“So what now?”
“What now is this,” Massimo states and gives him a piercing glare. “I started with us today because I felt that you should have a chance to be part of what your fathers built. But there are traitors amongst us and I will not have traitors part of my Syndicate.”
As if he’s just reaching for a pen from his back pocket, Massimo pulls out his gun and aims it at them.
They look at each other in panic. They would have left their guns at the door.
The only people allowed guns in here were Viktor and Aiden.
“How dare you do this?” Franco counters. “We have done nothing.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. It’s been brought to light that an Italian family were working with the culprits who blew up the Syndicate. The only people that points to is you guys.”
“No,” Franco argues. “Massimo I know you. We’ve met before on several occasions. I think on those occasions you would have seen the type of man I am. Neither me nor anyone who falls part of my family were responsible for any of what happened.”
I actually believe him. I do. I haven’t had dealings with him like Massimo has but he sounds like he’s telling the truth.
Massimo alternates pointing his gun between Franco and Lucca.
“The thing about traitors is this, you don’t know who they are or when they’re telling truth from lies. Get up, get to your feet,” Massimo orders and they obey.
When they stand I can tell they’re shit scared. They look like men about to face certain death.
I think this would be the part where if either were guilty they’d make some kind of move to defend themselves but they’re just following orders as Massimo motions for them to move to the wall in a standard interrogation lineup.
Massimo signals for us to join him so we do.
Me first then Dominic at my side. Viktor and Aiden come to my right. We all aim our guns at the men standing by the wall. Men who look afraid.
Fear ripples from them and sadness at what might come next.
They both look afraid, and sad, both are signs I always take to mean something for good or bad. The guilty never tend to look the way these men do. Either they’ll jump straight to terrified when they’ve been caught out and beg for their lives, or they’ll have a nonchalance about them as they continue to lie about their innocence.
“I want to hear what dealings you have with Mortimer Viggo,” Massimo demands and they look shocked.
“The leader of the Circle of Shadows would not converse with men like us. You know how he feels about Italians. It’s obvious he swayed Riccardo because they both needed each other,” Lucca says.
“You might have needed him too,” Massimo replies. “That man will work with whoever can benefit him the most and he’s always been seeking to eradicate the Syndicate. Tell me now what part you had to play in helping him, or you’re fucking dead.”
“Massimo please don’t do this,” Lucca says.
A chorus of begging begins but I hear something strange against the background of conversation.
It’s a chopping sound…no. That’s not it.
Thrip, thrip, thrip.
Blades slice through the air, beat against the air. Dominic hears it too, then we all do.
It’s too late when that happens because we see what’s making the sound.
A military helicopter hovers in front of the floor to ceiling glass windows with a man dressed in full black carrying a machine gun.
No one can just walk into D’Agostinos Inc without being searched, so it makes sense for our enemies to fly.
Fuck.
As the bullets spray smashing the glass, I dive to my left covering my brother. I knock Dominic to the ground getting him out of the way and we both flip the table to cover ourselves.