Lucia gently squeezing his hand as they walked to the car ,“You don’t have to pretend, Andretti. I saw how much that rattled you.” Andretti said, his eyes focused ahead, “I said I’m fine, Lucia. It’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before.”* Lucia stopped, she tugged his hand to make him face her, “But it is something, Andretti. I could see how much it affected you. You don’t have to carry this on your own.”Andretti stopped ,turning toward her but avoiding her eyes. His breathing was heavy, his mind racing with old memories and anger he thought he’d buried long ago. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.Andretti, his voice pitched lower, more vulnerable “Every time I’m near him… it’s like I’m back in that house, powerless. He knows exactly how to get under my skin.” Lucia answered softly, “He was cruel. What he said… I can’t imagine how many times you’ve heard things like that from him.”“More times than I can count. And it’s not just words, Lucia. It’s the way he’s always
Andretti could not sleep that night, meeting his Father was unsettling, he should have known he would be there, it was his Father's birthday and his grandfather had no grievances against him, even his brother. They would not understand the hurt he went through as a child. He would not forget what happened when he was Ten, how one day he stood nervously in his father’s private office, he could vividly remember the dark, wood-paneled room filled with heavy furniture and an ever-present haze of cigar smoke. His father sitting behind an imposing oak desk, casually lighting a cigar as he surveys paperwork. The dim lighting casts deep shadows across the room, creating an air of both luxury and menace. Andretti fidgety, his small hands clenched into fists at his sides, his school uniform rumpled from a day that didn’t go well. His heart racing as he prepared to tell his father about what happened at school, his mother knew what had happened earlier told him to go and meet his father, kn
It had been days since Andretti's grandfather's birthday, Lucia sat at the kitchen table, staring at her half-eaten breakfast. The smell of toast and coffee, usually so comforting, now made her stomach turn. She pushed the plate away, pressing her fingers to her temples as a dull headache pulsed behind her eyes. Lately, everything had felt off—small waves of nausea in the mornings, a strange fatigue she couldn’t shake, and an odd sense of queasiness at the smell of certain foods. Her hand drifted absentmindedly to her abdomen as she tried to make sense of it. She’d been feeling this way for days, but today it felt more intense. The queasiness hit again, stronger this time, and she quickly stood up, but the sudden motion left her dizzy. She clutched the back of her chair for balance, feeling lightheaded, her heart pounding softly in her chest. Lucia sank back down, eyes wide with a dawning realization. Her period—she hadn’t even thought about it, but now it seemed so obvious. How lon
Two hours after she called him, he came back to the house. "Dr Roberto is close by", he said as he walked up to her. He seemed genuinely worried about her. "It's probably fever", she said, trying to make him less anxious. As they sat in the room, waiting for the doctor, the atmosphere in the room is thick with tension. The quiet ticking of the clock on the wall seems louder, each second stretching out endlessly. Lucia sat on the bedside couch, her legs curled beneath her, her hand resting on her abdomen. The usually plush cushions feel stiff beneath her as if they too are tense with anticipation. She shifted occasionally, unable to find comfort, her face pale, a slight sheen of sweat on her brow.Andretti stood near the window, peering out into the street, his fingers tapping nervously against the glass. The usually calming sound of birds chirping outside goes unnoticed as his mind races. The room felt cold with worry. Every creak of the house settling seems amplified, each sound
ANDRETTI 'what do you mean the shipment has been detained?' Andretti Agnello the most feared Mafia boss in Sicily roared, his baritone voice resounding as he faced one of his soldiers, soldiers were the lowest ranking members of the mafia, they take care of the dirtiest liitle jobs. Andreo was his most trusted soldier, he was raised among the Agnello children as their play mate. 'i just got the call now boss, apparently our man was not at the wharf and the custom officers there discovered the shipment ' Andreo answered with his head bowed, he dared not look into the boss's eyes. 'put a call to Jimmy right now, that's the largest shipment we have got in weeks, we have distribution teams waiting for receive their product, no delay can happen, we wouldn't want our enemies trying to take over our territories ' Andretti ordered, Andretti has been taught that your enemies only need a small gap in your consistency to wiggle their way to your spot and hell be damned if he allowed that
Andretti looked at the terrified lady on the floor, 'lady!', he called out, he got no reply from her, just then Andreo walked in probably wondering what took so long to leave the house. 'woah, what the heck!' Andreo exclaimed once he saw the lady on the floor, 'what's going on Capo', he asked. 'Here take this' Andretti gave Andreo his gun and walked towards her and crouched down, shaking her slightly, she didn't move, he propped her up on her shoulders, she seems to have fainted, he carried her up and his shoulders, it was easy to carry her, he carried her out the room, down the stairs and into the driveway where Amato ans the rest of the crew waited. 'who's the girl?', Amato asked, looking at Andreo for an answer. Andreo shrugged his shoulders and looked at Andretti. ' I found her in one of the rooms, she fainted, I'm taking her to my house, ride with the rest of the men and call the doctor to come over', he told Amato while carrying her into his car and driving off. His men
