This is a foretelling of my future.
The first man turns to face us and the second man moves to his side.
In one fluid motion they both rip off their masks revealing two faces I’ve trusted my entire life.
Lucia screams.
I don’t.
I just stare, shock numbing me, and betrayal shattering my soul.
The monsters aren’t strangers.
They’re family.
Chapter fifty-four
Bruno De Luca and Salvatore Moretti.
The men who were second fathers to me are my killers.
They stand before us. Masks off. Faces carved in stone.
Two men I bled for.
Two men who held me during my father’s funeral.
Two men who toasted my victories, shielded my secrets, and watched me rise to power.
Two men I would’ve taken a bullet for.
But now they’re the ones behind the gun.
My breath catches in my throat.
I can’t move.
I can’t think.
I just stand there, frozen, while my heart breaks under the weight of betrayal.
Lucia speaks first. “Bruno? Salvatore? What are you doing here?”
Silence.
Bruno’s face is unreadable. His eyes are cold like he doesn’t know us anymore.
Salvatore’s jaw is clenched and his fingers tighten around the grip of the gun.
“They’re behind this…they did this.” I can barely get the words out.
“What?” Hurt fills Lucia’s eyes. “No. They were victims too.”
I shake my head. “No. They did it. They worked with Madeline and Elio.”
“No. They would never do that.” Lucia gasps. “Bruno and Sal, they were supposed to protect us.” She turns toward them and steps forward.
They raise their guns and I yank her back.
