The revenge of the mafia son-in-law.

Chapter 7. Shadows of Betrayal.

However, there were still formidable rivals opposing them, posing significant obstacles to gaining total control of the mafia nationwide.

Tony and Charles Ballmer were still powerful mobsters with enough clout to give them competition.

"I've never seen so much money in my life," Curtis shouted, seated atop a small mountain of cash.

"Not bad, but we need much more."

"What the hell are you talking about? Today alone, we've earned over five million dollars, and that's not even counting that we now own the east side of the city."

"Tony, the idiot, is still alive, and as long as that damn guy lives, no one will fully respect us."

"I think you need to relax," Curtis said, "shall I call Nicolle and Gladiana to come pamper you?"

"No, Curtis. No prostitutes. I'm serious... I'm tired of sharing the business with those old decrepit men," she exclaimed. "They've even started selling modern drugs for profit, after wanting to kill me for trying to sell them."

"What do you suggest?" Curtis asked.

"We need to kill Tony."

Curtis sighed deeply. He despised all of Araña's crazy plans, despite their success so far. He didn't like the idea of a direct war against them.

"If we kill Tony, the idiot Charles Ballmer will fall at our feet," Araña insisted.

"How can you be so sure of that?"

"You were his lapdog, Curtis; you know him much better than I do. You know he's an opportunist. Seeing us as the new bosses, he won't hesitate to align himself with us."

"I don't know, Araña."

"Think about it, Curtis. Wouldn't you like to avenge all those humiliations the Ballmer family inflicted on you in the past?"

Curtis briefly recalled all those moments of humiliation.

"Alright, let's do it. I'm listening to your plan."

"That's the Curtis I like."

Boss Tony had been extremely paranoid in recent days. Trusting his men became increasingly difficult.

He changed bodyguards weekly, then every two days, eventually resorting to daily switches.

He even reached the point of stopping his meals, fearing poisoning at any moment.

Eugenio quickly became the only person he could trust.

Eugenio had been his right-hand man for many years, and Tony was convinced he would never betray him.

"Ready, Boss Tony. I've secured all the doors and windows. You can sleep peacefully tonight. No one will try to kill you as long as I'm here," assured loyal Eugenio as he brought dinner to the bed.

"Thank you so much, Eugenio. You're a great friend."

"Please eat your dinner; I prepared it myself."

"Yes, of course," said Boss Tony.

However, Boss Tony took the spoon and stared at the soup intently.

"It offends me, Boss Tony; poison is a woman's weapon."

Eugenio took the spoon and tasted the soup on Boss Tony's bed to demonstrate that there was nothing to fear.

"Forgive me, Eugenio. Lately, it's very hard to trust people."

"Don't worry, boss. As long as I'm here, you can sleep like a baby."

"That's a great relief."

Boss Tony closed his eyes, and for the first time in several days, he could sleep without worries.

Everything was going well until Boss Tony was abruptly awakened by Eugenio in the early morning.

"Wake up, Boss Tony, wake up!"

"What's happening?!"

Boss Tony woke up very concerned. His nerves were completely out of control.

"We're under attack, sir. Araña's men have entered the mansion, and they're coming this way."

"Damn it, Eugenio. Fetch my gun."

"It's no use, boss. There are too many men. It's better to flee and hide in a safer place."

"Alright, I'm following you."

"Don't trust anyone. We don't know who might be working for those bastards."

"I understand, I understand. I'll only trust you, but get me out of here."

Eugenio managed to get the boss through the mansion. Everything seemed silent and calm. However, the boss remembered that he couldn't trust anyone else, only his right-hand man.

"Get in the car."

"Where are we going?"

"I've arranged for a private yacht to wait for you in the bay."

"You're a damn genius, Eugenio."

The boss was very excited. Araña wouldn't get away with it.

The car sped down the highway.

"I want her dead."

Boss Tony spoke about how much he wanted Araña dead, and Curtis truly didn't matter to him. He knew she was the true sinister mind behind all this madness.

However, Eugenio remained silent. He didn't say a word while driving the car. He only focused on the road.

"We've arrived, boss."

Eugenio stopped in the middle of nowhere.

It was a completely dark and lonely place in the bay. Boss Tony couldn't see anything, and there was no phone signal.

"Is the yacht going to pick us up here?"

Boss Tony asked many questions, but none were answered by Eugenio.

"I'm a fool... I should have realized I never heard a gunshot in the mansion, but I had chosen to trust you, Eugenio.”

From the darkness, Eugenio aimed an automatic pistol.

"I'm very sorry, sir, but times have changed."

Eugenio began firing repeatedly.

Each shot illuminated the dark bay for a split second in the middle of the night.

"Well done, Eugenio. I knew we had the best person for this job," Araña said, emerging from the shadows.

"Now I want what you promised me... Ten million dollars and to be your right-hand man."

A shot rang out from nowhere, and Eugenio fell to the ground almost immediately.

"Sorry, Eugenio, there's no room for traitors on my team," Araña said, watching him writhe on the sand.

"Besides, the right-hand man position is already filled," Curtis said from the darkness, the place from which he had fired.

Araña coldly surveyed Eugenio's lifeless body as the waves continued their nocturnal dance. Money and loyalty were the currency in that dark world, and betrayal carried a steep price.

With Eugenio out of the picture, Araña and Curtis advanced in their criminal empire. News of Araña's unwavering loyalty and Curtis's cruelty spread, instilling fear in the mafia and drawing in ambitious new followers. They had earned their place among the greats.