Chapter 8 - The Price of Betrayal
“Get down!” Gabriel roared, tackling Matilda to the freezing concrete.
A hail of bullets shredded the wooden crates right above their heads.
Gabriel rolled smoothly, raising his stolen pistol, and fired three rapid shots in return.
Vincenzo dove behind the armored SUV, cursing loudly in Italian.
“Ten million dollars is too much to pass up, old friend!” Vincenzo shouted over the gunfire.
Matilda covered her ears, completely terrified by the deafening noise of the shootout.
Gabriel’s face twisted into a mask of pure, absolute fury.
He didn't just feel betrayed; he felt a terrifying thirst for vengeance.
“Stay here,” Gabriel ordered Matilda, his eyes burning with lethal intent.
Gabriel moved through the fog like a ghost, silently flanking Vincenzo’s position.
Vincenzo peaked out from behind the tire to shoot, but Gabriel was already standing right beside him.
Gabriel fired a single bullet directly into Vincenzo’s chest.
Vincenzo dropped his weapon and collapsed onto the wet dock, coughing up blood.
Gabriel stood over his oldest friend, showing absolutely no mercy.
Matilda ran out from behind the crates, clutching her chest in sheer terror.
Gabriel bent down and grabbed Vincenzo by the collar of his expensive coat.
“Did Lorenzo pay you to betray me?” Gabriel demanded coldly.
Vincenzo laughed weakly, a bloody bubble bursting on his lips.
“Lorenzo didn't have to pay me, Gabriel,” Vincenzo choked out.
“He just had to give me the leverage.”
Gabriel frowned deeply.
“What leverage?” Gabriel growled.
Vincenzo looked past Gabriel, his dying eyes focusing directly on Matilda.
“Lorenzo knows she saved you in the morgue,” Vincenzo whispered maliciously.
“He sent his men to the orphanage an hour ago.”
Matilda’s heart stopped entirely.
“He took your little sister, Lily,” Vincenzo revealed with his final breath.
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Vincenzo’s eyes rolled back, and he died on the cold concrete.
Matilda let out a horrifying scream of pure agony and collapsed to her knees.
