"Alessandro nodded, relieved that the old man was willing to help, but also wary. He couldn't reveal everything, not yet. He needed to assess the old man's true loyalties first.'Thank you,' Alessandro said, his voice sincere. 'We appreciate this more than you know. We'll follow your rules.'He paused, choosing his words carefully. 'As I said, my father is a powerful man. He's involved in... certain activities. I chose to walk away from that life, and he didn't take it well. He wants me back, and he sees Clara as a liability.'He deliberately omitted the fact that his father was a Mafia boss, and that those "certain activities" were illegal and often violent. He also didn't mention the betrayal within his own ranks, or the fact that someone had already tried to kill them.'So, he sent men after us,' Alessandro continued, keeping his tone neutral. 'We managed to escape, but our helicopter crashed. That's why we're here.'He watched the old man's face closely, trying to gauge his reaction. The old man remained impassive, his expression unreadable.'I see,' the old man said slowly. 'So you're running from your past.''In a way,' Alessandro said. 'We just want a chance to start over, to live a normal life.'He knew he was being evasive, that he was holding back crucial information. But he couldn't risk revealing too much, not yet. He had to protect Clara, and that meant being careful about who they trusted."
