Is this destiny?

Bruno was not willing to talk. At worst, Angelo knows everything. Is there a point in admitting it? The best scenario is that Angelo does not know anything, however, that is not an option because Angelo is definitely aware that Bruno approached Emma and interacted with her.

Angelo saw that Bruno has no intention to say his side of the story, so Angelo did the only thing he could: he played the last video.

The video on the laptop was from the safehouse which showed Bruno\'s talk to JoAnna: when he admitted plotting against Angelo by using Emma to take over Angelo\'s position, and eliminating all Angelo\'s children when he achieves his goal.

"Say something…", Angelo urged Bruno when the video ended. "Tell me that it\'s not true. Tell me that it is fake. Tell me that the man on the video is not you!"

Bruno looked at Angelo with an unreadable expression. "What would you do if I deny this as true?"

"I would show you evidence which proves that you are collecting information on my daughter for a while. I would show you that you admitted your intention of seducing Emma to my oldest son, Mike, and that enraged him to the point of him beating you up. I would show you a video of you reading information on Emma in a restaurant before you were beaten up by Sean and Ryan. And I will hope that you have an explanation for each of them because it\'s one thing if you are eyeing the position of the capo, but dragging my children into this is totally different."

At the mention of Emma, Mike, Sean, and Ryan, rage swelled in Bruno. Those four useless kids who lived a sheltered life outsmarted him, hurt him… and even after two decades of being apart, they still have a spot in Angelo\'s heart.

Bruno clenched his teeth in anger. "Are you worried that I will hurt them? Or that I will replace you?"

Angelo didn\'t understand where this is coming from. Bruno was always by his side. The only one by his side. Angelo got Bruno out of the orphanage and sent him to school and taught him everything he needs to lead the organization. Where did Bruno get the idea that someone else can inherit the capo position? "Bruno, since I noticed your enthusiasm in following me, you were set on a path to replace me in Nero armi. But I didn\'t realize that you are in such a rush."

"I was not in a rush.", Bruno admitted.

Angelo noticed that Bruno spoke in the past tense. "What changed?"

Bruno looked at Angelo and saw that Angelo is confused. Bruno thought that maybe there is a chance for him to wiggle out of this... somehow. Maybe if he makes Angelo realize how he wronged him. \'Yes, that will work\', Bruno thought. If he explains his side of the story, Angelo will find out that either Angelo is the one who made a mistake, or that all this is a misunderstanding. After all, no one was hurt (other than Bruno), and it\'s easy to say sorry and move on.

"I saw how you are looking at Emma\'s report. The one which had information that she is engaged to a Smith. From that moment you had your mindset that she will inherit you. Even if you are not aware of it, I was."

Angelo didn\'t get it. "What did you see?"

"I saw pride. Something you never showed when you looked at me. But let me tell you. She is soft and she will fail, and the whole Nero armi will collapse if you decide to give it to her..."

Angelo didn\'t hear the rest of Bruno\'s words. He leaned back in the chair and his arms rested limply by his side. He felt as all energy left him. He wondered, is it possible that Bruno started plotting of getting rid of him and his children because he was proud that Emma is doing well?

Angelo remembers reading the report which said that Emma is doing well, and has her rehabilitation center, and that her fiancé can provide her with backing, and from the photos he could see them smiling and looking tenderly at each other and he could tell that Emma is happy. Only a man who has a rock in place of his heart would not be proud of a daughter like that. And that was the moment when Bruno turned against him?

Angelo\'s phone vibrated with a notification and he checked it on a reflex. He saw that \'AoC\' sent him an email with a subject: "You are welcome".

It took Angelo a moment to connect that \'AoC\' stands for the Army of Chaos.

The email had a link and when Angelo tapped the link it opened a video file. This one showed Bruno and Emma in a room. The volume on Angelo\'s phone was off, but he can see that they are talking. 

"Let\'s watch this one together…", Angelo told Bruno when he opened the link on the laptop and started the video.

On the laptop screen…

"Hi, Bruno. Can you talk?"

Angelo held his breath when he heard Emma\'s voice. She sounds just like her mother. A small smile crept on his face when he realized that the words are familiar because that is what he said when Bruno woke up.

"I came here to talk to you, and I had so many questions, but right now, I can\'t remember most of them. Those few that I remember don\'t seem to be important."

As he listened to Emma\'s words, Angelo raised his eyebrows in surprise. That is exactly how he felt when Bruno woke up and he got a chance to talk to him.

Angelo listened intently and his eyes shifted to Bruno when he heard him say to Emma: "You trust people easily, like Angelo. He does not need much to let people in, and that is what makes him vulnerable. And you as well."

Bruno glanced at Angelo and saw that Angelo is thinking about something deeply. Too many things happened, and that is his chance. A spark of hope was ignited in Bruno\'s mind. Maybe Angelo will not be ruthless. After all, Bruno was already beaten up (more than once) and is suffering. Would Angelo punish him more? Maybe some punishment, but he would not kill him, right? Bruno is aware that he is the closest person to Angelo in the last twenty years, and that can\'t be easily erased.

Bruno is confident that Angelo is attached to him. Angelo trusts him. Angelo will not kill him.

Bruno\'s hope sank when he saw Angelo\'s expression change at Emma\'s words which sounded from the laptop: "What would you do to a person who tried using you to achieve his goals and discard you when done? And kill the rest of your family as well…"

Angelo heard Emma talking to Bruno, but he was sure that she is talking to him. She is reminding him of what matters. Angelo gave up his family twenty years ago in order to protect them. If he lets Bruno squirm his way out of this, then his last twenty years are wasted.

Bruno watched Angelo walk to the opposite side of the room and his eyes widened in horror when he saw Angelo pick up a knife.

Angelo\'s murderous gaze sent chills down Bruno\'s spine.

"No!", Bruno shouted. "You can\'t do this! Who will be the next capo? I am the only one who can take your place!"

"I will rather watch Nero armi fall apart than leave it to you.", Angelo responded icily.

The door opened and one of Angelo\'s men stepped in. "Capo, don\'t dirty your hands. Let me do it."

Angelo realized that Bruno\'s yelling alerted the men outside about what is about to start. Angelo waved to the man to return outside.

"Close the door. I need to do this myself.", Angelo said with a crazed expression while walking toward Bruno.

Bruno moved with an intention to defend himself or maybe run, but the pain which shoot through his body at the smallest of the movements was paralyzing.

\'BANG!\'

Bruno\'s mouth opened in a silent scream at the fiery pain in his left thigh.

"I can\'t let you run away…", Angelo said while keeping his gun on the table before continuing to approach Bruno with the knife in his hand.

Bruno\'s horrid screams spilled out of the room and they echoed for a long time. His pitch changed occasionally until his voice was hoarse… and then it was all quiet.

The door of the room opened, and Angelo walked out.

One of the men in the hallway handed Angelo a towel so that he can wipe off the blood. He can\'t clean his hands with just a towel, but he can wipe enough to prevent dripping.

"Send a message to our people to empty the base in Milan.", Angelo said one of his subordinates who followed after him out of the house. "And notify the army of Chaos that three days starts from now."

"What should I say to the others about Bruno?", the man asked Angelo.

Angelo paused his steps. "Tell them that this is how traitors end up."

With every next step, Angelo felt that his heart is lighter.

He looks forward to meeting his children. Especially Emma. She is so like him. He is confident that Emma would do anything for the people she loves in order to keep them safe.

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