DOUBLE TROUBLE

The sun peeked at the East horizon, with warm beams piercing through the fluffy rosy clouds. The birds keep chirping, and the breeze is cool. The first rays of dawn seeped into her room with their golden magic, spreading various hues of silver and gold. The morning was exceedingly beautiful!

Long and dark wavy eyelashes slowly flutter, Sumire wakes up with a beaming smile and felt light within. She feels a sudden feeling of serenity flowing through her veins. All the negative vibes and emotions vanished in just one night. It's like she just got cleanse or whatever.

Her morning is now invigorating that even if she sees the person she loathes, her day won't be ruined. Sumire's smile widened when she remembered how wonderful her dream was last night. She felt like it was real!

The maiden yawned and rose from the white sheet, stretching her body from side to side before getting out of her bed. Sumire sauntered to the window and opened it. The beautiful garden below the room greeted her. Hordes of different floras, fluttering butterflies, and bees were a picturesque sight of her morning.

She can smell the natural scent of flowers from her room. The gentle breeze messes with her midnight hair which cascaded beautifully on her back. The spears of the sun passing through the big tree in the middle of the garden that filters the sunlight feels good, it was warm and not harsh. Her beautiful smile perfectly matches the view of that morning. Sumire recalls her vivid dream and unconsciously brought her fingers, touching her lips. A light frown drew on her face.

"It feels so damn real but I know Mort doesn't know where I am right now. So, it's very impossible of him to be here. Maybe, I just miss him so much." She mumbled, bit gently her thumb, and giggled.

Sumire was in an ecstatic moment reminiscing her dream last night unaware of the door of her room opening. From there, appeared Lyric and Leroy bringing with them a trolley of food.

Pupils dilated, Sumire was surprised to see Leroy and Lyric in her chamber. Gaped, the twins stood stunned and speechless at the sight. The sun was kissing her rosy red cheeks in the bright daylight. She was glowing more beautifully than ever!

The maiden and the twins stare at each other and a moment of silence reigned between them. Sumire couldn't believe in her eyes the twins were here. She broke her gaze and look behind them. The maiden waits for someone else with them. She was expecting Klauss but the twins closed the door.

Sumire gave them an incredulous look, waiting for their explanation that she vaguely remembered requesting their presence in the place.

"Why are you here?" The maiden asked arms crossed on her chest. Leroy and Lyric remained silent on their feet. It is as if their mouths are stapled their lips were firmed into a thin line. Unsmiling, they hesitated to meet her gaze. Sumire raised an eyebrow.

"None of you won't answer." A frown flickers across her forehead, the maiden added in a menacing tone that the twins exchanged glances and gulped one after another.

Leroy and Lyric stare at each other. They exchanged a meaningful look. It's like they're talking through their eyes and the fools understand each other.

"Klauss ordered us," Leroy answered making Sumire frown even more. She doesn't understand why Klauss sent them to her place.

'That white-haired clean freak wants to get rid of me. Don't tell me, he sent them to eliminate me?' Eyes squinted, the maiden suspiciously eyed the twin.

"What for? I don't need you two here." Cold and callous, Sumire said and the twins gulped hard one after another.

Leroy and Lyric are now trembling, not because they are scared of her, but because they are excited to take care of a pregnant woman. The twins think her pregnancy makes her so prickly. Excitement is written all over their face. It's their first time taking care of a pregnant woman so they're just like this. It's like it's just a normal job. But this time, they won't kill. They'll take care of life.

"Narco will be busy these coming days, so we were sent here," Lyric replied smilingly. His gaze shifted to Sumire's belly where the bump was still invisible in her maternity dress. His skin tingled and his eyes sparkled.

"Can I touch it?" Lyric asked like a child with puppy eyes. Crept crawled all over her skin, Sumire quickly covered her stomach with her hand. Protecting her babies from getting corrupted by their weirdness, she steps backward to keep her distance away from the twins.

"Leave," Sumire ordered in a firm tone to Lyric and Leroy.

"After you put the food on the table." The maiden added and waved them away dismissfully. She could smell the familiar dish in the tray again. That recipe belongs to Mort and she assumed Narco cooked it for her before he left.

