Chapter 2 - The Family Betrayal
I woke up coughing violently as a throbbing headache pounded behind my eyes.
The air inside the hidden underground prison was heavy and painfully stale.
The hissing sound of the toxic gas had completely stopped.
I pushed my heavy body up from the freezing concrete floor.
Maria was still lying entirely motionless in the dark corner of the cell.
I quickly checked her neck for a pulse and found a very faint heartbeat.
I knew I could not possibly carry her out safely without finding an exit first.
I examined the heavy steel door with absolute focus.
The electronic lock mechanism was slightly exposed on the inside of the frame.
I used my heavy metal belt buckle to pry the metal casing completely open.
I forcefully ripped the internal electrical wiring out with my bare hands.
The heavy deadbolt clicked open with an incredibly satisfying metallic sound.
I pushed the door wide open and stepped cautiously into the dimly lit hallway.
The entire west wing of the massive estate was completely silent.
My mother had clearly cleared out all the guards to ensure absolute secrecy for her dark plan.
I pulled my encrypted phone out from my jacket pocket.
I was intensely relieved to see I still had a very weak cellular signal.
I immediately dialed the private number of my most trusted mafia captain.
Dante picked up the call on the very first ring.
I quietly ordered him to bring an unmarked car to the rear service gate immediately.
I hurried back, carried Maria out to the gardens, and hid her safely inside the warm greenhouse.
Exactly ten minutes later, a black SUV rolled up silently to the iron gates.
Dante quickly unlocked the passenger door for me.
I climbed inside the warm vehicle and took a deep, exhausted breath.
I explained desperately that my mother had completely lost her mind.
I told him she was holding Grace hostage somewhere hidden in the city.
Dante nodded slowly while keeping his dark eyes fixed on the empty road.
He handed me a cold bottle of water from the center console.
I took a long, desperate drink to soothe my fiercely burning throat.
As I lowered the plastic bottle, I noticed Dante's phone screen light up brightly.
A glowing text message from my mother appeared clearly on his dashboard display.
The chilling message instructed him to finish me off and dispose of my body in the river.
I slowly turned my head to look directly at my oldest and most trusted friend.
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Dante calmly pulled a silenced pistol from his leather jacket.
He aimed the deadly weapon directly at my chest while driving at ninety miles per hour.
