Chapter 7 - The Final LedgerThe smoke cleared in a swirling cloud of ozone and burnt gunpowder.
Marcus Vance stumbled backward, dropping his pistol as a red stain bloomed rapidly across the chest of his designer suit. He hit the server rack with a heavy thud, sliding down to the floor in a lifeless heap.
It wasn't Adrian who had fired.
From the doorway behind Salvatore, Dominic stepped forward, smoke still curling from the barrel of his smoking shotgun.
Salvatore spun around, his face turning pale as death as he realized he had been flanked. He reached instinctively for his own sidearm, but before his fingers could wrap around the grip, Adrian’s pistol barrel pressed firmly against the center of Salvatore’s forehead.
“Don't,” Adrian whispered.
Salvatore froze, his hands hovering in the air. The arrogant, cynical smile was gone, replaced by the bitter, cold realization of defeat.
“Do it, then,” Salvatore spat, his voice shaking slightly. “Kill me. Take your revenge.”
Adrian stared at his oldest friend for a long, agonizing moment. The silence between them was heavier than any weapon.
Then, slowly, Adrian lowered the pistol.
He stepped back, shaking his head in quiet disgust.
“Killing you would be too easy, Sal,” Adrian said coldly. “Dominic, lock him in the lower holding cells. Strip him of every title, every asset, and every connection to this family. He doesn't die. He just ceases to exist.”
Dominic grabbed Salvatore roughly by the collar, dragging the traitorous right-hand man out of the server room without a word.
Adrian stood alone among the flashing blue lights of the servers. He holstered his weapon, feeling an overwhelming, crushing weight settle over his shoulders.
May you like
The war was over. The betrayal had been purged.
But as he walked slowly back toward the residential wing, he knew the hardest part of his life was still waiting for him.
