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Chapter 35

KYSLER WILSON

It took a while before the reinforcements arrived. When they finally got to the mansion, the war was long over—and all that was left behind were corpses and silence.

Gunpowder lingered in the air like poison, and it was mixing with the metallic stench of blood.

I've seen massacres before. I've led a few myself. But this one. . . this one will haunt me in ways I didn't expect.

Naupo ako sa ibaba ng hagdan sa pagod. My breathing was ragged, chest rising and falling like it was trying to catch up with what just happened. My blood dripped from my shoulder, and it's trailing down to stain the floor.

My own blood . . . mingling with theirs.

I just stayed on the edge and watched the soldiers moved inside the mansion checking and securing the perimeter just as I ordered.

My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I looked around.

There were bodies everywhere. Piled in corners. Sprawled across the steps. Slumped against walls. Some of them were young. Too young. Too fucking young to die like this without even the chance of fighting for their lives.

They weren't part of this. They were never meant to be part of this. Yet here they were. Scattered like discarded dolls with their eyes open and limbs twisted. Some were still clinging to one another in death. Just fuck!

"You don't have to stay," one of the lieutenants said carefully. "We'll handle the cleanup, boss."

But I shook my head, unwilling to leave this sight and join them in their misery. That's the least I could do for them.

"No. Not until I know who started this."

Because someone did start this. Someone made the call to try and kill me tonight. Pinangako ko na hindi matatapos ang gabing ito na hindi ko nalalaman kung sino ang gumawa nito. I will hunt them myself. Sisiguraduhin kong isasama ko sila sa mga hayop nilang tauhan at dudurugin isa-isa.

"How's the investigation going?" I asked through clenched teeth.

"We're gathering fragments of intel. Symbols. Identities. There's strong evidence that multiple clans worked together to pull this off."

A multi-faction attack. I let out a twisted laugh, smirking like a madman. They can't kill me on their own. So they brought friends? A fucking alliance just to take me down? That's how scared they are. That's how much of a threat I am.

"Who led it?" I asked again in sharper tone. The head of Shestyorka hesitated, his eyes flicking away. He swallowed hard as if the truth physically hurt to say. I turned to him slowly, daring him. "Say it."

He flinched, but just seconds later he finally spoke. "B-base from the tattoos and insignias found on the bodies. . . the Scorpion mark was the most prominent. The symbol of the Sopranos."

Skyler.

And he had the audacity to act shocked when it was all his doing. I should have killed him earlier. I should have not let my moral take over me. Naipaghiganti ko na sana ang pagkamatay ni Mommy at ng mga taong nadamay sa katarantaduhan niya.

A sharp breath escapes me, shaky and low, as rage claws through my chest. Muling kumuyom ang kamao ko hanggang sa mamuti iyon sa higpit.

"Bring me every single corpse," I said, my voice was hollow. "The enemies. The ones with the Scorpion tattoo."