Kapitel 51: Time is quick

The war raged on, but Lorenzo was far from being an upstanding soldier. He had been cunningly abusing his rank to corrupt within the ranks of the army. Over the months that followed, he managed to amass a fortune of several thousand dollars, enough to set him up for life. However, Lorenzo knew it wasn't enough. He wanted more. He planned to reinvest the money into his future mafia family, a burgeoning empire in the making.

Lorenzo's web of corruption extended beyond his own unit. He made shady deals with members of other Allied forces, including the Shelby's of the British Army. Tommy Shelby, who had worked his way up to the rank of captain, led a company of men. Just like Lorenzo, he used his newfound power to steal and sell goods on the black market, all while maintaining a façade of loyalty to the cause.

As the war dragged on, the two men continued their nefarious dealings, with their promotion bringing them closer to their ultimate goal.

During the chaos of the European campaign, Lorenzo and his men took advantage of the confusion to loot a priceless collection of paintings from a museum they'd stumbled upon. These stolen treasures would only add to their growing fortune.

After months of being stationed at various locations across Europe, Lorenzo and his men finally returned to Sicily. The first thing on his mind was to visit Apollonia. He arrived at her house, his heart pounding with anticipation. He knocked on the door, and when she opened it, her face lit up with joy. She ran into his arms, exclaiming, "You've come back!"

Lorenzo couldn't help but smile as he caressed her hair, "I promised I would."

Apollonia's eyes shone with happiness as she presented her swollen belly to him, "It's been five months since that night."

Lorenzo's gaze drifted to her belly, and he gently caressed it, "Time flies, doesn't it?"

His eyes met hers again, "Is your father treating you well?"

Apollonia nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips, "Of course, especially after the... generous allowance you've been sending our way."

Lorenzo's features softened, and he leaned in to kiss her tenderly, their lips meeting in a brief but passionate embrace.

---

After spending some time in Sicily, Lorenzo bid farewell to Apollonia and returned to the warfront. Months flew by, and on April 25, 1944, the Seventh US Army's General Patton found himself embroiled in a scandal.

His remarks had infuriated their Soviet allies, and as a result, the President of the United States reprimanded him. The entire army was affected, seeing less action on the frontlines. While this turn of events caused tension among the higher-ups, the soldiers, including Lorenzo, secretly welcomed the reprieve.

However, the respite was short-lived. The troops of the Seventh US Army, including Lorenzo and a minority of his battalion, were soon redistributed to other divisions. They were sent to England, where they began preparations for a top-secret operation codenamed "Overlord."

Their newfound downtime was over, and the stakes were about to be raised higher than ever before. The Allied forces were gearing up for the largest amphibious invasion in history, and Lorenzo and his men were right in the thick of it.

---

The Seventh US Army, including Lorenzo and his men, were relocated to Norton Camp in England. It was here that they finally learned of the upcoming operation codenamed "Overlord." The scale of the mission sent chills down the soldiers spines. They would be part of the largest amphibious invasion in history, and their training intensified tenfold.

As the days turned into weeks, and then months, the Allied forces still hadn't made their move. The growing anticipation weighed heavily on everyone's minds, but they knew the importance of their mission required meticulous planning and preparation.

In the quiet moments between drills, Lorenzo found peace in writing letters. In his modest barracks, he penned words for his friend and to his love and longing to two different women: Deborah, his first love in New York, and Apollonia, the Sicilian beauty carrying his child, and besides them, were Adam, his trusted confidante.

From the moment the Seventh US Army captured Sicily, Lorenzo had been penning letters to Deborah, boasting about his promotions and the power he wielded. In return, Deborah's letters were filled with love and longing, her words a balm to his weary soul. At the same time, he corresponded with Adam, who kept him updated on their businesses back home.

As the months dragged on, the news from New York wasn't encouraging. The other gangs were encroaching on their territory, and their legitimate businesses were suffering. Their illegal operations were also taking a hit, thanks to the interference of rival mobsters.

Lorenzo, however, had anticipated as much when he'd enlisted. His primary focus was on the war, and the allowance he sent back to Adam was just enough to keep their legitimate front afloat. After all, without their legitimate businesses, their criminal gang would crumble like a house of cards.

