Chapter 5 - The Gathering of the CaptainsThe heavy double doors of the boathouse were kicked open with a loud, splintering CRACK!
Two tactical operators swept into the room with their rifles raised.
THWIP! THWIP!
Gabriel fired two precise, suppressed rounds before the men could react, sending both operators crashing flat onto the damp floorboards.
Before Victor could raise his sidearm, Gabriel stepped into the open doorway, his massive frame illuminated by the pale morning light, his revolver pointed directly between Victor’s eyes.
Victor froze dead in his tracks. His rifle slipped from his trembling hands, hitting the gravel with a quiet thud. His jaw sagged open in total, speech-bound horror as he stared at the Don he had seen covered under a white sheet five hours ago.
"Don... Don Gabriel...?!" Victor choked out, his face turning an ugly, paper-white shade of gray as he dropped flat onto his knees right in the dirt. "My God... you're... you're alive?!"
"Tell me, Victor," Gabriel spoke softly, his deep baritone carrying an absolute, freezing authority that made the remaining three guards drop their weapons instantly. "Did Carmine tell you I was dead... or did he pay you to ensure I stayed that way?"
"Carmine paid us, Don Gabriel!" Victor wept, pressing his forehead flat against the gravel in total, groveling surrender. "He told us you died in surgery! He promised us double salary if we secured the main mansion before sunrise! Please, Don Gabriel! Mercy!"
Gabriel looked down at the groveling enforcer with zero anger and zero bitterness.
"You have one chance to save your life, Victor," Gabriel commanded flatly. "Call every senior captain to the grand dining room at five-thirty A.M. Tell them Carmine Rossi has called an emergency council meeting to read my master will."
Victor raised his pale face, nodding frantically. "Yes, Don Gabriel! Right away!"
"And Victor?" Gabriel added softly, stepping closer, resting his broad hand protectively over my shoulder as I stepped out from behind the canvas covers.
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"Yes, sir?"
"If a single hair on this young woman's head is touched during the transition..." Gabriel promised in an ice-cold whisper, "I will feed you to the lake."
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