Chapter 9 - the truth in the vault
Marco panicked, firing two wild shots that shattered the plaster wall beside Rico's head.
Rico didn't flinch. He grabbed Marco's wrist with crushing strength, twisting the pistol out of the manager's grip, and drove a crushing right hook directly into Marco's jaw!
Marco crashed onto the marble floor, spitting blood, his glasses shattering against the stone.
Rico knelt over him, pinning the traitor by his collar, his silver revolver pressed directly between Marco's eyes.
"Fifteen years, Marco," Rico growled, his deep voice trembling with pure, unadulterated fury. "I gave you a life. I gave you my trust. And you sold my wife to Valenti!"
"Rico... please!" Marco whimpered, weeping hysterically on the floor. "Valenti threatened my family! He forced me! I didn't want to hurt Isabella!"
"You killed my son's mother," Rico whispered coldly.
Before Rico could pull the trigger, Dante rushed down the corridor. "Boss! Federal agents and NYPD units just breached the outer gate! Valenti's entire syndicate is being raided across Manhattan right now! The micro-drive files uploaded automatically to the district attorney's server!"
Rico stared down at the groveling traitor, then slowly lowered his weapon. "Death is too quick for you, Marco. You're going to spend the rest of your life in a maximum-security cage."
Dante grabbed Marco by his collar, dragging the weeping traitor out into the driveway where police sirens illuminated the rainy night.
Rico turned and sprinted down to the subterranean wine cellar. He knocked four times on the heavy steel safe-room door—their private code.
The heavy steel bolts clicked open.
Clara stood in the doorway, holding Leo close to her chest. The moment she saw Rico standing there unharmed, tears spilled from her eyes. She stepped forward, throwing her arms around his neck.
Rico wrapped his broad arms tightly around Clara and his son, pulling both of them against his chest, burying his face into Clara's soft brown hair.
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"It's over, Clara," Rico murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "The traitors are gone. You're safe."
Leo reached up his little hands, patting both of their faces with a joyful giggle. "Daddy and Mommy Clara saved us!"
