SHADOWS OF THE PAST

Marco DeLuca sat alone in his living room, it is what you may call an average living room. He held a glass of whiskey in his hand and slowly kept turning his hand in a circular motion as the whiskey swirled in the glass. His mind had been on the earlier activities. Adriana's call earlier had left him unsettled. She had sounded desperate, and urgent, and then she had suddenly terminated their meeting with just a text: Don't come. It's not safe. What did that mean? Was she in danger? Had someone found out about their relationship? The thought of someone finding out about them sent a chill down his spine. Luca can't find out about them now. Not in this heat, it will only add to his suspicions. Marco knows that at this point, he is considered a possible traitor by his boss, and he is trying so hard to maybe show he is not a traitor, but Luca or anybody else finding out about him and Adriana would do nothing but make matters worse. He took a hard long sip from the glass of whiskey which did nothing in relation to calming his nerves. His thoughts drifted to the ultimatum Luca had given him… 48 hours to find the traitor within La Mano Nera. The pressure was mounting, and he was running out of time. Marco had no leads yet, in fact, he has not even had a good thought yet of where to start. The only possible thing he thought about was that Rafael had betrayed them, but turns out that too might not be true as nothing had come out of Rafael and Luca believes his brother even if he would rather not show it. ***** As Marco sat there, he remembered Dushanbe Kazakov, the man known as 'The Ghost." Dushanbe had been La Mano Nera's most valuable asset in Los Angeles until his arrest. He had connections, knowledge, and of course, plenty of contacts everywhere. If anyone could help Marco reach the inside of La Fratellanza della Morte, it might just be Dushanbe. Marco set his glass down and grabbed his jacket. He picked up his car keys. His mind was set on one goal: Reach Dushanbe and get whatever information or help he could offer him. Once inside his car Marco bent over the steering wheel, he thought of Adriana. He knew something must be seriously wrong, but since she had asked not to come, he dared not. He turned on his car and drove gently out of his neighborhood. The drive to the high-security penitentiary where Dushanbe was being held was long and tense. On the road, Marco kept thinking about numerous possibilities. A lot of things might be happening in the background that he has yet to find out. It might even be too late for him, but what choice does he have left? He can't just stand around and wait, he still has to do something to prove his innocence. When he finally arrived at the penitentiary, he was subjected to a thorough search before being led to a small, windowless visitation room. Dushanbe was already seated when Marco entered, his hands cuffed to the table. Dushanbe looked as composed as ever, he kept looking at Marco as he walked towards the table to sit down. Despite Dushanbe's circumstances, his aura still commanded the room. When Marco had sat down across from him, he smiled at Dushanbe trying to light the tension in the room. Dushanbe only leaned back into his seat and began. 'Marco DeLuca," Dushanbe said, in a very low voice. 'To what do I owe the pleasure?" Marco sat upright placed his both hands on the table and leaned closer to Dushanbe, his expression at this time was now serious. 'I need your help." Dushanbe raised an eyebrow. 'My help? And what makes you think I'm in a position to help anyone?" He said amid a subtle chuckle. Marco leaned backward, his voice still low. 'You're still connected, Dushanbe. You have always been. I need to know who's behind the betrayal within La Mano Nera. Someone sold us out, and I need to find out who." 'Who betrayed your clan?" Dushanbe asked with a serious expression now on his face. 'If I had known who, I wouldn't be here asking you." Dushanbe smiled slightly. 'And why should I help you? I'm behind bars, what do I tend to lose or gain?" Marco hesitated, then said, 'Because if La Mano Nera falls, you will fall too. Do you think you're safe here? Help me Dushanbe, La Mano Nera is your home too." He leaned even forward now maybe to make Dushanbe under he was actually being serious. 'Besides without La Mano Nera, you will lose whatever protection you have left and all hopes of you leaving this hellhole alive will be gone." Dushanbe kept quiet for what seemed like an eternity, then leaned back in his chair. 'You're not telling me everything, Marco. What's really going on?" Marco sighed. 'Luca's given me an ultimatum. If I don't find the traitor, I'm as good as dead. He suspects me now can you believe that?" Marco said, his voice breaking. He stopped and pulled himself together. 'This is about survival. For me. And this is about loyalty. For La Mano Nera. Now, are you going to help me or not?" Dushanbe leaned forward. 'I might have a contact within La Fratellanza della Morte. Someone who could provide you the information you need.' 'Okay please who is the person and where can I find the person" Marco said cutting him off? 'That information now comes with a condition," Dushanbe said as he rested in his chair. He is a businessman and to him, he has to gain from everything he involved himself in. Marco paused and looked at him steadily. 'What condition?" Dushanbe's smirk widened, but he said nothing. They both sat there in the quiet visitation room looking at each other….