She doesn't know about any of her dad's dealings with the mafia and I will make sure she doesn't as long as I am alive.

I laced up my shoes to leave for the hospital with Ana according to the advice of my father the previous day.
My beautiful doll was getting down the stairs. I stole a glance at her pristine features not making myself obvious that I was ogling at her. And my God! She looked breathtaking in that pink blouse and black pants. Her eyes were trained to her fingers which were busy fidgeting with the hem of her top....something that she does when she is tense.  Certain habits from childhood never change and continue to live with you till your grave. I could understand the pain of her. Her dad is about to leave the world and mom though breathing is hardly present among us.

A smart businessman doesn't leave a residue of his feelings in the other person's mind. On the contrary reads the features of his opponent to crack the best deal. Maintaining a stiff upper lip which the rich instilled in their children right from their childhood and not letting anything out was something I learnt right from my childhood.

Keeping a stoical face I proceeded towards the entrance holding Ana's hand and pulled her along with me. Feeling the warmth of her skin gave me solace. I waved to my mother who was standing at the entrance before starting the vehicle.

We went to Uncle Alijandro's room. His eyes were closed and he looked very weak. To say his diseased appearance broke my heart is an understatement. There were various tubes attached to his body. Seeing him in such a vulnerable state made my blood boil. I'm going to kill that bastard. But this was not the time or place to lose my temper. Ana was with me and I don't want her to fear me and run away.

Controlling my emotions I raised my hand to hold uncle's hand. He immediately opened his eyes and gave a weak smile to me. His gaze moved towards Ana and he beckoned her to come near him. As soon as she reached him, he pulled her into a hug and his eyes became glossy. He enquired about her wellbeing and had a small chat with both of us. After a while, he sent Ana to get him his diet from the hospital nutrition department.

I knew it was a reason to keep her away from the truth and my heart started beating rapidly on what was the serious information that I was supposed to receive from him than the poison I had already gulped after coming back home to my
family.

Just like I anticipated, soon after she left, he asked me to close the door.  Holding my hands in his weak, cold ones he brought them to his chest and held my eyes in an appeal. But I seldom knew the words he was going to speak were the words which were going to bring me at sixes and sevens.

"Ulrick, Ana's life is in threat. Robert is going to kill her. She is his next target and he told me about it very clearly. Do anything but save my daughter and fulfill this old man's last wish on his deathbed."

Chapter 7

Ulrick Pov

What did I just hear? Like a bat out of hell, I got up from my seat in utter shock making the chair tumble down behind me. My hands run on my face with a sudden tiredness as I excuse myself from the room to the washroom attached.

Sprinkling water on my face I look at myself in the mirror above the washbasin. My heart was drumming to my ears as if I just ran a marathon.

Uncle Alejandro told me about every incident from the time he got the phone call from Robert to the time of being shot. I am a devil in the disguise of an archangel. Nobody messes with me. Robert's biggest mistake in life was messing with my family, all the more tweaking are, his eyes on Ana.  The nerve of that goat to even think of touching her.  I want to pluck those eyes away so that he doesn't dare to see any girl in his life. Ana is mine - my inner voice growled with temper.

Speech is silver but silence is gold. I do not give speeches like other business moguls on how dangerous I can be, rogues feel the pinch of my actions when the day arises. And regarding Robert, I promise I will make him taste his own piece of shit.

"I am sorry, I had an important call to take." I lied to Alejandro. "Do not worry, I will take care of Ana," I promised and the features of Alejandro relaxed. 

"I took every care to protect my family but all my guards went down when I received a threatening message from the beast. Robert's next target is my daughter, Ana." Alejandro looked completely devastated, while sharing the information with me.

I couldn't believe my ears. Rage took over me. Robert, you touch what is mine and I am going to wreck what is yours. I wanted to scream ripping his hair out of the skull but composed myself.

Keeping my feelings for Ana concealed, I held Uncle Alijandro's cold hand in mine and promised him I would let no harm even reach the threshold of his family. His tensed stature relaxed and he closed his eyes with gratification.

Raking a hand through my thick black hair, I thought of different options that I had. There was turmoil of emotions within me, but in some corner of my heart, I felt happy, because the old man trusted me so much regarding his daughter.

There was a knock at the door and Ana entered the room with a tray of food for her dad. He meekly smiled at her and ...