Apollonia's pregnancy progressed, and as the due date drew closer, Lorenzo's anticipation grew. He'd impregnated her back in early September, and now, with June of 1944 just around the corner, their child's arrival was imminent. This would be his first child in this life, and he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride.

He couldn't help but contrast this pregnancy with his relationship with Deborah. Despite their passionate sex before he'd left for war, she hadn't conceived. He knew it was for the best, considering the condoms he'd used during their lovemaking.

The day finally arrived. Early on June 6, 1944, the soldiers of the Seventh US Army, including Lorenzo and his men, were awakened with a startling announcement: The Operation was about to commence.

The Allied forces were poised to launch the largest amphibious invasion in history, codenamed "Operation Overlord." The objective: to liberate Nazi-occupied France and push the Axis powers back into Germany. The stakes couldn't be higher.

Lorenzo and his men boarded their landing crafts, the soldiers hearts pounding in their chests. As they sailed towards the beaches of Normandy, they knew that this day would be etched into history books for generations to come. The Allied forces were about to storm the heavily fortified shores of Omaha, Utah, Sword, Juno, Gold, and Omaha.

As the ramps of their landing crafts lowered, the reality of their mission hit them like a ton of bricks. They were about to face a barrage of enemy fire, but they had no choice but to press on. The fate of Europe hung in the balance.

As the ramps of their landing crafts lowered, the deafening sound of gunfire and explosions greeted them. "Move out!" yelled Lorenzo, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of war.

Lorenzo and his men, despite their corrupt dealings, were still competent soldiers. They stormed the beaches of Normandy, bullets whizzing past them like angry hornets. Their objective: to secure a foothold on the heavily fortified shores and push the enemy back.

The fighting was intense, with casualties mounting on both sides. The Allied forces inched their way forward, yard by bloody yard. The days turned into weeks, and the beachheads were finally secured.

Lorenzo's leadership skills shone through, as he led his men through the carnage, inspiring them to push onward. His second-in-command, Ben McDonald, proved just as capable, rallying the men when morale was at its lowest.

As the Allies advanced, they liberated town after town, facing stiff resistance from the entrenched German forces. The battles raged on, from the hedgerows of Normandy to the streets of Caen. The Allies suffered heavy losses, but they pushed on, determined to liberate the French people from the grip of the Nazis.

Finally, after weeks of relentless fighting, the Allies broke out of the Normandy beachhead and began their march towards Paris. The tide of the war had turned, and the Axis powers were on the retreat.

In the heat of one of the many battles, a hail of bullets tore through the air, and one found its mark in Lorenzo's right leg. He crumpled to the ground, his leg shattered, but he was still alive. Many others weren't so lucky.

Lorenzo was rushed to a nearby medic tent, where a pretty nurse tended to his wounds. As she worked, he winced with pain, but deep down, he knew he was fortunate. His "system" would ensure that his HP would regenerate from 69 to 100, and his shattered leg bone would heal miraculously.

However, he couldn't let on that he was anything other than human. So, he feigned injury, wincing and groaning as the nurse patched him up. The last thing he needed was to arouse suspicion.

As the days went by, Lorenzo's leg healed at an unnatural pace, but he continued to limp and use crutches, not wanting to draw attention to himself. His men visited him often, updating him on their progress and the Allies' advances.

And during his time in the medic tent, Lorenzo found himself drawn to the pretty nurse, who looked like Megan Fox, she's named Mica. He was a man of the world, and he knew how to charm a woman. Slowly but surely, he began to woo her, complimenting her on her beauty and skills as a caregiver.

"Why, thank you, Colonel," Mica would blush, her cheeks flushing a becoming shade of pink. "I'm just doing my job."

One day, after a week of this dance, Mica finally relented. They found themselves alone in a corner of the tent, away from prying eyes. The curtains around them provided a semblance of privacy as the sounds of war raged on outside.

"Colonel," Mica whispered, her voice barely a whisper, "I should... I should stop this."

Lorenzo's response was to pull her closer, his lips meeting hers in a hungry kiss. Mica didn't protest, instead, she melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck. Their lips danced together, their bodies pressed against each other, seeking solace in the chaos of war.