Chapter 3 - An arrogant underboss laughs off a terrifying accusation while a fiercely loyal bullmastiff tightens its grip on a deadly secret hidden beneath the funeral roof.
Marcus let out a forced, high-pitched chuckle that echoed hollowly off the vaulted stone ceilings of the chapel.
"You're going to trust a beast over twenty years of loyal brotherhood?" Marcus challenged with feigned indignation.
Brun responded by baring a row of sharp, powerful teeth, letting out another deep, guttural warning growl.
The vibration of the animal's snarl seemed to rattle the gold handles of the small white casket resting nearby.
Salvatore did not crack a smile; his gaze remained locked onto Marcus like a predator studying a trapped rabbit.
"Loyalty isn't measured in years, Marcus; it's proven in the dark when nobody else is watching," Salvatore replied coldly.
The surrounding enforcers shifted uneasily in the dim light, resting their hands casually inside their jacket holsters.
Marcus looked frantically around the room, realizing that none of the veteran capos were stepping up to defend him.
The emerald green shirt beneath his light grey suit was plastered with nervous sweat against his collarbones.
"I was at the docks three days ago managing the shipping manifests just like you ordered," Marcus lied quickly.
Salvatore raised a single eyebrow, his imposing silhouette cutting a sharp figure against the dimly lit background.
"The shipping manifests were signed off by digital automation three days ago, not by human hands," Salvatore corrected softly.
The color drained completely from Marcus’s face as he realized his airtight alibi had just crumbled into dust.
Brun took half a step forward, his massive muscular frame coiling like a steel spring ready to release.
Marcus took an involuntary step back, his arrogant facade completely melting away into sheer, unadulterated panic.
"You're making a mistake, Salvatore; someone is trying to drive a wedge between us!" Marcus protested loudly.
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"The only wedge here is the bullet you earned the moment you sold out my family," Salvatore answered flatly.
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