3 - Dead Ringer, Uncanny Fate

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA) – 2022, PRESENT DAY

"Hijo, we are going to be late, I know it's a private chopper, but we must still follow the schedule," Mamita Victoria's voice echoed inside an apartment unit where her niece currently lives.

Lucien, who's beside his son's crib watched him play with his teether, until a pat on his shoulder brought him back to them, "Lucien, I will take care of my nephew. Don't worry, cousin, he's safe with me," said Lita, her only cousin from mother's side. She's based in New York and luckily, she is currently working from home.

"It really is not necessary to bother you if only an old lady listened to me," he directed his eyes at his mom, and his cousin laughed.

"Well, you can't win against her, can you? Despite being the mafia boss, you can't beat your mom, cousin," she even teased him while picking the baby up.

Lucien sighed and for one last time, he touched Gadielle's nose and poke the cheeks as he always does, "I'll be back in a week, Lita. See you, angelito."

"Mamita, let's go to that fucking Mexico, so we can immediately get back," then he went out and waited for his mom to come out.

Then they drove to the airport, got on the chopper, and then arrived a Mexico.

***

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco (Mexico) – 2022, PRESENT DAY

After a long hour flight, they finally reached Mexico City. Since it would be only his second time in Mexico, his mom prepared everything in advance, three black SUVs parked near where they landed, and each carried two men wearing black t-shirts and denim pants which made them look like goons.

"Mamita, aren't they too obvious?" he said while peeking at the window. His mom just laughed at his remark and told him before getting off the chopper, "In Mexico, it is best they know you are a mafia. So no one will harm you," using her thick Mexican accent and winked at him.

He sighed. As the boys greeted him, they introduced themselves one by one, and so did he. He got on one of the cars. But his mom rode another one, and before his mom's car left she said something that pissed him off even more,

"They already knew where to go, hijo. They'll take care of you, and in your relaxation, make sure to drop the money at the monastery. Goodbye, hijo," a grin escaped her mom's lips.

"I do what? Damn it! And where the hell are you going? I didn't even want to be here, and now you want me to donate for you, this is stupid, I'm leaving!" he shouted.

But if there's a negotiation he couldn't win, that would be against his mom, "Oh, you will, son! Believe me! You don't want to anger Senora Victoria, do you, son? I'll be meeting my amigas (friends) and find a new wife for you!" and just like that, his mom fled like a vixen.

He kicked the back of the passenger seat, "Goddammit! That old hag tricked me! All she wanted is to find me a woman! I told her I'm already doing it, and now she's rushing it. I just haven't found a perfect fit for angelito, yet!" his fuming anger was released by cussing.

The driver and the other man couldn't begin a conversation knowing his bad temperament. When he noticed it, he opened the communication between them. Luckily, they understand English well.

"So, where to?"

"Uh, we can roam around the city first then drop you at the hotel, then we could pick you up by dinner so you could go to the monastery for donation," said the man in front with a nervous voice.

"No, we go to the monastery first so she won't pester me afterward. Let's get this over with," then he rested his back and closed his eyes as the engine of the car turned on and went on its way.

An hour later he woke up from his nap because of the road hump they bumped into, "Fuck!" he shouted when his head hit the car roof.

"Sorry, boss. The road to the coastal area would be a bumpy one, sorry about this," the driver apologized to him.

He bit his lips and clicked his tongue, "Coastal area? How much longer is this stupid trip?" his mood turned grumpy because of his disturbed nap.

"For about five minutes, we will reach the monastery," they politely answered.

The car went as slowly as possible to avoid the bumpy road. Even the bicycle and the motorcycle drivers avoid this road. In fact, people were quite looking at them since only a few cars came by using this road. So they somehow got some attention.

And as they slow-paced continued Lucien had a chance to see and study the place as his eyes wandered the street. Life in Mexico, especially this part, is way different from what he has in the States.

A few seconds after, people began to jam one corner of the street. Children ran towards the spot, and so did the gentlemen in town, it piqued his interest and he peeked from the window car.

He thought it would be a street vendor selling something, but to his surprise, he saw a nun wearing a unique kind of tunic. In his mind he thought, "I've never seen people getting excited about nuns ever. I would even runaway if I saw one," his naughty mind even commented.

When the nun turned in his direction, and he happened to see her face, he was baffled by the nun herself. He felt his eyes gouge out of the sockets, and his heart fell right on the car floor.

He rolled down the window and even stick his head out as far away as possible just to see clearly. Her face, her brown hazel eyes, her nose, and her lips, everything on her face looked just like hers, and without even knowing he already said to the driver, "Stop the fucking car, pronto!"

And his feet moved out on their own and got off the car, he leaned his back to the car's body and watched her from a distance, "Are my eyes deceiving me? How in the world are you here, my dead wife?"

And unconsciously he murmured allowed, "Cecilia!"

And the man in front answered, "No, boss. Her name isn't Cecilia. That gorgeous woman over there is Camilla Suarez, also known as Sister Cammy. And she's one of the nuns at the monastery you'll be going to," the man even smiled. And they did a fist bump.

They thought he was just mesmerized by her beauty just like other tourists, but little did they know, there's more to his action than that.

Not listening to the man's explanation, Lucien uttered to himself, "I have to know her! I must know her! I must have her!" an evil grin appeared on his face.

He got in the car and as the boss, he demanded the driver, "Hurry up, drive me to that motherfucking monastery and I'll grace that Sister Cammy with my presence, and let's see what she has to say with my generous offer," with a holy mockery in his tone.