Chapter 3 - The Bloody Fingerprint
Carmine stared at me with pure fury burning in his eyes.
"You are lying," the underboss snarled, taking a step toward me.
He raised his pistol, aiming it directly at my chest.
"Step aside, girl, before I put a bullet in your heart."
I froze, pressing my back against the empty steel safe as my breathing spiraled into a panic.
Gabriel watched the exchange with cold, calculating eyes.
"Put the gun down, Carmine," Gabriel ordered softly.
Carmine did not lower his weapon.
"She took it, Boss," Carmine insisted, his finger tightening on the trigger.
"She must have an accomplice waiting outside."
I shook my head desperately.
"I have been cleaning this room for three hours, and I never touched that painting," I pleaded.
Gabriel swung his legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the fresh blood soaking through his bandages.
He stood up, his massive frame towering in the dim light of the library.
He walked slowly toward Carmine, moving like a predator despite his injuries.
"I said, put the gun down," Gabriel repeated, his voice echoing with absolute authority.
Carmine hesitated for a fraction of a second before lowering the weapon.
Gabriel inspected the bloody fingerprint on the metal handle of the safe.
He then looked down at Carmine's right hand.
Carmine was wearing black leather gloves.
"Take off your glove, Carmine," Gabriel demanded.
Carmine's jaw tightened, but he slowly peeled the leather off his right hand.
A fresh, bleeding cut was visible across the pad of his thumb.
The room fell deathly silent.
"It isn't what it looks like, Gabriel," Carmine stammered, stepping backward.
Gabriel snatched the pistol from Carmine's hand with terrifying speed.
He aimed the barrel directly at his closest friend's forehead.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now," Gabriel whispered.
Before Carmine could answer, the heavy wooden doors of the library burst open.
Ten heavily armed guards flooded into the room, their assault rifles raised and pointed.
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But they weren't aiming at Carmine.
Every single weapon in the room was pointed directly at Gabriel and me.
