**Chapter 5**
The city was in a state of palpable tension, the air thick with anxiety and unspoken threats, as Gabino and his men plotted their next move. Don Alessandro's revenge still echoed in his mind, but Gabino was not a man to back down. He knew he needed to send a clear message, and the way to do so was through an even more ruthless act.
After days of meticulous planning, Gabino and his soldiers stormed Don Alessandro's mansion under the cover of darkness. The operation was swift and silent, a deadly ballet of violence and precision. Don Alessandro's eldest son, a young man of just 18 named Rafael, was captured in his own bedroom, still asleep, oblivious to the fate that awaited him.
Gabino's men did not hesitate. In an instant, Rafael was torn from his normal life, and within moments, he was in their clutches. Horror settled in his eyes as he took in the situation, but reality was relentless. Gabino stood there, a cold smile casting light on the darkness that surrounded him.
"I warned you," Gabino murmured, as he held Rafael's head, now lifeless. The act of decapitation was swift and precise, a symbol of the ruthlessness he was willing to display. With calculated coldness, he placed Rafael's head in a box, a trophy of his victory and a deadly warning to Don Alessandro.
In the dead of night, Gabino and his men transported the box to Don Alessandro's mansion. The city slept, but the terror would awaken with the dawn. When they arrived, one of the soldiers left the box at the door of the mansion, next to a carefully written note, Gabino's message.
*"I warned you."*
With those words, Gabino reasserted his position of power. He was not simply sending a warning, but declaring war. The message was clear: he would not hesitate to do whatever it took to protect his domain and avenge Isabella's death. The cycle of violence and retaliation was in motion, and the city braced itself for a conflict that would reverberate through its streets.
When Don Alessandro woke up and found the box, grief and pain would mix with fury. Gabino knew he had crossed a line of no return, but that was the price of war. And as the city slowly moved toward chaos, Gabino felt stronger, more determined than ever to eliminate anyone who threatened his reign. The battle was only just beginning, and he was ready to fight to the end.