Chapter 44

“What in the world was that all about, Raf?” Carlos shouted in disbelief. “These men were meant to be brought to the Don, and this is not how it was supposed to happen!”

“I truly believed that these men posed a significant danger to our business and its operations. They were individuals who, in my opinion, should not continue to exist. I was confident that Don would comprehend my reasoning if I took steps to eliminate them. As I spoke, I remained calm and composed.”

“They were threats, that's true. However, they also served a purpose—they were intended as a message directed towards Don Campani. By letting them go, it is an act of defiance, a refusal to submit!” Carlos responded sharply.

One of my other men, someone I didn't recognize at all, took a step forward and spoke up. “You know, boss, I think he has a point. You've made a mistake in this situation. You must show Campani that we are following his instructions and doing what he tells us to do.”

“And what will happen if I choose not to do that?” Hugo questioned, speaking in a deep and threatening tone. He took a step closer to the man who dared to challenge or question his leader.

“Hugo, just let it go for now,” I said, lifting my hand to signal to him to stop talking. “I don’t have to show anything to Campani. I can make my own choices and decisions.”

Without saying anything else to them, Hugo and I made our way out of the warehouse. We decided to leave my men behind, and as we walked away, I could sense their confusion and the growing feelings of unease that they were experiencing.

We sat in the car, driving quietly for a little while without saying anything to each other. After a short period, I decided to break the silence and say something. I turned to Hugo and expressed my feelings by saying, “Hugo, I want you to know that I appreciate your loyalty and support.”

“I want you to know that my loyalty belongs to you, Mr. Raf,” he said, looking at him with a calm and dedicated expression. “And, if it would be helpful to you, I am fully prepared to handle the other men, taking care of whatever needs to be done.”

“No,” I said with determination in my voice. “I am tired of all this manipulation and power struggles that keep happening. They just didn’t understand back then that what I truly wanted was to have control over my own life and decisions.”

Hugo looked at the person and confidently said, “You are in charge here, and everyone around you will learn to show you the respect that you deserve.”

After a long journey, we eventually reached our favorite place, which is a bar that is not very bright. It is a cozy spot where we have spent many enjoyable hours together. We often go there to relax, talk about our lives, and share a drink while enjoying each other's company.

The pub had only a few people inside, and most of them were the regular customers we often see. There were also some people we didn't recognize. As we opened the door and stepped inside, we were met with the familiar sounds of many conversations happening at once, along with the cheerful noise of glasses clinking together.

We went to our regular spot in the restaurant, which was a table located in a dimly lit corner. As we sat down, I noticed that the other people at the table were speaking to each other in very quiet voices. Their conversations seemed to be filled with a kind of tension that I had grown accustomed to over time.

“One of my men said to me, 'Raf, you should know that Campani envies you. He is constantly searching for any opportunity or excuse to try and bring you down or make you look bad.'“

“I understand what you're saying,” I replied, gently moving my glass of amber liquid around in circles. “He has always acted this way towards me. He perceives me as a danger to his position, someone who could take over and replace him.”

“But you are much stronger than the rest, boss,” Hugo said as he looked directly into my eyes. “You are known as the most feared man in this entire city. That reputation will always stick with you.”

“He's always there, just waiting. It's like he’s constantly on the lookout for a moment when he can catch me off guard and make me stumble. This engagement I have… feels almost too perfect to be real like it’s something I shouldn't trust. I can’t shake the feeling that he is always anticipating when I might mess up.” I said slowly, my gaze locked onto the softly glowing glass in front of me.

One of the men raised his hand and asked, “What can we do to stop him from doing what he wants?”

I leaned back comfortably in my chair, allowing a cold smile to slowly spread across my face. Looking straight ahead, I said confidently, “I know how to stand my ground.” I continued, “I want you to understand that I'm not going to give up easily. I will not go down without putting up a fight.”

The burden of Campani's schemes weighed down on me like a thick, heavy cloak that I could not easily shake off. It felt like a constant pressure, a looming threat that never went away, just like the manipulative games he played with everyone around him.

Yet, underneath that heavy weight, I could still feel a familiar spark of anger and determination flickering within me. It was the same fire that had helped me get through my darkest moments in life when everything seemed hopeless.

My journey in this life was not easy or smooth. It wasn't filled with beautiful roses, and I didn’t have the steady support of true friends or allies beside me. Instead, I found myself in a world where loyalty and trust were rare and could change hands quickly. People were more interested in gaining power and profit than in having real connections.

My name is Rafaelle Tommaso, and I am a person who stands strong and does not give in easily. I will not back down, whether it is in front of Campani or anyone else. The journey I am on is one of strength and persistence, driven by my strong desire to achieve my goals.

If it means that I have to confront the anger or punishment of Don himself to defend my right to make my own choices and live my own life, then I am ready to do that without hesitation.

I looked around at the group of men gathered around me. Their faces showed a complicated mix of feelings, including dedication and worry. It was a delicate connection we shared, one that could be easily broken if fear or the desire for power came into play. However, at this moment, they were with me, united by our shared purpose. I knew they would stand by me and follow wherever I led them.

I raised my glass in the air. “Let’s make a toast to our survival,” I stated, speaking in a quiet yet determined voice. “Here’s to us standing strong and proud.”

The men around me repeated my toast, and their voices combined to create a strong chorus that showed their loyalty and determination. I felt a sense of unity among us, but deep down, I was aware that the battle we faced was far from finished.

The game we were involved in was still ongoing, and the risks we were taking were incredibly high. Additionally, there were many enemies we had to contend with. Despite all of this, I stood there, prepared and ready to face whatever lay ahead…