Chapter 37: The Truth That Kills

Café Venosa – Midnight

Marco, Franco, and Salvo returned to the café after the crazy night they had lived, panting with exhaustion as they sat at their usual table. Luca was there, quietly sipping his coffee as if he hadn't been impatiently waiting for them.

"Oh, you came back alive? Honestly, I didn't expect that." Luca said, turning his cup over in his hand.

Salvo threw himself back on the chair and said, "Honestly, I didn't expect that either!"

Marco ignored the joke and looked at the strange man they had saved, who was sitting quietly, observing the place with nervous eyes.

"Well, we risked our lives for you. It's time to pay the debt." Marco said in a sharp tone.

The man looked at them for a moment, then lit a cigarette and took a deep breath before saying:

"My name is Daniele, and I was working for Carlo, but what I discovered changed everything. Scarlett isn't the real enemy here."

The Hidden Conspiracy

Franco raised an eyebrow and said sarcastically: "Oh, great! Are we going to discover now that there is a secret organization that rules the world as well?"

Daniele ignored the sarcasm and continued:

"Carlo wasn't just working for you, he was playing both sides. He wasn't just a spy within Scarlett's network, he was also providing them with information about you."

Marco clenched his fist, while Salvo stared at Daniele in shock:

"Wait... Are you saying that we were trusting someone who was selling us out behind our backs?"

Luca, who had been calm until now, slammed his fist on the table and said:

"If that's true, we have to erase Carlo from existence."

Daniele nodded and said, "But there's something worse…"

Everyone was silent, waiting for what he would say.

"Carlo wasn't working alone. There were ten masked men… the ones who set the rules of this game."

Marco raised an eyebrow, while Franco said in surprise, "You mean the ones who started the mafia game?"

Daniele nodded slowly. "Yes, and they're monitoring everything. The game wasn't what you thought, it was just a way to choose a new leader… but not what you think."

Salvo swallowed his saliva and said nervously, "This sounds like the beginning of a horror movie."

The Offer That Can't Be Refused

Before Daniele could continue, a man entered the café. He was wearing a long black coat, his face half hidden under a hat, but he had a terrifying presence that made everyone fall silent.

Lucino, the café owner, looked at him nervously before approaching him and saying, "Sorry, sir, we're almost closed."

The man didn't care, he just walked straight to Marco and the others' table, pulled out a chair and sat down without being invited.

"Marco Ferrari…" the man said in a calm but strong voice.

Marco didn't move, but fixed his gaze on the man and said, "And who are you?"

The man smiled slightly and said, "My name doesn't matter, but I'm here to make you an offer."

Franco whispered to Salvo, "Oh, that's great… We're at the 'offer you can't refuse' stage."

The man ignored Franco and looked directly at Marco. "You're an ambitious person, aren't you? You want to control the game, you want to bring down Scarlett, and maybe even rule Italy."

Marco didn't answer, but he didn't deny it either.

The man continued, "I'm here to help you, but for one thing only."

"What is it?" Marco asked cautiously.

The man leaned forward and said in a low voice, "I want Carlo."

A Risky Decision

Luca chuckled and said, "It seems like Carlo has made a lot of enemies for himself."

But Marco wasn't comfortable. "Why do you want him?"

The man smiled mysteriously and said, "That's none of your business. All you need to know is that handing him over to me will guarantee you power beyond your wildest imagination."

Franco looked at Marco and said, "I hate Carlo, but at least he knows how to play this game. As for this guy… he looks like he came from hell itself."

Salvo, who had been silent until now, said, "I don't know about you, but I feel like anyone who asks for a 'head of a person' like that is not someone we want to be associated with."

Marco thought for a moment, then looked at the mysterious man and said, "I need time to think."

The man stood up and said, "Don't procrastinate too much, Marco. Some offers don't stay on the table for long."

Then he walked out of the cafe, leaving behind a heavy air of mystery.

The Game Changes

Marco turned to Daniele and asked, "What do you think?"

Daniele took the last sip of his coffee and said, "If this guy is one of the people controlling the game, you have a tough decision to make… because whatever choice you make could be your last."

Franco muttered sarcastically, "Well, we're officially in a crime movie… I guess I need a stiff drink before I think about this nonsense."

Marco didn't laugh. He knew the game wasn't the same anymore.

Now… it was more dangerous than ever.