Vito's possession

Locker 17

The old Central Station was almost empty.

Only a few lights were still working, and most of the shops had already closed.

Lina stood beside Vito near the entrance.

She held the small silver key tightly in her hand.

This place gives me a bad feeling, she whispered.

Vito looked around.

Good.

Lina frowned.

Good?

It means you're paying attention.

She gave him a look.

That was not comforting.

I wasn't trying to be comforting.

Lina almost smiled.

Almost.

Vito looked at his watch.

Stay close.

I'm not going anywhere.

They walked through the station.

Their footsteps echoed across the empty floor.

Lina looked at the old signs.

Platform 2.

Platform 3.

Then she saw it.

A long hallway with old metal lockers along the wall.

Her heart started beating faster.

Vito.

He stopped.

She pointed.

Those.

They walked toward them.

There were hundreds of lockers.

Most were broken.

Some had rust covering the numbers.

Vito looked at the key.

Seventeen.

Lina started searching.

Here.

Locker 17 was at the very end.

She stood in front of it.

Her hand shook.

Vito noticed.

You don't have to do this.

Yes, I do.

Lina.

I've spent my whole life wondering about my mother.

She looked at the locker.

I'm not walking away now.

Vito nodded.

Okay.

Lina put the key into the lock.

It turned.

Click.

She slowly opened the door.

Inside was a small brown box.

Nothing else.

Lina took it out.

Vito looked around.

Let's leave.

She nodded.

They moved toward the exit.

Then the station lights went off.

Lina froze.

Vito?

I'm here.

Something moved in the darkness.

Vito pulled Lina behind him.

Don't move.

A sound came from the other side of the station.

Then another.

Footsteps.

Several people.

Vito reached for his gun.

How many?

Lina whispered.

At least four.

The lights suddenly came back on.

Three men stood at the other end of the station.

And behind them was Bruno.

Lina's heart dropped.

Bruno smiled.

Hello, Lina.

Vito stepped in front of her.

You followed us.

Bruno laughed.

You really thought I wouldn't?

Vito's eyes hardened.

Where's your backup?

I don't need much.

Bruno looked at the box in Lina's hands.

Give it to me.

No.

His smile disappeared.

Don't make this difficult.

Vito raised his gun.

You're already making it difficult.

Bruno looked at him.

You don't understand what that box contains.

Vito didn't move.

I don't care.

You should.

Bruno's eyes moved toward Lina.

Because her mother put something inside that box that could destroy both our families.

Lina looked down.

What?

Bruno smiled again.

Open it.

Vito shook his head.

Don't.

Lina looked at him.

I need to know.

Lina, wait.

She opened the box.

Inside was a small black notebook.

A silver necklace.

And an old photograph.

Lina picked up the photograph.

Her mother was standing beside a little girl.

Lina stared.

The girl was not her.

Who is she?

Bruno's face changed.

Your sister.

Lina's heart stopped.

My what?

Vito looked at Bruno.

Don't play games.

I'm not.

Bruno looked at Lina.

Elena had two daughters.

Lina couldn't breathe.

No.

She gave one daughter to the children's home.

Lina shook her head.

And the other?

Bruno smiled.

She kept her hidden.

Lina looked at the photograph again.

The little girl looked about five years old.

Where is she?

Bruno didn't answer.

Where is my sister?

He looked at Vito.

Ask him.

Lina turned toward Vito.

What does he mean?

Vito looked confused.

I didn't know.

Bruno laughed.

Of course you didn't.

Lina stepped toward Vito.

Tell me you knew nothing.

I didn't.

She searched his face.

He looked honest.

But before she could say anything, Bruno's men raised their guns.

Vito grabbed Lina's hand.

Run.

They ran.

Gunshots filled the station.

Lina screamed as Vito pulled her behind a pillar.

Marco wasn't there.

No guards.

They were alone.

Vito looked around.

Stay here.

I'm coming.

No.

I'm not hiding.

Lina!

She grabbed his arm.

You said we're doing this together.

Vito looked at her.

Then nodded.

Fine.

They moved through the station.

One man appeared in front of them.

Vito hit him.

Another came from behind.

Lina grabbed a metal pole from the floor and swung it.

The man fell.

Vito looked at her.

Nice.

I told you I could protect myself.

I see that.

They ran toward the exit.

Bruno's voice came from behind them.

You can't run forever!

Vito opened the door.

They rushed outside.

A black car was waiting.

Vito pulled Lina inside.

The car sped away.

Lina looked through the back window.

Bruno was standing outside the station.

He wasn't chasing them.

He was smiling.

That scared her more than anything.

---

They reached Vito's house thirty minutes later.

Lina immediately opened the box again.

She picked up the notebook.

The first page had one sentence.

If Lina finds this, she is old enough to know the truth.

Her hands trembled.

She turned the page.

There were names.

Dates.

Payments.

Locations.

And one name appeared again and again.

Don Rocco.

Then another.

Salvatore.

Then a third.

Lina stopped.

Vito.

She stared at the page.

Vito walked over.

What?

She showed him.

His face went pale.

My name?

Lina nodded.

He took the notebook.

He turned several pages.

There was another entry.

Vito is the son of the man who started Project 17.

Vito stopped breathing.

What?

Lina looked at him.

Your father?

He shook his head.

My father died when I was young.

She pointed to the page.

Then why is your name here?

Vito didn't answer.

He kept turning the pages.

Near the end, they found a letter.

It was written by Elena.

Vito read it aloud.

If my daughter ever finds this, she must know that Project 17 was never about money.

Lina leaned closer.

It was about children.

Vito stopped reading.

Lina looked at him.

What children?

He continued.

Children whose parents were connected to powerful families. Children who could be used to control those families.

Lina felt sick.

She looked at the photograph of the little girl.

Me and my sister.

Vito nodded slowly.

Elena had hidden them.

She had tried to protect them.

But there was more.

At the bottom of the letter was one final line.

Your sister is still alive.

Lina's eyes filled with tears.

Where is she?

Vito turned the page.

There was an address.

He read it.

Then his face changed.

Lina.

What?

I know this place.

Where?

Vito looked at her.

Don Rocco's private estate.

Lina froze.

My sister is with Don Rocco?

I don't know.

But the address...

Vito grabbed his phone.

I'm calling Marco.

Lina stopped him.

You said we shouldn't trust anyone.

Vito looked at her.

You're right.

He put the phone down.

We go alone.

Lina nodded.

Then she noticed something written on the back of the photograph.

Three words.

SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING.

Lina looked at Vito.

Who does?

Before he could answer, his phone rang.

Unknown number.

He answered.

A woman's voice came through.

Vito.

He froze.

Lina watched his face.

The voice spoke again.

If you want Lina's sister alive, come alone.

The call ended.

Lina's heart pounded.

Who was that?

Vito slowly lowered the phone.

His eyes met hers.

It was Elena.

Lina stopped breathing.

My mother?

Vito nodded.

She's alive.

And this time, there was no doubt.