Beneath The Mask

worn, was well-maintained, and the walls were decorated with family photos and mementos from Salvatore'

ock up the shop below. At fifteen years old, Dominic was more perceptive than most boys his age. He noticed the subtle changes

row. She hummed a cheerful tune, unaware of the tension in the air. Elena, thei

r," Elena said gently, glancin

h his eyes remained fixed on his fat

the shop's door. Dominic noticed how his father paused for a moment, looking up at the apartment window as if sens

gerou

Their polished appearances didn't deceive Dominic-he had seen their kind before. They spoke wit

ending to read one of his schoolbooks w

ly, "we've been very patient with you. You're

steady as he guided a needle through the fabric. "

sharp laugh. "Everyone needs protection, Signor Val

man's gaze with quiet defiance. "If you're

e dropping to a menacing whisper. "A man should

ted to burst into the room and tell these men to leave his father alone, but he knew e didn't wa

n't finished. He had seen the tension in hi's shoulders as Salvatore lo

aid B

st finished helping Clara arrange her dolls when the distant sound of engines reache

a halt, their headlights illuminating the cobblestones in harsh, unrelenting beams. Men in tactical gear spi

!" Elena's voice was sharp with fe

asked, her wide eyes darting b

pushed them toward the back of the room, her hands trembling

saw the operatives advancing toward a group of men gathered near the corner.

re's Fi

in the middle of the chaos. He raised his hands inst

peratives. "There are innocent peop

enno was known throughout Palermo as a relentless government operative dedicated to dismantling organised crime. To his superio

a man who refused to bow to the mafia. For a brief moment, Antenno hesit

firmly. "These people are my neighbours. Y

nshot rang out, and in an instant, the street erupted in chaos. T

caught in the crossfire. Salvatore's body jerked as b

ke. Salvatore's lifeless body lay in the street, a pool of blood spreading beneath him. Ne

s grasp. He ran outside, slipping on the slick cobb

red, shaking Salvatore's s

remained closed, his

wracked her body. Clara stood frozen in the doorway, clutching he

something about Salvatore's lifeless body struck a chord. Antenno told himself that

ily i

The tailor shop was shuttered, its windows dark and lifeless. Elena took on clean

o find work, taking on odd jobs-hauling crates at the docks, delivering groceries, and running errands for shop

aid in his mind. The image of his father's bloodied body h

erous

to a local café, Dominic overheard two m

them said, his voice low. "Whoever it is,

For the first time, he began to see the world for what it tru

Dominic made a silent vow. He