The Mafia’s Prisoner

Chapter 3

Felix Matias Delgado did not look up from the digital tablet in his hand as Luna placed the silver tray on the teak table. Luna remained composed. She positioned the white porcelain cup exactly to the right of Felix’s hand. A thin wisp of steam rose, carrying the aroma of Arabica beans that had been freshly ground by hand. Not a single tremor shook Luna’s fingers as she withdrew her hand.

"Martha didn't teach you how to pour without making a metallic clink that irritates my ears."

"I will be more careful tomorrow morning."

Felix finally set his tablet down. He looked up, pinning Luna with hawklike eyes that seemed capable of peeling back the layers of her false identity. Luna lowered her gaze. She focused her attention on the pattern of the Persian rug beneath her shoes. She could feel the intensity of Felix’s stare sweeping over the stiff collar of her uniform.

"You seem very diligent for someone who is only paid to wipe away dust and brew caffeine."

"The wages I receive demand an equal level of diligence, sir."

"Money is a boring motivation. Everyone here chases that."

"I am seeking a decent livelihood. The cafe where I previously worked offered no guarantee of a future."

"The future is a luxury rarely afforded to those around me. You would do well to be careful with your expectations."

Felix reached for the coffee cup. He sipped it slowly. His eyes remained locked on Luna’s frozen figure. Silence crept between them once more, interrupted only by the ticking of an antique wall clock that sounded like a countdown to a time bomb. Luna waited for further instructions with patience. She had practiced this stillness for ten years in the orphanage.

"This coffee isn't bad. At least you understand how water temperature works."

"Thank you, sir. Is there anything else you require before I clean the other areas?"

"Go. Ensure not a single fingerprint is left on the glass surfaces. I loathe seeing the marks of strangers in my private space."

Luna bowed respectfully and turned around. She walked out of the dining room with light steps. Every muscle in her back remained taut until she reached the deserted corridor. She immediately headed to the kitchen, grabbing a bucket and crystal cleaning fluid. Her first task was complete without a fatal error. However, she knew Felix was not a man easily satisfied by a mere cup of good coffee.

Throughout the morning, Luna worked like a machine. She scrubbed the large windows in the west wing until the glass seemed to vanish. She vacuumed the long corridors lined with ancient vases. Her mind spun continuously over the layout of the house. She noted every locked door and every corner untouched by surveillance cameras. Beneath her maid's uniform, the mentality of a survivor remained sharp.

At two in the afternoon, Luna saw Diego Leonardo Mendoza walking hurriedly through the corridor. Alfero’s private assistant appeared to be holding several blue folders. Diego caught Luna’s eye and gave a thin, friendly smile. It was a warmth that felt foreign in this cold house. Luna returned it with a small nod before refocusing on the cloth in her hand.

"Your work is very neat, Luna. Martha wasn't wrong to choose you," Diego said, pausing for a moment.

"Thank you, Mr. Diego. I am only doing what is expected."

"Don't be too hard on yourself. This house can consume your spirit if you aren't careful. Remember to breathe."

Diego continued toward Felix’s office at the end of the hall. Luna watched his back until he disappeared behind the heavy double doors. She felt a flicker of sympathy for Diego, but she quickly brushed it aside. In the Delgado house, alliances were dangerous. She could trust no one, not even a man as friendly as Diego.

Inside the office, Felix sat behind his massive mahogany desk. He stared at a monitor displaying data from various sources. Diego entered and placed a thin folder in front of Felix. Diego’s face looked slightly puzzled, an expression he rarely showed when carrying out his superior’s orders.

"This is the result of the search you requested, Young Master," Diego said softly.

Felix opened the folder quickly. His eyes swept over row after row of information. No childhood photos. No suspicious medical records. The data indicated that Luna Gabriela Navarro was an orphan who grew up at the Santa Maria Orphanage. She had an average school record and a work history as a waitress at three different cafes over the last five years.

"Is this all?" Felix asked. His voice rose an octave, signaling clear dissatisfaction.

"We have checked the population database and police records, sir. The girl is clean. No criminal record. No ties to any organizations. She truly is just a civilian trying to survive."

Felix tossed the folder onto the desk. He leaned back in his leather chair, twirling a gold pen between his fingers. Logic told him Diego was right. The girl was harmless. Yet, his instinct said otherwise. The instinct honed in the ruthless underworld for years never lied to him.

"What about her parents?"

"Died in a pile up accident when she was a child. No relatives claimed her. She spent the rest of her childhood under state supervision."

"Too perfect. A person’s life is rarely that simple without a hand intentionally erasing the tracks."

"Do you want me to dig deeper into her time at the orphanage?" Diego offered.

Felix fell silent for a moment. He recalled the look in Luna’s eyes in the library yesterday. Eyes full of fire but encased in thick ice. He also remembered the subtle vibration he felt when standing near her.

"No need for now. If she truly has a secret, she will reveal it herself. Let her feel safe in her role as a servant."

"Very well, Young Master. Are there any other orders?"

"Watch her every move. If she dares to try anything, report directly to me. Do not go through Martha."

Diego nodded and excused himself from the room. Felix stood and walked to the window, looking out toward the side yard where Luna was busy tending to the ornamental plants. From a distance, she looked fragile and helpless. But Felix knew that the most lethal beauty often came from the things that appeared most harmless.

That curiosity had now mutated into something darker. An obsession began to take root in his mind. He would not stop until he found the crack in Luna Gabriela Navarro’s perfect mask. And when that moment came, he would ensure the girl would never be able to escape him again.