Chapter 15 - The Snake Within|
Dominic walked into the hospital's basement security room, his face set in a terrifying mask of rage.
Mateo was standing beside a bank of monitors, holding a tablet displaying financial records and phone logs. Sitting in a chair in the center of the room, bound to the metal frame with heavy zip-ties, was Paulie—one of Dominic’s most trusted capos, a man who had served the Valente family for fifteen years.
Paulie’s face was covered in sweat, his eyes darting frantically toward the door as Dominic entered.
"Dom! Thank God!" Paulie stammered. "Mateo has lost his mind! He dragged me down here for no reason!"
Dominic didn't say a word. He walked over to the monitor table, looking down at the documents Mateo pointed out.
"Paulie made three offshore bank transfers over the past month," Mateo explained coldly. "Totaling two million dollars. The funds originated from an account tied to Lorenzo Moretti."
Dominic turned slowly to face Paulie. "Is this true?"
"Dom, listen to me!" Paulie pleaded, tears welling in his eyes. "Moretti threatened my family! He found out about my son's gambling debts! He forced me to give him information about Clara's movements!"
"You put my wife in a hospital, Paulie," Dominic said softly, his tone chillingly calm.
"I didn't know he was going to ram her car!" Paulie sobbed. "Moretti told me he just wanted to leverage her to force a land deal! I swear to God, Dom! I've been loyal to your father and to you for fifteen years!"
Dominic reached into his coat, pulling out his suppressed handgun.
"Loyalty isn't measured in years, Paulie," Dominic whispered, pressing the cold steel of the barrel against Paulie’s forehead. "It's measured in actions."
Phft.
A single suppressed shot echoed softly in the concrete basement.
May you like
Paulie’s body went limp against the zip-ties.
Dominic dropped the weapon onto the table, wiping his hand with a handkerchief. "Clean this up, Mateo. And make sure the rest of the family knows what happens to traitors."
