CHAPTER 2: Nosa Costra Academy

One evening, there was a knock at the door. Monica and Joseph, Lucas’s parents, looked at each other with surprise. They weren’t expecting anyone. Joseph opened the door to see two men in dark suits standing outside. One of them held a clipboard, and the other had a serious face but nodded politely.

“Good evening,” the man with the clipboard said. “We’re from Willowbrook Charity Academy. We’re here to tell you that your application for Lucas has been approved. We’re here to take him to the Academy.”

Monica gasped, her eyes wide with hope and relief. “It’s true?” she said, her voice trembling with happiness. “He’s really been accepted?”

“Yes,” the man said with a small smile. “He will receive the best education, food, and training. It is a big opportunity for him and your family.”

Joseph placed a hand on Monica’s shoulder and nodded. “We are so grateful. This is the chance we have been waiting for.”

Lucas, who had been listening from the other room, ran to his parents. “I’m going, Mom? Dad?” he asked, excitement shining in his eyes.

Monica knelt down and hugged him tightly. “Yes, Lucas. You’re going. This is your chance to make us proud.”

Lucas stood up straight, trying to look brave. “I’ll do my best. I’ll make you proud, I promise.”

The man with the clipboard nodded. “It’s time to go, Lucas. Your new life is waiting.”

Lucas glanced at his parents, smiling and holding back tears. He wanted to remember this moment; their proud faces, as he stepped out the door with the men. The car outside hummed quietly, ready to take him to a future that none of them truly understood.

As the car drove away, Monica and Joseph held hands, thinking they had been given a blessing. They didn’t know that behind the name “Willowbrook Charity Academy” was a place run by the Mafia, where Lucas would belong to a world far different from the one they imagined.

The ANTI-MAFIAS were trained just like the Mafia children, learning the ways of the Mafia world; business, survival, and loyalty. But their roles were different. Once they graduated, they didn’t go on to run their own family business. Instead, they were assigned to work for a Mafia family that had been chosen by the Nosa Costra leaders. These children became loyal to the family they were assigned to, helping them expand their power, protect their secrets, and do whatever was needed to keep the family strong.

This way, the Mafia's reach spread not just through family bloodlines, but through those who had been molded into loyal servants. It was another way Arthur made sure Willowbrook stayed under Mafia control, ensuring that even the poorest of the city had a role in his empire.

Nosa Costra Academy was not just a school, even though that’s what most people in the Mafia family believed. Behind the classrooms and training halls, there was a darker side to it. Part of the Academy was actually a prison for Mafia criminals. Arthur "The Don" Morreti knew that government prisons were not strong enough to hold Mafia members. He understood that if a Mafia criminal got caught by the police, they might spill every secret they knew, putting the entire Mafia world in danger. To avoid this, Arthur made sure to handle the Mafia criminals himself.

Arthur had a plan for every situation. If a Mafia member committed a crime, whether it was murder, theft, or betrayal, Arthur’s first priority was to make sure the federal authorities or the police didn’t catch them. He would act quickly and quietly, sending a team of highly trained soldiers to get the criminal before anyone else did. These soldiers were called NOCOA TERMINALS, and they were the most dangerous group in all of Willowbrook.

The NOCOA TERMINALS were stationed at Nosa Costra Academy. They weren’t like regular soldiers or bodyguards; they were ruthless and loyal only to Arthur. They followed his orders without question. Each one of them had been handpicked by Arthur himself, trained to be fast, smart, and deadly. They knew the streets of Willowbrook better than anyone, and they were always one step ahead of the police.

Whenever a Mafia member broke the law, the NOCOA TERMINALS were sent to find them. They would move in before the police even had a chance, grabbing the criminal and taking them straight to Nosa Costra. The public had no idea that the Academy also served as a secret prison, hidden from the eyes of the world. It was the perfect place to keep Mafia criminals because no one ever escaped from it.

The prison at Nosa Costra was buried deep underground, below the classrooms and training areas. It was heavily guarded, with no windows and thick steel doors that no one could break through. Arthur had designed it himself, making sure that no matter how powerful or dangerous a Mafia criminal was, they would never get out once they were locked inside.

In Willowbrook, there was a saying: "If the police don’t get you, the NOCOA TERMINALS will." And everyone knew that if the NOCOA TERMINALS came for you, there was no turning back.

That morning, Arthur "The Don" Morreti sat in his large, dimly lit office, the shadows of the room barely touching the glow from the massive screen in front of him. The screen covered nearly an entire wall, filled with feeds from hidden cameras all over the city. Arthur had eyes on every corner of Willowbrook, from the busiest streets to the darkest alleys. He controlled the city with precision, knowing exactly what was happening at all times. No one moved in Willowbrook without him seeing it.

He entered a secret passcode into the system, his fingers moving quickly over the keys. Suddenly, the screen changed, showing a live view of Nosa Costra Academy. The school came into view, every part of it visible to Arthur. The Academy was more than just a school; it was a fortress. Large stone walls surrounded it, with guards patrolling the grounds day and night. The school buildings were tall and frightening, with dark windows and steel doors that gave the place a strange, serious feel. It was the kind of place where only the strong survived.

Arthur could see everything happening in the school. The students wore black and red uniforms, with silver logos of their families stitched onto their jackets. The boys wore sharp jackets and pants, and the girls wore the same, there was no difference in the Mafia world, all looking like young soldiers being prepared for war. Some students were in classrooms, sitting straight, listening attentively to their teachers. They weren’t allowed to speak, unless their teacher told them to. Others were outside on the training grounds, learning how to fight.

Arthur’s eyes focused on the martial arts training happening in the courtyard. His two sons, Phoenix, sixteen, and Caleb, fourteen, were there, moving with speed and skill as they sparred with their friends.

Their martial arts master, Agrid Luchez, was standing nearby, watching them closely. Agrid was a true Mafia grand master, his face weathered and scarred from years of battle. His eyes were sharp, and he moved with the grace of a panther, even though he was no longer young. He wore a simple black training suit, but there was nothing simple about the way he carried himself. His presence alone demanded respect. His hair was tied back in a long, dark ponytail, and he had a thick beard that only added to his intimidating appearance.

Agrid barked orders as the students sparred. “Faster! Keep your guard up! Focus on your opponent’s weakness!” His voice was low and powerful, cutting through the air like a knife. The students obeyed without question, their movements quick and precise. Phoenix and Caleb moved like they had been doing this their whole lives, throwing punches, blocking attacks, and dodging strikes. It was clear they were becoming the kind of warriors their father expected them to be.