The twins obeyed her. They left the room after putting down the food and set them on the side table. Leroy closed the door carefully as if it was a sin if they made any unnecessary noises.

"I'm excited to see their babies," Leroy whispered to his twin as he imagined the faces of Mort and Sumire's babies. He has a lot of things to teach them. He is also excited to show his gun collections.

"So am I." Lyric seconded. A gigantic grin spread across his face and both of them throw a fist into the air, running into the hallway and shouting in silence.

While the twins were thinking about how to take care of Sumire, Narco had returned to the Brethren city. And as expected, Klauss greeted him with a strong punch, almost breaking the bridge of his nose that he purposely didn't dodge and just let his fist land on him.

"You have the guts to show up," Klauss said derisively and made a cracking sound on the bones to his right hand he used to punch Narco. He was ready for the second blow when Mort interceded him with a fake cough.

Klauss quickly sat down on the sofa. Narco, on the other hand, just dabbed the blood that came out of his nose and mouth.

"This is too much," Narco complained as he took the dry tissue that Mort handed to him, unconcerned.

"You deserve it," Klauss responded nonchalantly. Lips pursed by suppressed fury, his unwavering glare holding Narco in place.

"Why? I didn't do anything wrong." Narco said as Klauss's eyes bulged from their sockets in anger. Narco makes an innocuous face like he was innocent of the chaos he started.

'What a malice brat.' Klauss gave him unforgiving judgment. Intense anger and irritation surged through him. Although he is used to Narco's habit, Klauss can't help his blood boil in anger and get a headache from the stress Narco gave them.

"Piece of shit," Klauss said and growled at him through clenched teeth. He didn't want to argue with him. He knew his head would just explode in anger.

Narco shut his mouth and sat on the other sofa opposite Klauss. Mort was sitting in his swivel chair. A deafening silence dominates every corner of the office. No one attempted to speak. They just feel each other's presence in the places.

"I heard you are leaving the Underground. Are you going to give up being the Mafia King and give me all your property that has a connection to the Underground?" Narco broke the silence. Klauss's eyes narrowed in anger at Narco's audacity.

"Heard? I told you myself weeks ago." Gaze shifted to the young man, Mort corrected what Narco said.

The young man widely grinned after seeing Klauss's reaction. Astonishment gave place to horror on the secretary's face. Even after hearing about Mort leaving the Underground world several times, Mort's decision seems like a nightmare to Klauss. It's like a medicine he doesn't want to swallow. The truth he will never accept.

'I cannot accept this,' Klauss mumbled in the back of his mind.

Klauss doesn't care who the Boss bequeath all the properties he possesses in the Underground, even if Mort gives them to someone he doesn't know or he just met. He just didn't want to face the fact that his Boss is leaving. And another thing, Mort exiting the Underground is very impossible with so many enemies lurking around. The others haven't come out yet and haven't been involved in the past and recent chaos but Klauss knows that they will eventually and will still come out to hunt Mort. Their nemesis was watching around, waiting for the right time to strike. Some were looking for the opening, Mort's lowest and weakest point. If only they had been able to enter Nort Le Frère, the assassins might have mobbed him there, especially since he was put in a death row cell. They will take advantage of the situation.

"You know it's not that easy," Klauss said with his hands clenched. Mort and Narco shifted their gaze on him simultaneously.

Klauss wants to stop Mort but knows he can't convince him. Nor is Mort so stupid as to be ignorant of the fact that not everything will be easy, especially cutting his ties to the world he grew up. If leaving the Underground would be as easy as catching mice, many people would have left before. The moment someone signs an accord, they are bound to Death and his cold, gruesome world. Their soul is already on a leash with him. If someone dares to leave the Underground, dangers keep tailing on them until their dying breath. Only then did Death stop hunting them.

Mort is different from everyone else. He is a Mafia King. His name is a big catch in the Underground that even the people on the surface want to kill him. Put a price on his head. Klauss knows how difficult it is for Mort to cut his connection to the Underground. Even if he wants a peaceful life with Sumire and their children, that is unlikely to happen. His enemies will keep coming after him and it may endanger his family. If his life with Sumire will be happy, serenely beautiful, and quiet, Klauss knows that it will only last a short period of time. That won't last long.

