A Shotgun Wedding with the Mafia Don-Chapter 46: To start a new life

Bright light cascaded across the dark room from the surrounding high windows, illuminating the middle of the warehouse like a spotlight.

Rows of assorted powerful guns in varying sizes were displayed on a rectangular table as if they were conducting a bargain sale. On the corner, behind the shadow, dozens of unopened crates awaited their designated buyer.

Millions worth of arms were at stake for today’s negotiation.

"These are the last batch, Oliver." Jacob picked up one of the Glock pistols, eyeing its slick and modern design. Then, he released and reloaded the magazine, admiring its improved features.

"Mr. Rodriguez said that these are the latest in the market." His friend added, taking note of the high quality of the products.

He also grabbed a smart shotgun that featured a built-in computer chip, which could collect data regarding the gun’s performance and then record video through a camera mounted on its barrel, transmitting all the information to a smartphone.

"If we could dispose of this tonight, we would be able to cover the losses from the last shipment," Jacob said, referring to the shipment that was intercepted by the authorities. Then, his friend put the piston back before checking another one.

"So, do we have a confirmation of the buyer?" He asked, wanting everything to run smoothly. The last thing he needed was another mishap. "You know how important this deal is." Reminding his friend that there was no room for another mistake.

"I assure you that this deal will run without a hitch," Jacob said confidently as he finally concluded his inspection.

"Come on, I need a drink." He said, still feeling tense despite his friend’s reassurance.

Once inside the small room that served as his office, he opened a small cabinet where he kept a bottle of whiskey. It was dusty and already half empty.

"I guess this will have to do." Since there was nothing else.

Dusting off the surface, he opened the bottle and chugged the golden liquid down into his mouth, feeling the burning sensation as it went down through his throat.

Fuck!

It was strong, but it was exactly what he needed.

"Okay, spill it out." His friend suddenly said, grabbing the bottle out of his hand. "Something’s bothering you, but I doubt this deal has anything to do with it." Pouring the drink into his mouth just like he did.

After downing one more drink, he finally shared his growing concern and suspicion with his friend, unable to keep it to himself.

"So, let me get this straight, Oliver." His friend paused, confused. Puzzled.

His facial expression slightly distorted as if he could not believe what he just heard.

"You’re saying that Sophia reminded you of Amelia." Jacob looked at him as if he had grown an antenna and turned green. An alien that his friend couldn’t recognize. "Do you think Sophia is Amelia?

That was the question that had kept buzzing in his mind. A thought that had haunted him since he saw her.

"I know it sounds crazy, but Sophia really reminds me so much of Amelia." He finally shared with his friend what had been bothering him for days.

Last night, as she slept beside him, he could not help but study her face. It was different in some ways, but similar in another way, if that even made sense.

"Sometimes, I think Sophia is Amelia." He confided his confusion.

Every time he looked into Sophia’s eyes, it felt as if he was staring directly into Amelia’s soul.

Every time he felt her touch, her kiss, and even just her presence, he immediately thought of Amelia. As if she were there with him.

"Is it even possible?" Jacob asked, as his eyes narrowed as if he was putting two and two together.

"I don’t know, Jacob. But it is too much of a coincidence that they were so much alike." He just couldn’t shake off the feeling that there must be some sort of connection between the two.

There must be a reason why he felt this way.

"But think about it, Oliver, Sophia is a supermodel, while Amelia..." His friend didn’t dare to finish his statement, thinking he might get offended. "There’s no way they are the same person."

Of course, he was well aware of their huge difference, but the glaring similarity was also there.

"Yeah, you might be right." He took another shot of the strong whiskey. "Maybe I’m just overthinking it."

"Or maybe..." Jacob paused and stared at him as if he had just solved the puzzle. "You are really starting to like Sophia." Then, he paced the room as if he had it all figured out. "And you’re feeling guilty that you’re replacing Amelia with Sophia in your heart."

"Wow! How did you come up with that? Dr. Phil." He grabbed the first thing his hand could grasp on the table and hurled it at his friend. But kidding aside, his friend made an interesting point.

Did he want Sophia to be Amelia so he wouldn’t feel guilty of liking her?

Was he really starting to like Sophia in the first place?

Really like her?

"Excuse me, Sir, but the buyers are here." One of his men cut into their private conversation, letting them know that their guests had arrived.

"Let’s go. The show is about to start." Jacob said, draining the bottle of its last drop before dropping it on the floor.

Soon, they stood before their prospective client, who was interested in buying their last shipments off their hands.

"You won’t find a better deal than this." He said to the buyer. His eyes followed the other men as he examined the gun samples.

In truth, the last thing he wanted was to sell all these illegal armaments to the black market. But as the Mafia Don, that was what was expected of him.

It was the reason he tried to escape his birthright. He didn’t want this kind of life. But he still ended up inheriting everything.

If only he could change his fate.

If only Amelia hadn’t betrayed and left him.

Maybe they would be living in some small city, in a small house with a white picket fence.

They would probably be happily building a simple life with their four children and a dog.

"Okay then, we have a deal." The buyer signaled for his men to proceed with the payment, and the transaction concluded without any bloodshed.

After the buyer completed the payment, he left Jacob and his men to handle the rest and left.

It was still early, so he decided to pick up a few things before going home.

As he was driving through the front gate of the mansion, he still could not stop thinking about what his friend had said earlier.

"I do like her." He finally admitted, saying it out loud. "Really like her." He concluded.

Did it mean he was ready to move on from Amelia?

Well, it was the only way to make their marriage work. He had to stop obsessing about Amelia if he wanted a future with Sophia.

As soon as he stopped by the front door, he grabbed the flowers and the bags from the passenger side and walked straight into the foyer, wondering where he would find his wife.

"Dad, you’re home." His son greeted him even before he saw him, running towards him. "Is that for me?" He quickly asked when he saw the paper bag with a toy inside.

"Yeah, I saw it and immediately thought you might like it." It had been a while since he had surprised his son.

Actually, he had never personally bought him any toy before. Usually, his assistant did that for him. Then, he was guilty of not spending time with him because he had been too busy with work.

This time, he promised to change.

"Is that for Mom?" Caleb eyed the flowers in his other hand. "Oh, I’m sure she’s going to love that." His son eagerly said as he started pulling him toward the garden.

But his wife was not outside. In fact, Sophia was nowhere to be found as his son pulled and pushed him from one room to another.

"She’s probably busy. I’ll just give this later." He stopped Caleb and pulled him to the garden to sit, before his son started dragging him again upstairs.

"Well, can you help me fix my toy, Dad?" His son pulled the box and placed it on the table.

It was a building block set that turned into dinosaurs. He had recently discovered that his son was fascinated with those ancient, extinct creatures.

"Sure. Come on, let’s work on it." He sat next to his son and helped him connect the small pieces together.

When was the last time he had been this close to his son?

Yes, he visited Caleb at the hospital when he was sick. He attended school affairs occasionally. He even tucked his little boy to sleep.

But he never truly spent more than five minutes at his side. He had never given his full attention to his son. Not like this.

"Wait!" Caleb stopped him, grabbing the black piece from his hand. "That’s wrong. It should go here." His son corrected him.

For more than half an hour, he had been arguing with Caleb about almost everything, which, truthfully, was the most fun he had had with his son for a long time.

How did he miss doing this?

Playing with his son.

Well, that had to change.

He was done, proving to his father that he was the rightful heir.

He was finished searching for Amelia and their son.

He was moving on from his past.

From this point on, he only wanted to start a new life.

To build a family with the two most important people in his life.

His wife and son.

Sophia and Caleb.