Chapter 9 - The Captured Traitor
The thick smoke began to slowly clear, revealing a gruesome, bloody scene in the bunker doorway.
Darian leaned heavily against the cold concrete wall, clutching his bleeding side in obvious pain.
"They will undoubtedly send another wave soon," Darian panted, his face deathly pale.
"We need to barricade the breach immediately."
Nadia ran to the ruined doorway, dragging the heavy, lifeless bodies of the mercenaries out of the way.
As she reached for the final man, a bloodied, gloved hand suddenly grabbed her ankle.
Nadia gasped loudly, aiming the heavy barrel of the shotgun directly down at the wounded attacker.
"Wait," Darian commanded, limping painfully over to the fallen man.
He knelt down and aggressively ripped the black tactical mask off the mercenary's face.
Darian's eyes widened in absolute, unbridled fury.
It was not a random, faceless hired gun.
It was Luca, one of Darian's absolute most trusted capos.
"You sold me out," Darian whispered, his voice trembling with heartbreaking rage.
Luca coughed up a terrifying, massive amount of dark blood.
"Arthur offered me your throne, Darian," Luca sneered defiantly.
"Your time as the king of this city is over."
Darian pressed the hot barrel of his rifle directly against Luca's sweaty forehead.
"Who else is secretly working for Pendleton?" Darian demanded.
"Tell me the truth, and I promise to make this quick."
Luca laughed, a wet, rattling sound that chilled Nadia to the very bone.
"You are a blind fool, Darian."
"Pendleton doesn't just want your lucrative territory."
"He wants the girl."
Luca looked up at Nadia, his dying eyes filled with malicious, knowing glee.
"He knows exactly what you are hiding, Nadia."
Nadia's heart stopped completely in her chest.
Darian frowned, looking back and forth in confusion between the dying traitor and the frightened maid.
"What the hell is he talking about?" Darian asked her.
Before Nadia could answer, Luca smiled one last, bloody time.
May you like
"She isn't who you think she is, Boss."
Luca's head lolled lifelessly to the side, and he died with the massive secret still on his lips.
