Chapitre 5: Anonymous Artist.

---

They arrived back at Achille's villa just after sunset, the sky already turned black with darkness. The last rays of the sun flickered weakly in a cloudless sky over the city like a dying firefly, struggling to stay alive.

They got out of the cars simultaneously and made their way into the villa.

Entering the living room, they spotted Valentina seated on the couch, watching television.

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow. "Private place, huh? Didn't think family gatherings were your style." His gaze flicked to Valentina, who sat perched on the arm of the couch, a picture of forced nonchalance. A tense smile played on her lips, but her eyes held a glint of something sharp.

"And what's wrong with family gatherings being his style? Huh? I'm more Mafia than you, Lorenzo," she responded, getting up and stretching. "You know that and besides, this is not your home." With dramatic flair, she threw herself back onto the couch.

"Valentina, this is not your home either," Achille said, his eyebrows twitching. Valentina shrugged nonchalantly.

"Just make sure your kids don't go near my study," Achille ordered. Valentina rolled her eyes while Lorenzo snickered.

"Ok, boss," Valentina replied, earning another eye roll from Lorenzo.

Achille looked back at Enzo and said, "If those two devils eventually find their way to the study, you're in charge of entertaining them."

Enzo looked shocked. "Why me? Why not this Casanova?" he gestured at Lorenzo.

Lorenzo smirked smugly. "Right now, my intelligence is needed. You're our little cugino; you're the best candidate for taking care of those kids," he said, winking at Enzo, who furrowed his eyebrows deeply.

"I'm not a kid!" Enzo exclaimed, looking offended. "I'll be 22 next month, so take that back."

"Take what back?" Lorenzo asked with a raised eyebrow and mocking smile.

"I'm not a kid," Enzo repeated.

Lorenzo's eyes widened and his lips formed an 'o' shape. "Oh, I never said you were."

Before the two could exchange more words, Achille called out, "Enzo, Lorenzo, that's enough." He sighed deeply, his face stern. "If you continue to yell like that..."

"We hear Zio Achille's voice!" the twins' voices interjected from the hallway.

All three men froze and slowly turned to look at the two little children running down the stairs, both wearing pajamas and grinning adorably.

Enzo sighed deeply and approached them while Achille and Lorenzo headed up the second staircase. The twins' gazes followed them curiously.

"Zio Enzo, where are Zio Achille and Zio Lorenzo going?" Giovanni asked, while Giovanna nodded along enthusiastically.

Enzo forced a strained smile and ruffled their hair. "They have to discuss something important," he said, as Giovanni grabbed his hand.

"We want to play with Zio Achille," they whined. Enzo forced another smile at their persistence.

"Oh, come on, that hurts me quite a lot. Zio Enzo also wants to play with you guys," Enzo complained, placing a hand against his chest with an exaggerated hurt expression.

The twins, their eyes glowing with an unsettling amusement, tilted their heads in unison. "Playing with us? Don't be ridiculous, Zio Enzo," Giovanni piped up, a sly smile on his face.

"You wouldn't be caught dead playing with us, it's obvious, we can see right through you." Giovanna added.

Enzo was visibly confused as he took a step back.

Valentina sighed deeply. "Giovanni, Giovanna, what did I say about using your abilities?" Her voice was firm and angry.

Giovanni and Giovanna pouted but stopped speaking, knowing that if they did it again, they would be punished.

"Well, it's true. I'm not interested in playing with you two, but it's an order, so you're both stuck with me," Enzo said bluntly, putting his right hand on his hip while his left hand held the skull.

Giovanni and Giovanna glanced at the skull and smiled mischievously before nodding vigorously.

***

Meanwhile, in Achille's study, Achille stood by his large, mahogany desk, its surface gleaming with a faint orange hue from the recessed lighting overhead. He ran a hand through his dark hair, its usual composure slightly ruffled, before settling into a plush leather chair behind the desk.

Lorenzo lounged sprawl-legged on the plush leather couch across from the desk, a picture of casual arrogance. "Now, who's the guy in question?" he asked, glancing at Achille.

"Benito Raffaele," Achille said simply, returning his attention to Lorenzo. "He's an art collector and a businessman. That's all we know so far."

Lorenzo hummed. "Interesting. And you were ordered to capture him because he had some connections with Mr. Moretti, right?"

Achille's lips twisted in distaste. "Yes, he was."

Lorenzo laughed humorlessly. "So the old goat has been deceiving everyone. But maybe it's a good idea to put some pressure on that old goat and get rid of him."

"That's why we need to find Benito!" Achille snapped, his eyes darkening dangerously.

Lorenzo shook his head, smirking slyly. "Benito isn't the one we should be targeting. If we want to tackle that old goat, we have to find the source of the art Benito sells."

Achille's eyes narrowed. "The main source of the art?" he said, his tone sharp.

Lorenzo smirked. "Yes. Up until now, Mr. Moretti has been claiming that his daughter, your dearest fiancée, was the source of the art. That means the original artist is anonymous..."

Achille looked thoughtful. "It sounds plausible."

"It's just a guess," Lorenzo said, plopping down on the sofa and crossing his legs. "But why would an artist purposely be anonymous and allow their work to be under the name of someone else?" Achille continued, his voice growing distant.

"You think I know the answer to everything?" Lorenzo drawled, amused.

"It...was a rhetorical question," Achille trailed off.

Lorenzo rolled his eyes. "Sure, let's say I believe you."

" But won't we need Benito in order to trace this artist?" Achille asked, looking straight at Lorenzo.

Lorenzo smirked and leaned forward, resting his chin on his palms. "Not every bit of information can be gotten by forcefully capturing your prey. There are other ways. Let me handle Benito; you have a different task."

Achille's eyes widened. "What task?" he asked, unable to hide the eagerness in his voice.

Lorenzo shrugged casually and stood up from the couch. "It's simple. You'll have to attend the art auction this time. Benito collects all kinds of art, so of course, it won't be only the anonymous artist's art he gets his hands on. Whenever Mr. Moretti presents the art your fiancée supposedly made, you have to bid the highest," he told Achille, giving him a wink and walking away.

"You bastard!" Achille cursed, standing up and glaring at Lorenzo, who just whistled and avoided his gaze.

"I'm saying this so they won't suspect anything. Plus, we need that art! Please, just attend it this once! For the sake of Moretti's destruction," Lorenzo pleaded.

"No," Achille replied flatly, crossing his arms defiantly. 'I already planned to fully avoid that woman,' he thought, avoiding Lorenzo's pleading gaze.

Lorenzo threw his hands up in frustration. "Welp, I tried. You are one thick-headed underboss."

Achille frowned and glared at Lorenzo. "Fine, I will do it," he replied.

Lorenzo smirked, stood up, and bowed. "Thank you, dear boss. I appreciate your help," he said sarcastically before leaving.

Achille let out a loud sigh as soon as he was alone. He pulled open a drawer, took out a packet of cigarettes, placed one in his mouth, and lit it. Leaning back in his chair, he blew a ring of smoke through his lips. He exhaled slowly as he gazed at the ceiling, letting his mind wander.

---

commentaire Commentaire 6

Voter

ENVOYER LE CADEAU

Load failed, please RETRY