Page 38 of Silent Night with Massimo

There isn't anywhere else for us to run.

We've run straight into a dead end and now we are surrounded.

From outside the open alleyway, we hear Elio. "You may as well just give up; they've got you completely surrounded."

I shake my head, pushing myself to my feet. Adrian stands up next to me. Neither of us will go down easily. We will both fight to the death.

"I'll give up if you come in here and personally escort me out," I shout back to Elio's voice.

"Fuck you." Elio snarls.

"Traitor." Adrian snaps back at him.

"Oh please, you were so fucking blind the entire fucking time. Both of you. Too stupid to see what's right under your nose."

I clench my fists. "You were family, Elio. Family doesn't do that to family. Of course, we didn't suspect you. You were like a brother to us."

"Yeah, well, you got something I wanted. So, I had to find a way to get it for myself." He says bitterly.

"No matter the cost?" I shout.

"You already have it all. What would you know about the cost? You have the power, the money, the respect. I was supposed to be the heir. I'm older than you." Elio's voice is rich with emotion.

"You could never have run our family. Someone as weak as you - you would never be able to do it." I taunt him, pushing him closer to the edge of losing control. A man who isn't in control will make mistakes. I need him to start making more mistakes.

"I'll fucking kill you myself." He screams in anger.

But from somewhere further back chaos erupts as tires screech and vehicles arrive in force. "Back up," Adrian says with relief.

"Thank fuck." I breathe, finally letting out the heavy breath I didn't realize I was holding.

The gunfire that explodes is pure mayhem.

They don't stand a chance.

"I have to get to Vera," I shout over the noise.

"Go," Adrian shouts back. "I'm going to help them."

I run from the alleyway, staying low to keep from being hit by a stray bullet.

My men are in a full-on war against the Vitale forces. Elio is nowhere to be seen. Fuck. He must have gone for Vera. He must be trying to get my son to use him as leverage. It's the only chance he has at this point of not dying.

I run faster, pushing forward, desperation searing through me. I can't even feel the pain of my gunshot wound. My adrenalin is too high.

My family is in danger. I hope Adrian tied that thing tight enough to last through whatever is about to happen.

I round a corner, nearing the hideout and a guard rushes towards me and slams into me. We both skid across the ground and he swings his arm down to try and plunge a knife into my chest. I grab his wrist and wrestle him off me, kicking and rolling him onto his back. He is trying to push the knife up towards me, but I lean my weight against his arms, turning the knife against his throat. I lean down harder, and the blade slips into his skin, and a small pool of blood forms. He is still fighting, desperate, wanting to live, but it's too late for him. The knife moves slowly deeper, piercing his breathing pipe, blood flooding into it. I stare into his eyes and listen to the terrifying sounds of a man drowning in his own blood.

His body goes limp, and I roll off him, fighting nausea.

Then I'm back on my feet and running again.

I slip into the hide-out building, not sure what I expect to find inside and not sure what or who is waiting for me.

Elio could be hiding anywhere.

I don't want him to get the better of me.

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