CHAPTER 3

The Sil clan survived because of the Ndranghetas, that in itself is fact that can't be argued about and without them…

The Casa Sil would have been destroyed long ago.

“You see, children do not understand the love and respect they are shown till they have lost it totally and that right now is what we are seeing in our little princess who is still living in her delusional world with a belief system that everything is meant to fall at her feet” Mrs. Gaia continues speaking as she now rest her head on Mr. Tommaso's back.

Azzura stared at her mother in disbelief at what she is seeing “you call this love mother?” she whispered painfully under her breath both both parent heard her clearly.

Mrs. Gaia ignored the question, instead she wrapped her arms gently around Mr. Tommaso while speaking calmly.

“My lovely husband I do understand that we owe the Ndrangheta’s so much for the safety and security but have you considered if they feel grateful to us also for saving them in their worst time?” Mrs. Gaia asked in a flirty whisper.

Mr. Tommaso’s expression shifted slightly as the memories clearly struck him deeply.

Years ago before his friend Mr Giovanni of the Casa Ndrangheta rose to become this untouchable, Mr. Tommaso had saved his life twice during one of the bloodiest wars in Mafia history.

Back then Giovanni was hunted from all sides, betrayed, cornered by different organizations and almost died because of a mistake he made back then.

But Mr. Tommaso had protected him putting his life on the line to make sure he doesn't die even before realizing he was the heir of the biggest Mafia Family in the world.

And from that day onward, the Ndranghetas never forgot the great hero who saved their lineage.

“Do you think so darling?” Mrs. Gaia asked clearly this time as she moved forward to look directly at Mr. Tommaso who seemed to be so quiet with a creased face clearly showing that he is deeply in thought of such possibilities.

REMINISCING

“Tom you have been a really good friend to me and my household as a whole” Mr Giovanni said “i consider you my savior for so many years and not even a soul knew that you saved my life in my worst times I am really grateful for this” Mr Giovanni said to Mr Tommaso as they both sat in the room that opened to the balcony of Mr Giovanni’s mansion as they held glasses filled with wines.

The room itself carried the intimidating aura of the Ndrangheta mansion as dark wooden walls stretched high toward the ceiling while ancient paintings of past clan leaders hung proudly like silent witnesses observing the conversation between the two powerful men.

The faint scent of expensive cigars floated heavily through the air as golden lights from the chandelier reflected softly against the polished black marble floor of the room.

Outside the room armed guards stood like statues, silent and ever alert with a deadly posture ready to bounce on any intruder who dares to misbehave.

Rain poured heavily outside the giant glass windows while thunder rumbled faintly across the dark sky.

“Ohh please Gio you don't have to compliment me to such extent… it is some thing I do not regret doing and I will be more than willing to do it again and again if need be” Mr Tommaso replied.

“After all we have been friends for decades and helping each other isn't something to worry about at all after all I helped before I even knew you were the heir to the Casa Ndrangheta”

Mr. Tommaso said as he smiled lightly lifting the wine glass toward Giovanni before taking another sip of the wine.

But deep inside him…he still remembered that terrible night years ago the night he saved Giovanni, the very one that carried the most danger.

The blood, gunfire and chaos that it carried..the memory remained fresh no matter how many years had passed and the pains still stayed.

Mr Giovanni had been ambushed by rival clans after a business meeting that had gone wrong and nearly every one of his men had died protecting him while bullets tore through the streets endlessly.

Mr Tommaso had arrived at the perfect moment when Giovanni had lost all hope of being saved as backup was not coming just yet.

Mr Tommaso remembered pulling Mr Giovanni into an hidden underground tunnel beneath an abandoned church while enemies searched everywhere above them.

Back then Mr. Giovanni was not the untouchable monster the world feared today, back then he was still learning and he was vulnerable, young and wounded but in ego and knowledge by those who had been before him in the game.

Mr. Tommaso had protected him without hesitation that night.

“That’s true Tom and I will want to appreciate you again for that, and it is based on this friendship that I had thought about this matter deeply” Mr Giovanni said as he puts down the glass of wine, turning his full view to face Mr Tommaso.

“You see I have been thinking and I had decided to bring us closer and to join our forces more, we can build a stronger clan that will be able to last for centuries without end”