Chapter 1: The Silver Serpent

The ballroom exploded into gunfire.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Darius slammed his arm around Mireia’s waist, dragging her down behind a massive marble pillar just as a spray of bullets shattered the crystal chandelier above their heads. Glass rained down like diamond dust, exploding across the floor.

Marco returned fire from behind the mahogany table, knocking one of Rossi’s gunmen off his feet with two sharp shots to the chest.

“Darius! Take the service elevator!” Marco yelled over the deafening roar of gunfire. “We’ll hold the hallway!”

“Alyssa!” Mireia screamed, looking back toward the entrance where her sister was cowering behind a overturned velvet sofa.

Darius didn't hesitate. He pulled his own sleek black Kimber 1911 pistol from his shoulder holster, leaned out from behind the pillar, and fired three rapid, incredibly precise shots. Two of Rossi’s men dropped to the floor instantly.

Darius sprinted through the crossfire, grabbed Alyssa by her coat, and dragged her back behind the safety of the marble pillar beside Mireia.

“Are you hit?” Darius demanded, checking both sisters quickly.

“I’m... I’m okay!” Alyssa sobbed, holding onto Mireia’s red dress. “Mireia, I’m so sorry... I didn't know Father was involved with these people! I swear I didn't know!”

“I know, Alyssa. Stay low!” Mireia instructed, pulling her sister behind her.

Rossi was advancing down the center aisle, firing his revolver continuously, his face contorted in insane greed. “Give me the girl, Villano! You can’t protect her from the entire Outfit!”

Darius looked at Mireia. His dark eyes were calm, cold, and utterly fearless.

“Stay behind this pillar until I tell you to move,” Darius ordered softly.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small black electronic remote, and pressed a red button.

Instantly, the hotel’s emergency steel fire shutters dropped from the ceiling, slamming down over the glass windows and main exits with a deafening THUD, sealing the ballroom into absolute darkness save for the emergency red lighting.

In the dim crimson light, Darius Villano became a phantom.

He moved with terrifying speed and lethal efficiency. He stepped out from behind the pillar, dodging a round from Rossi, and slammed the heavy butt of his pistol into the jaw of an advancing gunman. The man’s head snapped back, his weapon clattering to the floor before Darius threw him into the grand piano.

Rossi spun around, panicking as his men were neutralized one by one in the dark red gloom.

“Villano!” Rossi screamed, raising his revolver wildly.

Darius appeared out of the shadows right in front of him.

With a movement so fast it was a blur, Darius grabbed Rossi’s wrist, twisting it sharply upward until the bones cracked with a loud SNAP. Rossi shrieked in agony, dropping the revolver.

Darius grabbed Rossi by the throat, lifting the heavier man off his feet and slamming him violently back against the marble wall beneath the Moretti crest banner.

“You made a mistake coming to my city, Dominic,” Darius growled, his face inches from the terrified Underboss. “And your biggest mistake was threatening my wife.”