The Slave of Pleasure

Vincenzo

I walked slowly back to the cell, feeling the weight of the day on my shoulders, but with a spark of hope that hadn't existed for a long time. Knowing that the detectives were finally moving heaven and earth to find Adrian gave me a sense of relief. It was a small peace, but enough to calm the storm that had been building inside me for the past few years.

I didn't know if they had spoken to Veronica yet. Part of me wished they had, that everything would be resolved quickly. Another part still feared what she could do, even behind bars. Veronica had always been unpredictable, and even though hated her for everything she had done to me and Rachel, I couldn't deny that she was the mother of my son. If Adrian really existed—and now I was starting to believe that he did-Veronica deserved to know that he was safe. I stopped in front of the cell, my hand hovering over the door. Before I could enter, I heard my name being called by a deep, firm voice.

"Vincenzo."

Diogines' expression always intrigued me. He wasn't the type to show emotion easily, but I knew that behind those calculating eyes, he carried the burden of knowing every dark detail of my past. Diogines was meticulous, and if there was a man who could map my every move, it was him.

In the Mafia days, there was no room for error. Diogines operated in the shadows, but in a way that made him essential. He didn't pull triggers or participate in executions. His role was different. He cataloged information, kept records, and kep a complete file on each of us. It was as if he were the librarian of all the sins we carried on our backs. And mine, I knew, were many.

I remembered one night in particular. We had just completed a major operation, and chaos was spreading through the streets. Diogines called me aside, away from the rest of the group. He opened a folder, and inside were documents, photos and detailed accounts of everything we'd done. From petty thefts to murders I'd rather forget.

"You have no idea how many people want your head, Vincenzo," he said, flipping through the pages in front of me. “And I keep all of this a secret because, in the end, we're on the same side. But one day, this file could turn against you." The way he said it wasn't a threat. It was a warning, a reminder that nothing goes unnoticed. Diogines was the kind of man who saw the outcome before the pieces were even moved. He knew that there would eventually be consequences for every choice we made.

He had contacts in every police station, courthouse, and dirty hallway in the city. The Mafia operated like a web, and Diogines was the one who held every thread together, making sure the network never unraveled. But even he knew there was a limit. When I left, when I decided to leave that life behind, Diogines was the first to seek me out. He knew my departure would cause turmoil.

"You can't just walk away, Vincenzo. Not after everything you know. Not after everything you've done,” he told me, holding up one of the photos that captured one of the bloodiest nights we'd ever lived. "Those ghosts will come after you. They always will."

Now, years later, Diogines was still there. It was as if he'd never really let me go completely. He didn't need to say much to remind me that, no matter how hard I tried to run away, the mafia still ran through my veins. And the file he kept on me was living proof that my past would never truly be buried.

I turned slowly and saw a man in a suit walking toward me. He held out his hand in a formal gesture.

"I'm Diogines. The one in charge of this prison."

I shook his hand, still trying to understand what that meant.novelbin

"Can I help you with something?" I asked, keeping my posture serious.

Diogines gave a small smile and shook his head. "Actually, I came to give you some news. You don't have to go back to your cell anymore."

I let go of his hand and took a step back, frowning.

"Do you know who I am?" I asked. "What did I do, what did I live before I got here?"

Diogines kept his gaze steady, showing no doubt. “I know who you were. And I also know who you are now. You left the mafia life behind. I know you've become a different man, Vincenzo.”

Those words echoed in my mind, but I still couldn't believe it. My fists clenched involuntarily. "And that's enough? To think that a man like me can change like that, from one moment to the next?"

Diogines sighed and crossed his arms. “The purpose of a prison is not just to isolate an individual from the world. It's giving him a chance to get better, to become fit to return to society. You've already changed, Vincenzo. I've seen enough to know that your staying here won't make any difference anymore."

I was silent. I paused for a moment. His words took me by surprise, but they also made me reflect. It was true. I wasn't the same man who had entered that place years ago. But was I ready to return to the world? Ready to face everything that awaited me outside?

"And now? What happens to me?" I asked.

Diogines smiled reassuringly. "You're free. And you have a son to find."

Those words were a blow to my heart. Reality hit me hard. Adrian. That thought kept me going for years, even in the darkest moments.

"Does Rachel know about this?"

"She'll be informed as soon as you get out. I'm sure she's waiting for you."

I couldn't help but smile a little when I heard her name. Rachel. She was the reason I had changed, the reason I had fought to be a better man. And now, maybe, I could finally live the life I always wanted with her. "Thank you, Diogines. For believing in me."

He nodded. "Don't disappoint me, Vincenzo. Freedom is a greater responsibility than it seems.”

I knew that. I'd spent so many years running from the past, trying to right the wrongs I'd made. Now I had a new chance, and I didn't intend to waste it.

Diogines walked away, and I headed for the exit. The sun shining outside felt warmer than I remembered. Breathing in the fresh air again made me realize how much I'd missed it.

I remembered Rachel. She was waiting for me. And maybe Adrian was, too.