Chapter 2

"Drop the knife! Bruno, he's a made man! You're signing your own death warrant!" The old Don's voice shook.

He knew the score. He tried to calm Bruno down.

"Bruno, listen to me. Taking your turf was the Commission's call." He tried to stay calm. "But Caspian just had surgery for a bullet he took for the Family. He's weak. Don't hurt him anymore."

I leaned against the cold wall. Every breath was agony.

Blood soaked my shirt. A pool formed on the floor.

The Don dialed Valeria's number.

Two rings. She answered.

It was noisy on her end. A man was sobbing hysterically.

"What the hell is going on? Caspian took over a dozen knife gashes! He's dying! Why aren't you here?"

The Don thought she would at least listen to him.

But Valeria just scoffed. She laughed coldly.

"Dad, are you in on his little play too? I just checked our intel. Bruno is still in Mexico."

"Tell him to drop the act. If he's really dying, call a doctor. Oh, and I already booked a cemetery plot. He can drop dead anytime."

Her words dripped with disgust and venom.

Julian's pathetic, whining voice came through the speaker.

"Is Caspian throwing a tantrum again? Don't be mad, Valeria. He's the Consigliere. He's got tricks. It's normal for him to get jealous and pull stunts."

"Maybe you should go to him... It's just, I'm so scared. They said they'd stuff me in an oil drum and drop me in the Hudson..."

I knew that voice. It was Julian.

The Don's face darkened.

"If you don't believe me, I'm sending you pictures right now!"

Valeria went silent for two seconds. She must have seen the photos.

But she didn't care. She just let out a tired sigh.

"Wow, Dad. Caspian really went all out this time."

"Where did he find this Hollywood makeup artist? The body double looks just like Bruno. The fake blood is so realistic."

"Oh, look at that pathetic little face. Perfect! Dad, tell him to go to Hollywood. Don't waste his acting talent!"

The Don was speechless with rage.

My heart turned to ash. How did I never see how purely evil Valeria was?

The Don's men couldn't watch this anymore. One of them yelled into the phone.

"Boss, he is really hurt!"

"Oh? Marco, you're a Capo. You fell for this cheap trick too?" Valeria rubbed her temples. She sounded exhausted and pissed. "Looks like I need to train you all on how to spot the Consigliere's bullshit. Caspian, when you're done throwing your tantrum, crawl back to the hospital. I'll deal with you later."

Click. She hung up.

This time, she went back to comfort Julian.

Something Valeria said must have triggered Bruno. He went completely feral.

"She called me a body double? She said the blood is fake?!"

Bruno kicked me to the ground. He mounted me. He swung the knife wildly.

"I'll show her what's real!"

The blade sank into my body. Again and again. Every thrust was fueled by desperate hate and revenge.

The pain was blinding. I didn't even have the strength to block him.

The Don's guards tried to rush him. But Bruno held them off.

"Stay back! Or I'll end him right now!"

The sharp steel sliced my flesh. The horrific pain ripped through my chest.

I wanted to fight back. But I couldn't even lift a finger.

Right before I blacked out, two enforcers from an allied crew stormed in.

It took them a while to disarm Bruno and slap cuffs on him.

But I was losing too much blood. My eyelids were heavy.

Before I passed out, I heard Valeria's voice from the Don's dropped phone.

"Julian, you know what? Caspian is a vital weapon for the Family. But he's too arrogant. He wants to control everything. But you... you never push me like this. Don't be sad. Think about it. How could I love a man who lies to my face? I only love you. You're obedient. You're real."

Every word was a sharper knife in my heart.

But this time, I wasn't sad. I was consumed by pure, unadulterated hatred!

…

When I opened my eyes, I saw the stark white ceiling of the Family's private hospital.

I was wrapped in bandages. Every breath tore at my chest.

"You're awake." The old Don sat by my bed. His eyes were full of guilt and exhaustion.

I looked at him coldly. My voice was rough. "Leave me alone."

He opened his mouth. He said nothing. He quietly left the room.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. I scrolled through the Family's dark web network.

Suddenly, a leaked security video from an underground casino made my blood run cold.

In a lavish VIP suite, Valeria stood over Julian. She wore her black trench coat. She smelled of gunpowder.

She pulled out a black diamond pinky ring. It was the symbol of the Consigliere's absolute authority. Her eyes were so soft.

"Julian, marry me." Her voice was like a spring breeze. "This ring was meant for my heirs. But now, I want you to have it."