Chapter 20: Encounters

Dante
I found myself in Marco's office, surrounded by the tense atmosphere that always seemed to accompany our meetings. Next to me was Valeria, her presence always comforting amidst the chaos that surrounded our lives. Marco, of course, was there too, his imposing figure dominating the room as he weighed our options with the cunning of a chess master.
"So, what's our next move?" I asked, my voice filled with anticipation as I awaited his response.
Marco leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes gleaming with the intensity of a man who was always one step ahead of everyone else, though I knew well that it was a façade. Many times, showing strength only served to conceal the fear he felt in many situations.
"We need to catch that mysterious woman before she causes more trouble," he said, his voice filled with determination. "And I think we have the perfect opportunity to do it."
My eyebrows shot up in surprise as I listened to his words, my mind racing with the possibilities that lay before us. I knew it would be in my best interest to pretend to be a part of this. Now I could help that woman and prevent her from falling into a trap.
I'm not very happy with what I'm doing either, but it's necessary. I know that with this I can protect Ana. It seems like I'm the only one here who cares.
"And how do you plan to do that?" Valeria asked, her voice full of curiosity as she leaned forward in her seat.
Marco smiled slyly, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of a man about to put a master plan into action.
"We're going to use Ana as bait," he said, his voice betraying the confidence he had in this plan. "If this woman wants Ana's place in the mafia, then we'll use that against her."
A shiver ran down my spine as I absorbed his words. The gravity of the situation seemed to matter to no one. I didn't understand how they could consider this an option.
"But that could put Ana in danger," I mentioned, of course I was in a state of concern as I contemplated the possible consequences of our actions.
Marco nodded, his expression serious as we faced the reality of what we were about to do.
"I know, Dante. But it's a risk we have to take if we want to catch this woman once and for all. Ana is stronger than you think. And I'm sure she can handle it. I know my family well, trust me a little."
Well, I refused to do it.
Valeria bit her lip, her expression worried as she contemplated our options.
"I just hope we're doing the right thing," she said, though she didn't sound convinced either. As we thought about this, I think she was struggling with her own concerns.
Marco looked at her tenderly, his hand reaching out to take hers in a gesture of comfort.
"Trust me, Valeria," he said. "Everything will be fine. I won't risk my niece's life, rest assured."
And as I looked at my companions in that room, I felt a sense of unity and purpose that I had never experienced before. We were in this together, facing the dangers of the mafia world with courage and determination. And with that in mind, we prepared for the challenge ahead, ready to face whatever it took to protect our loved ones and ensure our survival in a world full of dangers and betrayals.
I headed towards Paolo's house with a heart full of determination and concern. Ana had been acting strange lately, and I knew something was wrong. When I arrived, however, I was met with a scene that left me breathless.
"Where's Ana?" I asked, as I confronted Paolo, whose imposing presence filled the room.
Paolo looked at me coldly, his expression tense as he weighed his words, he looked at me with evident superiority, but I didn't care.
"It's none of your business," he replied, crossing his arms in front of me.
My frustration grew at his defiant attitude, but I knew I couldn't let it stop me.
"Ana is my priority, Paolo. And if something has happened to her, I have a right to know," I kept my gaze fixed on his.
There was a tense moment of silence as we faced each other, the air charged with the electricity of our confrontation. But before I could say anything else, Paolo stepped forward, his imposing presence filling the room.
"She's not here. But don't worry, she's safe. Come back another day and I'll tell her you came."
My heart sank at his words, the worry for Ana burning in my chest as I struggled to maintain my composure.
"Where is she then?" I waited for his answer.
Paolo approached me, his imposing presence filling the room as we faced each other.
"It's none of your business, Dante. Ana is with me now, and that's all you need to know. She doesn't want to see you, and I think that's something she makes clear every chance she gets."
A wave of anger and frustration washed over me as I struggled to contain my emotions. I knew I couldn't let this get in the way, but the feeling of helplessness left me breathless.
"You can't control her, Paolo. She's her own person, and she deserves to make her own decisions."
"Believe me, so far I haven't forced her to do anything. She's free to do whatever she wants, and in that freedom she chose to be with me."
"She's not your property."
There was a tense moment of silence as we faced each other, the air charged with the electricity of our confrontation. But then, something changed in Paolo's eyes, a spark of understanding that appeared in his gaze.
"I know, Dante. But that doesn't mean I can't care about her. Ana is important to me, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect her."
A sense of resignation filled me as I absorbed his words, the reality of our situation weighing on me with all its weight. I knew I couldn't let this get in the way, but I also knew I couldn't let my worry for Ana cloud my judgment.