CHAPTER 10Antonio stormed out of the car as they arrived the villa, slamming the door behind him. He dusted off the cocaine powder from his suit and entered the living room, where his father, Donatello, sat sipping a drink."Where is the girl?" Donatello asked, rising from his seat as he noticed Luciana's absence."She's gone," Ms. Grace replied, heading upstairs to her room."Does anyone let me finish speaking in this house?" Antonio asked rhetorically.Donatello lit a Cuban cigar as he approached Antonio and Viktor. He inhaled deeply exhaling a plume of smoke into the air. "What happened?" "She escaped from the boutique mall." Viktor blurted out, as Antonio hesitated.Donatello shook the ashes from his Cuban and clench it between his teeth. "You took her shopping?"Antonio smoothed his suit jacket, his nostrils flaring as he caught a whiff of something familiar. He sniffed again, his eyes rolled to the back of his head at the acrid scent of cocaine still clung to the fabric."W
CHAPTER 11"How do you know them?" Luciana asked."Antonio and I attended the same school years ago." He blurted out."Really?" she asked, her eyes widened with shockAlessandro nodded, his gaze drifting off for a moment. "And his father, Donatello, was... acquainted with my father."The words rolled off his tongue easily, but the tension in his jaw betrayed the lie. Alessandro's thoughts seethed with resentment, his mind flashing back to the brutal clash between his family and the Morano clan, a powerful Sicilian mafia family. The same family that had taken his father's life.She looked deeply at his face and could see some hidden emotions behind his smile"You're hiding something," Luciana said.Alessandro stared at her, his eyes flicking away for a moment before returning to hers. "What makes you think that?" he asked, his tone neutral.Luciana leaned in, her voice taking on a hint of determination. "I can see it in your eyes. You're not telling me everything."Alessandro's gaze
CHAPTER 12Antonio sat on the couch, cradling his glass of Baron in his hand, the amber liquid glowing softly in the dim light. He took a sip, the smooth whiskey warming his throat as he awaited Viktor's arrival. Their mission to retrieve Luciana was mere hours away, and Antonio's mind was consumed by thoughts of the elusive woman.He couldn't believe she'd managed to escape him. The memory still burned in his mind like a branding iron. He'd underestimated her, thinking her weak and timid. But Luciana had proven to be a worthy adversary, outsmarting his men, Ms. Grace and slipping through his fingers like sand.Antonio's mind wandered to Alessandro's notorious reputation, and a flicker of fear danced in his chest. He knew what that man was capable of. If Luciana were to get killed, the entire operation would be for nothing, and he would never avenge his mother's death at the hands of her father.He took another sip of his drink, steeling himself against the creeping doubts. Fear wa
CHAPTER 13As Luciana slowly regained consciousness, a throbbing ache chimed through her head. She struggled to sit up, but her movements were severely restricted. She became confused and alarmed as she realized her wrists and ankles were bound by cold, rigid metal.She lifted her left hand, and the chain of the handcuff clanked against the surface beneath her. A similar restraint encircled her right wrist. She began panicking as she tried to move her legs, only to discover they were also secured by handcuffs. Despite the searing pain in her wrists, Luciana continued to struggle against the unforgiving metal cuffs. But her struggle was interrupted by the sound of a calm, velvety baritone voice that seemed to awaken the spirit within her.“stop wasting your time.”She turned her head to locate the source of the sound, and Antonio's face came into view as he switched on the lamp beside him. He sat on a plush armchair, his eyes fixed intently on her."I made sure you couldn't escape
CHAPTER 14Ms. Grace and another maid, entered Luciana's room with a tray laden with an assortment of Italy's finest dishes: steaming risotto alla Milanese, tender osso buco, freshly baked focaccia, and a simple yet elegant caprese salad. As Ms. Grace approached the bed, her eyes widened in disbelief, and her legs seemed to freeze in a spot. She stood there, her gaze fixed on Luciana, who lay handcuffed to the bed. The tray in Ms. Grace's hands trembled slightly, threatening to overthrow the delicate balance of the dishes. Her expression transformed from calm to concern, she couldn’t understand what was going on.She looked at Luciana’s face and back to the handcuff. Her mouth seemed like it was searching for the right word to utter, but none came. She slowly walked to the bedside and carefully set the tray on the bedside table.“clean that up and replace it with a new vase.” Ms. Vase instructed the maid. As soon as the maid left the room, she ran to Luciana’s side." oh dear, wh
CHAPTER 15Antonio stormed into his room, slamming the door behind him. He strode over to the window, and yanked it open to let in a gust of cool evening air. He leaned against the sill, his eyes watching the darkening landscape as he struggled to calm his racing thoughts.His mind replayed the events of the past hour: the confrontation with Ms. Grace, Luciana's defiance, and the unsettling sight of his own blood-stained palm. He stormed into the bathroom, and began scrubbing his hands under scalding water as if trying to wash away the reality of his situation. The blood was gone, but he continued to scrub, adding more soap, his stability, becoming increasingly frantic.He opened the bathroom cabinet, sending toiletries crashing to the floor. Grabbing a bottle of hand sanitizer, he applied a massive quantity to his palm, the antiseptic smell stinging his nostrils. Frustration overwhelmed him as he threw the bottle across the bathroom, shattering the mirror and sending shards of gl
