Chapter 36: The Deadly Trap

Café Venosa – Midnight

Marco was sitting in his usual corner inside the café, fiddling with a match between his fingers as he watched Franco and Salvo argue about something.

"I'm telling you, the best way to get into the building is to sneak in through the roof." Franco said confidently.

"And I'm telling you, the best way is to not go in at all!" Salvo replied, raising his hands in surrender. "Why do we always have to be the idiots who jump to our deaths?"

Marco sighed in frustration and said, "Enough, this is no time for arguments. The man we're looking for might be our key to taking down Scarlett."

Luca, who was busy polishing his gun, smiled and said, "Or he might be a trap that leads us straight to Scarlett."

Everyone was silent for a moment.

"Excellent!" Salvo said sarcastically. "Now I have another reason to escape this mission."

Marco ignored him and looked at Franco. "Move now, we'll survey the place first before we make any moves."

Target in the Dark

They moved through the dark streets of Rome, until they reached an old building that looked like it hadn't been cleaned since World War II. The address Carlo had given them led them to an apartment on the second floor, where a dim light was filtering through the window.

"This is it." Franco muttered as he surveyed the building.

"Well, who's going to go knock on the door?" Salvo asked as he took a step back.

"No one's going to knock, we'll sneak in from the back." Marco said as he pointed to an old metal ladder attached to the building.

"Great, more dangerous places to climb, that's exactly what I'm missing!" Salvo said as they began to climb.

When they reached the window, they saw a man sitting in front of a computer screen, typing something quickly. He looked nervous, moving nervously as if he knew someone was after him.

Franco tried to pick the lock quietly, but before he could, the window suddenly opened, and the man was holding a gun, pointing it directly at Franco's face.

"Who are you?" the man said sharply.

"Um… we're here to do a special online show?" Salvo said with a nervous smile.

The man didn't smile, but he didn't shoot either.

"Come in, but any stupid move and I'll empty this gun into your heads."

They entered cautiously, and the man closed the window behind them.

Revealing the Truth

The man sat back in his chair and looked at them suspiciously.

"If you're working with Carlo, then you're both idiots."

Marco narrowed his eyes and asked, "Why?"

"Because Carlo isn't who you think he is. Scarlett isn't the only enemy here, there's a whole network playing behind the scenes, and Carlo is part of it."

Franco muttered sarcastically, "Oh, great! It seems like everyone in this city is playing the villain in this story!"

Before the man could say anything else, the sound of cars stopping outside the building sounded, followed by gunshots that made the windows shake.

"Damn it! They're here!" the man shouted, pulling a bag from under the table.

"Who?!"

"Scarletti's men, or maybe Carlo's men, it doesn't matter, they both want me dead!"

Marco didn't need any further explanation, he pulled out his gun and got ready.

Getting the hell out

Outside, the armed men began to approach, while Salvo muttered, "I could have stayed in the café and had coffee, but no! I always have to follow Marco to death!"

"Shut up and move!" Franco shouted, pulling Salvo behind the furniture for cover.

Shots began to rain down, glass flying from the windows. The man they were looking for pulled a gun and a grenade from his bag, then looked at them and said, "If we don't get out now, we'll be nothing but pieces."

Marco pointed to the back door, and said, "There's a way out, but we need cover."

Franco smiled and said, "Okay, time to get crazy."

The man threw the grenade towards the front door, causing a huge explosion that gave them a few seconds to escape.

They rushed towards the back exit, while the building shook behind them. When they got out into the street, the black cars were still there, but they disappeared into the alleys before the gunmen could catch up with them.

New destination, greater danger

They stood panting in a dark alley, while the man they had saved looked at them and said, "It seems I owe you my life."

Marco pointed at him and said, "If you want to repay the debt, you have to tell us everything about Carlo and Scarlett."

The man sighed and said, "Well, prepare yourselves, because what I am about to tell you will change everything."

Everyone looked at each other, knowing that this night was not over yet, but had just begun.