After I Was Sentenced to Death by the Three Men I Loved, Their True Punishment Began

I was brought before the family tribunal, accused of plotting to murder our future Donna.

My beloved, my brother, and my childhood friend, the three men I had protected with my life, were all waiting with the others to see me ruined.

But they didn't know. When the poison entered my veins and the truth came to light, they would be consumed by regret.

My defiance enraged him.

He slammed his hand on the armrest and roared, "Still defiant? If we don't make an example of you, how do we answer to Sylvia for what you did? To the brothers you betrayed?"

The moment he finished, the men below erupted.

"Put a bullet in the traitor!"

"Shameless bitch. It's one thing to be jealous of Sylvia, but to conspire with our enemies!"

"Give her the needle! Make her spill every last secret!"

"Vera, there's still time to confess." Rocco stood on the high dais, looking down at me, his voice laced with condescending pity.

"If you get on your knees, apologize to Sylvia, and admit to what you've done, I can grant you a clean death."

Sylvia, nestled in his arms, looked up, her expression a mask of false concern. "Rocco, don't be so harsh. Maybe Vera just wasn't thinking clearly..."

She turned to me, her eyes welling with tears. She looked fragile and innocent, like an angel without a devious thought in her head.

"Vera, please, just admit it. I'm begging you. I don't want to see you suffer like this."

I watched her meticulously rehearsed performance and couldn't help but laugh.

"Sylvia, are you sure you want them to hear my secrets?"

The curve of her lips stiffened.

I took a breath and continued, "I'd love to tell them. I want everyone to hear how you, and they, live with yourselves, building your futures on the blood of others."

My gaze swept past Rocco, landing on the two men behind him.

One was my brother, Miles, the family's Capo.

The other was Caleb, my childhood friend who once swore he'd always protect me, now the family's Consigliere.

The very men I once shielded with my own body.

Now, they were Sylvia's most loyal knights.

Miles's brow furrowed, his eyes sharp with impatience.

"Vera, don't expect me to remember we're family. You brought this on yourself, putting a hit on Sylvia out of jealousy. Even if Rocco shows you mercy, I'll put a bullet in you myself. It's the law of the family."

Caleb just shook his head, his face a mask of pity. "Vera, I don't understand how you became like this. Sylvia is so kind. She drew their fire to save you during that shootout, and you repaid her by conspiring with our enemies."

"Fine," I said softly. "Since you all want the truth, I'll give it to you."

Rocco's voice echoed through the hall. "Do it. Let everyone hear for themselves how she betrayed the family, and how she betrayed me!"

The family's private doctor sighed, raised the syringe, and plunged the needle into my arm.

A full vial of the dark green neurotoxin flooded my veins.

Pain, sharp and electric, shot up my spine. It felt as if a thousand rusty saws were tearing at my nerves, severing them one by one.

It was a top-grade, black-market poison, designed to shatter the body's pain defenses and drive its victim mad with agony until they could only speak the truth.

An injection of this dosage would cause irreversible brain damage before the heart finally gave out.

It was the ultimate punishment, reserved for the Mafia's most hardened traitors.

The liquid spread through my veins like fire.

But I didn't struggle. Instead, I felt a sense of peace, of a great burden being lifted.

Let them see. Let them see what I've done for them in my twenty-some years.

And let them feel the sting of the knives they used to repay me.

Through my blurring vision, Sylvia's triumphant smile was impossible to miss.

She was waiting, her excitement barely concealed, for me to break down and die amidst the jeers of the crowd.

I looked at her, then at the three men, at the cold, disgusted, and faintly pleased expressions on their faces.

Then, I smiled.

"Rocco, Miles, Caleb."

"This is my final gift to you."

"I hope you like it."