Chapter 3 Crossing Paths

*Michael De-santi's POV*

Despite having a big profile. I have always believed in keeping low profiles on my residence.

A mystery even to my family members, Located in an unassuming neighborhood, it was an apartment no one would believe a mafia boss will reside. I would always park my car around the family house and took a bus home. My house is simple and modern, with clean lines and minimalist decorations.

I entered and sat on my bed and was lost in thought for a little while. "Ohh, before I forget" I said as I stood up to head towards my basement.

The door opening silently, revealing a staircase that descended into darkness. As I made my way down, the air grew cooler.

At the bottom of the stairs was a steel-reinforced door. I unlocked it and stepped into the basement, a space that resembled more of a typical cell.

"Please, Michael, you have to understand," a man begged, his voice trembling whom I held in a small cell at the corner of the room.

He was disoriented, his clothes torn and dirty, and his eyes wide with fear. As I approached him, he scrambled to his feet, clutching the bars of the cell.

"Please,I had no choice! I didn't mean to use him as a shield. I was just trying to survive!"

I gazed at the man with a cold look. "The only reason I did not let you die in the hands of that police officer,was because I could not watch my family get killed" I said, my voice low and menacing while clicking my lighter. "You used a guard. Do you know what that means in our world?"

The man nodded frantically, his face pale. "I know, I know! But please, give me another chance. I'll do anything. Just don't kill me."

I remained silent for a moment, My eyes locked onto the man's. I turned and walked to a nearby table, where a set of keys lay. Picking them up, I approached the cell and unlocked it. The man stumbled out, falling to his knees in front of me.

"Thank you, thank you!" he cried, tears streaming down his face. "I promise I won't tell anyone about this place. I swear it."

I grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him to his feet, my grip firm and unyielding. "You'd better keep that promise,". "If I hear even a whisper of this place, I will hunt you down and make you wish you were dead."

The man nodded vigorously, his entire body shaking. "I won't say a word. I swear."

I shoved him towards the stairs. "Get out of here. And remember, I'm watching you."

As slammed I the door shut behind the fleeing man, I stood in the basement, my mind racing with thoughts what caused the change in heart of my father. Knowing my father hated them with as much hate that matched mine.I lit a cigar, the smoke curling around me as I exhaled slowly.

Something didn't add up. "The old man wasn't one to abandon a grudge without a reason". I thought to myself

The next day was my official coronation as the boss of the De-santi family. I arrived at the mansion, the atmosphere was heavy with an unusual quiet. The absence of guards and servants raised my suspicion. My gut stirred with unease as I pushed open the front doors and was greeted by a sight that would traumatize me forever.

A pool of blood spread across the marble floor, the bodies of my family members lying lifeless on the ground . "What.. what" My breath caught in my throat, eyes wide showing utter dismay. I barely had time to process the scene when a bullet whizzed past my right arm, hitting against the wall behind me.

In an instant, I duked to the ground , taking cover as a hail of bullets shattered the silence. I could tell from the relentless fire that his enemies were outside, blocking every exit. "Shit" I said looking for a means of defense. My heart pounding profusely as I crawled among the corpses, my mind racing to devise a means of escape.

The gunfire ceased for a moment, and I seized the opportunity to hide among the dead. I layed still, controlling my breathing as I heard footsteps approaching. Some men in black entered, confirming the deaths and pouring gasoline over the bodies. My breath sank as the smell of gasoline filled the air.

"Is he dead?" a voice demanded over the phone.

"Yes, ma'am," one of the attackers replied.

"Then show me his body," the voice commanded angrily.

I watched through half-closed eyes as the man turned back towards the pile of bodies. Seizing the moment, I crept toward an exit. Couldn't have made a bigger mistake.

But before I could escape, a shot aimed for my heart, hit my shoilder causing him to drop.

"He's dead now," the man said, cutting the call. He turned back to leave the room, which was now ablaze with flames up the walls.

I fought my way through the burning house, narrowly avoiding the flames and the collapsing structure. My body drenched in blood, barely clinging unto life. I burst into a hidden room known only to core members, grabbing crucial documents and supplies making my way out.

With the mansion collapsing behind me, I hijacked a taxi, forcing the driver out and speeding away. As I approached my own house, I saw it too was engulfed in flames. Had no time for contemplating. Desperation took over, driving without direction, eventually finding an abandoned house on the outskirts of town.

I stumbled inside, collapsing onto the floor. My wounds were severe, and the blood loss were taking its toll, my eyes dizzy. Using supplies from an emergency kit I sighted in the house, I treated my injuries, stitching up the worst of the gashes and bandaging my shoulder. Exhaustion overcame me, but I fought to stay conscious, knowing I needed to stay alert. It was only a matter of time before I gave out.

**Elena Moretti's POV**

"What a long a day" I said savouring a rare moment of peace as I strolled through the streets. The sun had just set, casting a cool feel across the neighborhood. Suddenly, the sound of commotions caught my attention. I turned back to see a severely injured man, dripping with blood and was forcefully hijacking a car from a scared civilian.

"Hey!" I shouted off my wits, but the man was already speeding off. Without a second thought, I ran to a nearby bike. "Call this number later for your bike", I said in an hurry taking off in. My heart pounded as I passed through traffic, determined not to lose sight of him.

The chase was long and exhausting, the city's streets gradually giving way to more silent roads. Finally, I saw him pull into an abandoned house on the outskirts of town. I parked the bike a safe distance away, watching as the man stumbled inside. I waited for a few moments, as I gathered my thoughts and prepared myself for whatever would happen.

Quietly, I approached the house, with my gun drawn and leading the front. I navigated through the cluttered rooms until I found him, sprawled unconscious on the floor. The sight was shocking: his body was full of scars, bruises, and poorly executed stitches. Blood seeped through his clothes, pooling around him.

I knelt beside him, grabbing a first aid kit next to his side and began to clean and dress his wounds. "Hang in there," I murmured, My hands working efficiently in haste.

When I was done tending to him, my eyes caught sight of a stack of files scattered across a table. Out of curiosity,I reached for one, flipping it open to reveal documents about the De-Santi family. My pulse quickened. The De-Santi's are a evil mafia family, deeply involved in crime and corruption and I believed they have a deep connection with the bianchi family.

"Who are the hell you?" I said, my face shifting back to the unconscious man. The connection of this man to the De-Santis made me both furious and curious. What is his connection to the family, why so much injuries?

I handcuffed him and rested on a wall, watching him closely.I had questions and I needed answer and I am not leaving until I get one. My day off had taken a huge turn from what I could ever imagine.