Episode 4

The smell of fresh coffee filled the kitchen as the sun rose lazily through the mansion's window. Ana, in a floral apron and her hair up, stirred the wooden spoon with the calm of someone who knows more than they say.

Leonardo, with his suit jacket thrown over his shoulders and his brow furrowed, appeared leaning against the doorframe.

"Mom…"

he said in a low voice.

"What is my daughter hiding?"

Ana didn't stop stirring the coffee. She didn't even blink.

"A relic. From the mafia."

"But that... she will tell you when it's time."

Leonardo let out a disbelieving laugh, running his hand over his face.

"That girl... only God can help. If someone saw her with that, we'll have problems."

"I'll have it investigated. Discreetly."

Ana smiled, with that hidden pride in her eyes.

"Your daughter, Leonardo. Your girl."

In the city, Sofi got out of an elegant car with Julia, her best friend and confidante, they didn't see each other much anymore but they grew up together …

Julia lost her parents on a mission when she was very young, Dom Heitor and his wife Luna raised her like a daughter. She and Sofi have always been close, Enzo has always been protective of her and protected her from the world. She was raised to be a perfect lady, the one who is always helping, advising, and always doing everything to please like Luna.

She had a passion kept in her heart since she was young and her life has always been so silent, it only had noise beside Sofi.

They went straight to the center, where exclusive boutiques kept dresses that looked more like weapons of seduction.

"I'm going to buy something decent for dinner tomorrow"

(Sofi said, picking up a black model with a side slit.)

"Maledetto noivo, caspita!"

(she cursed with charm.)

"He's handsome, my friend! Have you seen him? Older he is a hunk my brother"

Julia laughed, pulling out her cell phone.

"Show me this monument, come on."

As soon as Enzo Romano's image appeared on the screen, Sofi's world stopped for a second.

"Mamma mia!"

she exclaimed, aloud.

"Ma que diavolo!"

"It's him! The owner of the weapon!"

she laughed.

"Good... it's my dowry now!"

"Aren't you afraid, Sofi? He is known as the coldest man in the mafia."

For you don't know anything about him nothing?

Sofi raised an eyebrow, with that sharp smile.

"Well then… we are the perfect match. I'm not far behind either."

I don't remember when we came here we played and you went to the country house I hardly lived with your brother I never imagined that he was the owner of the weapon I took lol

Julia held a black leather jumpsuit and looked at her friend with a genuine smile.

"Friend… you really changed. You are so beautiful, so powerful. Seriously. You look like another woman."

"And you're still beautiful too" - said Sofi, hugging her from the side. "Look at this outfit, this skin!"

Who would have thought it would be so beautiful

"By the way… I want this dress. And this perfume. It's been a while since I bought anything."

"And the pre-wedding trousseau?"

Julia joked, laughing.

"Non ci avevo pensato!"

(— Sofi widened her eyes.)

"I didn't even think about it!"

"Then let's go! I want to help you."

The two spent hours trying on fine lingerie, silk dresses, elegant shoes and imported perfumes. They left the stores with too many bags and even louder laughter.

At night, already at the mansion, Sofi's hair floated loose as she dived into the pool with Julia.

They laughed, swam, and talked about everything… except the invisible war that was approaching.

Sofi was about to have dinner with the man she wanted to kill… or maybe kiss.

But for now…

She just wanted to breathe.

...----------------...

The sun had barely risen when Giovane Mancini parked his black Maserati at the entrance to Villa Romano. His expression was serious, but his gait was nonchalant. As always.

Heitor was already in the garden, drinking coffee and reading the mafia newspapers as if he were reading fairy tales. Enzo, on the other hand, circulated like a caged lion.

"Friend…"

said Giovane, taking off his sunglasses.

"No trace of your weapon. It disappeared. No cameras captured her face. No fingerprints. Nothing."

Heitor raised his eyes from the newspaper, muttering:

"Madonna santa… This is starting to scare me. Who is this woman? An illusion? A ghost?"

"A personal hell, that's what it is."

Enzo ran his hand through his hair.

"It's not possible. She helped me, yes. But she stole… as if she were a professional thief. Without leaving a trace. None. How can it be?"

"Because, perhaps, you underestimated her."

said Giovane, amused.

Enzo spun on his heels, annoyed.

"Old man, don't start with your hunches. You didn't find anything either!"

"Old man is the devil!"

Giovane huffed.

"I'm two years older than you, at most. And I still look younger, by the way."

Heitor laughed silently.

"You two are children in suits. But the situation is serious."

"I've reviewed everything"

said Enzo.

"The exact moment of the attack… that alley was empty. The men came out of nowhere. They surrounded me. And she appeared. Fast, precise… she helped me. Then… she disappeared. Like smoke."

Giovane crossed his arms, thoughtful.

"Someone who knows combat tactics. She knew where to hit, how to take down. And most interestingly… she left before your men arrived. She knew the timing."

Heitor frowned.

"Do you think it was a set-up? That the attack was bait?"

"Maybe not bait. But…"

Giovane narrowed his eyes

"someone very trained took advantage of the chaos to act. She stole the relic, disappeared and left Prince Romano in flames."

Enzo rubbed the back of his neck, his heart pounding.

"This woman… irritates and fascinates me. That's dangerous."

More dangerous than any weapon.

Heitor dropped the newspaper slowly.

"Then try to compose yourself, son. Because tonight, you will meet your bride. And whoever she is… you will smile."

Enzo closed his eyes, took a deep breath and said through clenched teeth:

"Great. Let her be just a common girl. Because if it's her…"