Chapter 242: Swear on our friendship
"What is it that you don’t want to include Lucius in?" Demitri asked in a light tone with intrigue, a faint smile still lingering on his lips. "Aren’t you two practically like brothers? You’ve always shared everything with each other," he added.
Matteo returned the smile, though it was softer and carried a hint of resignation. He gave a slight nod before replying, "You’re right. Lucius and I are like brothers, but you also know that my life is deeply tied to the mafia world, unlike his. I don’t want him to remain a part of this profession for long. He deserves better."
"But Lucius loves working with you," Demitri remarked.
Matteo leaned back slightly. "Lucius has a caring family, something I lost a long time ago. My sister isn’t in Italy, so I’m not worried for her. The only person I deeply care is Lucius for now. He’s the type who will find a loving wife and build a future filled with peace. That’s why I’m doing everything I can to clean up a few loose ends—so none of this ever touches him."
There was a weight to Matteo’s words, something that made Demitri pause. He could sense the depth of Matteo’s intentions, though some of it eluded his full understanding. "You’re trying to protect him," Demitri said.
"Kind of," Matteo agreed with a faint nod.
Demitri leaned forward. "So, what do I have to do?" he asked.
Matteo’s expression turned serious. "I need to find a Russian mafia boss named Tsar," he revealed. "But to get to him, I need someone from Italy—someone with strong connections there. It’ll make the search easier."
"What?" Demitri’s brows knitted together in concern. "Why from Italy? And why Tsar? I’ve heard the mafias there are extremely dangerous. What are you trying to pull?" He tried to read Matteo’s enigmatic expression, but as always, it was like staring into a locked vault. Matteo’s calm exterior only hinted at the dark secrets he carried.