THE SHADOWS WITHIN: BROTHERS OF FATE

No Games

The next morning, Antonio woke up with a bright smile. He picked up a pack of cigarettes before walking downstairs and spotting Damon and his grandpa.

 

“Antonio,” Damon called with a nervous tone because he was scared Antonio wouldn't spare him from the fight last night.

“Get me a lighter,” Antonio ordered, and he nodded before leaving.

 

“I heard you will give up yourself in Slovenia,” his grandpa said, and Antonio nodded. That was the plan.

 

“What game are you playing?” he asked angrily. The grandson he knows will never give up himself to the cops, especially the cops of Slovenia that he hates so much.

“No games, grandpa, no games,” he responded when Damon walked towards him and handed him the lighter. He lit his cigarette, and just then Enzo walked downstairs towards them.

 

Jude rushed in. “It’s on the news,” he said, and Antonio smiled. Jude walked forward and switched the TV, and there were two faces displayed there.

 

One was the heir of the Ginsen family, and the other was Don Luca. It was stated that they went on a rampage fight early this morning, as the Ginsen claim Don Luca stole from them.

 

“Why will Don Luca ever steal from the Ginsens? He isn’t that stupid,” Damon said in a surprised tone.

 

“Did the Ginsens lose their formula?” He gasped in shock, and Antonio shrugged his shoulders.

 

“You stole from them,” Enzo said after coming to terms with everything that happened yesterday. He doesn’t know how these gangsters function, but they all knew that Antonio was at the club yesterday, so how could he be the one who stole it?

 

“Is that an accusation?” Antonio asked, and Enzo shook his head in the negative.

 

“It’s the truth,” he replied.

 

“Did you set Don Luca up?” his grandpa asked, and he stood up, not ready to answer anyone.

 "Get ready; we are going to Slovenia soon,” he said before walking out of the mansion with Jude following him.

 

“When we arrived in Italy, Don Luca and his men attacked us,” Damon explained to his grandpa.

 

“Because Antonio killed his daughter.”

 "His daughter tried to kill Antonio first,” Damon explained. Antonio will never kill someone for no reason. He was ruthless and very manipulative, but he will only ruin you once you ruin him first.

 

“Was Don Luca not present at the club yesterday?” Grandpa asked Damon, who nodded. Antonio had asked him if Don Luca was there, and he said no. Now he knows why; it was all his plan to set Don Luca.

 

Enzo was shocked. Just yesterday, he thought Antonio had let Don Luca go and didn’t hold any grudge against him, but the man just shot two birds with one stone.

 

He got the formula and his revenge. This man was smarter than he thought.

 

That was their affair; he had to return to Slovenia and clear his name. And he needed a plan on his own in case things didn’t go as planned.

 

*

It was evening, and they were ready to go back to Slovenia. Enzo felt something was off, and Antonio wouldn't just give up himself. So he had managed to steal a phone from one of Antonio’s men to use in times of emergency.

“Get in; let’s go save your name,” Antonio said once the car parked in front of them.

“Tell me the truth. What are you up to?" Enzo was cautious; he had learned not to underestimate this man because when others are sleeping, his brain is very active.

 

“You want to clear your name, then get in. Let’s move. Once I change my mind..."

 

"Fine,” he said, getting into the car, and Antonio joined.

 

Damon waved at them because he was given an unfamiliar task to do here in Italy and would follow later.

 

The drive was silent for a while, and Enzo decided to break it. “This might be the last time we sit in a car together, so I have a question to ask.”

 

“Are we doing the brother-bonding stuff? If yes, then I should make myself comfortable for the emotional parts,” Antonio responded with a sarcastic tone. He was unbearable and hard to talk to.

 

But Enzo ignored his comment and asked his question, “Why did you leave me with Jackie and leave? Why didn't you come along?"

 

“She is a nun; I knew you were in safe hands when she found you beside the fountain,” he replied without thinking twice.

“And why didn't you follow? You could have had a peaceful life as well.”

 

“I have a peaceful life,” Antonio answered before sighing heavily. He was lying to everyone, including himself. His heart was filled with hate the very moment those men in uniform killed his mother and sister.

 

If he had followed that nun, then who was going to avenge their mother and sister?

“You are a serial killer.”

 

“For now, in the future, I will be worse," was Antonio’s reply, and it left Enzo shocked; even Jude had to turn his head to see his boss’s reaction when he said that.

 

After hours and hours of traveling, they arrived in Slovenia very early in the morning. Enzo felt a little relief because he started to believe that Antonio was going to keep to his words.

 

“Should I call the cops here?” Enzo asked at once.

“Of course not; give me a day to hang out and enjoy the beauty of this town. Then I will let you take me to the cops,” Antonio explained.

 

“That was not the deal.”

“It is the deal; it’s either you give me a day off or I am leaving,” Antonio scolded before handing a small box to Enzo.

“I know you got one of my men's phones; that is a SIM card, and I will call you once I am done having fun. Just make sure not to be caught before then, because I won't show up,” he warned before getting into the car with his men, who drove away.

 

Enzo stood there alone. He was frustrated, but it was just a day, and he could be patient. So he calmed himself before inserting the SIM card into the phone. He wore sunglasses and walked for a while before arriving at the highway.

 

Then he stopped a cab and got in. "Radovljica,” he said and got in.

 

“You look so familiar; have I carried you before?” The driver asked, and Enzo bent his head slightly. “It’s my first time in Slovenia after so many years, so I am not sure.”