Alessio is quietly sitting in the backseat of a grey Mercedes EQS. His gaze is on the outdoors though it is evident that he isn't after the view. His attention is not there and Loris who is driving the car can guess that.
The right-hand man rarely sees his master like that but he doesn't say anything. All he does is quietly drive.
Another few minutes pass and the car enters a gate where strict security is maintained. Then soon enough, it pulls over near the door to a huge mansion. The luxurious mansion is also under strict security which is maintained 24/7. Rumors have it that this mansion has the best security among the private residences in the country of Osmana.
It is the DeFazio family mansion.
One of the security guards there promptly opens the door of the Mercedes EQS and Alessio gets off. Losing no time, he enters the breathtaking mansion and doesn't halt his steps until he enters one room.
Inside the room, a man who must be in his early 50s is lying on a king-sized bed. At the sight of Alessio, the man on the bed reaches out his hand toward another man who is standing on the side of the bed. When the man rushes to help the sick man lying on the bed...
"Let me." Alessio stops him and walks forward. He lays the pillow on the backrest of the bed and helps the man sit with his back resting on the pillow. Then Alessio sits on the chair next to the bed and asks, "How are you feeling today, Father?"
"I'm fine." Mr. Moreno DeFazio's voice is weak in contrast to his words. "Is there some news, Alex?"
Alessio nods. "I've got the information but not in full. So, I have to go there and figure out the rest."
"There? Is the meeting scheduled somewhere else?"
The young Don hesitates for a while but still ends up nodding. "It will be a week later in Elentrus. I will discuss with Elio and depart as soon as possible."
The name of the country bothers the former Don a bit but when he looks at his son, he decides to trust him. Maybe he believes that Alessio isn't in the phase where he could easily waver anymore.
Thinking of these things always makes the father regret many things. If only he raised his son from the very start, he will never have had to worry about these things. But it isn't the case as Alessio was raised by his mother for 16 years, far away from Osmana without even knowing a thing about his father... until the latter suddenly showed up in his life one day.
Sixteen years is such a long time that it isn't easy to erase it completely.
"Alright," Moreno DeFazio finally says, snapping himself out of his thoughts. "You are the one in charge now and do it whatever way you see fit. I won't intervene."
Alessio calmly nods his head. "Don't worry, Father. I will make sure to stop them and I won't forgive anyone either." His face turns a bit dark when he adds, "Until I find out which family is responsible for that attack against you, I will never allow them to rise back into power."
An assassination attack five years ago was what put his father in his current situation. Though his father survived the attack, his lower body is left paralyzed, and since then, he also develops many other sicknesses.
The culprit behind that attack is still unidentified though it is believed to be one of their family enemies and Alessio is more than determined to not stop investigating no matter how much time pass. It was also why he focused on oppressing the other families the moment he took over his father's position.
Back then, the whole Mafia world was shocked by the ruthless methods of the new Don who was just 20!
If Alessio ever finds out the family behind that attack, he is convinced that would surely tear the whole family to pieces!
The silence in the room is ended by the sound of knocking on the door and Loris walks inside. "I apologize for interrupting but Don Elio is here," he informs Alessio who nods.
"I'll be right there."
Loris walks out of the room and Alessio turns back to his father. "I'll be back once I sort it out with Elio, Father. Have some rest." With that said, he leaves his father's room and makes his way to his study where his friend who is the Don of the Corbello crime family is waiting for him.
*
"Hi, there!" Elio Corbello is greeting Alessio with a huge smile like he always does. "I heard that the stubborn Evaldo finally talked when you show up there yourself."
"Yeah. Someone is too lazy to do it; so I had to go there," Alessio DeFazio says. His voice is blunt but his face is still nonchalant as ever. He then takes a seat on the couch and the young Don of the Corbello crime family promptly sits opposite him, excitedly.
"You can't blame me for that," Elio Corbello complains. "I told you that if I go there, I will be all excited that he will die before we get any information." He is talking about torturing someone to death but he sounds so casual and carefree. However, his words indeed make Alessio sigh, hopelessly.
Alessio and Elio... At 25 and 27, they are the two young Dons who are regarded as the most powerful Bosses not only in Osmana but also in the world. After all, Osmana has most of the powerful crime families in the world.
If the DeFazio family is number one, the Corbello's come in a close second. It is why the cooperation between the two is so deadly. As long as they stick together, no family would dare to challenge them and a crack in the relationship is unlikely considering the close friendship between the two Dons. They are now best friends for years.
Not to mention that the two are the complete opposite of each other apart from the cruelty and intelligence that they share. Alessio is mostly cold and aloof while Elio is always friendly and cheerful. If Alessio is the type to kill without blinking an eye, Elio is the type to kill with a smile on his face.
"The meeting will be held a week later in Elentrus," Alessio finally tells his excited friend. "That means we will have to go there and figure out the rest so that we can be on time."
"Some digging against those cowards and a good trip in the process? That will be fun!" Elio Corbello suddenly exclaims. "I'm in. When will we leave?"
"Tonight," Alessio says after a quick thought. "Let's fly in tonight."