Vince stood in front of the old wooden door, his heart pounding for reasons far different than what had come before. Inside, he would see his family—his mother and sister—both of whom he had lost in his previous life. The weight of their deaths had always haunted him, but now, he had the chance to rewrite their fates.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee and the soft clatter of utensils hit him, a nostalgic wave crashing over his senses. His mother, Rosa Barone, stood in the small kitchen, her back to him as she prepared breakfast. She hummed softly to herself, her voice a sweet reminder of the love and warmth he had forgotten in his later years of ruthless rule.
Sitting at the table, his younger sister Sofia, just 14 years old, flipped through a schoolbook, her concentration evident in the way she bit her lip, completely unaware of her brother's presence.
For a moment, Vince just stood there, taking in the sight of them both. In his previous life, they had been taken from him brutally—victims of his enemies, targeted as collateral in the war for power. That loss had fueled his thirst for revenge, but now, with them alive and well in front of him, a different kind of resolve built within him. He would protect them this time.
Without another word, Vince walked forward, crossing the distance between him and his mother. Rosa turned, her face lighting up when she saw him. "Vincenzo! You're awake, finally! I was beginning to wonder if you were going to sleep the whole day away."
Without hesitation, Vince wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. Rosa froze, surprised by the sudden show of affection. "Vince, what's gotten into you?" she asked with a chuckle, but there was a hint of concern in her voice.
"You don't know how much I've missed you," Vince whispered, his voice catching in his throat. His emotions, which he had suppressed for so long, surged forward. This was real. His mother was alive, and he would do anything to keep her that way.
Rosa patted his back gently, still puzzled but smiling warmly. "Well, you see me every day, son. But I'll never say no to a hug from you."
Vince let go and turned to his sister. Sofia looked up from her book, confused. "What's with the hugging today?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Without responding, Vince pulled her into an embrace as well. Sofia squirmed at first but then relaxed, clearly enjoying the rare display of affection from her older brother. "Alright, alright, you're acting weird, Vince. Stop being so mushy."
Vince smiled, a feeling of peace settling over him. But he knew this peace wouldn't last long. The memories of his previous life were still fresh in his mind, and he hadn't forgotten what was coming.
Local thugs would soon be at their door to collect on a "debt" they claimed his family owed. They were small-time crooks, nothing compared to the men he would later face, but they had been the first to disrupt his family's peace. In his previous life, Vince had been powerless to stop them, but now, armed with the knowledge and abilities granted by the Mafia System, things would be different.
After breakfast, Vince excused himself and went straight to the bank. His mind was already racing with ideas on how to make his first move. With the knowledge of future stock trends, he could quickly amass a small fortune. But first, he needed an account under a false name to avoid drawing too much attention.
The bank was quiet when he walked in, and within minutes, he had set up an account under the name "Lorenzo Greco." The fake identity had been simple to create, drawing on tricks he had learned in his previous life. With the account established, he began transferring small sums of money into it, preparing for the real investment to come.
As soon as he returned home, Vince sat down at the family computer. The screen flickered to life, and he wasted no time logging into a stock trading platform. He had memorized the most lucrative stock movements from his previous life, and within minutes, he made a series of precise, well-timed investments.
The system screen appeared briefly in front of him, glowing with new notifications:
[Mafia System Update: Stock Market Success] You've made significant investments. Expected return: $500,000 within 24 hours.
Vince leaned back in his chair, smirking. This was just the beginning. With this kind of capital, he would be able to start laying the foundation for his new empire. But there was no time to get too comfortable. The system had more to say.
[System Message: Training Initiation] Before making your next move, it is essential to enhance your physical abilities. Begin training now to unlock your full potential. Once prepared, eliminate the local thugs who will soon arrive to collect on the family debt. Destroy their hideout and establish your dominance.
Vince's smirk turned into a cold, determined grin. It was time to start the real work. He had already taken the first step in securing his financial future, but now, it was time to handle those who had once terrorized his family. The system had given him all the tools he needed to become unstoppable.
He would train, grow stronger, and then he would destroy the thugs who dared threaten his family. This time, no one would stand in his way.