Transmigrated as the Youngest son of the Mafia's don.

CHAPTER 3;THE PRICE OF BETRAYAL

Steven’s POV

"He's lying!" Rosa suddenly chimed in. "We should end him right here."

I shot her a brief glance of course, she wouldn't let me get out of this so easily.The man holding the gun studied my face for a moment before taking a step closer.

"Keep talking," he said. "I'm listening."

I almost sighed in relief.

At least I had his attention.I knew how much value the mafia families placed on exclusive weapons. A custom prototype, especially one with a secret design known only to its owner, was worth more than a truckload of ordinary guns. These men guarded their weapons and their manufacturing secrets fiercely. Some would even kill to keep such knowledge from falling into the wrong hands.

I intended to use that obsession to my advantage.

Before leaving the mansion, I had already started making plans. I needed to understand the families, their territories, their rivalries, and, most importantly, what each of them valued.

I had even gone through the trouble of questioning a maid I found in the mansion's kitchen. She had been punished by one of the housekeepers, and I had stepped in to help her. In return, she gave me information about the people who worked in the mansion and the families that frequently visited.

It wasn't enough, but it was a start.

I needed to learn this world quickly. I couldn't afford to walk blindly into another trap.

"The Carlos family isn't the only powerful family in this business," I began. "There are five major families whose influence controls most of the weapons trade. Each has its own interests, its own enemies, and its own standards."

The man lowered his gun slightly, though he didn't put it away.I took that as permission to continue.

"Your family, the Volkovs, for instance, values precision and secrecy. Your emblem is the silver wolf, and your men favour the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. I can design a compact silenced pistol exclusively for your family. I'll call it the Silver Fang. It will have a custom engraved wolf insignia, a unique serial system, and a concealed identification feature that makes it difficult to counterfeit."

His eyes narrowed, but he didn't interrupt.

I continued.

"The Morettis favour power and intimidation. Their emblem is a black crowned bull, and their preferred vehicle is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. For them, I'd develop the Iron Crown, a customised tactical rifle with a distinctive modular design and a secure ownership mark."

I glanced around at the men listening.

"The De Lucas are known for their wealth and influence in international shipping. Their emblem is a golden eagle, and they favour the Bentley Flying Spur. I'd offer them the Aquila, a precision-built ceremonial sidearm with a gold eagle crest and a personalised presentation case."

I paused, watching their reactions.

"The Dragunovs are different. They value speed, mobility, and military connections. Their emblem is a red dragon, and their preferred car is the Lamborghini Revuelto. For them, I'd create the Dragon's Breath, a lightweight, custom-fitted prototype with a distinctive red-and-black finish and a secure tracking system."

Finally, I turned my attention back to the man in front of me.

"And then there's the Carlos family. My family."

I swallowed, trying not to show how uncomfortable it felt to claim a place in a family that had practically abandoned me.

"Our emblem is a silver lion. The family favours the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Ferrari Purosangue. I'd create the Lionheart, an exclusive prototype bearing the family crest, with a unique identification system and a design that could never be mistaken for another family's weapon."

I let the silence settle.

"Five families. Five exclusive designs. Five separate contracts."

The man stared at me,"What exactly are you proposing?"

"An alliance," I replied. "Not just between your family and the Carlos family, but between all five. Each family gets an exclusive prototype, and in return, we establish a long-term partnership. No more fighting over shipments. No more uncertainty about who is supplying whom. We can create a controlled trade network that benefits everyone involved."

It was an ambitious proposal, but it had potential.

The Volkovs could gain a dependable partnership with the Carlos family. The Morettis could secure their supply chain. The De Lucas could use their shipping influence to strengthen distribution. The Dragunovs could bring their military connections into the arrangement, while the Carlos family would become the centre of the entire network.

Five families. Five interests. One alliance.Of course, I wasn't foolish enough to believe they would agree immediately. But if I could convince even one family to consider the offer, I might have a chance to negotiate with the others.

The man slowly lowered his gun.Rosa's expression changed.

"What are you doing?" she demanded. "You can't possibly believe him!"

He didn't look at her.Instead, his attention remained fixed on me,"You're making some very big promises, boy."

I forced myself to meet his gaze "Then give me the chance to prove them."

For the first time since arriving at that place, I felt the situation shifting in my favour.

I wasn't safe yet but I had finally found something these men wanted more than my death and I intended to make good use of it.Rosa stormed away, her heels striking the ground as she disappeared from sight.

I watched her leave, my mind racing with questions.

I was almost certain one of my brothers had sent her here to monitor the situation and ensure their plan went smoothly. But what exactly had they intended to achieve? Did they want the rival family to kill me, or was there something else they hoped to gain from this little arrangement?

And what did Rosa gain from all this?

I had barely begun piecing together Brian's complicated relationships when another problem had landed at my feet. Whatever had happened between them in the past, I had no intention of letting it become the reason I died.

"Bring him inside," the man ordered.

Two men immediately stepped forward and escorted me into a nearby warehouse.The place was enormous, with metal shelves lining the walls and several worktables arranged in the middle. A few crates had been pushed aside to make room for the men who followed us in.

The man who had pointed a gun at me earlier pulled out a chair.

"Sit."

I did as instructed.

"Now, let's see whether you're as talented as you claim."

Someone placed a sheet of paper, pencils, and a few design materials on the table.

I studied them before picking up a pencil.

I wasn't going to reveal everything I had in mind. Not yet. These people were still strangers, and showing them my complete designs without knowing who I could trust would be foolish.

Instead, I began with samples.I sketched the outline of a customised sidearm, adding the family insignia and a distinctive exterior design. Then I moved on to the rifle prototype, focusing on its appearance, modular concept, and personalised markings. I made sure each design looked exclusive enough to command attention without revealing any technical specifications.

I worked quietly, occasionally pausing to make corrections.When I finally pushed the papers across the table, the men gathered around them.

For a moment, nobody spoke.Then one of them picked up a sketch and examined it more closely.

"Did you really come up with these?"

"Yes."I replied. 

Another man leaned over the table. "These designs are impressive."

"Imagine what he could create with proper resources," someone else added.

Their earlier hostility had begun to disappear. The same men who had been ready to shoot me were now studying my sketches as though I had handed them something priceless.The man who had questioned me earlier looked at me with renewed interest.

"You said you could make exclusive prototypes for the five families?"

"That's right."

He exchanged a glance with the others before nodding.

"Then you'll have to present these ideas to the people who matter."

I frowned slightly. "You mean your boss?"

"Not just ours." He replied putting his gun back.

He gathered the sketches carefully.

"A meeting will be arranged with the heads of the five most powerful mafia families. If they like what they see, we'll discuss the details of your proposal."

My heart skipped.All five families?

That was more than I had expected to achieve today.

"When?" I asked.

"Tomorrow morning. A car will be sent to pick you up."

I leaned back in my chair, trying to hide my surprise.

Only a few hours ago, I had been standing in front of a man with a gun pointed at my head. Now I was being invited to meet the most powerful mafia bosses in the country.

What a ridiculous turn of events.Still, I knew better than to celebrate too early.An invitation from five mafia families wasn't necessarily a sign of trust. It could just as easily be another trap but this time, I would be prepared.

If my brothers had hoped to get rid of me today, they had failed and if they were waiting for news of my death, they were about to receive a very different report.