Elio stood in front of the enormous Victorian building. The huge windows, walls, and trees made him feel extremely small. His breathing was heavy, and his hands were trembling with nerves.
"Are you going to come in?" one of the men who had escorted him to the entrance asked suddenly, making him startle. Elio quickly nodded.
The man clicked his tongue and opened the huge wooden door. That harmless door looked like the entrance to hell at the time. Elio almost turned and ran, but his sister's smiling face appeared in his thoughts. He couldn't abandon her a second time.
He clenched his fists and gathered all the strength and courage he had to take the first step up the white stone stairs. The other steps, while he couldn't say they were a piece of cake, were relatively easy.
"Wait here; I'll talk to Mr. Gabriele."
Elio nodded and watched the guard go upstairs. The first time he went, he didn't pay much attention to the decoration; he just focused on the paintings, but now that he looked more closely, that place was the most luxurious he had ever seen in his life.
The double-height ceiling with dim lights on the sides, a waterfall-shaped chandelier with crystals cut as if they were drops of water adorned the imposing ceiling, a large double staircase, marble floors with granite walls. It was a luxurious mansion that looked classic on the outside, but on the inside, it was completely modern.
"Elio Mancini," he heard his name pronounced from the second floor. He looked up and found himself facing the intimidating Mr. Di Marco, Vicenzo's father.
"Sir, good evening," he greeted politely; however, there was only a look of contempt from that lawyer, which disconcerted him a little. The last time he had seen him, the man even said goodbye to him politely.
"I remember you rejected my father's proposal. What are you doing here?" Elio understood why the cold attitude.
"I…"
Elio was speechless. The penetrating gaze was making him even more nervous. His hands were shaking and starting to sweat. It was true, he had rejected the marriage contract, he was waiting for them to treat him that way, but he urgently needed the money, and he couldn't think of another solution.
"Don't bother the visitor, Salvatore," the old man's voice made both of them look to the right. The man wore an expensive military green suit, with hazel eyes that shone spectacularly. They were inquisitive and penetrating. Just like Vicenzo's.
"I'm just curious, Father. The boy rejected the proposal, and we have no business with him," he explained as he approached the elder Di Marco to help him down the stairs.
"Answer me. What are you doing here?"
Both men were taller than him, their eyes cold. Elio was speechless for several minutes. Salvatore's patience was beginning to wear thin, and if the boy didn't speak in the next thirty seconds, he himself would kick him out of the place.
To the surprise of both Di Marcos, Elio knelt with his head to the floor, almost as if he were praying to a deity.
"Forgive my insolence in rejecting your proposal, please give me a second chance."
Gabriele Di Marco's lips curled into a triumphant smile. He knew perfectly well the situation of the Mancinis; after all, news in the underworld flies like dust. A pretty girl kidnapped because of the debts of her late father, heir to the Mancini Rizzo, would not go unnoticed by anyone.
"Why did you change your mind?" Elio looked up and gradually stood up. He pressed his lips together tightly before answering. Just remembering it made him want to kill those bastards.
"Some bastards kidnapped my younger sister…"
"And what does that have to do with marriage?" Salvatore didn't look so pleased with that.
"I want to ask you to pay the ransom in exchange for the marriage, it's half a million dollars."
Silence followed his words. The two men looked at each other. The pressure increased, and the air seemed increasingly scarce for Elio. He dared not look up and kept his hands clasped in front of him. Salvatore's laugh made him tremble. Yes, he must have sounded ridiculous.
"You think you're worth that much?" Elio had already anticipated that answer, but deep down he hoped he was wrong. "Damn, of course, they weren't going to accept that. Who am I to them? Just a nobody," Elio thought. "You're overestimating yourself a lot, kid. You're just a worthless boy to us. Why should we pay so much just for you?"
"Salvatore, control your words," the old man's voice overrode the man's taunts. "What do we gain? Just a marriage?" Elio cringed further. He pressed his lips and hands together tightly. Yes, he was naive to think that there could be a second chance. "You're not the only one, Elio. We can find another wife for my grandson, one much more capable and valuable than you, and one who will give us a grandchild."
Those words hurt his pride. While he was not a boy from a wealthy family, there was no need to humiliate him that way, but it was true, he could not have children. However, Elio hated people who humiliated others just because their house wasn't worth more than ten million, they didn't have stocks in the stock market, or simply because they went to cheaper supermarkets.
If he were in other circumstances, he would have already shouted his truths at that narcissistic and self-centered old man. But his sister's life was at stake. He could only bow his head and keep his words to himself.
"I know," he said, looking up. In his eyes was reflected a gleam of conviction. The old man smiled to see him so determined and self-assured. "But I can do whatever you want, whatever you ask, that's not to kill anyone, of course."
A loud laugh from the old man startled him. "What a boy, of course, we wouldn't ask you for such a thing. We're not that cruel."
"Especially," Elio thought sarcastically.
"Does that mean…?"
"All right, you win," the old man stepped forward. "We'll get the money ready and the contract you'll sign before the wedding."
"Thank you very much, sir." Elio bowed his head in gratitude. "If it's not too much indiscretion, may I know by when you will have the money? My sister only has until the day after tomorrow."
