Chapter 55 #2
“You’ve already lost, Cipi. You’re out of time,” Bruno continues.
My gaze flicks to the ceiling where I spot a rusty chain hanging above him.
“Then why are you holding Lucia captive?” I snap. “I’m the one you want so let her go.”
“I’m going to deal with you in a minute,” he replies, “Right now watching you squirm while I hurt the people you love is the real victory.”
I take a slow step forward, keeping my gun raised. “I said let her go.”
His eyes narrow, and I see the gun move slightly from Lucia’s head.
All the years of taking orders from me still had a hold on him and that’s all I need.
I shift my aim and fire above his head.
The chain snaps and half of it crashes down onto Bruno’s shoulder with a sickening thud.
He grunts in pain and stumbles. Lucia takes advantage, slamming her elbow into his ribs and tearing free from his grip.
“Run!” I shout.
Bruno recovers fast, gripping his gun and firing off a series of rounds in my direction. I duck behind a stack of crates as Lucia disappears into the shadows.
“Go to Dominic,” I yell.
“You should have never agreed to be capo,” Bruno shouts as he walks down the aisle to where I’m hiding.
Trembling, I lean against the crates as I hear his footsteps come closer and closer.
Emotions flood through me.
With Salvatore it had been a survival reaction.
But this is different.
I had always been closer to Bruno.
“Cipi, why are we prolonging the inevitable,” Bruno taunts. “Come out and face your fate.”
He’s right on the other side of the stack and that’s when I react.
Throwing all my weight against the tower, I slam into it with everything I have.
The crates topple forward in a roar of splintering wood and clanging metal.
Bruno curses as they crash into him, knocking him backward onto the concrete.
His gun goes clattering across the floor in my direction.
I step out from behind the wreckage with my gun raised.
I kick his gun behind me and out of reach.
My hands tremble but I force myself to remain calm.
Bruno gets to his feet.
Blood runs down the side of his face where one of the crates caught him.
“You really think you can kill me, Cipi?” he spits. “After everything we’ve been through?”
“I don’t want to,” I admit. “But you left me no choice.”
He straightens and smiles. “You never kill the people you thought were family.”
I stare at him.
The man who’d once been like a second father.
The man I trusted with my life.
I hesitate and he takes advantage.
Lunging forward, he tackles me below my waist.
My shot goes wide as he slams me into the crate. The gun falls from my hands and slides across the floor.
Bruno slams me to the floor. My back hits the concrete. Pain shoots up my spine.
His hands pin me to the ground.
I twist, driving my knee into his stomach and shoving him off as I scramble to the gun.
“You should've given me the empire,” he snarls.
My fingers find the jagged edge of a broken crate. Without thinking, I grab it and slam it into his side.
He swears and his grip loosens. I karate chop him in the neck and he releases me.
I scramble to my feet and grab the gun.
Whirling around, I point the barrel at him.
“You really think you can kill me?” Bruno growls.
As I meet his gaze, the words he told me not so long ago resurface in my mind.
When you find the devil behind all of this. Make sure you kill him. No trial. No mercy. Promise me you’ll destroy him, even if it breaks your heart.
Before I can second guess myself, I pull the trigger.
The shot echoes like thunder in the factory.
Bruno staggers. Shock fills his face as he looks down at the scarlet stain spreading across his chest. His lips part, like he wants to say something, but only blood drips from his chin.
Then he collapses.
I stand for a moment with the gun still raised.
My breath comes in ragged bursts.
My ears ring, my hands shake, but I don’t lower the weapon until I see he’s no longer breathing.
My name rings throughout the warehouse.
Lucia and Enzo round the corner followed by the other guards.
“Cipi, you’re alright,” Lucia throws her arms around me.
“Where’s Dominic?” I cry.
“Luca is taking him to the hospital. He’s alright. He will live.” Lucia assures me.
It’s only then that I allow myself to finally feel the weight of all my suppressed emotions.
Every bullet fired.
Every betrayal uncovered.
Every face of the people I’ve lost come crashing down on me all at once.
My chest heaves as the adrenaline drains away.
I’ve killed so many people but it feels different when it’s family.
The gun slips from my fingers, clattering to the floor, and I collapse into Lucia’s arms.
Tears flow freely and sobs wrack my body as I finally release all the pent-up emotions.
Lucia holds me tight, her own tears hot against my shoulder.
Nothing will ever be the same again.
But as I stand here, surrounded by the dead who had betrayed me, and held by those who love me, I realize Salvatore and Bruno were wrong.
The queen wasn’t defeated.
She’d made her final move.
And this time, it was checkmate.