At the Heart of the Mafia

ty was a currency, and where promises were only worth as long as they served the interests of those who made them. The Corleone villa was more than just

o. The silence in the room was almost suffocating. His fingers tapping on the surface of the solid wood of his desk betrayed an impatience that he didn't let show. He was waiting for something

d you?" his voice, cold and sh

ed, her voice trying to sound calm, even though her heart

tible. "Good answer," he said with satisfaction evident in

. Those who made mistakes, those who failed, were eliminated. To push too far, to ignore the limits, was to risk disappearin

u are only an instrument in my hands. You only do what

as she had first thought. Nor was she a mere employee. She was an extension of

ght her attention. She turned briefly, just in time to see Adriano s

ht, if you get caught, you have nothing left. You disappe

he wasn't here by choice. She was here because she had no o

nything she had ever imagined. She had already understood that loyalty to the Corleones was not enough to guarantee her safety. Trust, in thi

rwhelmed her. She hadn't had time to prepare herself for this. But there was no turning back. She was here, unde

es mingled with the sound of clinking glasses. She felt like she was entering another world, a world where rules were meant to be broken. She made her way through

ith a face marked by years of service in crime. His gaze, har

said hoarsely, wi

no one was watching them

agmatic," he murmured before leaning towards her. "What you want is simple. I

or anything," she replied firmly, but her stomac

even more. "We'll see about that," he said, handing her

new what was inside this object was crucial. But sh

agging at her. This feeling of being followed, of being watched, of never being truly alone. The world

xpected event occurred. As she was about to enter her room, a noise m

s tone icy, "what

er shoulders. Everything she knew, everything she had learned, everything she had seen, now had

play her part without being exposed. "There are rumors... secret deals. They're p

is dark eyes piercing every word

remember, Elvie, you are here to

tions were clear. She couldn't afford to make a mistake. Because if she failed, it

self fall onto the bed, her heart heavy. The shadows that loomed over her life seemed more and more t