"'Then I'll deal with it,' Clara said, her voice firm. 'But I deserve to know the truth. What is it that you do, Alessandro? What is this life you're so desperate to protect me from?'Alessandro hesitated, his eyes searching hers. He knew he shouldn't tell her. It would put her in danger. But he couldn't deny the sincerity in her gaze, the genuine desire to understand him.He took a deep breath, steeling himself. 'I'm involved in...certain activities,' he said, his voice carefully measured. 'Activities that aren't exactly legal.'Clara's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't flinch. 'What kind of activities?' she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Alessandro hesitated again, then plunged ahead. 'My family...we're involved in the Mafia,' he said, his voice flat. 'I'm expected to take over one day.'The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Clara stared at him, her mind reeling. The Mafia. It was something out of a movie, a world of violence and intrigue. And Alessandro was right in the middle of it.'So you're a...gangster?' she asked, her voice trembling slightly.Alessandro's lips twisted into a bitter smile. 'That's one way to put it,' he said. 'But it's more complicated than that. It's a legacy, a responsibility. It's a life I didn't choose, but one I can't escape.'"
