Chapter 6 - The Devil's Bargain
Lorenzo kept the rifle aimed firmly at the center of Don Romano’s chest.
"Give me one good reason not to pull this trigger right now," Lorenzo warned.
The old man stepped fully into the dingy apartment, holding his hands up to show he was unarmed.
"Because I didn't know," Romano rasped, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
"I arranged a marriage to merge our families, Lorenzo, not a slaughter."
Romano explained that Serena had completely bypassed his authority, aligning with rogue captains to seize absolute power.
She had grown tired of waiting for her father to pass down the throne.
She wanted both empires immediately, and she was willing to murder anyone in her path to get them.
"She is locking down the ports tomorrow," Romano warned, wiping rain from his face.
"She plans to execute my loyal men during your memorial service, claiming they orchestrated your bombing."
Lorenzo lowered the rifle slightly, absorbing the gravity of the old man's words.
If Serena succeeded, she would become the most powerful cartel leader on the East Coast.
"Why should I trust you?" Lorenzo asked coldly.
Before Romano could answer, little Leo walked out from the bedroom, dragging his favorite blanket.
The toddler walked straight up to the terrifying Don Romano and simply stared at him.
Leo reached into his tiny pocket and pulled out a shiny gold cufflink.
He handed it to the old man.
Romano gasped, his knees buckling slightly as he recognized the jewelry.
It belonged to his youngest son, Serena's brother, who had supposedly died in a car crash two years ago.
"Where did you get this, child?" Romano whispered, tears forming in his hardened eyes.
Maria stepped out of the shadows, her voice trembling but resolute.
"I found it in Miss Serena's private jewelry box," Maria confessed.
"She kept it as a trophy after she cut his brake lines."
The silence in the room was absolute as the horrifying truth settled over them.
Serena had murdered her own brother to ensure she was the sole heir to the Romano empire.
Don Romano’s face twisted into a mask of pure, unadulterated grief and rage.
"We have a deal, Lorenzo," the old man choked out, offering his hand.
Lorenzo shook it, solidifying an alliance forged in blood and betrayal.
They spent the entire night mapping out the layout of the cathedral where the memorial would be held.
They would strike tomorrow at noon, right in the middle of Serena's eulogy.
As dawn broke, Lorenzo went to the kitchen to fetch water for the child.
When he returned to the living room, his heart stopped in his chest.
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The front door was wide open, and Don Romano was lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
The old man was dead, and Leo was gone.