Lucia had come into town to visit her father Jimmy, she had hoped their estranged relationship would become better, she didn't even know she had a father till three years ago when her mother died and he came for the funeral, she had gone through a lot in her younger years, her mom struggled to provide and take care of her, finding out she had a father all these while just messed with her emotions. He started calling her and begging her to forgive him which she did after a while, the history between him and her mother wasn't pleasant but still wasn't an excuse to abandon his daughter, but she just depends to let go of the past and try to build a relationship with him. This was why she came to Sicily from Brooklyn, her mother moved out of the country few years after she was born, she had lost touch with her Italian heritage and hoped this new relationship with her father will put her more in touch with her heritage, her father has invited her to stay with him, she packed up her life in
She looked at the dark haired guy standing before her holding her arm tightly ' let me go' she said trying to wiggle her way out of his grasp. ' Dr Roberto, what's going on ', another man said, her gaze followed the voice and then she realized she was so focused on the guy holding her that she did not realize there were other people with him, the voice belonged to a guy, he looked so much like the guy holding her, they looked like brothers but this one had a calmer voice. 'She is fine, she is just disoriented from shock', Dr Roberto answered, turning his attention to Lucia he said ' you need to calm down, we know what happened to your father...we are just here to help you'. She looked at the people standing before her, there were about five men in the room all staring at her, the one holding her arm had loosened his grip but was still staring, maybe it would be a good idea to just listen to them she thought. ' Okay, can someone please explain to me what's going on '. She said.
Two hours after she called him, he came back to the house. "Dr Roberto is close by", he said as he walked up to her. He seemed genuinely worried about her. "It's probably fever", she said, trying to make him less anxious. As they sat in the room, waiting for the doctor, the atmosphere in the room is thick with tension. The quiet ticking of the clock on the wall seems louder, each second stretching out endlessly. Lucia sat on the bedside couch, her legs curled beneath her, her hand resting on her abdomen. The usually plush cushions feel stiff beneath her as if they too are tense with anticipation. She shifted occasionally, unable to find comfort, her face pale, a slight sheen of sweat on her brow.Andretti stood near the window, peering out into the street, his fingers tapping nervously against the glass. The usually calming sound of birds chirping outside goes unnoticed as his mind races. The room felt cold with worry. Every creak of the house settling seems amplified, each sound
It had been days since Andretti's grandfather's birthday, Lucia sat at the kitchen table, staring at her half-eaten breakfast. The smell of toast and coffee, usually so comforting, now made her stomach turn. She pushed the plate away, pressing her fingers to her temples as a dull headache pulsed behind her eyes. Lately, everything had felt off—small waves of nausea in the mornings, a strange fatigue she couldn’t shake, and an odd sense of queasiness at the smell of certain foods. Her hand drifted absentmindedly to her abdomen as she tried to make sense of it. She’d been feeling this way for days, but today it felt more intense. The queasiness hit again, stronger this time, and she quickly stood up, but the sudden motion left her dizzy. She clutched the back of her chair for balance, feeling lightheaded, her heart pounding softly in her chest. Lucia sank back down, eyes wide with a dawning realization. Her period—she hadn’t even thought about it, but now it seemed so obvious. How lon
Andretti could not sleep that night, meeting his Father was unsettling, he should have known he would be there, it was his Father's birthday and his grandfather had no grievances against him, even his brother. They would not understand the hurt he went through as a child. He would not forget what happened when he was Ten, how one day he stood nervously in his father’s private office, he could vividly remember the dark, wood-paneled room filled with heavy furniture and an ever-present haze of cigar smoke. His father sitting behind an imposing oak desk, casually lighting a cigar as he surveys paperwork. The dim lighting casts deep shadows across the room, creating an air of both luxury and menace. Andretti fidgety, his small hands clenched into fists at his sides, his school uniform rumpled from a day that didn’t go well. His heart racing as he prepared to tell his father about what happened at school, his mother knew what had happened earlier told him to go and meet his father, kn
