“Chiara, thank God you’re all right. We were so worried.”
“Everything is fine; I’m in the panic room with Francesco. Dad, I need you to help me with something.”
“What is it, dear?”
“You can speed up medical help in a safe house. I want the soldiers to have quick access to medical assistance as soon as things calm down.”
“Sounds like a good idea; I’ll get on it right away.”
“Dad, maybe we should start thinking about the funerals; the families need to say goodbye; let’s not prolong their suffering by making them wait.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything. As soon as things calm down, I’ll get you out of there and bring you home. I love you, Principessa.” I know he was worried about me, afraid of losing me.
“I love you, Dad!”
Francesco looks at me, looking grateful, probably not expecting me to actually do anything to help.
“How much longer are we going to have to wait? It’s been over four hours, Francesco, I’m worried.”
“When things quiet down, we will be notified, but before that, we can only wait.”
“Paolo hasn’t given any news…”
“Things can’t be quick; these kinds of attacks are complicated; we have to examine all the soldiers, make sure who is really loyal, andshow that we don’t accept betrayals.”
“Has it happened before?”
“Not of this magnitude, at least not with the current Capo. The last time something like this happened, Luca’s grandfather was the Capo; it was a slaughter; he personally killed the traitors to demonstrate his strength and set an example. After that, things were quiet for a while, but then they forgot the mistakes of the past, repeated them out of ambition, and death always followed.”
“They’re going to die, I mean the traitors…” I doubt Luca and his father will let them get away with it.
“They will; the Camorra will go after them with the strength and evil of Lucifer.”
“Lucifer is not completely evil.”
“He’s the devil, Chiara.” His expression and tone show amusement, probably thinking that I just want to see goodness where it doesn’t exist.
“He wasn’t always the devil. He was an angel, after all. Lucifer is a fallen angel, and don’t forget that he was once God’s favorite. Evil doesn’t take up everything; it can take up a large part, but not one hundred percent.”
“You still don’t know enough about the world of the mafia; when you do, you’ll realize that one hundred percent is possible.”
“Francesco…” the voice comes from the radio and I quickly recognize Paolo.
“Yes, Paolo?” Francesco’s voice sounds worried and relieved at the same time, feelings I can relate to.
“Chiara’s father is on his way to open the safe, and the orders are not to leave her side under any circumstances.”
“Understood.”
I take the radio out of Francesco’s hand, making him look at me, annoyed. “Paolo, how are Luca and his family?”
“I’m getting his mother and sister out of the safe right now.
“And Luca?”
“We’ll talk later.”
“Francesco, why didn’t he answer me? Luca he…”
