As the struggles of Alex were in full swing, he could barely see anything in the shadows. The person stepped forward, revealing an astonishing identity.
"Francesca?" Alex shouted with a trembling voice of confusion. "What is happening? "Why am I here?"
Francesca grinned, not quite smiling, eyes glimmering with a hint of amusement but sadness nonetheless.
"You are here, Alex, because you are a major player in this game," she told him. "And unfortunately, you have been playing by the wrong rules."
This was too much for Alex since he realized his fears were about to be confirmed. What did Francesca mean?
"What game?" he interrogated, struggling to maintain some calmness.
Francesca laughed. "The game of power, Alex. The one of loyalty and betrayal. You see, Marco and I are not just enemies. We're players in a much larger game. One involving the entire city."
Only afterward did Alex fully grasp the reality.
"You mean the Mafia?" he repeated, almost choking upon his very words.
"Yes. The mafia, Alex. And you, my dear, are a pawn being used against Marco in our game."
Anger totally consumed Alex. He could not believe that he had trusted Francesca and that she had betrayed him!
Looking in those eyes, however, made him think again. Could she have been telling him something less than the whole truth?
"What do you want from me, Francesca?" His voice was resolute.
Francesca smiled at him. "I want you to join me, Alex. I want you to help me take down Marco and rule the city with me."
His heart missed a beat. Did Francesca mean it?
And what if he said no?