Chapter 2 Chapitre 2

Elvie tried to hide the anxiety that gripped her throat as she followed Adriano through the corridors of the villa. He moved with measured steps, like a predator on the hunt, and she had no choice but to follow, walking on tiptoe to avoid making any noise. The thick walls seemed to reflect the weight of the decision he had just made, to involve her, a mere assistant, in his war plans. But this was no ordinary military plan. This was an invisible war, a war of manipulation, lies, and calculated stratagems. Adriano did not do things by halves. He was a man of action, a man of ambition.

And today, he had chosen her.

They stopped in front of a massive door, where Adriano knocked three times, then ushered Elvie in without waiting. She entered a plain office, stripped of all unnecessary decoration, except for a large dark wooden table on which rested neatly filed documents and files. Two other men stood there, looking cold and impenetrable, as if they were made of the same metal as the walls around them.

"This is Elvie," Adriano announced, his voice devoid of any warmth. "She'll be handling the logistics for the next operations. She's capable. Don't doubt it."

The two men stared at her for a moment. One of them, tall and taciturn, barely nodded before focusing again on the papers spread out in front of him. The other, younger, with piercing eyes and a searching gaze, sketched a slight smile as he looked her up and down. This smile, although discreet, did not escape Elvie. It was false, calculated. Like everything that came from the Corleones. Nothing was ever what it seemed. Everything was a game. Manipulation. And she, she was becoming a piece in this underhanded strategy.

"We have enemies closing in. War is imminent," Adriano continued, ignoring his cold demeanor. "We must prepare positions, anticipate every move. You will be in charge of all that. You will work closely with Marco and Leonardo."

Elvie nodded, her mind already racing. How could a mere assistant be responsible for such a war? But she knew that refusing wasn't an option. Not here. Not with Adriano. He didn't need to convince her. He was forcing her to follow his orders, no questions asked.

"I'm counting on you," he said finally, staring straight into her eyes. "Don't forget who you are here."

She gritted her teeth, suppressing the urge to respond. She was more than aware of her position. A mere pawn. Nothing more. But she would not let that define her. She had to survive, understand the system of this world, and most importantly, get out of it alive. And to do that, she had to stay balanced, walk the razor's edge without falling.

The two men stood up without a word, signifying that the conversation was over. Elvie turned to leave the room, but before she reached the door, a voice made her stop.

"You're not like the others," said the younger of the two men, the one who had looked at her with that unhealthy smile. "You have a... special look. Are you sure you know what you're getting into?"

She turned slowly, and her gaze met his, cold and determined. "I know what I'm doing."

He laughed softly, a low but piercing sound, before turning to Adriano. "She's got guts. Interesting."

She didn't answer. The tension in the air was palpable, heavy, as if a silent game had just begun. She was now a piece of the puzzle. And all she could do was move forward, or get lost in the shadows of this unforgiving world.

The next few days were a whirlwind of tasks, encounters, and new faces. Each minute seemed to tick by slowly, each moment seemed to weigh a ton. Elvie quickly realized that the Corleones were not a family like any other. The Corleone brothers were calculating men, each of them carrying within them a power that bordered on invincibility. But at the same time, they were all trapped in dangerous games, where rules were made to be broken. Adriano was undoubtedly the alpha, but Marco and Leonardo were not to be underestimated.

Marco, the second brother, was just as ruthless as his elder brother, but in a different way. He had a quick mind, the intelligence of a strategist, and a coldness that recalled Adriano's. He didn't like to waste time and didn't care about the appearance of things. His business was always neat, clean, like a market without emotion.

Leonardo, on the other hand, seemed a little more relaxed. His neat appearance and charming demeanor were unmistakable. Behind his polite manners lurked a latent violence, like a snake ready to bite at the first opportunity. He watched everything, listened to everything, and yet he never seemed in a hurry. He let Adriano do the dirty work, while he was content to pull the strings from the shadows.

And Elvie, there she was, a simple assistant, of no great importance in the eyes of these powerful men. She did her job, and as the days went by, she realized that what was expected of her was much more than she had imagined. The Corleones did not consider her as a simple employee. They knew that her past had gray areas. And this past, they intended to exploit it.

When Elvie found herself face to face with Maxime once again, this time in the shadows of the villa's backyard, a shiver of terror seized her. He was there, alone, like an apparition from her past, but this time, the situation was very different. He had not forgotten her, and his return brought only threats, promises of vengeance.

"You thought you could forget me, huh?" Maxime said in a low voice, his dark eyes fixed on hers. "You're naive. I know you better than you think."

She didn't answer right away. She knew that every word she said would push him deeper into his trap. She was a prisoner, and this encounter only confirmed it. Maxime moved closer to her, his breath hot against her skin.

"I want you to help me," he said, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Otherwise, I'll be forced to tell Adriano what you were running from. Your past. Everything."

She felt her stomach twist. Maxime's words were like knife blades, sharp and unforgiving. "You can't do this to me," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "Don't do this. I have nothing to do with this war."

Maxime burst out laughing, a cold, cruel laugh. "Don't be stupid, Elvie. Do you really think this is going to happen? You're going to do what I want, or it's all over. For you. For your new life. For everything you've built here."

She froze, her heart pounding. The threat was real. Maxime knew how to manipulate her, how to push her to her limits. What if she gave in? What if she agreed to follow his orders? What would she risk then? One thing was certain: in this world, no one was innocent. And to get out of this impasse, she would have to play a game much more dangerous than she had imagined.

The game had barely started.