"I am not becoming weak, Enzo," Stefan responded sternly.
"I'll have the team run her photos through the system and figure out who she is," Stefan added.
"Make it a priority. We need to get this over and done with as soon as possible," the Mafia King replied. Stefan looked at him with a knowing expression. He understood exactly what Enzo meant; there were other matters at stake, and they needed to deal with the girl swiftly.
"The ball! I had almost forgotten about that," Stefan exclaimed, his tone brightening.
"How could you forget about the most important event of the Mafia year? Our performance is crucial, and we get to strike deals with the attending Nobles. Rest assured, the alliances we form will expand the territories of the New York Mafia. The Syndicate will be pleased," Enzo Romano stated.
He pulled open a drawer at the bottom of the study table and retrieved a blue file. Rummaging through the pages, Enzo finally found the picture he sought. He pushed it towards his stepbrother, who glanced down at it with a nostalgic smile.
"Father's first ball as Mafia King," Stefan remarked. "He was so happy. He closed more business proposals than in his entire previous empire. He made the perfect entrance," Enzo commented.
"And you did that too. You broke his record and managed to sign the most contracts that night, more than anyone else. You secured seventeen shipments of cocaine and got the cartel to start working for us. So far, the alliance has been perfect, and you, my brother, made an even more spectacular entrance."
The words seemed to encourage and uplift Enzo. He had always been hard on himself, focusing more on his unfulfilled goals than his accomplishments.
"Well, I am expected to marry, and I still honestly think that is a waste of time," the Mafia King said.
"Is marriage a waste of time, or is it love you're talking about? You seem to have a disregard for both," Stefan commented, his tone tinged with irritation.
"You're right, my friend. I have no time for marriage, and love is not my cup of tea. It's a weakness. It breaks people, not strengthens them."
"If you could give it a chance, then maybe you'd realize that it's much more powerful when you rely on it," Stefan replied. "Aside from that, do we need to pay a visit to the South Korean syndicate and remind them who still owns half of their shares?"
"I don't think that's a good idea. I think we should remain in our places as we ensure that news about who killed my dad has not gotten out," the Mafia King responded.
"This is exactly why I've been suggesting that we just do away with that girl. It's not difficult to put a bullet through her f****** head. Just say the word, Capo," Stefan suggested before rising, preparing to leave the Mafia King's presence.
"Let's just get that report fast, and then I will clear out the doubts that I have."
"Oh, and Stefan," Enzo called out, "Don't think about falling for this one until you know who she is. We cannot handle that type of weakness at this critical time."
Enzo's words greatly troubled Stefan. He felt it as an insult to his heart and the woman he had loved. Even though Isabella died protecting Enzo, Stefan had warned her not to engage in that gunfight that day. Stefan would never forgive his stepbrother for getting his girlfriend killed. She had been the love of his life.
He didn't respond to Enzo's statement, nor did he show that he had taken it into consideration. Stefan hated the way Enzo pointed out his weaknesses and found ways to poke at fresh wounds.
As soon as Stefan left, Enzo busied himself with examining new documents for the piece of land he had acquired after eliminating the Senator.
"Securing this throne was the best decision I ever made, Father," he said quietly to the portrait of his father mounted on the wall. Although Enzo's father wasn't dead, he barely had time for his son. He was occupied with running another part of the Mafia kingdom while Enzo managed this one. It was simply a division of power for his inheritance. Enzo had been groomed to become the perfect Mafia King since he was nine years old.
His character and personality were largely shaped by his mother's negligence and the harsh training he received from his father at such a young age.
Picking up the mobile phone from his desk, Enzo connected it to the LED screen mounted on the wall. He logged into the CCTV system to observe the room where his captive was held. Watching the girl on the large screen allowed him to study her every action and expression.
She seemed utterly unafraid of her situation. In fact, the girl had been busy rearranging the room she was placed in. She had pulled out the nightstand from beside the bed and positioned it in the far corner of the room. Her fingers slid across the beautiful fabric of the curtains as she opened them and lined them perfectly to frame a different view of the room. To an untrained eye, it might appear that the girl was searching for something. The Mafia King had given specific instructions that the girl be kept under surveillance. He wanted to see what she was capable of, but he needed to first ascertain her identity. Enzo understood that asking her directly would not be an option; anyone who was highly trained could withstand any form of torture and still maintain their silence.
"Tomorrow, I will find out who you are," the Mafia King said, a sadistic smile playing on his lips as he watched her.