THE RETURN OF THE ESPOSITO'S HEIR

Chapter 10

Johnny raised his eyebrows as his mother ran and hugged him.

“Johnny, I miss you.” Valentina burst into tears.

The manager and the soldiers were stunned. The man who called the police, urinated in his trouser. Johnny embraced his mother and couldn’t hold his tears for long. The officers motioned everyone to give Valentina and her son privacy. And everyone left, including the officers, except for Alex.

“Why did you leave me? Thought you had followed your father. Is it true that Kai died?” Valentina looked at Johnny’s pale face, her hands resting on his cheeks.

“I am a failure. I couldn’t protect him as I couldn’t save Dad.” Tears brimmed his eyes, cascading down.

Valentina embraced him and cried.

“But I will protect you, Mom. Even if it would cost my life.”

“It’s okay.” Valentina cleaned her flowing tears till they reduced. “Why are you here?”

“Kai’s grandfather wanted me to bring his corpse. The only safest way to take Kai to Georgetown was to fly a private helicopter. And I’m here to buy one.”

“This is your father’s company. Your company. Take anything you want. Just tell me when you would visit me.”

“I need to hide my identity-“

“I understand. Kai had explained everything to me. No officers would reveal your identity. Just when? I want you to visit me.”

“Would find time, Mom.”

“There’s something I need to tell you. It’s very important. I want you to hear it before it’s too late.”

“Tell me here.”

Valentina looked into her son’s eyes and felt the motherly love she always feels anytime she stares into Johnny’s charming blue eyes. His eyes were like his father’s.

“No. I don’t want to break your heart again,” Valentina said.

“What do you mean?”

“I need to go now before the journalists arrive. Please promise me you would visit me soon.”

Johnny nodded and watched her mother rushing into the police car. The policemen hurried there and drove their cars away, leaving Johnny and Alex among the soldiers, who had already bowed for Johnny.

The manager went on his knees and kowtow before Johnny. “I deserve punishment. Please forgive me.”

Johnny looked at the man who insulted him first. “What’s your name?”

The man trembled, and kowtow before John. “Sebastian. Please spare my life. This is my bad.”

“Is this how you treat the customers?” Johnny asked.

“No. It’s a mistake.”

“Which punishment should I give you?”

“Anyone, but please don’t suspend me from working here. I don’t have another job to feed my family.”

“Jump like a frog for five hours. Say nothing. Just do as I say. These soldiers would monitor you.”

Sebastian widened his mouth and dare not utter a word before he was taken away by the soldiers.

Johnny looked at the manager, who was still on his knees, and said, “Stand up. I need a good helicopter now.”

“Follow me please,” the manager said and quickly took them to a large field where many helicopters were. “They’re working perfectly, sir.”

“It’s fine. You can go home now.”

“Sir? It’s not yet time for me to go home.”

“I must not meet you in this company again.”

The manager knelt again while Johnny ignored him and entered a helicopter with Alex.

After five hours, Alex and Johnny were in the air, flying Kai’s corpse to Georgetown. When they got to Georgetown, the old master stopped his martial arts students from attacking Johnny, for they blame him for Kai’s death.

Alex explained to the old master that Lucas didn’t kill Kai. He also said Johnny once stop Lucas from killing Kai, but the old master didn’t believe it.

Johnny humbled himself, wept, and promised to take revenge on Kai.

“We don’t need revenge. And don’t come here again,” the old master said.

“Master, please understand me,” Johnny said.

The old master closed his eyes. “Just leave now.”

Johnny rose and entered the helicopter with Alex, and they flew back to Florida. Alex landed the helicopter back at the Fly Flapper company, and they returned to Kai’s house at night.

“This is a chance for us to relocate to the underground house. It’s dangerous for us to live in this house. No one knows when the enemies would attack,” Stella said.

“Boss, what do you think about what Stella suggests?” Sean asked.

Johnny, who was staring out of the broken glasses window, looked back. “You haven’t told me about who killed Kai, and why?”

“We would tell you everything in the underground room,” Alex said.

Johnny sighed. “I’m ready to go.”

“Would we be living there now? Should I follow you?” Hannah asked.

Johnny looked at Hannah. “Do you want to stay?”

Hannah shook her head.

They walked out and entered the bus, while Sean turned the key in the ignition, speeding off the estate.

“Johnny, do you have a crush?” Hannah asked.

“Need to rest,” Johnny said and closed his eyes.

“Won’t bother you.” Hannah then touched Alex. “Do you have a crush?”

Alex smiled. “Sure! You wanna know how I -“

“A silence, please,” Johnny cuts in.

And no one make a sound. Hannah makes Johnny remember Chaya, the lover girl. He realized he missed her.

After a while, Johnny dismissed the thought of Chaya as a wrong number, but couldn’t stop the feeling.

Sean slammed on the break before a mansion. “Here we are!”

They came out of the car and walked into the stunning mansion.

“Kai built this with the money you gave him,” Alex said.

Johnny sighed. “How would we get to the underground? Can’t wait to know who’s behind his death.”

In the sitting room, Sean gave Alex a remote and motioned everyone to move to the door.

They watched Alex click on a green button thrice, and the ground parted itself, revealing beautiful long stairs.