Page 14

“Ah, Lorenzo,” I greet, clapping him on the back with a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. “Good to see you again.”

His eyes flicker, unsure whether to be grateful for the friendly tone or terrified. “Yeah, man,” he forces out, trying to sound calm though his voice cracks. “Good to see you, too.”

I motion for a drink, my own already in my hand. I’m taking my time, savoring this moment. The tension in the room is thick enough to choke on. “You’re early,” I say, feigning surprise. “Or maybe I’m just late. Either way, the drinks are on me tonight.”

The whiskey’s poured, and glasses clink, but Lorenzo doesn’t touch his drink at first. His hands are shaking too much, and it’s like he’s trying to hold on to something that’s slipping away.

I take a long sip, and then, just like that, the mood shifts. “So,” I say, my voice dropping low, “I’ve been hearing some things, Lorenzo.”

He freezes. “What…what things?”

The rest of the room quiets down, the men starting to edge toward the walls like they know they shouldn’t interrupt. I let the silence stretch for a beat, drawing out the tension like a slow burn.

“I know about you and Leone,” I start. “I know you’ve been selling me out. Trading your loyalty for promises of power that you’ll never get. Thought I wouldn’t notice? Thought I wouldn’t find out?”

Lorenzo’s face falls, color draining from his skin, and his breath catches, coming out as a shallow gasp. “I—Remo, I swear, I didn’t mean it,” he stammers. “I—I was just trying to—”

I cut him off with a simple gesture, and the silence swallows his words. “Don’t lie to me, Lorenzo. I know everything. The meetings. The backdoor deals with the Russians. You thought you could do this behind my back and walk away with your skin? Well, you thought wrong.”

His eyes dart around, desperate. “Remo, please…please, I made a mistake. I’m sorry. I’ll fix it. I can fix this.”

I don’t even flinch. “The problem is, you’re already dead.”

I pull the knife from my boot, its polished steel gleaming under the dim lights. The room falls dead silent, and I can feel their fear like a pressure in the air, pushing down on everything.

Lorenzo’s eyes widen, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “No, no, please! You don’t have to do this. I—I’ll make it right. I’ll—”

But there’s no making it right. Not for him. Not for anyone who betrays me.

With one swift movement, I slash the blade across his chest. The sound of it cutting through fabric and skin is sharp, like a scream in a quiet room. His body jerks, and he lets out a strangled cry, stumbling back as blood spills over his shirt and soaks into the fabric. I watch him struggle to stay upright, his hands clutching his chest like he can stop the pain with a touch. But he can’t. Nobody can.

I let him bleed for a few moments, dragging it out, watching the life drain out of him. “This is the cost of loyalty, Lorenzo,” I say, my voice harsh. “This is what happens when you forget who you owe everything to.”

His eyes are wide now, panic-stricken, and I can see his mind racing, searching for a way out. But there is no way out. Not for him. Not for anyone who crosses me.

I lean in closer, just enough for him to hear me. “You wanted a shortcut to power? Here’s your shortcut…to hell.”

I pull the knife from his chest and push him back onto the floor with a force that echoes throughout the room. His body crumples like a rag doll, blood pooling beneath him.

Then, I turn to the men around me, my eyes sweeping over them. They’re all standing there, watching, silent but understanding. “This is what happens to those who forget where their loyalty lies. You betray me, you die. Simple as that.”

But I’m not done yet. I look over at Daniela, still sitting in the corner with her arms crossed tightly, trying to stay detached. She doesn’t flinch, but I see her eyes. They’re wide and shaking with something I can’t quite place. Fear? Disgust? A little of both?

“Look at me, Daniela,” I order in a low and insistent voice. She doesn’t look away, but she doesn’t meet my eyes, either. Instead, she watches, her jaw clenched tight. Her chest rises and falls with each shallow breath, and her hands tremble just slightly. But she won’t let it show.

“You think I’m some kind of monster, don’t you?” I ask, my tone softening just enough to make her uncomfortable. “You think what I did to him was…unnecessary. Maybe even cruel.”

She doesn’t answer, but her lips press together in a thin line. She’s trying not to show fear. I can respect that.

“I did what I had to do,” I continue, stepping closer, letting the words linger in the air like poison. “Loyalty is everything in this world. Without it, there’s nothing but chaos. And chaos…chaos is what gets you killed.”

Her voice shakes as she responds, but she doesn’t back down. “You’re wrong.”

I chuckle, a sound that’s all edge and no humor. “Am I? Look around, Daniela. This is the world you’re in now. You’re learning fast. You’ll either adapt or break. And trust me, if you break, it’s worse.”

I turn back to Lorenzo, who’s still gasping, barely conscious now. “This is your final lesson, Lorenzo. Remember it well. Your life was worthless the moment you decided to betray me. And now, it’s over.”

Without hesitation, I draw my gun and fire once. The shot rings out, deafening in the silence of the room. Lorenzo’s body jerks with the impact, and then…stillness. His blood pools around him like a sickening stain.