Massimo’s hand lands on my waist, drawing me into his side as his eyes rove over the hushed crowd. The awestruck eyes of nearly a hundred people stare back at him. The young guys seem confused, throwing quick glances around as if wondering what this abrupt commotion is about. The rest of the men, however, those who appear to be older than their midthirties, don’t shift their eyes from Massimo. Based on their expressions, they know who he is.
No one utters a word. The silence is so absolute it’s almost palpable. The air itself seems to crack as if charged. Massimo takes one last look at the men gathered in this room, then slowly nods. The motion is deliberate and seems to carry a message. What is it? Then, every single man who recognized him responds with a nod of his own. Dozens of heads
