Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
VIRGILIO
G unshots.
The crowd erupts into chaos.
People scream and duck for cover, their faces twisted in fear.
My eyes dart across the room, and that's when I spot him—my father. He's here, and he's not alone. Fuck! Fuck!!
I scan the area for Zoe, my heart pounding like a drum. But I know that if I go to her now, I'll be distracted. I can't afford that. Not when Benedetto is here.
I pull out my gun, the cold metal a strange comfort in my hand. My eyes search for Dante, and I spot him already moving towards Zoe. Our eyes meet, and he gives me a quick nod. Good. Zoe will be safe with him.
This ends here and now.
I duck behind a pillar, trying to keep my breathing steady.
I peek out from my hiding place and see him—Benedetto Messina, standing there like he owns the place. The sight of him makes my blood boil. This man has tormented my family for far too long.
The shot rings out, but I stay hidden, waiting for the right moment to reveal myself. My phone pings and I know it is a message from Dante: Zoe is safe.
Great. Now it's time to finish this.
I peer around the pillar, scanning the room. Benedetto's men are spread out, their eyes scanning the crowd. They're looking for me. They have no idea where I am yet. Good.
Benedetto stands in the middle of the pandemonium, his cold eyes searching for me too. He hasn't seen me yet either. I count his guards: one by the exit, another near the stage, and two more flanking him. Four men. I can handle four men. He trained me to do it.
"Benedetto!" I call out, stepping from behind the pillar.
His head snaps in my direction, and a twisted smile spreads across his face. "Ah, there you are, Virgilio," he sneers. "Or should I say Ettore? You think you can hide behind a new name? Pathetic."
I keep my gun steady, aiming at him. "It's over, Benedetto. You're done."
He laughs, a harsh sound that cuts through the air. "You think you can defeat me? You’re no son of mine. I should have gotten rid of you when you were a useless kid."
His words sting, but I don't let it show. "I'm not like you," I reply calmly.
"That’s the point. You can't be like me. You can never be like me. You are a bloody stain on my reputation," he continues, his voice dripping with venom. "Weak and useless."
I step closer, my grip tightening on the gun. "The only stain here is you," I say.
His face twists with anger. "How dare you speak to me like that?" he snarls.
I can see it now—how truly unhinged he is. The way his eyes blaze with fury, the way his hands clench into fists. He's still a monster, through and through.
"You’re nothing but a psychopath," I tell him.
His eyes narrow to slits as he takes a step toward me. "I'll enjoy watching you die," he hisses.
I hold my ground, ready for whatever comes next. No more running, no more hiding.
The guards tense up but don't move yet; they're waiting for Benedetto's signal. My heart races as I stare him down, knowing this is our final showdown.
"I bet you would," I chuckle bitterly. "But I'm going to stop you."
Benedetto's sneer grows wider as he steps closer, his eyes boring into mine with a cruel glint. "You think you can stop me? You're nothing but a coward, hiding behind that scarred face of yours," he spits out. "Your mother was weak, and so is your brother. Don’t think you are any different."
I clench my fists, fighting to keep my rage in check. "Don't you dare talk about them like that," I say through gritted teeth.
He laughs again, the sound grating on my nerves. "Oh, but it's true. Your mother was a useless whore who couldn't even keep her own children in line. And Dante is even more pathetic than you are.”
My vision blurs with anger as I take a step forward. "What did we ever do to you?" I demand. "Why do you hate us so much?"
Benedetto's eyes narrow as he looks at me with pure hatred. "You shouldn't have been born," he says coldly. "You and your brother were nothing but obstacles in my path. Competition."
"We were children!" I shout back, my voice cracking with emotion. "All we wanted was our father's love!"
He scoffs, shaking his head. "Love? That's what makes you weak, Virgilio. Emotions make you weak. I had high hopes for you once, but look at you now. You keep hiding."
His words cut deep, but I don't let them show on my face. I won't give him the satisfaction. "You're wrong, emotions don't make you weak" I say quietly but firmly.
"Am I?" Benedetto smirks. "Do you really think you can protect Zoe? There's nowhere she can run to where I won't find her. After I kill you, I'll make sure I fuck her well and good and maybe let my men have a taste of her before I end her miserable life."
That does it.
I see red.
My hands shake with rage, but I know I can't make a move. Not yet. The guards would kill me before I even got close. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself. "You're the real coward here, Benedetto," I say. "Look at you, hiding behind all these men when it's just me."
