CHAPTER 292
Don Vittorio Amorielle was sitting in the grand hall of the family mansion in Pedesina, surrounded by all the relatives, their faces tense with anticipation. The weight of responsibility rested heavily on his shoulders, but he knew it was time to unveil the plan he had decided to implement.
The relatives stared at Vittorio, eagerly waiting for him to share the details of what he called the “Moli di Acqua Plan.” Eleonora, his wife, was the first to break the silence, curiosity evident in her face. “What is the Moli di Acqua Plan, Vittorio?”
Antonietta, Vittorio's mother, took the floor with seriousness. “This plan, Eleonora, was devised decades ago by Alero Amorielle, the family's first Don. Its purpose is to destroy the enemy on their own terms. In the case of Jácomo Grecco, he may claim Vendetta and seek revenge. However, with the Moli di Acqua Plan, we will make it so, unbeknownst to Jácomo, Vendetta is controlled by the Amorielle family.”
Vittorio nodded, remembering the bitter memories. “You are right, Eleonora. My father couldn't foresee Tommaso's true intentions, and you and my mother, Antonietta, played against us. That night, I nearly lost my life.”
Eleonora lowered her head, filled with remorse. “I had no idea it would be that night. I deeply regret it.”
Antonietta also felt compelled to explain her part in the tragedy. “I answered the phone without knowing Tommaso Grecco's true intentions. I was naive, and it cost our family dearly.”
Vittorio looked at the two of them with a weary yet determined look. “Now, apologies don't matter anymore. What matters is that it will be different now. With the Moli di Acqua Plan, we will have control. We will be the ones to determine who will die, who will live, and who will betray.”
Eleonora raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And how will this be done, Vittorio?”
Vittorio took a deep breath before explaining. “Amongst us, it will be decided who will feign betrayal and get close to Jácomo. Who will live and carry on the legacy, and who will die to make him believe he's in control.”
Eleonora, standing beside Vittorio, couldn't contain her curiosity and concern. She raised an eyebrow and asked, “Don Vittorio, how will we decide who lives, who betrays, and who dies in this plan?”
Vittorio took a deep breath and looked at the relatives gathered in the room, aware of the weight of his decision. “We are a group of ten people: me, you, Antonietta, Carmela, Alessandro, Luca, Carlo, Marco, Sofia, and Rocco. To determine who will play which role, we will rely on luck.”
Sofia, the youngest cousin and seemingly the most astute, spoke up. “How will we do that, Don Vittorio?”
Vittorio explained, “Sofia will take a sheet of paper, and cut it into ten pieces. Four of them will have the word 'dead,' five will have the word 'alive,' and one will have the word 'traitor.' Then, she will fold them all and place them in a container.”
Eleonora seemed uneasy about the idea. “Why only one traitor, Don Vittorio?”
Vittorio replied calmly, “We need the information to be controlled, Eleonora. Having only one traitor allows us to keep the reins of the plan in our hands. If there were more than one, we would risk losing control.”
Sofia got up and, without hesitation, went to the study. She took paper and a pen and began cutting the pieces as per Vittorio's instructions. After preparing the papers, she placed them in the glass container, which gleamed in the room's light.
Vittorio looked at his family, a tired yet determined look in his eyes. “It's time for us to decide. Who goes first?”
Antonietta walked up to the container, closed her eyes for a moment, and pulled out one of the papers. She unfolded it carefully and read the word written on it aloud: “Dead.”
The tension in the room increased even further. Vittorio kept his eyes fixed on the container, knowing this was a dangerous but necessary game for the success of the plan.
Carmela followed Antonietta and, like her, took a paper, unfolded it, and read aloud: “Dead.”
The words “Dead” echoed in the room, heavy and menacing. The Amorielle family members exchanged glances, the weight of the choice beginning to settle in.
Cousins Luca, Carlo, Marco, and Alessandro took their turns next, and all of them read “Alive.” Each “Alive” word brought a sigh of relief to the room, but the tension lingered.
Rocco, the loyal capo of the family, took his paper and unfolded it calmly. The silence deepened as he read the word “Traitor.” A look of shock and disbelief crossed Rocco's face, but he remained steadfast, aware of his importance in the plan.
Finally, only three papers remained in the container. Sofia, the young cousin seemingly determined to take control, took the container, looked at Vittorio, and pulled out the paper with the word “Alive.”
Eleonora and Vittorio locked eyes, knowing that the two remaining papers contained the word “Dead.” It was a reality they had to accept.
Eleonora took one of the papers, her heart pounding in her chest. She unfolded the paper and saw the word “Dead.” Her face turned pale.
Vittorio took the last paper, and his eyes met Eleonora's. He unfolded the paper, and the word “Dead” was written there. The room was now filled with heavy silence.
