Chapter 3 - The Doctor's Confession
Damian’s grip on the doctor’s throat tightened like a steel vise.
The mention of his murdered mother, Lucia, made the temperature in the hallway feel freezing.
Elena stood a few feet away, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"Speak," Damian commanded softly, a terrifying promise of violence in his single word.
Dr. Aris choked, desperately clawing at Damian’s heavy forearm.
"He found a letter hidden inside his old desk," the doctor gasped.
"The chef was supposed to burn it, but he got greedy and tried to blackmail the boss."
Damian slightly released the pressure on the man's throat so he could breathe.
"Who is the boss?" Damian demanded, pulling his gun from his shoulder holster.
Dr. Aris let out a weak, desperate laugh.
"You really think you control the city, boy?" the doctor mocked.
"You are just keeping the seat warm for the real king."
Before Damian could ask another question, the doctor’s eyes suddenly rolled back into his head.
A dark, foul-smelling foam began to bubble out of the doctor's mouth.
Damian stepped back in disgust as the physician collapsed onto the expensive carpet.
His body violently convulsed twice before going completely still.
Elena stared in horror at the dead man on the floor.
"Cyanide capsule," Damian muttered, checking the man's pulse and finding nothing.
"He bit down on it the second I grabbed him."
Damian stepped over the corpse and kicked the bedroom door completely open.
Salvatore Russo was sitting on the edge of his massive bed, breathing heavily.
His hands were shaking as he clutched a yellowed, blood-stained piece of paper.
"Dad," Damian said, his voice instantly softening as he rushed to his father's side.
Salvatore looked up, his sunken eyes filled with an agonizing mixture of rage and sorrow.
"The chef planted this in my drawer to taunt me," Salvatore whispered, holding out the paper.
Damian took the letter and read it, his face draining of all color.
Elena watched as the most feared mafia boss on the coast looked completely broken.
"What does it say?" Elena asked gently, stepping into the room.
Damian slowly crumpled the ancient letter in his fist.
"It is the original contract for my mother's assassination," Damian replied, his voice devoid of life.
He looked up, his eyes burning with a sudden, murderous fire.
"And the signature at the bottom belongs to my Uncle Carlo."
Elena gasped, knowing that Carlo Russo was Damian's most trusted advisor.
Suddenly, the lights in the entire mansion flickered and went completely dark.
The heavy steel shutters on the bedroom windows slammed shut automatically.
Grant Mercer’s voice crackled frantically over the security radio clipped to Damian’s belt.
May you like
"Boss, we have a massive breach at the front gates!" Grant yelled through the static.
"Uncle Carlo just pulled up with forty armed men, and they are not knocking."
