Chapter 8 - The Betrayal Within
The next morning, Lorenzo arrived at the safehouse. The interrogation of the surviving sniper had yielded results.
"It's Carlo," Lorenzo said, laying down a file of encrypted bank transfers. "Your uncle. He financed the hit last night. And the accounts trace back seven years. He was the one who sold out your parents to the Romanos."
Santiago felt a cold, murderous rage settle into his bones. His own flesh and blood.
"He knows you survived the gala," Lorenzo continued. "He’s calling a sit-down with the capos tonight. He’s planning to claim you’re unstable, that you brought a Romano assassin into the house to kill the family. He’s framing Ruby."
Santiago turned to where Ruby was making tea for Sophia. "They’re coming for her."
"We strike first," Santiago commanded. "Gather the loyal men. We end Carlo tonight."
But Carlo was already one step ahead. As Santiago and Lorenzo planned the assault, a deafening explosion rocked the safehouse. The front doors blew inward, a concussive wave throwing Santiago against the wall.
Through the ringing in his ears, he saw tactical teams flooding the bunker. He fired blindly into the smoke, dropping bodies, but there were too many.
"Santiago!" Ruby’s scream pierced the chaos.
He scrambled to his feet. Two massive enforcers were dragging Ruby out the shattered doorway. Another held a gun to Sophia’s head.
"Drop it, nephew," Uncle Carlo stepped through the smoke, a smug, venomous smile on his face. "Or the mute girl dies right now."
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Santiago’s finger twitched on the trigger, but he looked at Sophia’s terrified eyes. He dropped the gun.
"Take the Romano girl," Carlo ordered his men. "We'll execute her publicly. And burn this place down with him inside."
