Enzo Romano paced his office, his mind racing to find a solution to the problem at hand. As Capo dei Capi, it was his responsibility to devise strategies and issue commands. Being a Mafia King had its challenges, and today was proving to be particularly trying.
When that girl decided to walk into the tunnel, she had unwittingly derailed a mission that was meant to be smooth and covert.
"Do you think anyone else saw us?" Enzo asked, his fists clenching in anger and frustration. Anxiety gnawed at him as he considered the potential ramifications of the situation.
Stefan, his right-hand man, responded, "I had the men review the security footage again. Only one woman was seen walking through that alley, but she received a phone call and left before seeing the body. The only witness we need to deal with is the girl."
The person they had just eliminated was someone of great importance, with ties to mafia royalty. They couldn't risk it becoming known that the Mafia King himself had carried out the hit. Such a revelation would spark a major scandal within New York's criminal underworld and severely undermine Enzo Romano's leadership.
"We need to figure out what to do with her. There's something... unusual about her," Enzo mused.
"But Capo," his stepbrother interjected, "we should have followed my suggestion. It would have been a bulletproof plan and kept us off the suspect list. I think bringing her here was a mistake." If anyone else had spoken to Enzo Romano in such a manner, they would have found themselves on the wrong end of a gun. Stefan, however, was the only person who could offer such suggestions without fear of reprisal.
Enzo, though the most feared Mafia King in nearly the entire world, still had to adhere to certain protocols within the syndicate.
"The way that woman looked at Mateo... it was as if she knew him," Enzo continued. "I don't buy her feigned innocence. Any normal person would have turned and run. She just stood there, even suggesting we take him to the hospital. Something's off about her, and we need to find out what."
The Mafia King rose and moved toward a large painting of a lioness on the wall. He studied it for a moment, as if drawing a parallel to their current predicament.
"What happens when a lion is cornered?" Enzo asked rhetorically.
Stefan sighed. "I can't decipher your riddles right now, Enzo. I'm focused on how we can resolve this problem. What do you suggest we do with her? I've never seen you bring a captive home before."
Enzo glanced at his stepbrother, noting his growing frustration with the situation. The Mafia King was renowned for his ruthlessness; mercy and pity were foreign concepts to him. He killed as if it were a hobby and disposed of his victims with ease, his influence over the police ensuring he could get away with anything. Yet, for some reason, he found himself hesitating to eliminate the girl he had brought from the tunnel.
"Obviously, we can't keep her alive," Enzo said decisively. "She witnessed something crucial and needs to be silenced."
"Give the order, and I'll have it done before nightfall," Stefan offered. Enzo couldn't help but wonder at his stepbrother's eagerness to assassinate a seemingly insignificant girl.
The Mafia King sensed there was more to her story, especially given her apparent cluelessness about the situation. Such genuine innocence was rarely found in adults.
"I need to speak with her first," Enzo declared, his tone brooking no argument.