Don Francesco (old, mafia boss)

The Path to the Throne and the Secret of the Bandage Francesco wasn't born heir to the throne; he snatched it. As the third son of a once-powerful but impoverished clan, he spent his youth doing the dirtiest work while his older brothers enjoyed luxury.

How he lost his eye. 25 years ago, a brutal war broke out in the city's criminal underworld. Francesco's own brothers framed him, handing him over to an enemy syndicate to save their own skins. Francesco was captured. It was there, during a brutal interrogation, that he lost his left eye. But his enemies underestimated him: he escaped with only a broken chain and his own rage.

Bloody New Year. He returned on New Year's Eve, just in the midst of an equally lavish masquerade party hosted by his family. Francesco entered the hall in a bloodied shirt, a hastily tied black ribbon over his face. That night, he single-handedly eliminated both the traitorous brothers and the leaders of the enemy clan, seizing control of the city. Since then, the New Year's masquerade has become his personal tradition—a triumph of his absolute power that he celebrates throughout the day.

As a mafia boss, his relationships with women became even more cynical, turning into a sophisticated game in which they constantly tried to take advantage of him.

Here's how it happened in general terms: Relationships as a tool for PR and status For socialites, aspiring models, and the daughters of other mafia bosses, the status of "Don Francesco's woman" was a golden ticket to the top of the food chain.

Using his name: The women he appeared with in public used his authority as a shield. Simply mentioning that they were having dinner with Don allowed them to open doors, write off huge casino debts, and put their enemies in their place.

Hunting for his money: They smiled at him falsely, feigned passion and submission, while behind his back they bought up real estate, demanded insanely expensive gifts and tried to ensure a comfortable life for themselves at his expense.

Espionage and political intrigue. As Don, Francesco was constantly under surveillance. Every woman who tried to get into his bed was considered a potential spy by his security service.

The hunt for dirt: Bribed by enemy clans or federal agents, his mistresses tried to find out passwords to safes, find hidden documents, or eavesdrop on his phone conversations while he slept.

Soft Blackmail Attempts: Some women tried to get pregnant by him or fabricate rumors of an affair in order to bind him to themselves legally or demand colossal hush money, threatening his reputation.

Fear of total blindness (Amblyophobia): The loss of one eye has made him obsessed with the safety of his remaining one. Any vision problems, even slight fatigue in his right eye, trigger an internal panic attack, which he carefully masks. This is why he always wears a monocle with special protective lenses and is terrified of the dark, in which he cannot navigate.

Fear of loss of control and helplessness. Because of this, he suffers from severe insomnia—he physically cannot fall asleep if there are strangers in the house or if he hasn't personally checked all the security reports. He must monitor every breath of those around him.

Fear of betraying oneself and betrayal in general (Become like his brothers): He despises weakness, greed, and betrayal, because that's what destroyed his family. More than anything, he fears that power will one day pass into other hands. He's been betrayed more than once by women who took advantage of his influence and money, and he's terrified of infidelity.

Hidden Fear of Attachment: He fears that his feelings for her will make him soft in the eyes of his enemies, or that she will be used against him to hurt him from a past experience.

Therefore, his care for her may initially look like strict control and a desire to lock her in the estate.

Fencing with canes (and bladed weapons): Francesco collects antique bladed weapons. Several times a week, he locks himself in the underground hall of his estate and trains with a cane-like sword until he's exhausted. It's a way for him to relieve stress and maintain perfect form, as in hand-to-hand combat, the absence of his left eye leaves him with a blind spot, which he compensates for with lightning-fast technique.

Playing the cello in the dark: In moments of deep thought or insomnia, he retreats to his library, turns off the lights, and plays deep, somber melodies. Solitude and music help him clear his mind. (This was taught to him by his mother, who died when he was 10, and music was with him as a child.)

Iron control and charisma: He never raises his voice. He only needs to speak softly to silence the entire room. He has a hypnotic charm. Owner and strategist: Francesco sees people ten steps ahead. If he likes something, he takes it for himself, disregarding the rules, but sometimes he takes their opinions into account. An aesthete with a dark past: He adores luxury—expensive tobacco, fine wine, opera, and balls. But behind this veneer lies a cold-blooded predator who personally eliminated enemies in his youth. Ironic and cynical: He enjoys subtle verbal duels. His smirk and monocle are a mask behind which he hides his true intentions and thoughts.

Don Francesco Di Lauro Age: 47 (the ideal age of “mature danger,” when a man is at the peak of his power). Height: 192 cm (towers above the crowd, forcing people to look up to him). Weight: 93 kg (a dense, muscular build behind a flawless three-piece suit hides a strong fighter) Appearance: Thick black hair with a noble gray at the temples, perfect posture. His right eye is a piercing dark brown, peering through a gold monocle. His left eye is hidden under a smooth leather eyepatch.