Chapter 5 - THE RING OF LIES
Marco stepped over his brother’s unconscious body.
On Vittorio’s hand, the heavy gold family signet ring—the symbol of the Don—was missing. It was now gleaming on Marco’s right index finger.
Vittorio looked at his youngest son with a mixture of pride and horror. “Marco. You brought them here.”
“I had to, Papa,” Marco said coldly. “You were becoming weak. Obsessed with vengeance. Obsessed with a twelve-year-old grudge. You were going to drag the whole family down with this wedding.”
Adriana realized the terrifying truth. Marco hadn't stayed behind in the kitchen to save Luca. He had stayed to ensure Luca bled out. When that failed, he followed them.
“You shot the gun in the ballroom,” Adriana said, her voice shaking.
“A distraction,” Marco smiled. “To isolate all the players. Now, I have the traitorous first wife, the disposable second wife, the weak brother, and the old king. All in one convenient, flammable wooden box.”
Elena struggled against her ties. “Marco, you’re insane. The FBI is already on their way.”
“Let them come,” Marco shrugged. “They’ll find a tragic murder-suicide. The disgraced father killed his sons and their brides before setting the place on fire.”
Marco reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver Zippo lighter. He flipped it open. The flame illuminated his cruel smile.
He kicked over a red jerrycan of gasoline that had been sitting in the corner. The strong stench of fuel filled the damp air.
“Goodbye, family,” Marco said.
He tossed the lighter.
As the flame hit the gasoline, a wall of fire erupted between Marco and the others. Marco turned and walked out, slamming and locking the heavy boathouse doors behind him.
The flames licked the dry wooden walls, climbing fast.
Vittorio coughed, falling to his knees as the smoke thickened. The old boss looked utterly broken, betrayed by his own flesh and blood.
Adriana didn't hesitate. She dropped the gun and sprinted through a gap in the flames toward Elena.
“The chain is locked!” Elena coughed, her eyes watering. “Leave me, Adriana! Wake Luca and get out through the floor hatch!”
“I am not leaving you!” Adriana screamed.
She grabbed the heavy iron chain. There was a thick brass padlock securing it.
Adriana looked around desperately. Her eyes fell on Vittorio, who was crawling toward the water, gasping for air.
“Vittorio!” Adriana yelled. “The key! Give me the key!”
The old man looked at her. He reached into his pocket with trembling hands and pulled out a small brass key. But he didn’t throw it.
He held it tightly.
“If she lives, my empire dies,” Vittorio wheezed.
Adriana grabbed the iron fire poker from the corner. She marched through the smoke, standing over the man who had ruined her life.
“Your empire is already dead,” Adriana said. “Marco killed it.”
Before Vittorio could react, Adriana swung the heavy iron poker, striking his hand. He howled in pain, dropping the key.
Adriana snatched it up, ran to Elena, and unlocked the chain.
Together, they dragged an unconscious Luca toward the hidden floor hatch Elena had mentioned. They lifted it, revealing the dark, rushing water of the lake beneath the boathouse.
“Can you swim?” Elena asked, coughing up black smoke.
“I have to,” Adriana said.
May you like
But as they prepared to jump, a terrifying scream pierced the roar of the fire from outside.
It was Sofia.
