CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE – DUMB TEENAGER

One afternoon, as Joan was restocking shelves, the shop door burst open. Luca stumbled in, his face pale and his breathing ragged. "Zia Maria!" he called out, his voice cracking. "I need help!" Maria hurried from the back room, alarm written across her face. "Luca? What's wrong?" The teenager's eyes darted around the shop, landing on Joan before focusing back on his aunt. "I... I messed up. Big time." Joan set down the box she was holding, moving closer. "What happened, Luca?" Luca swallowed hard. "There's this gang... they hang out near the old factory. I... I owed them some money." Maria's face darkened. "Luca! What have you been up to?" "It was just a small bet!" Luca protested. "But then... then I lost. And now they're saying I owe them more. A lot more." Joan felt her heart rate quicken. She knew all too well how these things could escalate. "How much do they want?" Luca named a sum that made Maria gasp. "Dio mio! Where are we supposed to get that kind of money?" Joan's