Klauss massage his temple as his head started to throb in pain again when he thought of Sumire.

"It's your last task, Klauss. Our safety." Mort sarcastically said which made Narco flashed a smirk.

"But you didn't ask me Dad if I will accept your offer. It's tempting, to be honest. But I'm satisfied with my cleaning company." Narco said with a smug as Mort looked at him.

"Well, if you insist. Who am I to refuse?" Narco playfully added and turn his gaze back at Klauss. He even signaled Klauss to get Mort back what he said about the transfer of properties to him. He truly doesn't want it under his possession.

"Damn it." Klauss cursed audibly beneath his breath. He wishes that the chaos in the Underground would not end so that his Boss left with no choice but to stay.

"How about the Aslanovs? Did they agree?" Narco asked as he crossed his arms on his chest. Mort leaned back in his chair and let out a heavy sigh.

"Of course, they didn't. Even though I gave them the deed of sale that belonged to a Mafia King, they unhesitatingly want to possess it. Though Mischa accepted it." Unbothered, Mort answered as Narco frowned at him.

"Is it okay for you to pass on that big burden to Mischa? While you enjoy your life?" Narco asked with a head slightly tilted to the side making Klauss burst into a small chuckle.

"She accepted it without having a second thought. Mischa is aware of what danger the deed of sale will bring to her, yet she happily accepted it. She knows all the grim reapers of Death followed those deeds, yet she still wants it. She is in the Underground. What else will make a Mafia Lord happy besides those treasures?" Jaw greatly dropped in disbelief, Narco and Klauss look at Mort, surprised at what he said. With his absolute unchanging expression, they could perceive their Boss seemed to be madly in love. No doubt about it.

"How about Fergus?" Narco asked even though he already knew that Mort had already wiped out Fergus' men and base. There is a high chance leader from the other clan would avenge him if Fergus is dead.

"You know it already." Mort simply replied with a dead and blank expression. Narco shrugged and shook his head. He turns his gaze to Klauss. The secretary still looks like a frozen statue, unmoved yet bothered in his place.

"What about Laurel?" Narco asked. That name catches Klauss's attention and the secretary no longer bothers to throw a glance at Narco.

"That's her problem." Brows knitting over his arctic pair of eyes, Klauss responded coldly. His expression tightened, thin lips pressing in a line.

"Then, you're really leaving now?" Narco asked directly at Mort. The hunk pours wine into his glass as he walks to the glassed wall of his office. His pair of cold emerald eyes darted on the buildings around down below.

"I have something to do," Mort replied as he sip on the glass of wine. Narco just nodded and did not ask further.

The same heavy, brooding silence descended on them, flooded inside again in the corner of the office after their conversation ended. In the silence, they could hear the clock ticking. The three of them decided not to speak, thinking about what to do and what they did.

Klauss is restless, he felt everything is wasted. From the MDA building they built from scratch and the countless business and properties under his Boss's name. Even if Mort gave it to him, he wouldn't want even one of them if Mort wasn't going to be his Boss. Although Klauss is not a sentimental person, he treasures all the memories they had together, especially when Narco was a young lad when they adopted him. They have become Klauss's family and it seems now he will lose them. He didn't want that to happen. Klauss was just thinking that the photo of the three of them was slowly burning in his mind, he was losing himself in anger.

'Damn.' Head lowered, Klauss gritted at the back of his mind.

"What should I do?" Klauss uttered loudly out of nowhere. Both Mort and Narco were stunned and shifted their gaze to him. They didn't expect that question to come from Klauss. He suddenly became clueless about what he would do in life.

"It's time to make a life of your own. The life you want." Narco replied jokingly with a small hand gesture but his voice sounded serious which made Klauss flustered with anger. Throwing icy daggers at Narco through his hostile glare.

"Do you think it's easy to move forward without the two of you with me?" Klauss said anger thrummed through his veins. He can't bear to watch Mort living a life with Sumire and Narco with them. He is unsure what to do if he'll lose both of them.

Narco and Mort didn't expect that question from Klauss. The father and son exchange glances, blinking excessively. Pushing one another who will tell Klauss.

"Who told you were be left alone?"