1 THE MYSTERIOUS EYES

"What a long day!" Adriana exclaimed as she wiped her face continuously with the white hanky in her hand.

She looked around the restaurant and smiled at the disorganized chairs and tables. This simply means a lot of people visited her restaurant today, it was really a great thing to her.

Adriana plopped herself down on the nearest chair and exhaled loudly, then a smile spread on her face as she realized the amount she had made for the day.

For three years, she had been managing this restaurant all by herself and she could say it was the best thing ever. She was a great cook, and she decided to put that talent into use and she could proudly say people loved her meals.

Just as she was still dwelling on her little achievements, two little figures entered the restaurant and a blonde-haired boy banged the table loudly.

"Seriously? You wanna sell us off?" Emelio questioned, his voice startling Adriana who already broke out of her reverie.

"Emelio? Gosh, you startled me!" She slapped her forehead and stared at the two identical boys before her.

They both had a grave expression on their face and that was when her mind went back to Emelio's words.

"What do you mean by me selling you off? You know it's never gonna be possible," she smiled lightly.

"Not until you have to give us a detail reason as to why you're taking us to Aunt Alessia's place" Emiliano was the one who spoke this time around.

"Alessia? Is that what this is all about?" Adriana laughed. She got to her feet and walked round the counter before finally facing her little boys. She bent to their level and held their shoulders each.

"Listen kiddies, Mommy wanna rest, okay? Besides, Alessia has been all over my neck, asking you guys to spend some weeks with her, I couldn't decline," She spoke softly.

"But, who's gonna help you at the restaurant? I'm not leaving you, Mommy, I wanna stay with you," Emiliano pouted.

"Hey c'mon, Mommy is gonna be fine. You're all grown ups, you should enjoy yourselves," Adriana smiled. Emiliano nodded gently and she glanced at Emelio who wasn't even giving her a glance.

"Emelio…" she called softly.

"You already know my answer, Mommy. I'm not going to Aunt Alessia's place and that's final!" With that, he walked out of the restaurant.

Adriana sighed and looked at Emiliano who smiled at her in return.

"I'm going to talk to him, you don't have to worry, Mommy," he spoke out. Adriana smiled before hugging him briefly.

"Go after your brother, I'm closing up soon," she said. Emiliano kissed her cheek and instantly dashed out of the restaurant.

Adriana smiled before getting to her feet. Being a single mother of two boys wasn't an easy job. Stressful? Tiring? Exhausting? Call it whatever you like, but it was the best thing in the world.

Emelio and Emiliano were identical twins. She gave birth to them seven years ago and to her, it was the greatest thing ever. The twins were of different characters but she loves them equally.

Adriana glanced around the restaurant, the only thing left for her was to just clean up the messy place and then close up. She needed to prepare dinner for her kids.

••••••••

Night arrived and as Adriana prepared to tuck herself into bed, the door creaked open and her little boys trotted in with their teddy bears in their hands.

"Emelio? Emeliano?" She sat up as they walked to the bed where she lay. Emelio climbed the bed and laid by her right side, Emiliano did by her left side, they both hugged her to themselves.

"Okay, what's going on? I thought you were giving Mommy a cold shoulder?" She stifled a laugh as Emelio hugged her tighter.

Earlier, when she had gotten home, Emelio had refused to acknowledge her, he was a stubborn kid, she could admit. He only ate little out of the dinner she prepared and disappeared afterwards.

"I don't wanna go to Aunt Alessia's," Emelio whispered, snuggling closer into her body.

Adriana sighed and caressed his blonde hair. Just like his Father - a voice said within her.

She cleared her throat and then asked, "Is there any reason why you don't wanna go to Alessia's place?" She asked gently.

Emelio nodded against her chest and she immediately got curious. Was Alessia mistreating her kids behind her back?

"I'll miss you," Emelio whispered,leaving her stunned. Okay, this was the reason?

"Emelio," she giggled. She faced Emiliano whose head was on her shoulder.

"You're gonna miss me too?" She asked him. She felt him smiles before he replied.

"I'm missing you enough as it is," he whispered.

Adriana laughed loudly and immediately held them to herself, rocking them like a newborn baby.

"You should know Mommy is gonna miss you more. But, you need to go, Alessia misses you a lot. Besides, I'm really going to be happy if you do so,"

Having said that, they both raised their heads simultaneously, their icy blue eyes staring into hers. How much those eyes reminds her of their Father.

"You'll be happy if we go there?" They asked in unison. She nodded her head and they both smiled.

"Then, I'm going! I want you to be happy always," Emelio muttered.

"Your happiness is our greatest priority," Emiliano mumbled.

"Then, it's a yes?" Adriana asked slowly

"Yes!!" They both screamed and she laughed. That night, her boys slept in her arms.

••••••••

BLACK ACE MOB≈11PM

The whole area was as silent as a graveyard. Even with darkness hovering around the entire place, a figure sat on a leather chair, smoking heavily.

The smell of cigarettes rented the whole air but that doesn't seemed to bother him as he sat there, smoking as though the world was coming to an end.

Like he was expecting, the door flung open and two of his gang members entered, holding a black box bag respectfully.

"We're back, Don" Bullet spoke out. With a nod of his head, Bullet and the other member whose name is Poison both walked forward and placed the bag on the table before the Don.

"Leave," they left the room with no other words, leaving Don Riccardo all alone in the room.

Riccardo threw the stick of cigarettes into a plastic before him and got to his feet. He walked to the table and took his time in opening the bags.

He smiled when his eyes held in its contents. He had just sent his members out on a mission. They were to make a bargain with another Lord but due to his connections, he found out the other Lord was trying to trick him into killing his members and then eloping with his money.

But, Riccardo was smarter, instead he played along. He had tricked the other Lord and successfully took his money with theirs (double folds).

With a smile on his face, he walked to the window and stared at the stars illuminating the moon.

"Mission accomplished" he said to himself.

•••••••

LEON'S KITCHEN≈NEXT DAY

"Be good, okay?" Adriana said to her boys as they prepared themselves to go for their holiday.

Alessia arrived an hour ago and after spending a little time with them, she decided that they needed to leave before it got too late.

"We should be saying that to you, if you need any help, call us and we're going to run back, alright?" Emelio said more like in a scolding manner.

Alessia laughed as she stared at them in adoration. She would say her cousin's children were so amazing.

"Roger that," Adriana saluted. Emelio and Emiliano rushed to her and hugged her at once.

"We're gonna miss you, Mommy," they chorused. Adriana smiled and held their bodies

"Mommy is gonna miss you more," she whispered.

"Okay kids, it's getting late, we need to leave now," Alessia said, causing them to break the hug.

Emelio and Emiliano both entered the car and Alessia faced Adriana.

"Take care of my boys for me, please" Adriana said while Alessia hugged her. Soon, she entered the car and drove off with the twins waving at Adriana till the car disappeared out of sight.

Adriana sighed. She was missing them already, three weeks ain't a joke. She heaved a sigh before entering the restaurant, it was almost evening which means she'd be closing soon.

Meanwhile, unknown to her, a black Limousine sped across the restaurant, an icy blue eyes lingering on the figure who had just entered the restaurant.