Gian froze, his hands immediately flying into the air.

The guard behind him hesitated, his fingers twitching near his rifle.

“Drop the weapon,” Damiano told the guard.

The guard let the rifle slip off his shoulder, and it clattered to the floor.

“Gian,” Damiano said, turning the barrel toward the remaining lieutenant.

“Do you agree with Enzo?”

“No,” Gian stammered, his face turning pale.

“No, Damiano, please.”

“It was his idea.”

“He said the other captains were behind him.”

“They aren’t,” Damiano said.

“Because they know what happens to people who question my authority.”

He fired a single shot.

Gian collapsed next to Enzo, his body twitching once before going still.

The smell of burnt gunpowder and copper filled my nose.

My stomach turned, and I had to press my hand against my mouth to keep from gagging.

Damiano did not look at the bodies.

He turned his gaze back to the terrified guard standing in the doorway.

“Get the clean-up crew,” Damiano ordered.

“And tell the tech team to get the power back online.”

“Yes, sir,” the guard said, his voice trembling.