Luca had anticipated this outcome, so when Matilda appeared alone with her bag, he was not surprised. Without the restraint of her biological father, how could a stepmother and half-sister—neither related to her by blood—could control her? Sooner or later, she would choose to leave.
They sat inside a McDonald's along the street. The evening crowd was thin, and neon lights reflected faintly against the windows. Luca watched as Matilda ate with genuine appetite, as though she had not had a proper meal in days.
"Can you let go of your younger brother?" Luca asked calmly.
Matilda paused, then shook her head helplessly. "My brother doesn't want to come with me. The old sow is his biological mother. She won't let me take him away."
She laughed at herself, but the laughter carried bitterness. "Now I'm the only outsider in that house. They don't care about me anymore. My brother's still too young. He doesn't understand anything. He doesn't understand how hard it is for me to stay there."
She lifted her Coke cup, her expression firm despite her age. "Luca, I've decided. I will never go back to that cold family. I'll make my own way from now on."
"You've got ambition," Luca replied lightly. "Then I wish you success in achieving your life's value in advance."
"Thank you."
They clinked their paper cups together as though they were toasting champagne instead of soda.
After a moment of silence, Matilda stared at him intently. "Luca, what exactly do you do?"
Luca raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"
"You don't look like an ordinary office worker. You know how to use knives and guns. Are you in a gang?"
"Police officers carry guns too."
"You're not a police officer." She said it with certainty. "Every police officer I've met is selfish."
"Emmmm…"
Under her curious and expectant gaze, Luca decided to be honest. "Fine. You guessed correctly. I am a gang member. To be precise, I'm part of the Mafia."
"The all-Italian Mafia family?" she asked immediately.
"Yes."
"Cool!"
Her eyes narrowed mischievously, like a wolf spotting an opportunity. "I heard the Mafia protects its members. Is that true?"
"You could say that. As long as you don't violate family rules."
"Can I join?" she asked without hesitation. "I don't want to go to school anymore. I want to join the Mafia."
Luca nearly spat out his Coke.
Most children would run away in fear after hearing the word Mafia. This one wanted to enlist.
"Is that not okay?" Matilda pressed. "I want protection. I don't want to be bullied anymore."
It wasn't completely impossible. Women existed within Mafia families, but rarely through conventional channels. They usually entered through marriage or blood ties, and some even managed businesses behind the scenes. Still, letting a middle school girl "join" was absurd.
Luca decided to play along. "Sure. Call me 'bro,' and I'll protect you across all five boroughs of New York."
"Brother." She said it obediently and smiled sweetly.
"Fast learner," Luca replied. "From now on, you work for me."
He snapped his fingers and added solemnly, "However, to join the family, you must complete family tasks."
"Give me your orders," she said immediately. "What can I do for the family?"
"Good attitude," Luca nodded. "Your first task is to go to school. Finish middle school, high school, and graduate from university."
Matilda froze.
"Unwilling?" Luca smiled. "In the Mafia, you obey the boss and remain loyal to the family. We don't accept disobedient members."
She bit her lip, thought for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. I'll do it."
"Good."
"But I have one condition," she added quickly. "Will you take me to school tomorrow?"
Seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, Luca nodded. "What time?"
"If school starts at eight, we can leave at seven."
Matilda currently attended a private girls' secondary school in Manhattan—Spencer School. Since the school did not provide boarding facilities, Luca decided to bring her to one of his private residences in Manhattan. It would be more convenient for commuting.
This was Luca's true stronghold. No outsider had ever set foot inside.
Matilda was the first.
"Matilda, you'll stay here for now," Luca said as he led her inside and casually tossed her a set of keys. "It's close to school. Easy to go back and forth."
She stepped into the spacious penthouse and stood still. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed Central Park stretching out in lush green beyond the glass. Having grown up in run-down apartments and neglected buildings, she could hardly process the idea of living somewhere like this.
"Luca… is this your home?"
"Yes. And it's yours now too."
My home?
She followed his figure toward the kitchen counter, feeling something quietly shift in her heart.
"I didn't know you were so rich," she said in disbelief. "Then why did you live next door to me? The conditions there were terrible."
Of course it was to meet you.
But Luca simply said mysteriously, "That concerns Mafia family secrets. You're not a full member yet. I can't tell you."
It was clearly a weak excuse, but she had no rebuttal.
After showing her around, Luca handed her a thousand dollars. "Buy whatever you need. There's a phone at home. Call me if something happens when I'm not here."
She accepted the money and looked at him provocatively. "Luca, you're being this nice to me. Are you keeping me as a sugar baby?"
Luca fell silent.
You're precocious. Far too precocious.
"You can tease that quiet, handsome bachelor Leon," he said dryly. "Don't try it with me."
He ruffled her hair deliberately, ruining the neat strands she had just fixed. "This is an older brother taking care of a younger sister. For now, you only have one mission: study hard."
She rolled her eyes. "School is boring. And the girls there bully me."
Luca knelt slightly to look her in the eyes. "Don't reject school. School isn't important. The Mafia isn't important either. What important is that you learn—in every environment. Knowledge. Skills. Perspective. Judgment. Courage. These things strengthen you externally and enrich you internally. Dressing like an adult doesn't make you mature. Learning does."
Matilda stared at him carefully, as if trying to weigh every word.
Finally, she nodded. "Okay."
"Good. Don't worry about money. Buy what you need. Eat what you want. Tell me if you run out."
"Okay." She nodded twice.
"I'll show you Mafia life this weekend. I'll teach you how to be a qualified member."
"Okay!" She nodded three times enthusiastically.
"And tonight we clean the house together."
"Okay!" Four nods.
Life was full of strange and unexpected encounters. A man aspiring to become a godfather, and a little girl who insisted on joining the Mafia, began a new chapter together.
[Bond: Close Friend]
---
The next morning, Luca wore a tailored suit and combed his hair meticulously. Today was important.
Matilda thoughtfully straightened his tie and smoothed the wrinkles from his jacket. "You look cool in a suit."
"Compliments like that will make me arrogant."
She laughed.
After dropping her off at school, Luca drove to Marigio's bar and joined him in the car. They spoke little during the ride. Eventually, Luca was brought to a restaurant and introduced to another family member: Pauli Cicero.
__________________________________________________________________________
[Character Card Unlocked: Pauli Cicero]
Rank: B
Source: Goodfellas
Skill:
Black Hand Arbitration
– Deterrence toward lower-ranking family members +10%
– Combat Power +20% when executing family members who violate family rules
Learning Requirement:
Friend Bond or higher + 50 Skill Fragments
Bond: Attention
___________________________________________________________________________
Pauli was Jimmy and Henry's superior. He was cautious and disciplined, strictly forbidding drug trafficking within his crew. He knew the prison sentences were too severe; men facing decades behind bars would inevitably betray their bosses. He had warned Henry multiple times, but Henry had never listened.
Pauli knew of Marigio's side dealings and was aware that Luca worked under him. Thus, his attitude toward Luca was neither warm nor cold—purely businesslike.
Luca was not concerned. Relationships required time.
He glanced at the reserved skill description:
Luca mentally calculated his remaining fragments.
Fifty fragments was not a small number.
But for authority within the family— It would be worth it.
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You know, as always on:
рaтreоп.com/15608983/jоin
the collection in 2 days ago is 5 advance chapter, yesterday 10 advance chapter, today 15 advance chapter.
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