silent

Chapter 1 - The Spilled Vintage Wine

Inside the luxury high-rise dining room overlooking the glittering city skyline, Alexander Bellini held a heavy gold pen hovering just millimeters above an unsigned contract. The late 30s Mafia Boss, sharp in an elegant charcoal grey three-piece suit and silk tie, looked around the mahogany table. Glowing chandeliers reflected off crystal vases filled with red roses.

"Let us finalize the contract terms," Alexander said, his calm, authoritative voice cutting through the quiet room.

Behind him stood Lucia Grant, a mid-20s waitress wearing a crisp white button-down shirt and black apron. Her dark hair was neatly bound in a low bun, stray wisps framing her focused face. As she stepped forward carrying a bottle of vintage red wine, two associates seated beside Alexander leaned together, whispering hushed Sicilian dialect under their breath.

"Once Bellini signs, the warehouse bomb triggers," one associate muttered, assuming no one in the room understood the ancient regional dialect.

Lucia’s eyes widened slightly, her breath catching in her throat. As she leaned over to pour, one of the associates abruptly shoved his chair back, deliberately bumping her elbow. The heavy crystal wine glass tipped over with a violent smash, dark red wine splashing across the white linen napkins and pooling over the contract.

"Watch it, server!" the associate barked, his hand reaching reflexively toward his jacket pocket.

Lucia quickly stepped in with a cloth napkin, dabbing near Alexander’s elbow. Leaning down close to the Boss's ear while the table was distracted by the mess, she whispered in rapid, flawless Sicilian: "Don't sign. The warehouse is a death trap."

Alexander froze. His gold pen stopped mid-air. He slowly turned his head, his dark, calculating eyes locking onto Lucia’s calm face.

"Where did you learn Sicilian?" Alexander asked, his low whisper dangerous and cold.

With a sharp snap, Alexander capped his gold pen and tossed it onto the stained contract. He stood up, placing a protective hand behind Lucia as his personal bodyguards drew their weapons.

May you like

"Lock the doors..." Alexander commanded softly. "Nobody leaves this room alive."

👉 Read PART 2 to discover how a simple waitress came to speak a secret Sicilian dialect!

Related Stories

Other posts