Chapter 2

I was smiling, daydreaming about the bright future ahead, when, suddenly, the door was kicked open with a loud bang.

My brain froze as I turned around and saw a massive Mastino charging toward me.

Just as the dog knocked me to the ground, I noticed a young man leaning lazily against the doorframe. He looked a little childish but already exuded an air of toughness. His muscular arms were covered with two crossed pistol tattoos.

At that moment, he was looking at me with disdain.

He was Pardo Vicino, Alano's only son.

If all went well, he'd be the next Don of the Vicino family in a few years.

Suddenly, Pardo's expression shifted. He looked surprised and asked, "Why didn't it attack you?"

The Mastino was known for its ferocity. In the mafia world, it was often raised as a fighting dog. In my last life, this very dog had killed many traitors within the family, earning a reputation as a deadly killer.

But now, as Pardo asked his question, I was sitting up, holding the dog in my lap.

"It's so cute. What's its name?" I asked.

"Shado," he blurted, then raked a hand through the stray hairs on his forehead, his expression clouding with regret.

Shado sat on my lap, rubbing its big head against my shoulder. I took some jerky out of my pocket and fed it to the dog, which then sat quietly, focused on chewing its treat.

In my last life, to ensure my safety, I'd lived and slept with a Mastino for years. I knew how to handle it better than Dario.

I looked up at Pardo. "Ciao, Pardo. I'm Livia."

His initial disdain turned into curiosity. "You're that orphan? You're brave. I'll give you that. You even managed to tame Shado. How did you do it?"

Pardo, Alano's spoiled only son, had a straightforward yet ruthless personality.

In my last life, under peer pressure, he agreed to race in the mountains and ended up in a car accident that cost him both legs. Confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, he grew even more ruthless, earning the nickname "Grim Reaper" within the mafia.

Not hearing a response from me, he scoffed and said, "Shado, let's go."

In just a few days, school would start again. Before that, Sabele took me on a tour of the estate to familiarize me with every corner of the mansion.

During these days, I didn't see Pardo or Shado. I also didn't encounter Alano or Imelda. They seemed to be busy with their own affairs.

Soon after returning to my room, there was another knock on the door. Sabele entered and handed me a digital tablet with various schedules on it.

"Ms. Vicino, these are the training plans arranged by Donna Vicino for you. She hopes you'll grow quickly during this time. Please take a look and determine if it's achievable."

"I can do it," I replied without hesitation.

Looking at the packed schedule on the tablet, I felt excitement bubbling inside me. In my last life, though I had climbed to the ranks of the nouveau riche, the mafia family's training was a world completely closed off to outsiders.

Now, I had direct access to it without having to work for it. How could I not be thrilled?

Sabele shot me a meaningful look, then continued with some additional instructions.

The next few days were hectic. I was like a circus performer, juggling countless tasks. I absorbed knowledge as if I were a sponge.

I woke up every morning to run drills and spent my days in school. After classes, the driver, Gildo Labate, took me to the shooting range and boxing ring. Even after returning home, there were tutors to teach me about the family history and how to better assist Pardo.

While I was learning, I also resumed my efforts online. In my last life, I was known as a rising star in the AI industry, but secretly, I was the world's top hacker.

I finally saw Alano and Imelda again a month later when my test results came in.

Imelda smiled and waved when she saw me. "Livia, come sit."

I walked over and sat on the nearby couch.

She asked gently, "How's the studying going?"

I handed her the various test results I had from my bag.

Imelda looked through the perfect scores and gave me a satisfied smile. "Very good. I knew I made the right choice with you. Pardo has been thoroughly spoiled by his papa and me. He's quite naive, so I'll need you to guide him whenever necessary."

She was well aware of Pardo's clueless nature and hoped I could help manage him.

"Once he becomes the Don, you'll be the Underboss. What do you think?"

With a composed smile, Imelda laid her demands and her bargaining chips flat on the table.

Without a moment of hesitation, I immediately responded, "Sure, Mamma."

She smiled again and nodded in approval.