Dangerous Ties

Boom. A deafening blast shook the room through the east wing of the casino and fire erupted.A thick and shocking smoke swallowed everything, “Dad! Caleb! Uncle Sam!” I shouted, my voice swallowed by the chaos around me.people screamed, tripping over each other, trying to escape the collapse of the ceiling or find some clean air to breath. Dust and debris fell like rain from the ceiling.But Blackwood men were already pulling guns, searching for enemis in the mess.“Dad! Dad! Caleb! Uncle Sam!” I shouted again, hoping, praying, that they were still alive somewhere in this chao.And that's when I spotted him. My uncle Sam lay sprawled near the bar, Bathing in his own blood. Two cousins were dragging him. But I still had to find Caleb and dad.Then I saw movement. Marco, one of our enforcers, running toward me, his face was turned up and bloody. "Ethan! You have to get out! Now!" he yelled.“Not without my family." I shoved past him, making my way through the panicking crowd. The mixt

Luca’s POVThe front door of the police station swung open, and my father stepped out into the gray morning light. He looked like he was leaving a board meeting, not an interrogation. Not a hair out of place, his suit impeccable.Our family’s lawyer, Mr. Abati, stepped in front of him just as the horde of journalists descended. Microphones were shoved forward like weapons."Don Vitale! Don Vitale! Any comment on the bombing?" "Is it true the Blackwoods are blaming your family?" "How do you explain that no high-ranking Vitales were among the dead?"My father didn’t flinch. He let Mr. Abati be the shield."My client has fully cooperated with the authorities in this tragic matter," Abati announced, his voice calm and practiced. "Don Vitale expresses his profound sorrow and offers his thoughts and prayers to all the victims and their families but especially the Blackwoods who were severely affected by this tragedy. This was a horrific act of violence against our entire community, and he p