Benedetto's eyes narrow, and for a moment, I think he might order his men to attack. But then he smirks, a cold, cruel smile that makes my skin crawl. "You think you stand a chance?" he sneers. " Soldati , leave us."
The guards exchange uneasy glances but follow his command. They move to the edges of the room, their eyes still fixed on me, waiting for the signal to come back.
"Only return if I call for you," Benedetto orders them.
Once the guards are gone, Benedetto turns his full attention to me. He cracks his knuckles and takes a step forward, his eyes gleaming with vicious anticipation. "Come at me, boy," he taunts.
This is it. This is the moment I've been waiting for my whole life.
Benedetto and I circle each other, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. His eyes are filled with a cold, calculating hatred, while mine burns with a fury that has been building for years. I will not let him win. Not this time.
He lunges first, his movements quick but sloppy. I dodge to the side, feeling the rush of air as his fist grazes past me. Without missing a beat, I strike back with precision, my training and rage guiding each movement.
The room erupts into chaos as we clash. I move with lethal efficiency, every punch and kick fueled by years of pent-up anger and pain.
Benedetto fights back viciously, his attacks wild but powerful. He aims for my scars and weak spots, trying to exploit any vulnerability he can find. He knows where to hit me. He knows where it hurts the most from past broken ribs and ill-healed bones, because he did that to me.
But my determination drives me forward. Each blow I land sends an electrifying rush of satisfaction through me. This is for every bruise, every scar, every moment of fear he inflicted on me and my family.
Benedetto snarls as he swings at me again, but I duck under his arm and deliver a sharp punch to his ribs. He grunts in pain, staggering back a step. I press my advantage, not giving him a moment to recover.
We trade blows in a brutal exchange, neither of us willing to back down. His strength is waning, while my resolve only grows stronger. I see an opening and take it, delivering a swift kick that knocks the gun from his hand.
The weapon clatters to the floor, and Benedetto's eyes widen in shock. Before he can react, I scoop up the gun and press the barrel against his chest. My finger hovers over the trigger as we lock eyes.
For a moment, everything else fades away—the noise, the chaos—it's just him and me.
"You won't hurt anyone ever again," I say through gritted teeth.
Benedetto's sneer falters for the first time as he realizes he's lost control. His eyes flicker with fear—a sight I've never seen before.
"You don't have the guts," he spits out, but his voice wavers.
I press the barrel harder against his chest, my grip steady and unyielding. "Watch me."
My finger tightens on the trigger, and the gunshot echoes through the room.
Benedetto's scream of pain fills my ears as the bullet tears through him. He clutches at the wound, his face contorted in agony.
I step back, watching him writhe on the floor.
The power I feel is intoxicating, but it’s tempered by years of pain and anger that bubble to the surface. I aim lower and fire twice more, each shot hitting his legs. His cries grow louder, but I don't flinch.
"Do you feel that?" I shout over his groans. "That's just a fraction of what you've put me through."
He growls in pain, trying to pull himself up, but his legs give out beneath him. The sight of him—weak and vulnerable—stirs a twisted satisfaction within me. For once, he’s the one who’s powerless.
"You took everything from me," I continue, my voice shaking. "Every goddamn thing! My childhood was nothing but a nightmare because of you."
I take a step closer, my gun still trained on him. "I used to lie awake at night, terrified of what you might do next. Every time you raised your hand, every time you shouted—I was just a kid! You were supposed to protect me, not destroy me."
Benedetto's eyes flicker with fear, but I don’t let it sway me.
"And it wasn't just me," I say, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You did the same to Dante. You nearly killed him! We all had to escape and hide because of you."
He tries to speak, but all that comes out is a strangled gasp.
"You thought you could control us with fear," I ask bitterly. "You thought you could break us. But guess what? I'm still here. Dante's still here. And we’re stronger than you'll ever be."
The room falls silent except for Benedetto’s labored breathing and occasional whimpers of pain.
"I had dreams," I say quietly. "I wanted a normal life—a life without looking over my shoulder every second. But you ripped that away from me."
He tries to sit up again, and I press my foot against his chest, forcing him back down.
"You turned me into someone I hate, someone like you ," I admit softly. "But no more."
Benedetto looks up at me with those cold eyes that used to haunt my nightmares. Now they look empty, defeated.
"I used to think about this moment every day," I confess. "I thought it would bring me peace—closure." I shake my head slowly. "But there’s no peace here. I’ll never forgive you," I say finally. "But I'm done letting you control my life."
