Chapter 14 - The Hidden Ledger
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Before Santino could raise the weapon, the study doors burst open again.
Rafe Lombardi stormed into the room, his assault rifle raised. Behind him were three heavily armed guards.
Emily gasped, backing away until she hit the bookshelves. They were trapped.
“Put the gun down, Boss,” Rafe ordered, aiming his rifle directly at Santino’s chest. “It’s over.”
Victoria smiled a triumphant, wicked smile. She walked over and stood beside Rafe, crossing her arms.
“I told you, Santino. You are weak. You didn't even see the coup happening right under your nose.”
Santino sat in his wheelchair, the silver revolver still resting loosely in his hand. He looked at Rafe, his expression one of mild boredom.
“You always were a terrible chess player, Rafe,” Santino sighed.
Suddenly, the three guards standing behind Rafe raised their weapons—and pressed the barrels directly against the back of Rafe’s head.
Rafe froze, his eyes widening in sheer panic.
Victoria gasped, stumbling backward. “What are you doing?! Shoot him!” she screamed at the guards.
“They answer to me, Victoria,” a voice said from the doorway.
Enzo, the elderly estate manager, walked into the room. He didn't look like a frail old man anymore. He looked like a seasoned mafia consigliere.
“Did you really think you could buy the loyalty of my men with stolen money, sister?” Santino asked, dropping the revolver onto the desk with a heavy clatter. “I knew you were stealing from Warehouse Four for six months. I let you do it, waiting to see who you would try to hire.”
Victoria was hyperventilating, staring at the guns pointed at her security chief.
“Rafe, drop the rifle,” Santino ordered.
Rafe slowly lowered his weapon to the floor, raising his hands in defeat.
“Take him to the basement,” Santino told the guards. “Find out exactly how much he told the Morrettis. Then get rid of him.”
The guards dragged the pleading, struggling security chief out of the room.
Santino turned his cold, dead eyes to his sister.
“You are my blood,” Santino said, his voice entirely devoid of emotion. “I will not kill you. But you are stripped of your name, your access, and your wealth. Enzo will put you on a private plane tonight to a convent in Sicily. If you ever return to the United States, I will bury you.”
Victoria sobbed, her aristocratic pride completely shattered, as Enzo escorted her forcefully out of the study.
The room fell silent.
Emily stood in the corner, her heart hammering, having just witnessed the brutal, bloodless execution of a coup.
Santino turned his wheelchair to face her.
“You didn't run,” Santino noted quietly.
May you like
“I had nowhere to run, sir.”
“You told me the truth about the hallway. You risked your life.” Santino opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a thick, manila folder. “So, it is time I tell you the truth, Emily.”
