Elio knew that it was not easy for his family to accept or agree with this madness, even he himself was not convinced. However, he was convinced that they would support him no matter what.
The dinner passed calmly, between trivial conversations and the occasional joke, which helped him to calm his nerves and act as he usually did. Elio hoped that the time to pick up the dishes would never come, it was fine the way things were.
His mother could tell. He talked most of the time during meals, he used to communicate well with them and that day was totally different, barely and article a few words. Elio thought he could fool her, but, to his bad or good luck, he was like an open book before Isabella's eyes.
Isabella had made some tea to drink before going to bed. They stayed to drink some while the evening news was projected on the screen: they had found an abandoned ship full of human remains.
Elio, although his eyes were on the television, wasn't even paying attention to it. His thoughts were on other things, he let out a sigh, as he took a sip of the hot liquid from his cup.
"Brother, mother... I want to tell you something."
They paid close attention to the boy who, it is worth mentioning, was almost shaking with nerves. Elio was looking intently at the liquid in his cup, seeing his reflection in it.
Elio's father, Dante Mancini belonged to the Mancini Rizzo family, a mafia that began to take over part of the eastern part of the country some years ago, when he was just a child.
However, his father had been removed from his position because of his sisters' ambition for power. For the same reason, the Mancini family had suffered economic problems and had had to work at whatever they could.
They had caused a lot of damage to his family. None member of the family formed by Dante and Isabella belonged to that mafia anymore, except for one of their daughters. His grandfather had insisted that Carlo, as the firstborn, take over the business after his father's death, but he had refused so that he would no longer have anything to do with the mafia.
And now, just at that moment, she was about to tell them that the mafia boss of the Di Marco family had proposed to marry her son.
Elio's mother grabbed her son's hand, which remained on the cup with his name printed on it.
She was a beautiful woman, kind and very understanding with her children. She had a very good communication with everyone, despite being so many in that family. She always knew what to say, when and how.
"Tell us, son."
Isabella could feel her son's concern. It was like a mother's sixth sense. Elio had always expressed his thoughts, even if that was uncomfortable for others who, in fact, were not used to hearing his truths so directly.
Elio was grateful to have a mother like her. He knew he could trust her with anything and she, no matter what, was going to give him the best advice, but without forcing him to do anything he didn't want to do.
"Well. You know Mr. Di Marco, don't you?"
They nodded in response.
Isabella had worked for many years with Mr. Luigi Mandeli and while at his side she had gotten to know different Mafia bosses, among them Mr. Gabriele Di Marco.
Carlo, on the other hand, had met him at a business meeting, because Gabriele Di Marco, despite being a Mafioso, was a "straight" businessman in the business world. Carlo had met with several businessmen for a television event, which was where he had the pleasure of meeting him. Although his first impression was of an authoritarian and unscrupulous man.
"What about him?"
Carlo was somewhat impatient for what his younger brother was going to say. Elio simply took a deep breath and let all the air out a few seconds later.
Let's say we met. He... made me a proposal." - Elio set his cup aside and interlaced his hands on the table, perhaps seeking courage to speak. He remained silent for several seconds before dropping the bombshell - "He wants me to marry his son."
His younger sister, who was drinking tea, spit it out in the dining room.
No one said anything about that reaction since everyone was processing the information.
Isabella set her cup aside. She looked at him for a few seconds, trying to understand Mr. Gabriele Di Marco's reason for wanting his son to marry his only grandson.
Meanwhile, Carlo simply processed the information. In the end, he couldn't interfere in his younger brother's life. He wanted them to have freedom and learn to make decisions, and suffer or enjoy the consequences of their decisions. However, a marriage was a cause for concern, especially with a man like that.
"At least is he attractive?"
Annalise broke the silence that had formed. Elio inwardly appreciated that she was the one to speak first.
Of all his siblings, he was closest to his younger sister. He felt the need to protect her at all times. Additionally, Anna's personality was simple, easy to get along with, cheerful, and very lively.
Physically, Elio and Annalise were very similar. There were even occasions when people thought they were twins. They enjoyed playing along, being born on the same month and day, with a three-year age difference.
"Yes, he is," Elio played along, hoping to lighten the mood a bit.
Little Anna smiled mischievously at him, and Elio simply curved his lips in a slight, genuine smile.
"Son."
Isabella, who had always shown joy, now had a serious look on her face. Elio remembered that expression, the same one she had years ago when his second oldest sister chose to stay with her father's family.
