Chapter 05. A Weight Lifted.

Elio had been awake most of the night. The conversation with his mother and siblings had gone better than he expected. They hadn't gotten upset at any point, and he'd expressed his feelings freely.

Even so, the decision he'd made had robbed him of sleep. The Di Marco family was one of the most dangerous. He had already turned down the opportunity once, and he didn't know if they would tolerate a second refusal.

He sank into his thoughts, constructing different scenarios of what could possibly happen. He leaned back against his headboard and drew up his knees, still wrapped in the white sheets.

A heavy sigh escaped his pink lips as he closed his eyes, resting his hands on his knees and lacing his fingers together.

He kept thinking, turning the same matter over and over for fifteen days. It was like carrying a weight on his shoulders that wouldn't let him move forward, stealing his sleep and all the peace his life had known. That was exactly it — Vicenzo Di Marco was a raging storm bearing down on the quiet meadows of his life, laying waste to everything in its path.

Three knocks on the door pulled him out of those thoughts. He climbed sluggishly out of bed and walked to the door. Anna was on the other side.

"Brother." Annalise knew her older brother perfectly. One look at his face told her something wasn't right. Her brows furrowed with concern, but before she could say anything, Elio spoke.

"I'm fine. Don't worry."

Elio changed his expression back to its usual one. He could see the worry etched across his little sister's face — he must have looked terrible. He hid it well, and yet Anna was certain something was incredibly wrong. Her brother rarely ever wore that expression.

Still, she didn't want to pry until he was ready to tell her. Though it didn't always show, Elio tended to keep things to himself until the right moment, and he didn't appreciate anyone poking around in his private matters.

"Okay," she said, smiling. "Mom says to come have breakfast."

Elio's eyes widened in surprise. He checked his watch — it was nine-thirty in the morning. Despite having the appointment at the Di Marco house on his mind every second of the night, he had completely forgotten to check the time. The last time he looked, it had barely been three-fifteen in the morning. How could time move so fast?

"No, tell her I'm going out to take care of some things. I'll eat out."

He didn't wait for a response and shut the door with a bang. If Anna hadn't stepped back, it would have slammed right into her face.

Elio grabbed the first thing he saw in the closet, not bothering to check if the clothes matched. Besides, why would it matter? He was just going to quickly reject the offer that had sounded insane from the very beginning.

He took a quick shower and dried his hair, though not very evenly. He changed into dark, loose-fitting clothes like he usually wore. He grabbed his shoes — low-cut boots with chains on the sides. He looked like a total emo, now that he thought about it.

He ran downstairs. His family was gathered together as they were most Saturdays, having breakfast while enjoying a pleasant conversation.

"You're really not going to eat anything?" Isabella looked worried. She didn't like him leaving without eating.

"I'll grab something on the way. See you later, I won't be long... I think."

He whispered the last part as he dashed toward the door, hoping that somehow he could still make it on time.

Elio didn't have a car and didn't know how to drive, so he took public transit everywhere. However, the Di Marco mansion was located outside the city, and there was no bus route that went that far. A taxi could at least get him a little closer. It was a secluded estate with sprawling grounds in a private zone, so it would take a while to get there. Since it was a private zone, he'd have to enter on foot — that would definitely be a problem if he wanted to arrive early.

As he rounded the corner, running toward the bus stop, a black car was parked there with a suited man leaning against the passenger door.

Elio kept going until he heard his name and stopped, turning around. The man had called out to him.

"Young Elio, Don Gabriele Di Marco sent for you. Please, get in the car. I'll take you to him."

Elio swallowed hard and, with movements that were almost robotic, approached the car. He had actually been hoping to calm his nerves during the walk there. Instead, he was now climbing into a car that would deliver him without delay to the meeting point.

He had thought about suggesting a different location, but would a mafia boss really listen to the demands of some random kid? Even he found the idea ridiculous and stupid.

The car sped smoothly over the asphalt. Elio had the sensation that his breathing grew shorter with every meter and kilometer covered.

He decided to calm his nerves and look out the window. He hadn't even noticed the route, lost in his own head. When he finally looked outside, the scenery was completely different from what he'd first noticed. The cars, the houses packed side by side, the people walking along the street, the buildings — all of it had been left behind. Now, everything before him was the opposite. Trees lined the edges of a road that seemed to stretch endlessly as the car moved forward, and the quiet absence of the city's noise unsettled him for a moment. How long had he been buried in his thoughts? Anxiety flooded him and his heart began to pound faster.

"We're here."