CHAPTER 16Antonio clutched his fist in fury, he couldn't shake off the feeling that his world would crumble if Alessandro had Luciana again. His father would berate him for being incompetent.He thought back to the events that led him to this point, to the choices he made and the secrets he kept.As a child, he had always felt like an outsider in his own family. His father, a ruthless businessman and the head of the silician Mafia family , had always prioritized power and wealth over his son's well-being. Antonio's mother, Maria, had been his only source of comfort and love.But when Maria was assassinated, he was left alone to face his father's cruelty. He was forced to grow up too quickly, learning about guns and dark secrets Mafia has to hide from the world.As he grew older, Antonio became determined to prove himself to his father, to show him that he was worthy of respect and love. But no matter how hard he tried, he could never seem to measure up.His thoughts were interrupted
CHAPTER 17 TB(Throwback) Antonio sat in the extravagant restaurant, the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of fine china creating a sense of refinement and elegance. He sat alongside his father, Donatello, a man whose presence commanded respect and inspired fear. They were in a meeting with Italian's finest business men. Across from them, his mother, Maria, chatted amiably with Ms. Grace, her eyes sparkling with warmth. As the conversation flowed, Maria excused herself, pushing back her chair. "I'll just get something from the car," she said, smiling at Antonio. He watched as she walked out of the restaurant, her slender figure disappearing into the bright sunlight. His gaze followed her outside, drifting to the parking lot. And then, in an instant, everything changed. Maria's body jerked violently, her arms flailing as she crumpled to the ground. Antonio's eyes widened in horror as he saw the flashes of gunfire, heard the muffled reports of the shots. His mother h
CHAPTER 24Luciana followed Ms. Grace to the dining room, her heart racing with anxiety. The room was filled with the same faces she had seen at the previous dinner, but there was one new person who caught her attention. Seated next to the head of the table was the stranger she met at the garden. He flashed a wide smile at her as she approached her seat.He got up and helped her move her chair backwards. she felt a jolt of electricity at the touch of his hand brushing against hers, as he returned to his seat. Sophia rolled her eyes, her expression disapproving."So, tell me, what is your name?" the man asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.Luciana's gaze shifted to the empty chair beside him, where Donatello usually sat. She felt a pang of relief that he wasn't there, hoping that meant today's lunch wouldn't end in bloodshed."Luciana Russo," she replied softly, her eyes drawn to the man’s exceptional features.He was a little older than Antonio, with threads of silver in his dar
CHAPTER 23TBAntonio paced back and forth in his lavish office located somewhere in the family’s mansion. Sophia, his now accepted fiancée, sat on the couch, watching him with a mixture of concern and curiosity."Antonio, what's going on?" Sophia asked, her voice soft and melodious. “you’ve been moving back and forth for thirty minutes now.”Antonio stopped pacing and turned to face Sophia. He stared at her, his eyes searching for something, anything, that might make him change his mind about his decision to send her to Columbia, but the thirst for revenge in him wouldn’t let him think twice. He didn’t love this woman, and doesn’t care about her in any slightest way. But, Russo is a very dangerous man. If he finds out about his plan, he could kill her, which would mean trouble for him."I need you to do something for me, Sophia," Antonio finally said. “I’d do anything for you.” She replied, smiling. She had sworn to be the perfect wife for him. Now, this was her moment to show him
CHAPTER 22 TB Antonio sat across from Sophia at the dinner table, his eyes fixed on the plate in front of him. His father sat three seats away from him, while Viktor stood behind him. Viktor had been trying to persuade him to accept Sophia as his future wife, but so far, his efforts has been abortive, as Antonio's temper and ego kept getting in the way. "Antonio, try to be civil," Viktor whispered, as he watched the maid pour Sophia a glass of wine. Antonio forced a smile onto his face, as his father cleared his throat and addressed Sophia. "So, Sophia, tell us about yourself." Sophia dropped her cutleries, and smiled at Donatello. "Well, as you probably already know, I'm from a small town in Italy. I lived there for seventeen years before my father became Prime minister, and moved us to the capital city, Rome. I also love reading and horseback riding." "That's nice. You didn’t mention you love talking as well.” Antonio said sarcastically, and took a fork full of his sub
