5. Did he know?

Sebastian stood at a corner opposite the café he was supposed to meet the Guerriero guys. He was on time but he was not about to walk into what he did not know; in a place he was not very familiar with. For all he knew, this could be all a cruel joke by a rich heir and he had had his fill of rich heirs for a while. The next time they cross him, he may really lose it.

He picked a newspaper on the floor, opened it and used it as a shade, standing by a dark corner to monitor the Cozy Café. Nothing was happening inside, everyone was carrying on with their business normally, nothing was out of place and no one was waiting behind from his point of view.

It was already 9 am, and he considered going back home and sending them a text to meet him in a place of his own choosing. He at least wanted to pay them back for the money he spent and draw up an instalment payment plan. For someone who just spent five hundred thousand of money that was not his, he wondered where his effrontery was coming from.

As he was still thinking of what next to do, someone tapped him lightly from behind. Sebastian turned to see a middle-aged man who looked to be in his late 20s but not quite, dressed in a black tailcoat jacket, split into two pointed triangles at the back, reaching his knees. A long top hat covered his face, his long beard had a dangerous edge and he held a stylish walking stick in one hand. He had a dangerous air about him, making people freeze in fear without him uttering a word.

“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you entering the café?” The man asked in a deep gruff voice.

“I’m sorry sir but I think you’ve got the wrong person” Sebastian replied, unfazed by the man’s aura.

The man put his two hands on the head of his walking stick, straightened his face, though his eyes were still hidden under the hat, and looked straight at Sebastian saying,

“Sig Sebastian Trivulzio-Conti, Guerriero Numero uno”. I have the right person {Translation: Sig – Sir; Guerriero Numero uno - Warrior Number 1}.

Sebastian stared at him in shock with widened eyes, then his gaze was weary. The only person who knew his full name were his parents and maybe the secretary of the school when she looks at the records. His full name was not common knowledge.

“And who might you be sir?” Sebastian asked

The man pointed at Sebastian’s phone in his pocket, “You got a message did you not?”

“What message? Everyone gets messages all the time” Sebastian shrugged

“Boy, I do not want to drag this conversation unnecessarily, not after you spent a full hour outside, staring at the café instead of walking in. If time is not precious to you, it is to some of us, you never know when you will kick the bucket so every moment counts, especially in this profession.” Sebastian’s mouth thinned. That stung a bit because he recalled Gramps, the man was right.

“And if I were to waste any more moments here, I would prefer it be in a cozy environment like the café across the street,” the man said pointedly.

“You know, scammers are getting bolder these days and they run rampant but sometimes they’re stupid.” Sebastian levelled the gaze of the man and continued, “If you didn’t notice from my dressing let me tell you, I have not a single penny to my name and I am in debt, no decent property to boast of and no family member to scrape from. Do you really want to waste your time and precious lines on me?” Sebastian finished.

The man laughed in irritation, “It’s been a while since we had a stubborn brat who feels he’s too smart, for the trials. I might enjoy coaching you after all. You’ll regret alluding to me as a scammer boy, mark my words and it’ll be in a moment where you will regret it bitterly”

“I always pay back in kind” Sebastian replied, unfazed.

“We’ll see about that. I am from the Guerrieri Family, and I am your Consigliere for the Guerrieri Trials”

“The Guerrieri Trials. Who are you guys and what is this trial all about? What does it have to do with me and why was I selected?” He couldn’t help himself, the questions barrelled out one after the other.

“Again, I prefer discussing business in a cozy environment like the café.”

Sebastian looked at the man standing before him, his menacing air was unmistakable but he blended perfectly with the professional persona, aye one might even think him a true lawyer who preferred to defy the norm with his dressing. His eyes went to the café and back to the man before him,

“What is your name sir?”

“Call me Consigliere Alessandro.” He replied with a bow.

“There’s no reason to bow to me. You’re a grown middle-aged man while you might as well call me a suckling, I should be the one bowing.”

“I’m afraid I cannot do that”

“Why” Sebastian was puzzled

“I prefer discussing business in cozy cafés Sig Sebastian”.

Sebastian looked at the Café again and back at Alessandro who was unflinching. He had a feeling that if he walked into that café, he would not come out the same. The pointers were all there – the sketchy, borderline chilling messages, the crazy sum of money, the unusual man before him who oozed power, authority and a sense of danger. And all these things seemed to be luring him in, telling him to embrace them with open hands as though they were meant to be his or have always been his.

He hesitated for a bit. He thought about the consequences, he wasn’t stupid, he knew the Mafia existed in these parts and once in a while, they recruit members though their method of recruitment was always a carefully guarded secret. He never thought it would happen to him because there was nothing outstanding about him other than his skills which only his Judo master and his friend knew a bit about and yet, here he was, seemingly being recruited even if it was yet to be confirmed.

He thought about who he was, he was a nobody who wanted to make a name for himself through academic merit. He thought about his principles which were honed by Gramps and as far as he remembered, Gramps was never against the mafia and he always wondered why. He thought about Gramps’ death, and his revenge on Leonard. He thought about money and the constant insult in school, the corrupt officials in various institutions at various levels and the plight of the man who had no strong backing to afford to be good or decent.

The more he thought about it, the more depressing his current life and lifestyle felt. What was there to hold on to? Nothing was holding him back.

What were the pros of joining the Mafia? Authority, money and a backing which he desperately needed if he was going to go against Leonard. What were the cons? A likely unstable future of one constantly on the run from dabbling into the wrong things.

After thinking for a while, he decided two things in his mind and with that decision, he nodded to Alessandro for them to enter the café.

In contrast to the café exterior which was mundane and normal, the interior exuded an air of old-world charm mixed with an enigmatic allure. As Sebastian stepped in through the oak door, the rich aroma of freshly brewed expresso and the tantalizing scent of homemade pastries assaulted his senses, reminding him he had not eaten since yesterday morning when Gramps fed him. Swallowing his hunger, he sat next to Alessandro.

Alessandro who had been observing him all the while ordered a bowl of steaming homemade minestrone soup, thick with vegetables and fragrant herbs, paired with crusty Italian bread and a rich cappuccino for Sebastian and black coffee for himself.

“Why the food? We’re here to discuss business, no? Sebastian asked, perplexed

“Indeed, we are but one does not discuss business on an empty stomach. Besides, it is my policy to always have a dish on the table during negotiations.” Alessandro replied with a smile

“Why?”

“You’ll find out soon.”

“Well, that’s all fine and good, enjoy your meal. But you have to answer my questions in the process. Who are you guys?” Sebastian pressed

“Whoever said the food is for me? I have my coffee here. Please eat and I will explain what you need to know.”

Sebastian looked down at the food, he was tired of going back and forth with the man sitting in front of him and he was indeed hungry. Well, Alessandro did say it was his policy to always have food on the table so he was not going to resist any longer.

As he took one bite of the soup, the warmth enveloped him, a warmth he hadn’t felt since yesterday morning and it moved him deeply. It felt like the man before him knew all he had gone through yesterday and was trying to comfort him with this food. Did he know?

Alessandro carefully watched Sebastian as he ate. The only surviving heir of the *Boss was a lot more interesting than he had thought.