The room was dimly lit, the air thick with smoke and chatter. A man, a well-known Mafia boss; Develle, sat quietly in the corner, his face hidden in shadow.

He had been watching the waitress as she moved through the room, her lithe form gliding between tables like a shadow. She looked young, but full of kindness.

She was attractive, her delicate features accentuated by the soft, golden light. But her real beauty was in her grace and composure, the efficient and unruffled way she moved, no hint of annoyance or weariness on her face. Something about her intrigued him, catching his attention in a way no one else had in a long time.