I drop the gun. A quick death would be a mercy for Benedetto.
No, he deserves to feel every bit of pain he's caused. I step closer and grab him by the collar, pulling him up slightly. My fist slams into his face, punctuating my words with each punch.
"This is for my mother!" I shout, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone under my knuckles.
Benedetto's head snaps back, blood spraying from his nose. He tries to shield himself, but I knock his hands away and hit him again.
"This is for Dante!" Another punch lands, splitting his lip wide open.
He groans, but I don't stop. I can't stop. The rage inside me burns too hot.
"This is for Zoe!" I scream, my fist connecting with his cheekbone. Blood splashes onto my face and clothes, but I don't care. He deserves this. "And this is for me."
I hear a weak "Please..." escape his lips, but it only fuels my anger further.
I growl, punching him again. " I begged you to stop! We all begged!"
His face is a mess of blood and bruises now, barely recognizable. But it's not enough. It's never enough.
"This is pointless," I mutter to myself, realizing that no amount of punches will erase the pain he's caused.
I pull out my gun again and press it against his forehead. His eyes widen in fear, but there's no sympathy left in me.
"Rot in hell, mother fucker" I whisper before pulling the trigger.
The shot echoes in the room, and Benedetto's body goes limp.
I step back, the brutality of what I've done sinking in. My heart pounds in my chest and the adrenaline makes the blood feel like a drum in my ears, but there's no time to dwell on it now.
I need to see Zoe. I need to find Zoe. My legs feel heavy, and my breaths come in ragged gasps, but the thought of her keeps me moving.
The taste of victory over Benedetto is bitter and irony from the blood, but it’s not enough to quiet me. Not until I see Zoe safe.
I push through the chaos, my clothes soaked with Benedetto's blood. People scream and run in every direction, but I don’t stop. I can't.
I hear sirens in the distance, and I know this place will be crawling with police and medics very shortly.
As I near the backstage entrance, a security guard tries to stop me. "Sir, you can't go in there!" he shouts, but I don't even slow down. My fist connects with his jaw before he can react, and he crumples to the ground.
"Sorry," I mutter under my breath as I step over him and continue on my path.
The backstage area is just as chaotic as the main floor. Models in various stages of undress huddle together, their faces pale with fear. Assistants and designers rush around, trying to make sense of the madness.
"Zoe!" I shout, but my voice gets lost in the noise. My heart pounds, not just from the fight but from the need to see her, to make sure she’s okay.
Every step feels like a lifetime. Relief and exhaustion battle within me, but the thought of Zoe drives me forward.
"Move!" I yell at a group blocking my path. They scatter, and I continue my desperate search.
The night air feels cool against my skin as I step outside the venue. The sounds of sirens and chaos still echo in the distance, but out here, it's almost peaceful. Streetlights cast long shadows, making everything look like a scene from a dream.
I spot Zoe standing with Dante and Sabine. Relief floods through me, making my legs weak. My heart leaps with joy as I see her, safe and sound.
"Zoe!" I call out, my voice filled with desperate raw emotion.
Her eyes widen as she sees me approaching. For a moment, we just stare at each other, frozen in time.
Then she runs to me. I open my arms wide, and we embrace tightly. Her body trembles in my arms, and I hold her even closer, never wanting to let go.
"Virgilio, you're alive," she whispers, her voice breaking. Tears stream down her face, soaking into my shirt.
I murmur into her hair, "It's over. It's over," trying to convince both of us that it's true.
But there's no time to linger. I pull back slightly, looking into her eyes. "We need to go now," I say urgently.
She nods, understanding the gravity of the situation.
I turn to Dante. "Take the other car and get Sabine to safety," I instruct him.
Dante nods and places a hand on my shoulder. "You did good," he says quietly.
I grunt in acknowledgment but quickly refocus. "Also, coordinate with the Russo clan hacker. We need to get any footage of the CCTV cameras and any videos of this off the internet."
Dante's eyes widen slightly. "Flavio might be pissed," he warns.
"I'm a Capodecina," I remind him firmly. "This is within my authority. Just do it."
Security knows better than to intervene, but in this day and age, someone is most certainly filming. We need to move fast.
Zoe and I hurry towards the car. I open the door for her and help her in, then quickly slide into the driver's seat. As we speed away, I can feel my heart pounding, but I know we have to stay focused.
"Virgilio, what if they find us?" Zoe asks, her voice trembling with fear.
"They won't," I assure her. "I've got people taking care of it.”