"It's no indiscretion, you're practically family." Elio felt chills at those words, though harmless, he felt it as a warning or threat of something. "About the money, you don't have to worry, you'll have it by noon tomorrow."
...----------------...
Elio was in the living room of his house, moving his legs in a clear act of nervousness. The clock on the wall read eleven forty-five. He bit his nails, anxiously awaiting his savior.
"If they don't come—" Luka paced back and forth across the room. His hair was messy, and his clothes were the same as the day before.
"They'll come, Luka; they're not people who break their promises," Elio affirmed, though even he wasn't convinced of it.
Five minutes passed, and the doorbell rang, bringing hope and relief with its sound. Elio stood up at once, not knowing how he got to the door so fast, but soon found himself standing before that imposing old man, who carried a black folder in his left hand.
"Sir, good morning, please come in."
The old man walked with slow steps, observing every corner of the place. A man in a black suit was walking behind him, carrying a black briefcase; the money should be in there.
The two brothers were in the living room, Isabella had collapsed again, her son had used a tranquilizer again, at least until her sister was with them, they couldn't let her get any more upset.
"Good morning, sir," they said in unison.
"Hello," he replied. "Marcello, put the money on the table." The man in the suit obeyed, placing the briefcase on the small glass table in the center of the living room and opened the latches. The green bills caught all three pairs of eyes. They definitely could never have raised that much money in such a short time. "Half a million dollars, just as we agreed."
Luka stepped forward and tried to grab the briefcase, however, was quickly pulled back by Marcello. The young man furrowed his brows and looked at the old man in bewilderment.
"Before I hand it over, I need Elio's signature on the contract," he said with an arrogant smile. "It's not free, kid."
"Give me the contract; I'll sign it now."
Elio looked determined, though his legs were shaking. Carlo and Luka watched him, still feeling sorry for what their younger brother had done. Signing a contract with them was practically selling his soul to the devil, but they didn't have many options.
"Here."
Elio didn't even read the contract, signing sheet after sheet in blue ink. Carlo felt like he was sending his brother straight to the slaughterhouse, if he could, he would take his place.
"Done." Elio closed the folder and handed it back to the old man. He felt it was so heavy that he thought they weren't normal sheets.
"You didn't even read it? You okay with that?"
"What difference would it make?" he questioned rhetorically. "Whether I liked it or not, I was going to sign it anyway. Mr. Di Marco, my sister's life is at stake, even if that contract says I have to sell my organs, I'll do it."
"Loyalty," he said, "one of the qualities needed to belong to my family, Elio." The old man approached him. Elio felt the air thicken around him, yet he did not lower his gaze or shrink back. "You should know that I loathe traitors."
"And I loathe those who abuse their power, sir." Gabriele's gaze sharpened, holding it on the boy's blue eyes.
He saw determination and arrogance, though tinged with fear and nervousness. He smiled. Apparently, Elio Mancini was much more interesting than he had imagined.
"Good." Gabriele looked away to the other two brothers. "Make the exchange tonight. But don't send Elio; if anything happens to him, you will be held responsible."
"I would never let my brother suffer something like that."
The old man raised an eyebrow suggestively. It was as if with that gesture he was saying, "No? Then why is your sister in this situation, or why do you allow your younger brother to marry a stranger?" Carlo could read that look, yet there was nothing he could do.
"Good, I leave it in your hands." He turned to Elio again. "As for you, we will be in touch soon."
Elio nodded without much choice.
...----------------...
A total of two hours had passed, but the kidnappers had not contacted them again. Luka and Carlo were beginning to despair as Elio struggled to remain calm. He was taking care of his mother, and the last thing she needed was to see them under pressure.
"Son, your sister, how is she?"
"She's fine, she's free now," he lied, "but you can't see her right now, your blood pressure is too low and your sugar is over one hundred eighty," he said, taking his mother's hand affectionately. "Rest, Mom, Anna will be here soon."
"Okay," she said wearily, "go with her, I'll get some sleep."
"Yes, rest, Mom." Elio felt a lump in his throat as he had to lie to his mother, but it was the only way to keep her stable.
"Elio, come to the living room," Luka spoke softly so as not to disturb their mother. Elio nodded and got up, following Luka.
"They gave us the address of the place where we're going to make the exchange," Carlo explained. "I'll take the money, get everything ready."
...----------------...
The alleyway was dark and lonely, only the occasional barking or meowing of cats could be heard in the background. Carlo was standing with the briefcase in hand, as they had ordered, facing the wall of the abandoned building. A black van pulled up behind him.
Elio could see from where he was hiding a hooded man get out and point a gun at his brother's head. Carlo raised his hands and handed over the briefcase with the money; they opened it and quickly checked it. After seeing that everything was in order, they threw his sister to the ground from inside; after that, they left as quickly as possible.
"Anna!" Luka and Elio ran out of their hiding place. By the time they arrived, Carlo had already removed her hood and was untying her hands and feet.
"Anna, Annalise," they all shouted, but she didn't react at all.
"Quick, to the hospital!"
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2024-12-28
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