Chapter 8 - The Usurper's Throne
Rico Castellano stepped carefully over the bleeding corpse of Carlo Martini.
He wore a tailored black suit, looking every inch the king he had just violently crowned himself to be.
"The old man really thought he was still in charge," Rico said with a dark chuckle.
He looked at Vincent, his eyes devoid of any remorse or guilt.
"He hid in the shadows for five years, expecting us to just hand the keys back when he returned."
"He forgot that I was the one who actually built this army while he played dead."
Agent Carter kept his weapon raised, his hands sweating visibly.
"You are entirely surrounded, Rico," Carter bluffed, trying to maintain federal authority.
"Put the gun down, and you might survive the night."
Rico laughed out loud, a harsh, terrifying sound that echoed off the high ceilings.
"You feds are always so incredibly arrogant."
"My men are holding the perimeter of this entire building, Carter."
"You are not arresting anyone tonight."
Rico raised his pistol and shot Agent Carter directly in the chest without a second of hesitation.
The federal agent flew backward, crashing through a glass display case before crumpling to the floor, dead.
Mary screamed, instinctively moving to shield Vincent with her own body.
Rico shook his head, looking at them with mock pity.
"It is truly pathetic, Vincent."
"You survived the surgery, you survived the hospital, and you walked right into my trap."
He pointed the gun squarely at Vincent's face.
"Any last words, Boss?"
Mary didn't wait for Vincent to speak.
She reached blindly onto the nearby bar cart, her hand closing around a bottle of high-proof absinthe.
She smashed the heavy glass bottle directly against the marble countertop.
The highly flammable liquid sprayed violently across the room, soaking Rico and his closest gunmen.
Before they could react, Mary grabbed a decorative lighter from the table and flicked it open.
She threw the open flame directly into the puddle of alcohol at Rico's feet.
The room erupted into a massive wall of blinding, roaring fire.
Rico screamed in agony as the flames rapidly climbed up his expensive suit.
His men dropped their weapons, frantically slapping at their burning clothes.
"Run!" Mary screamed over the chaos.
She grabbed Vincent's hand and practically dragged him toward the private elevator.
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They threw themselves inside just as the fire suppression system activated, raining chemical foam across the penthouse.
The elevator doors closed, cutting off Rico's terrifying screams.
