His Villain

11

That's just one more reason to end her life," Venezio remarked nonchalantly to his sister, their conversation shrouded in secrecy.

"You do understand what I'm capable of, don't you?" she inquired, her brow raised. "Where is he?" she pressed on, her eyes filled with determination.

"I don't know," Venezio replied, taking the drive from her and exiting the premises to delve into the information it held.

Dalia crouched down, lowering herself to Celia's level, and cradled her head in her lap. Tenderly brushing the hair away from Celia's face, she assessed her condition. To describe it as anything less than dire would be an injustice to her suffering. Celia's body trembled on the unforgiving cold ground. "Are you involved too?" Dalia asked in a gentle voice, retrieving her phone from her jeans pocket and dialing a number. "They killed him," Celia replied, her voice quivering, her eyes closed, seeking solace in the belief that everything would be alright now.

"Are you truly his sister and Mister Romano's fiancée?" Celia's question halted Dalia's actions as she realized her true identity had been exposed to her close friend and her boyfriend's best friend. She had a multitude of issues to resolve and digest.

To them and the world, she was Dalia Cassano, not Dalia D'Amico Cassano, the sister of the most powerful and untouchable don. It was a reality she despised with every fiber of her being. Being a daughter, sister, and Donna of a crime mob famiglia was something she detested. In the eyes of the world, they were merely businessmen and businesswomen, but in the underworld, they were the bosses, ruling the black market in Europe.

Her call was answered by her assistant, and she summoned him to the basement. Soon, a man arrived, and she instructed him to carry Celia to the hospital. He lifted her gently, holding her like a bride, mindful not to cause any further harm to her already battered body, as instructed by his boss. Celia's blood dripped onto the pristine marble floor, capturing the attention of everyone in the lounge, their eyes widening and mouths agape, witnessing their guilty culprit being carried away by the assistant of their soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

****

Venezio took long, slow draws from his cigarette, exhaling the smoke in a mesmerizing dance of silver-blue swirls. The room was engulfed in the scent of smoke, while the murmurs of men and women and the clacking of keyboards shattered the serenity of the moment.

With one hand on his back and the other holding the cigarette, Venezio paced from one corner of the room to another, lost in deep contemplation. There were many things beyond his knowledge now.

His train of thought was interrupted by his assistant's voice. "Speak," he commanded with authority. As Alessia finished speaking, raw anger surged through him like molten lava. He clenched his jaw, simmering with resentment.

"Call Alzo and tell him I want him here within 30 minutes," he said through gritted teeth before storming out of his office. Making his way to his suite, he discarded his tie on the bed and entered the bathroom, seeking solace in a soothing shower.

****

A laptop lay before him as he sipped on the bitter coffee, his eyes scanning through the emails he had received. His assistant was still diligently trying to track and uncover any clues regarding Vincent's abduction. He didn't believe a word Celia had uttered. She was still on borrowed time. No one had ever survived his torment, and he would ensure the same fate for her. She had seen too much, more than what was required. She had deluded herself into thinking she could befriend the deadly creatures in the ocean of sharks, even though she didn't know how to swim. Whether she had intentionally or unintentionally stumbled into this mess, she was now an integral part of it-a worthless and endangered one.

"He's here," his train of thought was shattered by his personal guard's voice. Alzo followed closely behind him.

Anticipation constricted his throat as he received a message from Venezio's assistant, requesting a meeting. He wondered if the don had discovered the reality that he had expertly concealed behind a composed façade.

"Please have a seat, Mister Romano," Venezio's calm voice caused his heart to lodge itself in his throat as he settled across from the man. He waited for Venezio to begin.

"Have you checked the CCTV footage from Vincent's mansion?" The room's temperature seemed to rise, mirroring the concealed possibilities that Venezio held beneath his composed exterior. Only he knew that he was feigning calmness, while inside, he trembled like a fish deprived of water.

Venezio rose from his seat and gazed out at the towering skyscrapers, his hands clasped behind his back, awaiting Alzo's revelation of the truth he had uncovered.

"They've been deleted," Alzo replied, his hands clenched into fists to conceal their trembling.

"For how many days?" Venezio inquired, his tone betraying the simmering anger within him.

"Two."

"Do you suspect anyone else, apart from that woman?" Venezio faced Alzo, seeking answers.

"She hasn't uttered a word, and honestly, I believe the government is involved in this," Alzo smoothly reasoned, fabricating the lie.

"It could be another mafia, don't you think?" Venezio asked, retaking his seat.

"No, I don't believe that's possible. No other mafia would dare to cross your path in their right mind. This is the work of the government, I'm certain." Alzo knew his own impending demise awaited him.

"But if it were the government, I believe the news would have been exposed to the world by now. There haven't been any threats or negotiations from their side. How can you be so sure, Mister Romano?" Alzo's heartbeat momentarily ceased as perspiration formed on his forehead, exposing his façade to the man before him.

"Are you telling me the truth and nothing but the truth?" Venezio interrogated, his fingers dancing across the keyboard of his laptop.

"Yes," Alzo replied, avoiding direct eye contact.

"You are well aware of the consequences of lying to me, aren't you?" Venezio's menacing warning eradicated any trace of mockery.

A chuckle escaped Venezio's lips as he observed Alzo's shocked expression, his vulnerabilities laid bare.

"This is your final chance to tell me the truth, Mister Romano," he issued his last ultimatum, disregarding the deliberate throbbing in his head.

Swallowing hard, Alzo divulged all the clues and information he possessed, his fate sealed. Venezio's fingers intertwined on the desk, his gaze fixed upon Alzo, capturing every word with sharpened eyes. At the end of his confession, the room pulsated with anger.

"Leave," Venezio commanded, and though Alzo hesitated, he opened his mouth to speak, but the lethal warning emanating from the man before him compelled him to exit the room.

"Don, the chip and the phone's last known location is on the outskirts, where the deal was supposed to take place," Alessia informed him, displaying the information on the screen. He glanced up and ordered, "Summon Dalia and Delrico to the dining room promptly at 7."

"Understood. Anything else?" she asked, closing the laptop and making her way towards the door. He shook his head in response, and she departed.

It was time to clean up the mess now...