The driver turned off the engine. Elio, caught off guard once again, got out of the car in that same robotic way. Before him rose the enormous mansion, surrounded by armed men. The doors, which were already large, now seemed massive. He felt so small and defenseless that the idea of running crossed his mind for an instant.

"Follow me."

The man walked ahead, opening the enormous door. Elio followed close behind. Inside, a double line of men — some on his left, others on his right — greeted him politely. If he didn't know they were mafia, they could easily pass for office workers with impeccable manners. But despite their politeness, being surrounded by all those men made him feel even more threatened.

The first time Elio had come here, he hadn't paid much attention to his surroundings. Now, looking more carefully, it was a very beautiful and welcoming home.

The ceilings were high, the walls looked sturdy. It preserved the warmth of an old home while blending in the modernity of the present day. There were paintings by famous artists, and the decor was exquisite.

As he followed the man who had brought him, he kept looking around. Somehow, it was relaxing.

But the calm he'd managed to find evaporated like seafoam the moment they reached a door he remembered well — the library.

After a couple of knocks, the old man Gabriele's voice came from inside. Elio entered, trying to show control over himself and the situation, but the old man's gaze was piercing.

"I'm glad you came. I thought you wouldn't dare."

"Me too," Elio said without thinking.

The man smiled. Elio noticed there was someone else beside him — another man in a suit, every bit as imposing as old man Di Marco and young Vicenzo.

Elio bowed in greeting. It was a habit of his — he didn't like physical contact with strangers, and he had adopted the Asian-style bow a long time ago. Old Gabriele gestured for him to take a seat across from them. He hesitated for a split second. He simply had to say no and leave. Yet he sat down — he didn't want to be rude, either.

"This is my grandson's father, Salvatore Di Marco," Gabriele said, gesturing to the man beside him. "Son, this is Elio Mancini, the one I told you about," he added, addressing the man.

"Pleased to meet you, sir." Elio felt even more nervous when all he received was a scrutinizing look. Apparently, Vicenzo's father wasn't on board.

"Elio, I can see you're nervous," the grandfather said, taking a sip of tea that had been served during introductions. "There's no reason to be. Have some tea — it'll help you relax."

"Yes, thank you." He did as suggested and took a sip. It was sweet and refreshing, warm but not scalding. "I... I'd like to talk about the proposal," he said, setting the cup on the table.

"Are you in a hurry to leave?"

"No, not really. I just don't want you to waste your time on me. I'm sure you must be very busy."

Elio sounded a bit more confident now. Vicenzo's father observed him, as though trying to figure out what kind of person he was. The answer had clearly surprised him — most people would tremble with fear, their voices coming out broken and strange.

"I see. You're a boy who doesn't waste time, are you? Marcello, bring the contract." The man he'd addressed grabbed a folder and extended it toward the boy, placing it on the table in front of him. "If you read it, you'll see that everything I promised you is in there. The clauses are far more beneficial to you than to us. Sign it."

"I'm sorry, Signor Di Marco. I can't accept this." His face was resolute, his gaze confident.

Gabriele's confident expression faltered at those words. The boy — was he really rejecting his offer? He blinked a couple of times in disbelief, grasped his chin, and lowered his head, thinking.

Though it was risky, he had assumed Elio would accept. His family's debts were considerable. Vicenzo's father was also stunned. What made this kid think Gabriele Di Marco would take no for an answer? Who did he think he was?

He recalled an incident from years ago, when he was still a young man and his father ran the organization. A man had refused to sell his house or work for them by storing weapons there. Gabriele killed him on the spot. This kid definitely had guts to say no.

"I see. Very well."

Elio was just as surprised as Salvatore. His father, Gabriele, was known for his terrible temper, and yet there he was, wearing a genuine smile at the boy who had rejected his offer twice.

He turned to look at Elio and saw a grateful smile. He could see the resemblance between them. Despite a touch of nervousness, Elio's words had come out so firm he could pass for a seasoned negotiator. Without a doubt, old Gabriele had made an excellent choice for his son.

"Thank you for understanding. Then I'll take my leave. It was a pleasure, Signor Di Marco."

"The pleasure was mine, Elio."

Elio couldn't help but show a look of astonishment that soon softened into a warm smile.

"Take care, son. If you change your mind, we'll be here. The driver will take you."

"That's not necessary, sir. And thank you very much."

...

The sun wasn't harsh and the breeze was pleasant. Elio felt as though an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He had expected them to take his decision badly, but it seemed they were far more reasonable than he'd imagined.

At last he could sleep in peace. At last he could return to the quiet life he'd been living. What could possibly go wrong?

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