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"This is Jasmine, father."
"The racer?" the don asks, curiously.
I jerk my head up at Dario, searching for answers. So, the don has heard my name before which can mean just one thing. Dario and he have, at some point, spoken about me. Fascinating.
"Yes. And I love her."
This time, both the Don and I stand shocked. Did Dario just proclaim he loves me for the first time ever? My heart skips a beat at his declaration, the weight of those words hanging in the air like a delicate tapestry.
The room falls into an uneasy silence, every gaze fixated on Dario and me. The tension grows thicker, suffocating, as Don Marchetti's stern expression cracks ever so slightly.
"You love her?" he asks, his voice laced with a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
"With all my heart."
"And you trust her?"
"With my life."
"Very well then," Don Marchetti brings an end to the conversation.
His father, Don Marchetti, sits in a high-backed chair, the picture of authority and power. He regards us with dark, inscrutable eyes, and I can't help but shiver under his gaze, even though I stand beside the man I love – the man who has done everything in his power to protect me from the dangers that have haunted his life.
“Well, now that we’re here, father. Please tell me what you need. Is this regarding the war you brought on with Frank?”
"Patience, my son," Don Marchetti replies, his voice a low rumble that seems to resonate through the very walls.
I squeeze Dario's hand tighter, silently offering my support as the knot of tension between us grows ever tighter. My heart aches for him, knowing that the trust he's struggled so hard to build is being tested once again by the very man who should be his greatest ally.
"Father," Dario says again, more forcefully this time. "I demand to know why we've been brought here."
"Very well." Don Marchetti leans forward, his gaze never wavering from his son's. "It seems there are matters that require our immediate attention. Matters of loyalty and betrayal."
A cold shiver runs down my spine as I realize the gravity of the situation unfolding before us. I look to Dario, searching for any sign of weakness or fear in his eyes, but all I see is a fierce determination – a steely resolve that tells me he will face whatever challenges lie ahead, no matter the cost.
Then, with a suddenness that sends a shudder down my spine, he pulls a gun from beneath his jacket, leveling it at a man with a burn scar on his neck and chin.
My heart races as I sense Dario stiffen beside me, both of us unable to tear our eyes away from the scene unfolding before us.
"Lorenzo," Dario's father says coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion. "You have betrayed our family. Your own blood."
I glance at Dario, his face is a mask of stoicism, but I can see the flicker of something else deep within his eyes - pain. Betrayal, and perhaps even a small sliver of doubt. I know he had trusted Luca implicitly, and the thought of this man turning his back on our family cuts him deeply.
"Father, please," Dario pleads, his voice strained as he tries to maintain control of his emotions. "Let Lorenzo explain himself before we pass judgment."
"Explain?" Don Marchetti scoffs, his eyes never leaving Lorenzo’s terrified gaze. "What is there to explain? He has been meeting with our enemies, sharing our secrets, and putting us all in danger."
"Is this true, Lorenzo?" Dario asks softly, his voice barely audible above the pounding of my heart.
"Boss, I swear on my life," Lorenzo stammers, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I didn't betray the family. I would never do that."
Dario's grip on my hand tightens, his knuckles turning white as he takes a deep breath. I can feel the tension radiating off of him, but beneath it all, there's a steady resolve that reminds me just how strong he truly is.
"Alright," Dario says, his voice calm and measured despite the chaos around us. "Let's hear it, Lorenzo. Explain yourself, and make me believe you."
“Your father wanted me to assassinate Frank. I couldn’t do it. It’s as simple as that.”
"Alright, let's get to the heart of the matter," Dario says, his voice steady but determined. "Luca, why didn't you carry out the order against Frank?"
