Chapter 10 - THE BETRAYAL WITHIN
On the fifth night, a sudden heavy snowstorm trapped us inside the mountain retreat.
The power lines cut out, plunging the grand stone house into deep darkness, illuminated only by flickering candles.
Gianni walked into the main room, his gun drawn and pointed directly at Carmine's back.
"I'm sorry, Boss," Gianni said, his voice shaking slightly under the pressure. "Moretti offered me three million dollars."
I gasped, stepping in front of Carmine instinctively, but Carmine pulled me safely behind his back.
"I trusted you for twelve years, Gianni," Carmine said, his voice dropping into that terrifying, cold whisper.
"Moretti has twenty men surrounding the perimeter right now," Gianni said, backing toward the front door. "It's over, Carmine."
Suddenly, a loud shot echoed through the dark room, and Gianni collapsed onto the floor, clutching his leg.
Marco stepped out from the hallway shadows, holding a smoking pistol with a silencer attached.
"I stay loyal to the DeLuca name," Marco spat, kicking Gianni's dropped gun across the floor toward Carmine.
Carmine scooped up the weapon effortlessly and handed a smaller pistol to me.
"Do you know how to use this?" Carmine asked, looking down at me calmly.
May you like
"Point and pull," I said, my heart hammering against my ribs as heavy boots pounded on the front porch outside.
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