A fifteen—year old boy with striking features stood in the center of his room, a gleaming pistol in his hand.He spun it playfully, the way he had seen in movies, then leveled it at the door with a cocky grin, mimicking a practiced stance.The door creaked open.A woman in her fifties entered, wearing a white uniform and an apron tied neatly at her waist. She balanced a tray with a glass of milk and a plate of cookies.Her eyes widened. The tray slipped from her hands and crashed to the floor, the broken pieces scattering like the panic rising inside her."Matteo" she gasped "what are you doing with that?"Matteo grinned "It's okay, Nanny Laura. We just finished practice with Godfather" he said, as if that explained everything. "It's not loaded" he added quickly, lifting the barrel toward the ceiling with a flourish.But Laura didn't relax. Her hands trembled as she stepped forward. "Please, Matteo. Give me the gun" Matteo laughed and darted away, the weapon still in his grasp "Come
Damian entered first, followed by two men dressed in black. They moved silently, each step measured, their heads bowed slightly in respect "Don Silvio" Damian greeted Silvio stood up, his gaze cold and unwavering. He walked toward them and gestured to the lifeless body on the floor. "Get rid of it" he said “And leave no trace” The men nodded silently and got to work.Silvio turned to Elena "Take him home" he said, jerking his head toward Tiziano "Don't let him drive."Elena responded with a sharp nod, already turning to Tiziano, who had gotten to his feet and was making his way to the door. She gave Jia a small, tired smile."Goodbye," she said quietly.Jia nodded and waved, watching them disappear through the door Silvio didn't wait. "Let's go" he muttered, already moving.Jia grabbed her purse and followed.Out in the parking lot, Silvio slid behind the wheel of his black car without a word. Jia climbed into the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt. The engine started with a
As the girl attempted to move, Silvio's hand shot out, gripping her neck with a vice-like hold. His face was as cold as stone as he hissed "Who sent you?" The girl didn't flinch. Her gaze met his unflinchingly."No one" she replied, her voice steady."Start talking now, or I will make you regret it" Silvio growled, his grip tightening."I told you, no one sent me" she snapped, her voice rising.Without warning, Silvio raised his other hand and struck her cheek. The slap rang out through the room. The girl's face turned, her hair, once neatly tied back..spilling across her shoulder.To everyone's shock, she suddenly burst into laughter. "You want to know who I am?" she taunted, her eyes darting over to the three stunned faces behind Silvio. She met his gaze and smirked "I'm Eva, daughter of Laura-the woman you murdered all those years ago in Romano's mansion" For a split second, guilt flickered in Silvio's eyes but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by a cold, unreadable mask.Beh
Tiziano reached back and gently took her hand, guiding her toward the table. He slid into the seat across from Silvio; Elena lowered herself stiffly into the chair across from Jia, her pulse thudding in her ears.Jia leaned back, eyes flicking between the two of them. Elena offered a quick, strained smile, then tucked her hand beneath the table, curling it into a fist. Tiziano hadn't told her they had be meeting them tonight. How was she supposed to explain this?The silence broke as Silvio leaned lazily in his chair."So, what's going on?"Tiziano's mouth curved into a quiet smile. Without a word, he reached under the table, took Elena's hand and laced his fingers with hers. Then, he brought their joined hands onto the table.Jia's eyes widened. Her hand flew to her mouth"Are you two... together?" "Yes" Tiziano replied simply, glancing at Elena.She managed a nod, her lips still shaped in a polite, uneasy smile."Wow" Jia said, turning to Elena "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"Ele
In the early morning light, Mira drove into her compound, parked and stepped out. Dressed in fitted gym wear that clung to her rounded belly, she opened the backseat and pulled out her gym bag. She paused, inhaled deeply, then walked inside.She headed straight to her room, dropped the bag on the bed and made her way into the bathroom. But the moment she stepped in, she froze.Her breath caught.Painted in bold, bloody strokes across the mirror were the chilling words: YOU ARE A MURDERER. YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED.Mira stumbled back, one hand slamming against the wall, the other cradling her swollen belly. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Panic gripped her lungs.Suddenly, the doorbell rang—sharp, loud, insistent.She gasped, heart pounding. Still breathless, she bolted out of the bathroom, snatched the bedside lamp like a weapon and crept toward the living room. Her bare feet barely made a sound as she crossed the space to the front door.Peering through the peephole, she saw a deliver
Forcing a smile, she looked at the director. "Yes, I'm Single"The director's lips curled "That's great news. How about I introduce you to my handsome nephew?" he said, placing a hand on her bare shoulder.Before she could respond, Tiziano's fork clattered loudly against his plate, the sharp noise slicing through the conversation and drawing every gaze to him. He lifted his head slowly, eyes locking on Elena then on the director's hand resting far too familiarly on her off-shoulder playsuit.His expression darkened. A muscle jumped in his jaw as his hand curled into a fist. For a moment, he looked ready to strike but he forced himself still.A cold tension rolled off him, and Elena felt it like a sudden chill in the air. Without a word, she shrugged the director's hand from her shoulder The director turned to Tiziano, brow raised "Is everything all right, Mr. Tiziano?""I have lost my appetite" Tiziano said, his voice cold as ice. He stood, took two steps, then paused. Without fully