Chapter 136

• It was a cold night in Rome, and the city lights illuminated the streets with a yellowish glow as I walked towards the building where Don Antonio was waiting for me. The suitcase I was carrying seemed to weigh a ton, not so much because of its contents, but because of the importance of what it held. My hands were cold, and my heart was racing, but my expression remained unperturbed. I had learned to hide my emotions very early on.
• As I entered the building, the doorman gave me a curious look but asked no questions. He knew better than to meddle in the affairs of people like me. I pressed the elevator button and waited, feeling cold sweat trickle down my neck. When the doors opened, I stepped in and pressed the button for the floor I needed.
• The elevator ascended smoothly, but each second felt like an eternity. The doors finally opened, revealing two of Don Antonio's associates, who were waiting. One of them, a burly man with a scar on his face, stared at me with cold, expressionless eyes.