Chapter 65

• Luca Romano sat in the corner booth of a dimly lit diner, the hiss of the coffee machine and the quiet chatter of patrons providing a deceptive sense of normalcy. He was nursing a cup of black coffee, his sharp eyes scanning the street through the window. He always chose a seat with a view of the door and the outside, a habit formed by years of looking over his shoulder.
• The bell above the door jingled, and two men entered. Luca recognized them immediately. Marco and Vito. Both were familiar faces from his past life—brutal, efficient, and utterly loyal to the Mafia’s code. Seeing them here, out of context, sent a chill down his spine.
• They spotted him instantly and approached his booth with the confidence of men who knew their presence alone would draw attention. Marco slid into the seat across from Luca, his bulk crowding the small space, while Vito leaned against the edge of the table, his sharp eyes scanning the room.