CHAPTER 21 TB After his mother's burial, Antonio became a shadow of himself. He developed the habit of locking himself in his room and surrounding himself with bottles of whiskeys. His father, the Don of the mafia family, had never expressed feeling of affection while his mother was alive. To him, it was always about the mafia business, the power he holds and the money he could control. It was almost as if Antonio was invisible in his sight. He was never around to teach him how to ride a bicycle or kick a ball, neither did they go on a family vacation like normal families do. Well, of course, his family was never normal. As the days turned into weeks, Antonio's behavior became increasingly disturbing. He visited the club frequently, drowning himself in cocaine and whiskey, violating the sacred Omertà code of silence and conduct that governed their mafia family. He also broke the cardinal rule of "Non Molestare" (not bothering or causing trouble) by getting into disputations wit
CHAPTER 20 TB Luciana mechanically steamed the milk, her mind a thousand miles away. Her mother's heart attack had left her shivering on the inside, and she couldn't help but feel unease while at work. She had taken a few hours off work to visit her mother in the hospital, but now she was back at the coffee shop, trying to distract herself from the worry that gnawed at her. As she worked, a customer cleared her throat to get Luciana's attention. Luciana didn't notice at first, as she was lost in her thoughts. The customer cleared her throat again, louder this time. Luciana looked up, startled, to see a girl with bright blue eyes and curly blonde hair standing at the counter. "I'm so sorry," Luciana said, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. "Welcome to The Daily Grind. What can I get for you?" The girl smiled kindly. "Is everything okay? You seemed a little...distracted." She said as she ordered a cappuccino, and watched Luciana mechanically make the drink. As she hande
CHAPTER 19 TB Luciana wove through the vibrant stalls of the Columbia Market, her mother, Estana, by her side. The scent of fresh fruit and spices filled the air as they chatted with the market women. "¡Mira, Luciana! Look at these beautiful mangos," Estana exclaimed, holding up a juicy fruit. "¡Ay, señora! You're going to make me cry with your bargaining skills," the vendor joked, as Estana negotiated the price. Luciana laughed and playfully rolled her eyes. "Mama, you're going to give her a heart attack." Estana chuckled and handed Luciana a few mangos. "Take these, m'ija. We'll make a delicious salsa for dinner." As they continued through the market, they stopped at a stall selling colorful textiles. Estana admired a vibrant scarf, and the vendor, began to tell them about the traditional Colombian patterns. "¡Este es un diseño muy especial (This design is very special)" the vendor explained, pointing out the intricate motifs. Estana's eyes sparkled with interest. "¡
CHAPTER 18 TB The air was filled with the scent of incense and freshly cut flowers as the mourners prepared to bid their final farewell to Maria, Antonio's mother. The funeral procession wound its way through the streets, led by a sleek black hearse adorned with intricate gold accents. Behind it, a sea of somber faces followed, their eyes cast downward in respect. As they arrived at the cemetery, the sound of mournful music filled the air, played by a lone violinist standing atop a nearby hill. The melody was haunting, a traditional Italian lament that seemed to capture the sorrow of the occasion. Donatello's face was a mask of stone as he gazed out at the crowd. He wore dark shades so no one could catch a glimpse of the pain he felt at losing his wife. Antonio, meanwhile, was a picture of devastation. His eyes were red-rimmed from crying, his face pale and drawn. He clutched a single white rose in his hand, his fingers trembling as he gazed at the coffin. As the priest be
CHAPTER 17 TB(Throwback) Antonio sat in the extravagant restaurant, the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of fine china creating a sense of refinement and elegance. He sat alongside his father, Donatello, a man whose presence commanded respect and inspired fear. They were in a meeting with Italian's finest business men. Across from them, his mother, Maria, chatted amiably with Ms. Grace, her eyes sparkling with warmth. As the conversation flowed, Maria excused herself, pushing back her chair. "I'll just get something from the car," she said, smiling at Antonio. He watched as she walked out of the restaurant, her slender figure disappearing into the bright sunlight. His gaze followed her outside, drifting to the parking lot. And then, in an instant, everything changed. Maria's body jerked violently, her arms flailing as she crumpled to the ground. Antonio's eyes widened in horror as he saw the flashes of gunfire, heard the muffled reports of the shots. His mother h
CHAPTER 16Antonio clutched his fist in fury, he couldn't shake off the feeling that his world would crumble if Alessandro had Luciana again. His father would berate him for being incompetent.He thought back to the events that led him to this point, to the choices he made and the secrets he kept.As a child, he had always felt like an outsider in his own family. His father, a ruthless businessman and the head of the silician Mafia family , had always prioritized power and wealth over his son's well-being. Antonio's mother, Maria, had been his only source of comfort and love.But when Maria was assassinated, he was left alone to face his father's cruelty. He was forced to grow up too quickly, learning about guns and dark secrets Mafia has to hide from the world.As he grew older, Antonio became determined to prove himself to his father, to show him that he was worthy of respect and love. But no matter how hard he tried, he could never seem to measure up.His thoughts were interrupted