Chapter 144 A chance to escape

A few weeks after her ordeal in the dungeon, Mariama was slowly regaining her strength and her place in Vito's organization. The experience had left her shaken, more aware than ever of the precarious nature of her position. She went about her duties with renewed diligence, always looking over her shoulder, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was in this state of heightened vigilance that she received an unexpected invitation. Antonio, the musician she had befriended during her early days in Cefalu, reached out to her with an offer of dinner. "Just a chance to catch up," he said when he called, his voice warm and familiar. "It's been too long, Mariama." She hesitated, aware of the potential risks of socializing outside Vito's immediate circle. But the thought of a few hours of normalcy was too tempting to resist. "Alright," she agreed. "Where shall we meet?" Antonio suggested a small, out-of-the-way restaurant near the docks. "The food is excellent," he assured her, "and