Chapter 4 - The Dead Brother
Lorenzo kept his pistol perfectly level, aimed directly at Julian's chest.
"You have been dead for three years," Lorenzo stated, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Julian chuckled, a dry, raspy sound that echoed eerily off the curved concrete walls.
"I had to disappear so our enemies would stop hunting my family," Julian explained.
He glanced over at Evelyn, giving her a polite, deeply mocking nod.
"I see the waitress followed my instructions perfectly," he noted.
Lorenzo didn't lower his gun an inch.
"Why surface now, Julian?" he demanded.
"Because your lovely fiancée Celeste discovered I was actually alive," Julian answered, taking a cautious step closer.
"She planned to kill you tonight and frame me for the bombing to cement her control over the Chicago syndicates."
Evelyn watched the two brothers, realizing they were lethal predators from the exact same bloodline.
"I saved your life tonight, Lorenzo," Julian reminded him gently.
Lorenzo slowly lowered his weapon, the tension in his broad shoulders relaxing just a fraction.
"Where do we go now?" Lorenzo asked.
"I have a secure safe house at the end of this tunnel," Julian said, turning around to lead the way.
They walked in heavy silence for twenty minutes, navigating the complicated labyrinth of forgotten subway lines.
Eventually, Julian led them up a hidden spiral staircase that opened into the basement of an abandoned church.
The room was dimly lit by flickering lanterns and fully stocked with medical supplies and military weapons.
Evelyn collapsed onto an old wooden pew, her entire body trembling heavily from exhaustion.
Julian poured a glass of expensive whiskey and handed it to Lorenzo to calm his nerves.
Lorenzo took the glass gratefully, raising it to his lips to take a long drink.
Evelyn happened to look down at the dark shadows cast on the stone floor by the lantern light.
May you like
She saw Julian's hand reaching silently into his coat to pull out a suppressed pistol.
He was aiming it directly at the back of Lorenzo's head.
