Chapter 4
The sheer horror of the revelation paralyzed the room. The bright video colors of the pastel fabric bunting and ribbon boxes stood in sickening contrast to the dark, violent betrayal unfolding on the floor.
Evelyn Hale, realizing that her son was seconds away from being executed by the veteran Mafia boss, panicked. The sixty-three-year-old woman lunged forward, her luxurious heels clicking sharply. She reached down and immediately jerks Sofia’s sleeve downward, desperately trying to cover the hideous bruises marking her daughter-in-law's fair skin.
“That little brat is lying again!” Evelyn shouted, her voice shrill and panicked, her pearl jewelry rattling against her collarbone. She pointed a manicured, trembling finger at the weeping three-year-old. "He makes things up for attention! Sofia is clumsy! She falls down the stairs!"
Massimo did not even look at Evelyn. He gently pushed the older woman's hand away from his daughter. He looked into Sofia's tear-filled eyes.
"Sofia," Massimo commanded gently, his voice a low, steady rumble amidst the chaos. "Tell me the truth. Right now."
Sofia let out a ragged, agonizing sob, clutching her swollen belly. "It's true, Papa. He owed money. He owed millions to the Russians. They came to the house... he gave them the keys to my room to buy himself more time."
A collective gasp echoed from the white American guests and bodyguards. Selling out the bloodline of the Don to a rival syndicate to cover a gambling debt was an act of treason so profound it demanded the eradication of the entire offending bloodline.
"You lying bitch!" Adrian roared, his fear suddenly mutating into blind, cornered fury. "I did what I had to do to protect this family's assets!"
"You sold my daughter to an animal," Massimo stated, slowly standing up to his full, deeply masculine height. He handed Sofia gently into the arms of his trusted lead capo. "Get her to the private hospital immediately. Take the boy."
"Yes, Boss," the capo responded, quickly and carefully lifting the groaning Sofia while another guard scooped up the crying Noah.
Massimo turned to face Adrian. The veteran boss radiated an aura of pure, unadulterated death. He adjusted the heavy family signet ring on his finger, his eyes locking onto the man who had defiled his family.
"Evelyn," Massimo said coldly, without looking at her. "Step away from your son. Unless you wish to share his casket."
"Massimo, please, he is my only boy!" Evelyn wept, her hands flying to her face, completely ruining her elegant baby-shower outfit's composure.
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"He is a dead man walking," Massimo replied. "And his execution begins now."
Adrian, realizing there was no negotiation, no escape, and no mercy, let out a desperate, feral yell. Driven by pure survival instinct, he clenched his fists and charged directly at the most dangerous man in the room.
