MAFIA'S MUSE

t getting p

s guitar case. He stared at Pablo, the owner of the Blu

. "I'm sorry, kid. Giovanni owns this place now. He

er Nico. He had expected Giovanni to

otta be k

ence was an

ayed. He deserved to get paid. "I playe

Nico. But it's not just me. Giovanni... he owns

tinged with frustration. "I don't care who owns this place. I did wh

"You don't get it, do you? Giovanni's the one who runs things now. It's not about what y

g with a mix of anger and determination. "I pla

adow lurked over them. Nico look

ark suit and sunglasses even though the ni

ok a st

watching Nico like a hawk. Finally, he spoke, his tone flat,

eins. The guy's words were c

ience growing. "I'm not leaving. You tell Gi

ic

iced sounded

--

ets. The sight of him made Nico's chest tighten. Marco was more than a ment

t are you d

er than Nico remembered. "I was

already know enough. He's a basta

head. "You don't

n Marco's voice-something grave, so

said quietly. "Le

quiet between them. The streets were mostly empty, dim street lights casting long

m. "Giovanni isn't just some businessman who took over my

ico muttered. "He's trying to cut off

t's about power. Giovanni doesn't just own businesses-he o

. "Then why are you s

"Because I don'

of unease through Nico.

It means I owe him, Nic

opped. "I don't o

regret. "You do. The moment you walked into that bar tonight, the m

ridiculous. He can't just cla

rco said. "And if you keep fighti

und his neck. First, it was the bar. Then, his pay. What was

, "He's been watching you, Nico. He's

mach twist

perform. He didn't say much, but I could tell. He was drawn to it. A

t wasn't just about control. Giovanni had made up his min

e idea of Giovanni sitting in the shadows, w

anded. "How many tim

than you'd think. He never made his

back in a dark corner of the bar, studying him like

t would come to this. But it has. And now, you need to understa

insane. Why would a guy like Giovanni give

m. It's about control. Giovanni doesn't want just any musician play

n't make sense. There are hundred

ng, they don't settle for second best. And for whatever reason, he's set his eyes on you. It

g to push down the rising panic

ous way, but he will. You'll start losing gigs. You'll find yourself blacklisted from places you used to

them. The weight of Marco's wo

asked, hating the unc

ind a way to survive without letting him own you. But that's not

rmination burning in his ch

l, kid. You have no idea what

t Giovanni control hi