Lucia gently squeezing his hand as they walked to the car ,“You don’t have to pretend, Andretti. I saw how much that rattled you.” Andretti said, his eyes focused ahead, “I said I’m fine, Lucia. It’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before.”* Lucia stopped, she tugged his hand to make him face her, “But it is something, Andretti. I could see how much it affected you. You don’t have to carry this on your own.”Andretti stopped ,turning toward her but avoiding her eyes. His breathing was heavy, his mind racing with old memories and anger he thought he’d buried long ago. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.Andretti, his voice pitched lower, more vulnerable “Every time I’m near him… it’s like I’m back in that house, powerless. He knows exactly how to get under my skin.” Lucia answered softly, “He was cruel. What he said… I can’t imagine how many times you’ve heard things like that from him.”“More times than I can count. And it’s not just words, Lucia. It’s the way he’s always
Andretti held Lucia’s hand as they walk down the hallway“You did great, You handled him perfectly.” Lucia smiled nervously, still trying to relax after the intense meeting“He didn’t exactly throw a welcome party, though. Are you sure he’s not disappointed?” Andretti laughing softly said “That’s him being impressed, trust me. If he didn’t like you, he would’ve made some offhand comment about your shoes or your posture. The fact that he asked about the non existent child was a good sign.” Lucia grinning.“Well, I’ll take that as a win, then. I was sure my hands were shaking the whole time, but seriously what are we go to do about the child?” Andretti answered, “ I still have no idea, you did a really good job though i don't think he suspects anything .” Just as they reach the end of the hallway, the sound of a door opening behind them makes Andretti stop abruptly. His grip on Lucia’s hand tightened. "What's wrong?, she asked. Andretti focusing his gaze at the person walking tow
The day had finally come, his grandfather's birthday, his grandfather would finally get to meet with Lucia. The birthday party was taking place at his grandfather's villa, on their drive to the villa he had told Lucia all she needed to know about his grandfather. They got to his grandfather's villa,his grandfather's villa was deep in the Italian country side, the dining room was set up for the birthday dinner. it was a grand and well lit dining room, heavy wooden beams stretched across the ceiling, and the walls are lined with family portraits. The smell of roasted lamb, garlic, and fine wine hangs in the air. At the center of the room was a long, elegant dining table, covered in expensive china, silverware, and fresh flowers. His Grandfather sat at the head of the table as always, his thick white hair slicked back, wearing a dark tailored suit. His deep-set eyes, sharp and calculating, missing nothing as he watched his family gathered to celebrate his 85th birthday. The room was fi
After the surreal moments of them laying in each other's arms had passed, Lucia sat on the edge of Andretti’s desk, her fingers absently tracing the smooth wood beneath her. Her pulse still thrumming from what just happened, but she watched him, the way he’s trying to regain his composure. He’s not the Andretti most people see—the Mafia boss, the man who commands fear with a glance. Here, alone with her, there’s something raw in his eyes, something vulnerable he was trying hard to mask. He leaned back in his chair, the shadows playing across his face. "Lucia, this was... different," he says, his voice quieter than usual. Different. She almost laughed at the word, but she didn't Instead, she lets a small smile curl at the edges of her lips. "Different how?" She knows exactly what he means, but she wants him to say it. His jaw tightened, and she sees him struggling, trying to find the right words. "You know what I mean, I'm starting to realize that my feelings for you would never go
When Andretti looked up and saw Lucia standing in the doorway, his chest tightened. His normally unreadable expression flickered, just for a second, with something primal. She looked like temptation personified, her dress clinging to every curve, catching the light in all the right places. His heart gave a hard, involuntary thud, though outwardly, he remained composed. A low heat surged in his veins, a mix of lust and wariness. He wasn’t used to feeling off balance, but Lucia had a way of igniting something dangerous inside him. His eyes traveled slowly from her legs to the sultry gaze that locked with his, and he could feel the magnetic pull between them. Yet beneath the allure, there was an edge. He knew better than to let his guard down. Desire mixed with a flicker of suspicion, he needed to focus on his work in the plaza. He couldn't quite tell if she was there to seduce him or she had an agenda, or both. That uncertainty thrilled and unsettled him, stirring a primal hunger la
Lucia stood by the large window in her room, staring out at the trees that surrounded the house. The night was silent, save for the soft hum of the wind brushing against the curtains. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows on the marble floor. She wrapped her arms around herself, her silk robe slipping slightly off her shoulder, but she didn’t bother to fix it. It's been a week since Lucia had seen Andretti, She was told he was busy sorting some things out but he would be back tomorrow for his grandfather's birthday. She was offended that he hadn't reached out of her thorough out, just the usual check ins with Gia to know how she was but they hadn't really talked. Funny how she had all her devices back but they never communicate on the phone she murmured to herself, her voice breaking the stillness. “Andretti is always gone. Always busy with... 'mafia business'.” Her eyes welled up with unshed tears, but she blinked them away, keeping her face strong, as if he could see her