Twisted Fixation

『 Chapter 26 』

"Il prete è arrivato." (The priest has arrived)

Favio nodded at the news as he stood up from his seat, walking in the direction of Giancarlo's room. Once he was in front of the door, he knocked twice before entering.

He was slightly surprised to see the sleeping figure of a woman in the bed while Giancarlo was standing in front of the mirror as he fixed his long black coat.

"Hai bisogno di qualcos' altro prima di andare?" (Do you need anything else before you go?)

Instead of a response, Giancarlo walked towards the bed and sat beside Yuri, who was deeply asleep. He inched closer to her and kissed her forehead.

Yuri only moaned and faced the other side of the bed while hugging a pillow. Giancarlo's lips curled into a small smile, and he covered her body with a blanket.

"Che ne dici degli altri?" (What about the others?)

"I preparativi sono completi. Ti stiamo solo aspettando." (The preparations are complete. We're just waiting for you)

Without saying another word, Giancarlo walked towards the door, and he followed him, closing the door behind him quietly.

The noise instantly died down when Giancarlo walked in. Since he would be dealing with a cop, he decided to only bring a few soldiers of his own. He does not intend to make a big deal out of it, but he will make sure that this is going to be the last time that Elijah Smith is going to use his name, and the mafia are not the people whom he should mess with.

"È passato un po' di tempo, Signor Costa," (It's been a little while, Mr. Costa) Father Antinori bowed and lifted his hand, which Giancarlo accepted, kissing the back of it. 

"Apprezzo che tu faccia il tempo e il viaggio, Don Pio." (I appreciate you making the time and the journey, Don Pio)

Father Antinori just smiled and put his hand on Giancarlo's head as he recited a prayer in Italian. It's almost a laughable sight that a priest and a mafia boss are both in the same room, but being the Roman Catholic he is, the mafia boss has his own way of expressing his beliefs and faith.

Giancarlo, with his broad shoulders and intimidating presence, bows his head in reverence, showing a vulnerability rarely seen in his line of work.

"Possa il Signore guidarti sulla strada che stai per prendere, Signor Costa." (May the Lord guide you on the path you are about to take, Mr. Costa)

"Amen."

Giancarlo kissed the back of Father Antinori's hand again as a sign of gratitude and bidding him farewell. It is not a frequent occurrence that the mafia boss requests his presence, but whenever it happens, he knows the reason behind it.

The mafia boss is going to kill someone again, and the request to chant a prayer beforehand is always the same. Father Antinori fully understands his role as a mediator between Giancarlo's world of crime and the realm of faith.

He knows that by offering solace and forgiveness to Giancarlo, he is enabling his violent actions to continue unchecked. But in this twisted dance between good and evil, he still believes that one day his prayers will penetrate Giancarlo's heart.

"Abbiamo preparato una stanza per te, Don Pio. Per favore riposati," (We have prepared a room for you, Don Pio. Please rest) Favio said and called a maid to ensure that the visitor would be accommodated well.

Father Antinori just smiled and thanked him for the gesture as he threw one last glance at Giancarlo, who is currently loading his gun.

***