Four years had passed.
Leo Alexander Kane was no longer the man who once walked quietly through the snowy streets of Switzerland. The softness in him had hardened into something sharper, colder. The world now knew him by one title alone "Mafia King".
His father had handed over everything. Power. Territory. Control.
And Leo ruled it all without hesitation.
Inside his private jet, Leo stared out the window as clouds drifted past like fading memories he could never quite reach.
"Sir, we will be landing in Bangalore shortly," Mark informed.
Leo nodded silently.
This trip was purely business. A meeting about new bulletproof vests for his men.
Nothing more.
Nothing personal.
Nothing emotional.
Just business.
Just like always.
The meeting took place inside a large mall. Contracts were signed. Agreements were made.
Efficient. Clean. Done. But his return flight was delayed.
Four hours.
Leo hated waiting.
"Sir, weather delay," Mark said carefully.
Leo exhaled sharply.
"Fine. I'll walk around."
Bodyguards followed from a distance as he walked through the crowded mall. People passed by without knowing who he was.
And he preferred it that way.
For once, he could just exist.
That was when he felt it.
A small tug on his pant.
Leo stopped.
Looked down.
A tiny boy clung to his leg, hiding behind him.
Leo blinked in surprise.
The boy peeked out cautiously.
Big eyes.
Soft cheeks.
Tiny hands gripping his coat.
Something inside Leo softened instantly.
Unexpectedly.
He almost… smiled.
Then he heard a woman shouting.
"Mayank! Mayank! Where are you?!"
Leo understood immediately.
The boy hid deeper behind him.
The woman passed without noticing.
Leo slowly bent down.
The bodyguards moved forward immediately.
Leo lifted one hand slightly.
They stopped.
Leo knelt down in front of the boy.
"Well… hello there," he said quietly.
"Why are you hiding?"
The boy whispered dramatically.
"That monster lady wants to take me home."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"Monster lady?"
The boy nodded seriously.
"I want my mommy. She promised to take me mall and buy toys… but she went to work. I don't like that monster lady. I want my mommy."
Leo chuckled softly.
"I see."
The caretaker lady arrived moments later.
"Mayank! There you are!"
The boy hid again.
"No!"
She sighed.
"Let's buy toys and go home."
"No!"
Leo leaned closer.
"What if… there's a big Iron Man toy?"
The boy froze.
Then slowly looked up.
Eyes shining.
"Really?"
Leo smirked.
"Really."
That day, Leo spent hours with him.
Toys.
Games.
Laughter.
Ice cream.
Leo didn't understand why… but being around him felt peaceful.
Warm.
Real.
Something he hadn't felt in years.
"You're a cute little boy," Leo said.
The boy cutely said.
"You can be my new... Fr.. friend."
Something in Leo's chest tightened.
Eventually, Mayank fell asleep after too much ice cream.
The caretaker gently picked him up.
"Thank you, sir."
Leo nodded.
"I can drop you home."
She shook her head quickly.
"No… his mother will be angry."
Leo watched them leave.
Something felt… empty.
That night in the hotel, Leo couldn't sleep.
Then he remembered. Mayank telling about his school name.
"I go to Aacharya Kids School," Mayank had said proudly.
Leo stared at the ceiling.
Then sighed.
"…Just once more."