"Mother, I haven't accepted anything."
Isabella's face, which had lost all color, regained some composure. At least her son was still thinking things through.
Years ago, they had decided to distance themselves from anything related to the mafias. When she was young, her family forced her to marry the only son of the Mancini family, all for money. Her family was not willing to lose their social position and agreed to sell her off to help themselves financially.
She saw firsthand the abuses of the Mancini family. Grandfather Mancini was a somewhat violent, unfaithful, and ruthless person. He always showed preference for Dante, her husband. Because of that, Dante's sisters were hating her more and more every day. They made her life impossible while she was living there with her children.
When they left the Mancini Rizzo family's house several years ago, they decided not to get involved in Grandfather Mancini's business.
Honestly, for the young Elio of that time, it was difficult to distance himself from his family. He didn't understand many things and wrongly thought his mother was making a mistake. Between him and his older brother, Carlo, he was always the one more interested in their paternal grandfather's business. He had dreamed of running his companies. Obviously, at that time, Elio knew nothing about the mafia, or much of anything.
However, he decided to follow his family. What mattered most to him at that moment was his mother and her well-being. Even though he was against it, he would always support her.
Elio's mother and father lived happily with their children away from that family for a while. However, the Mancini sisters, who were three, continued to harass their younger brother.
She, Isabella, knew perfectly well the risks of her son getting involved with a family like that. Perhaps the Mancinis weren't as powerful, but if they were capable of that, the Di Marcos could finish them off with just one order.
They had the protection of the Mandeli family, however, she was sure that, once Elio's grandparents found out about that marriage, he would be in danger. The Mancini family and the Di Marco family had been in dispute lately, for what had happened years ago.
"What do you plan to do? I don't interfere in your life, but this... is very risky, son, I don't want you to get hurt and you know your grandfather..."
"I know," he interrupted, "however, this opportunity will help me pay for college and tuition, even without working... besides, our debts, the rent of the house, and all the services are not cheap."
"You don't have to do it because of the debts," Carlo intervened, "I will take care of the debts, you don't have to do that. As for college, we can support you."
Elio saw the concern reflected on his family's faces. Even he himself wasn't sure about taking that risk. He pressed his fingers against the glass cup, lowering his gaze.
He saw his reflection in the peaceful tea inside his cup. He wondered if he was truly capable of taking on such a responsibility as marriage, especially since he was about to turn twenty and the other was already thirty-five.
Elio had an internal struggle, feeling foolish for even considering the possibility of getting married. At least now he could be sure that his family would help him. And, although he was sure that things would be difficult, it was better to face obstacles than to accept a marriage with a complete stranger.
He felt relieved, his lips formed a broad smile and he looked up, his eyes in crescent moons as he extended that smile even more—"Thank you," he whispered.
In a bar in the southeast of the country, where people came and went looking to have fun in gambling games, betting large amounts of money, some even betting their belongings, cell phones, watches, cars, or the most extreme, their own homes.
The atmosphere was heavy, with the occasional fight between players trying to cheat while playing, losing was not an option, especially when their real estate was at stake.
The owner of the place often had to forcefully remove the rowdy patrons. He would not tolerate any trouble in his bar. He mocked the poor fools who thought it was the "players" who were cheating.
Some of the players were mere employees, the owner was a real scammer and knew who to take everything from and send them to hell.
That man with raven hair observed everything from the second floor where only VIP guests could enter. His appearance commanded respect and fear, always dressed in a dress shirt, sometimes rolled up to the elbows, tie and vest, both black, with a patch over his left eye, showing only his yellow orb on the right side, gloves dark up to the wrists.
Dragon, as he had been nicknamed in the underworld, was one who stayed on the sidelines of any of the mafias, however, he did business with all of them. He was a businessman and preferred money over the "friendship" of any of the bosses.
"Sir."
The voice of his subordinate behind him made him stop watching the girl sitting at one of the tables below, she was really beautiful. She had prominent breasts, a slim waist, and ample thighs, her face was cute and delicate. If he hadn't interrupted his view, he would probably have already sent someone to fetch her and take her to his private room.
"What's going on?"
"We found him, sir."
Dragon's lips curved into a joyful and malicious smile. After years of searching and lost money, he had managed to locate that guy. In the end, his desperate act of hiding had failed and he had no escape.
Dragon threw his cigarette and extinguished it with force, a way of expressing what he would do once he had him in his hands.
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