Vittorio spoke with determination. “Now that the fates are sealed, it's up to us to ensure the success of the Moli di Acqua Plan.”
Alessandro, the eldest cousin of Vittorio, made a cautious remark. “But what if something goes wrong, Vittorio? If Jácomo discovers the plan, he might act even more brutally.”
Vittorio nodded, acknowledging the risks involved. “That's why we need to be cautious and prepared for a counterattack. If Jácomo believes he's seeking revenge and doesn't suspect our control over the situation, we'll have the advantage.”
Carlo, the cousin, was worried. “How will we convince Jácomo that we are vulnerable and at his mercy?”
Vittorio smiled darkly. “That's the most challenging part. We'll have to stage a convincing betrayal, something Jácomo will fully believe. But once he takes the bait, we'll have the opportunity to turn the tables.”
Luca, the youngest cousin, had doubts. “What if someone outside what was decided here gets hurt for real, Vittorio? How will we prevent the situation from spiraling out of control?”
Vittorio looked at his mother and relatives with determination. “That's our most challenging task, to protect each other, even as we play the role of betrayal. We'll have to be cautious and clever. There are no guarantees that everything will go as planned, but this is the best strategy we have.”
***
The mansion in Pedesina's room was filled with a silent commitment as everyone prepared for what lay ahead.
Don Vittorio Amorielle felt the need to have a private conversation with Rocco to discuss the details of his role in the plan. He looked at the loyal capo and made a discreet nod with his head, indicating it was time to leave the room and head to the house's study.
Rocco nodded and followed Vittorio to the study, where the silence and privacy would allow them to discuss the sensitive details of the plan.
Once they were alone, Rocco couldn't hide his unease. “Don Vittorio, I... I don't feel comfortable betraying you.”
Vittorio looked into Rocco's eyes, his expression serious and resolute. “Rocco, you will excel as the traitor. Besides, you've already betrayed me before.”
Rocco was visibly surprised by Vittorio's assertion. “What are you saying? I didn't betray you, Don Vittorio.”
Vittorio held Rocco's gaze, his tone firm. “You participated in the diritto di morte of Tommaso Grecco, orchestrated by Ellis. You know what I'm talking about.”
Rocco looked away, his expression growing somber. “I did it to protect Ellis, Don Vittorio. I knew how important she was to you. I had no choice.”
Vittorio didn't back down. “And you did it without informing me. That's a betrayal, Rocco.”
Rocco lowered his head, acknowledging the gravity of his actions. “I'm sorry, Don Vittorio. I didn't want you to find out.”
Vittorio stared at Rocco with intensity. “That's not all, is it?”
Rocco swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his actions. “No, Don Vittorio. I betrayed you two more times.”
Vittorio recognized Rocco's good intentions, but his face remained serious. “You've betrayed my trust, Rocco, by making decisions without consulting me. However, this time, you will be my traitor. Let me tell you what will happen next.”
Rocco was tense, awaiting the punishment Vittorio would mete out for his past actions. Vittorio continued, “You will save the most significant betrayal for the right moment. When I banish you and become your enemy, it will be used as the motive.”
Rocco questioned the reason for this hypothetical scenario. Vittorio explained, “You will need to become a crucial source of information for me. You'll help deceive Jácomo Grecco, making him believe you're on his side. When the time comes, you'll reveal everything you know about me, all my weaknesses, my plans, while I'm prepared to take action.”
Rocco nodded, accepting the task and its implications. He realized this would be a delicate and risky mission. “Understood, Vittorio. I'll do what's necessary to protect the family.”
Vittorio took a deep breath and made a decision. “Rocco, you need to tell me the lighter betrayal, so I can prepare myself for what's to come.”
Rocco agreed, recognizing the need to reveal the truth. “The first betrayal, Don Vittorio, was when I found out that Ellis separated from you. It was Messina who forced her to choose revenge and separate from you, revealing Tommaso's location.”
Vittorio stared at Rocco sadly, his mind filled with regret. “Thank you for telling me, Rocco.”
Rocco lowered his head and asked for forgiveness. “I'm sorry, Don Vittorio.”
Vittorio looked into Rocco's eyes and spoke seriously. “To be forgiven by me, Rocco, you'll have to do something unimaginable.”
Rocco looked intrigued. “What is it, Don Vittorio?”
Vittorio revealed his demand with a cold and determined voice. “You'll have to prepare a shed where Ellis will be taken when she's kidnapped. And it also needs to be easily accessible for when we retrieve her body.”
Rocco was shocked by Vittorio's revelation. “Who will kill Ellis, Don Vittorio?”
Vittorio looked at Rocco and declared with a cold and determined voice. “You will kill her, Rocco.”
The tension in the mansion's study was almost palpable as the reality of the situation set in. Vittorio was willing to use all available tools to ensure the success of the Moli di Acqua Plan.