Chapter 8 - The False King
Massimo listened to Dean’s dramatic announcement with a cold, incredibly calculating smirk on his face.
Dean was aggressively moving the timeline up, securing total control before he even had a dead body to show the men.
Massimo picked up Nina effortlessly and carried her swiftly toward the hidden safe room built into the library walls.
Carla emerged breathlessly from the shadows of the main hallway, carrying a heavy black duffel bag from the wine cellar.
She handed it to Massimo, her eyes wide with absolute terror as she processed the fake announcement of his death.
Massimo quickly unzipped the bag, revealing two fully loaded handguns and a heavy tactical vest.
He commanded Carla to take Nina, lock themselves inside the safe room, and absolutely never make a sound.
He ordered them not to open the heavy steel door for anyone but him, no matter what they heard outside.
Carla nodded quickly, kissing Massimo's hand in immense gratitude before rushing into the hidden bunker with her daughter.
Massimo slipped the tactical vest over his chest, feeling the familiar, comforting weight of the armor.
He grabbed the handguns and walked steadily back into his main study, his legs growing stronger with every step.
He deliberately knocked over a tall reading lamp to create a chaotic scene on the floor.
He laid himself down on the rug, remaining perfectly still in the dark shadows near his empty wheelchair.
A few tense moments later, the heavy library doors opened once again.
Dean walked in confidently, accompanied by Camille and two of the family’s top, heavily armed capos.
Dean pointed to the empty wheelchair, lying flawlessly as he claimed Massimo had just collapsed right there.
Then, Dean looked down at the rug and realized the floor was completely empty.
Genuine panic flashed visibly across Dean’s face for the very first time in his life.
Before the traitor could even react, Massimo stepped calmly out of the dark shadows, standing perfectly straight.
The two loyal capos gasped in shock, instinctively reaching for the weapons holstered at their sides.
Massimo roared for them to stand down, his booming voice shaking the very foundation of the room.
The capos froze instantly, deeply conditioned by years of loyalty to obey the true head of the Rinaldi family.
Dean stepped back in horror, raising his trembling hands in a pathetic, desperate attempt to surrender.
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Camille screamed in frustration and pulled a small silver revolver from her designer purse, aiming it directly at Massimo’s chest.
Before she could pull the trigger, a deafening gunshot exploded from the doorway behind them.
