Chapter 192 Calling The Shots

Chapter 192 Calling The Shots
Aurelia could barely breathe.
Viktor's gun remained pressed against the side of her neck as she stared across the distance at Don Roman.
For the first time since she had escaped the safe house, she was finally looking at the man she had risked everything to find.
Don Roman Moretti.
He was alive.
He was standing only a few feet away from her.
But the relief she had expected never came, because her coming here had created the nightmare she was trying to avert.
So instead, guilt consumed her.
"I'm sorry."
The words escaped her trembling lips.
Don Roman's expression softened immediately.
"Aurelia..."
"I'm sorry," she repeated, tears filling her eyes. "Please forgive me."
Don Roman took a small step forward.
Viktor immediately tightened his grip on her.
"Don't."
Don Roman stopped.
His eyes remained fixed on Aurelia.
"Why did you leave the safe house?"
Aurelia lowered her gaze.
She couldn't tell him.
Not here.
Not with Viktor standing behind her with a gun pressed against her neck.
Not when Viktor was watching every expression on her face.
"I..."
Her voice broke.
Don Roman waited.
"Tell me."
Aurelia looked at him again.
"I had to..."
She stopped.
Viktor suddenly laughed.
"How touching."
Aurelia flinched.
"Enough."
Viktor tightened his arm around her.
"Stop whispering to each other."
Don Roman's eyes narrowed.
Viktor pressed the gun harder against Aurelia.
"If you two keep having your little reunion, I'll pull the trigger."
Don Roman's expression instantly turned cold.
"Don't touch her."
"Then focus on me."
Viktor's smile returned.
"This isn't a family reunion."
He glanced at Nico.
"Although we seem to have quite the family gathered here."
Nico remained silent.
Don Roman's gaze shifted briefly toward him.
There was disappointment in his eyes.
But something else was there too.
Confusion.
Why was Nico here?
Why was he standing beside Viktor?
And why did he look so broken?
Don Roman turned his attention back to Viktor.
"What do you want?"
Viktor's smile widened.
"Finally."
He took a deep breath.
"A reasonable question."
He pulled Aurelia slightly closer.
"I want my men released."
Don Roman stared at him.
"Your men?"
"Every surviving soldier you captured."
Don Roman's face remained emotionless.
"They're dead."
Viktor's smile disappeared.
"What?"
"Your men who attacked this estate are dead."
Viktor shook his head.
"No."
Don Roman didn't blink.
"Yes."
"You're lying."
"I have no reason to lie."
Viktor stared at him.
The realization slowly settled over his face.
His army was gone.
The men he had depended on were dead.
The empire he had hoped to build had collapsed in a single night.
But there was still one person he had.
Aurelia.
His fingers tightened around her.
Don Roman immediately noticed.
"Don't."
Viktor ignored him.
"What about Enzo?"
Don Roman's expression didn't change.
"Dead."
Viktor froze.
For several seconds, he simply stared at Roman.
Then his face twisted with rage.
"You killed Enzo?"
"Enzo is dead."
Don Roman's voice remained calm.
"He chose his side."
Viktor's breathing became heavier.
Enzo.
His closest ally.
The man who had stood beside him through everything.
The man who had tried to help him win the war.
Gone.
Viktor's grip tightened around Aurelia.
She gasped.
Don Roman's eyes hardened.
"Let her go, Viktor. "
"You killed him!"
"I didn't kill Enzo."
Don Roman's voice was cold.
"He made his choices."
Viktor raised the gun slightly.
"And now I'll make mine."
Aurelia's eyes widened.
Don Roman immediately took another step.
"Viktor..."
"I swear I'll kill her."
His voice shook with rage.
"Just like you killed Enzo."
Aurelia swallowed hard.
Don Roman stopped.
His eyes remained fixed on the weapon.
"Don't make this mistake. You have no idea what you will unleash."
"You've already taken everything from me!"
Viktor shouted.
"My men!"
"My empire!"
"My future!"
"And now you expect me to walk away?"
Don Roman's expression remained cold.
"You were never entitled to any of it."
Viktor's jaw tightened.
Then suddenly his eyes narrowed.
"What about Russo?"
Don Roman paused.
"Don Russo?"
"Yes."
Viktor's voice became desperate.
"What happened to him?"
Don Roman answered calmly.
"He's alive."
Viktor stared at him.
Alive.
After everything?
Don Roman had spared him?
Before Viktor could respond, Nico suddenly spoke.
"Then why did you kill Bianca?"
Don Roman's head snapped toward him.
Silence.
Even Viktor was taken aback by the question.
He hadn't expected Nico to speak.
Nico's eyes were filled with pain.
"Bianca Russo..."
His voice trembled.
"Why did you kill her?"
Don Roman stared at him.
"What?"
Nico's breathing became heavier.
"You heard me."
He looked directly at Don Roman.
"Why did you kill Bianca and keep her father alive?"
Don Roman's eyebrows drew together.
"I didn't kill Bianca."
Nico froze.
"What?"
Don Roman looked from Nico to Viktor.
Then back to Nico.
"Is that what he told you?"
Viktor quickly spoke up.
"I didn't give you permission to talk, Nico."
"I'm on your side, Viktor."
Nico replied.
"But I need him to answer the question."
"Bianca is alive."
Don Roman answered.
Nico's face went completely blank.
"She's alive..?"
He quickly looked at Viktor.
"You lied to me?"
"I'm sure he also didn't tell you he was the one who shot her."
Nico shot Viktor with an angry glare.
"I shot at you, you used her as bullet proof."
"Is she okay?"
Don Roman's eyes narrowed.
"The physician says she will survive."
Nico stared at him in disbelief.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Then he slowly looked at Viktor.
Viktor's face had gone pale.
Nico had arrived believing Bianca was dead.
But now that he was sure she was alive, he didn't want to be a part of Viktor's scheming.
Viktor's fingers tightened around the gun.
"I'm still the one with a gun here, and a hostage."
"I'll do the talking from now on."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Aurelia looked between them.
Fear gripping every part of her.
She had no idea how this would go down.
But she didn't want to die.
"Release Don Russo, I want him outside here with us."
Viktor finally spoke.