CHAPTER SIXTY SEVEN – MAFIA MEN

As the men prepared to leave, Rebecca overheard one last exchange that made her blood run cold. "Remember, gentlemen," Luca said, his voice low but firm, "what happens in the family, stays in the family. We protect our own." The group filed out, leaving Rebecca alone with her tumultuous thoughts. She leaned against the counter, taking deep breaths to steady herself. "You okay, Rebecca?" Tony, one of her coworkers, asked as he emerged from the kitchen. "You look like you've seen a ghost." Rebecca forced a smile. "I'm fine, just a bit tired. Hey, Tony... what do you know about Luca? I mean, besides him being our boss here at the café?" Tony glanced around nervously before leaning in closer. "You mean you don't know? I thought everyone knew about the Castelli family." "What about them?" Rebecca pressed, her curiosity overriding her caution. Tony lowered his voice to a whisper. "They're one of the oldest and most powerful mafia families in Italy. Luca... he took over as boss when he