CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT – MEETING THE GODFATHER

The dim lighting of the secluded restaurant cast an ominous pall over the private dining room. Despite the upscale Italian decor, an unmistakable sense of menace permeated the air. At the head of the table sat Enzo Marconi, a towering figure whose piercing gaze spoke volumes about the depths of his ruthless reputation. The door opened, and the von Becker patriarch, Heinrich, entered flanked by his two sons, Christoph and Dietrich. Their aristocratic bearing was offset by the cold calculation etched on their faces, a look honed by generations of accumulating power and influence through any means necessary. Enzo remained still, his fingers steepled in front of him as he studied the newcomers. A faint smile played across his lips, betraying a hint of amusement at their self-assured arrogance. "Gentlemen," he said finally, the gravelly timbre of his voice cutting through the tense silence. "To what do I owe this...unexpected visit?" Heinrich stepped forward, unflinching under Enzo's pe