Chapter 9 - The Lion Stands
The entire ballroom held its breath. Before Dean could even process what was happening, Massimo did the impossible. He planted his feet on the floor. He gripped the armrests of the wheelchair. And with a smooth, powerful motion, Massimo Rinaldi stood up. Screams erupted from the back of the room. Camille stumbled backward, tripping over her dress, her face pale as a ghost. Dr. Hale dropped his champagne glass; it shattered on the marble floor. Massimo stood at his full height of six-foot-two, towering over the trembling Dean. "H-how?" Dean stammered, stepping back, his hands shaking. "You're paralyzed! The spine..." "The spine is fine," Massimo said, stepping forward. He walked smoothly, flawlessly. There was no hesitation in his stride. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the Glock 19, aiming it directly at Dean's chest. The room erupted into chaos, but Massimo’s loyal guards—the ones who had been secretly briefed by him that morning—immediately drew their weapons, aiming them at Dean's men.
"Did you really think," Massimo’s voice echoed like thunder, "that I wouldn't find out?" He turned his gaze to Dr. Hale, who was trying to crawl toward the exit. "Bring him here!" Massimo ordered. Two guards dragged the screaming doctor to the altar. Massimo pulled a small plastic bag from his pocket and threw it at the feet of the mafia bosses in the front row. "Neuromuscular blocking agents," Massimo announced to the stunned crowd. "Slipped into my vitamins by this doctor, paid for by the man who claims he saved my life." Don Falcone looked at the pills, then glared at Dean with absolute disgust. In their world, betrayal of a Don was the ultimate sin. "He orchestrated the ambush!" Massimo roared, pointing the gun at Dean. "He took the bullets on purpose, wearing a Kevlar vest under his shirt, just to gain my trust while keeping me locked in a wheelchair!"
Dean fell to his knees, crying. "Massimo, please! We were brothers! It was her idea!" He pointed at Camille. Camille shrieked. "You liar! You forced me into this!" Massimo looked at them with cold, dead eyes. "You took six months of my life. You tried to take my empire." Massimo looked at Don Falcone. "What is the penalty for treason within the Commission?" "Death," Falcone said firmly. Massimo didn't hesitate. He pulled the trigger. Two shots rang out. Dean Foster collapsed to the floor, dead before he realized what hit him. Massimo turned his gun toward Dr. Hale. "Take him to the warehouse. He has a lot to answer for." He then looked at Camille, who was sobbing uncontrollably on the floor. "Get out of my house," Massimo whispered. "If I ever see your face in New York again, you won't survive the night." Camille scrambled to her feet and ran out the doors, her white dress dragging through the spilled champagne and blood. Massimo stood alone at the altar, breathing heavily. The king had returned. And his empire was secure.
