Chapter 8 - THE FINAL TRAP“A mastermind always has a detonator. A king always has a counter-move.”Julian pulled out a small black remote control with a blinking red light.

“The underground vault you sent them to?” Julian snickered, his eyes gleefully mad. “Did you really think I didn't know about the hidden bunker your father built? I had my men plant five hundred pounds of C4 explosives around the subterranean air vents two hours ago! One press of this button, and your precious little maid and her brat will be buried under five thousand tons of concrete!”

My heart stopped beating. The rifle in my hands felt suddenly impossibly heavy.

“Lower your weapon, Luca,” Julian ordered, stepping closer, his cane clicking against the wet pavement. “Drop the gun, bow before me, and sign over the Scarlatti family assets to my name. Do it, or I blow them to kingdom come.”

I looked at the remote in his hand. I looked into the eyes of the man who had stolen my childhood, murdered my mother, and ruined innocent lives without a shred of remorse.

If I dropped my gun, he would kill us all anyway. If I shot him, his dead thumb might trigger the switch.

Then, through the sound of the pouring rain, my earpiece beeped once.

It was a text message on my encrypted watch from Marcus:

“Vault perimeter clear. We found the charges and disarmed them five minutes ago. The kid is safe. Give him hell.”

A slow, terrifying smile spread across my face.

Julian’s eyes narrowed. “What are you smiling at, you bastard?”

“I’m smiling,” I whispered, lowering my rifle completely, “because you forgot one very important detail, Uncle.”

“What detail?!” Julian shrieked, his thumb trembling over the detonator button.

“You taught me how to fight,” I said, stepping forward into the rain. “But you never taught me how to mercy.”

Before he could react, I swept my leg under his cane, sending him crashing hard onto the wet asphalt. The remote flew out of his hand, shattering against the stone fountain.

Julian scrambled backward in terror as I stood over him like the Angel of Death.

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“Luca! Please!” Julian begged, clutching my leg. “I’m your family! I’m your mother’s brother! You can’t kill your own blood!”

“My family,” I said, pulling the trigger, “is in the vault.”