Chapter 1 Test Of Hope

"Boungiorno sir" the voice coming through the phone as Capello was perturbed by the news he just heard.

He was expecting his shipments from Port Miami when he is just informed that the shipment sank into the ocean with very few crewmen surviving.Still in his disbelief he turned on the Tv to see if he can get the news, teardrops streamed from his eyes as he saw it was all over on Sky news that the cargo ship number AE55557 sunk in the Atlantic ocean.

He has put all his money into procuring this consignment contract and was lended a huge sum by Sanchez, his friend.He is confused on what to do as his desperation heightened,a week earlier his wife was involved in a fatal auto accident that has put her in a state of coma presently.

Capello in his train of thoughts was seeing his whole world crumble right in front of him, with a swirling in his head, he fell from his standing position on the floor,Toriano his personal aide who was with him swiftly ran to his aid and was able to stabilize him.

He didn't know what will become of his little daughter Elena who is just barely three years old; as he is neck deep in debts with no hope of paying back and his wife is in coma with hospital bills beginning to pile up as his insurance could no longer cater for all the expenses in the hospital.

"Amico" was the voice of Sanchez calling Capello through the phone," I am sorry for this news I'm watching right now about your shipments. It's quite unfortunate this is happening to you at this critical moment'' , Sanchez said in a consoling tone.

"Grazie" Capello replied as he bit his lips slightly. "Stai bene?" Sanchez asked.

"I will be fine, I need to stay strong for my daughter," Capello replied.

"You sure need to,I will see you soon, Arrivederci" Sanchez said before hanging up.

Capello couldn't reply knowing fully who Sanchez is.Sanchez is a drug lord he runs the central cartel in Genoa with springs of dogged and rugged urchins lurking around him.Sanchez has the capacity to wipe out Capello's lineage from the surface of the earth,every single underground runnings and words don't fly in the city without the knowledge of Sanchez.He is the most dreaded and revered kingpin in the whole city.

Capello and Sanchez have been childhood friends,Capello delved into legitimate pathway of life by dealing in car sales while Sanchez who has always had the runnings with the law stamped his footing in the world of hard drugs acquisition and distribution.Capello discovered early in life that he is not cut out for the drug life hence he retraced his steps after a near death experience he had when caught in a crossfire between Sanchez's gang and a rival gang in the neighborhood.

Few days later, Capello looking at the time,knew he needs to do another round of routine check on his wife in the hospital.He went upstairs to Elena's room to check if the maid was done dressing her up; "Papi" Elena elated to see her dad who was watching her from the doorpost, ran into his embrace.Capello squatted to enable her have a full closure for the warm embrace, "my Amore" Capello said cheerfully trying to fight back the tears brewing,he was looking at his most precious reason to live and die for.

He has been making excuses for his wife's absence as Elena had consistently cried for not seeing her mother the past weeks.He had to take her to the hospital to pay her mother a visit.

"Tell Lautaro to get the car ready to take us to the hospital," Capello said, looking at the maid walking behind them closely.

Few moments later Capello and Elena arrived in the hospital along with the maid whose name is Patricia.

Elena, seeing her mum in a state of coma with drips and oxygen,started crying despite her infancy she knew her mum wasn't fine.Capello tried to calm her down,had to give her to Patricia who eventually was able to make her stop crying.

On their way back from the hospital, Capello couldn't keep his thoughts in one place as his mind wandered to and fro.He was looking at options available to him when his creditors would come calling for their money.

When they arrived at his house, he went to his room and brought out a catalog of documents; while glancing through each carefully he became exhausted as he couldn't find any substantial information needed to come up with a clue to raise funds to service his debts.

Patricia laid Elena on the bed who was fast asleep.Capello walked into Elena's room to check on her; he sees how innocent she looked laying on the bed and beautiful with her carefully tucked in hair strands.While pulling the duvet to tuck her in properly he saw a piece of paper with a colouring picture drawn of a family...father,mother and child on the bed.Capello still admiring the beauty of the drawings with the paper held in his hand walked to Patricia in the kitchen, "who did this painting"?he asked, displaying the paperwork to her. "I had to come up with something just to please Elena"She replied.

Capello looked down at the drawing again, his fingers clenching into a fist. He sees a family-father, mother, and child-all smiling in bright, innocent colors.

A lump formed in his throat. How could he tell Elena that their perfect family was already slipping through his fingers?

Before Patricia could say another word, his phone buzzed violently in his pocket. He hesitated before pulling it out, a deep sense of dread coiling in his stomach.

He swallowed hard and answered.

"Signor Capello," a low voice rasped through the receiver, sending a chill down his spine. "It's time to pay your debts."

The line went dead.

Capello, shivering from the call trying to get his breath with his mind wandering wild, knew that Sanchez was never up to any good and he feared his next actions.