MAFIA'S MUSE

The bar didn't feel the same.

Nico noticed it as soon as he stepped through the door. It wasn't just the quiet, the way the usual crowd was missing, but something in the air made it feel heavier. Cold. Different. The lights were dimmer, and the usual hum of conversations had been replaced by silence, thick and unnerving.

His guitar case felt heavier, like it carried a weight it hadn't before, and as he looked around, he realized there was something off.

His usual spot wasn't taken by Marco, the bar's owner. Instead, there was a new face there. The man didn't look familiar, but the air around him felt dangerous.

"Nico!" a familiar voice called from behind the bar. It was Vishanti, the bartender who'd been working at the bar for years. He looked a little more tense than usual as he wiped down the counter.

"Where's Marco?" Nico asked, walking up to the bar.

Vishanti gave him a wary look, his eyes moving towards the far corner of the bar, where a tall man sat alone. A man Nico had seen around but never this close.

"Marco... he's not around," Vishanti said, his voice lower than usual. "Look, Nico, I need to tell you something."

Nico's gaze followed Vishanti, and his stomach twisted when he saw who was sitting in the corner

It was Giovanni Valerius, the notorious mafia boss. There was no mistaking him. His sharp suit, cold eyes and the scar across his face screamed power and danger.

Nico felt a knot in his stomach. Giovanni was trouble, the kind of trouble Nico wanted no part of. But this was his bar. His place. He'd worked hard to get here, and now Giovanni had made his way into it.

Vishanti seemed nervous, his eyes darting around like he was unsure whether to say more. Finally, he let out a long sigh. "He owns the place now, Nico. Giovanni does. All because of Marco's debt."

Nico's heart sank, and a bitter taste filled his mouth. Debt. Marco's debts. It all made sense now. Giovanni had never just walked into a place like this without a reason. He owned everything. And now, the bar where Nico had played his music, his escape, was under Giovanni's thumb.

Nico clenched his fists, his nails digging into the wood of the bar. "He owns the bar now?" he asked, his voice thick with disbelief.

Vishanti nodded, his face pale. "Marco didn't have a choice. Giovanni's people came and... well, there wasn't much to say. He bought it out. The whole place."

Nico's stomach twisted. This was bad. Worse than bad. The man who ruled the city's underground had his claws in his bar. But Nico wasn't one to back down. Not from this. Not from anyone.

He turned to face Giovanni, who was still sitting in the corner, sipping a drink with an air of calm control, as if the entire bar had just been handed over to him without a second thought.

Giovanni wasn't alone. There were two men standing at a table, watching Nico closely. They were tall, broad-shouldered, and wore suits. There was no mistaking it-they were Giovanni's men.

"Don't even think about it," Vishanti said, noticing his gaze. Nico's anger flared, but he forced himself to take a deep breath. He wasn't afraid of Giovanni's men-he had his own ways of handling trouble. But tonight, something was different. The air felt thick with tension,

Vishanti, sensing the tension rising, stepped closer to Nico, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "You don't understand, Nico. Giovanni doesn't just own this bar. He owns everything Marco had. Everything. And if you want to keep playing here, you'll need to get on his good side."

But Nico wasn't going to back down without answers. He'd been coming here for years, pouring his heart out through his music, and he wasn't going to let some mafia boss take it all from him.

He crossed the room toward Giovanni, but the two men immediately stepped in his way. One of them put a hand on his chest, blocking his path.

"Giovanni doesn't see anyone unless he says so," the man said in a clipped tone.

Nico's frustration boiled over. "I need to talk to him," he said, his voice cold. "I'm not leaving without answers."

The man didn't flinch. "You'll leave when Giovanni tells you to. Not before."

Nico's mind raced. This wasn't going to be as simple as walking up to Giovanni and demanding answers. But he wasn't going to back down. Not from this.

As he stood there, feeling the heat of their gazes on him, he knew he had no choice but to get through to Giovanni.

Finally, the man stepped aside, and Nico saw Giovanni watching him from the corner, his dark eyes calm and steady, as if he was waiting for Nico to approach. Giovanni didn't say a word, but the look in his eyes said it all-he was in control. He didn't need to say anything to make Nico feel small.

Nico walked toward him, keeping his head held high. He wasn't going to show weakness.

Giovanni leaned back in his chair, his sharp suit crisp and impeccable. He didn't get up, didn't even acknowledge Nico's approach until Nico was standing right in front of him. His eyes moved briefly to the men who had blocked Nico's path, and they stepped back without a word, leaving the two of them alone in the silence.

Nico took a few steps toward him, the air feeling thicker with each one. "Why this place?" Nico asked, his voice sharp. "Why did you take it from Marco?"

Giovanni didn't immediately answer. He took another slow sip of his drink, then set it down carefully, his gaze never leaving Nico. His eyes were cold, calculating, like he was deciding whether Nico was worth the time.

Giovanni's lips curled into a small smile, but there was no warmth in it. "Marco made a choice. He chose to fall behind on his debts. Now, I own the bar."

Nico's jaw tightened. "And you think that's the end of it? You think I'm just going to accept this?"

Giovanni's smile never faltered. "You don't have a choice, Nico. You'll either play for me, or you'll watch everything you care about crumble."

Nico clenched his fists, but he refused to show fear. "I won't work for you."

Giovanni's gaze hardened, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "You will. Everyone works for me in the end."

Nico stood there, facing him, trying to ignore the chill running down his spine. Giovanni's presence was suffocating, and it was clear he wasn't bluffing.

"Think about it," Giovanni added, his tone casual but the weight of his words settling in. "You have until tomorrow. Make your choice."

As Giovanni rose from his chair, the two men who had been standing by the door stepped forward, their eyes never leaving Nico.

Nico turned to leave, his mind racing. Giovanni's words echoed in his ears. He couldn't afford to make the wrong move.

But in that moment, he knew one thing for sure-his life was about to change forever.