The Betrayer Among Us

Massimo’s POV

“Because if what Dante is saying is true the man who killed our father is standing right here”

Kelvin’s words cut through the chapel for a moment, I forgot about the bullet lodged in my chest I forgot about the blood soaking my shirt and the pain threatening to drag me into darkness. All I could see was my brother standing with a gun in his hand, looking at me as though I were a stranger “Kelvin” I rasped

His eyes shifted toward me relief flashed across his face quickly replaced by suspicion “Don't move” he warned

I almost laughed moving was the last thing my body could manage Dante tightened his hold on Aria, keeping his gun pressed against her head “Go on Kelvin ask your brother ask him why he knew your father was going to the safe house that night”

Kelvin's jaw clenched “Shut your mouth”

“Why? Afraid you'll hear something you don't like?”

“I said shut up”

Kelvin raised his gun but Dante merely smiled “You were young when your father died weren't you? Young enough to believe every story your family told you they said enemies attacked the safe house. They said your father was betrayed by someone outside the family”

Dante tilted his head toward me “But your brother knows the truth”

I forced myself to sit up the movement sent a sharp wave of pain through my chest, and I nearly collapsed again “Kelvin listen to me”

“Don't” He took a step back “Don't call my name like nothing is happening”

“I didn't kill our father”

“Then explain why Dante knows things only someone close to us would know”

“Because he has spent years investigating our family”

“Enough!” Aria shouted

Dante jerked her backward, forcing her to face him “You really should learn when to stay quiet"

“I'm tired of men using the dead to justify what they do to the living” she replied “You murdered people you kidnapped me you shot my husband. Whatever happened to your family doesn't give you the right to destroy ours”

Her courage was remarkable, especially with a gun against her head It also terrified me “Aria” I warned

She ignored me “Tell Kelvin what you want him to believe, Dante but if you have proof, show it stop hiding behind stories”

For the first time Dante's smile faltered Kelvin noticed “So you don't have proof” my brother said

Dante's expression hardened “I have something better”

He reached into his jacket with his free hand and pulled out a small, bloodstained envelope “Your father's final message”

Kelvin stared at it “That is impossible”

“Is it?” Dante opened the envelope and removed a folded piece of paper “Your father wrote this shortly before he died he knew someone close to him had sold him out”

He held the paper toward Kelvin “Read it”

Kelvin hesitated before taking it his eyes moved across the page, and I watched the colour disappear from his face “What does it say?” I demanded

He didn't answer “Kelvin”

His gaze lifted to mine “It says you were the last person father called before he died”

The chapel seemed to tilt around me I remembered that night. I had been away on business when my father called I had missed the call and returned it several minutes later but the line had gone dead. By the time I reached the safe house, the men guarding it were already dead I had spent years blaming myself for not answering sooner but I had never told Kelvin about the second call “How did you know about that?” I asked Dante

He shrugged “I know a great deal about you, Massimo”

Kelvin crumpled the paper in his fist “Did you answer his call?”

“No”

“Did you tell anyone where he was?”

“No”

“Then why does this message say you knew he was going to the safe house?”

I struggled to breathe through the pain “Because I did know father told me earlier that evening. I was supposed to meet him there the next morning”

Kelvin looked as though I had struck him “You never told me”

“I was trying to find the people responsible before I involved you”

“And you thought keeping secrets would protect me?”

“I thought I could handle it”

A bitter laugh escaped him “That's what you always think you carry everything alone, make every decision for everyone, and expect us to trust you without questions”

He wasn't entirely wrong but this was not the moment to settle old grievances “Kelvin, Dante wants us fighting each other don't give him what he wants”

Dante sighed theatrically “How touching the brothers are finally communicating”

He pulled Aria closer “Unfortunately, we are running out of time”

Kelvin's gaze snapped to her “Release her and we can settle this”

“No you will lower your weapons first”

“You know I won't”

“Then watch what happens”

Dante shifted his gun from Aria's head to her chest I tried to rise pain exploded through my body, and I fell against the stone floor “Don't” Aria screamed “Massimo, stay down”

Dante looked at me with satisfaction “There it is. The great Massimo Livoti, reduced to begging with his eyes”

I hated that he was right I could barely move, and every second I remained on the floor made Aria more vulnerable then Kelvin did something unexpected. He lowered both guns “Take me” he said

Dante stared at him “What?”

“You want revenge on my family? You want someone to pay for our father's death? Take me. Let Aria go, and let my brother get medical attention”

“Kelvin no” I shouted my brother didn't look at me

“You said our father was betrayed by someone inside the family. If that's true, I'll help you find that person but Aria has nothing to do with this"

Dante studied him, apparently weighing the offer then he smiled “Very well”

He shoved Aria toward one of his men Kelvin immediately raised his head “You promised”

“I promised to consider it”

Dante's gun swung toward him Kelvin moved faster than I expected. He lunged sideways as the shot rang out, and the bullet struck the stone pillar behind him one of our men fired from the doorway Dante's guards returned fire sending everyone scrambling for cover Aria broke free “Massimo”

She ran toward me, but I saw one of Dante's men raise his weapon behind her “DOWN!”

She dropped the bullet passed over her shoulder and struck the wall Kelvin fired twice, forcing the gunman behind a pew. He rushed toward Aria and pulled her into cover beside me “Are you hurt?” he asked her

“No Massimo needs a doctor”

“I know”

He pressed a handkerchief against my wound. The pressure made me grit my teeth “Stay with us brother”

“I'm trying”

“Try harder”

Despite everything, I almost smiled then a loud crash came from the entrance. Our men flooded the chapel, forcing Dante's remaining guards toward the side doors Dante was retreating he grabbed a fallen gunman by the collar, dragged him aside, and ran toward the narrow passage behind the altar “Dante!” Kelvin shouted

My brother started after him, but I caught his wrist “Don't"

“He's getting away”

“And he wants you to follow him”

Kelvin looked toward the passage torn between pursuing our enemy and staying with us Aria took his arm “If you go after him now, he could kill you too”

He looked at her, then reluctantly turned back our men secured the chapel within minutes. One of them rushed to call for an ambulance while another checked the exits I could feel myself slipping away Aria held my hand refusing to let go “You're going to survive this” she said

“You sound very sure”

“Because I haven't finished being angry with you”

A weak laugh escaped me before pain swallowed it “Then I'll have to stay alive and hear the rest”

Her eyes glistened but she wiped them quickly “You'd better”

Kelvin knelt beside us he looked shaken, but his expression had changed. The suspicion remained, yet something else had taken its place fear not of Dante of what he might discover about our family “Massimo” he said quietly “There's something I haven't told you”

I turned my head toward him “What?”

He glanced at Aria then at the men standing guard around us “Dante wasn't the only person who knew about Father's safe house”

My blood ran cold “Who else knew?”

Kelvin swallowed “Someone gave me the location that night I thought it was a warning so I told Father to leave immediately”

“Who gave you the information?”

Before he could answer, a phone began ringing It came from the pocket of the dead man lying beside the altar one of our men retrieved it and looked at the screen “Boss” he said approaching Kelvin “You need to see this”

Kelvin took the phone a message glowed across the screen.

THE JOB IS DONE MASSIMO IS WOUNDED KELVIN HAS BEEN PLAYED. WAIT FOR MY NEXT INSTRUCTION

Below the message was a name I watched my brother read it his face went completely still “Who is it?” Aria whispered

Kelvin lifted his eyes toward me then he turned the phone around the name on the screen belonged to the one person I had trusted to protect our family after our father's death my mother.