A Sicilian Wedding

According to circulating rumors, Don Torello answered to someone in the Five Families in New York City. The hearsay was yet to be disproved, but it was enough to give rise to Don Torello's reputation in Sicily.

As more and more business owners and wealthy people sought Don Torello's protection, more and more young people idolized him and sought to become part of his "family".

On the surface, Don Torello assumed the facade of a normal, local entrepreneur. He was born and raised in Sicily. When he reached adulthood, he went to New York City to learn the ways of business. It was presumed that he got in touch with the big mafia bosses at that time. Once he came back at the age of 30, he opened his first restaurant in Sicily.

The restaurant served as a place where shady business deals took place. Police came to investigate the place many times but they were unable to find anything.

Or better said, those who found anything usually did not make it alive to report their findings.

After more than twenty years, Don Torello's business expanded to different sectors. He invested a lot in local businesses and engaged in various philanthropic activities. He was referred to as "Padrino", a Godfather for those who sought his protection in the name of friendship.

One of those who then ended up catching the eyes of Don Torello's eldest daughter was Marco Castellini.

The man owned a supermarket that distributed fresh fruits and vegetables throughout Sicily. Thanks to Don Torello's protection, he was able to grow his business.

It was unclear whether the handsome man was more in love with his father-in-law's power or his bride. Either way, the bride was completely smitten with him.

The wedding became a public event in Sicily.

Everyone who wanted to join could join. It was a magnificent chance to enjoy some high-quality food and drinks, so more than a thousand people came to pay their respects.

The circumstances were rather tricky.

The good thing was that there were a lot of people to mingle with. Irene could slip in and out without attracting any attention.

The bad thing was that there were a lot of people. If she made a single mistake with Rico Aldoni, she would be surrounded by Don Torello's henchmen.

Irene was confident about her skills, but even she did not think that she could escape from a mafia den easily if her disguise was blown.

"Signora, some wine?"

Irene turned to smile at the waiter who approached her with a tray full of wine glasses.

"Grazie," she muttered, taking a glass and sipping from it.

Dressed as one of the groom's family's relatives, Irene stood on the balcony of the first floor with the groom's party. From here, she could see the many people who came from all over the island to congratulate Don Torello and his family on this most joyous occasion.

Her eyes scanned through faces, paying extra attention to the young men who did not look like they were there to enjoy the party.

There were a lot of them.

Most of them were those who wished to talk to the Padrino's henchmen in order to be allowed entry to the family.

They were all so nervous, stealing glances left and right for a contact person whose name they painstakingly got to know.

The person turned out to be Rico Aldoni, who although he himself had yet to join the family, seemed to already boast about his good relationship with the Don.

While Rico made a turn at a corner to speak with these few young men, Irene too made her move.

"Aunt Rita, where are you going?" Marco's elder sister Lorenza grabbed the disguised Irene in the upper arm.

Irene flashed Lorenza an embarrassed grin.

"Sorry my child, I need to go to pee again. My bladder is troubling me today."

"Oh, okay but please hurry. The wedding is going to start soon."

"Aunt Rita" hobbled down the stairs and waited until Rico Aldoni showed up again.

Once he did, he was again surrounded by the same young men who by then looked quite happy with themselves.

Irene reckoned that they heard a lot of sweet promises from Rico's mouth.

While pondering how best to end Rico's life among all the options that she had, her gaze fell on a certain man among the crowd.

He kept touching his earlobe in an attempt to listen better from the hearing device in his ear.

A typical beginner's mistake.

The man was also a spy.

After downing a drink, he then approached Rico and bumped against him deliberately.

"Mi scusi," he said, not without grabbing Rico's upper arm.

Irene squinted at the spot that the man just grabbed.

Her contact lenses could detect any electronic device from max. 100-meter distance.

It was a covert listening device. Or better said, a wire.

She snapped a screenshot of said device and saved it in her lenses.

Irene wore a special glove that could transmit messages to Angela via finger movements.

While she sipped from another drink at the bar counter and exchanged wedding anecdotes with the bartender, she sent a message to Angela.

"Please hack into this device and let me listen in on the conversation."

"Roger. Wait a second," Angela replied right away.

After that, "Aunt Rita" returned to the balcony to help poor Lorenza with the wedding preparation from the groom's side.

While the wedding procession took place, Angela managed to grant Irene access to the wire.

There was not much movement on Rico's side, until after the reception started.

Don Torello, the father of the bride, disappeared into his grand mansion, and Rico followed him soon after. He was acting very inconspicuous.

"Aunt Rita" was called over to take pictures with the groom's family and then the newlyweds. She gladly complied, flashing joyous smiles along with the others as they posed for the pictures.

Inside Irene's ear, Rico's voice was heard loud and clear.

"Padrino, the young women from the villages have arrived in the warehouse."