Ten Years AgoA few months ago, I turned fifteen, and in all this time, I have witnessed the great adoration my father feels for my mother. Their love is so profound that it can be seen in every look, every kiss, every word, and in their daily actions. I just got back from school when my parents called for me. They are both waiting for me in the study. As soon as I enter, I realize the atmosphere feels a bit tense."Alex, please sit down!" My mother says to me with a tender smile that doesn't reach her eyes, which are slightly red. I see her wringing her hands in an attempt to calm herself, and for a moment, I fear the worst—that they will tell me they have decided to separate, which wouldn't make sense given the love that still shows in both of them."Is something wrong?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly."No, sweetheart, but there is something important you need to know." She sits next to me and takes my hands in hers."As you know, we moved from Italy years ago to live here becau
I rush to get home and ring the doorbell. As soon as the door opens, I see grandma Marion looking at me with a furrowed brow; it's clear she's also upset with me for the way I behaved with mom."Where's mom?" I ask, struggling to call her "mom" when it used to come so naturally."She's in her room crying; she hasn't wanted to come out since you left." I just nod and head to her room. I knock, and my father answers. Unlike grandma, he looks at me with obvious disappointment, making me swallow hard and feel ashamed of my attitude."Come in, Alexandre." As soon as mom hears my name, she turns around, and I see her bloodshot, swollen eyes from crying so much. I approach her slowly with my head down."My baby! You don't know how much I've missed you." She takes me into her arms and starts kissing my cheeks."Stop it, mom! I'm fine, nothing happened to me. I left on my own will. I'm sorry for being rude to you; I love you very much, even if you're not my mother," I say, starting to cry."My
It's been five days since I arrived in Italy, and during this time, I've begun taking control of all my grandfather's businesses. Initially, the partners he worked with didn't seem convinced about me taking charge. However, I showed them that I'm just as capable as my grandfather to lead everything. Truth be told, I didn't care if they disagreed; I would simply take what rightfully belongs to me, as Bellini put it. I've also visited my grandfather, who remains critically ill since my arrival. On another note, Giulio has remained silent all this time, leaving me no choice but to get rid of him."I'm tired of that damn silence. Let's pay him one last visit." I tell Bellini and Flavio once I return from dealing with some troublemakers trying to take over our territory.We enter the dungeons, and at the end of a long hallway, I open the gate where Giulio is, looking severely beaten. He's so bruised that he looks more like a piece of meat than the man who once boasted of being the new Il g
"I'm really upset with you, Alexandre, and quite disappointed in you." She says. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, unable to look away from her."I guess it's about my father. Let me tell you, I'm more disappointed in him. I don't understand how you can still stand by his side after what he did." I yell, unable to contain myself. I stand up angrily and turn my back on her."Your father never forced me to stay with him all these years, Alexandre. You were very unfair to accuse him without knowing what really happened.""Why didn't you tell me the truth ten years ago? I had to find out from someone else what really happened to you. I guess you felt obligated to love me. If it weren't for me, you'd be with someone else and have other children. It's my fault for all the suffering you've endured over the years. Maybe you regret saving me years ago." I confess loudly, everything that has been consuming me since I found out about her kidnapping."My baby, I was not forced to love you. You mu
The next day when I came down for breakfast, I found my mother talking with Bellini, who had filled her in on everything that had happened, as well as my grandfather's health condition."Darling, you're finally awake. As soon as we finish breakfast, I want to see your grandfather.""Of course, mother. Also, I'm sure there's someone else who will be delighted to see you again.""Who?" She asks immediately."You'll know as soon as we get there." I lean in and give her a kiss. Once we finish our breakfast, we head to the hospital where my grandfather is. During the journey, I notice Flavio showing a lot of interest in my mother, which I can't help but frown at.Once we arrive at the hospital, my mother looks at all the men guarding the floor where my grandfather is, and I see her expression darken. Before she can say anything, Giovanni appears."Mrs. Carluccio!" He extends his hand, and as soon as my mother recognizes who he is, her expression changes to a big smile."Oh my, Giovanni! I
AlexandreI watch my mother as she boards that jet where she'll finally be safe. While it's true that she achieved incredible things years ago, right now, I don't want anything bad to happen to her. She looks at me from the window with a small smile that doesn't reach her beautiful eyes. I raise my hand and wave goodbye to her."Do you have any information about grandpa's attack?" I ask Flavio as I turn around."I got information from a guy. It seems there's someone in a bar called Passione Proibita who might give us some information.""Then let's go, let's not waste time." I cut in."It's not as simple as you think. That place is quite dangerous. It's not in our territory; it belongs to Stefano." He says cautiously."And am I supposed to know that name?" I inquire indifferently."Sometimes I forget you didn't grow up here. Stefano is a powerful mobster boss. He even treated his own wife like crap. But anyway, the point is I can get us in, but I can't guarantee we'll make it out alive
When we managed to enter the place, I observe everything around me. We walk through a hallway illuminated with neon lights. As soon as we reach the end of it, I am impressed by how huge it is inside. I make my way through the crowd that fills the place and climb a small staircase, following the guy who will take us to the reserved place where we agreed to meet.He opens the door and allows me to enter with Flavio close behind me. Inside, I see the whole place adorned with huge mirrors, an L-shaped sofa in burgundy, and small tables where champagne buckets are already resting, along with bottles of whisky. Finally, my gaze stops at a somewhat older man, quite gray-haired, waiting for me with a wide smile on his face, accompanied by two other men who look at us suspiciously, waiting for a wrong move from our side.Through the mirror's reflection, I observe Flavio, who seems quite tense and discreetly has his hand tucked where he keeps his gun. I give him a warning look to relax a bit an
"I knew this wasn't a good idea, but no, you had to be so stubborn and risk coming." Flavio explodes furiously, glancing back as two SUVs that don't belong to my men follow us. "Don't stop!" He yells at the driver, lowering his window, grabbing one of the guns that were there, and starts shooting. When one of the SUVs is alongside us, they begin to push us to throw us off course."What are they trying to do?" I ask, cutting the cartridge from my gun."They want to steer us towards that deserted part of the highway." The driver comments. "There's a tunnel, and once we're in there, I fear the worst."And just as he said, we reach a desolate area. In the distance, I can make out small lights coming from that tunnel, but everything else is in darkness. The driver glances at me through the rearview mirror, gripping the steering wheel tighter."No matter what happens, I want you to run. Do you understand me, Alexandre?" Flavio, still firing, asks. When I don't answer, he turns to look at me