them!"

"I didn't ask for advice," I snapped. "Just tell me where he is."

She shook her head, overwhelmed, and shoved a folded paper into my hand.

I opened it, and my breath caught.

It was a blood pact.