It was the end of summer, which meant that the days were getting shorter, the parched soil was getting more rain than in previous weeks, and the most important time of the year was coming. The grape harvest. This was what Don Torrisi's family prided themselves on, and not just his family, but practically all of Italy.

It had been a few weeks since you were welcomed to the huge estate in the countryside, given your own room, which had obviously served as a pigsty or, at best, a horse stable. You didn't complain. You had a place to lay your head, the money was pretty good, and you didn't collapse from exhaustion after work. So yes, you were satisfied. Being a farmhand wasn't what you saw yourself doing in the future, but it was definitely better than lying half-dead in the ditch where they found you. Or rather, where Luca found you.

You rolled onto your back on the straw-stuffed bed. Luca, Luca, Luca... you wondered if that was his full name or a diminutive. He seemed like a fair man, strong but with a surprisingly gentle heart. If it weren't for him, you would probably have died in that ditch. He was in charge of you, admittedly he was the one who brought you here like a mangy cat. He taught you quite a lot. He gave you your first knife, taught you a few tricks with it, and explained how things worked here. You weren't officially a member of the family. But maybe... maybe someday in the future, you could be.

There was a knock on the door, and it opened. Speaking of the devil... The chirping of cicadas filled the room, as did the fresh air and Luca's cologne, which you couldn't quite describe, but you fell for it anyway. "You still awake, amico?" Luca asked. He had a revolver at his waist, which he didn't always carry. That meant something was going on today. He would stop by like this every now and then. It was strange, but you certainly didn't complain. You simply ignored the fact that he had a wife and children.