Chapter 1 - The Grim Reaper’s Breakfast

The alley was dead silent.Three black cars stopped in front of a small restaurant with golden letters above the entrance: "Marchetti's Table."Inside, the aroma of rosemary and sizzling butter drifted through the air.Outside, armed men whispered nervously."He's in there," murmured one. "They say he took down the entire Morelli syndicate last week… no one even found the bodies.""God have mercy," another muttered, clutching a rosary. "And we're delivering breakfast?"They stepped forward cautiously, pushing open the restaurant door. It chimed softly.Behind the counter stood a tall man in a spotless white apron, slowly slicing onions with surgical precision. His black hair was tied neatly, and steam from the pan softened the sharpness in his gaze.Leonard Marchetti.The man rumored to be The Grim Reaper.The assassins froze as those calm, gray eyes lifted toward them. One gulped audibly."You... ordered supplies, sir?"Silence stretched. The knife gleamed under the morning light.Then Leo spoke."Finally. You're late."The men almost jumped."H-huh?""The tomatoes!" Leo snapped, pointing with his knife. "I told the supplier — fresh, not frozen! Do you people even know what caprese means?"The gangsters exchanged terrified glances, mistaking his words for some cryptic assassination code. One nodded rapidly, sweating bullets."Y-yes, sir! Fresh... fresh it is!""Good," Leo said, turning back to his pan with a calm sigh. "Now get out before my eggs burn."Outside, the men stumbled back into their cars, pale-faced and trembling."He said… 'get out before my eggs burn.' That's definitely a threat," one hissed, shaking. "He's going to kill us if we fail him again!"As the cars sped off, Leo plated his omelette, humming softly.His daughter peeked from the kitchen doorway, yawning."Dad, were you shouting at delivery guys again?""They brought frozen tomatoes," Leo said calmly."You do realize people think you're a mafia boss, right?" she muttered."Nonsense," he said, flipping another omelette. "Now eat your breakfast before it gets cold."Outside, news helicopters circled overhead. Reporters screamed headlines about The Grim Reaper making his first move at dawn.Leonard Marchetti just wanted to enjoy his morning coffee.