IN THE SHADOW OF THE MAFIA

an's

day we burie

thing feel colder than it already was. I stood there in my black suit, staring a

s, but their words were hollow. They didn't care. They di

n there

r's old scarf like it was some lifeline. I didn't care if she was mournin

es, sure, but we were doing okay. He worked hard, and I respected him for th

. Hera was just a kid back then, all wide-eyed and sh

sabella made herself comfortable, acting like this house was hers, and Hera..

ather doted on her, calling her "h

two years after Isab

bella-something sweet, he said. He wanted to take her o

ate

ming. It wasn't fair. My father had become a man I didn't recognize,

n the c

Their car was crushed.

after the accident, not even when I sa

as the

so was my father. But

all fell on me. Hera, of course, was useless. She was just a teenag

ing up space, acting like she was

r my resentment to tur

ce, the same way she made everything about herself. She didn't see

stairs with her little drawings and daydreams,

as the matter of

left behind. But I did. I knew everything. That money was supposed to come to

o didn't deserve a single penny. It was infuriating, but I kept quiet

chance to escape with

ght was just bad luck, but I knew better. I knew because Ma

y like a predator savoring its prey. "You're st

at he was talking about, but I forced

a child. "A certain someone, carrying a certain bag, trying to run off int

I said quickly,

ing before you settle your debt, I'll take that as you t

part. Back then, it wasn't about the money-I gambled for the thrill, for the rush of b

ough. "Gambling's a game where the house always wins, Damian," he'd say, shakin

ents' deaths, ev

ne. It was overwhelming. I thought gambling would help me escape for

e extra money to cover expenses. But as the wins grew fewer and

mbling, desperate to fix the mess I'd created. Each loss pushed me to be

house al

o Valente, the man who never forgot a debt-he made

at a local poker game. I didn't know who they were at first, but their offer seemed simple: a q

've know