CHAPTER 10
Antonio stormed out of the car as they arrived the villa, slamming the door behind him. He dusted off the cocaine powder from his suit and entered the living room, where his father, Donatello, sat sipping a drink.
"Where is the girl?" Donatello asked, rising from his seat as he noticed Luciana's absence.
"She's gone," Ms. Grace replied, heading upstairs to her room.
"Does anyone let me finish speaking in this house?" Antonio asked rhetorically.
Donatello lit a Cuban cigar as he approached Antonio and Viktor. He inhaled deeply exhaling a plume of smoke into the air.
"What happened?"
"She escaped from the boutique mall." Viktor blurted out, as Antonio hesitated.
Donatello shook the ashes from his Cuban and clench it between his teeth.
"You took her shopping?"
Antonio smoothed his suit jacket, his nostrils flaring as he caught a whiff of something familiar. He sniffed again, his eyes rolled to the back of his head at the acrid scent of cocaine still clung to the fabric.
"We were trying to—" Viktor tried to explain.
Donatello cut him off. "In the middle of a potential war, you're wasting time shopping for clothes?"
"Maybe if you'd given us more time in Colombia to gather her belongings, we wouldn't be in this situation." Antonio shot back
"Silence! You're incompetent." Donatello thundered, his face reddening.
"Incompetent? You couldn't complete the job yourself, so you sent me. All you do is hide behind business trips." Antonio replied, invisible steam escaping through his head
Donatello's hand flew up, slapping Antonio across the face.
"Silence!"
"Don, please—" Viktor tried to intervene.
Donatello silenced him. "I didn't ask you to speak."
Antonio seethed, his face burning. "You're a coward, Father. You couldn't even capture the man who killed your wife."
Donatello raised his hand again, but Antonio caught it, gripping his tie and choking him. The Cuban cigar fell from Donatello's lips.
"Don't dare lay your hands on me again," Antonio growled. "I'm not that helpless boy I used to be"
Viktor rushed to separate them. "That's enough! The De Santis have found us, and you're wasting time fighting."
Antonio's grip relaxed, and Viktor pushed him away from Donatello.
"We need to regroup and strategize, now."
Donatello picked up his Cuban cigar and returned to his unfinished whiskey, leaving Antonio and Viktor standing like chastised children.
He downed the remaining liquor in one gulp and sighed, his face grimace momentarily as the whiskey's potency hit him. He exhaled slowly, the cigar smoke curling around his head.
"I am the Godfather of this family. You will respect me, regardless of blood ties."
Viktor bowed, his voice coated in deference.
"Yes, Don. This won't happen again."
"I want her here by noon tomorrow. Fail, I promise you I will slit your throat myself and give your carcass to dogs." Donatello said, staring deeply into his son eyes.
Antonio opened his mouth to protest, but Donatello's raised hand silenced him.
"I've spoken, and it's final." With a dismissive wave, he banished them from his presence.
* * * * * * * * *
Luciana stepped into the dimly lit room, her eyes fixed on the stranger beckoning her. He poured two cups of coffee, the soft gurgle of the liquid echoing through the room.
A frightened expression crossed her face as he looked behind his shoulders and smiled at her.
"You must be the Colombian girl," he said, his soft voice reminding her of her father's gentle tone, a feeling that only heightened her unease.
Luciana's face was barely visible, as she tried to smile back at him. Though she had agreed to follow him, doubts now swirled in her mind. Had she just traded one captivity for another?
"how did you know I'm Colombian?" she asked as she found courage.
"your accent is quite distinct." He laughed as he placed a cup of coffee in front of her, the aroma reminding her of her days in Colombia as a barista.
He leaned closely to her face and his eyes fell upon a red mark. She startled as he tried to touch her.
"it's okay. I won't hurt you." He brushed her cheeks with the back of his palm. "does this hurt?" he asked gently, his voice calming her frayed nerves.
"I'm fine," Luciana said, rising to her feet, her voice trembling despite her attempt to hide her fear.
"Who are you?" she asked, her eyes searching for answers in his.
"My name is Alessandro," he replied, smiling as he extended his hand in greeting. "Nice to meet you."
"why did you save me? Who are those people?" she asked, ignoring his hand.
Alessandro picked up her cup of coffee and handed it to her, his eyes encouraging her to take a sip.
"you mean Antonio and that toothless consigliere?" He chuckled smoothly as he sipped his cup of coffee. "they are mafia"
"Mafia?" Luciana spat out her coffee in shock, her eyes widening in horror as she realized she had spat on Alessandro.
"I'm so sorry," she apologized, hastily dropping her cup and attempting to clean his shirt.
Alessandro's expression changed, his eyes locking onto hers with an unnerving intensity.
"Don't do that. Your touch..." He trailed off, his voice low and husky, as he held her hand, his eyes speaking a million words to hers.
Luciana's face flushed, and she quickly withdrew her hand, taking a step back.
"I'm sorry," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alessandro cleared his throat, composing himself. "So...yes, they are mafia."
"Mafia?" she repeated. "You mean the ones with hats and black suits, guns strapped all over their bodies?"
"I'm not sure they're always on suits." He said, sipping his coffee. "but I mean the ones who rule with brutality, who traffic drugs and guns, who extortion and violence, are their only languages. The ones who will stop at nothing to maintain their power and control. Yes, that's the one."
Luciana sank into the chair, her mind reeling with thoughts of the mafia. She had heard the whispers, the warnings, and the horror stories.
Her father had always cautioned her to steer clear of anything related to them. And now, she was a victim. Or maybe being with Alessandro meant she had narrowly escaped their clutches.
At least, she hoped she had.
Alessandro's gentle touch on her shoulder broke her thoughts.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice causing a rollercoaster of feelings in her tummy.
Luciana nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Y-yes."
Her gaze shifted to his hands, and she noticed the intricate tattoos and inscribed words inked firmly on his skin. She couldn't help but wonder what they meant.
"How do you know them?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.