Chapter 5 - The Digital ConfessionThe screen of Dante’s rugged military-grade laptop flickered to life in the dim lighting of the VIP lounge. The soft hum of the hard drive spinning up was the only sound cutting through the thick, suffocating tension.
Rico stood behind Dante, his shadow looming like a executioner's cloak. "Plug the drive in, Dante. Slow and steady."
Dante’s massive hands trembled slightly as he slotted the USB drive into the port. A folder labeled OBLIVION popped up on the screen.
"Click it," Clara said, her voice unnervingly calm as she cradled the sleeping Leo against her chest.
Dante double-clicked. A series of audio files and scanned documents flooded the screen. Rico clicked the first audio file.
The speakers hissed with static, and then a voice echoed through the empty restaurant lounge—a voice Rico knew better than his own. It was Vincent, his consiglieri and right-hand man of ten years.
“The Moretti kid is starting to look too much like his mother,” the audio recording played clearly. “Once Rico takes out the Queens faction, we stage the hit on Elena’s vehicle. Make it look like a botched mafia war. That way, Rico stays blind, and we inherit the shipping ports.”
Another voice chimed in—a voice that made Dante’s breath hitch. It was Dante himself on the recording.
“Done. The sniper is in position. Just make sure the boy gets handed over to the buyer in Europe.”
The room went dead silent.
Rico didn't scream. He didn't smash a table. He moved with terrifying, unnatural stillness. Before Dante could even clear leather to grab his gun, Rico’s Sig Sauer was pressed firmly against the bridge of Dante’s nose.
"Boss... I can explain—" Dante choked out, sweat pouring down his forehead.
"You had six months to tell me," Rico whispered, his voice shaking with a rage so deep it transcended anger. "Six months of watching me drown in a bottle, watching me mourn a wife you helped slaughter. You held my son in your arms tonight."
"It was Vincent! Vincent planned the whole thing!" Dante screamed, his tough-guy facade completely shattering.
"And you were happy to pull the trigger," Rico said coldly.
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Bang.
The gunshot echoed like thunder inside the enclosed lounge, shattering the glass panels and sending shockwaves through the restaurant. Dante slumped forward, lifeless, crashing against the mahogany desk.
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